Thursday, June 26, 2008

Dear Everyone,

It seems summer is here. Although, this is Oregon, and the weather could change in an instant. The rain has been gone for over a week now and we are threatened by 95 degree temps this weekend. I'll head to the pool. :)

The boys have enjoyed their first two weeks of summer by participating in some sport camps. Charlie played flag football and wants to play in the Fall. This week, they are doing Track and Field events. In addition, on Wednesday evenings is an "All Comers Track Meet", throughout July. The boys want to compete in that. In two weeks, they will benefit from a Skateboarding camp ("Finally, we'll learn how to ________!"). Then, Autry (and Charlie is still considering) will learn the game of Lacrosse. That should wrap up the month of July.

We are looking forward to visitors next month as well. We'll be celebrating the 4th of July with James' mom, who will arrive next Tuesday and visit for about a week. Then, at the end of July, my mom and dad will be visiting. We will also be squeezing in a church-wide campout in the middle of July.

Then, in August, we will resume our quiet little life of just the four of us. Ahhhh...still summer (school officially begins up here after Labor Day). Now you are aware of our plans. And I'll post some pictures as the days go on and as adventures continue.

I think of you all quite frequently and say a little prayer (sometimes) when I do. We miss everyone and would love to see you and hang out with you again. Someday...

I hope you have a marvelous summer and make terrific family/friend memories. Cherish those who are in your life and make it a point to hang out with them this summer, while you supposedly have time. Eat together. Laugh together. Play. Enjoy your relationships. This is my desire for "all ya'll".

With lots of Love,
m

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

I DID IT!

I went to the pool yesterday! It was 75 degrees and sunny. It felt like 82. Still not quite hot enough, but I went anyway. Yes, I wore a swim suit. Yes, I put sunblock SPF 50 on me. Yes, I took snacks and a book. NO, I DID NOT GET INTO THE WATER! Are you crazy??!! My boys did, though.

Then, in a real rush of joy for marking the beginning of summer, I turned the a/c on in my car when we were coming home. Of course, I had to freeze us out because to get it to "blow like we like it" I had to set it to 59 degrees!! The boys thought that was funny, because in TX, the lowest we could get it was 74 (it only cools 20 degrees less than the outside temp), and typically, it was more like 78 or 80 degrees inside the car ("blowing like we like it"). So, we get home and think we'll linger in the swimsuits for awhile and sip on some lemonade. Well, it was a little chilly for that, so we changed clothes and still had lemonade. No nap. The heat didn't "take it out of us".

Regardless, we, Michelle, Autry and Charlie can now say, "Summer is here".

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Rites of Summer

New place. Familiar season. Confusion.

It's summer-time in Oregon (the Northern Hemisphere, generally speaking). It's 52 degrees on June 18th at 9:30 a.m. I have been wearing a light jacket or "hoodie" for about 2 months now. I suspect this will be case for most of the year. But, this very act is messing with my psyche. You see, I am accustomed to marking the beginning of summer (in Texas that would be mid-May) with a trip to the pool (outdoors, heated by the sun, with 90+ degree heat surrounding my body and sunshine beaming down on everyone). Then, summer routine sets in. Wake up, eat breakfast/brunch and head out to the pool about 10a.m., snack on berries and lemonade and nuts while reading for 15 minutes, dipping into the pool to cool off for 10 minutes (repeat as needed), go home about 1:30p.m, shower off and lotion up, put shorts and sleeveless shirt on, take a nap/do some school work/visit friends/go to mall or movies, prepare salad and some meat for the grill, eat dinner (with or without friends), head outside with the electric fan (hot patio and it keeps mosquitoes at bay for a little while), start swatting the mosquitoes after an hour ( they get hungry and persevere through the "fan wind") and head back inside, shower off (again, because of the sweat and general stickiness and perhaps the smoke from the grill is still stuck to your skin), slip into thin cotton gown, baby oil slathered on, watch some re-runs or a movie, head to bed about 10:30pm (the sun has been gone for an hour and a half!).

That was my routine. Everyday. It was great! I miss that. I don't know anything else. So wearing this blue "hoodie" is confusing for me. It is summer (the calendar tells me so), but there hasn't been a rite of passage into summer this year. I don't know what to do with myself quite frankly. Go to the pool? HA! It's 52 degrees, remember? Sip some lemonade? How about some hot cocoa, it's 52 degrees! I guess I'll go curl up on the sofa with a blanket and a book and a cup of hot (rather than iced) tea.

Okay, so here are some exceptional things about summer in Oregon (my mom says I should find the bright side): STRAWBERRIES (they taste naturally like a Welch's Strawberry drink),
CHERRIES ($1.99/lb woohoo), NO MOSQUITOES (that I'm aware of), FLOWERS ARE STILL BLOOMING (holy cow!! you should see some of the flowers you could buy at the farmers markets, which are an every Saturday occurrence at various convenient locations and I should say they make this "brighter side" list) NO HUMIDITY, NO STICKY, ICKY, SWEATING, and it's 52 degrees outside at 9:48a.m on a Wednesday morning in mid/late June.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

nuances

So things here in Oregon are mostly like the rest the United States. But, it's when one moves and begins to live somewhere different does one realize there are just a few slight differences. I'm sure these things vary from region to region as well as culture to culture. Here are a few differences that I've noticed living here in Oregon as opposed to Texas:

  • Parking lots - several ways in but two ways out (and it takes awhile to figure that out, put it to memory and retrieve that data when needed). You may or may not be allowed to exit the same way you entered.
  • Bicycle lanes - yes, there on the right hand side just this side of the shoulder. And, what really takes getting used to is looking for the cyclists before you switch to the right turning lane, because the cycling lane divides the right turn lane and the straight away lane.
  • Having someone else pump your gas. It is unlawful for me to do it. So, if there is a vacant pump and a time constraint and a slow attendant...well, there's a situation. At least it isn't hot out!
  • There aren't any fried chicken joints. Well, KFC, but really, there aren't any fried chicken joints.
  • Portlanders are proud of their beer. More proud than Texans.
  • Dawn's light (in June) occurs between 4:45 and 5:05 a.m.
  • Evening twilight continues until 10:15pm (will probably be longer in July).
  • Movie theatre auditoriums are smaller. More compact. Stadium seating, yes. 2 story auditoriums, no. Big and wide auditoriums, no.
  • Recycling receptacles are at the city parks.
  • $.05 refunds on beer bottles.
  • $.05 surcharge for every plastic bottle or can of soda (pop, as it is termed up here). Yes, you buy a 6 pack or a 24 pack, you pay the sale price + $.05/bottle/can.
  • Not too many clover shaped on/off ramps at the freeways
  • Purple houses up here don't look so bad and wealthy people just might live in one!
  • Subaru's are the car of choice, so it seems. Not too many pickup trucks.
  • Dogs rule. They can go just about anywhere here.

That's just off the top of my head. I know there are more things, but I'm out of time.