Wednesday Still Tired

I rose late, after 8, on Wednesday. The day was overcast, but it was still, and with an intense heat we sometimes experience with cloudy skies, like an oven. I have a cough from traveling and allergies. I need a few more days of going slow; the trip in Michigan was a whirlwind, and two four-hour-plus flights in less than a week.

I finished the laundry from the trip and, though I still find a sticky spot here and there, most of the spilled jam from a wayward Monte Cristo sandwich in my carry-on is cleaned up. Deborah informed me that the blog from Tuesday (about Monday) had a few typos, but it was understandable. Sorry, dear reader! But it is more important to publish even with typos. I was tired and wrote that blog mid-travel.

I wrote over 1,300 words on Tuesday at my office in Cheatu Wild, describing my return to Oregon and my first partial day back. I started the last load of laundry from the trip and later put away all the clothing. I got a card out to Mom Wild with a picture of us taken by Deborah last week.

With the blog published and the clothing done, I boarded Air VW the Gray and headed to BJ’s Brewhouse. I took a seat in the newly remodeled bar. It looks more like a sports bar now than a microbrew-centered one with the taps along the wall. Rachel is my bartender, a youthful-looking woman who I would card to be at a bar, but soon I have their excellent red ale (which needs no updates), and the new lunch menu is introduced to me. The chicken parmesan with what I would call overcooked pasta is soon before me. The sauce and chicken are well done; better than the usual industrial chain restaurant version. I chat with Rachel about her name and how it appears, spelled differently, in a Sherlock Holmes story (‘Study in Pink’ in the newest version in the series Sherlock). She is intrigued, and we also talk a little about WC Fields, whom she has not heard of, but liked his line “I often cook with wine, and some often makes it into the food”!

I was thinking of WC Fields, and he is my spirit animal for presentations (he learned that juggling and jokes get you nowhere if the audience is not involved, and faked being drunk so they thought he would drop something). I was writing my notes for my class on Sunday and expanding on what I will say and what areas to cover. I get 45 minutes for all Biblical history next Sunday. I will stop about 900CE as that fits the next Sunday better about the history of denominations.

I had a salad and ice cream, and my bill was not even into the thirties. Not bad. I stopped by Barnes & Noble with no intention of buying a book, but rather to pick up my usual magazines. I was tempted by a Roman warfare edition of Strategy & Tactics, but I would want to buy that with the game. I saw a new book on the US Constitution that was a cleaner-looking version of the Idiot’s Guide to the US Constitution, and I got that too.

I returned home, read, and then napped for a while. I woke with a start, not knowing where I was, and panicked that I needed to get to a flight. I did not recognize the living room. I had slept in the chair at first. I think I did not wake all the way and dreamed a different room when I woke. When I finally opened my eyes, I was home. I had a very Dorothy or Silver Key moment.

Back in this world, I collected my books for the class, some post-it markers, and started to identify facts for my discussions. Again, I wanted to avoid anything that people can search for or learn in a good documentary. I found a frozen pizza and made that for dinner. I watched the last Pirates movie, having now re-watched them all. I started the new episodes released this Wednesday, for well, Wednesday. I watched just the first episode, and it was excellent, with a surprise appearance by some returning cast members.

I headed back to the EV and The 649 Bar. Stephen was bartending, and I had a coffee and a shot of amaretto almond liqueur with it. I reviewed the history I was covering, including dates in my notes for completeness (which I will share), even though dates can be obtained from a Google search. I included notes about existing artifacts that agree with the Biblical text (mostly). I need to add more prophets and judges in my notes. I managed to get nearly there. Just a few more hours and I will be ready.

I talked to Dondrea earlier and agreed to have a longer service (I am the Lay Leader) as Kickoff Sunday has a lot to kick off. I sent notes about the refresh work and will meet to discuss some of that on Thursday. One tray of wraps from Costco should work with water and some fruit for Sunday’s class lunch. The class may be heavily attended, I was warned.

After more organizing, it was time to head home. I had a too-large and too-microwaved piece of bread pudding for dessert to finish at The 649. I soon arrived in the EV, was too tired to do much, and soon was asleep again. I woke a few times, and each time I knew where I was. Like other dreamers, I dread that deeper dreams, but still want to explore those other lands. Next time, it will be de-calf, if I want to have a chance to meet Mr. Carter.

Thanks for reading and dreaming with me.