Sunday Church with Meeting and then Games

I woke without the need to write a blog. I had written a two-day blog the night before and found myself enjoying a quiet morning. I made grits and fried eggs to celebrate my return to the house. I made 1/2 a portion and still had leftover grits. I managed to flip the eggs without disaster, but my plating left much to be desired — figure-eight. That and a tiny bowl of grits (with just a hint of butter) was lovely. I ate this while I watched a video by Nick Zentner about the Oregon Cascade volcanoes, which he released a few hours ago (here).

I puttered around the house, ignoring the laundry that needed to be folded and put away, and added to the mess. I talked to Deborah, and we started my morning together. We miss being together and in the same time zone.

I showered, happy to be back in my shower and not yet-another-hotel mystery of how the nobs work to produce water pressure at a temperature that will be comfortable,  shave using a good razor (not a cheap but tossable one I buy for travel), and add some of those creams to my head where psoriasis is holding on despite the Skyrizi treatments. I collected a dress shirt, tan slacks, and other items needed for dressing from the laundry before the shower. I assembled my outfit, adding a gray sweater vest, black leather shoes, and a Pride tie.

I found my pencils I got at all the museums and the gifts for Z, Dondrea, and Donna: petals and flower parts from the lavender garden, plus my computer for church. The drive, with me trying to remember where all the controls are on the EV, as they are not in the same places as in the Air Chevy, soon passes through Beaverton to First United Methodist Church without issue. I gave away some pencils, including the Gerald Ford Library one to many, and the gifts for Z, Dondrea, and Donna. I ushered, and Dondrea gave the sermon, and the music kind of flowed well, and Z, Seth, and I were, in the back, dancing to it. It is always more fun in the back of the church than in the pews; an usher secret.

Dondrea’s sermon, The Gavel We Were Never Handed, reminded us that if we judge, we indict ourselves (my words). That it is our love, not our adherence to laws and regulations (or wearing the right clothing or singing well), that makes us great, but our acceptance and memory not to judge others. Paul (not my favorite guy, as he seems to be quoted out of context a lot) says in Romans 14:12-13, “So then, each one of us will be held accountable,” but he goes on (the part that folks leave out), “to no longer pass judgment on one another.” Dondrea started by citing an influencer who said kids are not becoming socialists (despite their conservative parents’ objections) but are instead reading what Jesus said and applying it. The kids are saying to help the poor, not to exclude people, and never to judge.

Church was followed by a meeting at McMenamins Cedar Hills. I was the first there and helped the McMenamins staff get organized. It was a sleepy Sunday start for them. Ulysses was our waiter again, and soon folks arrived. We had about seven. We talked about planning a Revival program for the church. As Finance Chairperson, I need to establish a budget for the new work. We are also talking about reestablishing childcare at the service. It was a good meeting, and we have many to-dos.

After that, and getting a BBQ chicken salad there, I headed home. I changed out of the tie and switched to more comfortable shoes. I collected my Call of Cthulhu role-playing materials and headed to Rune & Board to share them and to check if they had done anything for my game at 6 on Tuesday. Nope. But they did ask for an electronic copy of the flyer later.

I talked about the game and tried to see if any of the staff wanted to play, but I suspect not. Trying to get a new gaming group going is always difficult. M@ is planning to be there, and maybe I can drum up some more.

I then punched the wargame, Franklin, recreating the second (and terrible) Battle of Franklin in the American Civil War. This is in a lot of tiny pieces-of-paper style, but far from the old style (and a mix of historical and non-historical flow) Avalon Hill game. This is a new game that incorporates all the latest research and experience from playing ACW games. The number of pieces is much reduced compared to older versions of ACW wargames, removing endless focus on minutiae and allowing a focus on decisions and the placement of total forces. I managed to figure out how to set it up and play one turn. The game allows players some latitude in setup, which is not very helpful when I do not know the battle that well. But I think I was able to get it organized into a useful, close-enough start.

(The pink Wilson paper square with the two stars represents the famous general, Wilson, who will soon defeat the Confederates at Selma and create the shipwreck in the museum I visited last year there by ordering the unfinished Confederate ironclad be burned).

I then put it all away — they close at 7 on Sundays; I think I need about four hours to play a full game by myself, learn the rules, and simulate the battle.

I next stopped at Safeway and got some cheese, lemon, and a few other items, including baked potato chips that I could not stop eating. Hmmm. I then baked the salmon using Deborah’s process, and it came out OK. But it was cheap frozen salmon. I had it with steamed broccoli and then some canned peaches (no extra sugar) for dessert.

I read for a while, folded the laundry, and put most of it away. I said good night to Deborah. By 10:30, I was falling asleep (time change!). I managed to sleep most of the night and I remember no dreams, but know there were some.

Thanks for reading!