Day 15.080: A direct and compelling headline

I was notified that I'm now eligible for a second booster dose of COVID vaccine, but I get the impression the email notification might have been rushed out - unless the new tag-line for my doctor's office is literally, "A direct and compelling headline", perhaps repeated for emphasis.

Day 15.079: Oh no snow?

It sounded more like ice pellets (sleet) on the top of the car as I headed out to get E5N1 after an evening field trip. 

But winter-style frozen precipitation for sure - enough now!

Day 15.078: Exile #4 and another goat

In some ways, things are more normal than they've been in a while. Exile #4 is back to doing karate class two or three times a week (when they're not doing things like this:)

Exile #3 is dancing a couple of times a week and E5N1 is deep into the final stages of preparing for the school musical.

It doesn't make for much to write about of an evening, but it's mostly a good thing.

Day 15.077: Bluebirds and birthdays

My parents’ birthdays were in the last few days and Exile #3 painted some pictures to make birthday cards for them. They are rather lovely and fit together like this:

Day 15.076: Exile #2's Sunday Column #389

Exile #2 writes...

Exile #4 came away from their college visit yesterday with lots of booty. There were promotional materials from academic departments and promotional materials from clubs. There was a college t-shirt and a puzzle. The cutest thing, however, was this adorable sugar cookie, decorated with the ever present goat.

"You better get a picture now in case I eat it before your next chance!"

Day 15.075: Exile #4 and a goat

College visit day today. Decision time is rapidly approaching. Will Exile #4 be seeing more of this goat?

It seems likely but we're all too tired for anything but an early night.

Day 15.074: First bird song identification of the year

I didn't see it, but I heard it and so did my phone (Merlin Bird ID App):

Day 15.073: A beach tree and other trees

A beach tree:

and some other trees:

...from our walk on the beach and through Ferry Beach State Park. As I said, no obvious signs of spring, but I'm sure it's on its ways soon.

Day 15.072: Seventeen days later

I took this picture of Long Pond in Ferry Beach State Park back on Day 15.054 (I posted it a few days later):

Yesterday, seventeen days later, it looked like this:

We didn't see many signs of spring, but this transformation was quite remarkable.

Day 15.071: Chilly on the beach

We had a lovely walk while Exile #4 was at karate class. Our first beach trip for a while found - shall we say - a fresh breeze. I thought Exile #2 had overdone it by wearing the big coat, but she was probably right. 

Day 15.070: From one extreme to the other

Up until Day 15.051, I had never had a COVID-19 test. Several other members of the family had had them at various times, but not me. Since then I've had four in 19 days - some travel related and some because of going to be actually in church for the first time in two years. Happily, they all looked something like this:

and yes it cross my mind to edit the photo to have two lines and wait and see if anyone would let me know my mistake!

Day 15.069: Exile #2's Sunday Column #388

Exile #2 writes...

Exile #4 and E5N1 had a week of dressing up at school. It all kicked off with Comfy day, then there was way back Wednesday, green for St Patrick’s Day, (see leprechaun below):

and Docs or Crocs on Friday. We had to Google Tuesday’s choice, which was described as “groutfit”. Apparently, it is an outfit comprised solely of gray items. Who knew there was a word that? Who knew there needed to be a word for that?

Day 15.068: Must; mist

It's probably just as well it was a fairly dull and at times rather rainy day, because it made our main task easier to focus on - doing our US taxes for 2021.

As a result, I don't have much to share with you from today, so here's the view from my hotel room on my last morning in the Midwest:

Day 15.067: Flying home

I managed half a day of work today after a long day of first work and then travel yesterday. Here’s how some of the travel part looked:

A strange circular road on the approach to Detroit:

Sunset:

The lights of Detroit as we left a couple of hours later:

And this is Buffalo NY. Niagara Falls are probably there somewhere too:

Day 15.066: Egress denied

My late night travel ended with a very unexpected hiccup when the only way out of the airport around midnight decided to shut down trapping passengers and crew alike in the terminal.

No-one seemed to have experienced this before but eventually someone was summoned from the other side of the locked doors to rectify the situation. 

Day 15.065: This 90's kid's a bruiser

It was decade day at High School today and Exile #4 chose the 90's. Less expectedly, it was the 1890's:

Later, it was time to review their karate-training bruises:

Both pretty impressive in my opinion.

Day 15.064: Traveling again

As I mentioned, I'm back on the road, except I didn't get here by road (at least predominantly).

My alarm was set for 3:30 am - even more egregious on the day after the start of daylight savings time. A few hours later is was time to de-ice the plane:

Some time later it was almost dawn:

Arriving in the Great Lakes region:

In the air again:

And arriving at my Midwest destination:

Day 15.063: Pi Day

Exile #2 and the kids celebrated Pi Day today with pizza pies:

and a whoopie pie:

Sadly I missed it since I'm on the road, the only contribution I have is that I spotted this strip mall pizza place - possibly unintentionally - joining the Pi Day fun while I was on my way to find some non-pie dinner:

Day 15.062: Exile #2's Sunday Column #387

Exile #2 writes...

Maine is a quiet news state. There is talk of fishing and farming, roads and bridges, and the occasional bit of celebrity news, for example, John Travolta selling his house at the moment ($5 million, if anyone is interested).

So, when there is national news that might affect Maine, it can cause some ripples. Take the example of the Joro spider. A story recently hit the headlines of a large spider that had spread from Alabama to Georgia and to everyone’s surprise seemed to cope with cold weather. It was suggested, therefore, that it would eventually spread all the way up the east coast. Well, before you know it, reports began circulating of enormous spiders that would be arriving in Maine any day now, and not just arriving but parachuting from the skies. I think it’s safe to say the story may have got a little out of hand but please be prepared to cut us out of our house should it become encased in spider silk.

Day 15.061: A bit of everything

The weather outlook this afternoon looked like a bit of everything (well, rain, wintry mix and snow anyway):

Later it looked like this, (and we still have a bit more snow to come):

...nothing like this storm produced further inland however.