Getting in Line for Vaccination

By double teaming on separate computers, Matt and I got appointments for both my mom and my Aunt Pat at the drive-through vaccination clinic at the airport. My Aunt Carol was willing to go to the main clinic at the Convention Center, so we secured her appointment last week, thus giving us the skills to grab the coveted drive-through clinic slots.

It was very easy to find the clinic at the Red Lot at the Portland airport, and we were guided into place by many people in reflective vests waving batons. There were five lines with maybe 30-60 cards in each line. This photo was taken at 2:41, though I think we got there at 2:00 . Once there, we sat. And sat.

After quite a while with nothing happening one line at a time was moved forward. This was taken at 3:36 and we haven’t yet made it into the tent to check in.

From the check-in tent, we were guided on a very long U-shaped track that inched forward. The check-in tent is in the back left of the photo and this photo was taken at 3:47, so you can see how the line was moving.

We’ve made it to the tent where the shot would be given! Time stamp: 4:09

And now we’re done with shots. Time stamp, 4:16 p.m.

It was nice to have two out of three people in the car vaccinated.

Then we were directed over to a new line where we sat for 10 minutes. Neither patient had any reactions, so off we drove.

I drove them both home and my mom sent me off with some macaroni and cheese balls with meatballs in the middle. Delicious!

We later learned that this was an unusual day and the worst day for wait times. So we had not-great timing in that realm. But it was good to get two shots in arms.

Random Song: Hope The High Road

KINK Sunday Brunch is my favorite block of radio. From 7:00 am to noon, Peggy La Point plays a variety of interesting songs, old and new. A good 80% of them hit my sweet spot. Like this one. Which I cannot recall, but know that I liked because I had google search it and then took a screenshot of the name.

I’m listening now and am still liking it. YouTube seems to not be giving me access in the way I’m used to, but maybe this link will work?

Vacation Comes to an End

While I’ve not yet used the mason jar McMenamins places in each hotel room so visitors can bring beer back to their rooms, I did note that the jar was not a mason jar this time around. I assume that the global supply chain and COVID-19 are to blame.

I lazed about in my room, ate breakfast and lunch, and then headed home on a bus and two trains. It was a good vacation.

A Forest Grove Walk

I got up early and headed out to a coffee shop to get some breakfast. On my way, I caught the sun coming up in this reflection.

And here is the sunrise from the other direction.

The coffee shop’s website said it opened at 6 a.m. and when I walked by the previous evening, so did the hours posted on the door. I got there at 6 a.m., though and no one was about. Employees unlocked the door at 7 a.m. While I understand that there might be some barrier to updating a website, I think posting a sign with current hours on the door is something that was doable. At least there was a chair outside for me to sit in while I waited.

However, the breakfast sandwich I ate was delicious (as was the tea) and all was forgiven.

I ate my breakfast in the Magic Flute room, one of my favorite at McMenamins. I also caught up on correspondence.

I’m nearly to the end of this batch of notecards, which is too bad, because I love them so much. They were a very good find at Scrap. It’s fun to see how many things have changed. On the right side of this drawing, you can see the Armory is still painted white. It hadn’t yet been taken over by Portland Center Stage.

9:15 a.m. was my soaking pool time. I had to reserve the time before I arrived. This was a great soaking pool experience, because no other people appeared. My reservation for 8:00 p.m. the night before, I skipped. I went down at my appointed time, but there were much too many people and too many people without masks. Today it was just me. I swam. It was a head-above-water breaststroke, but swimming nonetheless.

The chickens and I chatted for a bit before I went on a walk.

The movie theater is closed, which was to be expected. I took a closer look at the posters.

From the future, I can tell you that Free Guy was really released on August 13, 2021, not July 3, 2020.

Onward probably did play at this theater, because it was one of the last big releases before everything shut down. The Woman in the Window was released on Netflix on May 14, 2021.

I wondered if these two Forest Grove High School graduates knew each other. Were they neighbors who ignored each other or best friends? There’s a YA novel in this photo.

Here’s a Mondrian-style truck and camper. Very cool.

Aside from the fact I forgot to start my activity tracker until after I’d already walked an hour, this was a lovely walk.