Author: alohawild

Emma and I finished our day playing the now older board game Scythe. I cannot believe that it has been ten years since the Kickstarter, my first big one. We played at The 649, a taphouse and bar with good food, and Kyle and Crystal were bartending on Sunday night. As we were playing two-person, more like a duel than the crazy back-and-forth play with four or more, and Emma did not know the game, I picked her the plainly aggressive Saxon (black), and I picked the mobbing but simple Nordic (blue), which, while boring, can slide a win in before anyone notices (especially if nobody is playing green, Albion). I played unmolested and started the usual Nordic production swarming by using my swim ability to move my workers past the rivers early. I then rushed the center with my Mechs, but later, Emma, who understood combat well, slammed into me, pushed me back to my homebase, and sat on the center. I used my character to visit many Encounters (getting a Mech, Popular, Military Power, and Combat Cards that kept Emma from turning me into a punching bag). I had the Innovation card, and Emma had the Engineering (which is good for Saxon). I started pushing out stars by building and improving. I ended the game and scored just ten points before Emma could use Saxon and cover the board. Emma’s verdict is that she liked Scythe (my copy is the most bling version with painted Mechs, special meeples, and stored in a special box system), but it is complex, and the asymmetrical nature takes more play to understand.

We returned home, after I paid the bill, which was small as we had just the humus plate and smaller beers. I shared some of my painted figures for Scythe’s campaign game, Bloodrage, and Cthulhu Wars. We then decided to get to bed early. Emma’s flight is at 7, which means an early start to travel to PDX to be at the airport at 5.

Before this, we tried a few places in Portland, and I wanted Emma to see some of the edgy places in Portland, so we did the Albion area and the Portland Gaming Store, whose staff welcomed us and explained their game renting process ($10 a week to rent a board game or free if played at the store). There I found a copy of Pendragon Core Rulebook for 1/2 off. I had skipped this one, but might someday want to give it a try. I bought it for $25.

Before that, we crossed the Oz like St. John Bridge and found a strange mix of beer, food, axe throwing, and a rage room place, Stormbraker, and had small beers and shared a pretzel. We found no restrooms in the bridge park, Cathedral Park, but a later search said there were some (and the crowd suggested it), and we headed for a snack, drink, and restroom. Ben, our bartender, saw Emma was sporting a mushroom T-shirt, and Ben, also a forager, talked about mushroom foraging (not what Grammarly let me keep ‘forging’) in Forest Park and the local area. 

Cathedral Park, which includes a sandy swimming area (glacier-fed rivers, not necessarily always polluted), had collected quite a crowd, but only a few swimmers were out enjoying our first hot and sunny day on towels, getting some sun.

I always find St. John Bridge and Cathedral Park almost a mystical place, and it has, to me, a strange, unworldly feeling. Emma said, “I can see why this is your favorite bridge.” The Arbritum has the same feel; we did not get to that on this trip.

Before this, I met Emma at Powell’s City of Books. I had gone to church, taught Sunday School, and then traveled to Portland and parked in the Pearl District. I dropped Emma off at the MAX before church, and she explored Portland by taking various MAX trains to visit some craft and tea stores before meeting me at Powell’s. We then walked, it was hot already, to Deschutes Brewery’s Public House nearby for beer and a light lunch. We both went for soup.

Before this, I taught The Book of Revelation after church service. There was also an interview about the South Trip for the Methodist Church Conference. I was not needed for that, but that made things a bit more chaotic. I focused on the transmission and the first part of the book, Letters and Introduction, and the underlying issues in the Greek text. I did not get many questions and I was concerned that I my material was not working. I also discussed whether the John in this text is the traditional John the Apostle and the author of the Gospel According to John. I also covered a few of the Roman Emperors who are often mentioned in the text. I heard later that my approach was unexpected, and folks were happy with it. I finished a bit early as I had fewer questions than I expected. But still, with the chaos and having to meet Emma, it was a good day to be early.

Church parking was complex as I was early (Emmaus had many spots) and the City was using the parking lot for a bike safety event (it was packed when I headed out around 1:40). I had to get some painkillers from my car for a congregation member (it was hot and my glasses steamed up when I was cooling down in the church). I missed most of Ken’s sermon on Jeremiah, but it was about leaders of the old temple ignoring their failures as called out by the prophet, and letting ‘wounds’ of the people worsen. Ken talked about how this often fits our times, and especially preachers and church leaders who find they cannot call out social failures or political problems in many churches. God in the Old Testament measures the health of the land by how it treats the widow, orphan, and the stranger (reminding us that we, or our forefathers, were once strangers in a strange land).

Before this, I rose around 6:45, and Emma and I had a quiet morning. I had time to write the blog.

And that takes me full circle. Thanks for reading.

I set the alarm for 6:45, but woke with the sunrise at 6 and tried to sleep, but finally rose about 6:30. I made coffee and tea for Emma, who soon rose (being still on Michigan time, and experience I am familiar with for guests). I put away doing the blog until the evening and instead rushed to get my shower and all that done. While Emma enjoyed her tea (Russian Caravan from the Upton Tea Company), I got all that done, and soon we were in Air VW the Gray and headed to La Provence off of Cedar Hills Boulevard. We would often circle on this street today. There Emma had the hash and I their version of an Eggs Benedict (which I think is better on an English muffin than a croissant). Breakfast was grand, as always, and priced high, but I find it close in price to other places that serve food, trying to rise to La Provence’s quality.

It is cooler, grayer, and we will get some light rain. Emma has her coat and me my hat and coat. It is never more than sprinkles where we are. We do hear on large thunder that we thought might have been something worse, but nope, thunder.

Next, we tour apartments that fit Emma’s price and location (near the Max, near service, and walkable). We park the car and look at the area (the offices were closed on the weekend at all the places we visited, if they had an office). Air Conditioning was not included, and only one of the high-cost places advertised covered utilities, not really in a walkable location. I spotted an AC window unit that was quite telling. You need to bring your own!

We parked in Hillsboro to look at another apartment near the end of the Blue Line MAX, then walked through the Saturday Market. There was plenty to tempt us, and had we not been stuffed with La Provence goodness and had we not many more circles to make (Emma’s leftover hash was soon a science experiment and disposed of), we might have gotten more goodies. These apartments, rather urban, checked all of Emma’s boxes.

(Saturday Market)

We connected with more apartments and continued to cross Beaverton. Baseline Road became almost a joke as we drove it often, “Guess which road we are on, Emma?” Swagat’s huge dinner/lunch, with various small bits that added up to a nap-inducing meal, was my choice after Emma mentioned Indian-style as a favorite. On the way, I let a car, I am an Oregonian, cut in, and then, to the surprise of all of us, did a U-turn in the intersection. But as this is Oregon, no horns, and everyone seemed to just take a sip of their coffee and let it happen. It is different here. I explained, and Emma adopted my belief that many people are assured in their soul and their God or gods. They know either that they believe they are blessed or that the next life, or the afterlife, will be positive. Only that describes, in my mind, the driving and here. Not bad or careless driving, but faithful driving. Literally “go with God.”

We eschew the highways into Portland (and, for most of the circles, as Emma wants to see the area, not the five- or six-lane highways, which are going slow anyway). Navigation informs us that the back ways today are only a few minutes slower. We climb over the hills on the local roads; often, it is just green plants (and moss) everywhere, and a street. I make a few misses and get rerouted in crazy ways that amuse Emma (and this is an EV; there is no $5.65 gas for me). We get to Guardian Games, but first we do City Liquidators, and Emma cannot believe that all this crazy stuff (including full-sized airplanes, furniture, office stuff, and so on) is available. I have not been in this one before, and there are two floors! Delivery is not cheap, but available. The number of stuffed deer and elk heads (there is a full-sized elk) and other items (none for sale) is ridiculous.

Guardian Games’ main store is huge and provides a massive play area that is mostly in use. Emma is impressed, and I let her find her way. They have out Draw-7 and, when we reconnect, I show her how to play. It is a simple-to-understand but challenging card game. I get Emma the Player’s Survival Guide for Mothership (just a pamphlet and available for free as a PDF, I believe). We take another climb over the hill and return to Beaverton.

Emma enjoys our local Powell’s again at Cedar Hills Blvd. We both find some things we need and then head home. After a short break there, we select Lost Ruins of Arnak (now a massive box), to learn and play. We head to Wildwood Taphouse and discover that someone parked a car in front, and now the place, which had enjoyed natural light for most of its life, feels more cave-like, but there is still one table that is bright and available.

Emma finds her way in the sour beers, and I stick to lighter summer ones. I teach Emma the game, and the Emma I knew as a small person appears, and at times, I must play my best to win wtih Emma. Emma quickly learns and spots my engine-building and picks up some of the tricks. I do help her, like I would any player, when she misses a combination (they are easy to miss). I manage to reach the top of the research, but she matches me on it, giving me two points ahead. I had a pile of compasses and used them to buy artifact cards, which often gave me more and more resources. Emma missed this on her turn, but came back and got it in the last round. With the extra resources, I manage to squeak by with a win of about 12 points. Close, and very close, for a first-time player.

We had tried some bowls of crackers, but we needed real food. Emma is still going, it is late for her, and we did Mongolian Grill, which was exciting, and stuck with our “let ‘s-do-crazy” day. We got bowls of raw food, mixed in sauces (there is a suggestion board), and then they cook it on the big flaming grill. They provide rice pancakes and rice to go with it. I show Emma how to wrap it. We finished with ice cream, and now Emma, very late for her (we closed the Mongolian Grill), we headed home, and soon she was showered and sleeping. I stayed up late, finished the blog post, and did other house chores. I soon fell asleep.

Thanks for reading.

I rose with the sunrise for another clear and sunny day. It would be hot. I had vacuumed and cleaned the night before. Instead of cleaning, I started on the blog and got my day started. I made coffee, started reading emails, and loaded transactions into Quicken. It logs into my bank, credit card, and mortgage accounts, retrieves market data, and assembles all this into a clear view of my balances after applying any new income and expenses. This is how I keep my future safe by reviewing every day what is happening to my money.

I enjoy fresh coffee, Fair Trade, and writing the blog for Thursday. I try to remember what happened, and it comes in sudden bursts as my mind reconnects the threads. I assemble a narrative from the flashes and often add some observations here and there.

I also wrote a card to Mom Wild. She has been more confused of late, and I get panicked calls from her. I hope a pleasant card or postcard will help her find peace.

Steve Wolff-Lynne texted me that he is in the area, and we connected and will meet at BJ’s Brewhouse at 11:30. I have to hop into the shower and do all that to make that time. I also hear from Emma C, my niece (Barb C’s daughter), has made her connection and is inbound to PDX (our airport here in the Greater Portland Area, which is unimaginably named after its call letters, PDX). I am time-boxed, but I expect I can meet Emma on time (and likely early) by reaching a MAX train around 1. Plenty of time to have lunch with Steve.

Steve and I avail ourselves of the lunch specials recommended by my often-bartending Rachel. I have a red ale, but a regular-sized one, as I don’t want to nap on the train and lose my way. We chat about a few subjects, including how I got myself, totally unplanned, back into church positions. It was a great lunch.

I drove home, had a few spare moments, to get my Apple Watch and my hat, both of which I forgot this morning, and then retraced my trip to the MAX and ran to catch a train. But it was the wrong one. I get off and wait for the next one. While there, I notice that the cement railroad ties are spaced differently for the two tracks. A train operator greets me, and I ask him. He was just as surprised as I was to see them mismatched and told me he now has to figure this out. “Why are they different? That is so weird!”

I finally get the Red train thirty minutes later and ride it in and back out of Portland. One traveler asks me about my book, then discusses AI and mathematics with me until someone comes on with a dog, and suddenly he thanks me and heads out. Next, a homeless man clutches a bag and slowly sneaks bits of his lunch from it (eating on the train is forbidden), but the bag falls, and he seems helpless, crying out. I collect his items into the bag, hand them back to him again in the bag, tell him it is fine, smile, and nod; he smiles and takes back the bag. Being seen is so important, and getting help when you are unsure what to do makes things better.

The train arrives, and I quickly find the men’s room in PDX (beer and water not necessarily the best choice before an hour-plus trip on MAX). Emma is coming in ‘E’ and I find the new arrival area. Emma is thirty minutes late because a temperature sensor was not working, and then a fox scampered onto the runway and had to be chased away. Emma appeared and was happy to be here in the Pacific Northwest.

We took the MAX back. Emma is moving to the PNW for her Master’s in Criminal Psychology at Pacific University. She does not drive, and so pubic transit is important to her; we agreed to use MAX for the trip. We did pick up the car at the MAX station parking and then headed home. After a short break, we headed to Hillsboro for a Mexican Dinner at Amelias, a favorite. Our food was good, and the margherita (I had a small one) was excellent. Emma had a Piña Colada. We walked to the huge giant sequoia planted more than 100 years ago at the Washington County Courthouse, retrieved a pine cone (one of my favorite things for folks to take back home), and then got back to Air VW the Gray (thanks again, Steve, for suggesting “the gray” for the EV).

We then drove to Forest Grove and drove around the campus. The sun was starting to set, and it was dark when we got back. Jetlag was catching up with Emma. We drove back, about thirty minutes, and she was soon tucked in at the house in the Leta Suite, as I call the spare room.

I wrote and did some chores. I set an early alarm and expected to be driving all over the area as we looked at apartments. I went to bed, read, and slept.

Thanks for reading.

I am no longer rising with the sunrise, which has slid to 6, and I have not. I did wake at 4, then had trouble sleeping, and then woke to my alarm at 6:30, suspecting I had slept only a few minutes before it went off. I got out of bed, made a full pot of coffee, and did not start on the blog as I had a CT Scan at 9. Body truck ending at the chest to ensure that the colon cancer remains cured. Hate to waste that surgery and chemo that got me this far, only to learn that it has spread; colon cancer that spreads is difficult to cure. The results, released before noon, show that nothing has changed. I enjoy this scan every six months (and maybe annually soon); it is always an incredibly happy moment when nothing is found.

It is hole-implementation season here in the Greater Portland Area, and many holes have already been implemented in various roads and streets. Navigation suggests a wild path through Forst Park and local roads. Legacy Good Smaratin is near the park. I find myself on switchbacks and speed-bump-blessed streets and inside Forest Park. Some of the usual roads are washed out (even with the limited water, it seems to come all at once and then not at all this year), and Navigation bypasses the lot on even more obscure roads. No out-of-state plates on this trip; strictly local.

It is a sunny and soon-to-be-hot day, and I enjoy the drive. In these times, an EV is a worry-free, affordable vehicle. Oil changes and $5-a-gallon gas are not things I think about anymore. I cannot find the impact of my EV on my electric bill. It uses the same power as the dryer for about the same time when doing a week’s worth of clothing. The charge is split into 80%. The power required to reach 80% charge is the same as that required for the last 20% (a feature of physics, and is also true of capacitors). In other words, the first 80% is 4x cheaper, by percent of charge, and also happens faster (by percentage gained). When buying a fast charge (I calculate that at $2.50 a gallon), if you stop at 80%, you are saving $$$. A purchased charge to 100% on a Fast Charger takes about an hour for Air VW the Gray (an ID.4) and costs about $35. Charging is faster on Tesla, and their self-driving, when purchased as an add-on, makes them attractive to many.

BTW: Having an EV in Texas with their insane electrical grid would make little sense. In the cold, charging is reduced by 20% or more; thus, cold-winter locations are better for hybrids or well-maintained gas cars. Most of the gas infrastructure is already a sunk cost, and I am not for abandoning it.

I park the EV, and learn that I can’t open the door, and repark. The parking spots in the garage are non-standard, and you have to be careful. I walk by the place where I had my breathing emergency, always stepping on the part of the garage where the EMTs found me. Not a happy memory.

The process is a blur of efficiency, and soon I am back taking the main roads again. I return home. I pick up the house more, and then start on breakfast. I make hash browns from a box and poached eggs. I can never get the poached eggs right. I will have to watch a video or something. I take a bowl, pack it with potatoes, add the eggs, and then some ketchup. It is good. I mop the floors, clean the kitchen (to a limited degree), and bring more order to the chaos of my home. More Star Trek DS9 happens.

I decided that I want to look at dinnerware (I am thinking about replacing my everyday items) and head to the antique shops in Hillsboro. This will also get me moving. It is a short, though, construction-filled drive. I take Main Street in, park just before all the spaces are taken, and walk an extra block. I find more sign letters for the church and buy $20 worth, but I am at a loss for which letters to get.

I am always interested in clocks and mechanical stuff. I know that geared clocks require maintenance, the friction will wear out connections, and these require significant work. Not ready to start a new hobby of clock repair and brass work, and I look at the clocks, but none come home with me. Some items are spectacularly overpriced. For example, I thought I could buy a nice translation of Faust on April 30th, but at $78 for the folio version, it remained there.

I found some china, some possible for home use, but all excessively expensive, and much of it looked like handwashing. Goodwill looks like the next place to check. I want something nice and brightly colored, but microwave- and dishwasher-safe. I would prefer to well-used, as a chance to recycle it and get it out of some store. More to come.

Pizzario was open and offering various specials. I had never crossed their door. I was feeling off as I realized I had missed lunch and was working from coffee, a carb overload of hash browns, and a dose of protein from two poached eggs. I ordered a glass of their heavy red wine, a Main Street Pizza (the Hillsboro specialty), and a half salad that was just pulled from a bag of higher-end greens, adding shredded carrots, and five slices of cucumber to suggest it was more than a pile of greens. I was hungry, and I had only two pieces of pizza left when I paid the bills and took them home, and left a whole side salad. The price was Beaverton-like (a bit high), but the wood-fired pizza, with smoke I could taste, was good. I will try more on another visit.

Jim’s Ice Cream is back (a car crashed into the shop in the winter), and I stopped and found that a toasted almond and pistachio cone was a good idea (the crunch with the pistachio flavor worked). Next, deciding it was too hot for housework (temperatures broke 82°F/28°C), I headed to the new location, now in Beaverton, for Rune & Board, a locally owned gaming store that was at 167 East (my interview for Nike in 1996 was at 167 West, and my first nine months at Nike were there). The store had remodeled some old offices and looked great. The shelves were focusing on very expensive miniature-based space and fantasy games. Not my focus, but still, walls full of figures, kits, brushes, and paints just make my gamer and modeling building heart race. Yes, LOTR kits are over three hundred, but it would be so great to have a whole army. I resist and buy just a box of skepeton figures, which are about five minutes to paint. I talk to the owner, who barely remembers me, and we talk about a Darkshadow play. He would love for me to start a group, but first, I agree to try the existing D&D group on Fridays ($10 a play; I did my RSVP online). I will start something once I participate in what they have.

I return home, do more cleaning once the sky is dark (I do enjoy more DS9), and soon things are looking ready. I managed to make the shower in the main bath work, but the drain is an issue I forgot about. I think I just need one of those old-school rubber caps. It is also a small-ish tub (I remembered the monster one in St. Louis’s 21C Museum Hotel).

It is still early, but I am tired; I read in bed until some time before 11. Surprisingly early, for me, until I remembered that I started this day early. I leave the windows open. I leave the ceiling fan spinning fast. I wake and slow it down. I ignore sunrise and wake later on Friday.

Thanks for reading!

I had a CT Scan (“Stable findings without measurable evidence of metastatic disease”) today and started the blog in the afternoon after mopping and cleaning before it heats up (78°F/25.5°C, no humidity). Though that is not hot, we have not been this warm this year, and it is going to feel hot this bright day here in the Pacific Northwest. Hot and sunny in April does not happen here, until now!

Hmm. Another sunny day and blue skies. I open all the windows and screen doors and air out the house. I also started to get things better ordered. Emma C is coming on Friday, but I also feel it is time to get things more organized at the house. I wrote the blog all morning and managed to get it done without too many typos. I also learned that I failed to publish on Monday. I corrected that, too. My bank transferred my first living cost transfer from my IRA to my savings (this counts as income this year, but I am over 55, there is no fine, and since this is no longer a 401K managed by under Nike’s rules, I can withdraw as I wish, it is just usual income). I got all that proper in Quicken and corrected some snares I caused at US Bank.

I enjoyed more than an hour on the phone with some part of the Skyrizi managing company as it re-did all my insurnace (despite doing it all before and everything was still the same) and they soon discovered that I have apparently already spent my $9,200 in out-of-pocket expenses and dedutable (so far I have not received a $5,000 plus bill for the MRI and CT scans, but I suspect some one will someday show up with a bill, but it may also be that their payment for retirement people may have covered the cost but that still counts for out-of-pocket; I have no real income). Thus, the nearly over $6,000 cost for the injectable treatment is covered. Mysterious things were said to me about a debit card that is now loaded (and approved for use) to cover my expenses of $6,000. Hmmm.

While looking at Facebook, I saw a post about the SSPX and possible excommunications that may happen in July involving the Holy See. I was looking for something more for my class. Going over the controversy involving SSPX members who wish to undo Vatican 2 and want the old Latin back in Catholic Churches fits what I was looking for. This controversy (not well understood outside the Catholic Church’s clergy) may seem ridiculous, but these people believe they have lost something, that their church is in a moral crisis, and have now broken with their own leadership to push a return to a more comfortable time, at least for them.

I traveled to BJ’s Brewhouse and had an iced tea (a beer would mean a nap and more calories) and the California-style flat bread (I think their best item, though, in Beverton, they make an excellent, though expensive, steak — but not so in other BJ’s I have tried, only this one). I updated my plan for the second class with SSPX information and tightened up the text. I sent it out to Joan, Pastor Ken, and Dondrea, not for approval but for them to know what I plan.

I head back, skip by the house, and head to the usual Great Clips, and soon I’m in line for a basic businessman haircut. My hair looks more snowy than I remember it. Those last black hairs have turned white or fallen out. In less than an hour, I was updated to a more organized look.

Joan S stopped by to look at my new flooring after I got back from my haircut. I had also watched more Star Trek DS9 before she got there. We chatted for a while (she has picked out the same floor we were surprised to learn). I then got a text from Mariah, and I soon said goodbye to Joan S, boarded Air VW the Gray, and met Mariah at Hopworks off of Powell at 6ish. I had a beer and wings. We talked about jobs and work. It was nice and time quickly ran away from us.

I returned to the house about 9, did a few more chores, and then read and went to bed. I had an early start on Thursday with the CT Scan at 9 in Portland.

Thanks for reading!