tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post7937479908212073021..comments2024-03-26T03:46:04.937-07:00Comments on Books in Northport: Sheltering Far From HomeP. J. Grathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-8752177049690488632020-05-09T18:12:11.074-07:002020-05-09T18:12:11.074-07:00Walt, it's good to know you and Marjorie are k...Walt, it's good to know you and Marjorie are keeping well and sane in Northport. That new, big studio space Marjorie has must be very welcome now! I like your speculation about the pronunciation of Sequim, too.<br /><br />You can tell I am very old-fashioned in my preference for blogging and e-mail over tweeting and zooming. (Does one even use zoom as a verb, or is that incorrect? And should it be capitalized?) Sometimes, though, when I publish a blog post or send a letter out in an envelope bearing a U.S. postage stamp, it feels almost as if I'm tossing a note in a bottle from a deserted island after being shipwrecked, and I'm reminded of a little unpaid gig a friend and I had in high school, taking evening phone requests for pop songs at a local radio station. Sometimes no one called, and we just had to make things up. So much fun to have responses and know that you are all "out there"!<br /><br />Stay safe!P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-29417576087564402862020-05-09T10:48:12.539-07:002020-05-09T10:48:12.539-07:00I think you've made a good decision (or non-de...I think you've made a good decision (or non-decision), Pamela. Neither Marjorie nor I would want to make a trip like that at the moment, and we have a much newer car :)<br /><br />The uncertainties of what is open, even if we were to ignore the uncertainties of the virus, keep us quite close to home. We only rarely go out to the local Tom's market, or risk picking up take-out food, and that's in the environment we know here in the Northport area.<br /><br />re: Sequim (pronounced "squim"): It's certainly a good test to let a local know whether someone is a tourist or not. Much like Puyallup. However, as a former resident of WA for about 6 years, my guess for an actual answer is that both words are Native American. The common pronunciation is probably close to the original pronunciation, but not identical. And if I were to apply my scant knowledge of Indonesian to this question, I would guess that the "e" probably <i>is</i> pronounced by the Native Americans, but in an almost "swallowed" form that a non-native who is not a linguist would find hard to hear at all.Walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394486669148208613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-78267602954349293302020-05-07T14:25:18.193-07:002020-05-07T14:25:18.193-07:00Dawn, you have hit on the big travel worries in ou...Dawn, you have hit on the big travel worries in our minds. I was thinking of expressways (which I normally hate) for rest areas but am now told the rest areas are all closed. Hotel rooms! I know, I know -- precautions, etc. <br /><br />BB, we will probably stay here until "it's over," as that could be -- well, I won't even speculate. But for now, being here, we feel as calm and safe s we would be anywhere. Mosquitoes, no. Flies, though -- yes! :(P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-33379177157487848392020-05-07T14:21:47.670-07:002020-05-07T14:21:47.670-07:00Dry Heat: true enough, having become accustomed to...Dry Heat: true enough, having become accustomed to 100 plus Summers<br />in an arid part of the country, the dryness offers a couple of added benefits- cooler nights...and absence of mosquitos. This pandemic<br />thing isn't over by a long shot IMO, and its effect is significant<br />in many ways. The Dos Cabos area seems a good place to ride it out.BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388509941702241290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-90830383603243426542020-05-07T14:05:01.981-07:002020-05-07T14:05:01.981-07:00I'm sure someone in Northport or the vicinity ...I'm sure someone in Northport or the vicinity would be happy to mow your grass at the farmhouse. Other than that there doesn't seem to be a reason to hurry back. I'd be worried about finding bathrooms and husband is worried about the cleanliness of hotel rooms. I was thinking about going to Alabama but it doesn't look sensible right now. Even if I camped there'd be gas to buy, public restrooms to use. No use putting ourselves through that risk. But on the other hand...this could go on right into fall.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00824027366993286152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-19787781135445719412020-05-07T13:46:38.204-07:002020-05-07T13:46:38.204-07:00BB, I've never heard of Sequim before. Why is ...BB, I've never heard of Sequim before. Why is Pierre (SD) pronounced PEER?<br /><br />I don't feel much helped but am not at all hindered, either, so you have, as usual, contributed to my day's entertainment. Thanks! <br /><br />And by the way, when temperature the other day was 101 in Tucson, it was 93 in Willcox and 87 here in our ghost town. Yesterday, the week's hottest day, it was up to 91 both here and in Willcox. -- But remember, it's a DRY HEAT! Really!<br />P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-88287753726371102962020-05-07T13:23:05.092-07:002020-05-07T13:23:05.092-07:00With the caveat that my wife says my help is more ...With the caveat that my wife says my help is more of a hindrance, I checked with an old college acquaintance, who traveled by car from<br />Eloy AZ up to Seattle and enquired for any information. She replied<br />"Thanks for the letter. Yes, I am back in Sequim. I arrived two weeks ago. It took me three days and 1600 miles. My route was Highway 10 from Eloy to the AZ - CA border. At Blythe CA I went north to Needles and then West to Bakersfield in order to avoid going into Los Angeles. After an overnight at a nearly deserted Holiday Inn in Bakersfield, I started north on Interstate I-5 to Redding the second day. After another night at a nearly deserted Holiday Inn, I continued up I-5 to Tacoma. I turned west on Highway WA16 and arrived on Sequim at 6:15 PM. This is the best time I have ever made. This result is primarily due to the low traffic, mostly trucks, travelling the route. No slowdowns in Portland, Sacramento, or Tacoma.<br /><br /><br />Of course, things are now opening up and I am not aware of how the traffic is on the way to the Midwest. I know that the heat is pretty high in AZ, in Eloy - over 100F for the last few days. I talked with the man who cleans my yard at noon yesterday and he was ready for a siesta. I have no idea of the temperature where your correspondents are. The one thing I would suggest is that they carry their food and bottled water with them so they don't have to look for carry-out restaurants. It will limit exposure. I never stopped for any food."<br />There you have it: help or hindrance. Since only 6% of scientists are Republican, I was amused when she added.<br />"With a president who does not understand science and in particular, virology, and is generally incompetent, it is not too safe at this age to be wandering around outside." Now, you can help or hinder me<br />as a wordsmith: why is the town of Sequim pronounced "squim"? <br />BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388509941702241290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-54068442381700081222020-05-07T12:28:49.207-07:002020-05-07T12:28:49.207-07:00Thanks, Mr. G. Good to have news of Lee and Susan,...Thanks, Mr. G. Good to have news of Lee and Susan, also. And Susan O., thanks for the visit and comment. You were one of my early blogging inspirations, back in 2007.<br />P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-61147526833661432192020-05-07T11:51:27.465-07:002020-05-07T11:51:27.465-07:00Thanks for this, Pamela
Obviously it's totally...Thanks for this, Pamela<br />Obviously it's totally up to you when to come back. You are comfortable there in beautiful surroundings. Susan and Lee are hanging tight enjoying the blooming desert sharing pictures. I'm sure that it's hotter where they are. All of my music has been canceled. Our quintet may just play for fun in a barn and distanced. We can kick it out. You'll know when it's time to head out. If I can do anything for you, let me know.Mr Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06630247027359895996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-92168654125687739342020-05-07T11:14:40.862-07:002020-05-07T11:14:40.862-07:00There is certainly something to be said for sittin...There is certainly something to be said for sitting still and watching.Susan Ochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349528942254702007noreply@blogger.com