Sunday started with me rising early, as I had trouble sleeping, and stumbling out of bed to the kitchen to get the coffee after starting the machine early (it starts at 7, meaning if I oversleep, the coffee will be cold — I get up). I invest the morning in getting the blog done, and just coffee and my morning meds. I am teaching after church, and food has no appeal. A lovely 1980s Structures tie (older than many of my students) goes with a dress shirt, a sweater vest, and dress shoes. Again, staying with old school lessons, you buy respect from older folks with an unremarkable tie knot and the more formal dress. But by skipping the suit, I look more like an educator. And while it may be trite, like some of my best card tricks, they often work surprisingly well. And I need all the help I can get!
I get the blog, over 1,400 words, finished, partially re-read, and edited, posted, and realize I am out of time. I rush to get dressed as I described after a quick shower, shave, and all that. I had put copies of my notes (which I hand out at the start of the class), the posters (mounted for about $50 each), and the sandwiches from Costco on them in Air VW in First Class seats. I regret that the airlines no longer print their logos on the discomfort bags (i.e., barf bags); I used to collect them and have various airline products sticking out of the back seats, only the finest service!
Surprisingly relaxed, I head to church and take on my usual duty as usher. I usually recount at this point on the Sunday blog the sermon, Ken’s in this case, but I had a homeless guy come in during the sermon. I got him coffee, water, and a sandwich; I had plenty for the class. He asked if we had any clothing, and I checked that we have food, but no clothing. Later, Jack helps him in the men’s room to clean up (his head shows a slightly healed cut). And during the service with the food, water, warm coffee, a chair, and out of the rain, he falls asleep.
I also helped here and there and missed most of Ken’s words. I did hear his words as he did point out that John Wesley was often persecuted and that Christians are susceptible to denominational sins. That we churchgoers can use the structure and institutional authority to stop and hurt folks, believing we are doing right. Ken, in many ways a refugee from more conservative churches and a newly minted Methodist elder, says he is preparing himself to be oppressed by fellow Christians. Ken shares that he his shocked to discover this and it is new to him.
I gathered the folks for my class and shared sandwiches with the group (and anyone else), and soon started my short lecture on Denominational History for the New Members Class (and anyone else). Rev. Anne joined us and interjected with some valuable comments. I got a few questions, too. Being Methodists at church, folks sit and listen politely, but they started to ask some questions. This is not a sermon, but a class. I received positive feedback, and people seemed to enjoy my fast-and-furious presentation (though no one confused me with Vin Diesel). The sandwiches helped too.
I brought my cake, too, and it is served up. Technically, it is not an acceptable item as it is made with an alcohol-based flavor, Grand Marnier, but I would argue that I baked out the alcohol. The cake was well-received, too.
I packed up and was soon home, tired and moving slowly. I reheated the chili I made a few days ago, but I’m concerned that, after seeing 17 pounds above my lowest weight, I should stick to carrots and celery. But I made it and should finish it. I also, knowing that I will need to keep the portion sizes under control, get Italian-style sweet sausage from the freezer for a pasta meal (with sauce from a jar). I will have one bowl and freeze some of it, then put it back in small bags. I plan to get some lettuce to make a nice salad to go with it. Beer is out. I also have the beef to take a second chance at the French-style cooking I tried before. It was close, but not close enough for me. Again, I will pack it away in smaller servings.
I paid for a Lost Ruins of Arnak board game boxing solution from the game publisher that Richard ordered for me (we shared the postage cost). I repacked my three boxes into one, but discovered that the new materials I got from Board Game Geek did not support the additional add-ons, growl. I returned to cardboard pieces and put the cool parts in a bag that would not quite fit in the new box, ugh! I did not punch the latest material, and that made the box not quite close. Still, it was a marvelous update that got the whole game into one box (though it is about the same size as the others together). It was a good distraction after the class.
I lost track of time, but I did manage to cut some roses to take to Niki, M@’s wife, and I brought them to Dungeons & Dragons at M@’s house at 5:30. M@ this time was ready; he had prepared two adventures for us, as we tend to skip or hide or run away from combat. This means we absorb more story than the other groups he has playing the same adventures; M@ has three groups, last time I counted.
(We did have to violently disable the clockwork device; we left a sign that it was out of order.)
In our group, Scott is playing a no-damage attack monk character, and this means our tactics are complex and, for D&D, peaceful. We do have to fight undead and terrible horrors like trolls, but usually we try to negotiate our way out of a battle. We do manage that a few times, but M@ got to use a more classic monster, and it only recharged its main attack twice, which is about average. We lived and had to kill the classic monster, and another one we met on the way back. It was a fun time.
In the game, our patron provided us with some magic items as a reward for completing our challenge. We had shared our wishes with the powerful entity, and now some items appeared, or in the case of Mackers, an important hook into his character’s background that connects to our next adventure (a reworking of the old UK Crystal Cave adventure, which I have never done).
In the new rules, there are rules of Bastions. A form of a home base for a character that becomes available at the 5th level (this idea goes back to older versions of D&D). We are now 6th, and according to the rules, we can now consider setting up these bastions for our characters. M@ found a free PDF of an early version of the regulations that he shared, which closely resembles the final rules. We will make it work.
It will be fun to do some D&D accounting and create the story of these bastions.
Scott and I talked for a while outside about the game and life. I then headed home, did dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and got the coffee ready. I took my meds, some painkillers, and sipped Amaretto while doing all of this. I was soon in my bed and asleep. A good day!
Thanks for reading.
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