2020 – September
Hey,
We got the estimate to get the car repaired, it will cost around $1,200 for those scratches they caused. Insane amount if you ask me – so I’m glad we don’t have to pay for it.
We had a team event at work where we got together to play some games (because COVID restricts us all from meeting up). I grabbed a screenshot of everyone (1st row is: Don, Linda, and Bill. 2nd row is: me and Jack)
We have been trying to get out and find beauty in the ordinary. We came across this truck that is used to advertise for a local farm. We drive across it nearly every time we leave the house – so we pulled over and captured some beauty.
We also took a trip to Bend. Along the way, before you hit Mt. Hood they have this old fire engine with the “Cars” styled eyes. The kids went berserk so we took a photo.
Why Bend? To visit the Last Blockbuster in the world.
It is up and running (and likely due to the amount of tourism it creates) and the sentimental fact that you can visit a relic from the 80s, 90s, and early 00s – it was fun to be able to bring our kids here. After we left the kids kept saying “that place is so cool, they should open up more of them” – if they only knew. They use to be on nearly every block!
The smoke is in town. There are a few fires nearby (read about them here) and all of that smoke is coming straight at us.
The fire has been so close that Maryia’s dad had to leave his house in Colton. Angel and Louis are also going to stay with friends (they live in Mollala). I guess that song from Smashmouth – All-Star is pretty fitting. “My Worlds on Fire, how ’bout yours?” Gramps came to visit us and we offered to have him stay at our house. He came inside and Ellie and Gramps told us how cute our house was. They were not thrilled when we told them the dog would need to be in his crate so that there were no accidents. The other item was about Gramps’ guns. He wanted them inside the house which we would not allow. We told him that we would keep them in a safe place in the garage.
That was all he needed to hear. They stayed for an hour or so and then left to go stay and his sisters. They also ended up evacuating and they all went camping for a couple of weeks. I don’t feel that we were being unreasonable.
To escape the smoke we took a trip to Mt. Rainer. My parents came up and visited so it ended up being big a group trip.
When we returned our Air Quality remained unchanged at “Airpocalypse” and “Hazardous” – ick.
We did get a little bit of rain (much needed) and saw more Trump supporters out in full force. We decided to get away to the beach since Trump had labeled Portland (and Seattle) as Anarchist jurisdiction. This is what a leader like Trump will do and threaten to cut off all federal funding.
We loved our time at Seaside and by the end of the month, we even had clear (non-smoky) skies. The fire near Gramps, his sisters, and Angels were now under control and they were getting ready to go back to their homes.
just Pray
note: this post was published on 09/20/22 but moved the publish date back to the end of September 2020 to keep chronological order.