Friday was a good day with bright sun and the scent of my roses in the air. I enjoyed snuggling in my blankets as the house passed into the cool morning with the windows open and the ceiling fans running. The marine clouds come in some mornings and then burn off by noon. The sky is blue most of the day. But our snowpack is almost non-existent this year (we are missing the rains), the deserts will dry out, the wildlife will suffer, and fires are very likely to fill our skies with smoke. I have a spare filter for the AC/Funtnace and will ensure I have a spare all summer. If it gets too bad, I will drive to an open airport and try out NOLA for a while, I think, for this time. Or maybe Michigan.
I have a doctor’s appointment with my primary, Doctor C, and have nothing but a sip of water. I start the blog, and then shower, and all of that. I boarded Air VW the Gray, bringing the paperboxes of the creams to have them added to my prescriptions by my primary (they have to approve it). I am early, but they are running on time, and soon I am going through the usual blood pressure, A1C poke, and the usual questions. All good, and Doctor C was happy, and we agreed on a five-month period and not starting weight-loss drugs, though I qualify for coverage, but my weight is on a slow downward trajectory, and they are not needed. My A1C, while still good, had gone up, and I will work on that (that dessert a few days ago was a bad idea). No additional labs were needed, as Doctor B had covered that a week ago.
La Provence is nearby, and I sat at the bar and had cornbeef hash with poached eggs and a croissant with my coffee. I read more about the American Civil War (ACW), The Confederacy’s Last Hurrah: Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville, as the large battle is finally starting in the story. It is hard to put the book down. Though, were I to write it, I think I would have started here and focused less on the movements of troops for fifty pages. Still, it is a great read, as it includes entries from the letters, diaries, and writings of the survivors and some historians (especially those describing the delusions of the leading Generals).
I read this all day here and there and was struck by one comment about the Union troops behind the fortifications, that they thought it was payback time for Kennesaw Mountain, a battlefield we visited as part of the South trip. This is where Sherman took heavy losses for attacking prepared positions, and the Union, again, learned not to attack even recently built fortifications. As seen in World War I, counterattacks against a breach of a position were devastating to the attacker. Now General Hood (like Sherman and Lee at Gettysburg) knew that with enough men and planning, he could annihilate the enemy army (which was rushing North to join the rest of the Union forces). It is an interesting read.
With breakfast inside me, I returned to the house and wrote the blog, stripped the bed, and started the laundry. I completed the blog, and the laundry was moved to the dryer (more would be done later). I also updated my Dungeons & Dragons character to 4th level and made various corrections to match the Friday Adventure League constructs. Next, I created a license for salvage and for fighting enemies (unspecified) by finding the text of a letter of Marque online, revising it, dressing it up, and printing it on my printer using some cardstock. I added an image of a wax seal I found in the public space on the Internet to print along with the words. I did this instead of getting out the hot glue gun again to make seals, remembering it as a very messy process and not wishing to directly experience very hot glue (it looks safe to touch). In the game, Carter the Forger has provided documentation for various dealings in the Friday games, some of which are a bit shady. I thought some physical versions would be nice. They were well-received when I gave them out later in the game.
Lunchtime had already passed, and we were heading into the mid-afternoon before I was ready to head out (after the late and lovely breakfast, I was not hungry until later). Another McMenamins for another stamp in my Cosmic Tripper Passport. I am trying to fill the book, going page by page. McMenamins John Barleycorns was an excellent destination in Tigard, Oregon, and was new to me. I am always surprised by how little I know the local area, and I liked the pub and the area. I sat outside, and I will be back.
They had a chicken breast dinner on a bed of pasta with wonderful vodka sauce. I make that sauce myself, and there was no cream in this version. It was bright and tasted of fresh spices. It was fascinating to me. I had a Ruby Ale and read more ACW. The waiter was friendly, let me read for a while, and refilled my water several times.
Traffic was messy from rush hour and the holiday, and I left early, but it was the usual slowing, and soon I arrived too early at Rune & Board to play D&D. I wanted to be early as the game is limited to seven and was already fully booked with a waiting list. I met Holly, another player, and soon more appeared. The DM was nearly late, and there was some panic (though I volunteered to fill in, using my Scythe game for figures and my laptop for content, recalling M@ telling me stories where he did some ad hoc DMing for a no-show and once because he was at a castle). Lincoln set up, and we were off; no need for me to fill in. This time, I stayed more involved and also helped a few folks with their character features, and soon we were facing various large encounters. Combat filled most of our time, and we avoided splitting the party. I informed Lincoln that I was traveling soon and would miss the players who asked me to stay, and I agreed to another play. I will have to make some more documents!
I talked briefly with the owner, and later this summer I might want to try a game of my own. He was busy getting ready for Westside Comic Con this weekend, but we chatted for a few. More later.
With that done, I headed out and chose The 649 to hand out flyers for our first Speaker in a new series at my church. Kyle, the manager, thought it was great and will share it with her pastor at her church, a United Church of Christ (UCC). I had a beer and a hummus plate for a late dinner and/or snack, then returned to my writing and started back on my book using Scrivener (and installed an update). I managed to add another 100 words, and there were many revisions to the next section. I left after 10, but learned they are open to 1 on Fridays. I will not be up that late. I did run the completion process, and my paperback format already had 43 pages.
Back at the house, I put in the towels to run overnight in the Washer, and soon was in my bed reading for only a few minutes before I started to nod off (definitely not the 1AM-bar-closing guy).
Dear reader, please consider attending if you are in the area, from the press release:
BEAVERTON, Ore. — [May 18, 2026] — A new public forum dedicated to ideas, culture, and civic dialogue is coming to Beaverton with the launch of the Beaverton Lecture Series, a community-centered initiative designed to spark thoughtful conversation and deeper connection across the region. The series opens on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM with the inaugural lecture, “Indigenous Place Keeping: Learning from the Land,” featuring cultural leader David Harrelson. The event will be held at The Historic Downtown Methodist Church, located next to the Beaverton City Library at 12555 SW 4th Street, Beaverton, OR 97005. Admission is free and open to the public. Harrelson, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the tribe’s Cultural Resources Department Manager, will explore the Indigenous practice of “keeping place” — understanding land not merely as physical space, but as a living network of relationships connecting people, plants, history, and community. “No matter where you live, you are on Indigenous land,” Harrelson says, underscoring the continuing relevance of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship.
With more than 16 years of experience in cultural resources and heritage preservation, Harrelson’s work spans ethnobotany, Indigenous foods, contact-era Pacific Northwest history, and Western Oregon Indigenous art. In addition to his leadership with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, he currently serves on the Oregon Arts Commission and previously served on the Oregon State Advisory Committee for Historic Preservation.
ABOUT BEAVERTON LECTURE SERIES
The Beaverton Lecture Series was created to provide an accessible and welcoming gathering space where residents can engage with important ideas shaping culture, history, identity, and civic life. Our hope is that this series becomes a trusted gathering point in Beaverton for learning, dialogue, and shared reflection.
HERE
What: Indigenous Place Keeping: Learning from the Land
Speaker: David Harrelson Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Historic Downtown Methodist Church 12555 SW 4th Street, Beaverton, OR 97005
Admission: Free and open to the public
Here is more information: David Harrelson Press Release.docx – Google Docs
Thanks for reading and considering attending (if you are in the local area).
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 