2022 – October part 1

October!

We should start to feel a little more like fall pretty soon. September didn’t feel like a typical September. It went down as the hottest on record.

We were out and about when I saw this Jeep with the sticker “LET’S GO BRANDON” and then “GOD, GUNS & GUTS” – ugh, makes me sick. I am pretty disgusted when I see things like this. We went to a new church Rise City Church (Rise.cc) and some of the people in that church were wearing stuff like army fatigues and something along the lines of USA and God or God and USA, I can’t remember but it was a sure proud thing that was displayed. I get it, you probably had or have people in the armed forces. I don’t like the mixing of the two. Too much Christian Nationalism is running rampant and unchecked. Pretty sure Jesus didn’t wear a Rome shirt. Maybe a “Take ARMS for CEASER? Probably not. I could be wrong, but it isn’t my understanding of who He is.

Speaking of this topic, a few years ago I came across this article (see here). It is a NY Times article on ‘Would Jesus Wear a Sidearm?” and I think it was well done. I also agree with it, but even if you don’t maybe you’ll see things from a different perspective.

Anyway! Back at work, we had our normal standup (photo below), but it has been a bit more lonely now that Jack isn’t around and we are down to just Linda, Bill, and myself. They’re still looking for work. I put out feelers with some contacts I had with another client so hopefully, something will come up sooner rather than later.

A couple of times this month I have gotten off of a call and I hear Luca starting to wake up. I walk over to him (since my office is in the bedroom) and I see him lying with his eyes closed, he gives a big stretch and this adorable grin on his face. I would love it if everyone could wake up like that most days.

We went to Costco and got this TV (see above) on sale for $349 which is pretty good for a 65-inch 4k smart TV. Have I mentioned how warm it has been outside? We are still in the high 80s. It is nuts. We have already broken the record for most 80s in October. The prior record was 6, currently, we are at 8! Due to this, we had a cookout! Why not enjoy the weather while we can? The evenings are still nice a cool so I’ll take it while we can. The day after the cookout we let the kids watch the new Jurassic park movie, had chips and dip, and finished things off with root beer floats (something they had never experienced before).

Covid news? Yeah, cases are expected to rise this fall and so the Oregon Healthcare system is requiring facemasks for everyone on an ongoing basis until the threat is less.

We didn’t know what to have for dinner one night so we went to Bannings. We had a yummy dinner and then followed it up with a slice of pie. They were voted to have the best pie in the state! We had to try it. It’s like on Elf when he tried the “world’s best coffee” only to be disappointed… well thankfully it was SUPER GOOD.

Afterward, we went to Costco again and Luca wanted all of the “basketballs” and he would occasionally call them “bumpy” as well. We caught a photo where he leaned out of the cart and just gave a full-body hug to one of them.

It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus. They recently released Hocus Pocus 2 (a sequel to the 1993 classic) and they had all 3 of the whiches return. It was a pretty good movie, and to celebrate my wife getting a sequel to one of her fav. Halloween movies we made a night of it. I got her this cup that changes color when it’s hot. (normally the cup is black). She made brownies that looked like “Book” too. The kids enjoyed the event.

October also means it is time for the Blazers Fan Fest! We let the kids get full face paint this time (they couldn’t before as they would only do arms and whatnot due to masks and COVID). I think they looked pretty epic. You can even see little Luca walking in the background.

Also in October, we get our normal invitation to go to Liepold farms. This year we spent nearly the whole day at the farm.

What else? Even though we aren’t sure about the new church we decided to go here until we find something better, and if we don’t we will stay here. It’s Sunday at 4 pm and it frees up most of the day. Afterward, they offer a free catered dinner too for the family to help build community. After church, we took a trip over to West Linn to see the pumpkin display (see here). We have been going to it for a couple of years and it’s always fun. The guy has some serious talent for carving pumpkins. He also normally has a pumpkin out front, on fire. One of my favorite things.

There is so much happening! Until next time.

just Pray