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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!

 

 

 

Tuesday mornings are a rush as I have a game at Richard’s in Portland at 9:30. I rose before my alarm, turned it off, and rose before 7. I then waited for the coffee to start. I was programmed to start 7; I defeated the purpose of having a timed coffee by starting my day too early. With my trip on Thursday next week (just over a week away), I am being careful about baking and cooking. I am running out of bread, but do I make another loaf? Humm.

I started the blog and finished about 80% by 8:30, but it was time to shower, shave, and dress. I did not rush, and soon, I was appropriate for public consumption and got into Air VW the Gray with an 86% charge. I had not reset it to charge over 80%, so the charging all night did nothing but light some diode lights that the charging was done. Growl.

The trip into Portland was more usual with 35 mph speed on 26 inbound to Portland, and no sudden stops for me, though I saw smoke pouring out of the breaks for a large truck that some nut passed, changed into its lane, and then slammed their brakes. All this was done at low speeds and very short distances, which is very much something you only see in Portland.

I arrived at Richards a few minutes late but before James. It is Mansion of Madness 2nd Edition again. Richard and James had played this last week and failed. I picked, as usual, a spellcaster, and we returned to a cooperative (mostly, unless you go insane) board game based on Lovecraft’s mythos and, for these later made scenarios, horror films and books. My spell removed insanity, but also, if I failed a roll, it would hurt my character. And I spent most of the game missing my rolls. I did keep the other players in the game until the very end. We erred on the final conflict, a terrible monster rose, and my character was by bad luck to be right with the creature. My character was slain after taking terrible damage (on more failed rolls), and James and Richard could not finish the quest in time as we had erred. Next time!

I returned home in the EV in light traffic. I had purchased some cubed steaks, and Corwin was planned to be over at 2 for math lessons. I steamed asparagus and microwaved some potatoes. I chopped celery, carrots, and pickled beets for a large salad. I salvage my lettuce from ten days ago. I fried the steaks in the non-stick pan.

The pan was not hot enough, and the steaks were more cooked than fried. Next time, I will use the cast iron pan and get it smoking hot. I made pan gravy in the frying pan, adding butter. When I added water, I discovered the ants had found the corn starch, as the little guys floated to the top. I tossed the corn starch and the cornmeal next to it. I have not had ants in that cabinet before. Hmmm. I used flour instead.

My repast was excellent. Corwin was a no-show. I called, and he decided to put off the math; he is looking for a new apartment and cannot find the focus for pre-calculus now. I still offered him a late lunch or early dinner, and he would be over after donating plasma (another source of income).

I sorted the mail and put away the liberal coffee from Portland’s Equal Exchange warehouse. Today’s coffee was fair-traded but purchased at Safeway. I love the taste of liberalism in the morning, having drunk fair exchanged coffee nearly every morning since President Trump won his first election. We liberals need to remember to keep going. The world will someday find Justice with Compassion and the Love of Community. I see Hope at the bottom of every cup. It will work someday! Drink deep of liberal coffee!

While I was away, the lawn service has cleaned up the yard. It looks marvelous. In the spring, they come weekly on Tuesdays. I do the dishes and run the dishwasher. I have accumulated enough dirty items to run it full.

I watch more Andor on Disney+ and nod off. I am sleepy and nap in my chair. A text from Deborah wakes me. We have both been busy and have had only a short call and a few texts this Tuesday. Corwin is here at dinner time and reheats the food. Deborah calls while Corwin eats, and we chat in private and sometimes on speaker with us all chatting together. Deborah, on Eastern Time, is ready for bed (she rises early and works for a living), and we say good night. Corwin heads home after stacking his dishes. I board Air VW the Gray with a hat and my new Columbia light coat and head to The 649.

It is trivia night, and I find a table in the corner to hide. Crystal and Natalia are on today, with Crystal closing. I get a beer and tell them about my trip to LA with Deborah. They love the photos. Natalia loves to drive to California and shares how she travels there. She agrees that Northern California’s Lake Shasta and the volcano park are worth doing. She loved to camp there and had hiked the volcano vent paths.

The trivia is loud, and I did listen a few times, but mostly, I ignored it and wrote. Over the night, I reached my goal of 3,000 words for chapter one. The voicing is different than the first half of the chapter, and I may have to do a rewrite (I started aligning the voicing this morning), but still, the words and story are written and thus exist. I invent more of the history and magic of my fantasy world. I let my stream of consciousness build the world and its history while I direct the story to the conclusion. This chapter is positive and introductory. Others will introduce conflict, fear, and revelations. But, like my favorite mystery and fantasy writers, the main characters will be mostly unchanged. They (Brass and Mary) are the pillars I will decorate with the story.

The trivia contest goes on for hours, and I have a hummus plater with some pita bread and veggies. I need some food with the beer. I have a second beer, and then Crystal and I agree on coffee with cream and bread pudding. With dessert inside me, I wished Crystal, I was the last customer, a good night (they close at 11 on Tuesday).

I was soon home, and the EV, now set to recharge to 100%, was plugged in. Somehow, the cable had a knot in it! I untangled the first one, and it reached. I ignored the other one. I ignore the dishes and head to bed. After taking my meds, I put on my PJs (I remembered ordering more as I have a trip in a week from the online pharmacy) and found a book to read. I have a 1936 account by an American naval officer of the WW1 Battle of Jutland 1916. The author, Commander Holloway H. Frost, also wrote a secret account and analysis (I have a copy, declassified) for an intelligence briefing book for active American naval officers published in 1924. I am interested in reading what an American observer recorded. I did not know about Commander Frost until last year. His account has been overshadowed by the British and German accounts.

Aside: In the times before antibiotics, Commander Frost passed away young from an infection, and his colleagues and family wanted his writings published as a memorial. I am happy to get a copy from Abe Books.

So far, I like the book’s writing style. I am just at the beginning and Commander Frost’s retelling of the state of the Great War in 1916 (with maps!). The summary and words fit my understanding of the war at the point without the usual bashing of various countries or their peoples. In our time, you can almost see these pages as the script and maps for a YouTube video.

Even with the fascinating book, I was soon falling asleep. I turned off the light and soon drifted to dreams of my fantasy world and Jutland. No dreams were remembered. Thanks for reading!

 

The alarm at 7 woke me as I started a lazy Monday morning. Monday feels like Saturday for me. Retired, I have no work week to start, but most folks I know are working, which means no plans for me. It feels like Saturday, except there are no cartoons to watch. Instead, I find a breakfast of toast, coffee, and a banana. The coffee is ground from locally roasted beans. I am at the end of that. I need to acquire some liberal coffee! My order will arrive in a few days from Equal Exchange’s warehouse in Portland. There is nothing like a little liberal in the morning in your cup to remind you of Justice with Compassion and the Love of Community.

I started the blog, Deborah called, and we chatted for a while. It is good to start the morning with Deborah, and usually, we end her day with talking. I also updated Quicken with the downloaded transactions. I resisted doom scrolling (i.e., reading the news when you are a liberal).

The blog was over 1500 words and took most of the morning. I considered making lunch or having fast food, but decided that the last day of March, a wet but not messy day (for the Pacific Northwest) should end with something better. I headed out in Air VW the Gray with 70% something charge, good for local driving, and soon arrived at Stanford’s for lunch at the bar.

The old barrel-like stools at the bar were now comfy, tall, green chairs. Abril was my bartender. Her hair was split between black and manga blue. She also sported a nose ring with a diamond hanging just under her nose. She made me an Old Fashioned Stanford’s version. It was good, and I remembered Susie and I coming here often after some medical test or worse. Today, I was alone and drank her usual drink here.

The Chicken Dijon was on the special menu, and I wanted to try it. I make a chicken cutlet occasionally and wanted to try their version. The chicken was about the same as I can do, maybe a bit better (maybe). The potatoes were industrial-whipped potatoes that many folks like. I like mine chunky with the skins on with butter. I think it’s better. Their asparagus was steamed and grilled. It was good, and I only steamed mine. The drink and food sent the bill pretty high, but it was fun. I did have wet eyes as I remembered Susie and sipped her drink. I told Abrill about Susie as she saw my moist eyes.

Next was Best Buy with my $100 gift card received for buying The Machine and other appliances in my pocket. The choice for a coffee maker ran high. I did not look at the $3,000+ machines that would fit the new Willy Wonka movie! I found a plain one that did ground coffee (not espresso or using pods or built-in frother) for $99.99. I carried it up to the desk and gave the gift card back. The cashier all but rolled his eyes. Yes, there was one cent left.

Next, I headed to Cornell Farms and walked in and out with a $69 pomegranate tree to plant. I did not do more as I carried it to the checkout and could spend endless amounts of money there on plants, soils, and other hole requiring home improvements. I texted Corwin with another request for hole and plant installation. I pay $20 a planting; he needs the money, and I avoid testing my balance digging and crawling on the ground skills.

The plant is on the deck waiting for Corwin, and the shovel is in the ground where I want it planted. I have learned that it is best to be very specific, as there is no undo button. I reboarded the EV and headed to the gaming store but found nothing I needed there. I got some cash, putting the payment for hole and plant installation in the butter dish in the frig; yes, cold cash for Corwin.

Focaccia bread was tried again. I followed the recipe for using the bread machine and saw that the new bread flour was already half used up. I loaded the machine with the ingredients with some trepidation and started the machine. It dances! The dough is stiff, and the machine moves. I had spilled some water running tests on the new coffee maker (bravely set next to the bread machine), and the bread machine was dancing on the slippery counter. A towel placed under the machine prevents the dancing. No doomed focaccia bread this time!

I placed some bags of the beef stew I made a few weeks ago in a bowl in the sink with warm water. I did not know that the bags leaked (why?) and the stew was diluted. After squeezing out the water (using the same holes), I put it in a pan and reheated the slightly diluted stew.

When the bread dough was finished in the bread machine (set to ‘Dough’), I patted it out into a pan and let it rest, brushing it with olive oil and even more fresh rosemary. Once rested and starting to puff again, I popped it in the oven. I sprinkled some sea salt on it, but this was a bit bitter, and I will not do it again.

I ate reheated stew with warm focaccia bread while rewatching the first season of the Star Wars show Andor on Disney+. The new season is coming soon. After that, I wrote for a while, adding more to my story. I am trying to finish the first chapter at 3,000 words. I am at 2,500.

Lastly, I got out my stamp albums and mounted my new stamps. I managed to get a reasonable price on the first pictorials and US Scott # 120 proof version (see them here if you are interested). Proofs were printed on cardboard to show what the new stamps would look like (you see posters now)—they are perfect. I am slowly getting all the proofs for the 1869 US stamps. I also got a few that were just holes in my collection. Somehow, over the years, I miss a few stamps here and there. I managed to get some reasonable prices for the missing stamps. Now, those pages are finished.

I also continue my collection of special locally published stamps from the mid-late 1800s. In those days, local delivery was often not done. You must head to the post office or arrange for a second, local carrier to deliver your mail. Some of these locals sold their own stamps or stamped the letters. These are valuable and a fascinating collection choice (some locals pre-dated the US postal use of stamps in 1947). This area is flooded with forgeries (many more than 100 years old), and I collect the actual local carriers and the forgeries (and reprints). I have the books on identifying forgeries and real versions (and reprints that are between forgeries and the original).

Tired and ready to sleep, it was already approaching Tuesday. I climb into bed after getting my PJs on. I was soon asleep. Thanks for reading.