Chris is back from traveling in the Covid-era, and with it he has new perspectives on our home of the PNW and how travel is with a pandemic. AJ's been tinkering and adventuring, and has a few tips for those parents who are trying to balance screen time with outdoor time.

Travel in the Covid era...
* I-5 Traffic = Smooth sailing...how we wish it would be in normal times
* Sea-Tac TSA = Masks required EVERYWHERE....six-minute wait to get through the cattleherd
* Alaska Air = Prohibited middle seat reservations, more elbow room, masks required for the duration of the flight
* Sea-Tac train/shuttle from arrival gate to baggage claim - Sardines. PSA - it’s a three-minute wait for the next train!

Local-ish and new in the PNW WFH era

*Chris: *

* August BuyNothing update - Impulse buy journal
* Tech Compartmentalization
* One web browser for work-related sites
* One web browser for non-work sites
* Copy/Paste fest from one Notes repository to another
* Diligent editing in Bookmark Manager - Eliminate all the unnecessary descriptions
* Lesson learned - Dedicated, focused time is essential to clean things up, You can’t watch the Three Stooges while Kondo-ing your Digital life


*AJ:*

* Artist Point, Mt. Baker, now open
* A lot of questions about the Baltic which lead to AJ first IGTV video. A face made for radio: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEJFfDwnjHr/?igshid=13im1rxnp5f1m
* Hiking with a toddler (a reoccurring question on social)
* The outdoors, Tech and Toddler during covid post https://ajbarse.com/outdoors-learning-tech-with-a-toddler/
* Little learner tech part 1 (Indoors) https://wp.wwu.edu/ajbarse/2020/08/14/little-learner-tech-part-1/

Bellingham Bingo - Showcasing a local area restaurant for your next takeout order
*FREE SPACE*


This just in... #Gratitude

*Chris: *

*Recent reminders of how lucky and blessed we are to live in Bellingham and Whatcom County. In no particular order...*

* Stepping outside your home and not immediately sweating from 91 degrees and 90% humidity. At 8:30 am.
* Water that tastes good straight from the kitchen sink.
* Straight (healthy?) ADA compliant sidewalks.
* Paved roads with a 98% probability of being pothole-free damaging your vehicle’s suspension.
* Drivers who are, for the most part curious and don’t make immediate hairpin left turns in traffic....from the far-right lane.
* Even though it rains frequently during the year, it does not come down *horizontally* with thunder and lightning. Multiple times a day.
* Whatcom County restaurants provide choices for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other food allergy diets.
* Most commercial buildings in Bellingham are occupied and haven’t been abandoned for years.
* Downtown Bellingham does not have a plethora of rat traps visible around business entrances.