Hopping Thursday

Coffee was not made on Thursday morning. Ugh. I forgot to set the timer (a button). I rose after 8, thinking coffee was already waiting for me, only to discover it was empty. I went to write the blog and later returned to the kitchen and acquired the last hard-boiled egg and a banana (from the 185th veggie stand trip I forgot to put in yesterday’s blog). I wrote the blog all morning. It was a cool morning with some clouds and sun breaks.

I spent the morning writing the blog, updating Quicken, and paying a few bills. I also watched the pope be selected and was surprised when Leo 14th got the job. I was betting on an Italian and was disappointed that I, Unexpected the First—my pope name—was not selected. Deborah thought moving to Rome and other requirements would have been onerous (a crash course in Italian and Latin was just the start of challenges), though the Pope Mobile and my jet sounded nice.

Instead of catching the next flight to the Vatican and taking The Keys, I published the blog, showered, dressed, shaved, boarded Air VW the Grey, the Wild Mobile, and headed to McMenamins Cedar Hills. I was early and sat outside in the sun. The breeze, coming from the desert, was cold. Scott showed up a few minutes later. We moved later to a table in the sun; it was too cold for the shade!

We discussed many subjects, and a friend texted us about leaving Nike IT for a job elsewhere. We talked about investing, things we have learned, and travel. Scott is off on a trip down south in just over a week, and I am four weeks out to join Deborah in California. We talked more about Artificial Intelligence, and I plan to find time to dig back in. I used to teach and code AI in the Python programming language (named not for the snake but for Monty Python). I am interested in tightening up my math skills to help with this. More to come.

After lunch, we each consumed a meatless burger and two Hammerhead beers, and I headed out. I called Rune and Board to see about teaching and playing Unsettled with the owner, Nick. Alas, they were busy with store things and could not work in playing a game on Thursday. But we agreed to try again next week, on Thursday.

I was at loose ends, beered, and fed, and thus, it was time for a nap. I enjoyed the break for an hour and bid on some more stamps for my collection (cheaper ones, as some of the holes in my collection rightfully will remain unfilled with price tags matching the cost of a car or house). I returned to Air VW the Gray, stopped by McDonald’s for a shake (still needing to wake up), and arrived at Guardian Games (Aloha, formerly Rainy Day Games).

I chatted with Mike, whom I have known for years, and then set up a solo board game in their gaming area. I asked permission, and after a longer process than I expected (there were only two folks in the play area with over ten tables, one marked reserved that was never used the whole time I was there), they decided I could use the end of a table. I played Ottoman Sunset and completely hosed the game. I got the setup wrong, but managed to play for an hour. Next time, I will get it right. I left around 5 while the group set up BattleTech. This is a new version of a SciFi tabletop with exquisitely painted four-inch towering metal and plastic figures. The game has a high buy-in cost, but the mix of painting and building with role-playing elements and SciFi combat attracts folks. I have played the previous version once. I have never bought in.

I met Pastor Ken back at McMenamins Cedar Hills at the bar. We both had salads, with Ken picking a cider and me a Ruby, a raspberry-wheat beer. We talked mostly about history and some church items. I told him about the history I am reading, mostly Jutland 1916, and later sent him links to the best books I have read.

Please see:

Jutland 1916 Death in the Grey Wastes
By Nigel Steer
Gettysburg: The Last Invasion
By Allen C. Guelzo
Bury the Chains Prophets & Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empires Slaves
By Adam Hochschild

We joined the Theology Pub setup in the bar area, and soon, more than fifteen people joined us, including one person online from Utah. This church meeting discusses deep issues, many political, with beer and food in a non-threatening setting of a bar/restaurant. We have talked about disruption, as this word gets a lot of play now in the press. Today, we discuss the difference between disruption and destruction and the fear of pollution. We agreed that disruption was helpful and good when producing a new and often better solution. But we noticed that folks are concerned that they will be polluted by the ideas of others and resist having meaningful discussions. For example, folks who have issues with the homeless refuse to become involved, as they fear they could be polluted by these issues and soon begin to have those issues. We observed in our discussion that while few will admit this fear, it seems obvious to some that the destruction we see is fear-based. Destruction to force change or to reach a non-existent previous ‘good days’ was more hurtful and not truly disruptive. I thought it stayed a positive discussion with all of us learning new things about disruption.

After the meeting, I headed home, read, dropped my Kindle when I nodded off, and soon slept. I woke with bad leg cramps. Beer does this to me sometimes. I took water, and sleep was again found, and I was able to sleep until the sun rose.

Thanks for reading.