I felt very sad reading the last part of this post. Not only do you still have the uncertainty of this ghastly virus but also the reality of a particularly unpleasant political situation goodness knows what things will be like in November. It all sounds so different from the Portland we knew and loved when we lived in Beaverton in the early seventies.
We feel extremely fortunate having had no new cases for 10 days and only 1 active case in the country. Things are gradually opening up and we can move around the country again This is a holiday weekend and despite the awful weather on this first day of winter Kiwis are on the move. What is suprising is how everyone accepted what was a very severe lockdown when our numbers showed we were on track to be the next Italy but what is even more suprising how people of all political persuasions have admired the action of Jacinda. Yesterday I was talking to a very right wing old friend and he said 'Jacinda has done an amazing job, she is very intelligent and empathetic, the only problem is I think she will probably win the election in September'. Of course the economic pain, particularly in our very important tourist sector, is great but the hope is with our borders so firmly closed at the moment Kiwis will travel, the hope at the moment is that we will soon open up to Australia and the Pacific Islands and plans are underway for this. We planned to leave for Europe in about 3 weeks time! maybe next year.
Our very best wishes - a trip to Greece sounds pretty good to me
Tricia

Interesting. Reminds me of redbud trees.

Looks like chokecherry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_virginiana

I like the scent of fresh crushed sweetgum leaves.

Yes, good point. Not over that line, I don’t think. A good reminder though.

Be careful - that was almost a pun!

This is a Cécile Brunner. There are some magnificent ones around western Oregon, they grow like gangbusters.

Looks like a styrax japonica. They're dropping their blossoms right now.

That really is impressive. As near as I could tell without browsing a real dictionary, you pulled together the only two words in the English language that begin with pandem. A pandem tandem!

I’m shocked myself. My passport was returned yesterday, with a letter saying that the card would be arriving within 10 business days. I need to start thinking about what to do with that pot of gold I’d written off.

When you first posted about your CC/SS card issues, it inspired me to get my missing SS card replaced, fortunately doing the online process. Not trying to brag, but my new card appeared in the mail yesterday. So, the potential good news for you is that once they have whatever paperwork they need, the turnaround seems pretty quick. The email I got said about 7 business days from whenever the request is approved.

Thank you! I've been using that expression since mid-March. I don't know if I was the first, but I'd gladly take credit.

I thought of another one today .. Pandemic Paralysis.

Looks like the Pandemic Pandemonium will be around for a while .. so it's to our advantage to creatively emerge from the collective Pandemic Paralysis.

With an abundance of caution, of course!

That's challenging in a big city. Definitely important to know about the open restrooms, especially for we of small bladders.

Whoa. What happened? Sorry about that.

You’ve developed a stutter, young man!