Friday Quieter with D&D

I rose a bit late and started around 8ish. The sunrise had woken me, and I had rolled over and slept longer. Sunrises are too early now. But I do think of Dad Wild every morning, “I watch the runrise; there are only so many left.”

Coffee is reheated as there was plenty left. Enough for three cups. Breakfast is skipped as I am not hungry. I start the blog and write until about noon. I strip the bed and wash the sheets. Monday’s laundry is still unsorted or folded, and I spent the morning writing, talking to people, and doomscrolling by reading President Chaos-Battleship’s latest insanities, including a $250 US Currency with his picture (which requires an act of Congress to allow). I can no longer eye-roll, as it is just beyond anything I expected; such a waste of time and energy.

I write and talk to Deborah and others. I was feeling better, and I managed to complete the blog and some paperwork. I got all the clothing out of the dryer and done, two loads. I then reheated some Costco pre-made Indian-style chicken and cooked 1/2 cup of basmati rice to go with it. That was an excellent lunch, and I watched The Devinci Code, now a bit dated with a young Tom Hanks, while I folded the laundry. I also swept the floor, then mopped it with a Swiffer. The new flooring cleans up so easily, and I think it was worth the investment! Yes!

I returned to the office and assembled a forged document for Dungeons & Dragons. I had found the text of a modern indulgence on a Catholic website. I removed the Christian words and reworded them to give the bearer an indulgence for the usual adventurer raiding. I added an image of a wax seal. I then formatted the new fantasy-world-based text to fit on certificate paper, green like money, I found at Office Depot, and printed them on the parchment-like paper, added a gold seal (included with the certificates), and they were ready to give away at D&D at 6 at the Rune & Board gaming store at 167 East. My interview and first job at Nike were at 167 West. I always have a warm feeling in this area; I did AS/400 programming, database work, and job design here for the Laakdal Customer Care Center (warehouse).

Good memories now, but I know it was much harder and scarier than I remember now. I had to prove myself over and over. The past is always bright and pretty in a halo of forgotten pain and fear. It was never that good. But I do miss working on the IBM AS/400s and CL, DB2/400, and RPG programming. Years later, I visited Laakdal and saw that my code was still running (with only a few minor updates) and that the tools I wrote for the warehouse were still in use.

With the documents ready and pencil updates to my character, Carter The Great, a sorcerer, for D&D, I headed to Beaverton, a 60% charge on Air VW the Gray, and no traffic, but one close call as someone challenged a bus for a lane; the bus won, and they braked rather suddenly. I stopped at the Food Carts near City Hall and had the gumbo for a quick dinner. It was spicy but good. I then headed past Nike WHQ, now called the PHK HQ, and soon reached the gaming place.

I paid my $10 fee and bought an overpriced Diet Coke (supporting my local gaming store). I handed out my indulgences, which were well received. We continued the story where we left off, exploring the ruins to find the forge. By sheer chance, we found the means to reach the forge and then did so. This resulted in a battle. We ran over, but decided to finish the battle. Folks were late due to bad traffic. I reminded everyone it was my last play for a while (I need to pack the car next Friday) and thanked everyone for the three sessions. Everyone seemed happy to have me play. It has been fun, and I try not to stay in the chorus, if you like, as others want the spotlight. I don’t need it.

I headed home, watched more Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and enjoyed a reworking of the World Destroyer from the original series. I read and went to bed. A headache was back. I tried a protein bar to see if that would help, but nope, ibuprofen worked. I read about the American Civil War for a while, but soon I was nodding off. I dressed in my PJs and climbed under the clean sheets after making the bed.

I closed my eyes, and soon Morpheus took over and supplied pleasant dreams, now forgotten, which I imagined were with my character Carter, adventuring and forging various documents, with a smirk.

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).