From 80 to 50

     I have wearing my 

sweatshirt the last couple of 

mornings.  

Mist crawls over 

the mountain.  

Fall is in 

the air.  

It would be 

nice if it would 

last always.

Crazy Morning

                 When I left the house this morning the view was clear and I could see to drive.  There were clouds surrounding the hills across the way, but nothing obstructing my view. That is until I drove nearer to the church.  The fog seemed to descend upon Myrtle Creek as though the limits were completely swallowed.  I am grateful I did not have to drive up North or South Myrtle as the roads seem to disappear into the whiteness.

          When Jenna and I returned home the fog had thickened our surroundings in Tri City.  It was as though the process of lifting was reversed.  It wasn’t particularly cold outside – or at least my body didn’t think it was.  It was nice to get home and off the road.

          I had paid off a loan with my bank in Oregon.  I had written a check before December 7^th.  I had even made a transfer of money into my Utah account – which is the check I meant to use.  Roland asked me to check the account to see if the money went in.  He meant the Oregon account but I had gone to the other site out of habit. I noticed the check I had written had not yet cleared.  When I went into my Oregon account I learned my error – I had used the wrong account.  So I called the bank to see if I could come to the bank in person to get the error resolved.

          My cell phone was still in my hand when I leaned down to unplug the tree.  In the process I inadvertently hit a button on my phone that I wasn’t aware or had forgotten existed.  It made the sound of a siren.  It took a few seconds to get the sound off – although I don’t know how I did that either.  As I was trying to figure it out, I received a phone call from the RS president followed by the first counselor.  Both had received a text from me that said that I needed help.  Both laughed when I explained my error.  Roland said he had also received the text.  Did my phone notify everyone in my system?  Oh, no!

          I had worn a long sleeve pullover when I had gone to get Jenna. As morning progressed I somehow felt too hot and had changed into a tee shirt before I went to the bank.  The sun was out.  The air felt cool but not cold. That lasted less than two hours as the skies started pouring down rain during the afternoon.  When I could no longer hear the rain I looked out the window. I could see that it was still overcast.  

          Only three chickens have wandered into our yard for the last three days.  No roosters.  No turkeys.  No more eggs.  Roland wonders if the brood has been butchered as we don’t see them in the neighbor’s yard either.  The pigs may have been sold as Christmas hams as only the smaller ones can be seen.  Or perhaps they have built a more solid section for their animals.  There have been a few mornings we haven’t any the roosters crow.  There was also one morning this year that I couldn’t identify the animal or the tormenting sound it made – as though it was being tortured.  It was torture to my ears to wake up to.

          I ended the day with a virtual meeting that took place in Roseburg.  It was a missionary meeting.  I have many thoughts about what has taken place.  That will be for another post.

Driving Conditions

 

                Rumor has it that the school district in this area has finally wised up to doing online schooling until the end of the year.  Cars were at the schools today but no buses on the roads.  Perhaps the instructors are still teaching from the school building. Seminary is still being held in person.

It is now too dark for me to leave the house in order to pick Jenna up on time.  I used to leave the house at 7:00 and take a longer route to the church but did not have that option this morning.  As there were no buses I thought I could make it in time but as I rounded the corner and saw a familiar car driving toward me. I stopped and the other vehicle stopped and Jenna got out and joined me.

Initially the driver didn’t want to make a stop on the way to the high school to drop Jenna off as he would encounter school buses.  Oh, I totally understand that, but as there is no school he was willing to drive her and I asked if that could continue.  Still waiting for a reply.

But then again, there is another girl who has stopped going to seminary as she does not go to public school either and her mom can no longer drive her.  They live in a different city – same as the driver who used to pick her up.  Perhaps he could add her back to the route again and we will have to find another way for Jenna.

It was raining this morning.  There is still a foggy mist engulfing the mountains.  Not drivable weather in my opinion but I have driven in worse – just not in this state.  Skinny windy roads is a challenge in itself – I don’t need the elements to create more challenge for me. 

Almost There

Written Satuday

Last year we were the

only house on our street

to put up Christmas lights

and decorate our yard. 

This year everyone

started yard decorations

early. 

Our roof was being fixed

and then it rained. 

Until late today we were

one of the few houses

on our street that wasn’t decorated.

We appeared to be "bah humbuggers"

but we are really not.

Our roof is finally finished

I had noticed on Wednesday

that the flatbed trailer was gone

– the one Roland insisted remain at

our house until the job was complete.

It rained all day yesterday.  Sometimes

the rain felt like snow.  I was

doing crosswalk duty again. 

All students had been ordered to

go to the gym after lunch.  I would

much rather stand out in the

rain then be in the overly loud gym.

It was nice today.  I didn’t even

wear a coat. Roland wanted to go to

Winston to look for a coffee table.  He

took me with him.  We were gone for

a long time.  It felt long. 

I was afraid it would be dark before

we returned. We had promised Jenna that

we would decorate the outside.

We did get home before dark but

did not finish with the lights until after dark.

Jenna and I plan on finishing with

big bulbs after we return home from Church.

Too Busy To Be Called “Vacation”

            It feels like a Saturday.  I suspect most of the days this week will feel like Saturdays.  On the 21^st my post gives a little detail about my dental experience.  The Novocain wore off eventually – long after the dentist was closed.  I don’t know when I first noticed that my teeth were not feeling right.  Well, two in particular.  Was it the tooth he just worked on?  The bite on the right side of my mouth made contact before anything on my left.  It didn’t hurt but was quite annoying.

            I remember the dentist and his assistant having me bite on a paper and saw off some more.  Wait a minute!  I don’t think I am finished.  Something is sticking up that’s not supposed to.

            That was Wednesday.  I allowed myself to “deal with it” for the next four days and called the dentist yesterday to see if I could get in before my next appointment in January. 

            I don’t know what time I called.  Something was going on.  Rather put me on eternal hold, the receptionist took my name and number and said she would get back to me.  I think it was forty minutes before she got back to me!

            I was pulling out of my driveway as I had a 10:00 meeting.  I wasn’t even trying to get in yesterday.  It was actually NOT a good day for me to try and fit into my schedule. There had been a cancellation for this morning.  Perfect! 

            The meeting could have gone better, I suppose.  Seemed like we got off track a bit.  We do get things accomplished, but never anything on the agenda. When the meeting was over I returned home and ate a sandwich before Jenna, Roland and I went to the school for parent/teacher conference.  Not much to be said as Jenna is a great, wonderful, awesome student and everybody loves her.  No questions.  Just introductions more than anything.

            Next: the Big City of Roseburg.  Jenna wanted to see Frozen II.  We purchased tickets and then went to get something to eat.  Back to the cinema and  then to Costco to pick up Thanksgiving supplies. 

            Roland allowed me to stay in the car and play on my kindle.  Have I mentioned that I really really really really (that’s probably not even enough really) don’t like shopping.  I was even willing to miss out on free samples (if there were any?) and played a few games before Roland and Jenna returned to the car.

            It was probably only 5:00 when we returned, but it always feels later when it’s dark.  Our usual routine: Roland unloaded the car, Jenna brought food into the house, I put away.

            Roland was tired and so I took Jenna with me to the dentist.  I spent an hour in the dentist chair last visit.  I think it was only ten minutes this morning.  The tooth was filed down!  No more grinding!  Evenly chew.  Well sort of.  I have jagged teeth.  Mostly where it can’t be seen. 

            Jenna and I did not return home right away.  We hit a bunch of stores – the same that we can find in Myrtle Creek, but in Winston we could have walked to each of them and stayed parked in one space.  But the weather hasn’t been too friendly the last couple of days – not just here but all across the nation – probably the entire globe as well.  Not a lot of traffic.  I appreciated that.

           

            Roland wanted to do a trial run of the food so that he knows how to time it Thursday.  When Jenna and I returned, “lunch” was ready.  We had Waldorf salad (not a part of my Thanksgiving tradition, but Roland said he really wanted to have some) yams, turkey and stuffing.  I was hungry and enjoyed the food.  I think the stuffing will taste better on Thanksgiving after it’s been inside of the turkey (what we had today was from a boneless breast)

            Roland decided to go to the barber and asked me if I’d like to come along for the ride – just to get out of the house.  He obviously had a nap and maybe hadn’t notice how long I’d been gone.  I’ve been out.  I got wet.  I’ll stay home and create a new post.  I’m good.

            Now he is on his way to purchase three big propanes in case the power does go out again – like it did in February.  It sounds as though blow out before I get this posted.  He is the one that freezes when we don’t have any power.  I am still opening the window (if only a crack) when it’s only 30 degrees outside.  I don’t like the electric heat that is the only source of heat we have to warm our house.

            The hilltops are capped in snow now.  The wind is howling.  I hope it doesn’t blow the shingles off our roof (or whatever else is up there). The elements sound very unforgiving right now.  It’s rare to hear the wind howling as we’ve not heard much of it the entire time we’ve been in Oregon.  We did in Salt Lake.  Don’t miss that at all.

Driving Into the Unknown

         It’s been a number of years since Roland had purchased a suit.  An embarrassing number of years.  We used to go to the Big and Tall or the Men’s Wearhouse to get a proper fitting.  Douglas County doesn’t have the same variety of clothing stores (or any store for that matter) as is offered in the larger cities.

          Roland had seen an ad for Shaquil O’Neal wear at JC Penny.

We had gone to the JC Penny in Roseburg.  Though there was a small selection of suits he could try on, the formation around the shoulders gave one that he had been propped into his suit as a scarecrow hanging from a pole.  We needed something else.

          The clerk had told Roland that Eugene would have a much larger selection.  Thus on Saturday we took the time to make the drive to Eugene.  We drove through fog practically the entire way there. It feels weird having such a limited view of where we are going – having faith that the road will take us to our destination though it feels like we are driving through the unknown.

rest stop mile marker 179

 As we approached Eugene, the fog had cleared and we could see more scenery again.

          I had considered taking my kindle as I really don’t like shopping and it would help pass the time as Roland tried on suits, but I knew I was getting low on battery and did not want to gamble on taking it there and having the battery need charger after only two minutes or so. 

          When Roland told me to hold his phone, I downloaded a game to pass the time.  I don’t know that the variety of suits was any larger at the Eugene store – not in his size.  He is limited.  We did end up with a suit coat and pair of pants and ordered another pair of pants and a vest.  Plus he got two more white shirts. 

          We went to Red Lobster for lunch.  The lobster pizza is fantastic, but I don’t recommend the lobster mashed potatoes.  I didn’t care for the sauce.  I really did enjoy the pizza.

          Afterword we went walked over to the Men’s Wearhouse as Roland wanted a raincoat that would fit over his suit.  Nada. Well, they did have a wool coat.  Wool coat in rain.  Smart.  440 dollars.  No thank you.

          We passed a site called “Good Feet”.  Roland has flat feet and has been hurting.  We were there for maybe 20 minutes as he answered questions and walked in their shoes as opposed to his own shoes.  We did not make a purchase.

          We drove to Springfield so that we could pick up some cables and transmitters at Best Buy and then we started home.  What a long and expensive day!

on the return to Myrtle Creek

Circle Colors

Is it possible that the elements could be so cold that the signal for internet is lost?  The outside has gotten below freezing between 1:00 and 5:00.  Jenna, who has gotten up as early as three (strange child) was trying to sign up on the internet yesterday and was frustrated with it not coming up. If she couldn’t get on her devise (which she would seriously give up for non-electronic entertainment) I wasn’t even going to bother trying mine.  Mine has been having problems ever since Roland received a new updated computer from his work.  It must be sucking up more signal or something.  That isn’t fair.

As Roland was toying with Jenna’s device, I got up and checked the status on the box.  One light was solid green, one light was blinking green.  One light was blinking orange.  The other two were out.  I mentioned that it was probably the internet – and the last time we had encountered that problem it was not so much a household thing – but all of Myrtle Creek had been affected (it must be really great for people living in the sticks).

The TV had been turned to the news.  It would be cold all day in Eugene, so bundle up.  Eugene’s whether doesn’t always mirror Myrtle Creek.  I didn’t figure it would do a lot of good to ask Echo as Alexa is on the same power as the internet – yet I knew I wouldn’t be able to pull the forecast upon the internet.  Either Jenna or Roland asked, “Alexa, are you working”

The red glow came on and she apologized that she was not working but to try again later.  Jenna than made a comment about the friendly blue that is received when Alexa (or Echo) is working but referred to the red color as the circle of death.

The Closest Fire - Too Close to the Road

                Yesterday was overcast when I went to the pool.  I prefer going there when the skies are grey with moisture and not sun that blinds.  We are all hoping that the overcast skies and humidity will help with the fire.

                The fire started near the 97 mile marker less than 10 miles south of where I live.  The news reports that it had been started by an illegal camp fire.  It is the closest fire we have ever had and yet the air quality has been better than any other summer . . . for us anyway.  The smoke is thick and black and horrible to the south.  The smoke has infected Glendale, Grants Pass and of course Medford (has there been a summer yet that smoke hasn’t invaded Medford?)  Reports say the smoke has made its way as far as Ashland.  Oh, my word . . . I didn’t realize it had been windy enough to be carried that far.

Daily Express

              Off Ramp Exit 95 has been closed.  I wonder if Interstate 5 will close all together .  The yellow line represents I-5.  There is no yellow road in the part circled in green.  What is the alternative?

OPB here

Daily express see here

                We live less than two miles from Myrtle Creek airport.  I remember some people complaining about paying taxes for an airport that they never use.  Though we may not use it directly, the majority of traffic from the airport to the sky is for our benefit.  Currently there are 15 helicopters traveling back and forth to MC airport to assist with the spreading fire.  Over 15 firemen have been injured.  I’m suspecting that many of them are volunteer fire fighters.

I did take the two above; I have cropped the photos 

I took this picture in January last year

             

Newswatch 12 here

                 I’d love to be able to take my own pictures but am certain my presence would be in the way and my desire to get pictures is not nearly as important as the work that needs to be done.  I hear them more often than I see them.  Though I have taken one from my backyard, it comes out more like "Where's Waldo".  Thus I’ve provided links from which I have borrowed these pictures

Miles Furuichi here

                It’s really strange how drastically the elements have changed from what they were just five months ago.

Robin Loznak - News Review here

The overcast sky changed to a brilliant blue just after noon.  This morning the sun has risen early but the skies are murky.  The air quality has gone from good to moderate.  I feel bad for those who have it worse than we do.

Gray and Gloom

It's Raining

It's Pouring

All the Snow has melted

The sun is gone

the Skies are gray

And these are

some photos from

the last few days

Yesterday afternoon the hills were green.  This morning they are capped with snow.

Nooooooooooooooooo . . . send it over here

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/hurricane-florence-death-toll-climbs-to-17-flooding-fears-surge-as-rivers-rise/story-l0hudSBdF6EyROjIY4l3iK.html

        The weather forecast said that more rain was expected to hit the east coast.  Meanwhile, the map indicates fires still burning on the west coast.  It's been dry. 

https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

 My breathing feels much like it did during winters in Utah.  My skin feels as if I have been rolling in fiberglass.  I feel bad and pray for those who have lost so much due to Florence and the amount of time that they will spend attempting to rebuild . . . 

https://www.newsweek.com/hurricane-florence-aftermath-sparks-deadly-tornado-virginia-exactly-14-years-1126185

I wish there could be a happy balance.  I wish there was a cost effect way to remove the water from the east coast and send it to the west.

Deceptive Skies

                Carolyn picked me up at 6:45 this morning.  I was happy to see misty clouds or fog hanging over the hills ahead of us, but from behind the appearance told us it was a hazy smoke.  From the pool, the skies gave the impression that it might rain, but to the north of us, there was also a musty haze covering the hills, trying to hide them as it had all of the blue that had been there last weekend.  What happened?

            Two weeks ago after the smoke started to descend upon us, the haze made gave the sun the appearance of being blood red - like in this photo by Richard Bartz. 

It was taken for an article for a station in Portland, I think.  The name of the article is Poor air quality could affect your dog or cat: Tips to avoiding respiratory stress in pets which you can find here. 

            I don't have that great of a sense of smell, but I can smell it - even taste it - as I sit at my computer writing this post.  I have not even had the windows open all week as to not let the bad air in.  The air quality guide tells me moderate, but it feels like the number should be higher and orange rather than yellow.

 I realize that in comparison to other areas in Oregon, California, and even Utah, the quality of air is worse than here.  I don't understand.  According to the fire map, there aren't even any fires that close to us - not like last year when we were surrounded by fires.  How fortunate that we did not have to evacuate - where would we have gone?  What roads would we have taken to get there safely?

            The pool was nice.  There were only five people in Josh's class.  It was an extreme workout.  I felt out of breath and was grateful for the opportunity to rest between classes - though we did not fully rest.  Carolyn and I put up a net that Josh had started for us.  And then she pumped air into nine beach balls while I plugged up the holes.  We put the balls in the water.  It was fun to watch where the air carried them.

            There weren't as many participants as usual.  The class has been getting 16 - 20 people on average.  On Tuesday there was 20.  Today there were twelve.  .  We did not have a routine workout in the morning.  Carolyn had wanted to try something different, and we did.  First, she incorporated some of Josh's routines into our morning exercise and try something different that she hoped would be fun.

            We attempted to pass the beach balls to one another over the net, but the wind generally sent them to directions other than what we were aiming.  It appeared that everyone in the water was having a good time, and I know the lifeguard was enjoying watching us

            I still need to write my assessment.  I am having the hardest time getting into it.  If I don't post something new tomorrow, it means I am working on my assignment . . . still.