More photos

Alright, since Jan just wrote an update, I guess it's time for me as well. So here you go, a lot of photos from our time in isolation:

On the plus side, there were lots of snuggles and cuddles - the furries approve of us being home All. The. Time.  :)

We did have some nice weather over the summer, which we used for long walks in the neighborhood and the occasional trip to the coast.

Mask up, everyone!

We saw comet Neowise:

And the wildfires happened... turning the days dark and eerie:

And then fall snuck up on us with all its glory (that is, before the rain started :)).

Happy Halloween!

And with the colder and darker weather now upon us, it's time to snuggle up inside,

sometimes refuse to walk (because it's too dark, cold, and wet!), 

and to turn on the lights. 

Almost Thanksgiving...

It's not like nothing has happened since the last update; it's just that it's been a very depressing time (for all of us, obviously!), so it never feels like a good time to write a post. But it's the week of Thanksgiving now and even though that's depressing, too, as we'll be limited to our own company due to the explosion of new Covid19 cases, even in Oregon, if I don't write now, then when?

Starting in early September, wildfires, that typically are more prominent in California or up in the Gorge or further out to the East, raged uncomfortably close to us, and an unusual East wind brought the smoke right into our neighborhood. It looked and felt like the end of times. The fires got as close as 15 miles to our home and for two weeks the air was hazardous. After adjusting to the physical isolation due to Covid19 via daily long dog walks and rigorous exercise at home, it felt like a particular blow to now loose even those outlets...

Michaela's birthday was hence a muted affair, too (not that we are known for throwing large parties in the best of times, but still!). We assembled a Lego bookstore and enjoyed our new massage chair to take some of the stress and strain away that way.

Eventually the rain set in, of course - this is Oregon after all -, the air cleared again and we returned to our regimen of walking, and enjoying the wildlife (find the owl in the left photo!).

In other news: I am a Fellow now!

Other than that...well, nothing, really, we shall endure until this pandemic gets under control...eventually.

We've been flocked!

 Here we are, Labor Day weekend, and us having settled fully into our 'pandemic routine', working from home, living at home and for the most part staying at home...

On September first we were in for a surprise though: we'd been flocked!

If you are not familiar with it, neither were we! But - in the best 'keep Portland weird' spirit - this is a Portland thing. And my research team just decided to say 'Hi' that way - super sweet! I was touched.

Apart from the occasional trip to go windsurfing, walking the dogs is really our only outside past time.

Still hanging in there...

There hasn't been a post in an unusually long time and for good reason, of course: these are not normal times. Michaela and I have been working from home for 15 weeks by now. And while state parks are - for the most part - at least partially reopened, life is still very far from normal with no light at the end of the tunnel.

So, there are no updates simply because life has been on hold for the most part.

Playgrounds have been closed...

George can now join us on our walks...

Michaela is tackling a 18000 piece jigsaw puzzle - this is the first quarter.

Added some creature comforts: a TV to motivate us to exercise more - it actually worked!

Lots of cuddle time with the furries.

We don't drive a lot anymore, but whenever we do, Skittles takes it seriously...

Windsurfing is still possible though!

I got this from Michaela for my birthday - so.much.fun!!