Beneath the Wraps

  Played Phrasel with Jaime this morning and afternoon.   Still foggy outside.   Seems to be interfering with many of the sites on the internet.     Played games with Jaime but had problems opening other games or even continue with scrabble cheat.   It ’ s like the towers aren ’ t getting signals due to the fog.     Only YouTube hasn ’ t been given me problems.   Not the way the other sites have.  Even this site was  giving me a problem at first.

     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.

           Driving to Roseburg yesterday seemed almost like driving into the Twilight Zone – sort of a slow strobe effect.  Mist      disappearing scenery    blue skies    inviting sign    just kidding            dark clouds            is that smoke or rain?        sunny blue sky above the dark clouds           fog again      cold bleakness       inviting warmth       all within a matter of minutes     so surreal This is just our neighborhood.  The change was a lot more drastic going to Roseburg.  Bluer sky and darker clouds.

  Jenna took these five pictures yesterday morning: She took these three this morning and I took these two 

Jenna had wanted to do a craft.  We went and gathered pinecones on Tuesday.  Yesterday we made these:   Jenna also found the perfect rock and painted a scene.   I thought it turned out well.   Roland had purchased some sensors for the house in order to detect anyone in our driveway or anyone on our porch.   One was more sensitive than the other and had gone off more times than needed.   He decided he would take care of it when he got off work yesterday in addition to putting up lights for the stairs and moving the initial light he had purchased which wasn’t serving the purpose as he had hoped.   We were about to lose light and I didn’t want him to climb the ladder and not be able to finish the projects he had on his agenda.   He was tired and I could sense that he was already frustrated without a darkness challenge.   I suggested putting everything away and trying again today.   He had the entire day off after all.   He...

                  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 h...

                  The skies are clear and the sun is shining through.   It’s about 54 degrees – 10 degrees warmer than three hours ago.   Looks and feels like a completely different day.                This morning there was a dingy fog.   Thick. Appearance was not clean.   It felt eerie – mirroring the upcoming election.              Tomorrow is the last day to vote. Whatever the results there’s going to be tension.   It’s as though the fog was a sign of what’s to come.                Malitia if Trump should lose the elect ion.   He will not leave the white house gracefully.   His mindless fans will protect him.   I cannot even grasp the behavior of so many who refuse to see what is right in front of them or hear what words come out from Donald Trum...

I left the bathroom and returned to my bed after my bladder interrupted my sleep.   I looked up at the skylight to see the stars which I couldn ’ t find.     Odd that they had been there the night before.   We have had decent weather – though cold – the skies have been clear.     Until this morning.   Thickest fog I have ever seen since our move to Oregon.   I won ’ t be driving in this.

  When I laid down on Sunday night I could see the stars I have not seen the sky since then. It’s hazy in the morning.   Eerie fog And when the fog disappears Hazy Sky Smoke from the California fires. And we still don’t have the worst of it. I could smell the smoke through the window Two weeks ago when it was combined with Oregon fires. I don’t smell it now.   But I can see the haze. It’s like a taking a beautiful scenic picture With a dirty lens.

            I have been thinking of an assortment of things lately – none seem post worthy however.   I haven ’ t come up with any great ways to transfer my thoughts.   So perhaps I ’ ll just assign numbers.   1.       I ’ ve driven many mornings without having to deal with school buses and I always forget.   Thus I have been leaving the house a wee bit earlier in order to pick up Jenna who does go to seminary in person – at least for the time being. 2.       On our return we pass the middle school which has always had a flashing light signal before the turn.   But I have not seen the signal since mid-summer.   I told the crossing guard about it.   Thus far it isn ’ t working still. 3.       I ’ ve seen a lot more construction signs and reflective cones set up all over Myrtle Creek.   And they somehow become permanent additions as t...

            Just six and a half months before the pandemic Roland, Jenna and I had gone to Bandon.   And yet it feels like decades ago since we made that trip on Labor Day weekend last year. I did not think about that Labor Day until yesterday when I was looking for a picture of the fog.             We chose not to go anywhere this year due to COVID.   When Labor Day had turned into night I was lying in bed and looking up at the stars.   What a beautiful sight to see stars all summer.   I didn’t realize that Labor Day would be my last opportunity even though I spent several minutes admiring the twinkles (which appeared to be twinkling as the fan had been lightly moving the blinds). The next day the RS pres. had picked up to attend a mini-RS meeting.   We’ve had four now beginning in Canyonville, Riddle, Working sisters, and Tri-City.   Will have one more in Myrtle Creek.   I enjoye...

The morning fog was thick In years past that meant when the skies decided to clear   that it would be sunny and warm then to hot Not today. The fog finally cleared the sun came out But it did not get warm The wind blew and chilled the air Our day is now near its end

Monday morning the sky was white as though the fog had been lifted up and covered any trace of blue I was surprised at how light was the view for I could see to drive at 6:15 in the morning.   Sometimes it is still too dark at 7:00 and so I was surprised. I did get a brief glimpse of the sun as it tried to peak through the whiteness – shining orange beams in the east but only temporarily. It remained white and light for about 12 hours. At 6:15 p.m. the sky had started to darken. On Tuesday the skies were blue and only one hill had clouded fog surrounding. By noon the sun was shining. Yesterday the skies were white again. Right now it is just after 6:00 am.   The sky appears to be blue.  The earth is  surrounded  by fog. It is too dark for me to see. What gives?

          Driving to Canyonville should only take 11 minutes according to Google.   Though I have arrived at the school in less than 20 minutes, I generally allow myself at least 30 minutes on the road and arrive to the school just a few minutes early which allows me time to store my belongings in the staff room.           When I start to approach exit 101 and see I have plenty of time, I will take the ramp that leads to Stanley park and avoid the 99 exit.   Sometimes I have missed the exit and will take the off ramp at 98 – which is where the school is located just on the left hand side.   But it also requires turning left onto Main Street (which can get busy during certain hours) and make another left into the parking lot.   Google maps, the GPS and other sources will always have car exit 99 and drive through town.   I left the house earlier than normal yester...

Cold and Freezing Fog.  Does that mean a solid fog that can't be driven through?  Interesting. For driving safely in "freezing fog" conditions, see here

         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 ...