Sunday was completed with me playing Dungeons and Dragons 2024 version at M@’s place with most of our usual group, starting at 5:30, but I was ten minutes late. This is my first time playing a sorcerer, and our second time playing D&D 2024. We had a couple of dives into the rulebook, as there are some subtle changes that I think clarify some of the previously inexplicable rules and provide a framework that allows other rules to apply now. We played hide-steal-run most of the play. We even had dinner with one of the factions, but did not sign up with them. We avoided much of the battle with the local bad guys until reaching the crypt level, and then hit one of the classic encounters. Jason of the Argonauts-style arcane undead skeletons, and we got harshly hit. Another battle ensued, and we were able to inflict enough damage to avert severe consequences. We are still getting accustomed to our new characters and how we interact with them.
Scott and I chatted for a while, and then I returned home. I had slept poorly and went to bed early. I managed to sleep until sunrise.
Going backward, before heading to the game, I watched the season finale of Doctor Who. I had already seen some of the details in the press and was interested to see how they wrapped up the season. I thought it was a good episode and did not seem like a rush to complete storylines and move on to the next. No spoilers, but I thought it was a good season (though the dancing and singing routines seemed forced to me). Recommended with only minor complaints.
For lunch, I had some thin Italian ham (like prosciutto) with cheese and Triscuits. I had a burger for dinner that M@ makes for us (thanks, M@). Breakfast was a banana and coffee (and a donut hole at church). I finished the blog I started in the morning somewhere in the afternoon.
Before all of this, I was at the church and filling in as the usher, and arranged for folks to watch on the next two Sundays while I will be traveling in California. I had to help a few people, and it was a communion Sunday. I was busy throughout the service.
Dondrea’s sermon was on unity and also not abdicating Christianity to the nationists and folks who exclude the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner (who are called out for us to help by God) as not being citizens or deserving of our help. Nationalism is not the same as patriotism, nor is it a form of Christianity. Dondrea covered that we have to object when our religion is perverted into some kind of false religious self-serving political movement. We need to be about being Methodist (we are older United Methodists, not the newly formed Global Methodists who are part of a nationalist movement and exclude people), which means helping others, providing healthcare and food, supporting human rights, and generally being kind. We don’t exclude. There is a pride flag on the side of the church. We even serve both caffeinated and decaf coffee after church!
I rose with another headache from pollen at sunrise and tried to roll over. My colon, truncated 25cm from colon cancer, wanted some attention, too. It was a rougher start than I would have liked. I started the blog.
And that takes us to the end. Sorry for the short story and a few photos.
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