Sunday Salon --- mid September check-in

It is hard to believe that it was twenty years ago since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center that has changed our world so much.

Weather: Rain! It is the first measurable rain we've had all summer. Yay!

Pirates and Mr. One-derful: Last Sunday we helped celebrate the birth of both our grandsons with a Pirate Party for Ian, the soon-to-be four-year-old, and a first party celebration for Jamie, Mr. One-derful. Ian had a little crew of other three/four/five-year old boys who also dressed as pirates and searched for treasure, made hook hands, and had the story Pirate Stew read to them. Then our attention turned to a soon-to-be one-year old and watched in awe as he made a complete mess with his cake. He looked like he'd hit the jackpot.

Our face masks reflect the school colors: yellow and green.

Football! Don and I attended our first in-person football game in over a year (due to covid restrictions.) Things looked different with everyone wearing masks and having to show their vaccine cards to get through the gate, but it was worth it to be safe. The day was sizzling HOT but even my 92-yer-old mother was glad to be there. This week we watched our team win from the comforts of our home, though, since they were on the road. University of Oregon 35, Ohio State 28! Go Ducks!

 A fun day at Northwest Trek

My sister Kathy came back with us from Oregon to attend the birthday party and spend time with her grand nephews. Our daughter, Carly, flew home from San Francisco for the party, too. We had a good week of visiting. One day we made a fun trip to NW Trek so Ian could show off to Kathy all the animals he has enjoyed seeing in the past.

Cute photos of Jamie: because he didn't make the photo collage above. Here he is celebrating his second first birthday today with the family favorite banana cake his brother and I made together. And the first time he and his family visited the Children's Museum in Olympia yesterday.

Good news on the national front: Just when it seems that all the news is bad, there is this--- (Click hyperlinks to read more)

• This pandemic has the potential of turning around

  President Biden is unfazed by the sputtering of negligent GOPer governors. Joe is simply not bothered by them! He knows what is the right thing to do and he is doing it-- requiring companies that employ over 100 people must require vaccinations or mandatory testing once a week.

  GOP governors threaten to sue over mandates; Biden says, ‘have at it’, Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, September 10, 2021.

  Biden to GOP: “Have at it.” Why? Federal case law has consistently held that mandatory vaccinations are constitutional, for over 100 years. That’s why.  

• Businesses BACK the vaccine mandate

  Federal mandate takes vaccine decision off employers’ hands, Barbara Ortutay, AP, September 10, 2021.

•  Attorney General Garland brings the full force of the Justice Department against the Texas Abortion ban
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Covid vaccines work really well

  San Francisco Schools Have Had No COVID-19 Outbreaks Since Classes Began Last Month, Deepa Shivaram, NPR, September 10, 2021.
  

• Criminals will be brought to justice

  More Capitol rioters plead guilty, including man who threatened to shoot Pelosi, Shawna Chen, Axios, September 10, 2021.

Books. Books. Books. What I've been reading and listening to.... 

• The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. The 2021 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. Based on the journals from Erdrich's grandfather about a historical event where Congress tried to renege on treaties in the 1950s. Powerful. Heartbreaking and heart-warming.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. A re-read but I did enjoy an illustrated version.
• Wade in the Waters: Poems by Tracy K. Smith. Really, really thought provoking. I can't even explain how impactful several of the poems are.
• This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. A reread for an upcoming book club. A family is keeping a big, explosive secret. Their daughter was born a son. Audiobook. I haven't finished the review yet but come back in a few days to read it.
• A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Another past Pulitzer winner. Audiobook. 69% complete.
• Prince Caspian by CS Lewis. The second book in the Chronicles of Narnia. Another reread. 94%.
• My reading challenges update:
  
  
  

A few funny items and food for thought:

 

 

Requisite cat photos: 

Who's under the blanket

The same guy who came to brunch: George

-Anne