Have you ever heard a song that you have heard for, sadly I must admit it, for decades, and suddenly you hear something new?
This happened this weekend as I was driving back from recycling plastic bottles in Newport…. Continue reading “Long after the thrill of living is gone…”
Well, we made it! 2020 is in the rearview mirror, and it is a year that will NOT be forgotten soon!
But as always, with the start of the New Year I do like to look back in the year for the most memorable events…. Continue reading “Looking Back on 2020”
Yes I know, I have not been a great blogger this year. Shoot some of you might’ve thought I stopped blogging all together.
As with all posts this year, I am happy to report that Michelle and I are happy and healthy, and still gainfully employed by the Mighty P! Breaking news: The Man Child, during the time of global pandemic and layoffs, was just hired by the Mighty P last week! VERY proud of him!
With sitting down to compose a blog post, though, like with all things, you just have to be in the mood to do it. I’ve thought about it a time or two this month, but good food, sunsets and big waves have gotten in the way.
But then there was today…. Continue reading “Once again the bike was the better choice!”
You know, sometimes you just need an extra day off during the week… This week, I was lucky enough to score a Friday!
Before I get into that, the important stuff first. Michelle and I are happy and healthy, and yep still employed! We made sure to get our flu shots last month, and even though we are back in a Covid shutdown for a couple of weeks, we are making the most of it.
We have already decorated for Christmas
And in our backyard, Frosty the snowman is holding auditions for Santa’s Sleigh Team.
We even went out for dinner the day before the shut down began. Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay has done an excellent job keeping people separated and safe, and who would miss a sunset like this?
So all in all, we are doing well!
But I still wanted an extra day off! Continue reading “A Nice 3-Day weekend”
This is always my least favorite week of the year. The end of Daylight savings means the end of afterwork bike rides for the rest of the year…
But first, as always, the important stuff. Michelle and I are still healthy and happy and employed, we are continuing to survive the global pandemic and avoid people as much as we can!
OK back to the post, the end of Daylight savings time! … Continue reading “The End of Day Light Savings Time 2020”
Hi all, long tome no see! So long in fact, they have changed how to do a post. My apologies if I end up messing it up somehow. We’ll see how this ends up!
As always, since the time covid has come amongst us, the important stuff first. Michelle and I are happy and healthy and gainfully employed! We also survived the wildfires that hit our area, almost a month ago to the day today, without any damage at all. The Wind Gods smiled on us!
But now back to the post, what do I mean ‘tuned out’.
Folks, I am tired of the news. Especially the political news. I know who I am voting for, and I bet y’all can guess who it is! But keeping to my rule of NOT being political on this blog I will leave it at that.
But since I know, there is no need to watch debates. or listen to what the candidates said or tweeted yesterday, or anything else for that matter. In fact I have, for the first time in since I got here, changed the car radio from NPR to KCRF 96.7 classic rock!
OK, when did my 80s music become classic rock!!! Am I truly that old????
But I digress!
I am doing my best to enjoy the remainder of daylight savings time and getting outside after work. Beach walks and bike rides take the place of seeing or hearing people fighting and complaining!
Now I am not safe from ALL battles. There was this epic one recently in a tide pool. Who knew hermit crabs have knock down drag out fights?
(Quick note, I made it go back to old school blog post writing!! We will get this done!)
I will freely admit that I did get sucked into one online debate.
One day, I was walking along the Salishan Spit and found this
This is the same piece after the first big waves of the year hit (same waves that dug up the whale!) I took this last week.
We humans sometimes think we are in charge. Momma Nature, though, every now and then, lets us know we are wrong!
OH! And speaking of waves, here is my public service announcement: When the waves are big, do NOT stand on or near big logs. Why?
Every year we loose someone to waves and driftwood. Even that big sucker above I have seen rocked by waves…
OK, on to better stuff. The last few weeks have been fun (well outside work, work is never fun, that’s why it is called work!)
First off, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is open again!
This is one of my favorite places to bike to! I’ve been there twice now, which is a good 44 mile round trip. These are the longest rides of the year. AND I hit the 2000 mile mark for the year! Not too shabby for not having a single 100 mile ride in 2020. (Ok I just looked on Strava 2137 miles to date! And counting!)
We did have a brief revisit of smoke! Nothing like when the fires were just up the road, but the NorCal fire smoke hit us for a couple of days.
The nighttime red moon was REALLY creepy!
But it soon cleared and sun came back! One of the things I love about this time of year is that it is still light late enough after work to go on a bike ride, but the sunset is early enough for me to catch! There have been 2 nice ones this week! This was Monday (I snuck down after cleaning out the gutters)
And this was Tuesday at the end of the bike ride.
After 2.5 years of living here it still does NOT get old watching the sun set!
Wildlife has been fun too!
The birds love our back yard bird bath. He is a pine siskin.
Last night, no photo evidence, there was a young possum looking in the patio door at our car looking out at it! All I could think was that Mewson was saying, “You are one ugly cat” While Pete the possum answered “You are one funny looking possum!” I just let them stare at each other!
Blue Herons, Egrets and kingfishers are all over, though eagles have been scarce.
Whales are coming in closer again as well!
And just yesterday, for the first time ever, I found a Roughskinned newt! I had parked the fat tire bike for a cookie break.
He was hanging out near the fish ladder I found this summer.
Cute little guy, just sorta hung out for a bit then disappeared into the moss.
I have found quite a few NICE agates lately.
I have them tumbling now, hoping they turn out as well as I hope! This one, perfect for halloween, also came home with me.
I am also on the look out for a person! He or she has some serious mad skills! (sorry its blurry, but check out the balance!)
I have tried, there is no way I could do this! I would love to watch one being done!
All in all, as you have read, life is pretty darn good here!
I am a lucky man to have a beach 3/4 of a mile from my front door. I am lucky I can saddle up my bike and see things that make me forget the world. I am lucky to have a loving wife who takes car of me.
And I am even lucky to have Sal here who keeps seems to be watching me every chance he gets!
I swear any time I am near the water, on the bike or walking, he is there! I choose to think he is just keeping an eye on me!
OH!! One last thing! Not a big deal but I thought it was cool! One of the Facebook groups I am a member of, dedicated to the rocky coast lines here at the coast, chose this picture at the banner for October.
No money or fame, but I won a tshirt! Not bad for a point and shoot.
Ladies and gents I hope this post finds you well. I can’t tell you enough how important it is to get outside, breathe fresh air, and love life. Get away from the TV and radio and take a walk. Plug in your favorite CD or mixed tape and take a drive. Get the hell away from the evil and hate and just love life for a bit!
Like the wind y’all!
This morning we got a text from out neighbor saying the power was back! Also winds had died and fog came in. Plus we read with the weather improvement the fires were not spreading.
It was time to go home!
2020 was NOT done with us though, Our hotel was just north of the Columbia River in Wa. To get home, we had to, I know it seems obvious but it’s true, go back into Oregon!
2020 put an accident on the south side of the I 5 Columbia River bridge that closed s/b I5 for hours! It was close to check out time, so we had to leave…
This meant we drove 30 miles NORTH to Kellso, to cross the Columbia and then drive to Astoria, the far north end of the Oregon Coast, and THEN turn south….
All in all 100 miles or so out of the way, but in the end we are home!
House is safe, power on and we had an excellent pasta dinner.
We are glad to be home!
Thanks for caring y’all!
Hi y’all. This post is coming to you from an hotel room. Michelle, the cat Mewson, and I are hunkering down awaiting word to return to Lincoln City. RETURN you say? What happened???
Zombie Hellfire Devil Smoke winds happened!
Read on…. Continue reading “WOW, now this will be a Labor Day weekend to remember….”
You know, I think I went the entire month August without a post! Oops. And stuff did happen. I may have to go back and do an August post soon.
However, this is not that post.
First off, as always, the important part. Michelle and I are happy healthy and employed.
Fun fact, when I donated blood a couple weeks ago, the Red Cross did a Covid antibody test to see if I had ever had it. I came back negative. I was curious as both Michelle and I were pretty sick in February. But it turns out it was just a bug.
On to the subject of todays post.
Yesterday was Friday of Labor Day….
Sometimes you make the right call!
While Sunday’s bike ride and yesterdays beach walk were met with sun, warmth and blue skies (I might have a bit of a sunburn!) Today has been foggy and blustery! The winds are out of the north and gusting to 20+ mph, which is normal for us.
This is fun pedaling southbound, but when I have to turn around north to go home the fun stops and true work begins! I have done these rides before and will do it again, but really just didn’t wanna today.
So I made a different decision Continue reading “Oh Yeah, TOTALLY the correct decsion”
