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A Flight, A Ride and A Walk To The Left Coast

After one week off from writing my blog, I've just returned from my visit to the Portland / Seattle area. We have two sons and three grandchildren living in Seattle. Our friend Dr. Anne lives in Portland. It is in the eclipse zone, so things are a little crazy up there.

 The weather had moderated. The Northwest had been experiencing record high temperatures just a few days before we got there. In addition, the fires in the North, all along the US Canadian border, provided inhospitable air to crawl into the area. All of that, with the exception of a fine dusting of ash, had departed.

We had couple eating out experiences that were noteworthy.

We had three meals out n Portland. all of them featured lines of customers in the street waiting to get in. One of them wanted you to try their Chicken Waffle. The dish consists of three breaded chicken breasts secured to an 8-inch standard waffle with a steak knife. Since the price was $14.95, most customers were taking two chicken breasts home.

 Another of our dining experiences was eating at a gourmet pizza place that makes just so much dough per day. When they run out, they close for that day.

Activities

I was pleased to see the Seahawks crush our neighbors to the west. The Vikings were either playing with their cards very close to the vest or they have a lot fix before the season starts. This was taking place just before our Packers sliced and diced the Redskins. Life is good.
 
At my one son's house, Saturday is Premier League Football day. With his patient descriptions of tactic's and the ability to review plays with his DVD player, I am learning enough to be dangerous at a soccer game. Certainly, the next step is complaining about the officiating and calling for the head of the Coach.

My Son's oldest is about to leave the nest. Seeing the nest she is flying to is UCLA, it's not hopelessly frightening unless you're her parents or her younger sister. I enjoyed hanging out with the family. Because of the distance, we don't spend enough time together and I don't Snapchat.

Red Eye Flights and Spirit Airlines

When you save hundreds of dollars, it's hard not to take the red-eye flights (late night departure with early morning arrivals.)  Spirit Airlines is notorious for being inexpensive and charging for everything.

My opinion is that since the days, three-course meals, real silverware and nonsecurity checked boarding, air travel is pretty much like riding in flying buses. Expectations of the ticket holder is low and therefore easily met.

Spirit is a good airline in my mind, for the following reasons. The seats are comfortable and sensibly placed. Even with extra upgrades and paying for checked bags, the price is low. 

Leaving Chicago at 8:30 pm and arriving in Portland at 11:30 pm is fine except my body is still operating on CST. It thinks its 1:30 am. Within a couple of days, you can adjust to this difference.

Returning at 11:30 pm and arriving at 5:30 am is a different experience. It's troublesome, particularly if you need to drive to Appleton WI. As we will remember, the Trophy Husband does not drive. So it's disturbing to observe the wife struggling to stay awake in traffic moving at 70 plus miles per hour. I find a good way to handle that is to fall asleep first.

At any rate, returning red-eye flights are most likely not in our future.

Till I write again, this is Poppa Jeff from Packerland, wishing you all well and thank you for the week off



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