Greetings, friends. The summer rolls on here in the northwest as we continue to enjoy warm days and refreshingly cool nights. However, a hint of fall can now be felt in the early mornings. Let’s get to tonight’s five topics…

It Is Still Summer Vacation in Spokane – August can be a funny month. The phenomenon begins right when July ends and at the start of each following week more and more photos pop up on social media. I am talking about the back-to-school blitz that sends many K-8 students back to the classrooms. However, in this part of the country, summer is still in full swing. It might be because I grew up in Washington and lived the same academic calendar my kids do now, but it seems so wrong to go back to school in AUGUST. Sure, the kids who are already back in school now will begin summer vacation earlier, but I think most reasonable children would trade time off in May for more opportunities to hit the pool, lake, and ballpark in August. Sloan and Beau start school on Sept. 3.

Summer continues throughout the month for Sloan and Beau.

Stamp Inflation – Back in 2021, I selected a book of stamps as “Brent’s Gift of the Year.” I love sending (and receiving) snail mail and have always appreciated the fact that a single stamp can send a letter anywhere in this country. However, I am a little irritated at the frequent price hikes. The cost for a book of stamps has gone up TWICE in 2024. A book will now cost you $14.60, a 26% increase from its price ($11.60) in 2021 when I tabbed it as my gift of the year. Inflation sure sucks.

Me holding the book of stamps I paid $14.60 for on Wednesday.

Come On Man – My apologies, my rage continues. I posted this on my X account on Saturday but there is enough insanity to go around to post here, too. This bag of On The Border tortilla chips I found at WinCo doesn’t even attempt to look like its filled halfway. In my opinion, the price should be slashed at least 60% because that is about how many chips are missing.

Try harder.

Help Wanted – There is nothing I like to do more than ask for free design work (sarcasm), but I did want to offer something that others have considered an opportunity in the past. I need to update my blog header image because the WSU-themed graphic is just a little outdated now. If graphic design is your thing and you want to spend a minimal amount of time creating a new header for Don’t Blink let me know. Your work will be seen by thousands and you will be celebrated and promoted by me.

Some of my blog header photos over the years.

8-22 – In case you didn’t know, today is August 22. For me, this date has absolutely no meaning except for the fact that I have written a few blog posts on it over the years. For example, in 2016 I wrote about “Stranger Things” and what really drew me to that first season. The following year I described my experience observing the Great American Eclipse in totality. On Aug. 22, 2018, I gave credit to Sidney as she returned to the classroom for another school year as a second-grade teacher. In 2019 I wrote about my very late discovery of “King of Queens.” And, last but not least, in 2022 I revealed our secret about how Sid and I got around Hawaii when it seemed like every rental car and Uber wasn’t available.

Before Sidney went off to her classroom on Aug. 22, 2018, I took this photo of her. She started her fifth year as a teacher that day.

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Once again I extend my gratitude for your readership of Don’t Blink. Have a terrific weekend and I look forward to catching up next week. Don’t Blink.