Blog

Wednesday started with me enjoying the snuggly blankets and sheets until closer to 8 than 7. Another sunny morning woke me with sunrise, but I rolled over and soon slept again in snuggly happiness. I rose and made a pot of liberal coffee, moving to my last bag from the Portland-based shipment of Equal Exchange. While their coffee is good, it is not as great as our local beans, and I will think about it. I have a scone I baked a few days ago, orange cranberry, with a banana (my potassium is finally in the normal range in my last blood test, yay!). I discover my focus and apply it to writing. I am not time boxed, and I chat with Deborah for a while and deal with a double payment I discovered in my Quicken downloads; they refund it. I am proud that I caught it.

I do not finish the blog until noonish and make lunch, reheated goulash with a bit of leftover Popeyes and a biscuit. Most of my roses are blooming, with one still struggling with too much shade and too much water in the winter. Fertilizer has been applied, and it, like the others that are struggling, seems to be recovering. My English roses are loving the Spring/Summer we are having.

All day, I would be reading more of the 1864 American Civil War (ACW) and General Hood’s failed campaign in Tennessee, and the destruction of his army by about 50% from failed attacks on well-defended positions in Franklin and Nashville. Here: map. I am at the point where the Union has dug in at Franklin, and Hood brings up his army. It reminds me of Gettysburg: the Union is on the run, digs in, and is then hit, and the Confederates pay a terrible price for charging a reinforced position. But in this case, there is no chance of breaking the Union line.

Aside: The same publishers of my new ACW board games also have one of these battles, using the same rules. Solo play is an option. My theory, above, could be tested. Hmmm.

I headed to McMenamins Raleigh Hills Pub (with my ACW book) to get another stamp. There I get beer and read, I follow with a dessert (way too much sugar) and a coffee. I read. I pay my bill and go. I am still a few hours early for games with Z at church, and I park there anyway and head to the library.

The staff there can reset my password and replace my library card. I don’t have any eBooks, so this makes it easy. I remembered my earpods, put them in, and they cut out all sound except the music and the videos I watch on the second floor of the Beaverton Library. I do research on online role-playing games, with a particular interest in ShadowDark. I am disappointed that Roll20 has not invested in this system. I do find a Start Playing Games website with options. I also learned about a tabletop system called Owlbear Rodeo. These are low-cost buy-in systems, unlike Roll20, which means purchasing content at published prices (I have bought D&D 5E twice at the same price to use it during the Pandemic).

I look for World War I books, and it is hard to find them. I learned that the physical books listed in the catalog are held across all the libraries, and that The Guns of August has not been reshelved yet in Beaverton, but I could get an audio or eBook version. I will have to look into eBooks. I was thinking of reading it again. It is an excellent book, and even with more scholarship since it was written, it remains a good account.

The dessert and coffee caused a sugar crash, so I headed out of the library to get a chicken sandwich at the local coffee place, Ava Roasteria. With some water, I was feeling better. No more desserts!

Z and Dondrea met me at the church, and while the band and then the choir practiced, Z and I played games. We stuck with Raiders of Sythia as Z remembered it. A mostly set up, and soon we were off raiding, and Z was soon ahead of me, doing the easy raids that are worth a few points. I had noticed in previous games that these were not worth the cost for only two points. Z knows the game is a race and was raiding more. I went for the goals and the larger point raids (only doing one of the simple ones, as it was easy with the larger crew that I had). My crew took wounds, Z rolls were magical with low wounds and high points, and soon we were only five points apart with limited crew and beast points. I managed to make the last raid and trip the end-of-game condition before Z was ready for another raid and pulled off a five-point win. It was an excellent game, and we did not know who won until we took the final count.

I had Flip-7 in the car, and we played three games, and I managed to win all of them. Z is not sure about push-your-luck choices and went for the safer choice. I was lucky too. We both enjoy both games.

It was fun to play again. I returned home, watched another older Doctor Who, David Tenent’s Doctor, and soon was reading more ACW. I started to nod off and dream the battle (thinking I was still reading, but the story went odd with me seeing it), woke, put the book away, and slept.

Thanks for reading!

It is always, now that I have been retired, a surprise to be woken by an alarm. But it is a gaming day, and today I need to be at Richard’s house in Portland at 9:30 to play the cooperative board game and role-playing style SciFi game. I like games where you play a crew, like the board game Raiders of Scythia, instead of the four pages (or much more) of specifications you often get in Dungeons & Dragons. It is fun to do a crew. ISS Vanguard splits the difference and has you play one or two characters. And, like the Pandemic-like cooperative games, there is an event deck to drive the loss of resources and affect the player characters. Go fast and work together to succeed.

I start on the blog and talk to Deborah for part of the morning. It is always good to chat, as we miss each other, and it has been a long break since Utah. It is eighteen days until I head to California and twenty until I see Deborah. Jeanne LaFountain is joining us for the first week. After checking the transit times, I am quite happy to be driving the EV, picking up passengers, and serving as a taxi driver for the trip. The Uber fees would be large! More than the daily parking charges.

I dress, shave (having forgotten the day before), and forget to use the various creams (and later forgot to get my new prescriptions), but the one application has been more successful than I hoped. Less flakes and itching. I do not rush and find myself running behind, board Air VW the Gray a few minutes later, and this trip takes 45 minutes; I am five minutes late, but before James (headed from Washington State).

We are playing the other half of the demo and training story. We had a few minor errors, and we corrected them by getting more crew. We start mid-way, which is confusing, but I remembered much of the past play, and soon we are running through the process. I find these cooperative games rule-heavy and can see why DMs exist in earlier games. But with new gaming systems and apps, it is possible now to create a great experience.

Without spoilers, I play two characters this time, and it takes me a while to remember the rules and to play them both well. I did enjoy playing them and began to get them to work well together. We learned that you must finish all the objectives to be successful (something not stated in the rules), and we did (including an optional one). We get promotions and more dice for our play. Yay! I cannot say I enjoyed the gaming (it was not immersive), but it was fun to learn a new game (and all these systems). It was mostly rules and procedures this time, but I can see it may become immersive and interesting. We play again next week, and I think that will be more immersive.

James did have pre-painted minis this time (he found them in his ISS Vanguard various game add-ons he purchased on Kickstarter; he did everything). There are add-ons, we looked at one, and more adventures. I suspect we will be playing this for a while.

James is interested in the Gettysburg board games I have acquired, and we may meet to play a 2-person battle. I have two versions, both highly rated and newer designs. The two versions represent two design thoughts: play a simulation of the battle with hard constraints that fits the game into the model of history (Gettysburg: July 1-3, 1863), and another that lets you face all the challenges and figure it out (The Guns of Gettysburg, 2013). Both are valid, but are radically different takes on combat, movement, and maps. More to come.

We also talked about possibly Burning Banners as a break from ISS Vanguard. This is a fantasy wargame with armies of orcs, vampires, elves, and so on. Magic spells are also available. It reminds me of a modern update to Divine Right, which I also have a copy of. We will see.

With the save process done and the game ready to play again next week, I headed to the Broadway Grill and had a meatball and veggie calzone. I also finished the blog and chatted with Deborah. I enjoyed Mr. Toad’s Wild Red beer and then purchased our VIP tickets for Universal in California. I decided that with us getting older and various possible health issues, it is best to invest in the VIP. This also gets us valet parking, a tour, and dinner. I suspect all separate that this would total close to the number anyway.

I looked at Warner Brothers; there is a VIP tour there too, not cheap, but six hours seemed a long day, and I wanted to combine this with a visit to Hollywood and a diner somewhere in the area. I will chat with Deborah and Jeanne about this. That will be Wednesday. Thursday I think will be a beach. I enjoyed Huntington last time, but there’s also Long Beach near our hotel. We also have to see the Queen Mary again and do the night show.

With some tickets arranged and lunch done, I headed home. The day was already vanishing, and I had a 6:30 church council meeting. Corwin called and then came by at 6ish and relaxed with his dog Hank while I did the church Zoom meeting.

The meeting, which took an hour and was mostly an alignment discussion, I drove off to Popeye’s and quickly returned with a remarkably expensive ($57) supply of chicken and associated items (making up for the cheap Costco chicken of last week). This was dinner for Corwin and me, and Hank got a treat of some cheese. I split the leftover chicken with Corwin (it seemed rather precious to me), and he headed home with Hank.

I read more about lightning detectors, Pope Leo, and the SSPX, and watched a long video that offered an insider’s view of the election of the Pope. The story is that the cardinals, most appointed by Francis, turned away more conservative clergy and a rollback of the changes Francis made, and instead elected someone who would retain the changes and possibly press forward with more. This has ignited the SSPX and other anti-reform (in this case, Vatican II) groups within the Catholic Church to criticize and even claim the illegitimacy of Rome. The pattern is familiar to me, as the Methodist split over some of the same issues, and many of the same illegitimacy issues were used.

With Catholic Church words spiraling in my head, I picked up the American Civil War (ACW) and read the account of the Union army’s escape from Hood as it rushes to Nashville. And while there are claims that this was a missed opportunity to crush the Union forces and gain that important Southern victory, they needed to reset the war in their favor. What I glean is a Confederate Army dragging itself to another battle, short on supplies, using old-style guns, and the story is told with less legend. Hood had repeatedly crashed his Confederate troops into reinforced Union positions at great loss and had to withdraw. The Union mounted dropps have six-shooter rifles, healthy horses, and are well fed. They dismount, build a position, and let the Confederates come. The cost is terrible, and if the Union troops withdraw, the gray troops cannot catch them, except for a few stragglers. At night, the Union move is detected, but attacking at night into what may be reinforced positions is something the Confederate Generals or their troops want to avoid. Thus, I do not see this as a missed opportunity to capture a mismanaged and misdirected Union Army, but as a sign of an undersized army not taking excessive risks.

But that is my opinion, and I have the advantage of being an armchair general hundreds of years ago. With the battle avoided, I closed the book and will read the shock and awe of the results on Wednesday.

I soon slept, and I suspect I slipped by the Confederate positions in my dream world as I woke a bit tired on Thursday morning at sunrise.

Thanks for reading!

Monday’s are quiet for me. Most of the folks work, and I just sleep until about 7:30, enjoy a quiet and unbusy morning, and have no appointments. I made coffee, liberal, fair trade, and dark and bitter.

A sip of the dark liquid reminds me how far we, liberals, have yet to travel to wake the world to Justice with Compassion. The world, unlike John’s vision in The Apocalypse, needs a kind and waking beverage made without suffering and with all costs paid. I marvel that something like this is available to me and drink deeply; it is like Holy Communion with the wakened world: Equal Exchange Brand coffee, illumination in a cup.

Thus energized, I begin to recall Sunday and write a story of my day. Pain is part of my Monday. I had intense dreams (all forgotten), seemed to have slept strangely, and my left leg is cramped and stiff. It hurts, and ibuprofen is required to reduce the pain and inflammation. I remember fragments of a dream of intense running and hiding and being forced into small spaces. It feels like I actually did those things! I did stand to usher on Sunday at the church and to lecture in my Sunday School. I cannot imagine that was the only cause. How strange!

With the pain and some exhaustion, I keep Monday simple. I write until before 10 and publish the finished blog with plenty of photos. Dondrea sent me one she took while I taught on Sunday. Often on Monday, I take the MAX to Portland and walk, but today it seems like a poor plan, so I decide to try another McMenamins location and get another stamp in my passport book.

Aside: You can buy a passport book and collect stamps from various McMenamins locations, and as you fill a page, you get a prize (a free burger, appetizer, and the like). If you complete the passport, you are granted Cosmic Tripper status and invited to special events. I am still working on my 2006 passport!

I head to the Greenway McMenamins, about 2/3 of the way to Portland in the West Hills. Of course, I showered, dressed, and even applied all the creams to stop skin issues. Skyrizi seems to have slowed and reduced my skin issues, but flaking and itching have returned. I will apply the creams and so on for the next couple of weeks to bring it back under control (they worked before). I spaced shaving and will not shave until Tuesday.

Unshaven, I arrive and soon learn that this location was the third created by McMenamins founders. It is also their first brewpub and the first place in Oregon where beer was brewed (legally) once brewing was legal again. This is where it all started! I find a table with sunlight inside (it is a cool morning) and order a Special Prosecutor burger (thinking we could use one of those) with vegan split pea soup. Both were excellent.

The Special Prosecutor and proper split pea soup mix well with my class notes for John’s Apocalypse. I outline the book’s structure and start with a Methodist argument on some main points. I fill a couple of pages with text to settle my thoughts, knowing that I will only use the notes to keep on track and to read from the text. I would come back to my notes all day and update them. By the time I head to bed, I have enough material to finish the class.

I enjoy my iced tea, food, and writing at Greenway McMenamins. I then returned home in the EV. I had remembered to charge the night before, Air VW the Gray, and I had a nearly 100% charge when returning (part of the effects of going downhill). The pain and stiffness make even driving uncomfortable.

I stopped by Walgreens to get a prescription, but the pharmacy closes for lunch until 2. I got some soap and toothpaste that I needed (plus some chocolate) and will return on Tuesday. I seem to alway hit this break.

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, 5E, Trials of Saruman printed book arrived. I had the PDF, and this is an excellent distraction, as are various calls from Deborah. This is a campaign book, not really a sourcebook, for players and DMs to experience serving Saruman before his fall into corruption. It has five quests for players to work for the White Wizard, with a system that has Saruman fall deeper and deeper as players fail, or, on their success, to revise the story and keep Saruman hopeful.

I enjoy the new material; it is like a mini LOTR story. These stories, while not from the books, are approved content. I am not sure I will ever get to play it, but I do enjoy reading it and imagining these other fellowships doing quests in Middle-earth.

I made heated Chicken Tikka from Costco for dinner, but used the Chinese-style dry noodles instead of cooking rice. The noodles dried out the mix, and it was a bit too crunchy. Next time, rice or get some naan.

I bought a season of Doctor Who, the second season, for the new show. I watched that while trying to relax. I read some more about the American Civil War.

I do laundry on Mondays, but it didn’t get done. I was ahead as I had done on Friday. I found my bed, read, and soon slept. Dreams filled the night, all forgotten, but none had me cramped again, and I woke on Tuesday without pain.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

 

My allergies are hammering me on Sunday, and I had an asthma attack while ushering at church, and my inhaler helped (that is how I know it was asthma). I rose at 7 and had until 9:15 to finish the blog. I reheated yesterday’s coffee and had a scone I made the day before, and a nectarine (it is a bit early for them, and I ate them slowly since three cost nearly $4). I do the usual things and have an instant personal worth number (though the IRA balance does not update; I make a manual adjustment at least once a month). I fiddled with having PayPal draw from the AMEX, but the doubled expenses (with miles) and required complex transfers made it too messy and left the checking account balance wrong (under by about $500). I might return to that and eliminate the checking account from PayPal access (having two sources of funding and Quicken not knowing which is which made it less than transparent), creating another layer of protection, but so far, it has been too messy. I will put that off.

I wrote the story about Saturday’s activities, managing to write over 1,600 words and include multiple photos for this blog. I have it done before my time limit. I publish it.

Shower, shave, and all that follows. I put on my pride tie with a dress shirt with a navy blue vest and dress shoes. I am ready early and load up the car with an antipasto salad (with tortellini) and sandwiches. I printed off copies of my class 3 notes to hand out. I figured the antipasto salad should be served when discussing the antichrist (it is lowercase in Greek and in the NRSV). Despite all the chores, I still arrived in Air VW the Gray too early and Emmaus church, the church that meets now before us, and chatted with Deborah until 10:30 (church for me starts at 11).

I carried in my load, put it in the fridge (also new from the renovations), and then took my place as an usher. I talked to Bill, and he put out the food and got some plasticware for the salad. I had more coffee and stood most of the service (making my Apple Watch very happy).

Pastor Ken gave the sermon and covered again how, in the end, and according to Jeremiah, God expects his people to know him, and there will be no need to tell them about God, as they will know. In the future, all the bad will fade, and Ken said we have to be involved in the community to help bring this forward. We are God’s people, and it is our job, and the reflection of being right with God, to help the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. Justice shows as the love of a community towards its people and strangers. That is what it means to know God.

Much of the choir, band, and even the organist were out traveling. Even our soloist, Eric, was ill, and the band instead went with a hymn sing. Everyone was late, and my count went from 29 to just under 40 by mid-service. I heard from some that the traffic and construction had made a mess of their drive to church (the air show at Hillsboro Airport also continued through Sunday).

I rallied the class, about ten, and we covered more of The Book of Revelation, and this time the conversation flowed to some of the Hollywood versions and popular myths. We covered the horrific beasts and the Four Horsemen. Jeff made popping sounds as I read the text of the breaking of the seven seals. I covered how maps and stories are made out of text and made up things (for example, the word ‘antichrist’ was never used in The Book of Revelation). We ran over a bit, as many explained how they were taught to fear the End Times and were presented with many proofs that it was the End Times. I reminded the class members that it has been nearly 2,000 years since the book was written, and we are still here. Maybe we should treat the images as metaphorical and not as an immediate plan. Though we have seen the Four Horsemen rise over and over, again, a better metaphor than a manifestation of The End.

With that done, I was tired and headed home. Lunch was two plates of my salad (I had to have that before covering the beasts of John’s visions). I sat in my chair and watched some Doctor Who on Apple, bought a season, and just tried to relax and rest. This is one of the more terrifying versions where humanity, wearing something that looks much like earpods, accepts things downloaded into their minds, and then is controlled, converted, and made into Cybermen. The screams and graphics are well graphic, short of a horror flick.

This is not really relaxing. I reheat the Indian-style chicken I made a few days ago for dinner. I read more about the American Civil War (ACW) and have gotten to the part where the shooting starts in this battle, but it is still confusing, and there are not enough maps, I think in the book, but we will see.

I did order a new Kickstarter. There is a special version of the DaggerHeart Role Playing Game, Heart of Cthulhu 1912, that features the RMS Titanic in its story. Had to have that. I tried to just get an adventure book (figuring I could use it in a time-traveling story), but that was impossible with their reward system; instead, I went all in with the full set of books (and PDFs) and then added all the special extra items, but avoiding dice for $30 a set (I have plenty).

I got word that my lightning detection devices are shipping from China. Usually, the shipping includes tariff add-ons, but we will see this time. I suspect that the Trump Administration owes me some refunds for disallowed tariffs, too. But it is only a few bucks. I suspect I need to find the invoice, show it was delivered, and then file it with the shipping company to get the refund. Not likely I will work that hard for a few $. I am sure the shipping company is already trying to harvest the cash from the US Government.

I need to get back to my electronics and build a few items. I will look for where my equipment went and find a place for that work, likely in the office, as it was originally planned as a workspace for modeling, painting figures, and hands-on hobbies. I plan to build a few things I have purchased over the past few months.

I read more ACW, and the battle keeps getting closer and, from what the writer seems to suggest, it’s a battle of the witless. Everyone seems to either assume the battle is lost or won before it is fought. I was surprised to read that the Union officers were already talking about surrendering and had yet to fight! They believe that Confederates (who are just as lost and confused) will crash into their rear and cause the army to collapse, and they should surrender before this happens. According to the author, 6,000 Union troops are holding off 19,000 Confederates without being engaged. This is 1864, and the last battles in Tennessee for the Confederates with the aggressive (and slightly batty) General Hood.

I am frustrated that there is still no battle, as is General Hood in the story, and I close the book and sleep. I wake around 3 to prove hydration. I sleep late past sunrise.

Thanks for reading.

 

Saturday was not going as planned. Originally, I was to head to Richard’s house in Portland for a noon Twilight Imperium board game (with all the add-ons) and then play for five to seven hours. This is a SciFi-themed 4x game that comes in three large boxes (once the largest board game on the shelf) that combines exploring, resource exploitation, warfare, economics, technological advances, system of alliances, and even a political meeting (the Senate) all into one massive game. I often describe it as six would-be Emperor Palpatine-wantabes all rushing to be the new leader. Once you have the rules down (at least two plays and some reading), realize that if everyone plays well, there is only a 1 in 6 chance of winning, and understand that many players are on the 100+ play and know everything; your chance of winning is low (I have never won at Richard’s).

I have not played it since the Pandemic, and I have never used the add-ons. I have the game and a few add-ons (but not the newest one). I was looking forward to trying again. Richard could not get more than four players, which makes for an interesting game, but there are better four-person games, and Richard canceled the play.

Change of plans: I will go to the McMinnville UFO Festival, see some of the parades, and get a new T-shirt. I rise about 7, having woken around 3 and 5, but easily rolling over and sleeping some more. I make a large pot of coffee, continue the laundry started on Friday, but not finished as Friday was busy, and then start on the blog. I find that I have some trouble focusing as thoughts about my Sunday School come and distract me. I check, and the EV is only at 54%, and I put the charger in for the morning. I will get another 10% charge for the limited-time morning rate, and that will keep me above 10% on the trip back; McMinnville is about an hour’s drive away. This gives me a safe margin.

I finish the blog and laundry and decide that later I will make my version of goulash. I shower and dress, this time in a vest and dress shirt (it is cool and damp with rain off and on all day). I add my hat and a coat to the EV. My plan is to arrive before the parade at noon, but parking is always an issue.

I select the no-highway path and take the winding and strange roads all the way until I hit McMinnville. I lose count of the number of vineyards I pass, and the grape-covered hills become the usual. It is lovely, and many of the curves on the two-lane roads lead to another postcard view of Oregon wine country. I am suddenly there and trying to find parking. I make it easy: park on a main road, then walk the seven minutes to Main Street and the Oregon Hotel, the center of the UFO Festival, now a McMinniman’s property and remodeled in their style.

Though it is morning, I get a Ruby, their local raspberry wheat beer, and climb to the very top of the hotel and its Roof Bar. There I am cold and slightly wind-blown and can see nothing of the parade, but the view of the rolling hills, the town, and the churning sky (with rain clearly coming from some not-too-distant clouds). And while the UFO encounter was in the 1950s and miles away, I, along with others sitting high on the roof, raised our glasses to our missing alien friends. Next, I helped take some photos of some folks dressed the part. I enjoy my beer, the view, and eyeing the clouds. It was wonderful to just sit there. Once the beer is finished, I make a hasty retreat before the rain, some clouds seem to be headed this way (only sprinkles get me later; the heavy rain missed us), returning the food menu (thinking it is too cold and damp for food, and I suspect all those carts out there would be a better choice), and head out. But, before leaving, I bought a T-shirt for this year’s festival. The cashier is dressed as the Fourth Doctor (matching my hat, which I tip to him) with the famous scarf. “Thank you, Doctor,” I say as I pay.

The streets are taped off, and the crowd is about a third in costume (more than on my last two visits) and waiting for the parade. Instead of finding a place to stand and watch, I find a cart, one I used before, that serves a good jambalya, and get an order for that. The parade starts, and I stand off to the side, watching what I can see through two rows of happy people while enjoying excellent food.

It is packed, and I work my way back to Hotel Oregon, and I was not surprised that there is plenty of space at the bar. I have another beer, an Alienator IPA, which seemed appropriate for the day. I can then turn and look out the window and see the parade slightly better than on the street. I drink my beer, chat with others, and am recognized by some of the staff. They are from Beaverton and here to help the staff with the huge load of people. They are happy to see me and, though they are slammed, chat a few times.

The parade ramps down, and I finish my beer. I head to Carter’s Bar. It is named for Carter the Great, a favorite historical magician of mine, and I love his posters. I take a few pictures (it is packed).

I walk through the shops looking for anything that interests me, but I don’t find the local writers or other items I would consider. But I do find a local bookstore, Third Street Books, and they have some cards (showing a hamster in a ball entitled Carpe Diem) and a trade paperback of John le Carré’s newest book, published after his death. I support my local bookstore (they had a handwritten note recommending it). Back to the Cold War and spies, excellent!

I walk out of the town, and direct one couple to the fun as they were lost, and find Air VW the Gray ready for the return trip. This time I take the shortest route and find myself retracing much of my route for the first fifteen minutes. But then a turn takes me straight up to Bald Peak, and soon I am in familiar places. Different vineyards this time, and I am tempted as many are open, but the EV gets harder to drive on the winding roads as I increase the amount of wine I consume (though I have never tested this theory), and I decide to forgo more alcohol.

I stop at Market of Choice and buy a decent piece of beef to make into goulash and a few other items (having hit Costco and 185th Veggies already this week), but then head to Costco, dodging closed roads and messed-up traffic for the air show at the Hillsboro Airport. I see WW2-era planes spinning overhead as I park at Costco.

The usual weekend madhouse, and I try to be smiley and avoid the overstressed folks. I find my sandwiches and think I need something for the class. Hmmm. There is a pasta salad made with much of what would be in an antipasto: as close as I can get to anti-Christ, an antipasto. I decided that I will do that (and that terrible joke too).
Armed with my potentially world-conquering salad, I head home, unload, and hear from Corwin. Yes, I am making a huge dinner, yes, come and have some, bring the doggie, and yes, let’s play a game. With that settled, I start in the chopping (and crying), and soon everything is prepared. I then cook the smaller bits of beef to brown (next time I will add flour). I then return it all to the heavy Dutch Oven on the stove, add the onions, let that cook, and then add everything: tomato paste, broth, wine, lots of sweet Hungarian-style paprika, and the secret ingredient: ground caraway seeds. That will cook slowly for hours now. I add potatoes and carrots because I like the goulash more like a stew.

I clear off all the American Civil War games and get Raiders of Scythe, as I think Corwin will like that better. I do the teach of the game, and he is raising a crew, resources, and getting it. He is a quick study. I do the first raid, and he gets it now. Soon, Corwin’s crew is covered in blood drops (wounds), and some of my crew fell (with additional silver and points for their fall). I focus on rewards, and Corwin now gets that, too, but I am very far ahead. To win the game, I ended the game. Corwin makes a desperate raid on Greece, loses all his crew, but gains the maximum points. I am defeated by one point. It was a good game!

Hank the dog sits at my feet for most of the game. He gets lots of pets. Deborah calls to say good night after dinner with her sons (her gift card dinner for Mother’s Day). She says to Hank that I fulfill. Hank gets a treat of cheese while we play the game and eat.

We both had two bowls of goulash, and I sent a ziplock bag home with Corwin with some for later. Hank heads out with Corwin back home for his dinner. Corwin did the dishes (I have the goulash pan soaking). I read my notes for Sunday School and watched some of the Good Omens finale as homework. I read more ACW and soon sleep, now in my PJs and in bed. I wake at 3 to prove hydration, but sleep the rest of the night.

Thanks for reading!