GO Fest 2026

We enjoyed a fun but flaming hot 100° Saturday in downtown Littleton, participating in Pokemon GO Fest Global 2026 with my sister and niece, and the other 775+ players keeping downtown hopping. We had a bunch of fun battling and catching "Mega Mewtwo X", even though we weren't properly outfitted to handle the heat. We took refuge for a little while, in the nice cool local ice cream shop Inside Scoop. The organizers (Niantic calls them our Community Ambassadors) had thoughtfully arranged for people to bring a few coolers full of ice and bottled water. We called it quits a little early, with no regrets. 

The crowd was still out there when we were returning home with our Los Portales Mexican takeout dinner to share with our visitors. And I think most everyone will be out there again on Sunday. 

Update: Sunday was yet another flaming hot 97° day. We were out there, along with 900+ other friendly but sorta crazy people who were willing to get out in this heat to do battle with the ferocious “Mega Mewtwo Y” critter. And chat of course. We were slightly better prepared this time—Jennefer bought us some evaporative cooling neck wraps a few years ago, and they were very helpful today. Then our friend went home for lunch, and brought us back some soda bottles refilled with tap water and frozen. Pressing those against the neck and other hotspots was immensely helpful in cooling us down even more.

Independence Day 2026

Wishing everyone a safe and reflective Independence Day! 

Two hundred and fifty years is a testament to an idea: that liberty, though constantly tested, is always worth striving for. Leaders and administrations come and go, but the true heart of America has always lived in its people: the communities that lift each other up, and the brave service members who answer the call to protect our home. Today is about honoring our journey, and keeping the promise of freedom alive for the next generation.

Update: My sister and niece joined us for a takeout breakfast, and a warm day of playing Pokemon GO, starting in downtown Littleton and then meeting up with a Pokemon friend at a less busy location in Gallup Gardens by the library. We had an impromptu Japanese Beetle catching session at the Memorial Rose Garden… beetles to be delivered to their chickens! We finished up the day with a rare dinner out. 

Missing Maine

It’s a beautifully temperate 77° Wednesday morning here in Littleton, although it is quite smoky. It will be warmer later… forecast to be 91°. Here’s our view of the smoke-obscured foothills.

Our smoky view of Pikes Peak, which is usually visible just over the trees on our south horizon. Tongue in cheek… no, you can’t see it, and I can’t either. 

The retired meteorologist that I follow on Facebook is experimenting with using Centigrade for all his temperature measurements… so for the metrically-oriented (do I even know anyone like that?), our high is heading for 33°C. And out in Maine, where we would have been today, and for the 4th, were it not for my earlier medical issue, it’s currently 30°C at the Wiscassett airport, but only 22°C at Harpswell, which is closer to the cool breezes of the Atlantic ocean. 

Boo. Sad to be missing my cousins. I’m using my souvenir mugs from a previous trip for my morning lattes, during this period when we would have been there.