Author: alohawild

Monday’s are quiet for me. Most of the folks work, and I just sleep until about 7:30, enjoy a quiet and unbusy morning, and have no appointments. I made coffee, liberal, fair trade, and dark and bitter.

A sip of the dark liquid reminds me how far we, liberals, have yet to travel to wake the world to Justice with Compassion. The world, unlike John’s vision in The Apocalypse, needs a kind and waking beverage made without suffering and with all costs paid. I marvel that something like this is available to me and drink deeply; it is like Holy Communion with the wakened world: Equal Exchange Brand coffee, illumination in a cup.

Thus energized, I begin to recall Sunday and write a story of my day. Pain is part of my Monday. I had intense dreams (all forgotten), seemed to have slept strangely, and my left leg is cramped and stiff. It hurts, and ibuprofen is required to reduce the pain and inflammation. I remember fragments of a dream of intense running and hiding and being forced into small spaces. It feels like I actually did those things! I did stand to usher on Sunday at the church and to lecture in my Sunday School. I cannot imagine that was the only cause. How strange!

With the pain and some exhaustion, I keep Monday simple. I write until before 10 and publish the finished blog with plenty of photos. Dondrea sent me one she took while I taught on Sunday. Often on Monday, I take the MAX to Portland and walk, but today it seems like a poor plan, so I decide to try another McMenamins location and get another stamp in my passport book.

Aside: You can buy a passport book and collect stamps from various McMenamins locations, and as you fill a page, you get a prize (a free burger, appetizer, and the like). If you complete the passport, you are granted Cosmic Tripper status and invited to special events. I am still working on my 2006 passport!

I head to the Greenway McMenamins, about 2/3 of the way to Portland in the West Hills. Of course, I showered, dressed, and even applied all the creams to stop skin issues. Skyrizi seems to have slowed and reduced my skin issues, but flaking and itching have returned. I will apply the creams and so on for the next couple of weeks to bring it back under control (they worked before). I spaced shaving and will not shave until Tuesday.

Unshaven, I arrive and soon learn that this location was the third created by McMenamins founders. It is also their first brewpub and the first place in Oregon where beer was brewed (legally) once brewing was legal again. This is where it all started! I find a table with sunlight inside (it is a cool morning) and order a Special Prosecutor burger (thinking we could use one of those) with vegan split pea soup. Both were excellent.

The Special Prosecutor and proper split pea soup mix well with my class notes for John’s Apocalypse. I outline the book’s structure and start with a Methodist argument on some main points. I fill a couple of pages with text to settle my thoughts, knowing that I will only use the notes to keep on track and to read from the text. I would come back to my notes all day and update them. By the time I head to bed, I have enough material to finish the class.

I enjoy my iced tea, food, and writing at Greenway McMenamins. I then returned home in the EV. I had remembered to charge the night before, Air VW the Gray, and I had a nearly 100% charge when returning (part of the effects of going downhill). The pain and stiffness make even driving uncomfortable.

I stopped by Walgreens to get a prescription, but the pharmacy closes for lunch until 2. I got some soap and toothpaste that I needed (plus some chocolate) and will return on Tuesday. I seem to alway hit this break.

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, 5E, Trials of Saruman printed book arrived. I had the PDF, and this is an excellent distraction, as are various calls from Deborah. This is a campaign book, not really a sourcebook, for players and DMs to experience serving Saruman before his fall into corruption. It has five quests for players to work for the White Wizard, with a system that has Saruman fall deeper and deeper as players fail, or, on their success, to revise the story and keep Saruman hopeful.

I enjoy the new material; it is like a mini LOTR story. These stories, while not from the books, are approved content. I am not sure I will ever get to play it, but I do enjoy reading it and imagining these other fellowships doing quests in Middle-earth.

I made heated Chicken Tikka from Costco for dinner, but used the Chinese-style dry noodles instead of cooking rice. The noodles dried out the mix, and it was a bit too crunchy. Next time, rice or get some naan.

I bought a season of Doctor Who, the second season, for the new show. I watched that while trying to relax. I read some more about the American Civil War.

I do laundry on Mondays, but it didn’t get done. I was ahead as I had done on Friday. I found my bed, read, and soon slept. Dreams filled the night, all forgotten, but none had me cramped again, and I woke on Tuesday without pain.

Thanks for reading!

My allergies are hammering me on Sunday, and I had an asthma attack while ushering at church, and my inhaler helped (that is how I know it was asthma). I rose at 7 and had until 9:15 to finish the blog. I reheated yesterday’s coffee and had a scone I made the day before, and a nectarine (it is a bit early for them, and I ate them slowly since three cost nearly $4). I do the usual things and have an instant personal worth number (though the IRA balance does not update; I make a manual adjustment at least once a month). I fiddled with having PayPal draw from the AMEX, but the doubled expenses (with miles) and required complex transfers made it too messy and left the checking account balance wrong (under by about $500). I might return to that and eliminate the checking account from PayPal access (having two sources of funding and Quicken not knowing which is which made it less than transparent), creating another layer of protection, but so far, it has been too messy. I will put that off.

I wrote the story about Saturday’s activities, managing to write over 1,600 words and include multiple photos for this blog. I have it done before my time limit. I publish it.

Shower, shave, and all that follows. I put on my pride tie with a dress shirt with a navy blue vest and dress shoes. I am ready early and load up the car with an antipasto salad (with tortellini) and sandwiches. I printed off copies of my class 3 notes to hand out. I figured the antipasto salad should be served when discussing the antichrist (it is lowercase in Greek and in the NRSV). Despite all the chores, I still arrived in Air VW the Gray too early and Emmaus church, the church that meets now before us, and chatted with Deborah until 10:30 (church for me starts at 11).

I carried in my load, put it in the fridge (also new from the renovations), and then took my place as an usher. I talked to Bill, and he put out the food and got some plasticware for the salad. I had more coffee and stood most of the service (making my Apple Watch very happy).

Pastor Ken gave the sermon and covered again how, in the end, and according to Jeremiah, God expects his people to know him, and there will be no need to tell them about God, as they will know. In the future, all the bad will fade, and Ken said we have to be involved in the community to help bring this forward. We are God’s people, and it is our job, and the reflection of being right with God, to help the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. Justice shows as the love of a community towards its people and strangers. That is what it means to know God.

Much of the choir, band, and even the organist were out traveling. Even our soloist, Eric, was ill, and the band instead went with a hymn sing. Everyone was late, and my count went from 29 to just under 40 by mid-service. I heard from some that the traffic and construction had made a mess of their drive to church (the air show at Hillsboro Airport also continued through Sunday).

I rallied the class, about ten, and we covered more of The Book of Revelation, and this time the conversation flowed to some of the Hollywood versions and popular myths. We covered the horrific beasts and the Four Horsemen. Jeff made popping sounds as I read the text of the breaking of the seven seals. I covered how maps and stories are made out of text and made up things (for example, the word ‘antichrist’ was never used in The Book of Revelation). We ran over a bit, as many explained how they were taught to fear the End Times and were presented with many proofs that it was the End Times. I reminded the class members that it has been nearly 2,000 years since the book was written, and we are still here. Maybe we should treat the images as metaphorical and not as an immediate plan. Though we have seen the Four Horsemen rise over and over, again, a better metaphor than a manifestation of The End.

With that done, I was tired and headed home. Lunch was two plates of my salad (I had to have that before covering the beasts of John’s visions). I sat in my chair and watched some Doctor Who on Apple, bought a season, and just tried to relax and rest. This is one of the more terrifying versions where humanity, wearing something that looks much like earpods, accepts things downloaded into their minds, and then is controlled, converted, and made into Cybermen. The screams and graphics are well graphic, short of a horror flick.

This is not really relaxing. I reheat the Indian-style chicken I made a few days ago for dinner. I read more about the American Civil War (ACW) and have gotten to the part where the shooting starts in this battle, but it is still confusing, and there are not enough maps, I think in the book, but we will see.

I did order a new Kickstarter. There is a special version of the DaggerHeart Role Playing Game, Heart of Cthulhu 1912, that features the RMS Titanic in its story. Had to have that. I tried to just get an adventure book (figuring I could use it in a time-traveling story), but that was impossible with their reward system; instead, I went all in with the full set of books (and PDFs) and then added all the special extra items, but avoiding dice for $30 a set (I have plenty).

I got word that my lightning detection devices are shipping from China. Usually, the shipping includes tariff add-ons, but we will see this time. I suspect that the Trump Administration owes me some refunds for disallowed tariffs, too. But it is only a few bucks. I suspect I need to find the invoice, show it was delivered, and then file it with the shipping company to get the refund. Not likely I will work that hard for a few $. I am sure the shipping company is already trying to harvest the cash from the US Government.

I need to get back to my electronics and build a few items. I will look for where my equipment went and find a place for that work, likely in the office, as it was originally planned as a workspace for modeling, painting figures, and hands-on hobbies. I plan to build a few things I have purchased over the past few months.

I read more ACW, and the battle keeps getting closer and, from what the writer seems to suggest, it’s a battle of the witless. Everyone seems to either assume the battle is lost or won before it is fought. I was surprised to read that the Union officers were already talking about surrendering and had yet to fight! They believe that Confederates (who are just as lost and confused) will crash into their rear and cause the army to collapse, and they should surrender before this happens. According to the author, 6,000 Union troops are holding off 19,000 Confederates without being engaged. This is 1864, and the last battles in Tennessee for the Confederates with the aggressive (and slightly batty) General Hood.

I am frustrated that there is still no battle, as is General Hood in the story, and I close the book and sleep. I wake around 3 to prove hydration. I sleep late past sunrise.

Thanks for reading.

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!