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I am writing this story on Saturday morning, a gloriously sunny and warm day–not our usual March. The tradition is that March comes in as a lion or a lamb and then leaves the opposite. Today is so glorious that if we leave March as a lamb, this is more like lamb chops grilled and served with great sides or a lamb in spiced curry with naan. I cannot imagine a better version of lamb.

Yesterday, the skies were grey and blue, and the temperatures were now entering the fifties (10C). I had suggested a picnic to Dondrea and Z to consume the various smoked fish I had acquired on the coast, all local. I picked Cathedral Park in the St. Johns part of Portland (named for the Art Deco-styled 1931 bridge with the same name). The cool day threatened the plans, but I held on to the idea.

I wrote the blog while I waited for Dondea and Z to decide if they wanted to risk the cold. It was long, as Thursday was a busy day for me. I like busy days. Next, I dressed. Rev. Steve supplied Harry’s best razor to me, and I agree that it is the best shave. It is recommended. Thanks, Rev. Steve!

Susie’s Concert in Michigan on 18 May 2024, at Grace UMC in Lansing at 2PM, is moving forward. Joyce will recall memories of Susie for us, and Susie’s family will make the grilled cheese sandwiches and cookies. John Nilsen will be joining us at the concert. It is coming together.

Here the fleet is drying overnight before the final dull coat (the reflections will be gone once that is lightly applied–just a dusting).

Still looking for white smoke, I loaded the car after rewashing my picnic basket with plates, silverware, and other valuable items, including a cheese knife and a bottle opener. I put the fine coastal products in the cooler, a styrofoam box, and an ice pack I keep in the freezer. Next, I returned to painting the fleet of WWI 1/6000 tabletop ship models for gaming. I think this is a cheaper and easier-to-use scale. The range of 15,000 yards is only a foot or so. Larger models, and I have paper versions, require whole tables or, for WW2, a large floor. The figures can also be used in hex-based wargames to replace paper counters–just to look good.

Note: This is just an example of a WW2 model. The ships built in the late WWI and WW2 were larger. This is KMS Bismarck versus Hood–A famous battle. In this visualization, the Prince of Wales is on fire. In the original battle, Bismarck’s superior targeting hits with an underwater shell under the Hood’s armor and explodes, fatally the magazines. This is repeated in The Price of Wales and hits less important areas. History would have been different had the shell hit been in a magazine. This conclusion is from a recent battle review, and it fits better with my thinking. A lucky British shell hit Bismarck’s fuel storage in the unarmored front of the ship, which meant Bismarck had to return to port (Oil mixed with seawater does not burn well), which set up the loss of the ship. The code breakers could track the ship, and soon it was sunk, a footnote in WW2 but a major event in WW2 naval history.

White smoke! Yes, coats will likely be needed as it is cooler at the river. I leave with plenty of time. Dondrea and Z will hit a snag on their way in. St. John’s Bridge has only one entrance due to a road closure/repair. I took, using NAV, Cornelius Pass Road, and Air Volvo, and I saw the stopped pickup on time. The bright sunlight prevented me from seeing the somewhat faded brake lights and turning signal. I think the driver had it in neutral and no brake lights. We stopped in time, with tightening seat belts, alarms, and slamming breaks, and did not shake up too much of the stuff in the cargo area. Just a typical day driving in Oregon.

I arrived and found just the lid ajar on the food. I found a nice table in the park, read, and waited. The sun was warm, but the breeze from the river was icy. I had my usual sweater and was cold but too proud to put on a coat. I reveled in the sun, and soon, the day warmed. Or I was used to the cold. We planned 1:15, but it became 1:30 as Dondrea found an alternative way to Cathedral Park.

I brought the picnic basket from the cargo hold, a 1990 wedding gift, and supplied plates, glasses, silverware, and clothes. I had paper products, salmon, and sturgeon (smoked) in the cooler. Dondrea and Z brought fine crackers, cheese, and pickles. We dug in, and Dondrea and Z learned how good smoked sturgeon can be.

We chatted, ate our fill (making dinner unnecessary), walked around the park, and headed to the river. The Willamette River is a short, wide river that connects to the Columbia River on both sides. It passes through Portland and is dredged to allow the Port of Portland to function. There is a sandy beach below the bridge and docks to allow swimming and paddling using boats out of the main channel and current. I believe we will be back in the summer for another picnic.

It was a relaxing time. Next, Dondrea and Z had a mission: summer clothing for Z, who objected that jeans and shirts were good. Her objections fell on deaf ears—Z learned the definition of LBD.

We said our goodbyes, and Air Volvo, reloaded with leftovers and dirty dishes in the cooler, took me back to the Volvo Cave by retracing our early course. There were no sudden stops this time. I did not get a comment from Air Volvo on my attention; I was cautious this time—still remembering the sudden stop earlier.

There, I continued with painting and finishing the fleet. I got to the point where all the models needed time to completely dry, so I rested. I was not expecting to sleep and dream.

I dreamed I was on yet-another-international trip; his one was not a business trip, and I was traveling, as is my usual now, alone. I was in an Asian location trying to get from the hotel to the airport. It was an excellent hotel, arranged, like many airports, in a circle. I was not nervous or rushed (also how I travel now–never worried) and just walked through the locations. Dream logic was that everyone addressed me in slightly accented English. I was introduced to the hotel owner, who smiled condescendingly and walked off (yes, my new anti-corporate outlook surfaces even in my dreams). I tried to get lunch for the trip to the airport, but I was told they would need permission. Obviously, I was not the correct type of guest to get food. I was disappointed but not the least surprised. The dream fades as I leave the hotel and look for a taxi. I will eat at the airport.

When I wake up, I am tired. I nap again for ten minutes and manage to rise again. Back to the painting, I clear the buildup of dirty dishes in the kitchen. I need to wash the picnic basket set, so I put that in the dishwasher, too.

I play music on the Apple laptop and then move to the fireside room, where my painting and model-building stuff is set up. I worked on the fleet and even finished the Zeppelins. In WWI, the Zeppelins were used to naval reconnisences. However, there was little training or experience in 1916 in their use, and according to historians, it was of no value. Alternative histories are available, and gaming rules that make them more effective. Most crashed, and the crew losses were high.

Corwin appeared between driving; he is trying to raise funds by working as a food delivery driver. Today, it is working better for him, and he has a goal. I point him towards the salmon, and he consumes much of the leftovers in a sandwich and out of the bag. He has only a short break and heads out to deliver food until the late evening when the food runs slow (the restaurants close about 9-10 here).

 

 

I am writing this on a Friday morning that promises a glorious weekend and a nice ending to the local Spring Brake. I stayed in bed beyond sunrise, so it was bright outside.

Recalling yesterday, I rose early and started to write the blog. I wrote for a few hours and had toast with reduced-sugar jam and coffee. At 8ish, I decided to go with my plan, got my hat and heavy coat, and boarded Air Volvo. I put the Apple laptop in the cargo hold in case I decided to stay longer and write. That did not happen.

My trip, just me and Air Volvo, took about ninety minutes, and we crossed the Cascade Mounts at the pass at 1642 feet (500M). During the fall, winter, and spring, I had the traction devices in Air Volvo (it is the law to carry them), and the heavy rain partially melted at times, but the temperature, even near the top, was never near freezing. Air Volvo uses all-weather tires and is auto-four-wheel drive. Only a few drivers were slow; most passed me above 70 (112 k) in the wind and sheets of rain. Only once did I have a moment when the water was so heavy on the roads that I had to slow down. I took 26 to 101, and that North.

The Wreck of Pete Iredale is on the beach of Fort Stevens State Park. I followed the signs and took a city-connecting tour of the local towns. Navigation would have worked better! I was just getting frustrated when I found the park entrance. I liked the tour of Warrenton as I always daydreamed about buying a small house there for weekends. The drive into the park is also not short. It is a huge park, and you must follow the signs to get to Shipwreck. I just wanted to spend a few minutes at the wreck, but I can tell you that the park is worth a visit. The beach goes on for miles and includes the jetty for the Columbia River. The wind, rain, and cold make this a face-numbing visit.

Sadly, the wreck is buried again in the sand. I missed the chance to see it with less sand. The tide was going out, and the wreck was not flooded. I have not returned in more than ten years, and the elements have visibly reduced the wreck. Still, it is a wonder and a great picture.

A pair of men drove up in their expensive EV truck, got out, took pictures, and then drove off. Other trucks ran up and down the beaches, with the wet sand working well for them. The tracks show only a small amount of sinking. I saw a parking area that is level with the beach and provides easy access. I was not going to 4×4 Air Volvo over the dunes! Doing this in the summer would be fun when the water is only freezing cold. On the list!

Note: The Columbia River includes cold glacier-fed water; thus, the deep waters are dangerously cold for swimmers. Fort Stevens waters are thus colder than the rest of the Pacific! As a point where fresh and salt mix, predictors also enjoy the area. The waters are full of life but silty and opaque. There is no real reason to swim there. I just splashed around the wreck and the shallows when I was there before.

Lunch was approaching, so I reboarded Air Volvo and found that Ensign Road connects easily to 101, and my exit was only a few minutes away. Next time, I can miss the local driving tour!

I parked my Air Volvo in Astoria near a used bookstore. I have always wanted to do a walking tour of the town. I was looking first for lunch; I had a headache. I found the local fancy hotel and, across from it, T. Paul’s Supper Club. Generally, the better a place looks, the worse and more expensive the food, except for long-existing places. I was skeptical, but people were at tables, so I gave it a chance.

The decor would fit any edgy hotel restaurant; it mixes elegance and a weird theme (it reminds me of The Graduate in NYC). However, the menu did not match the decor, with the crispy chicken salad called Boom Boom and other playful names included for other usual fare items. I wanted to stay on the light side and ordered the Boom Boom. It was terrific and included some fruit.

After paying my tab, which would be high in the Midwest, where waiters are paid $4-5 an hour (here, they get 13.50 plus tips), I headed out to find more goodies. I found a Dutch shop that also sells locally caught seafood. Better yet, they provide small coolers for free. They recycle the boxes in which they get some food. I buy frozen sturgeon and various excellent canned and smoked fish. Next, now that I have a cooler, I stop by the local butcher shop and get some inch-thick New York strips, excellently cut pork chops, and some frozen ground lamb. The two frozen items will keep everything cold.

I returned to Air Volvo and placed my box in a business-class seat instead of the cargo hold. I didn’t want the lid to get knocked off. I was parked next to a bookstore, Godfather’s Books, and found a book I had not seen before. The Shanghaiers in Portland, to me an urban legend, seems to be actually true, according to Barney Blaklock in his book The Oregon Shanghaiers; I purchased this never-before-seen book at the bookshop. I am skeptical, but Mr. Blaklock appears to cite sources. Something to learn!

With all these goodies, I headed to Josephson’s for their excellent smoked fish. I found my favorites, including smoked sturgeon, which are unavailable in a can to mail—next time. I also acquired maple wine and smoked salmon, both fresh and canned. My sister should expect some goodies in the future.

After that, I made a short visit to the Columbia River Martine Museum, where I am a member (free). I looked, as always, at some of the sailing ship models. Amazing work! I stopped by the shipwrecks, my favorite, and there I saw the other remains of the Peter Iredale.

It is a more than two-hour drive to follow the Columbia River back to just before Portland, but I love the views. Air Volvo and I headed through Astoria to connect with Highway 30 and back home. Air Volvo complained once that I was not paying attention to driving with the dreaded bells and coffee cup light on the display (I was looking out the window), but I was safe. Air Volvo said I should take a break and then drive again when I could pay attention better.

I managed to stay under 65 and did not have an unscheduled meeting with the local or state police. I mainly adhered to the lower speeds when Highway 30 passed through small towns. I took Cornelius Pass Road to cross the small Tualatin Mountains west of Portland. This brings me to the Tualatin Valley, where I reside at the Volvo Cave. The S-curves and climb are not trivial, and Air Volvo did not complain as I had both hands on the wheel and was very attentive. It was high traffic as it was approaching rush hour, and it was important to stay in one’s lane and not go over a cliff or smash into the rock sides of the pass. It is always a rush to drive in Air Volvo in the passes, and I arrived home at 4PM.

Corwin tasked me with locating propane to grill the steaks I brought. I drove for thirty more minutes to find a place open. Fred Myers had closed their propane; when they didn’t have enough gas jockeys, they stopped selling propane. Stupid to give up the revenue and frustrating for their customers. I’m not sure I understand this corporate decision process.

Finally, I filled the two tanks and drove them back to the Volvo Cave. Corwin made dinner. I could not finish my steak. I put it away for later.

Next, I painted 1/6000 ship models and read when the paint was drying. These are WWI models. The combat in the 1914-1918 system was before meaningful aircraft attacks, so the rules of tabletop play are simple: Move, Fire, and Damage. Firing torpedoes and striking mines are the only rules that are complex. I have started all my WWI models, including two Zeppelins (yes, those too are in WWI naval games). I dream of an AI to play WWI Doggers Bank but with the Goeben there (the Germans in the alternative history send the Blücher to Turkey).

You can see five that are darker; they are finished. A larger one is a model from the past that I kept in sight to keep the shades a close match. The unfinished ones are waiting to be finished on Friday. Two are repeats, but I found German ships that they closely match and will put those names on them. I paste a flag on the top (in this case, it is the German Imperial Naval Ensign) and the name on the bottom.

I went to bed early as it had been a busy day.

 

 

 

Going backward, I was home from First United Methodist Church at 9ish. Gaming had gone sideways, so I spent the evening chatting with Shawn about Dungeons and Dragons. We have both been playing for years. I also spoke to Andrew about his upcoming honeymoon in Florance, Italy, and his job as a Federal employee. They were good talks. There was also a thought to plan a gaming night for the other choir members. I think there will be more on that after May.

Before this, I had stopped at Guardian Games Aloha (formally, Rainy Day Games) and found an old friend still working there. We talked about the games we have played. I was there for Army Painter’s Blue Tone ink to paint water on the 1/6000 scale ship models. I painted the sea blue (Wolf Grey), brushed on some white for foam, and then covered that with a Blue Tone to darken the blue and make it look more like the sea and 3D. I saw a few new items but left with just the Blue Tone.

Moving back to an early dinner, I roused Corwin and headed out for food. Air Volvo took us a few minutes to the Aloha Food Carts. Corwin had been doing Uber Food deliveries today to earn money, and he made one delivery from the same carts. Corwin said it was hard to find if you did not know it existed.

We got two three veggie-only curries from the cart called Chaat House. We had chai to go with dinner. The wind picked up, and rain pelted the tent with the food tables. I had my coat but forgot my hat–I was cold, but the food and chai warmed me. Eating outside under a tent and being pelted by sideway rain might be taking the Oregon thing a bit far, but still, I told the gal at Chaat House, “If you don’t love rain, you can’t live in Oregon,” which I believe is true. What rain?

Before this, I used my tiny (one called insane detail by Army Painter) and best paint brush to bring color to the tiny-scale ship models mentioned above. I used Uniform Grey for the hull, stacks, guns, and other structures, Mummy Robes (a very light brown) for the decks, and Black for the top of the funnels. I painted the seas blue and white, as I mentioned earlier. I had to let this dry. You cannot use the Army Painter Tones unless the paint is quite dry (it will dissolve any freshly dried paint).

Later, I could not sleep, so I sat down and carefully painted the ship with a Dark Tone as a wash to bring out the tiny ship’s 3D lines. I had done the Blue Tone before going to bed. All this needs a few hours, at least, to dry before being handled. They look good, and I will finish them soon with flags and names pasted on the models.

Before this, I spent hours on paperwork. With my surgery approaching (May 20th) and Susie’s Concert done in Oregon, it is time to prepare the paperwork. I spent hours writing up all the accounts I use for handling money, paying bills, and running the financial part of my life. It took hours as I found account numbers and checked passwords, PIN numbers, and beneficiaries for my monied accounts. I recorded it in a Word document, despite all of my security Spider-man senses saying “no” to using an unsecured document for this. It needs to be simple if bad things happen to me, so I accepted the risk.

I also found the official birth certificates, marriage license (Susie and I called it The Cow, as the seal has a huge cow), and other essential documents. I already had my lawyer update my will and provide proper, signed, and notarized Power of Attorney and Oregon Advance Directives forms. I located my leather briefcase and will fill it with these papers and other essential items. This will be given to Dondrea before my surgery. If I head to the great gamers in the sky, this goes to Matt V.

While depressing and taking hours, it is best to plan for emergencies, and the best way to prevent them is to plan if they will happen. Or, to remember another moment from a John Wick movie, “Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum,” which, when translated into English, means “If You Want Peace, Prepare For War.”

I slept into 8ish and rose feeling rested—for the first time in weeks. I made the last of the liberal Equal Exchange coffee in the French Press. I ordered a new case, and it arrived today. The Kramer sent more good coffee, and I will use that starting Thursday; thanks. I also had a bagel with cream cheese from my NYC supplies stocked by the Smiths and Joyce; thanks.

Lunch worked somewhere above between things, and it was cottage cheese and a 1/2 can of peaches.

Leaving this for last, last night, the grief and anger surfaced again. It circled like a dream-shark and bit hard repeatedly. Tears. I painted. I ordered some rules on Amazon for WWI tabletop ship models. I am better this Thursday morning. I was warned that grief was a thief. Facing the surgery adds to this pain. Sucks.

I included that bit, not asking for help or sympathy, but to be true, and this blog is about my experiences.

Thanks for reading.

I am writing this Wednesday morning. I am feeling better, and I have been very thoughtful about my bottom, and the soreness is fading. I slept into 8:15 as I was enjoying just sleeping today.

Tuesday (yesterday) started with me raising 7ish, starting the blog writing for Monday, finding liberal coffee, and making a NYC  bagel, plain, with cream cheese. I enjoyed the writing and likely wondered a bit. I am feeling better and decompressing.

I had a box of potato pancake mix; I just added water and minced onions from King Arthur Flour, which I found when committing insecticide in the pantry. I found the Duck Fat (it is a John Wick movie thing) and added that to a non-stick pan (a gift from Steve). I used up all the mix and saved some potato pancakes for later. They were OK–it is pretty plain food. I had it with some ricotta cheese (I was out of sour cream). It was a good lunch.

I wanted to build some models or at least paint some items, so I needed to find the table in the fireside room in the house. It was buried under papers and the jetsam flotsam of my recent trips. I put all the recipes in the office box of papers to be filed. I threw away the stuff I would not need again but kept the maps for Texas and Louisiana. I find it hard to throw away maps. I trashed useless plastic paint holders and carried out recycling items twice. While not as clear as I wanted, I could return the table to usable.

I have some 1/6000 WW1 and WW2 naval ship models for tabletop gaming. They are not inexpensive, as they are a low-volume purchase (once you have them, you don’t need them again); these are only about an inch long, including the base, and are easy to paint. This scale is easy to store. I paste the flag of the nationality (Germany’s WW1 flag is white) on the base (there is a space for it) and also paste the name on the underside. Today, I glued the ships to their bases and primed them. I have stopped using spray primer for some small metal models. I instead hand-painted a water-soluble primer all over the models, creating a small but helpful coat for the paint to bite into. It dries fast, so I am not breathing in paint overspray, and the coating is so light that I don’t lose any details.

I managed to assemble some recently purchased WWI ships for the Falklands Battle (WWI). I also have new rules for another famous WWI battle, Dogger Bank, and most figures. I hope to use them someday. Again, they are easy to store, as all the figures fit in one drawer in my figure case.

After that, I found my time was running out, and I headed to Dondrea’s and Z’s house. We plan to play Stroganov (spelled differently than the food), and Dondrea was excited to make her special meal of the same name. I arrived at 5:30, and Dondrea had already finished most of the cooking. We shared the meal with Dondrea, Z, and me.

Dondrea, not one of our gamers, was initially put off by the board game’s complexity and process. Z, who often plays with me, soon got it and would win with a near-crushing score. I continued to walk everyone through the process and advised them on making score-improving moves. I came in last and should have followed my advice, but teaching and winning simultaneously is tricky.

I described the game in the previous post, so I will not go into detail now. Once they understood the processes, Z and Dondrea really liked the game. The game has enough resources on the board that it does not feel like a mean game (where every move removes options from the other players). With one advance action a turn for free, you get to do all the fun things every turn. There are no hidden items, so you can plan your turn during another player’s turn with a small risk of disturbing your plans. We all liked the idea in this game that the meeple furthest into Siberia became the first player.

I observed that the furs soon became only available in the further lands, as we had already harvested the easy ones—realistic. This also meant you could cheaply buy land as an advanced action near the start of the lands—you don’t have to pay for the furs yet to be harvested when purchasing the land. Soon, we had a land grab going. Z noticed that buying land was the fastest way to make points.

The favors from the Tsar give you only a few points but give you superpowers. Soon, Dondrea was a hunting machine. Z concentrated on lands and yurts and won. I was last, having tried everything to learn the game better. It was fun.

Z, blue, with the win! Dondrea was red, and me at the bottom was yellow.

I’m sorry if I focused too much on the game above; it was so fun to play with three players. After that, I headed home. I worked on the 1/6000 ships I mentioned, showered, and got to bed late. I ordered some more WWI ship figures to finish off the chance to play some battles. I slept well with dreams of riding horses and hunting in old Russia.

Thanks for reading.

Going backward, I finally slept before 2AM. I had anal pain from over-pushing on a movement. My colon was revised from cancer so that the top was pulled over and resected to the bottom. This means I am less aware of when I need to make a movement. I was over-enthusiastic yesterday evening and badly bruised the pushing parts. It was hard to sit or to lie down. A lot of aspirin and Tylenol, and let’s call it resting, finally calmed the area so I could sleep. A new issue and one I caused–more care will be used from here out. Ugh!

Yes, this will be a funny story later. But then, breaking my poo-er was not amusing at the time.

Note: As a colon cancer survivor, I have been internally surveyed many times, and there are no known medical issues in this area. I just have to be less enthusiastic.

As I could not sleep and standing was working better, I continued with the laundry and cleaning. I emptied out the ant-visited shelf in the pantry, tossing some expired and questionable items that had been pushed to the back of the shelf. I previously sprinkled that area with hot petter to keep away bugs; I washed the shelf, removed the pepper, lightly sprayed it with Raid, and let it air out overnight. The shelf contains mostly canned goods. I will do the rest of the shelves (less bug spray) over the week.

Corwin was cooking a late dinner, but he had mopped the floors and was getting the dishes put away and dirty ones into the dishwasher. Excellent. Late-night cleaning is acceptable. I sleep now with the “Sleep” station playing on my Echo Amazon device. That and the reduced hearing prevent me from waking. I am conditioned to jump up and help Susie when she calls my name. I used to wake up all night to strange sounds. Showering before sleeping reduces the coughing (removes pollen, and the damp air clears my lungs), and the light music makes sleeping easier.

Corwin 2.0: This was not true of Corwin’s earlier releases, but he cleans up his messes now. I still put dirty laundry in the washer when I noticed the pile in front of it—no problem. Corwin 2.0 is easier to live with.

I had a to-do on the water bill. I have little love for the local utility as a broken pipe can get you thousands of dollars in bills instead of informing you of an issue and allowing you to fix it before they bill you for two months for a break–at the full rate! With my surgery coming in May, this is the last utility bill not automatically paid. Sitting (with care in my office in a nice padded chair), I explored their website and found they have a maximum payment option, setting that to $300, 150% of my usual bill. Another item is done! Ya! Before I trust them,  I will leave paper billing on for a few more billing cycles.

Before this, I tried to sleep, but the butt pain was distracting. Instead, I read the rules of the board game War of the Rings, Second Edition. Evan might want to try the game, and Corwin likes this one too–he beat me twice as the Free Peoples and I playing Sauron. My dying wish as a defeated Sauron was a rematch!

Imagine a giant board that is the map of Tolkien’s Middle Earth covered with figures instead of cardboard wargame pieces. Next, you can play events that match the story within the framework of a vast and quite colorful rule book. That is just the war part. The Ring and the Fellowship exist as figures, cards, tracks, and casualties, and there are rules for the chase to Mount Doom to destroy The Ring. It is nuts, and you roll dice for actions, making for strange plays that fit the book (For example, “Well, I can’t search for The Ring as I did not roll search options, guess time to finish off Gondor”). It is a merger of board gaming, role-playing, and Tolkien. Totally not recommended–unless you love board games and Tolkien. Then it is a must-have seldom played game. I have all the add-ons and 3D-printed visual improvements (some still need to be painted).

Yes, moving backward in the story, I had a tough movement at home, which created the issue. Details will not be listed here. I was unhappy with the results and the process. I will be more gentle in the future. Yikes!

Before this, and when sitting and resting was easier, I was at a local taphouse and food joint, The 649, with Evan. We played the board game Exploding Cats: Good and Evil. This is a silly game where you try not to explode. There is a strategy and luck card game. Evan gave me the little game as an early birthday present (I turn 60 on 16 April 2024). Evan had trouble grasping the silliness and the strategy of making your opponent vulnerable to exploding and forcing them to play extra turns. Evan exploded twice. I had read the rules, and he was still learning.

Before that light game, Evan was a bit overwhelmed by learning two games in one night; we played my new board game acquisition, Stroganov (spelled differently than the food), which I got for 25% off at Guardian Games Aloha (formally, Rainy Day Games). This is a complex resource management and worker placement game from a 2021 Kickstarter, with me owning the plain retail version–cardboard markers instead of terrific pieces ($219 for the deluxe version on Game Steward’s website, I paid just over $30).

Our first game, won by Evan, was sluggish as we learned the rules and started to understand the game instead of just the rules. We also missed that there are two actions, and then you pay for a third, which explained the low scores and the lack of flash as we were playing one less action per play. In the second game, with Evan figuring out the rules issue and what outposts are for, we played a more enjoyable game. In that game, I scored higher as I gathered many resources, such as pelts from hunting in Siberia and visiting yurts. The game is layered but easier than Arc Nova and Weather Machine and closer to the complexity of Scythe. I liked it as it played fast and, compared to the newer complexity-to-the-max Kickstarter games, a quicker teach. There is some competition as the board does not replenish existing lands. This is a game to consider if you want something more accessible and faster while being complex and colorful. It is also cheap, in the basic form. I will likely find some generic metal coins and horse meeples to upgrade the game. I did find stickers for the game. The gaming community does not love the game and now wants more complex games, and thus, this game does not have the upgrade sets you find for more loved games.

Before this, I had lunch, soup, and a taco at the nearby Mexican place Tapatio: Mexican Restaurant. I also had a grilled cheese and split a fondo with Evan. I broke a rule and ordered two lighter beers while gaming. The beer seems to be one of the reasons the pounds won’t come off. Dondrea has said she has the same problem–adult drinks mean no weight loss or worse. But I wanted a break today.

I also stopped by Tammy’s Hobbies and picked up more glue (it ages poorly) and some grey primer. I plan to get to one of my models this week. So far, it’s been a no-go, but there is hope.

On the way to the hobby store, a car blocked Farmington Road. I had to brake, and Air Volvo detected the issue, too, and tightened the seat belt. The computer knows that a sudden braking means a possible rear-ending, and so it prepared me for bad things by strapping me in. I did not get the warning for auto-braking as the Volvo detected I had enough space to stop. It is always reassuring to get a computer-based hug from Air Volvo. No paint loss and I was okay and smiling. The huge pickup truck behind me stopped in time.

Before this, I was talking to the friendly people at the USA Social Security call center on the phone in my office. They checked if I should apply for benefits for Susie’s passing. I could claim, after a lot of work, a few hundred dollars in one-time death payment, but survivor benefits were not available to me. I decided that an appointment and paperwork were not worth the small payment. I also learned that if I applied for benefits at 62, I would get over $2,600 a month in benefits. All interesting and took most of the morning waiting for a callback and writing the Sunday blog.

I rose at 6ish as I wanted to get my staycation going. And that takes us, dear reader, to the start of my day. Thanks for reading!