Whitemud Flood

Pete, Jeff, Mike, and I enjoyed a hard-fought but ultimate futile battle against the forces of evil in a rousing game of Dark Tower Returns. 

I chose my route home poorly, for tonight's storm flooded the Whitemud, adding an extra 45 minutes to my drive home from Mike's place. 
 

Giant Killer Robots: Heavy Hitters

Earlier tonight, Jeff, Mike, Stephen and I engaged in a kind of cyberpunk gladiatorial combat by way of the board game GKR: Heavy Hitters. The arena: the ruins of a nuked city. The combatants: four pilots driving giant killer robots. This was only my second time playing the game, but it's as fun as I remember; both strategy and tactics are crucial, but luck, of course, plays a role too. I made a couple of dumb mistakes, but enjoyed an exciting go-for-broke last stand sort of maneuver that let me go out with some semblance of pride, if not a victory. (Indeed, I was eliminated.) Jeff eked out a one-point win over Stephen, but it was close all around. A fun night. 

 

The Gregarious Gentlemen of Gaming & Guinness

Here's one of the group photos for G&G XX. Crazy that this tradition has now lasted two decades. While I couldn't be there for the whole thing this time, I still had a great time. Here's to twenty more years or more of these shenanigans. 
 

The Days the Debts Come Due

Due to family circumstances, I'm missing most of Gaming and Guinness XX this year--and on such an important anniversary! Saddening, but it can't be helped. I love that Pete put up this list of our challenge coin debts for the occasion. I owe a lot of favours...although I'm sure I paid off Sean. I might have forgotten to update the spreadsheet...
 

A Little Space and Time for the Science of Centring Yourself

It feels like forever since I enjoyed a few minutes outside, alone, on a nice day, at one of my favourite places. Even better, this occurred just after seeing some of my favourite people at what is now one of my favourite movies of 2026 (Project Hail Mary)--the first I've seen in theatres this year, and only the fourth I've seen in theatres since 2019, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Feels good, must do more often. Get outside, disconnect, look to the stars, not to my screen. 
 

Vernal Geekquinox 2026: Dem Bones, Dem Tasty Bones

The great thing about bones, in a culinary sense, is their ability to act as handles for meat. This year's first Geekquinox, held yesterday afternoon, was built on very sold bones: Pete and Ellen's peerless hosting and cooking skills, and friendships that now stretch back decades. Zounds! 

The lamb lollipops were so delicious that I forgot to take a photo before they'd all been scarfed down--thanks to Stephen for this photo! Moist, juicy, tender--I don't have lamb often, but wow, these were scrumptious. They certainly put a SHEEPISH GRIN on my face! 

The next course consisted of braised lamb shanks served on a bed of rice. The sauce...oh, the sauce...the meat and the rice were excellent, too, of a quality far better than, I dare say, most restaurants. 

Here's our dapper chef in his skeleton-themed shirt, alongside a couple of the cocktail recipes. I'm not a drinker, but apparently at least one of them was "face-numbing." 

Ellen took this shot of us, which means she's not in it! Still a fun photo that captures the feeling of the day. 

We took a break between courses to marvel at Pete and Ellen's just-completed library. It's utterly gorgeous, and really makes me want to do something similar in my (much smaller) space. 

Unfortunately, family matters called us away early, so we missed the steak and the duck. But we did share a piece of this amazing homemade dinosaur dig cake. Needless to say, we dug it, bones and all. 

For better photos and a more comprehensive writeup, including the dishes we missed, see Steve's story of the event! 

Director Woods

A couple of years ago, I used HeroForge to construct this alternate universe version of myself as a guest character for a Villains & Vigilantes game Jeff, and then Connor, were running. On a whim, I asked Gemini to translate this 3D rendering into a photograph: 

Obviously this image has plenty of flaws, but I'm still impressed by how far this technology has come in just a couple of years. 

Soda Can Turrets

I painted a pair of 3D-printed turrets made to incorporate soda cans. Cute! I'll use them for Star Schlock objectives. 

Skull Cave

Jeff printed this creepy cavern entrance for me, and I painted it. Dare you enter the maw of Skullos the Dreaded to explore the horrors within his labyrinth? 

Pete and Ellen's Big Fat Greekquinox

 Yesterday Pete and Ellen once again hosted a spectacular multi-course meal, this time themed after Greece, where they spent their late honeymoon earlier this year. The choice may have been on-the-nose for the couple, but speaking only for myself, the menu ranks among my favourites. Check out the Pete-designed menu above and the photos below to see if you agree. 

We began with savoury vegetarian spanakopita--light, flaky, golden brown pastry stuffed with spinach, cheeses, and spices, topped with Pete's homemade tzatziki sauce. (Everything was home-made; forgive the redundant adjective.) Actually, we topped pretty much everything on the menu with tzatziki. "Keep eating this stuff, I have two more litres in the fridge!" Pete entreated us. We were happy to oblige. 

Lemonade with mint leaves and a lemon slice--incredibly tasty, tangy, and refreshing. Even the coasters and napkins were inspired by Grecian art. 

I attempted to look Greek by borrowing a gold necklace from Sylvia and unbuttoning my shirt to expose my hairy chest. Rather risqué for me, but I wanted to support the theme. Sylvia pulled it off more easily, having a wider range of choices. 

The strips of chicken souvlaki and the tangy Greek rice were superb--rich in flavour, perfectly textured, a delight for the palate. 

Jeff, Steve, Audrey, Pete, Ellen, and Mike enjoying the first course. 

Pete's apron was on point. 

A Greek salad worthy of the gods with onion, feta, tomatoes, and a dressing I assume was oil and vinegar. 

Greek potatoes cooked and seasoned to perfection. 

Slow roasted lamb with au jus. I eat lamb very unfrequently, but I'm grateful Pete served this up--so moist, so juicy. 

While attempting to get a shot of Pete framed between the black cupboards, he leaned left just as Stephen was taking a photo of the food. I call this the EyePhone effect. 

The shot I intended to take. 

Galaktabourekos, a honey-sweet pastry custard named for the Milky Way--truly a dessert from and for the stars. 

And here's a lovely shot (courtesy of Steve) of this year's hosts and guests. Thank you all so much again for yet another unforgettable evening of feasting and fellowship! 

Unfortunate Bug

Jeff 3D-printed a dragon skull for me a few days ago. While I was priming the model, this insect flew into the acrylic spray and, well . . . suffocated. Macabre. 
 

Dice Prison

When you're deeply involved in a game and the dice just won't roll the way you need them to, toss them into the dice prison. PUNISH THEM! Jeff printed this for me--poor Jeff, who has notoriously bad luck with dice. He needs this more than I do, really . . . 

Copse

Using the trees Jeff printed for me and some other odds and ends, I created a copse suitable for use as wargaming or roleplaying terrain. 
 

Professor Zarkov's Rocketship

 

Three 7TV Trees

Final Fauna-tsy. 
 

Cave of Simple Mystery

3D printed in grey, underside primed in black, topside primed in dark grey, dry brushed with light grey. A very easy paint job, and I think it works for what it is. Thanks for printing this, Jeff! 
 

Vernal Geekquinox 2025: Old Fashioned Feast and Friendship

 

On Saturday night, Ellen and Pete once again put on a spectacular multi-course meal for a bunch of us to celebrate the coming of spring and the bonds of friendship that have lasted for so many years. Pete designed the menu above and the menu we ate, and every bite was a delight. 

In keeping with the loose 1950 North Americana theme, we began by snacking on devilled eggs and Cheez Whiz-filled celery sticks. What a throwback to childhood! 

Then, Pete delivered a heaping plate of rumaki--bacon wrapped around water chestnuts and chicken livers, marinated in some sort of delicious sauce. Despite finding liver traumatizing, the tiny bits of chicken liver in this dish did nothing to detract from the savory delight of what was a new experience for me. Sylvia went to town on these, and I can't blame her! 

Somehow we still had room for the main course. The juicy beef melted like butter in my mouth, and the cheese-covered broccoli--well--it was no ordinary cheese-covered broccoli. I don't know how Pete made the cheese sauce, but it certainly wasn't simply by melting some random cheese and pouring it on. I skipped the turnips--I've always found them bitter vegetables indeed--but I enjoyed the creamy mashed potatoes, cloudlike in their perfection. (Not pictured, but it's a bowl of mashed potatoes, what do you want?)

The main course also included--HOORAY--Yorkshire pudding, a Woods family favourite. Light, fluffy perfection. 

Poor Pete and Ellen run themselves ragged preparing these meals while also circulating with the guests. We love them for it! 

I love that Geekquinox brings together the guys and gals of our friends group. The women did a great job of bringing some 50s fashion to the festivities. 

Sylvia and I couldn't stay for the shrimp cocktail, French onion soup, or dessert, but even so we were there for about eight hours of lovely conversation and reconnections. In these rough times, such moments are genuine treasures.