Blog

I rose after 7 and felt well and ready to face another week. Coffee, a pot of liberal joy, was waiting for me. I had assembled the coffee the night before from Fair Trade coffee. I toasted a NYC bagel (thanks, Joyce) and covered it with cream cheese. I had a banana with this.

I wrote the blog and sent a card to Mom Wild. I am trying to send a card or postcard to her at Brookdale, where she now resides in a facility. I doom scroll (read some news), updated my transactions in Quicken, and Deborah and I talked for a while. It is good to start and end our days with a text or a call. Deborah is in Michigan.

Dear readers, if you want to send a card to Mom Wild:

Brookdale Meridian Assisted Living
c/o: Barbara Wild, room A-9
5346 Marsh Rd.,
Haslett, MI 48840

Monday is my laundry day, and I washed the used towels and my clothing in one load. I set The Machine on Permanent Press (Dad always recommended that one), and it works best for me. The trick is to pull your pants and shirts out still warm and put them on hangers. The cloth material settles into shape when it cools. The new underwater packets appeared today. They are smaller, and I was happy to discover that the underwear fits better. I am finally replacing poorly fitting larger clothing. I ordered from Jockey’s website. Later, when I could not fall asleep, I ordered new dress shirts and a pair of pants, all in smaller sizes, from L.L. Bean.

After the blog was published, I returned to pieces from the board game Unsettled in the shape of four crew members and a robot named Luna. I had painted them with acrylics and then sealed the pieces with a gloss spray. I let that dry overnight.  I then got out my oil paints and a small brush. I mixed a solvent with the pure black and brushed it onto the figures to fill the cracks and lines to create a 3D effect by appealing like shadows. I had used Speed Paints that do the same thing, but not with black. Now the figures’ details really popped, and the robot, painted primarily white, looked more worn, but the lines were more pronounced, again looking more realistic. Previously, I would use ink, Dark Shade, directly on the acrylics, but often this would fade and settle by gravity, and not where I wanted it. Worse, it could not be wiped off like the oil over the shielding coat. The only recourse was to repaint the area. I must have painted some figures three times!

I let the oil paint dry and then later wiped most of the dark off of the Luna figure, getting the white back to bright. However, I left some dark stains to make the robot look more used. I filled a few cracks with black after whipping too hard. I dried off any still-wet oil paint on the crew member bases (it ran off the figure and puddled following gravity). This is the same system of painting used on naval models to get the rust and stains on the model, and filling in lines and cracks to make the model more realistic looking.

After the figures were dry, I finished them with the lightest flat coat spray. I use Mr. Clean products (expensive!). This must be thin, as it blocks some light, causing the colors to fade and the metallics to lose their shine. Even with care, I sometimes dry-brush some metal colors after this to restore their brightness—just a little, and the shine is back. These looked good as is; excellent.

With the figures done, I headed to Tapatio in Aloha for Cinco De Mayo. They were busy, with one waiter rushing here and there in a Mexican Soccer shirt. The food, as always, was excellent, and I had a large beer (from Mexico) to help celebrate this holiday, which was mainly created to sell drinks.

Before this, I had written a memo for an insurance company and sent them the information they needed to pay the last insurance payment for Susie’s passing. I assembled that with a death certificate and a return envelope. Soon, Leta should get the last payout that I know about. I still have about $25 in a mutual fund still in Susan’s name that wants a court document for me to inherit. I will try again to get them to change it to my ownership.

It was a lovely day, and I read for a bit before heading out to the Cinemark, where Joan S was meeting me. We decided to try the new Thunderbolts Marvel movie. We met about 5 and caught a movie still in previews. I had left my wallet at home, but my phone worked to pay. We got seats in the back of the theater just as the last previews finished.

While the movie was a bit predictable it was funny and managed to be entertaining. While it was not as good as other Marvel movies, this one worked and we enjoyed it. No spoilers other than it was OK and to stay to the end of the credits (the usual Marvel thing).

Joan headed home, but gave me an AAA magazine with articles on Iceland and a Columbia Employee Pass. I then stopped at the Zen Sushi place and had a snack for dinner. My lunch was large so I wanted a lighter dinner.

I returned home, read, and soon was resting. I eventually slept.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

 

I woke up on Sunday and felt happy and ready to face the day again. The gray depression is fading, if not gone. Organizing the house, getting the paper blob back into folders, updating Quicken by closing the quarter, and painting some figures seemed to work. I still get tired in the afternoon and/or the early evening and often nod off for a while, but then I wake and can keep going. I am back to being a morning person, and my energy drives me to write, do housework, and pay bills in the fresh sunlight (or Oregon’s grayish glow that replaces sunlight). I try to remember to get a card done for Mom Wild Monday-Saturday, before the mail person appears around 10, or sooner. I often write them, like I am writing this on Monday morning, while writing the blog, and then put on my robe and slippers and the card in the mailbox. My neighbors see me sometimes, make catcalls, and call back with good humor, “Retired!”

I was time-boxed, and Deborah called. We had a nice chat. Out of time (which was fine as I can complete the blog later), I showered, shaved, dressed, and headed out early to First United Methodist Church in Air VW the Gray. I was speaking on the New Member class I was asked to hold; I quickly sent out a plan for the class to various folks at the church. Z and I were also covering Theology Pub.

It is May 4th, “May the Force (Forth) Be with You” Day, and Pastor Ken wished everyone the Force, but it was clear he is not a true believer. He spoke about the same scripture I preached on, but he went on and focused on the part where Jesus calls Peter out. As you would imagine, I focused instead on the cooking and fishing part and barely mentioned the talking to Peter got. But Ken did concentrate on Jesus’ call to “feed my sheep.” Ken then called various folks to speak about some of our opportunities to help, including our food programs at the church, the Theology Pub, and my class. How our UMC was ‘feeding the sheep.” I went up with Z, who had written a short item and was on her phone. Z quickly discovered it is difficult to hold the tiny screen, read it, and look up. Z then just remembered what to say and soon finished without the phone. Z asked me to add some comments. I just noted the adult beverages in the picture of us in a Theology Meeting at a local place, and that the drinks help discuss complex subjects and keep one’s composure. And sometimes it is best to just sip the beverage rather than to speak. I next quickly covered the details of my class. Ken returned to the pulpit and preached about his difficulty living well while poverty crushed many.

We also had a guest singer and communion, and the service ran over. I helped with the offering and communion. Jack and I put the loose money and the giving stuffed in official envelopes found in the pews into the safe. There is a slot in the safe to put things in, so there is no need to open it. I then headed out and boarded the EV.

I drove home, grabbed my laptop, and returned to Beaverton and the Cedar Mills McMenamins. There, I got a beer, fish and chips, and made the reservation for Theology Pub! Done. I also finished the blog and got it published. The bartender, Rylan, was our waiter at Theology Pub before, and will be working on Thursday, so we might get him again. Excellent!

It was a lovely day, and I walked around my yard and looked at my roses. They are almost blooming. Rust on two bushes is not worse. The pomegranate is still just green buds instead of leaves. It is still more of a $60 stick than a small tree. I’m hopeful!

I started on my rush painting for the board game Unsettled. I don’t like to paint board game parts; the game is unavailable until the work is done. I might play on Tuesday morning, making it a rush. I tried to prime the figures in white but ran out of white. One piece is to be white, and I have to hand-paint the white now instead of using a spray. These are larger, so the brush strokes will show. Ugh!

(The round thing is the robot Luna. I have some of the white and the start on the eyes. The crew is all primed and their bases painted. You can see the M.A.S.H. figures behind them that I have not finished. The more miniature gray figures are the Pandemic figures I am also working on.)

I also resolved to dry the Speed Paints for the crew figures. These paints are a mix of inks and paint, so cover with darker shades in lower spots. I would have preferred white for this process, but I will deal with light gray. You sort of just slop the paint on. A near disaster as the orange shade bottle, they use a tear-drop to put control paint use (no little annoying bottles with caps), when the top blew out and doused my work space. I was not covered, nor were the figures splattered. Just a mess to clean up. Once orange was cleaned up and some was used on one crew figure, the rest was disposed of.

(The Speed Paint is now on the crew, and the helmets are painted. While they look more alive, they still look unrealistic. I will overpaint some of the details with other colors and then shade more with black lines to make the 3D look more realistic.)

I let the figures dry, and Luna, the robot in the game, I managed to make its ‘eyes’ look more real. I printed out other folks’ versions of painting the figures and used their ideas as a model for the colors and techniques I used on the game pieces, making Luna’s eyes look more real. I am not an artist, and layering colors with a brush is not in my skill set. I tried to copy the look. It’s not as good as the original, but it gets the feeling right. Better.

I painted a few details German grey and then added some silver and red to make some details pop. I used the German grey because it will still be shaded by a pure black. If I used black, the shading would not work. This is a scale thing. Black makes things disappear, while white alone makes it look 2D and not 3D on these smaller items. You have to lighten and darken to make it look more realistic.

Dinner was leftover Korean that I reheated. It was better the second time. I fell asleep in my chair in the living room while Star Wars played (it being May 4th). Deborah woke me when she called, and we chatted until she got sleepy. We try to start and end our days together by phone.

I spoke to Joan S, and we will try the new Marvel movie on Monday. I managed to get the gloss coat on the figures at 11:30 when I could not sleep. Earlier, I was reading and nodding off, put on my PJs, and slept. Something, forgotten now, woke me in my first moments of sleep, and I know it takes a while for me to sleep then. I got up and sprayed the figures with gloss. This makes them ready for oil paint shading. I like to do oils for shading after sealing the figures with a light dusting of gloss. I read more, fell back to sleep, and did not wake until 4ish to prove hydration.

Thank you for reading!

After midnight, I finished the day, telling this story going backwards, when the ibuprofen started to blunt the effects of the coffee I had at Richard’s and the excitement of winning a new game there. I got home after a busy, for late Saturday night, crossing over Portland and Beverton in Air VW the Gray. I was still excited and knew sleep would not come soon. I got the figures out of the board game Unsettled, washed them (unpainted plastic models can have mold release powder and paint will not stick then), waited for them to dry, and sprayed them with white primer, which ran out. I would do the last coat of grey primer on Sunday morning. I read a Canadian crime/mystery book until I nodded off with the Kindle in my hands. I woke once, around 4ish, to prove hydration.

Before this, I arrived at Richard’s house in moderate traffic in Portland and slow going in Beaverton early at 5:30. I was teaching and bringing today’s board game, Age of Steam: Deluxe, and started to set it up so we could start the teach when everyone arrived. Saturday night, Richard, Laura, and James were playing with me.

Richard had watched a video and corrected a few mistakes I made, and we took some time to understand track placement cost and goods refilling. With the game running, we followed the flow (I had copied the summary from the back of the rule book with a summary for each of us), and soon started.

This is an 18xx game with more abstracted elements than you find in more detailed 18xx games. Richard thought it was a train game and not an 18xx game. 18xx games simulate running a railroad with track building, stock market elements, cash management, and technology management (very abstracted in this game). Unlike the longer 18xx, this game has a timer that ends the game. They are known to be mean or even cutthroat.

The victory points are based on your income level, track finished and connected, minus stock issues. There are other random goals and rewards in some train games, but to improve repeatability, there are multiple maps instead. This is an efficiency race, and I am good at those, if it does not include special goal cards–it does not.

I ran to a part of the ‘Rust Bucket‘ map of the USA, far from the easier East, where Laura and Richard settled. James joined me in the plains with less money and did not build out. Chris and later Laura struggled with cash management. The game drains away cash fast, which is something I warned about in the teach. We did a few take-backs to help James and Laura. I slowly built while Richard, on the dense East of the USA, could keep building. James and Richard spent too much, in my opinion, to get First Player, an auction in this game.

I built out and continued to move goods and raise income. I spent deeply on track and connected all I could without conflict. I moved goods and soon pulled ahead, and I could not be caught, as only James could impact my rails. He finally started connecting to the city I had connected to, and I found I had to move other goods as he took the easy one.

The game is harsh, but James and Laura liked it and want to play again. Richard liked it less. I thought it played well and was easy to understand once we got it going. The strategy was hard.

Before this, I was at the house and will not invest too many words on how I got the papers into folders and my accounts in order on Quicken. I had not finished 2024 and decided to just stuff it in a file and move on. I did punch and file much of 2025. I have moved back into my office, and now the paper blob is away, and I feel much more confident. I think some of the depression was from not having the paper Blob under control. I will remember that and keep to my discipline of filing weekly. It is easy to just let the paper and accounts pile up. I did not notice that it affected my mood.

I also found time to paint one figure, which seemed to brighten my mood even more. I enjoy painting, and the figures are for the extended version of the board game Pandemic, which was part of a Kickstarter from years ago–I am finally painting them. They are 25mm scale, making them a bit small, but they are still usable in other games. I mix freely with 25-32mm scale, but still love the 28mm Dungeons and Dragons scale for figures. I picked the terrorist, which is seldom used. I figure it will be the least used, and I can get back to practice with it. The terrorist is part of the extension to the original game. It creates a competition between the agent and the other players working cooperatively to stop the pandemic simulation, the original game is based on, and the bad actor.

While Pandemic gets little love from gamers now, it was my first entry into these new-style board games, and I still enjoy playing it. I gave away my original copy as we were not playing it. I bought a used copy and recently added the extensions. It is still a great game, and I like playing it with new players.

I also tried a new place for lunch in the nearby strip mall: Hansik Town. This is a Korean-style place, and I had the chicken and added some rice. It was delicious and I had leftovers for Sunday Night dinner.

I started the morning at about 7:30 and found the coffee. I had slept well and was ready for a productive day.

Thanks for reading.

 

I rose with clouds and sun, weather more usual for the Pacific Northwest. The new coffee Machine with a timer and an automatic shut-off had already summoned coffee, liberal Fair Trade. With coffee, I started the blog and quickly wrote a physical card to Mom Wild. I try to get a card to her every day and need to get it out to the box before the mail person arrives, they run early now.

With coffee, muffins I made a few days ago (they are aging poorly), and a banana, I continued with my quest to complete the blog. Texts and calls, mostly with Deborah, slow the process, an excellent distraction, and soon, I am running late. However, I seldom have plans on Friday, and today, I am mostly at loose ends.

The laundry that has accumulated since Monday is soon in The Machine. Later, I strip the bed and wash the sheets. I try to redo the bed every week, especially now that pollen is starting to build. The pine trees are ‘smoking’ with pollen. I will soon begin showering in the evening to ensure I don’t carry pollen into my pillows and sheets.

I walked outside in the backyard and noticed that the neem oil I sprayed on the two roses affected by rust appears to halt the spread, as I can see it was not getting worse, and I take that as a victory. According to what I read on the always-true Internet, the oil drowns the fungus and has some antifungal function. The Internet suggested various other products may work, but you may have to rotate various products (almost like written by someone who sells multiple products). But when I read the warning labels on those products at Ace Hardware, I was scared to hold the bottle at the store! I put the bottle back with care, noticing it cost more than neem oil in a lovely spray bottle mixed with water and ready to use. Done!

For a cold lunch, I sliced some ham, peeled some hard-boiled eggs, and added some blue cheese-stuffed olives from the Olive Pit. Finishing the laundry, I threw in the sheets (they don’t need attention), showered, and was finally dressed by 2.

I was thinking of cleaning the house, but the sunshine was tempting and I instead boarded Air VW the Gray and headed to Hillsboro for a walk. There, with more traffic than I would expect, I found a parking spot on Main Street and began my shopping.

I stopped by the usual shops and got coffee and pasta. I also found an 1883 pre-stamped envelope in Le Stuff Antiques and paid $1 for it (it was worth about that, but I still found it, and that was worth it). I do not usually look through a pile of postcards, as the good ones are usually already found, and most of the stamps were lifted from these, but today I thought these might have something. I was awarded one envelope; I was happy to pay my $1 and later look it up. It is not valuable, and I overpaid, but there is a version worth more, so I can compare it to others. It was fun to be a stamp collector on the hunt again. They asked me about unused postcards priced at $1 each in packs of eight, but I know most modern stuff is worth less. I smiled and said I would have to check at home. When I checked later, I was surprised that these are international postcards and are worth little, unused, but oddly, a postally used one (one that was used at the time for international post) is rare and conditionally valued at $10 (it seems that few used ones found their way to collectors). American postage is seldom rated more for used copies, making this postcard an exception.

I stopped by the gaming store and saw the owner, and we arranged to meet at his shop, Rune and Bone, next Thursday afternoon to play the board game Unsettled. We talked about his Dungeons and Dragons playing and that he is using the new books. I failed to resist the Monty Python role-playing game (RPG) book. I took their only copy home, $50 (unlike the cheaper D&D, $49.99, but there are three books); Nick tried not to look relieved that someone bought it.

Aside: I like the Monty Python RPG. It is silly, but an interesting system that mixes silliness with actual, meaningful rules and some interesting ideas of abstracting skills and abilities. I might have to try some silliness.

At home, I heated up some chili I made a few weeks ago from the freezer and finished the first season of Severance on Apple+. Deborah called and we talked until she needed to sleep. I then started to order my table and start on the cleaning I had put off.

Rev. Anne called and needed help with a computer issue. I drove to their house and helped with some digital paperwork. I learned that a copy of your registration should be kept at home, as the control number is essential to the Oregon DMV online access. My friends keep photos of this stuff in a folder on their phones. I will have to do that, too. We finished what we could do and returned home in the EV.

It was late, and I made the bed and soon used it. I read more about the Battleship Battle of Jutland in 1916. I am comparing some books from the 1920s-30s on the battle. Soon, I was too tired to read more; I curled up and went to sleep. Unremembered pleasant dreams came and were interrupted by two chances to prove hydration.

Thanks for reading!

 

No coffee! I slept until 7:30, put on my slippers, found the kitchen (it has not moved), and discovered I forgot to assemble the coffee the night before. Ugh! I made the coffee and retreated to the office while the process ran.

I started on the blog, but Wednesday was a quiet day, and the blog was short. I had appointments on Thursday, but they were later, so I was not rushed. I write the blog with my experiences of the day and some thoughts, musing if you like, but it is not a contest with myself to reach a word count. I try to get to 500, as anything below that is more a text than a blog entry.

Having finished the Canadian mystery/crime novel, switched to history for a while. I picked up the 1940s reprint of the 1930 updated version of Office History of the War: Naval Operations III (Text). I have the original 1923 version with the maps, which were not included in my newer copy. I read more about this version of the history of Jutland 1916 and compared it to my memory of all the other accounts I have read. I now see that this version fits the truths we know and the fiction created by human storytelling.

With my mind swirling about events over 100 years ago, I showered, dressed, and boarded Air VW the Gray. I met Scott at McMenamins  Cedar Hills for lunch. Today we both went with the non-meat Mystic Burger with a salad. We did get two beers. We chatted about travel, finances, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Scott has asked me to consider how to explain and use AI with our knowledge of computer systems and software design. As a pair of gray-beards (a term used for folks who built the existing systems, I take it to mean wise ones and not pejorative), could we be of value by adding AI to what we already know? A mix of the overwhelming practicality of Gray-beards and new capabilities. It is an interesting thought, and I am following it up.

I returned to the house in the EV and took the Zoom meeting for a brief church meeting. For those who speak Methodist, it was the S/PRC meeting, and it was blessedly short. This committee deals with people issues at a Methodist church and comes with all the obvious horrid problems, but today, it was perfunctory. Excellent.

Early, Scott reminded me it was May Day and First Thursday in the Pearl. This means the art galleries stay open late and serve wine and finger foods. Protests were also planned. I decided to try both, reboarded Air VW the Gray, and soon was at the MAX station and boarded a train. But I noticed my ‘touch’ did not go through on my phone. I had not paid for the trip! Yikes. I disembarked at the next station, touched again, and this time the iHop (sounding like breakfast) app billed me. I was legal now. Call me old-fashioned, but I hate to trust an app for this stuff. I believe my reloading of the virtual card, which was low, had overwritten the fare purchase. Hmmm. I miss NYC’s pay and go using Apple Pay and like phone pay products instead of a virtual card and an app.

With that excitement over, I met folks with signs headed to Pioneer Square for a May Day protest against the Trump Administration. I did not see any counter-protestors on the MAX, a problem we had a few years ago. I also met Michael R from church, visiting others across town. We chatted until I hit my stop, Pioneer Square. I decided that I prefer Art to potential tear-gassing today and took the transfer to the Green Line.

On the new train, a person of color pointed out that I looked Aryan and thus would never be questioned, while they would always be assumed to be suspicious. The person then explained why they are a CIA agent and that I would make a poor agent. Their friend agreed that this double-blind worked. I smiled and was off two stops later. I never felt threatened, and it was not hard to agree with their conclusion.

I walked to the Pearl District, and it was too early for First Thursday (starting at 5ish). I stopped at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House in the Pearl and had a brew and an appetizer. When folks left, I got a seat at the bar and had one of the Black Butte Porter, their best item. I chatted with some folks trying not to talk politics on May Day with sign-waving folks everywhere. I tried to speak above the noise about travel and got quizzed on my favorite places (Istanbul and New Orleans). It was a pleasant snack and drink.

Next, I found about five galleries and liked some of the stuff. I did not get any wine (the beer was enough). The Armory had tables and someone singing jazz for the evening (5-9). I stayed for a bit. I met one artist at one gallery I had read about, and was happy to visit. They had recently moved; the space was the usual white walls with strong light. I like the story the art told and the colors (here if you want a peek).

The SMG Collective was a furniture/art store with prices that were the same as flights to Europe and a hotel! But there, they had a collection of wood and wax to light as a smudge for $12, and it was the first thing I could afford at any of these shows (being retired). I took that home and even bought a bag, and they wrapped it in tissue. It was all grand.

Clive Knight’s pieces, which are collage art created with recycled paper, were shown at Laura Vincent Design and Gallery, a gallery I have walked by many times. The space had tall white walls, and wine and food were offered, but I demurred. I liked the art, but cannot understand how the artist can tear, paint, and glue things to create an emotion; I would just make a mess. Art is a mystery to me. I like to visit it.

With a few galleries not listed here (some not mentioned as they did not interest me, and/or I did not look like a customer and was ignored), I walked to Ground Kontrol (making a detour when I remembered I wanted to do that). I played video games and pinball for about thirty minutes. I managed to burn 1/3 of the value of my card, which I used to pay. One of my pinball plays was so poor that the machine kept giving me a second try. Yes, that bad the machine was forgiving me and letting me try again–I counted six plays for the usual three. I recommend the “Game of Thrones” pinball as it is more forgiving with a constant note, “Winter is Coming!” I enjoyed the new and more expensive version of Asteroids, but my score was also embarrassingly low. Somewhere, I could hear “Elric” laughing and razzing me. More practice!

Next, I took the Green Line back to an emptying Pioneer Square. I spotted the folks I talked to on the train, and they said it was a pleasant protest. The most significant issue was finding an open bar to get drinks when they were done. Yes, liberals in Portland! They took the MAX back. I decided to look for that bar.

Swine is one of Dondera’s favorite places. I stopped there and tried to enjoy the outside, but I was swarmed by tiny bugs (it is just May, after all). I had their steak and fries (more protein after my nearly all-carb snack). This with an Old Fashioned was an excellent mix. It’s a nice place.

With some food and a relaxing boozy drink (all at Portland prices) consumed, I paid, thanked the staff (who were bored as the customer count was low, likely due to the activities), and soon found a MAX train back, remembering to get a proper scan.

I took an older train and forgot how tall and uneven the steps are. I did not fall, but I did have to hold on. I will look for the new kinder and gentler versions.

I returned home without issue and plugged in the now-about-40-charged EV. I have been avoiding charging it when it is above a 50% charge (100+ miles of travel), as there is no need (like a gas car, I don’t fuel it daily). I read more about Jutland and am returning to another book to read more versions. This other book, written by an American Naval Officer, is strongly opinionated and highly critical of the British. While he quotes and refers to different sources, there are no footnotes. However, as the sources are limited during the writing, I can connect his quotes and sources–I have most of it (missing only one book that is so often quoted, I feel I have already read it too). With dreams of WW1 ships flying across the Gray Reaches, I fell alseep.

Sadly, I did not keep hydrated, and at 4ish, my legs were stiff and painful. I had to wake and get some painkillers and water. I managed to sleep again.

Thanks for reading.