Author: alohawild

Saturday was not going as planned. Originally, I was to head to Richard’s house in Portland for a noon Twilight Imperium board game (with all the add-ons) and then play for five to seven hours. This is a SciFi-themed 4x game that comes in three large boxes (once the largest board game on the shelf) that combines exploring, resource exploitation, warfare, economics, technological advances, system of alliances, and even a political meeting (the Senate) all into one massive game. I often describe it as six would-be Emperor Palpatine-wantabes all rushing to be the new leader. Once you have the rules down (at least two plays and some reading), realize that if everyone plays well, there is only a 1 in 6 chance of winning, and understand that many players are on the 100+ play and know everything; your chance of winning is low (I have never won at Richard’s).

I have not played it since the Pandemic, and I have never used the add-ons. I have the game and a few add-ons (but not the newest one). I was looking forward to trying again. Richard could not get more than four players, which makes for an interesting game, but there are better four-person games, and Richard canceled the play.

Change of plans: I will go to the McMinnville UFO Festival, see some of the parades, and get a new T-shirt. I rise about 7, having woken around 3 and 5, but easily rolling over and sleeping some more. I make a large pot of coffee, continue the laundry started on Friday, but not finished as Friday was busy, and then start on the blog. I find that I have some trouble focusing as thoughts about my Sunday School come and distract me. I check, and the EV is only at 54%, and I put the charger in for the morning. I will get another 10% charge for the limited-time morning rate, and that will keep me above 10% on the trip back; McMinnville is about an hour’s drive away. This gives me a safe margin.

I finish the blog and laundry and decide that later I will make my version of goulash. I shower and dress, this time in a vest and dress shirt (it is cool and damp with rain off and on all day). I add my hat and a coat to the EV. My plan is to arrive before the parade at noon, but parking is always an issue.

I select the no-highway path and take the winding and strange roads all the way until I hit McMinnville. I lose count of the number of vineyards I pass, and the grape-covered hills become the usual. It is lovely, and many of the curves on the two-lane roads lead to another postcard view of Oregon wine country. I am suddenly there and trying to find parking. I make it easy: park on a main road, then walk the seven minutes to Main Street and the Oregon Hotel, the center of the UFO Festival, now a McMinniman’s property and remodeled in their style.

Though it is morning, I get a Ruby, their local raspberry wheat beer, and climb to the very top of the hotel and its Roof Bar. There I am cold and slightly wind-blown and can see nothing of the parade, but the view of the rolling hills, the town, and the churning sky (with rain clearly coming from some not-too-distant clouds). And while the UFO encounter was in the 1950s and miles away, I, along with others sitting high on the roof, raised our glasses to our missing alien friends. Next, I helped take some photos of some folks dressed the part. I enjoy my beer, the view, and eyeing the clouds. It was wonderful to just sit there. Once the beer is finished, I make a hasty retreat before the rain, some clouds seem to be headed this way (only sprinkles get me later; the heavy rain missed us), returning the food menu (thinking it is too cold and damp for food, and I suspect all those carts out there would be a better choice), and head out. But, before leaving, I bought a T-shirt for this year’s festival. The cashier is dressed as the Fourth Doctor (matching my hat, which I tip to him) with the famous scarf. “Thank you, Doctor,” I say as I pay.

The streets are taped off, and the crowd is about a third in costume (more than on my last two visits) and waiting for the parade. Instead of finding a place to stand and watch, I find a cart, one I used before, that serves a good jambalya, and get an order for that. The parade starts, and I stand off to the side, watching what I can see through two rows of happy people while enjoying excellent food.

It is packed, and I work my way back to Hotel Oregon, and I was not surprised that there is plenty of space at the bar. I have another beer, an Alienator IPA, which seemed appropriate for the day. I can then turn and look out the window and see the parade slightly better than on the street. I drink my beer, chat with others, and am recognized by some of the staff. They are from Beaverton and here to help the staff with the huge load of people. They are happy to see me and, though they are slammed, chat a few times.

The parade ramps down, and I finish my beer. I head to Carter’s Bar. It is named for Carter the Great, a favorite historical magician of mine, and I love his posters. I take a few pictures (it is packed).

I walk through the shops looking for anything that interests me, but I don’t find the local writers or other items I would consider. But I do find a local bookstore, Third Street Books, and they have some cards (showing a hamster in a ball entitled Carpe Diem) and a trade paperback of John le Carré’s newest book, published after his death. I support my local bookstore (they had a handwritten note recommending it). Back to the Cold War and spies, excellent!

I walk out of the town, and direct one couple to the fun as they were lost, and find Air VW the Gray ready for the return trip. This time I take the shortest route and find myself retracing much of my route for the first fifteen minutes. But then a turn takes me straight up to Bald Peak, and soon I am in familiar places. Different vineyards this time, and I am tempted as many are open, but the EV gets harder to drive on the winding roads as I increase the amount of wine I consume (though I have never tested this theory), and I decide to forgo more alcohol.

I stop at Market of Choice and buy a decent piece of beef to make into goulash and a few other items (having hit Costco and 185th Veggies already this week), but then head to Costco, dodging closed roads and messed-up traffic for the air show at the Hillsboro Airport. I see WW2-era planes spinning overhead as I park at Costco.

The usual weekend madhouse, and I try to be smiley and avoid the overstressed folks. I find my sandwiches and think I need something for the class. Hmmm. There is a pasta salad made with much of what would be in an antipasto: as close as I can get to anti-Christ, an antipasto. I decided that I will do that (and that terrible joke too).
Armed with my potentially world-conquering salad, I head home, unload, and hear from Corwin. Yes, I am making a huge dinner, yes, come and have some, bring the doggie, and yes, let’s play a game. With that settled, I start in the chopping (and crying), and soon everything is prepared. I then cook the smaller bits of beef to brown (next time I will add flour). I then return it all to the heavy Dutch Oven on the stove, add the onions, let that cook, and then add everything: tomato paste, broth, wine, lots of sweet Hungarian-style paprika, and the secret ingredient: ground caraway seeds. That will cook slowly for hours now. I add potatoes and carrots because I like the goulash more like a stew.

I clear off all the American Civil War games and get Raiders of Scythe, as I think Corwin will like that better. I do the teach of the game, and he is raising a crew, resources, and getting it. He is a quick study. I do the first raid, and he gets it now. Soon, Corwin’s crew is covered in blood drops (wounds), and some of my crew fell (with additional silver and points for their fall). I focus on rewards, and Corwin now gets that, too, but I am very far ahead. To win the game, I ended the game. Corwin makes a desperate raid on Greece, loses all his crew, but gains the maximum points. I am defeated by one point. It was a good game!

Hank the dog sits at my feet for most of the game. He gets lots of pets. Deborah calls to say good night after dinner with her sons (her gift card dinner for Mother’s Day). She says to Hank that I fulfill. Hank gets a treat of cheese while we play the game and eat.

We both had two bowls of goulash, and I sent a ziplock bag home with Corwin with some for later. Hank heads out with Corwin back home for his dinner. Corwin did the dishes (I have the goulash pan soaking). I read my notes for Sunday School and watched some of the Good Omens finale as homework. I read more ACW and soon sleep, now in my PJs and in bed. I wake at 3 to prove hydration, but sleep the rest of the night.

Thanks for reading!

I rose early on Friday, not sure when, and started on the blog. I skipped the coffee and only had a sip of water, as I had a blood draw. Today, the words and memories came quickly, and the blog found form fast, and I was done before 9! I showered and all of that. I was meeting with Doctor B, my oncologist, today around 11 in Portland, near Good Samaritan Hospital, at their Knight Cancer Institute (here for more information).

My drive was easy, and, as usual for me, I was early for my medical appointment, was soon measured (weight in shoes and dressed was 234; unchanged), and was in a little exam room. The Doctor arrived, and most of the time we talked about retirement plans and how the Doctor plans to retire in about 10 years. We did talk about the tumor in my neck, a Warthin’s tumor, and he will expand my next CT Scan to include my neck. If it remains stable, then he would agree that surgery is unnecessary. He was happy to point out that my next CT Scan will be at five years post-surgery with no recurrence, and that means we can stop. Yay!

With that done, I headed out. The staff will call me when it is time for the CT Scan (after the paperwork required to file an appeal with the insurance company) and the next review. I am always a bit mindful that I collapsed in the parking garage after an infusion and took an ambulance ride across the street to the ER. I am happy to drive out in my EV and not head to the ER. Parking is free (if you get validation at the appointment).

I parked only a mile or less away on the streets using the ParkingKitty App for about $5 for two hours. I headed, remembering to bring my Cosmic Tripper Passport to McMenamins Tavern & Pool. This is the Nob Hill area in NW Portland. High-end shops and restaurants are often built into older homes or older business fronts. They stamped it but were surprised to see a 2006 model (most are finished within a few years; I never focused on it). You fill it with stamps (each location has at least one stamp), earn rewards, and, when done, become a member of the Cosmic Trippers for McMenamins, receive special offers, and be invited to Cosmic Tripper parties. I have never focused on this.

It was fun to get stamped, have a Reuben Kincaid sandwich (pastrami instead of corned beef), and a 1983 beer. While I sat there, with a woodburning stove not far from me, making it comfy, tourists arrived, about seventy (I asked the bartender), and there was a catered lunch for them. Most were underdressed for the usual Portland gray and rainy May we were having. They huddled around the stove until someone rousted them to their catered lunch in the other room. I smiled; I forgot about tourists. A few escaped back to the warm room and ordered food and iced teas (I think); pizza and beer were not their thing (odd if you are a tourist in Portland).

I talked to Deborah for a while and was delighted with my medical news. It was not yet raining heavily, and I walked the streets after ringing off and paying the bill. I had not been back to this area in years. It was less rundown than I remember and definitely showing signs of a keep-it-weird vibe. The area is now high-end. I got a cone of plant-based ice cream-like mint chocolate chip on a homemade cone. The mint and chocolate were bright, and the cone had a cookie-like flavor. I walked with this and found a crystal-filled, incense-heavy bookstore that focused on esoteric, and I heard a staff member explain to another customer all the different tarot decks, and also a new thing: building new, non-traditional cards into your tarot to expand your experience.

I got some cards to send to Mom Wild. I was offered a bag, passed, and stepped outside, and saw why. It was now raining (not just the Oregon Mist), but I put my book under my coat (now zipped) and walked on more, in the rain, with my Columbia jacket (waterproof) and my hat. I enjoyed looking in the shop windows, but the wind picked up, and I soon found the car with about twenty minutes left on ParkingKitty (it meows on your phone when it runs out).

The ride out of Portland was the usual highways and not memorable. I was soon home, then got back into Air VW the Gray (having talked to Deborah on the trip), and soon returned to the gaming store and then to the veggie place on the corner of 185th and TV Highway. At the gaming store, I looked for some game items, but settled on $5 of Pepto-Bismol-pink dice for D&D (I hate to leave without supporting my local gaming store); I try to buy the ugliest, while easy-to-read dice.

I got two bags of veggies for less than $20 at the corner and took all those home. I put on Nova while I put the stuff away, did the dishes, and started dinner, a Cornish hen (though Deborah thought I should get a Devon one next time to be more fair to the other areas of the UK). The hen took an hour to reach the target temperature, and when done, it was hard to eat (for me), and I thought its taste was not to my liking. More seasoning next time (if ever). I made a salad with the new greens and microwaved some fresh broccoli. Those were the highlights of my meal!

Next, I reboarded the VW and headed to 167E and Rune & Board. I had registered in advance, and there was a spot for me. All seven would be taken tonight. I took a different chair, and some of the players had changed. We now had two sorcerers (A young gal and her dad, playing a paladin, were playing today). They were known to the other players. For this game, many folks wanted the spotlight, so I kept in the background, but the DM and I shared lots of small talk, mostly unheard by the players, and that was fun. I continued to forge documents with my character, open locks, and remove traps others had discovered (“I am too good-looking to investigate,” my character said). Carter the Great, my character, did get jumped by one creature and took some nasty hits, but my character shocked it and escaped. Overall, I stayed in the background, and the game seemed to be over before it started, though it was more than two hours of play. Lincoln, the DM, was friendly and helpful. I will be back for another play next Friday. That game has a waiting list.

I saw the owner of Rune & Board, and we talked previously about me offering ShadowDark in the future, maybe other games, and RPGs, but I first wanted to play there a few times and get familiar with the staff and players. He was happy to see me, shook my hand, and then I apologized for having to get back to the game. I will try to return next week (I am not as busy) for some solo games and to chat more.

I returned home before nine and paid for a month of Prime, then watched the final episode of Good Omens (season 3 is one 90-minute episode). For me, teaching The Book of Revelation this month, it was fun to see Aziraphale’s low-smiting version of The Second Coming. It was lovely, fun, irrelevant, and I was laughing and cheering the whole show. Without spoilers, it was fun to see who got to do what in the ending. I may have to watch it again. I considered this homework for my class, and it was good to laugh so hard.

After that, I read more ACW as the action continues to heat up and Hood’s constantly evolving plans confuse everyone (including Hood). This is The Last Hurrah of the Confederacy, and recommended if you like your history in extreme detail.

It is Friday, and I washed the sheets and towels and at least started the rest of the laundry. I remade the bed. Clean sheets are sooooo niiiicccce!

I soon slept and did not wake until just before sunrise. I rolled over.

Thanks for reading!

I rose early, before 7, and made coffee on a gray, misty morning. It was cool again, and I would wear a coat and a hat when going out. I made some Fair Trade coffee, a whole pot, and forgot I made scones the night before. I had just had coffee. I did the usual and uploaded my transactions, and it seems my checking account is tracking an extra couple of hundred dollars less than my balance suggests. It appears that PayPal purchases need to be watched more closely, as they come from my checking or credit card. I removed the AMEX as it was too confusing; I wanted the miles, but it was too messy.

I was surprised that I finished the blog early and was at loose ends for an hour in the morning. Nice. I talked and texted Deborah; she is still working.

I showered, shaved, and all that. Dressed, I enjoyed the morning with more coffee. Somewhere in the morning, I watched a new update from Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial’s YouTube channel about the battlecruisers the Trump administration has been talking about. The museum releases a weekly update on the new ships (originally, there were rumors that the USS New Jersey would be reactivated for active service, but the cost, a lengthy refit timeline, and the obvious aging systems dissuaded the Navy from returning the battleship to service, and thus the museum follows this with interest). The annual build plan was released, and three battlecruisers are listed with more information, including an upgrade to nuclear power (Rick, the curator for the battleship, who does the videos, shared that another source suggests the first two will be conventional power until the US can increase its capacity for building nuclear ships). And I would call it a heavy missile cruiser. Currently, reports indicate that all Cold War Soviet-built heavy missile cruiser ships are not in service (with only one likely to return to service). The reports say they are very expensive ships to run. Hmmm.

I met Scott W and Brad J, and we also found that Clyde was having lunch at McMenamins Cedar Hills, and he joined us. We all got caught up (we had not all met for about a month). Scott was diving with his oldest daughter. We all agreed that retirement was great, and none of us was going back to work (though I have agreed to help David S with some work issues if he can fit it into my schedule). We talked about Nike, the latest stock price (in the $40s now), and the recent layoffs. We agreed to meet again next week (Brad J will be in Eastern Oregon and will miss).

I headed out and back to the house for a few minutes, enough time to check the mail, and then headed out with the board game Age of Steam in Air VW the Gray. I also printed some player aids. Doug and David were the players, and Doug had made us chili, along with veggies and other items to enjoy. I taught the game, and we soon were playing it. I pulled ahead as I knew how to play. David and Doug soon were chasing me, building a track, and carefully counting their cash. I had warned them not to be short. I think they liked the game once they figured it out. We made a few mistakes, but it was a learning game. Track-laying and moving goods are how you improve your income; you run your railroad. After riding a train last week, I wanted to play a train game, and this is my best one, but it took the whole afternoon.

Next, I headed to McMenamins Cedar Hills, and there we had Theology Pub. Ken, a few minutes late, mostly drove the conversation about sleep and rest. Ken, whose book was just published on this subject, covered that we need to treat rest and sleep as a right. Too many times, people are giving up rest for work or other activities and slowly wrecking their health and their nervous system. It is important to treat the bedroom as a place for recovery. Others and I related stories, most from working, about giving up sleep or having to regulate sleep with drugs, and how this left folks not rested. Ken also notes that this is part of the call for the Sabbath in the Bible; rest is necessary for health.

We also covered the new speaking series at our church. On June 4th, we will have an excellent speaker. I will try to get the poster in one of these blogs.

After that, I returned home, watched a couple of Star Trek DS9 (it was a two-parter, and I decided, even though I was tired, that I wanted to know how it ended). After that, I put on my PJs and read more about the American Civil War. I soon put that down and slept.

Thanks for reading!

I returned to the house after having a drink, wings, and coffee at Hopworks with Mariah. Among the things we discussed was our disappointment with the quality of villains in the USA. Pete Hegseth, for me a bad guy, recently accused the US press (as did President Trump) of questioning if we had used up our stockpiles, only to be reminded that the press was quoting Pete Hegseth’s statements to Congress. It just has not reached the quality of 1984 or any decent dystopian movie.  Our villains must be “an embarrassment to Evil,” to quote Maleficent, when she complained about the useless help she had (from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty).

We bewailed the situation over our Old Fashioned that we had not gotten back to writing. But I hope to write in November, if not sooner. Much of my headspace is taken up by The Book of Revelation as I teach five sessions at church this May. For me, I have discovered how much is NOT in the book and later constructions. Sticking to just the text, the story is different from the movie or sermons. I have also suggested that the NRSV has made the text harsher and out of context, as I peek behind the translation, sadly read it word by word since I have forgotten my Greek, and discover a more nuanced text. But this is hours of study, and I often find myself thinking about how to explain it in the lecture. It has been a blast to disappear into scholarship again.

Aside: When I write the blog, I often stop to think about how to present in class and to recall all the facts.

Returning to the narrative, it is wings again, despite the fact that they are bad for me, as they are good here and not as expensive as other places. They are served with carrots, celery, and ranch dressing. I have coffee as I was tired. Again, we talk about Mariah’s work and some of my travels.

After a long, traffic-filled ride home via the usual highways, as I said, I was home, and it was not late. We did happy hour at 3, and I rode over the hill, not on the highways, again. I watched more Star Trek DS9. I  have reached session 2. I studied the PICO Raspberry Pi, which I have recently acquired. More like micro-controllers than what I am used to when working with Raspberry Pi hardware. Hmmmm.

I get a note that we are on for gaming with Doug’s group at 2 on Thursday, excellent, and he suggests bringing a game, and I consider a rail game. I read the rules, and I’m not sure I remember them all. I also have Raider of Scythia, too. Next, I decided to make some scones from a mix. I cut in cold butter, added salt, milk and an egg.  Then, I piled the sticky dough into a baking pan. I had one, excellent. After that, it is late, and I head to bed before 11 and soon sleep. I wake a few times and then sleep the night away.

The afternoon started wtih me just before the afternoon at McMenamins Cedar Hills at the bar. I had my new biz cards; I picked them up just before lunch and gave my first to my usual bartender, who used it to make the Theology Pub reservation for Thursday night. I had the Aztec Salad with chicken and a beer. I was sleepy all afternoon after that. Next time, iced tea!

At the bar, I revised and assembled the minutes for the church meeting I ran the day before. I had Zoom record it and then, using its AI, assemble a version of the minutes. I used that to make my minutes by extracting some of the text (with many revisions). It was helpful and within an hour, and reviewing some handwritten notes I took during the meeting for important points not to be missed, I had a proper set of minutes done. I sent the minutes by email, shared a link to the Google Drive for committee documents, and saved the same minutes to the same drive. I tested the document, made a change, and checked that it stayed (it did).

Before this, and before I showered and dressed, I wrote the blog (it was a bit short) and also revised my notes for Class number 4 on John’s Apocalypse. I try to get a copy of what I am planning to Joan, Ken, and cc’d to Dondrea to allow for input (or objections). I sent out the notes and published the blog.

It was damp and gray all day, even cool enough for a coat, and it rained overnight. The roses look happier with a bit of rain. The pair (or more) of hummingbirds seems happy to patrol the pines and roses for insects.

I rose late, nearing 8, and turned the heat back on in the house last night. It is not usual to stop the heat before the end of May.

And thank you for reading, dear reader!

Tuesday started without a game in Portland — my usual plans — because one of the players was unable to make it. I had the morning to myself. I did not rise early, as there was no need to make a 9:30 timeslot and experience Tuesday morning rush hour wrap-up traffic. Instead, I made coffee and returned to my usual practices. I updated my Quicken transactions, read email, and viewed the news.

I was disquieted and had trouble finding a focus. Memories of Susie’s last months filled my mind with the usual regrets and replaying of events. I quickly rallied, wrote the blog, took many calls about church issues, and was busy all morning and early afternoon with various matters (including talking to US Bank Wealth Management to get some paperwork done).

With my groove back, I talked to Deborah (who was worried about my brief replies and had noticed some of the sadness that had slipped into me) and enjoyed the afternoon. I had leftover chicken for lunch and deboned the rest for some future use. I discovered I need to get more veggies, as I have just had chicken. Next, I headed to Insomnia Coffee, forgetting my earpods, and completed my plans for the fourth class on the Book of Revelation. I was happy to connect the story of Cyrus the Great with my class. I also had a chocolate croissant and a latte.

With the notes done, I returned home and read more American Civil War (ACW) history: The Confederacy’s Last Hurrah (1993). It covers some of the same places we walked on our South Trip last year. It is the story of the final battles of the intact Confederate army in the American South until its disintegration due to losses and poor leadership. It is for those who want a detailed story, but a bit short on maps (so far, I am only 50 pages in).

Next, at 5, I was acting as chairperson for Missions/Outreach for the church and called out the first organization meeting. We managed to get it done in an hour (I used Zoom and its AI to draft minutes, which I will revise later) and covered some of the plans, many of which were still in the early stages (and some more speculative). We will meet again in about four weeks and see if we can get any of the plans moving. I will follow up.

After the meeting, I headed to BJ’s Brewhouse with my ACW book and got a high-top in the bar area. Eric, my usual waiter, was there, and he was surprised that I switched to an Old Fashioned. I think I like this better than beer with dinner; beer seems heavy to me. I also surprised Eric by asking him to make something special. I had their chicken breast dinner, but not with the lemon sauce; instead, I asked them to use the Jambalaya blackened chicken. The cook added mushrooms, made an excellent spiced sauce, and even seasoned the asparagus. It was hotter than the chicken! I told Eric they should put this on the menu (it was based on the menu item Sal’s Chicken), and I thought they should add a new entry: Eric’s Chicken. I ate the mashed potatoes with the sauce. Soooo goood.

I finished with coffee and soon headed out, saying good night to Eric. I returned home in Air VW the Gray and plugged it in as it was below 50%. I set it to charge to 100%, despite the extra power (about 2x) to get above 80%, as it was late and there was spare power in the grid. I cannot even find the EV’s impact on my electrical bill. Compared to the AC and the oven, it is tiny, and it has about the same drain as the dryer. Folks who think EVs will break the power grid have not done their homework. Now, if your grid is powered locally by coal without any significant carbon sequestration (central and southern USA), EVs, from what I have read, break even with a gas car on Carbon Impact.

It was warm in the house, and I had to use the fans later. I had forgotten to open the windows, and the house retained the heat of the afternoon.

So far, my experience with the EV has been positive, with one $300 bill for alignment and other small issues (stupidly expensive alignment). No oil changes or filters. Charges for fast charging, often $35, on long trips are about the same as $2.30 a gallon of gas, based on my calculations and mileage from the old Volvo.

Returning to Tuesday, I read more and soon was sleepy. I slept with the thought of General Thomas discovering he had been played by General Hood and had to rush to stop an invasion of the Ohio Valley.

Thanks for reading.