Author: alohawild

Sunday means church at 11. I am not rushed, but if I rise around 7, I have enough time to finish the blog. No luxuriating in bed, reading the news slowly (or doom scrolling, as we liberal call reading the politics-flooded news), and drinking a comfortable cup of coffee. Instead, I rise, put on my slippers (my feet have some numbness from the chemo and diabetes, and thus it is essential to not slam my toes into things), and find the kitchen. The coffee, assembled the night before, is waiting for me. Excellent, and I add a muffin and a banana to my start.

I enjoy the coffee (three cups!) while I write the blog and update the second chapter of my story (book). I am using Scrivener to capture my work and notes. I believe I will need notes and organizing software to write the 300,000 words I am targeting, and this tool, Scrivener, comes well rated. It also plays well with Grammarly. So far, I have found it helpful and have written my notes and some of the text. I already feel comfortable with the process and have 4,700 words; yes, 1% done.

I have left some of the boilerplates behind of late, but I stick to a narrative of my experience day-by-day, never telling someone’s story (they should tell it) and trying to focus on my emotions and the day’s events rather than politics or other easy but less fulfilling writing.

Pastor Ken’s book, The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege, was pulled from the US Naval Academy library by order of the Secretary of Defense. Wow! I did not think I was living in the 1930s. Ken was shocked to see his name listed in the NYT as one of the impacted authors. Over 300 books were pulled by order of the Secretary of Defense; the NYT published the list. 

I have seen justification, of a sort, by folks supporting this. “You liberals pulled out religious texts and history books from libraries,” kind of statement. No, we did not (you can check with the Naval Academy–books were not banned by the Secretary of Defense in the previous administration, including the previous Trump and Bush presidencies). Liberals don’t ban books; instead, we don’t buy ’em or read ’em if we don’t like ’em.

While writing the blog, I went on Amazon, pushed a few buttons, and sent Pastor Ken’s book to the President. The gift card message was direct. I will try to get a letter out.

This is not a political statement but a real emotional moment for me. Hurting people I know is terrible. You don’t have to agree with the book, Pastor Ken, or read it, but banning it with fanfare to get headlines. Hard to imagine.

Books (and games) mean a lot to me.

After the blog is done, I shower, shave, and put on a sweater vest over my pride tie. I pick my wool brown hat as it pouring. The sunny, dry weather is gone for the next ten days, with rain most of the week. I took Air VW, the Gray, to church and was there just as the service started. I had talked to Deborah in the morning and cut my time to the limit. It is always nice to start and end my day talking to Deborah.

I sat in the pews and filled in as an usher, helping with communion and the offering. Today was an altar call for new members, and people were shocked when ten people stood up and professed their faith. Ken gave the sermon before that call and pointed out that the letter to Sardis, often used to beat up churchgoers with its “you are dead” text, suggests that anyone can be saved by repenting. As stated in the letter, those white robes will go to all who repent. He offered the altar call to anyone who felt they needed to remake their vows to the church.

After church, I headed to Red Robin for lunch. I had a Blue Moon beer and a chicken breast plater with salad. I did spoil the perfectly healthy meal with a side of French fries. I read the news mostly while eating. The bartender was a young person I did not know. I did my own checkout using the device and wished the bartender the best (with a 20% tip).

At home, I did the dishes and rested a bit. I am tired lately. I read through the new Dungeons and Dragons 2024 rules (5E is now supplanted by the 2024-5 version). I put my 5E 20th level cleric in the EV, thus avoiding leaving it and having to drive back to get it. I read more about Jutland, and I am almost at the battle of 1916. The author from 1930 is explaining his understanding and version of the events, and I did learn some new things, but without footnotes to provide sources, all is speculative. I see he is more and more often referring to another source. I found it online and ordered a copy from Amazon. I will see if I can combine these to create a better account.

Air VW the Gray gets me to M@ across Beaverton and into western Portland without issue. Deborah and I chatted for a while as I was early. Yes, I am one of those folks that sit in their car and talk.

I soon joined M@ and Nicky and had a burger supplied by M@. Matt is wearing his DM shirt, as this was supposed to be the last battle. Instead, we spend considerable time on small quests to get to the final battle. In one, we let our very charismatic bard just talk the vampire into letting us win. We tried to sneak past the guardian monsters, but at least fought them one at a time.

The big bad refused to play fair (M@ playing it) and would not stay in one place to let us finish it. This is the way it should be. As a cleric, it is my job not to bring on the damage but to heal and dispel, and I was very busy. We chased it through its maze until we began smashing the labyrinth, and this is where a super power woke, and we started over by moving back to our starting point. We were also out of time, so we will pick up the battle, likely short now that we know what to do, in May.

We also discussed our plans for the new campaign, starting after this one. Now, back to the new characters. I am leaning (now) toward playing a sorcerer, as I had never done that before. Karen will be playing a warlock. Scott, a monk (2024 Monk class is a major revision). Betsy is going for a rogue. Mackers is back to ranger class.

I put on my PJs and read more rules and some Jutland. Soon, I was falling asleep. A nightmare woke me up at 4ish, and then I remembered I had a doctor’s appointment today (it is now Monday). I texted and called Deborah (she was driving into work). It is 5ish when she rings off, reaching work. I managed to sleep again just before the 6:30 alarm. 

The dream is a jumble of my usual travel visions. I can’t get home, and everything has changed. When I found my car, it was wrecked. I am lost in the same city I often dream about. It is nowhere but a strange mix of Baltimore and Amsterdam. I wake troubled that I can’t get home in time. I am home and safe. 

Thanks for reading.

I find myself sad again. This sadness makes it hard to enjoy a sunny, warm day in April in Oregon, even though the weather would have been unimaginable ten years ago. I look at the blooming flowers, red tulips, planted a few years ago. I bought them with Glenda when we visited the tulip fields when she was helping with Susie. I remember showing Susie a picture of them. I am pleased to see them again. A good memory, though with tears, and, to me, a manifestation of what is good in this world. A wood bee, a huge non-dangerous yellow and black insect, has moved into the backyard. It buzzed by. I remember one at Dad’s house and his concern that we let it alone. While eating my dinner on the deck, I see another small bee, maybe a mason bee, crawling on my new, yet to be planted pomegranted tree. Later, I get a text that Corwin planted the tree (I leave a $20 in the frig, cold cash, for the work). I used a light to see it at 10. Perfect. The sadness fades a little bit at a time. The tears, though, will always be part of me.

I rose with my alarm and a text from Deborah. It is always good to start the morning with a text and later call from Deborah. I had assembled the coffee machine before going to bed, and a pot of coffee was waiting for me. There was a banana and recently baked lemon poppy muffins to add to the coffee for breakfast.

I write the blog and publish it. I know there are protests in Portland, but I am not willing to breathe tear gas today. I am happy to report that my friend that went had a lovely time, and the bad guys and the tear gas stayed away. I think that also created some of my sadness. Maybe next time. I stay home and make tacos for dinner, not wanting to blow another $30+ on lunch today. I cook a green pepper and 1/2 an onion in oil and then add hamburger, but I fail to drain the fat, and the mix is a bit oily for my taste. I make the shells from a box but put the cheese in the shells to melt it. I did not have lettuce, but I felt that it was OK this time. I added a packet of low-salt seasoning. I had too many, but I put some away as leftovers.

I am in the transition part of a chapter in my story (book), taking the characters from bucolic to horror. It is a fantasy world-based story. It is hard for me to make it work, and I will add a few words here and there. I have 1,300 words so far in a 3,000+ chapter.

Deborah called me while I was reading (more Jutland) and resting (still feeling both at loose ends and sad). She picked up on the call that I was not my usual ‘Energizer Bunny’ (her words) but quiet. After talking to her, I realized I was moping. I got going on packing and preparing. I empty my gym bag (Deborah has suggested that I remove the items from my previous trips and lighten my load) and remove various papers and unneeded and repeated items. I am short on a few items, and some need replacing. I also tour the backyard and enjoy the flowers and the roses that are all bush-like, promising great things in May. The dawn redwood, a gift from the park next to the hummingbird house planted while Susie was with us, has returned to green and looks happy in its wet spot (it is actually a cedar). The wood bee flies nearby. It is a good day!

I take Air VW the Gray to the pharmacy and get some travel items and easter chocolate eggs for Richard, Lauren, and Kathleen, a small bag each. I am wearing my straw hat, and everyone is smiling both at the hat and the sunny weather. I stop by the carts, and the India-style place is open. They welcomed me back by name (it has been months), and I ordered a veggie curry, and they added naan for free. It is an excellent day!

I take my order home and eat it on my deck with the bees, the flowers, and the promises of my roses. I make a few more edits on my story, finding my way through some of the darkness. I rush a bit as I need to get to Richard’s at 6 for a board game.

I board the EV and remember that Kathleen has acquired a car; I will not take her home today. We meet and play the game I requested, Wonderland Wars, which incorporates engine building, push-your-luck (draw chips from a bag), and an efficiency race into one mad game based on Alice and Wonderland’s tea party. I ask to play this game each year around April 1st. Richard explains the game, and Lauren and I are soon fifty points behind and remain there. We have spread out too much while Richard and Kathleen focus on a few battles. I am playing the Queen of Hearts and get to say “Off with their heads” often, as that is one of my powers for my character in the game.

I like the game, but I am crushed point-wise. Like many race games, once you start slow, you remain behind. I did land lots of points in the last round, but a few unlucky draws from my bag took away my chance to make up for the lost chances. It is part of the mad theme. It is hard to recommend this game as it is around $200 for a copy, and the figures need to be painted. My copy is out to be played, but I have not started the painting process. Luckily, the game comes with paper standees to fill in for the figures.

I return home, reaching home before 11, and soon am in bed. This time, with no coffee at Richard’s, I am able to sleep after reading more Jutland. I see that the author constantly refers to another book without footnotes. I see that copies of this book are priced from $50 for a single volume to $250 for a set. I have seldom seen this book referred to in later books; I resist buying it. Interesting. I do rise before sleeping and look all this up.

And that is the end, dear reader. I sleep until the sunrise and remember no dreams, no trip to Wonderland that I remember.

 

 

The morning started with waking early, proving hydration, crawling back into my blankets, and being woken by my alarm a few hours later. Coffee was assembled, and the timer was set. With my slippers on, I walked the short distance to the kitchen and found a pot of liberal joy (coffee) waiting for me. I sliced the last croissant and included a banana on my plate.

I did remember to put out the recycling and trash. I hear the trucks picking it up. Yay!

I doom scrolled the latest financial and political disaster launched from the White House. Now, it is more like watching a demolition derby but with the cars from the spectators. Nobody is happy.

I also watch the tariffs with wonder as I see my Air VW the Gray likely to be worth 30% more in two years than anyone expected. What strange times we live in. Pass the popcorn.

I am considering starting the ‘Western Greenland’ movement to give Denmark the Pacific Coast of the US. We can be Danes! This is part of Denmark’s encirclement plan to limit US aggression.

But I digress…

Like most, I spent the morning enjoying the sunrise, chatting with Deborah, and writing the blog. It was a cloudy day with some sky visible, but this would improve all day to blue skies. This is unusual for the Greater Portland Area in April. But there were rain, tornados, and messy weather in the center and midwest USA.

I had dinner plans with Dondrea and Z, but other than that, I had little planned for Friday. Since the pandemic, when the shoe company had us working from home on Mondays and Fridays, those days have been my laundry days. I stripped the bed and loaded the sheets into The Machine. Staff meetings were held on Friday mornings and often set at 6:30 (after our time change) to include our Indian-based staff. I would frequently stuff the laundry into the machines while listening. It is still my habit to do laundry on these days.

After the blog was done, and after enjoying some fresh air outside, I showered, shaved, etc. I finished the salad I had made a few days ago and opened and heated a can of baked beans for dinner. I was surprised to see my weight increase to nearly 240. It is a relief, as I thought that I should see an increase after all the food and lack of activity (driving). I will be more careful with meals and get more exercise now. But I am headed to Michigan next week and often walk 10,000 steps a day on the trip (and eat lots of good food, too).

After lunch, I loaded the dishes in the dishwasher and ran them. The sheets were not dry (bunched together), and I put them in for another hour. I headed to Big River Coffee with my laptop to write. There was no parking, so I slipped into the chicken sandwich place’s parking and walked over to the coffee place. I got a coffee and a cookie and then returned to my story. I use Scrivener to organize my story and chapters and use Grammarly to check things, but I do not let either tool push me into sentence structures I don’t want. In the second chapter, I introduce the central conflict of the story. I managed to add another five hundred words.

I ordered some Easter flowers, a bulb arrangement, to be sent to Mom Wild and some Easter stuff to Linda and family. Most of it should arrive before Easter and maybe before Palm Sunday.

I took the EV home, read about Jutland, and continued laundry. I pulled the board game Scythe from the VW cargo hold. I got some glue and found all the loose laser-cut wood part holders, emptied them, and reglued the bits. I went to the website for the maker of the inserts to see if I could replace a broken part. Games with so many tiny parts need organizers or at least bags. I was in the original Kickstarter for the game (2016) and checked some of the cards and other parts for wear; it is the oldest of my new games. There are some eBay folks selling replacement parts. I also check that I have all the extras. I only miss a roll-out mat and the $99 large box to hold everything in one box (I don’t need that; the game is currently spread out into four boxes, most of which I don’t need for basic games). I read the solo and auto rules. You can play the game with auto-controlled factions; I have wanted to try that.

Soon, I met Dondrea and Z for dinner at the local Mexican place, and we had good food. Dondrea and I stick to Diet Cokes. We talk about travel, politics, and Z’s math homework. I helped, but I was later told my answer was wrong. F**k, nasty exponent simplification I have not done since college pre-calculus (1983).

After dinner, we say our goodnights. I return home and do more writing, laundry, dishes, and bed-making. It is not a very exciting Friday night. I get to talk to Deborah before she falls asleep. It is always nice to start and finish with Deborah. I watched last year’s Doctor Who about war (it was excellent), “Boom,” read Scythe rules (and checked some game iconography online I was not following), baked some muffins, and put Scythe away with all its pieces back in place with the repairs done (though a replacement piece would help keep one item from spilling). I put on my PJs and soon fall into a deep sleep. I wake cold a few times, but it is only 45F (7.2C) outside, and I should not be cold. This is a leftover from chemo. I feel cold sometimes when I am fine. I return to sleep and dream, now just a vague mist of a memory, about my story and Scythe.

Thanks for reading.

 

I always feel guilty when I have a quiet day, little is done on my projects, or the house is not cleaned. Thursday was one of these non-productive days. Doom scrolling, what we liberals call reading the news, brought forth more illogical changes to the US government by the Trump folks (it is vague if this is the administration, 2025 Project, or an extra government process), including defunding science, health programs, and military changes. The specific ‘crime’ of the National Security Agency chief was his appointment by Biden. No reason was given in the press other than a vague charge of disloyalty to President Trump. The political danse macabe continues.

The news on the financial front is like a view of Niagara Falls—majestic, loud, and hard not to watch. Yes, there is a lot of loud falling. However, the view is different for some of us with significant retirements in the market (I am mostly in cash). It is from the barrel headed to the falls. It is a fantastic view from the barrel and likely an unrepeatable experience, and something we would prefer not to do. F**k.

I assembled the coffee the night before and let the new Coffee Machine perform an automated operation beginning at 7. Thus, when I rose, more like a vampire than my usual popping out of the sheets, I found the kitchen (it seemed to be in the same location, but seemed further away) and enjoyed the Fair Trade already prepared coffee. I took the croissant, sliced it, and plated it with a banana. Coffee in my cup, liberal, I was ready to face the world.

As usual, I wrote the blog and listened to Kink.fm on my computer. This has been my go-to radio station since I moved to Oregon. The programming has changed often, but I still like their mix. I do not enjoy their obviously paid repeated playing of certain songs. The endlessly played song, Vampire, that I actually liked is no longer played. They did it for months, often playing it twice an hour, and now it is gone from their playlist. I still listen and like most of what they play. I like to hear the new stuff mixed with older items such as Teddy Swims played against Dave Mathews Band.

I wrote for the morning, published the blog, showered, shaved, etc. I also read more of the 1936 Battle of Jutland book authored by an American naval officer. The author spent the first chapters setting the stage of WWI and even quoted (again without footnotes!) some other books or referred to some (again without notes). If this book had been carefully footnoted, I suspect it would be read and remembered as a great work. As it is, I am not sure I will finish it. Better books are out there on Jutland 1916 (many new and most extensively footnoted with some even pointing out mistakes in the original sources). Still, the writing is engaging, and his comments are interesting. So maybe I will finish it.

I met Scott for lunch at Cedar Hills McMenamins for a few beers and a burger. Yesterday, I was there and had the no-meat Mystic Burger, but this time, I went with the Captain Neon Burger (meat burger, blue cheese, bacon). Scott and I talked about our travels, both planned and executed. We are both watching the market (see comment above about being in a barrel) and, in Scott’s words, getting more popcorn as we wait for what next crazy will come from Trump and Company (or is it ‘Elon and Company & Trump’).

After a few beers and little sleep the night before, I must admit I slept. I had called into a US Bank call on the markets and nodded off as the platitudes and calming voices worked on me. Not only did I not sell anything, but I was sleeping! Perfect. I had it on mute, so my snoring was not broadcast. With my Wealth Management account for my 401K, I find I have more access to calls on investments. I called my investment manager and told him I was fine, had nothing to say but ‘good luck’, and would let them do their job.

I binge-watched the last four episodes of the Disney+ first season of the Star Wars show Andor while drinking some reheated coffee to wake up. I reheated the pasta and chicken I had made a few days before, but I was not that hungry, and most went to the trash.

Deborah called at the end of her night, and we talked awhile. We planned some events for my trip, including a cooking class for my birthday on Friday (next week) and watching an opera on Sunday (next weekend). Deborah rang off as she was sleepy (she still works and raises early). Our drug of choice when meeting is coffee. One of us will need it with me in Pacific time and Deborah in Eastern time (three hours difference).

I finished my binge-watching and look forward to the next season’s release (it’s after Easter). I read more Jutland. I got through another chapter. I put the dishes away and could write my story in the house, clean, or do something.

I decided that more beer, yes, dear reader, more beer, was a good idea and headed to Wildwood Taphouse. JR was there recently, back from a driving trip to Arizona. We were happy to see each other. We had a few beers and chatted. I had planned to write, but the energy at the bar was electric, and it was more fun to meet people and talk to JR. It was someone’s birthday, the taphouse is known to be pro-dog, and there was a mass of doggies, mostly well behaved. Beer, pets, treats for dogs, and birthday cake were distributed. I felt better.

While we chatted over the noise, JR’s eyes got damp several times. He lost his wife six months ago. I know, though each person’s experience of loss and grief is unique, what it is like after six months and you begin to realize this is your life now. It feels so unreal. It is not lonely or depressing; it is just unexpected, and there are so many little details to handle and decisions to make. It felt like a slow spin to me. My eyes get damp a few times a day and often when I don’t expect it. Frequently, my voice cracks unexpectedly sometimes as the emotions rise without warning. I know, as JR, that time will lessen occurrences, but I can say that the tears or moist eyes have yet to stop. I am not sure I want them to.

With closing time approaching and me changing to water, I said my goodbyes, and EV took me home. I soon was in bed and remembered I had only a few hours of sleep last night. I closed my book, and in a blink, I was asleep. I soon joined some party in my dreams and woke up happy on Friday. The dreams are forgotten, but it was a good rest. I could smell the coffee; I had assembled the coffee before I headed to bed.

 

 

I spent much of Wednesday haunted by a headache, which was likely caused by allergies; painkillers were in use. I was still unwinding from the long drives, too.

I rose after 7, and the coffee was ready when I found the kitchen; it had not moved. The weather, while not gray and totally overcast, the usual for the long March-April-May-June rain festival we used to get, included now broken clouds with sprinkles here and there. My tulips are ready to bloom, and more have appeared, and my rose bushes are breaking into new growth and bushing. My lawn service has edged, mowed, and cleaned up, and my backyard looks marvelous.

I wrote the blog after texting Deborah a good morning, signaling to her that the Pacific Northwest Time Zone is awake. I updated my transactions in Quicken. Mortgage, insurance, credit card payments, and utilities all seem to hit at the first of the month. I made toast with my homemade milk bread, poured liberal Fair Trade coffee into my cup, and found a banana to go with it.

Aside: Yesterday’s blog was the words were ‘fairly traded’ coffee, which might have been Grammarly AI not knowing what ‘Fair Trade’ was or I typed it wrong and nothing caught it. Deborah noticed it and let me know.

I wrote the blog and struggled with Grammarly missing spelling issues, but instead, the AI suggested a rewrite of my sentences. Still, instead of improving them, it was just changing the means, often to nonsensible wordings. I also discovered that I would select a minor update and discover words changed. Yikes!

I also started a rewrite of my first chapter and corrected the voicing to align better. I had slipped into an IT-guy narration of a system instead of storytelling. In other words, it was boring.

I reread the blog twice and made many more corrections (including missing Fairly Traded). I managed to get the blog published and, without rushing, was soon showered, shaved, dressed, and boarding Air VW the Gray. I headed to Cedar Hills Crossing and McMenamins for a beer and burger. I selected the Mystic burger, a non-meat product that is wonderful when fried like a patty over flames. I spoke to the manager there, and the Theology Pub room is booked for next Thursday (10 April starting at 6:30 for ten), but I will be flying to Michigan that day and will miss it.

I returned home. I rested a bit as the headache was a struggle. I got more painkillers and felt better. I added the board game Ruins of Arnak to our game choices in the EV’s cargo hold, had some crackers and hummus for a snack (I wanted to get some food with the painkillers), and watched more Star Wars episodes of Andor. I had forgotten much of this; it is a tour of the dark parts of the early times of the Star Wars Empire.

I headed to First United Methodist Church of Beaverton in the VW. I parked and walked to the nearby coffee place. Prices are higher now; for $20, they have a special of a coffee, sandwich, and a cookie, and that is what I selected. The turkey cheddar sandwich was recommended, and I got mine to go. I was not hungry after the snack and sat outside under a tent listening to the rain while I ate 1/2 a sandwich.

Soon, Dondrea, Z, and others showed. After a back-and-forth discussion, Z and I selected Scythe to play. We set it up for two, Andrew showed, and we added him. I quickly redid a teach as both of them had played before. I helped a few times, but soon Z and Andrew were pushing out on the map. Andrew started to push out, and Z, playing Blue (Norse), felt trapped between me, playing White (Poland), and Andrew, playing Red (Russia).

Scythe is a steampunk 4x game (4x explained here), and soon, conflicts and discoveries were telling. Battles were fought all over, and soon, all the players had battle stars. I had evacuated to my base area, but I was still chased down there! Andrew had to leave about 1/2 through the game, and Z got to play two factions against me. Z was fair and played them separately. As White (Poland), I get two choices from encounters and use this to build faster. Also, with the amount of combat I was taking (having lost most battles), my forces were centralized (losing move the defeated piece back to your starting base). I was three stars from ending the game. I was able to gain all three in one turn as I finished two items from my player board and a goal card, ending the game abruptly and winning with a score of 53 with zero popularity and two combat stars (officially making me a ‘Warlord’ in the types of winning track). Red (Andrew and then Z) was closer and, with more time, would have won. Blue (Z) failed to spread out but could have, and that would have scored high, but again, that would have required more time. It was good that I stopped the game when I did!

I was keyed up by coffee and the game. I watched two more Andor episodes (it is excellent) and went to bed late. I could not sleep. Read more Jutland from the American Commander published in 1936 and was surprised how close this book matches my current reading of WW1. There are hints of American First (the old one) as the author seems to appreciate the Central Powers’ position more. The book has no footnotes, which makes it less valuable to me. Still, the bibliography is detailed and lists many sources I have never even seen mentioned before, including the mysterious reference to the British Office of Stationary reports on Jutland.

I look forward to reading the analysis and facts presented in this time capsule of a book. Already, the book’s introduction mentions the handling of gunpowder as a problem for the British. With the story, often repeated, that the Germans learned to improve their handling of gunpowder after they nearly lost a battlecruiser in the Battle of Dogger’s Bank. I also learned that he affected battlecruiser, thinking it was doomed, fired it guns repeatedly to get off as many shells as possible, somehow firing in ten seconds. This I have never read before. I will have to check this story. It was indirectly claimed that the British battleship Lion was thus disabled and Tiger damaged by this desperate act. This sounds rather romantic.

The author ignores that the Germans had to run from the battle or be destroyed and that mis-signals caused the functional British battle cruisers to concentrate their fire on the doomed cruiser, Blücher. Had the British followed up with their attacks on the battle cruisers, it would have been a 4 to 3 fight with one German ship badly damaged; only luck would have saved the German ships. The author does say it was wrong to use the cruiser on this raid (it was).

Aside: The Germans ‘donated’ the battlecruiser Goeben to the Turks at the start of the war (the ship’s story here). Had they instead sent the Blücher, the battle would have been even (and the cruiser would still have been helpful as a ‘gift’ to the Turks), and with the proper gunnery and better German armor, it might have changed history. It is one of the gaming solutions, what-if scenarios, I mean to try someday. It would have been a bloody fight, and with Beatty not using his advantage of longer ranged guns and not training his gunner well, it could have gone to the Germans.

I must have slept as the time went from 1 to 5:30 in a blink and then to 6:30 in another blink. I remember no dreams, just waking. Though I felt like I had traveled somewhere and had just come back–dreams of Thanks for reading!