I thought I should just give a quick update on the comings and goings of life for us out in the Pacific Northwest.
I am starting to really settle in to the weather out here. You really can not argue with the rain. Your protestations would be futile. Gotta love that sunshine. And let us not forget the wonderful smells.
That about sums it up. Portland weather. The Cliff Notes version.
This weekend we had record breaking temperatures. It rarely gets above 90 in Portland. Forget about that happening in May. Yet it was a solid 95 this weekend. (Fear not, it was mid to low 60's today with scattered overcast and drizzle).
On Saturday we went to the 'Alberta Art Hop'. Alberta street in Northeast Portland was closed to traffic for approximately 15 blocks. This strip of Alberta Street is well known for its various bars, cafes, funky art galleries, natural food stores and everything else that you would expect to find in Portland. All of these institutions were in full swing as independent artists had their tents and stands lined up along the side of the streets. Thousands of people were there. There was a parade complete with strange people dressed in strange clothes, a strange bus, strange bikes and more. Plenty of art and artists to go around. Generally a musician or musicians would work a block. So that as you were walking one moment you would her some angry lady with a guitar, the next a bluegrass band, then some nasty funk and to top it off a man playing beautiful classical musical on a violin.
A fellow that I work with had a pop up tent sent up with some of his art work. We found him and sat behind his stand for a while. He enjoyed a PBR while we all chatted. It was nice to see a familiar face in the crowd. It was nice to finally start to feel like we are at home. It was nice to belong.
Sunday we went out to the riverfront to see Barack Obama. We waited in a line that stretched umpteen blocks throughout the center of town for a good hour. We were about 2/3 of the way away from the stage in an estimated crowd of about 75,000. It had the feel of a rock concert. Peddlers walked the long line selling home made t-shirts, bumper stickers and buttons. Everybody was buzzing with excitement. It was all anybody talked about on Monday Morning. You could tell who was there by there sunburns.
The speech is what you would expect. But the experience was great.
Besides that, I have been working alot lately. I am in the midst of a massive project for my research job. Since Friday I have logged in 36 hours. Lauren has helped out with about 8 of those.
I can not quit my steady job, though I did cut down to 4 days a week. I know that this is not steady. I will get 50 hours this week (in addition to the 32 I work at my other job). But I may not get any the following week or the week after.
So I am busy.
I like it that way.
We are headed to Seattle for Memorial Day Weekend. We have Red Sox - Mariners tickets and plan on relaxing out there for a few days. I have to bring my work with me. But it will be nice to have a change of pace and spend some time with some people. I have meet a friend at work and she has agreed to check on Alice for us.
Counting.
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