Going backwards, it is Monday when I write this, and my sleep was wrecked by a stuffed ear (I have only one working one now after the brain surgery). I was up at 4, took a nap, and now I am coughing and feeling off. Not enough sleep and rest. Ugh!
I reached home about 9:30 in Air VW the Gray after playing Dungeons and Dragons 2024 at M@ place without the usual group. Jack was filling in for Mackers. We finished Desert of Desolation: Pharaoh (once I3) adventure. Again, details cannot be recounted here, but Karyn’s character was slain by some undead. But when we finished, we got a free wish, and we used that to return Karyn.
I have DM’d the original I3 in the AD&D version back in the 1980s, and can say that the reworking was better. I had only a small memory of the original, and it has been on my shelf for years. I keep them for when I am looking for ideas for another adventure.
Scott brought vegan gift loaves, and I provided pencils from the JFK Library (I gave pencils from the Carter Center before). M@ made burgers, and we played our newly leveled-up 8th-level characters. Jack was a paladin and not a bad choice to take into an undead-filled tomb. It was a tough challenge; Karyn’s loss was tough, but we managed to survive the attacks, absorb the punishment, and finally break out and finish the challenge.
Before this, I was at home, tired out from rising at 6:30 to cook jambalaya and then helping with ushering and helping with the potluck. It was a pleasure to serve, and everyone seemed to like my food. I unloaded the dishwasher and chatted here and there with Deborah. She had some family obligations, so we were both busy on Sunday.
Church was before this, and upon my arrival, I unloaded the huge pot of jambalaya, along with some spices and other possible additions. I delivered these culinary joy items to Z, the head of hospitality at the church, and she tasted them and was pleased. I put on a warming oven (Bill pulled it before it re-cooked; even the warm setting is a bit high). The church folks for First United Methodist were in full potluck mode (as the other church, Emmaus Church, was headed out). I headed to the church service and took up my usual post as usher.
And I did have a gentleman, younger, with his gym bag and backpack, walk in and out. I stopped him from leaving and offered him coffee and lunch. This was not what he expected. I walked him down to the now set-up Wesley Hall and got him a plate of jambalaya. He is a cook, and he thought it good, and I shared the recipe with him. Z and Bill said they were good with him there; no issue. I saw him leave early, smiling and waving.
Next, the Pastor decided to focus on the repression of people worldwide and how we can help for a Christmas series. I suspect I would have chosen something more traditional, like holiday symbols or cookies. We light a red candle to remember these folks. Ken directs us to Jesus’ “Love your enemies” statement. I do check the translation, as he tells the story of some right-wing folks who deny that it is a Biblical quote (it is, translated correctly, and in two Gospels).
Before all of this, I rose at 6:30 and played music, danced, and cooked in my kitchen. I had prepped the day before, and so this was cooking and assembly. I followed the recipe I did in New Orleans at the NOLA School of Cooking. I adjusted it to be spicier (remembering one of the assistants telling me, “You always need more of the spices”) and cooked down the veggies, then browned the sausage until it was dark brown. I later added more spices, crab boil, cooked shrimp, and more uncooked veggies to give the rice-packed goodness a bit of bite.
I remember Chef Renée making it in a demo back in NOLA. I took note then and included some of his recommended updates.
And that takes us to me rising, thanks for reading.
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