I was playing a board game at Richard’s house in Portland, so I did not get home in time to write. Also, I had work meetings until 5ish and other medical things to deal with, so I could not write it in the morning.

Thus:

Going backward, I got to bed at about 11PM with me reading until I started to fall asleep while reading. I always find this strange, and I fall asleep dreaming about the storyline I was reading and then wander off in s dream-like state to some other thread. I often awaken as I suddenly realize I am not reading the book as my thoughts are not fitting the story, or when the Kindle hits me when it falls out of my hand.

So I managed to get a few minutes in on the book that I really started to enjoy and then put it away as I fell asleep twice reading. I am now able to be fully asleep and still hold the Kindle. Susie used to find that funny when she looked over and realized I was sleeping with my Kindle open. I would, of course, deny I was asleep, “just resting my eyes.” That would get me an eye-roll or other comment.

Before putting away the Kindle and sleeping, I took Air Volvo home from downtown Portland: Richard’s house. We played a new board game, Western Legends, and all gave it good marks. It is a dudes-on-a-board with a light element of role-playing, but mostly worker placement and point scoring for goals. It used a deck of playing cards for gun fights and general combat, with the high-card winning. Something I have seen before in many dudes-on-a-board games and even Role Playing Games (RPG). This game did not have a campaign like some other board games with a touch of RPG, so it reminded me of Blood Rage and even Pandemic.

I played Butch Cassidy and had an old west-styled figure with my color, black, added as a ring to the bottom of the miniature. For my play, I went with the outlaw approach (the lawman approach is easier I think) as it matched my color and character. I managed to fight and win most of my gun fights, deposited the gold I stole in the bank, robbed the same bank, and generally had a great time being the outlaw. The Marshal eventually caught and defeated me, but I managed to tie for second place in a six-person game. Unfortunately, I could not catch up to Richard’s points with final scoring, the game being too new for me to know all the ways to get Legendary Points, but I got quite a few. Next time!

I would recommend the game, just the base game is what we played, and I always like a game where you can play Poker as an action. So if you want something more board game than RPG, and like the theme of the Old West and Poker playing with cattle stealing, then this would work for you.

I left work to reach Richards after 5ish with my last meeting running it full length. I drove Air Volvo to Portland in some traffic, but not too bad. I picked up a shake and french fries at McDonald’s on the way and ate them in the car. Richard and Shauna also served cheese and crackers. I was introduced to four folks I had not played with before. We then dived into the new game. Learning Western Legends mostly as we went. Again, we all enjoyed the game.

Still going backward, work in the afternoon was some meetings, updates, and a few crises of the moment. I had free lunch and coffee. Getting a savory crepe wrap with brisket-style beef sliced up with veggies for lunch. It was tasty. Coffee was, despite my diabetes, sweat chia as I needed the pick-me-up.

Before all the meetings, emails, text, slack messages, and Zooming, I slipped out to see Susie. Susie was finishing breakfast and was feeling better today. The rest and sleep seemed to help. As usual, I called Susie’s mother, who we caught just as she was pulling into the garage at her house. Susie and Leta had a friendly chat. I had a quick visit as I had to get back to work.

Before this, I was at work, arriving there before 8AM. The first status meeting is at 8. My drive was easy. I started at 6:15 with a shower and then some breakfast with liberal coffee. I slept well, but, as usual, I could have slept the day away. Some day!

 

The morning started with me regretting waking. My alarm woke me at 6:15, but I felt certain I should have had more time and rested for another 15 minutes. I then got up, hopped into the shower, and got dressed. Next, I made coffee–liberal coffee, found a yogurt for breakfast, and read email, text messages, and Slack notices, rushing through all of this. Finally, I managed to climb into Air Volvo just after 7:20 and drove to the office at the shoe company before my first meeting at 8:00AM.

I had a lot to read and follow with the data conversions running nearly perfect for the new software. I managed a few crises of the moment and meetings overlapping. A busy few hours.

I then walked out to see Susie. Air Volvo seems to know the way, and I had no incidents and ignored any messages on the phone while driving! No crimes were committed.

Susie was in her recliner when I got there (after filling out the paperwork) and looking grumpy. Susie said she felt awful and was too tired to eat breakfast and would not have lunch. Susie seemed upset that she felt terrible and could not eat. To make matters worse, I could not reach her Aunt Glenda for the daily call (her mother was out this morning and afternoon). Susie just wanted to sleep, and I asked Jennifer to put Susie back in bed.

I was worried that we would be headed to the ER or I would get called back in the late of the night.

I returned to the shoe company in Air Volvo using highway 216, often called the Devil’s Bowling Ally. The southbound lane of 216 was blocked now (I had just used it) with a wreck of a 5th-wheel trailer and an RV. Ambulances and police cars were everywhere. It was terrible to see–someone’s vacation had gone terrible.

I managed to get back to work at about 11:30, taking a few extra minutes with Susie when she felt so bad. For me, lunch was a chicken pita from the Twisted Gyro truck–Free lunch via a truck and coffee are still being offered at Clubhouse to celebrate our return to the building.

I ate at my desk and started looking at more offerings from Azure from Microsoft. I also was happy to learn more about Pytorch. I spent a few hours reading and trying out Azure and Pytorch.

After work, I did a few more status meetings and then headed back to Susie’s place. The traffic was much worse at rush hour, but soon, without accidents, Air Volvo reached the Hummingbird House. Susie was back in her recliner and was feeling much better. The rest helped. Susie was ready for dinner. We managed to call Leta, Susie’s mother, and then her Aunt and Uncle, Glenda and Gene. Susie was delighted to chat with all of them.

Again, she was feeling much better. But, Susie was sad to have me leave as the nurse aide started up dinner for them, but it was time for me to get moving on. I kissed her goodbye and headed back into Air Volvo. My worries were relieved.

Mariah, a friend, had sent me a text to meet her at BJ’s for dinner at about 7ish. I was there, after enjoying Portland-Beaverton traffic, thirty minutes early. I got a beer and waited. I ordered a fried mac and cheese ball appetizer (it was strangely excellent and appalling at the same time). I had the ribs, ordering enough to take some home, and Mariah had the steak.

We talked about various subjects. Mariah wants me to get a muscle car; not likely at this time. We talked a little about writing. I am already thinking about writing my next 500-word horror story for the H.P. Lovecraft Portland Film Festival–I won last year’s contest.

Mariah and I said our goodbyes. I could hear her start her car across the parking lot! I was home soon and rested and read for about an hour.

I got a package of special rose food from Heritage Roses. I am hoping to help my two stressed roses.

I then started the blog. I am fatigued tonight, and to make it worse, I have back pain–I never have back pain. I took some Ibuprofen and Tylenol for the pain. The pain is fading.

The day, like most Mondays, starts with my alarm at 6:15AM. Meetings begin at 8AM, so I jumped right into the shower and dressed. I then found some yogurt in the frig and had that with coffee; I had breakfast as I read emails, text, and Slack messages to get caught up.

I was ready for the status meetings starting at 8AM, going to 10ish. During the status and some more software meetings, I slipped out to cut a few roses from our plants here at the Volvo Cave. I found a small vase and headed to see Susie.

I started from the Volvo Cave; it took about 30 minutes to reach the Hummingbird House. Air Volvo got me there without incident. Susie was just finishing breakfast when I arrived and was happy to see me in the morning. We called her mother, Leta, and they chatted for a bit on my iPhone.

I then took Susie to visit the park, Metzger Park, next door. It was cool in the shade and comfortable in the sunlight, so it was comfortable once we got off the porch. Dogs were being walked everywhere. A mother with two daughters played on the basketball court (using chalk to decorate it). One of the girls ran for the door and headed to the street with her mother running after her. There were no cars, and mom reached her in time and pointed out the road to the little girl). I was laughing, and the mother smiled.

Susie enjoyed the short trip and the drama. Soon I was out of time and kissed her goodbye. I managed to return home without incident.

I then ordered a Monte Cristo Sandwich from the La Provence Orenco and an extra croissant for later. I planned to eat 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner. Grubhub delivered the sandwich in less than an hour; still hot.

I handled a few crises of the moment and carefully followed along on the email and Slack messages all afternoon. More status meetings at 4ish. As planned, I had the 1/2 sandwich for dinner–it was wonderful. Sadly, I was not thinking and left out the croissant, and Corwin had it with his dinner (he finished off the salmon from Wholefood)–no croissant with coffee for me in the morning. I should have ordered two croissants!

While all this was going on, I washed my bedding. Then, I remade the bed and read for the evening. I did try to do some writing, but I was too tired to write very much on a Dungeons and Dragon adventure I had started when the chemotherapy made it hard to do anything but sit. I am embarrassed to say I can’t remember clearly the great ideas I had for the adventure. But, I find they will come back to me–I just remembered one idea. No chemo head, just me having too much on my mind.

I am sleepy and will read for the evening.

My mother, Barb Wild, fell on Saturday night and is now recovering at home. She was not seriously hurt, but it was a bit scary at first.

Evan called me and let me know he visited Susie for a few minutes at lunchtime.

Sorry but I was up late on Saturday playing board games, and I had a status meeting in the morning on Sunday, so I am just getting to the two-day status. It is always hard for me to write these long ones. So please forgive me if I slipped into just reporting here and there.

Saturday 4June2022

The morning started with me getting going at 7ish, with my alarm waking me. I had an 8AM meeting, even on a Saturday, as the shoe company is installing our new software this week. I managed to find a bagel (I still have a few frozen local bagels from Einstein’s Brother from last month–all the New York City bagels are gone now) and have that with some local yogurt (Tillamook). I then attended a short meeting. Next, I got dressed and collected all the stuff to play a movie for Susie. Finally, I headed out in Air Volvo to Tigard.

I got there at 10ish, and Susie had finished her breakfast. Jennifer had her up early, and that worked for me. Susie’s mother, Leta, was headed on a trip with Susie’s sister’s family, so we called Leta in time for Susie and her to chat for a while.

Susie and I were soon watching Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince. I like this movie as the main characters are young adults now, and the adult characters are all clearly aligned with their roles. Thus the acting and storyline flow more for me. But, this film has a tragic ending that disqualifies Susie from loving the movie. I forgot how much I liked this one.

I had a lot of items to finish at the house, so when the movie ended, I kissed Susie goodbye and headed home in Air Volvo. I managed to avoid any police or other events on the way back.

I decided on fast food for a late lunch, but I wanted to avoid the heavy burgers and fried food. Now, I have always been a fan of Wendy’s. As I have written before, I remember when it was a new chain, and we would drive to Owosso, Michigan, from my hometown of Laingsburg to have a burger that seemed premium quality. Back then, the chili had green peppers and a lot of flavor.

So I ordered a baked potato with a large chili. I like to put the chili on the potato with the sour cream. The chili had a pile of onions dumped on top; I had ordered the chili with onions. The chili was not hot, and the beans were only 1/2 cooked. The onions did not cook at all when stirred into the chili as the product was near room temperature. It was terrible, but I was hungry and ate it.

I then started back on the balloon model. I needed to get it further as I needed it for Sunday’s Dungeons and Dragon game. So I began to rig the model after installing deadeyes for the main balloon lines to attach to the basket. I managed to use brush-on super glue to lock in the ropes. I then painted them black over the cement to look like tarred ropes. Next, I cut the extra brass leads from the deadeyes and painted any ends showing black as if it was a metal bolt. While simple, my extra-wide basket allowed Dungeons and Dragon figures with bases to fit together in the model. I lastly rigged the railing lines.

I had built the balloon part months ago from a 6″ styrofoam ball. The rigging and basket and the supports (now a post of transparent plastic rod 1″ thick) had me flummoxed for months. I bought some parts on eBay from some defunct wooden ship models, which got me headed in the right direction. I built much of it like a wooden ship model but using a simple rigging plan.

I attended the 4:30 shoe company status call.

I then headed to Portland, stopping at McDonald’s for a shake and fries when I was still a bit early. Richard and Shauna, and Shawn played some board games. I got to fail again at the word game Word Jam. I don’t do word games, but this is one of the better ones.

After that game, Shauna left us to play Arc Nova. This is the same board game I have played for the past three weekends and lost. And tonight, scoring -14, I had my best night. Shawn had a positive score, a good showing for his first game. I again got stuck about 3/4 through the game, but I made fewer mistakes and misplayed not building more buildings in my Zoo. I do like the game, but each turn is complex–and those types of games are hard for me to win. Richard, Shawn, and Kathleen are excellent at these Euro engine-building games.

Arc Nova is a colorful game!

We played another short game, No Thank You, that has you measure risk and try to hoist risk on the other players. We all managed to win one game–My only win that night. After that, I drove home and got home at about midnight. I went to bed without writing the blog.

Sunday 5June2022

As I am rushed, it is already late on Sunday; I will go in reverse order as it seems easier for me to write.

I returned from Dungeons and Dragons at 9:15 and started rushing through the blog. At D&D, we continued our campaign that Matt is leading. We are playing a story in a fae enchanted land with one of the non-playing characters I play being a tiny talking mushroom! In our story today, my drunken master monk character, who can’t stop talking about brewing, led a raid on the evil hag’s apartment and, as usual, stole her stuff. I can’t give spoilers here, but we did steal our payment and left evidence that implicated someone else. We then demanded payment. It was fun to mess with the straight storyline causing the evil hag to make up for the “loss.”

We used the balloon model in most of the day’s story. So it was good that I finished it and brought it with me!

I had time to grab a burger from Burger King before the game. After my experience with Wendy’s, I wanted to stick to Burger King and local joints. I have never been disappointed by the local Burger Kings.

Air Volvo carried me from Camp Magruder on the Oregon Coast back to Beaverton to play Dungeons and Dragons. The drive was 90 minutes, with me often flying 60+ on the messy and rough roads of Highway 6 that reach the coast near Tillamook.

Aside: The steam train for tourists and train lovers running backward near the camp. The smoke hides the brown dirt showing on the partially slide that did not block the road!

Rev. Stephen Wolff’s retirement party was today at Camp Magruder in the afternoon.

The party was pleasant and very Covid-19 conscience, which made me feel safe. The snacks were all carefully wrapped. Communion was served with care. It was nice to be included in a relaxed but safe party!

Steve told quite a few jokes and looked very relaxed and happy. I also saw Steve’s kids, Emily and Arthur (plus their kids and families). They were delighted that I could make it. I used to cook with them when Steve served at Beaverton First UMC. When my father passed away, Emily booked all my flights for me.

I was not sure I could handle the 90-minute drive, but it was so lovely to see the coast again that I was pleased that I risked it. I was not too tired and could manage a few-hour party.

Before heading out to the coast in Air Volvo, I was with Susie at the Humminbird House. We watched the first half of the last Harry Potter Movie. The Deadly Hallows movie. This movie is my least favorite of the series (the first half of the book the movie is based on is also, in my opinion, a failure). However, I did like the film better this watching (I also believe, despite its flaws, the movie is better than the book). Susie, who seldom cries, did cry at the end of this movie. I did too.

Susie received a package from my Aunt Kathy. Some socks and a blanket, all purple. Susie loved them!

We managed to fit in a call to Susan’s mother, Leta, despite my need to rush.

Aside: Michelle Nixon sent this picture later of Susie using the new blanket and socks.

Just one more film to go. I had to rush out once the movie was done. A quick kiss goodbye for Susie–and lunch was ready for her. Air Volvo managed to get me to Steve’s retirement within minutes of starting. A fast trip!

Before this, I planned my day and attended an hour of status meeting at Nike at 8AM. Then, I loaded the car with stuff for Susie, Dungeons & Dragons (including the new balloon model), and a gift for Steve Wolff (Doctor Who 28mm figures I have painted). It was going to be a rushed day with over four hours of driving!

Somehow I managed to shower and dressed–I don’t remember.

I started at 7AM. Waking from a short night but feeling ready for a massive day.

I went to bed at about 11ish, still not having written anything. Instead, I kept getting distracted by good things. I had stayed up with David and Michelle Smith on the phone and watched the newest episode of Obi-Wan Kanobi (that I had to learn to spell) on Disney+. We did a viewing group and could sync the watching here in the Volvo Cave and Smtih Mountain.

In the show, Obi-Wan Kanobi, or just Ben, as the character states many times, was good the second time. Again, this is a feature of excellent Star Wars films and now episodes–you can see it repeatedly and still want to see it again. Recommended.

Before this, I was resting a bit. I had dinner and drinks with Evan at a Thai place. While the drink was good, my food was terrible, and thus I will not name the source. I think it is not OK to criticize someone or someplace on social media when they have no means to refute your negative assertions. This blog is about my experiences and sometimes my opinions, not a place to punish folks.

Before this, we, Evan and I, located Central Station Taps in Beaverton, a beer-only place with nice tables, and it is around 4ish; they had not yet got the Friday night crowd. We were thus able to get a table to play a board game and a few beers before they filled up. I brought the board Concordia this time. I brought Venus and Salsa add-ons, but we only added the Forum to the base game. Evan decided on the basic map.

Evan played well, and I could feel him forcing me to act fast and efficiently. I made only one mistake in the game when I picked to build some trading posts in cities in different providences instead of pilling on one of Evan’s best builds in a providence that happened to have two adjacent farm cities (food). For me, having the Farmer and Weaver card and buying an additional Architect at the very start of the game gave me the game.

In many really simple turn but challenging strategy games, you need to focus on what you have purchased and make it work instead of trying to do everything. This is the secret to Concordia and other board games–may be the secret to life. Also, there are always those end-of-game conditions, and having all your colonists on the board is worth many points at the finish and gives you more options until the game ends. To win, you need to keep working towards the final goals balancing that with your short-term goals–also a secret to life.

Before all the beer, food, and gaming, Evan and I visited Susie at the Humminbird House. I brought a larger screen that plugs into the wall, suitable for dark Harry Potter images. We watched the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We were between breakfast and lunch when we arrived around 12:30ish. Susie often skips lunch and eats dinner instead. This was true when she worked for Marriott years ago. So her lunch would be 2-3PM or not at all.

The film was still good after all these years. Like the Star Wars shows, this is one I could watch repeatedly. The actors, and they’re a lot of them now, are into their characters, and the special effects no longer look added but are included in the movement of the actors. Spell casting is no longer flipping a wand about; it is more visceral and causes smoke. Now, all the bad guys come into the story and have more extended appearances adding to the dread and drama of the story. Starting with this movie, Bellatrix’s insane laugh starts to haunt us. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are among the best ones. It is Susie’s fav, and Evan gives it high marks too.

Aside: I set this up in the Activity room so we don’t bother the other four residents.

Going back, Susie was happy to see me; she was waiting for me. I was there after making a stop at the pharmacy (prescriptions were running out) and getting some lunch (a spicy chicken sandwich from Popeye’s), and getting gas ($90!). I noticed today that Susie is speaking more, she is still hard to understand, but I hope that will improve. Susie says, “I am trying.”

Before getting to Hummingbird House, I talked to the gas pump jockey, and apparently, he is the manager for the Chevron Station on TV Highway. He complained that he has to pump gas as he cannot find folks who can make a change, do the basic paperwork, and be reliable. He also complained about how much gas costs and told me that the sign was wrong, he had not updated it yet, and I was paying even more than it said! He has been raising prices every other day.

Before listening to the gas station woes, I was home working a typical work-from-home Friday for the shoe company. This meant laundry, dishes, and even a bit of basic model work while listening to meetings and reading endless updates in my work email, texts, and Slack updates. It was a busy morning with me fitting in a shower and dressing between calls.

I woke at 6:15, made coffee, and had yogurt for breakfast with a biscuit. I slept well but could have used more sleep. I was tired most of the day.