Pull up a chair, pour yourself a beverage, and let’s look back at this last week.
On Monday, I survived the first workday back after the time change. I gave a quick rundown of the conference last week to my supervisor, and she asked me how I was going to celebrate your first professional presentation. I’ve been thinking about another tattoo. She told me I should do it, that I’ve earned it and deserve it.
For supper I reheated some Little Caesar’s pizza in the oven, which I enjoyed with some sour cream and onion chips and a canned Baja Blast while watching The Simpsons.
Tuesday was Alfred Hitchcock Day and I had a great time talking to friends about their favorites of his films; there were more Dial M for Murder fans than I realized – and for the record mine is North by Northwest.
Supper on Tuesday was spinach and feta gnocchi with cast-iron charred chicken – the chicken had been cooked in the slow cooker the day before and I used the remaining liquids to make a chicken gravy.
Tuesday was also the anniversary of the death of Terry Pratchett, whose work changed me in ways I cannot put into words. If you have not read him, please do so. If you need three of his books to understand who I am, you should read Hogfather, Carpe Jugulum, and Small Gods.
Wednesday was Ginger Ale Day, and a very unscientific poll indicated that folks I know seem to prefer Seagram’s ginger ale and many local varieties.
Supper Wednesday was roasted Brussels sprouts and popcorn shrimp.
Thursday was the first day I woke up even remotely on time since the time change and of course it was the one day of the month it was my day to be at work a half hour early. Such is life.
But it was also Reuben Sandwich Day, and while I didn’t make a Reuben, I did make plans with my brother Charlie to make sure we each enjoy one the next time we are together.
Instead, I made poutine to use up the chicken gravy and cheese curds. It even got the approval of a certified cheesemonger!
Friday was the big day of the week because it was D&D night.
Before game could begin, my targeted ads took a very odd turn. Online sports betting will be legal in my state come Monday (tomorrow as I write this) and the advertisers know this. However, they do not know me, and their efforts are wasted.
Coming home from work I realized that something somewhere was burning. Ash and pollen do not make for a pleasant outside experience, just in case you had any doubts.
Friday was the Ides of March, and I made this funny (to me) meme using a screenshot from Gravity Falls. I hope you find it funny as well.
I picked up some Sonic for lunch (I really wanted a cranberry limeade) and later made myself a frozen pizza for supper and then it was time for D&D! This is a new campaign with the same friends we’ve been playing with, only one of the usual players is running the game to give our DM a chance to play as a player. Typically I’d have a link to a recap of our adventures, but our Wikia page is still in progress.
It was not but a few moments before our game was supposed to start that I remembered I had forgotten to print off the list of things Rustle can say, what with being a Kenku and all. So out came the notecards and the pens and soon I had a cork-board ready to go.
I also had new dice, a lovely gift from my friend Jax. The dice are nice and heavy and beautiful in their autumn colors – and they rolled reasonably well, too!
Then it was time to meet the rest of our party, and my friend Rosie is playing a Tabaxi named Bird. Tabaxi are cat-people, and Bird specifically is described as having the features of a Norwegian Forest Cat. So I am raw totally playing a bird named Rustle and Rosie is playing a cat named Bird. How cool is that?!? My heart is so happy thinking about it.
As we got to know our characters and play them for the first time, we discovered they – to put it lightly – have a violent streak. We set up an ambush and defeated four kobolds in one round of combat before any of them even made an attack.
Then, when we found the fifth and final kobold standing between us and the treasures we were after, we restrained him with vines and thorns, disabled him with a fit of laughter, and then began to drown him in a magical bubble of water – only to have another party member save him for the express purpose of watching him die again.
We’ve played together for four years over one large campaign and quite a few smaller campaigns but we may finally at long last rolled up a party with no qualms about using violence to achieve an end.
It was a good first session.
Saturday I went grocery shopping and listened to podcasts and saw online that my friend Logan had been honored in Savannah, GA’s parade. I just kinda did nothing, which is sometimes what we need to do.
Today I slept restlessly as my back decided today would be a bad-back-day. But I was able to make the supper I had planned, which was pub-style burgers: seasoned beef patties perfectly grilled and topped with whiskey-infused cheese and caramelized onions on a bun with mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mustard.
Fries on the side and Guinness out of frame.
And now I’ve cleaned up the kitchen and mentally preparing for tomorrow (which will feature an early-morning call to a local auto shop for information regarding replacing a timing belt).
How have you been?
Running In My Head 