Wednesday With Games

Wednesday ended with me home after playing a newish game against Z on a table pushed into the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church. The refresh demolition is done, and the refresh work has now started. It will not be done until before Easter (and likely to end in January, but I am making no promises). We played Raiders of Scythia, a revision of the Viking-themed game, and read that it is better than the Viking-themed version, Raiders of the North Sea (without the final add-on, which, I am told, tips the scale to the Viking game), and I like the art and style better. Z enjoyed the game and lost by one point. Her gamer instincts were good, and she pounced on the easy goals before I could. I instead went on more raids and took more risks, since they involve dice rolls, and I lost most of my crew in one raid. Z built up again, going with good game instinct, and then took on the most brutal and highest-point raids, catching her up on points. It was my purchase of a horse in my last turn—yes, a single two-point horse —that won me the game. Z loved the excitement of the raids, the slow build, and creating a crew with wonderful-looking cards and powers.

I finished the night by finishing TRON, the animated series that seems to end as the latest movie starts, though I think they could fit in another season. I liked it.

I was tired, couldn’t focus, and remembered to assemble the coffee for the next morning. Deborah had explained to me earlier that I need to contact the glasses folks. I need a third section that is as plain as the glasses blur my vision for the first ten feet. The rest works great. Driving at night was much better now!

I went to bed late after surfing the Internet for a while, avoiding the news. I then climbed into my bed, turned off the light, and slept. I woke once around three, then slept until after 6. It was dark; Fall is turning to winter. Time for hot cider.

My day started in a mangled plan. I rushed as I had, from what I saw on my calendar, an 11 with Sam at US Bank Wealth Management, and then lunch with Scott at 12:30. I was happy to find the coffee made with my slightly delayed start at 7:30. I am out of bananas and just had peanut butter toast with my coffee. And, while not especially liberal coffee, I did grieve for the White House magnolia trees that Trump had slain to build his ballroom while sipping my dark, bitter beverage. You can see some of the murdered tree’s branches on the back of a US $20 bill. F**kers! Where is Treebeard when you need him!  Alas!

I will be composing something to send to someone on that. I just cannot figure out who you complain to when the Speaker and the President are the bad guys. From what I read from the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist’s book, Centennial Crisis: The Disputed Election of 1876, only the Supreme Court can resolve issues between the two branches of government. I am still thinking about it and maybe sending a magnolia tree to Chef Justince Roberts.

With my frustration, for now, pushed in the background, I finished the blog, booked rooms for the upcoming trip for the group in Columbus, Georgia, and sent out an option for Atlanta, too (Buckhead). I had updated my pro forma 2025 tax statement the night before and had that in Air VW the Gray. My newest addiction book, American Battleships 1886-1926, arrived in perfect unused condition and was also the cheapest one available, which seldom happens. I mailed my ballet in, just to anger anti-mail ballet people, and soon I was rushing a shower and dressing (and all that) to make an 11 o’clock.

Oops! It was at noon. I quickly sent a note to Scott, and he was OK with a later lunch. Sam from US Bank Wealth Management got me in earlier. We talked about investments and the crazy, unpredictable market with AI chip companies’ stock prices exploding while insanely profitable company stocks tanked. The Fed (growl!) cut rates today, and this, Sam and I agree, has added to the chaos. Sam and I both agree that my current portfolio, with some still in cash, allows Sam to harvest any broken bubbles while still earning some interest.

After sharing my health issues and my long-term plan (to live until 2084, passing away at 119 on April 15), Sam agreed that withdrawing $75K to take advantage of my giving and other tax breaks, and to set up a Roth IRA with minimum value, makes sense for a short-term play. When/if my health stabilizes, we can build towards my 2084 life expectancy. I will meet with Sam in December to lock in this plan. Then we will know more information on Oregon’s Kicker. Sam will also look into providing appropriate short-term cash instruments for the $75K. In Mr Burns’ voice, “Excellent!”

I was not late for lunch with Scott. We talked about my new glasses, changes to travel plans, what we see as investments for next year (yikes), and 2026 travel plans. It was a great lunch as we will meet again on the other side of my next trip.

After lunch with Scott, I stopped by the Guardian gaming store in Aloha. They did not have what I was looking for—Grindhouse—but I did get the figure I needed. I will have to paint it. They noticed I had been missing (mostly traveling, though visits can also be expensive!).

Home, took a nap in the chair, and then talked to Deborah for a while, and we found time to watch another episode of the current season of Murders in the Building. This one was a bit confused, trying to connect various threads of the story, and Meryl Streep stole most of the scenes. Still, we enjoyed it. Season six is planned.

I walked to the local convenience store, got some corn chips, heated some canned chili, and poured it over corn chips, cheese, and sour cream. What we called a haystack, and Deborah shared that the taco meat or chili can be poured into a small bag of corn chips and eaten as a carry-out taco. You eat it with a fork out of the bag and can walk around with it. Wow!

I also read more of the cookbook that Deborah sent me. Just the introduction.

And then I head to the church, and that takes us full circle.

Thanks for reading!