Ned Luce

The nice weather facilitated finding several things to do in this new normal we live in. We were able to stay far enough from other people and wear one of those delightful masks when appropriate. 

The restaurants seem to be having it the toughest. We went out for lunch at Doc’s in Port Townsend, the first time for a meal not at home or in a public park for several months. 

We were inside at one of the few tables not yet removed and next to one of the booths with a Plexiglas barrier. I had heard that the restaurants were using disposable menus, that is, you take it home with you!

Doc’s decided to insert their menu in a plastic envelope and clean the envelope after every use. What do I pay for, paper or labor to clean the plastic? That is a decision management did not have to make last year. 

The required procedures for operating a business, particularly a restaurant, seem less than easily understood, interpreted or executed. Chimacum’s Claire Jorgensen was our hostess. She reported that she was headed for the University of Redlands in Redlands, California in 21 days. Maybe? 

Our daughter and her family took a few days vacation out at the Log Cabin Resort on Lake Crescent so we took a scenic drive out for dinner with them one evening. 

Having not been there for several years we were impressed by the upgrades. It seems as if they have built several new cabins and upgraded the restaurant/souvenir shop. The scenery there is absolutely stunning, particularly on a nice day. 

I talked briefly with a man from Overland Park, Kansas, who flew out with his family for the second time. I guess they were impressed. Frankly, I didn’t think anybody flew unless there was a critical mission of some kind. Heck, we haven’t even been on the ferry.   

We bought a corn-hole game early this summer so we hosted a little social distancing tournament in our backyard last week. BJ is so into the game she even talks about leveling the slope we play on. She also talks about a bocce ball court, which would require similar backyard leveling. Any reasonable conversation on these subjects abruptly stops when the subject of cost comes up. 

OK, back to the corn-hole tournament where the teams were made up of husbands and wives. BJ and I won, enduring the expected catcalls for winning on our home court, even though it has a “down the hill” slope.  

BJ’s birthday is this week and she wanted one of those fitness tracking wrist watches. OMG, as I am sure many of you know, those things track your sleep, your exercise, the time, the weather and who knows what else in your life. 

The doggone thing even sets daily goals for her based on what she accomplished yesterday. The more she walks, the higher the goal, the less she walks, conversely. You knew it didn’t you, those computers are running our lives. 

As I mentioned, the nice weather makes it easier to engage in activities outside. However, the fact that my entire body cracks like a glow stick whenever I move and yet refuses to actually glow is very disappointing!

Love a curmudgeon, wear a mask and have a great week!

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and the reigning corn hole co-champion in Port Ludlow.)