It's August!

[MacPhantom]

Hi MacPhantom,
How is everything in your neck of the woods? We are doing pretty good, my husband & I are still working and have not gotten the covid yet, his work has had 6 people so far get it but they are in a different part of the building.
I am still going to decorate this year but I don't think we will get any Trick or Treaters, it's so sad, it's on a Saturday and the time change and a full moon, I think, lol.
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Glad to hear you and your family are doing well, Witchy. We are also doing well, all things considered. Ciuin has been promoted to head be-header down at the old chopping block. I'm now number 2 lab tech at the American Institute for Rat Colonoscopy Research (good old AIRCR, a household name). Our oldest daughter just dismembered her first victim last month, and our wee yin was the champion blood guzzler for her kindergarten class, before covid dried up all the fun.

[HalloweenDot]

It is hard to believe August is nearly half over. Glad everyone is doing okay.

Remote schooling for the 1st grader, Rose, started today. They did a reasonably good job, only a few hiccups.

[Andybev01]

This about sums it up.

[HalloweenDot]

Maria has talked me into having a Halloween Tree the last ~6 years. We get the Christmas tree out late August or September 1st and she puts Halloween decorations on it. Then switch it over 11/1 or so.

The kids like it although they wanted to do it 8/1 this year.
I was the Halloween Scrooge this year and said not yet.

[PumpkinQueen]

Yeah, I'm absolutely in the fall mood. It's been a bit rainy and cool the last 3 days so I am LIVING my best rn

[Pumpkin_Head]

Yep, and the stores are already putting out Halloween candy and decorations. I am SO going to get into Halloween this year. We have Halloween on a Saturday, AND a full moon for Halloween night. I don't think they're going to do Fall back this year, though. Too bad, because that would have given us an extra hour of Halloween fun.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

My sons and I defied Covid and took an epic road trip the first 15 days of August. 10,840 miles through 15 states. We spent 4 nights in WY and 4 in OR. Saw four national parks--Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Lewis and Clark, Crater Lake. Also drove down the OR coast. Lots of tourists on the road and in the parks this summer. We had a fabulous time and could scarcely believe we had actually done it after we got home.

[Andybev01]

As a native I'm curious to know what you thought of Oregon.

[Murfreesboro]

Oregon was a great discovery for us. I wanted to go there because of Lewis and Clark, so we drove down the Columbia River to Astoria and visited Ft Clatsop. First night, after a long drive, in Portland, second night in Astoria. After Ft Clatsop we went to Seaside and saw an End of Trail memorial, waded on the beach, and drank coffee on the promenade. I really liked Seaside, even though I found the water and Pacific breeze chilly!

The next day we drove down the coast on the scenic highway. Stopped for photos and a great seafood meal, which we ate at a restaurant connected to a casino, Chinook Winds, I think. Sat beside a huge picture window facing the sea and a flock of gulls. This was maybe in Lincoln City? Drove on to the sand dunes, then overnighted in Florence.

The next day we started home via Crater Lake (so beautiful!) and overnighted in Klamath Falls. As we left the state the next morning, heading into Nevada, we had to pause for a small herd of cattle being driven across the highway by cowboys/girls. All very picturesque.

We really liked Oregon and saw a lot of it. We took a nature walk at Ft Clatsop, where we felt very much that we were in the Pacific Northwest. The forests there are different from ours. The trees are different. And I had had no idea that the Oregon Coast is such a tourist thing. I would definitely go back, but next time I would fly.

Oh, another thing that surprised me was the Scandinavian influence in Astoria. I know so little about its history, and I think it would be interesting. Our night there we had a hotel beside the river, and we took a brief walk alongside it. We saw/heard a group of sea lions there.

[HalloweenDot]

My cousin lives in Bend. She and her husband have been out there (from Montana) for 3-4 decades. Needless to say they love it.

[Andybev01]

I love seeing Oregon through new eyes, thanks Murf.

HDC; your cousins sound like they fell for the high desert in a big way.

[HalloweenDot]

Well, my aunt and uncle moved to Billings, Montana after world war 2 and my cousins were raised there (they are about 15-20 years older than me). It is pretty out there when we’ve been to visit them. I haven’t been in a while, but want to go some time in the next few years.

[witchy]

Sounds like a wonderful trip Murf!

[Murfreesboro]

It was, and one of the best things is how content I am to be home now.

[Pumpkin_Head]

Halloween is EXACTLY 2 months from Monday. I SO can't wait. In fact, I am going to declare the entire month of October as Halloween month, as I do every year.

Every time I log onto facebook I am going to post something creepy or Halloween related. I am SO SICK of Covid 19 and politics. My 'haunted road trip is a week from this Friday, or September 4th to be exact, and I am SO looking forward to it.

Mike