There are now 7,606,594 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the USA. There have been 212,773 deaths from the virus here as well. There have been more COVID-19 deaths in less than a year in the U.S. than the past 5 influenza (flu) seasons combined, CDC data shows. The death toll by the end of the month is predicted to be 233,000.
VIRUS NEWS:
Trump's cavalier approach to the coronavirus caught up with the president and many in the White House.
The White House knew that the president had possibly been exposed to the virus on Thursday morning after aide Hope Hicks tested positive. He knew it as well. Yet he traveled and held events anyway, knowing he could be spreading the virus himself.
As the president's condition worsened, the White House staff decided to send him to the hospital while he was still able to walk on his own. (Because how would it look to his base if he were wheeled on a gurney?)
During a grilling on Fox News, a White House aide claimed that misleading the public is ‘a common medical practice.’
A former White House aide said that the president may have brain fog and lung issues with his COVID 19 diagnosis.
At least one doctor feels the president was released from the hospital too soon.
Republican Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina tested positive the day after President Trump did.
The president's campaign manager has tested positive for the virus.
Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway has tested positive for the virus.
Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway has tested positive for the virus.
Senior advisor Stephen Miller has tested positive.
The White House press secretary, Kayliegh McEnany, and two aides have tested positive. No...another press aide has tested positive as well.
Former governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie is positive and is still hospitalized.
The president of Notre Dame University attended the White House event and tested positive. He is receiving backlash for violating the school's pandemic protocols.
Trump's military valet has tested positive for COVID-19.
Trump's focus remains on himself even as virus rips through his staff. The White House staff is said to be panicked and concerned about bringing the virus home to their families.
Multiple White House sources told ABC News there is "a full-blown freak-out" in the administration waiting to see who will be next to test positive.
34 people connected to White House, more than previously known, infected by coronavirus. One security officer is said to be gravely ill.
Of all of those infected in Washington, Trump is the only patient tied directly to all of them.
The Washington DC Department of Health is faulting the White House with the outbreak and is urging testing.
While Ivanka Trump has not (yet?) tested positive for the virus (and seems to have disappeared from the public eye for a while), three stores she visited have had to close down for deep cleaning after she was there. (Eew! I'd deep clean anytime she came to my store---virus or no virus!)
The Trump campaign has been urged to send contact tracers out to all of the maskless people that may have been exposed at Trump's rallies and other events. The president was in many places and with many people in the days leading up to his illness.
With several Republican Senators either infected or self quarantining after an exposure, this is how the coronavirus has affected individual members Of Congress.
Thirteen employees at a restaurant in Minneapolis are in quarantine after catering a fundraising party attended by President Trump on September 30.
In the wake of Donald Trump and many in his administration testing positive for the virus, the Minnesota Health Department has been urging anyone at Trump's recent rallies to get tested for COVID 19.
The president’s reckless decision to attend a New Jersey fundraising event despite his exposure to COVID-19 is under state review and has also drawn attention to the White House’s limited contact tracing efforts.
The city of Cleveland announced 11 positive cases of COVID 19 stemming from preparations for the presidential debate last week.
Following what is believed to have been a superspreader event at the White House with Supreme Cort justice nomination party, there was an 81% increase in COVID-19 tests in D.C. Monday compared to a week ago.
The day before he was released by the hospital, Trump did a drive by stunt to wave to his supporters in a hermetically sealed car with two secret service men inside. Even though he wore a mask, he was still infectious and endangered their lives.
The day after the president being diagnosed with the coronavirus, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Govenor Gretchen Whitmer had no authority to issue or renew executive orders relating to COVID-19 beyond April 30th.
Republican Representative Matt Gaetz was on Fox News spouting stupidity, saying that if Trump got the virus than clearly the CDC guidelines are useless and we should just drop them altogether and reopen the country. (As if the Republicans were actually following the guidelines before they started
getting sick...)
After the "superspreader" event that is thought to have infected so many in the White House, the CDC has issued new guidelines and (again) declared the virus airborne. They also issued a new warning to people who are overweight.
California Representative Salud Carbajal has tested positive for the virus.
The GOP county chair in Arkansas died from COVID-19 after his committee hosted a maskless gathering last month.
There are 14 times as many hungry children this year as there was last year due to families having to struggle through the pandemic without jobs or unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
The House of Representatives has passed a revised version of the HEROES Act to help families still affected by the pandemic ($1,200 stimulus checks and $600 a week extended unemployment benefits, etc.). The original was passed months ago, but Mitch McConnell and the Senate have sat on it. Hopefully they'll bother with the new version of the HEROES Act, but that's doubtful as they are trying to sneak in a Supreme Court Justice before November 3rd to help them steal the election. You know...needy families can wait longer...
While many Americans have been expected to live off of the $1,200 the government gave them 6 months ago, instead of working with the House for further relief, the Senate is ramming through a Supreme Court Justice so they can steal the election and discontinue the Affordable Care Act---all during a pandemic, while our grifter president, who has paid little or no taxes for years (a case which may also be decided by the Supreme Court), is getting the best medical treatment available. Republican Senator Tom Cotton said that COVID-infected senators will be 'wheeled in' to personally cast votes for Amy Coney Barrett. COVID 19-positive Senator Ron Johnson said he will wear a spacesuit to cast his vote for her.
Senator Amy Klobuchar says of Republicans moving forward with Judge Barrett's confirmation, despite senators testing positive for Covid-19 "If they're going to ram through anything, why wouldn't it be COVID relief?"
A new stimulus package is still being worked on...despite the president sending mixed messages about it...but if one does happen, it probably will not be before the election.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is starting to talk about the 25th Amendment following Trump's canceling of stimulus talks.
Roe V Wade is also on the table with a new Supreme Court justice. However, if it were not for a woman's right to chose, the experimental monoclonal antibody therapy from Regeneron that was used on the president to prevent his COVID 19 symptoms from getting worse would not have been possible, as it was derived from aborted fetal tissues. In another ironic twist, Trump stopped research on this product just this past spring. And...is it any surprise? He has ties to the product.
GOP senators hoped Trump would have learned a lesson from his COVID 19 infection. He didn't.
Mitch McConnell says he has not been to the White House since August 6, noting the lack of virus protocols there.
A news site mistakenly reported that Vice President Mike Pence had the virus. However, his red eyes had many suspicious of his COVID status.
Trump tweeted to ‘Stop Negotiating’ the stimulus bill to his Republican Senate followers until after the election...and then the Stock Market tanked.
Several Trump advisers were utterly perplexed by Trump's decision to stop COVID 19 relief negotiations and urged him to reconsider.
The Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, has warned of economic tragedy if the US can't control COVID-19 and voices strong support for a stimulus package.
Military leaders at the Pentagon want to assure the nation that they are on alert while the president is ill. However, the top US general, Gen. Mark Milley, and several members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are quarantining after a top Coast Guard official tested positive for coronavirus.
The president seems to infer that he acquired the virus from Gold Star families. He has also accused law enforcement of spreading it to him and aide Hope Hicks.
Rick Bright has now resigned from his post at the National Institutes of Health, and said the Trump administration "ignores scientific expertise, overrules public health guidance and disrespects career scientists."
The US FDA made clear that it will want to see two months of follow-up data after volunteers get their second dose of vaccine as part of clinical trials testing potential coronavirus vaccines before they approve it.
Kamala Harris said at Wednesday's vice presidential debate that she won’t take a vaccine Trump recommends — unless Dr. Fauci also recommends it.
Regeneron requests emergency use approval for the antibody treatment taken by Trump.
Remdesivir has been proven to be effective with coronavirus patients, a new study confirms.
A new study suggests that a flu shot can offer some protection against COVID 19.
What medications did Trump take to battle the virus? Here is the complete list and the medications are all explained. (Hydroxychloriquine was --gasp!--surprisingly NOT one of them.)
There is a new test for the virus that only takes 5 minutes.
Here is an updated article responding to the question of immunity if you've already had the virus.
The President's tweet saying, "Don't be afraid of COVID. Don't let it dominate your life," left many friends and families of COVID-19 victims disgusted and angered.
A later video of the president had him saying that getting the infection was "a blessing from God." I'm sure this will further upset those who lost people to the virus. Twitter had fun with the video of the president with far too much orange makeup on, desperately trying to look healthy.
An emergency room doctor reminded Anderson Cooper's viewers that if the president can get the virus, ANYONE can get it.
Coronavirus can live on skin for up to 9 hours.
COVID-19 neurological symptoms emerge in most hospitalized patients.
A new study suggests that pregnant women with COVID 19 have fewer fevers but prolonged symptoms.
The BBC has taken a look at why our virus numbers are on the rise again.
There have been few (if any) virus safeguards put in place as the Trump campaign returns to rallies. This was Don Jr. in Florida just yesterday...no distancing and no masks! GEEZ!
Trump supporters say they don’t view his contracting the coronavirus as a cautionary tale. (Can they get any stupider?)
Just as the president's family did at the first presidential debate, Vice President Mike Pence's wife went maskless at the vice presidential debate.
COVID 19 is now the third-leading cause of death in the US, right behind heart disease and cancer....and gearing up to take the top spot.
President Trump sought to cast his coronavirus diagnosis as the inevitable outcome of his courageous leadership in the face of a pandemic. In reality, his infection was the predictable result of months of blatantly disregarding basic public health guidance.
The president has been cleared by his doctors to return to public events starting tomorrow! (WHAT!?!)
77 students and 6 staff members are in quarantine after an outbreak at a school in New York state.
A special education teacher has tested positive for the virus and died.
A Texas teen died of MIS-C, a serious complication of COVID 19 in minors.
Four schools in Alaska are closing today due to a COVID 19 outbreak.
57 were quarantined at a high school in West Virginia.
Why are some colleges win against COVID-19 and others losing against it? The UK is having a similar issue at their universities, as the BBC explored.
There are more than 200 cases in the fraternities and sororities along Greek Row at the University of Washington.
Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding asked its entire 1,600-person student body to self-quarantine as the number of coronavirus cases among students and staff rose to 137 since classes started a month ago.
The largest COVID-19 contact tracing study to date found that children are the key to spread the virus and that there is evidence of their being superspreaders.
A new report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that the virus has been here long before we realized it was.
Dr. Fauci says that some areas should rethink and hold off on Thanksgiving celebrations this year.
Saying Trump should have taken precautions against COVID-19 is the same as blaming an assault victim for “dressing provocatively,” says Fox News anchor/idiot, Tucker Carlson. (Of course, the president would know all about assault victims, as he is accused of assaulting many women himself.)
Trump insisted ‘we beat the Dems all day long’ on COVID-19 during an hours-long Twitter binge last Tuesday. He posted misinformation about the flu being deadlier than COVID 19 on Facebook, but it was removed for being false.
Trump just did his first TV interview since his coronavirus diagnosis. It did not go well. Was it the medications he was on or is he just that unhinged?
Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic has hit a record low approval.
TIME magazine says that based on Trump's virus response, he is not exactly "pro-life."
Trump criticized Michigan Governor Whitmer’s COVID-19 lockdown on the day a militia group’s plot to kidnap her was foiled by the FBI. Apparently the would-be domestic terrorists were inspired by Trump's "liberate Michigan" treat a while back.
A US intelligence leader has warned Americans that ‘more aggressive’ coronavirus disinformation is coming.
Before Trump tested positive, Republicans had pretty much stopped paying attention to the outbreak, a new report says.
Roger Wicker, a Republican Senator from Mississippi, oversees airline safety policy. He was caught removing his mask several times on a recent flight.
A Trump-loving grandpa, who didn't believe the coronavirus was real because he believed what the president said about it, died from COVID-19 after infecting his family.
A hockey referee with COVID 19 may have exposed 400 people in Maine, and New Hampshire.
San Diego schools have removed Trump's letter from the food boxes for needy families due to his mask statements.
How is Hollywood dealing with COVID 19? Hilariously.
Blockbuster movies are being pushed back into 2021 and beyond due to the pandemic.
A family in New York state is keeping their Halloween haunted house tradition alive in the age of COVID 19.
The pandemic has prompted drive-through pet blessing in the Philippines.
The pandemic has prompted drive-through pet blessing in the Philippines.
GLOBAL:
There have been 36,516,788 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. There have been 1,062,031 deaths from the virus globally. The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the world has already been infected. Here is a snapshot of the virus around the world.
The coronavirus pandemic’s second wave has hospitals across Russia filling up fast.
Three months after the Czech Republic held a 'farewell party' for COVID, the country records its highest daily increase in cases.
In the UK, COVID 19 is said to be getting out of control in Northern England.
An official in Germany is warning people that the virus could spread quickly over the next few weeks.
STATES:
COVID 19 cases are continuing to rise in New York City. Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn have been rebelling against Governor Cuomo's clampdown in their neighborhoods.
New Jersey is gearing up for a second wave as it has recorded its highest number of cases in 4 months. The state had 1,301 new cases and 11 deaths yesterday.
Three months after the Czech Republic held a 'farewell party' for COVID, the country records its highest daily increase in cases.
In the UK, COVID 19 is said to be getting out of control in Northern England.
An official in Germany is warning people that the virus could spread quickly over the next few weeks.
STATES:
COVID 19 cases are continuing to rise in New York City. Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn have been rebelling against Governor Cuomo's clampdown in their neighborhoods.
New Jersey is gearing up for a second wave as it has recorded its highest number of cases in 4 months. The state had 1,301 new cases and 11 deaths yesterday.
North Carolina is seeing a spike in cases.
Pennsylvania saw it's most confirmed cases in months yesterday when 1,376 people tested positive.
Ohio announced 1,539 new cases yesterday.
Ohio announced 1,539 new cases yesterday.
Kentucky had 884 new cases and 11 deaths on Thursday.
Tennessee has been accused of not releasing public White House data on COVID-19.
Iowa had 1,515 new cases yesterday.
Wisconsin set another state record yesterday with 3,132 new cases. A field hospital is being set up to help with the caseload.
Texas has now overtaken California for the second most deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.
Utah had 1,501 new cases on Thursday. The state also passed the grim milestone of 500 deaths.
Oregon was up 484 new cases and 11 deaths as of yesterday.
Hawaii had 101 newly reported cases and 1 new death on Thursday.
CALIFORNIA:
The state has surpassed 16,000 deaths.
Hawaii had 101 newly reported cases and 1 new death on Thursday.
CALIFORNIA:
The state has surpassed 16,000 deaths.
Two staff members in Gavin Newsom's office have tested positive. The governor was also tested last night and was negative.
Coronavirus deaths have been spiking in the Bay Area.
A COVID 19 outbreak at a nursing home in Watsonville killed nine people.
LOCAL:
Coronavirus deaths have been spiking in the Bay Area.
A COVID 19 outbreak at a nursing home in Watsonville killed nine people.
LOCAL:
Fresno County has ordered all primary doctors to do COVID 19 testing.
There is uncertainty for many Fresno County businesses and churches as the county may be about to drop back into the purple tier, which would cause things to close up again...despite the fact our new cases seem to be slowing down.
Merced County looks to be about to enter the Red Tier, which will mean more things can open up again.
There is uncertainty for many Fresno County businesses and churches as the county may be about to drop back into the purple tier, which would cause things to close up again...despite the fact our new cases seem to be slowing down.
Merced County looks to be about to enter the Red Tier, which will mean more things can open up again.
The Big Fresno Fair starts today. The pandemic-era version is...well, very scaled down. Here is a peek at what to expect:
VOTE:
Can an infectious President Trump attend the next debate? This doctor says he can technically.
Former President Obama wished Trump a 'speedy recovery' following coronavirus diagnosis. Very shortly afterwards, the Trump campaign sent out emails attacking 'lying Obama.' Classy... (NOT!), yet typical.
The Washington Post reports that Pennsylvania Republicans are trying to create a committee that would have wide-ranging powers to investigate the vote, including the ability to subpoena election officials and USPS members while the election and vote counting are in progress.
A federal judge in New Jersey has rejected an attempt by Trump's campaign to curtail part of the state's vote-by-mail plan just weeks before Election Day.
Coal miners have turned their backs on Trump over failed promises.
A top GOP pollster thinks Trump's diagnosis is really going to hurt his re-election chances. (We can only hope so...)
In North Carolina, Black voters’ mail-in ballots are much more likely to be rejected than those from any other race.
The Michigan GOP’s claim of ‘compromised’ absentee ballots has quickly fallen apart.
Experts are alarmed as the Department Of Justice has issued an unusual memo that is allowing prosecutors to take steps that could interfere with elections.
In an unprecedented move, the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine have condemned the Trump administration for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic — and are calling for the current US leadership to be voted out of office.
Trump's former top national security aide accused him of traitorous conduct—"aiding and abetting" Putin's attack on the 2020 election—and this seems to have caused no great controversy after the endless barrage of shocking Trump news.
Kamala Harris blasted Trump’s response to pandemic during the vice presidential debate: ‘They knew what was happening, and they didn’t tell you.’
While it may not be enough to erase Joe Biden's lead, Trump supporters are coming out to register to vote in key battleground state.
Biden is leading with undecided voters.
As states begin to mail ballots to voters, on-time delivery of first-class mail is plummeting across the US, according to new Postal Service documents.
The Supreme Court upheld a South Carolina rule requiring a witness' signature on mail-in ballots.
The Lincoln Project is helping voters sue Governor Abbott of Texas over his voter suppression tactics there.
Liban Osman told FOX 9 that he was offered $10,000 by phony Project Veritas & James O’Keefe “insider” Omar Jamal to say he was collecting ballots for Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Despite GOP suppression ploys, there have been record turnouts for early voting.
A poll shows Biden with 12-point lead in Pennsylvania.
The worst president in American history continues to tank, even by the Rasmussen poll’s estimation.
Trump allegedly told Attorney General Bill Barr to indict Joe Biden before the election.
Here’s the big mistake people keep making about 2020 election forecasts.
A new poll suggests that the majority of Americans feel that Trump's business interests affected his choices as president.
According to a CNN poll, Kamala Harris won the vice presidential debate.
While Trump was busy acting strong and brave (while gasping for air) in his return to the White House, NBC aired Joe Biden's town hall meeting.
Trump continues to out-macho COVID 19 amid signs of election defeat.
President Trump is once again warning voters that Democrats would "shut our economy and jobs down" if they win in November. Goldman Sachs is telling its clients the exact opposite.
An Iowa man was busted for stealing a Biden yard sign — and then was busted again for trying to steal every newspaper reporting it.
GOP campaigns have taken $7.35 million from an oligarch that is linked to Russia.
For days after the debate, the Trump campaign has been running Facebook ads featuring a fake image of Biden wearing a big white earpiece.
New Trump Facebook ads appear to be using a filter to make Biden look older than he really is.
When Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus, the Biden campaign halted the attack ads aimed at Trump. That did NOT stop the Trump people from attacking Biden. With Trump back in the White House, Biden's ads are back as well.
Trump's lead over Biden on the economy has vanished.
Democrats are now the 2:1 favorite to take the Senate.
A 102-year-old woman who has never missed a vote in her life, cast her mail-in ballot while wearing full PPE.
Eric Trump claims one of his dad's accomplishments in office was that "He literally saved Christianity." Vote OUT this family of crazies...
Voting is already underway in California. Here is a voter's guide for everything on the ballot in California for the November 3rd election. And for those in Fresno County, here is information on ballot drop boxes and other election things.
After Donald Trump balked at doing the debates remotely and then asked that they be delayed, Joe Biden is planning to do a town hall in Philadelphia to replace the virtual debate.
Trump's sons (as if they matter) are outraged by the plan for a remote debate, saying Biden would have the advantage in such a scenario. (HOW?)
Facebook bans firm behind Turning Point's election troll farm.
CREATIVITY:
Here's a new Puddles Pity Party song:
Actor Hugh Jackman, taking a cue from Ryan Reynolds, has a very funny and creative video out promoting a brand of boots.
Here is a remix of the presidential debate set to music:
Laurie Lehner has scored a decent EVITA parody with Trump's coronavirus case:
Here is the faux game show, What Was Pence Asked? based on the debate last Wednesday:
As November 3rd gets closer and closer, the political ads are pouring in:
MAIL:
I had a super quick note from my friend Rosa in the UK:
I had a super quick note from my friend Rosa in the UK:
"COVID has delayed and potentially cancelled my moving out," she said. "The streets are dead. Brexit is a mess."
Some of my former co-workers sent me and a few others this picture of themselves from a recent Sunday shift. (Weekends were always the best shifts. NO management around.) I miss my friends.
Michael in Florida sent a nice note (that I really need to respond to...):
"Life is good for me," he said. "Florida has almost returned to normal. Our virus numbers have remained low for weeks now.
"I am taking a trip down to Key West next weekend. I have never been. I have a new girlfriend, too, and she is joining me for the adventure. That is all good news.
"The bad news is my sister has COVID. She has been fighting it for a week now. I will keep you posted.
"The renters for my California house had it. Both were down for about a month and each spent a week in the hospital. They recovered and lost a lot of weight. They needed to drop the weight, so they are at least happy about that.
"My neighbor had it. He was sick for three days, then fine.
"My girlfriend is a nurse who does home health care. She has a 95-year-old patient on hospice that caught COVID. She was sick for three weeks, but recovered and is fine."
SHIRLEY:
Shirley is home again. I missed her and was worried about her while I was gone. I didn't get her until Thursday evening (That is a long story...see below) and she was already asleep for the night. I put her in her cardboard condo and will greet her properly tomorrow when she wakes up.
ME:
As the trip up to visit my mom, brother and nephew in Washington on Whidbey Island began to wind down, we started off Friday morning with fog on Penn Cove.
As the trip up to visit my mom, brother and nephew in Washington on Whidbey Island began to wind down, we started off Friday morning with fog on Penn Cove.
The fog burned off and it turned into a beautiful day. Erich went on a hike and I drove around taking pictures of the Halloween decorations that were already up. Coupeville is big on decorating for Halloween and Christmas.
My favorite store in Coupeville, Far From Normal, seems to be rarely open any more. We asked another merchant about it and was told the owner had lost her husband not long back and she was now keeping sporadic hours. On this particular day, the store was open and the owner had a decoration out in front.
Spooky stylist?
Cobwebs and ghosts! Boooo!
This thing was interesting. I'm not quite sure where the mask is from or what it is supposed to be.
The Coupeville Garden Club's display featured a frightened woman figure surrounded by spooky rubber chickens. EEEK! (???)
A haunted housekeeper?
This was probably the most gruesome display I came across that day...
It may be difficult to make out, but in addition to the dog and horse skeletons, there were also fake brains and eyeballs and other organs.
A headless torso, wrapped in a sheet and hanging upside down, was also part of the display. Ha!
The entrance to Coupe's Village (a sort of shopping center) was also ready for the season.
At the entrance to town from State Route 20, there is a fall farm scene, complete with mask-wearing scarecrow figures.
This house on Main Street was built in 1870. It maybe difficult to make out, but there is a giant spider in its web (that extends to the ground) near the upper doorway.
EEEK!
One old house on Main Street now features a cemetery for the season.
On Saturday, Erich and I ventured down to the Coupeville ferry landing (the ferry connects to Port Townsend only) for breakfast at a coffee shop down there. We had heard the place had new owners and was much better than it used to be.
The rumors were true. Callen's had an impressive menu...and was still about a week from opening fully with an expanded menu. I will be returning once I move there.
Later that day, I went to my brother's house for dinner. His place is about 2 blocks from "my" house. It was built in 1883 and served as a saloon at one time. The smaller building on the right is an old ice house that he currently uses as a shed.
I snapped this picture of the Methodist church on my way home. The church chimes out the hour throughout the day.
After getting home, I found I wasn't that tired. I decided to walk into town at night and see what it was like after the sidewalks were all rolled up. I took pictures, of course. I encounter deer that were barely visible in the dark, but were nibbling away on plants. I snap this photo which shows my shadow. You can see the shadow of my cane as well. The cane has helped me out incredibly. However, I just can't "GO" like I used to. The little bit I walked that night wore me out.
I took this picture of the giant cheese wedge at Bay Leaf, a deli and wine place at the end of my block.
Another view of the pier. You can see that it was low tide...
Seeing the spooky Halloween decorations at night became my quest. Why not? There was nothing else going on.
Front Street was quiet and asleep.
There was only one car on it, parked, but no one was around.
There was a little scarecrow in one store front corner.
But there seemed to be no one else around.
I found this guy again, looking creepier at night than he was during the day.
These star lamp things were cool.
I have no idea what this was supposed to represent...
There are cutout wooden figures all over town. Mostly they are scarecrows. This one was a witch. There is a hooded wizard (?) in front of my brother's house.
I really liked this jack-o-lantern scarecrow with the tree limb arms with Spanish moss hanging from it. Very cool.
On Saturday, Erich and I caught breakfast once again at Sunshine Drip.
Later that day, we went to my brother's house. Although he lives there, he had just heard about Whidbey Island Distillery at the south end of the island and he wanted to see it. Erich and I had been numerous times already, but what the heck? After knocking on his door and waiting for him to answer, i snapped this quick shot of the view from my brother's front porch.
The first place we stopped was Flower House Cafe for a late lunch. We got there a mere 20 minutes before closing.
Flower House Cafe adjoins a nursery in the shopping complex it sits in.
The sandwich I had was mighty tasty.
It was just a quick jaunt down the road to the distillery.
Erich and I had been several times before. When visitors come to the island with me, we inevitably end up there as a point of interest (and free sampling)! Whidbey Island Distillery is housed in what was to be a basement of a proposed house that was never completed. The place feels like you are in a bunker or sorts. In fact, the bunker-like aspect of the place is so prevalent with everyone who visits, they call their whiskey Bunker Rye Whiskey.
Inside, they proudly display their liqueurs and whiskey on the mantel.
The space isn't that large, but it has been outfitted for socially distant tastings.
Oops! I took this picture for me. Cocktail recipe-a-go-go, baby!
Our tasting came with not only a discard vessel...but hand sanitizer as well. Ha!
Here is a peek at the actual still where they make their product.
There is also a pleasant outdoor tasting area.
This is nothing exciting. I just liked this little mini-barn on the distillery's property.
On the way back to Coupeville, we stopped in Freeland to go to Payless Foods, Payless Foods is arguably the swankiest grocery store on the island. Despite the moniker, this place is not cheap. It's expensive. But everything from the bakery to the deli is really first rate (for a grocery store). They even had a 300 pound pumpkin for only $270! Zowie!
As we approached Coupeville, the sun was setting. The photo didn't do it justice.
On Monday, it was my nephew's birthday. That evening, Erich and I went to my brother's house for a little quarantine-y birthday celebration. Although I didn't take pictures of all of the house, I did get shots inside of the dining room.
My brother wants to take the dining room (which is good sized, despite how it may look here), turn it into a kitchen/dining room combination, and turn the existing kitchen into a master suite..
The door to the left (behind the balloons) goes to the kitchen. The central door goes to my brother's bedroom. The door on the right is a mystery door that does no where. The other side of it is a wall.
Despite not having a usual party this year, his mom and dad made sure my nephew had plenty of presents.
Happy 17th birthday, Brawn!
Here are Brawn and my brother, Ron.
On Tuesday we headed back on what would be the longest journey home ever. It started off on a shuttle bus. (And I see that nose cheater... Shame! Shame!)
When we got to Clinton on the south end of the island, we had to wait for the ferry. I got out to stretch my poor legs and take some pictures. The fog had not burned off there yet.
We wandered and waited. Instead of running two boats like they normally would, due to the whole COVID 19 thing, only one ship was running...so the wait was a bit longer than usual.
Finally the ferry arrived...
Once on board, I wandered out to get some fresh air on the observation deck. The fog had more or less lifted.
Cars were loaded and we were soon ready to go.
And away we went...
The crossing only takes about 15 minutes and soon Mukilteo was in sight.
We arrived at the airport hours early. We had no choice---again due to COVID. There were only three shuttles a day because of the pandemic. We timed it as best we could. But with all of that time to kill, we decided to hit the bar and start getting me "fortified" for the flight home. (EEEK!)
Although there are several bars at Sea-Tac, we prefer the ambience in Smokehouse (which is also a restaurant).
Of course, I had my customary Bloody Mary. Believe it or not, this is actually a double.
Of course, I had my Xanax as a chaser...
With HOURS more to go, we went out into the food court area and scored some lunch. Erich scored some Asian food while I had soup and a salad. We sat at a charging station and looked at our phones as we waited for the time to pass...
We were both absorbed with our phones. Finally, about 15 minutes before the flight would be leaving, I roused Erich and off we went to the gate. As we walked to it, we could see our plane sitting there still attached to the loading tunnel thing. However, there door to the gate was closed and there was no one manning the station near it. I ran (okay...I hobbled) to the nearest Alaskan Airlines representative I could find. Even thought our plane was not due to depart for several minutes and was still parked on the tarmac, we had "missed" the flight! The lady I spoke with sent us down the terminal in search of a customer service booth. We got to the end of the terminal but didn't see \it. We asked another airline employee who redirected us back down the terminal. We had overshot it.
A guy (Nuy, I believe his name was) told us that there were no more flights to Fresno that day. There were flights the next day. UGH! That would mean having to get a hotel ($$$) and getting to and from it. Erich thought quickly and asked if there was a flight to Oakland. He lives in San Leandro. We could stay there and take Amtrak home. Fortunately, there was one more flight to Oakland that night... but it was leaving just minutes from then. I got my ticket exchanged and started toward the gate. I got through and informed the girl at the gate that another person was coming. She said he had two minutes then, by some sort of law, they'd have to shut the gate. I called Erich and told him. They were having difficulty transferring his ticket over. Finally, he came running down looking for me and waved him over. Phew! We had made it.
Our seats weren't bad at all---directly behind first class. I had the seat with no chair in front of me (where the rows and seats get narrower as they become four seats instead of three).
Soon the fasten seatbelt signs were lit and it was time to take off...YIKES!
Off we went...
We flew over Washington's islands and peninsulas.
As we flew over the Columbia River, the air quality started getting murky...
Soon we were basically flying in smoky clouds from the wildfires along the West Coast.
The smoke created an eerie orange glow as the sun set.
Soon we were flying over the Bay Area...thank goodness.
The plane circled around to the South Bay before heading back up to the Oakland Airport. I believe this is the Dumbarton Bridge we flew over.
From the airport, we hustled to the Bart extension that takes you from the airport to the BART line (Coliseum station). We were just in time to the extension, but had to wait several minutes for BART to come. From San Leandro, we walked to Erich's house. I was so exhausted.
I made train reservations for the next day, but just about the time we were going to leave, Erich asked if we could stay another day so he could get up with some things around the house. That was fine.
I changed the tickets and so on Thursday we walked back to BART. We took it to Lake Merritt station and caught an Uber (and oh my STARS! The car we got in was STINKY with a capital STINK!!!) to the Amtrak station at Jack London Square in Oakland.
We Amtraked home---four plus l-o-n-g hours. The train car we were riding on had a broken door that would not close, so we had to change cars in Merced and slowly ride along at a safe speed with an open door in the car behind us. Special.
When we finally reached the Fresno Amtrak station, we had to wait for the Uber driver to get us. As we were doing so, this homeless dude with a mask (but pulled down below his chin) kept coughing, coughing, coughing near us. GEEZ! We eventually moved to a different area.
We got home. We got Shirley. We went to the grocery store and had dinner. I'm EXHAUSTED.
I did get a call on the train about my spinal tap. It will happen Tuesday morning. Erich will stay until then so he can take me.
Stay SAFE! Stay HEALTHY! Stay ALIVE!
CHEERS!
CHEERS!
Continue to the next part HERE!
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