A week of welcoming, and Goodbyes

Holy cats, 1 whole week since I last put some words on this page. Well, as you can see I have started shaping the face of my new blog. With still a ways to go, I have some good insight, along with some good outside thoughts, as to how it might come together. In due time that is.

In the mean time, I have spent the last week recovering from an attempted seasonal cold assault (thanks to some strong Echinacea doses it never unleashed its full fury) and getting reacquainted with Portland and my friends down there.

Tischer and I spent a few nights on the familiar futon at the nunnery in SE. While there, we hiked a bunch. One day up Council Crest, another morning at Powell Butte, and then an early afternoon run up at Forest Park.

We said goodbye to Annie, who is heading back to Costa Rica for a few months. Our "schedules" and lives tend to overlap by just a hair. I, along with a packed room, spent Tuesday night at her farewell show.

I also had my first day of class on Tuesday. This quarter I am leading a weekly trail hike at one of any number of Portland's parks. This week we went back to Powell Butte because it was clear and sunny, a rarity once "winter" starts in this part of the Pacific Northwest, and visibility was good so we could see the prominent peaks that surround the Rose City. Plus, I had just been there the day before with friends and knew its condition.

I reminisced about eating handfuls of ripe blackberries there after a flat tire caused my mountain bike outing to end abruptly this past August. Only a few days later I was back in Minnesota grocery shopping with my mom and walking through the produce section I spotted these same berries. Only now they were nearly 6 bucks for a small quart! I must have eaten $60 worth of berries fresh off the branch, by MN price and quantity standards at least.

I came back to the cabin yesterday and am working on a few stories for a few different deadlines. Tomorrow allegedly brings rain, along with the 7 days after that. Then again, the forecast goes to crap once you hit 2-3 days out anyhow. I hope.

Although the last 2 weeks have been gloriously sunny, I raise a shot of Jameson in toast to the shoulder season. Here's to the soaking wet pre-winter Pac Northwest! I know it's coming. Like Tischer, I tilt my head and close my eyes hoping to resist it. Think Snow.