Last week was such a weird week. We’re very close to the fires (just outside Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA). We’re several hours away from the fires but the smoke levels here have just gotten worse each day. They’ve ranged from very unhealthy to hazardous air quality.
It’s weird because with COVID and stay at home orders, I was still able to sit outside or go on socially distanced walks. We were just starting to go out to eat a little more – outside & distanced - but now we can’t even have that. We can’t go inside places but we can’t go out either.
It’s probably the most down I’ve felt since way back in spring. I need my fresh air at least. Even just sitting on my deck. And it’s fall – I wanted to start decorating! lol But I’m thankful I’m not in any real danger and keep thinking how hard this is on small businesses.
Kai and Ripley were TERRIFIED of the smoky backyard at first and wouldn't even go out to pee but we’ve developed a routine now and get outside when there are little lulls in the smoke. We’ve also started playing hide & seek games in the house just to keep them tired.
We’re supposed to start clearing out late today and I really hope that happens! (update - it did not lol)
Aaaand our community water tank has a broken part that needs to be made in Germany and own't get here to at least next week so we have to conserve our water so we don't run out.
Here’s a quick update for what I’ve been reading/watching:
Read:
The Roommate by Rosie Danan – Goodreads This was a fun, lighter read. just what I needed but I didn’t love it as much as everyone else. I might draft up a review for it today.
Reading:
And I think I’m going to start In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren ~ Goodreads and just cross all my fingers and toes hoping it’s more Josh & Hazel (one of my favorite romcoms ever) and not let me down like some of their other books.
Movies/TV:
The Boys S2- Amazon Prime – YIKES!!! Shit is getting daaaaark. Or even darker than usual, I should say.
Chef’s Table BBQ – Netflix - The first episode was good, the second kinda pretentious and neither really discussed the food much but this show is always beautifully filmed and makes me hungry. (A much better foodie/travel show was Street Food – Asia also on Netflix)
Away – Netflix. I know this is getting RAVE reviews and it was very good and well acted but both Kevin and I never got really hooked into this one.
Just for fun: This picture of Ripley cracks me up. It 100% conveys her personality and is a mood 🤣
What are you up to this week? What are you reading/watching?
Awww, sorry your fur-babies are struggling with the fires. I would be too. I hope they are able to get them under control soon. I liked In a Holidaze. It was funny and sweet and I thought the romance was central to the story. I got all hyped up on the holiday vibes too.
ReplyDeleteThey had that instinctual fear thing going on. Running all over the yard, climbing up the fence to get out. Yikes. They seem to have adapted somewhat though.
DeleteI think I have managed expectations for Holidaze lol
Love the photo of Ripley! I'm glad you found a good routine for getting them out, the poor things. I hope the smoke starts to clear out. I think it would be rough for sure to be stuck at home and unable to be outside! It's just a crazy, crazy year. I haven't watched The Boys, but I do want too!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
She's so funny.
DeleteYeah, just being able to read or eat outside lifted my spirits during the lockdown. Now we don't even have that.
Right there with you, friend! We were saying the other day "remember the good old days when we were quarantined but could still go outside and go on walks?" It's been rough. The smoke is still terrible down near Salem. It's better today but still in the unhealthy zone. Hang in there. Anxious People is on my soon to be read list, interested to hear what you think!
ReplyDeleteAhh the good old days of quarantine lol I am really thankful not to be in danger or closer but I'm shocked out how bad it is out here considering I'm not near it. We've hit the hazardous mark several times.
DeleteI gave up on wave, boring.
ReplyDeleteNo idea who the fires will end, but I do hope they will
Wave? Do you mean Awake? We were bored too.
DeleteWow Karen - I forgot you were out that way. Sending love to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen. Luckily it's more inconvenience for me but I'll be glad when it goes away.
DeletePoor puppies, I can see how they'd be freaked out. It sounds like you need a break Karen. ):Let me know if I should grab Anxious People.
ReplyDeleteThey reacted like wildlife lol Definitely the flight response but they're better now. I miss my fresh air - it was what was keeping me from spiraling.
Deleteyou should not grab Anxious People. Although many people loved it.
(did you get a new header?)
ReplyDeleteIt's my seasonal fall header. I usually use it in November but...2020 fuck it lol
DeleteUgh, I'm so sorry about all the extra crap going on, on the West Coast, on top of all the Covid weight to bear. Keep connected so we all know how you are doing. (((((((HUGS)))))))
ReplyDeleteI'm safe so that's so much better than what other people are going through but going outside was keeping my sanity lol
DeleteSorry about the smoke. First a virus that becomes a global pandemic. Then wildfires that ravage millions of acres. What else does 2020 have for us?
ReplyDeleteI do not even want to know lol
DeleteIt's been said so many times but it bears repeating: 2020 truly is a great big dumpster fire of a year. :( It's not safe to go in places, now it's not safe for you to be outside... it's insane. And now the water thing? OMG, can it just be 2021 already?
ReplyDeleteI'm so nervous about In a Holidaze. I've seen some positive reviews but still... their last couple books have really let me down.
I'm torn from wanting 2020 to end and worrying 2021 will be worse. It can't be right???
DeleteYeah, Josh & Hazel is one of my all time favorites but their other books have been blah.
I was on holiday in Cape Town one year and there were wildfires everywhere. The air made you choke and it brought tears to your eyes. I have so much sympathy for you being deprived of your fresh air. You don't miss the little things like that until you are told you can't do them!
ReplyDeleteIt just feels like a pile on to already stressful living but it has gotten better!
DeleteI hope things are going better! And rationed water is NO fun, especially when it's still hot (and there are fires near you).
ReplyDeleteIt has! All the smoke has cleared out of here. It will take longer to fully put out the fires but no more wind or conditions that will make them flare up.
DeleteOmg. That picture of Ripley is everything LOL.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been thinking a lot about you and the fires out west. I hope you’re staying safe and I can’t imagine how scary this must be for all. It also must be so incredibly devastating for small business owners just trying to stay alive and keep their doors open. What a devastating year 2020 has been 😢 Here’s hoping things start to look up with what’s left of the year. We can only go up from here, right?
Luckily, we were never in danger from the fires it was just the smoke and air quality.
DeleteYeah the small businesses are really suffering. They had to shut down again because everything was moved outdoors and now the air quality is bad. And it's the last few weeks of summer to make money before...I don't even know what when the weather gets colder.
That picture of Ripley! 😍 Adorable. (And 10/10 on the look! I use that look a lot, lol)
ReplyDeleteThe fires are shocking. We don't hear much about them on our news - they're a sidebar - but I'm hearing about them a lot from blogging peeps and I feel for all those being affected... I'm glad you're safe even though the smoke is causing issues!
I'm curious about The Roommate. Everyone seems to be loving it so I'm curious about what you thought. A little bit of balance and differing opinion is always good to hear before taking the plunge.
I think Ripley and I are are soul mates lol
DeleteI wrote a review for The Roommate that will post later this week. I only know one other person who felt the way I did so probably go for it lol