It's June in Oregon!

Hello!  The days of June are flying by indeed.  Since May ended, I have enjoyed a wedding anniversary (9 years!), wearing entire outfits that are not made by me, and the Irish TV comedy, Moone Boy*.  Our oldest girls just have one more day of school, and then it's summer vacation.  I don't know how I feel about that yet.  I think we'll all be relieved to have a break from routine.

Yet, I selfishly wonder how I'll hold up when the "I'm booooooored...." moanings begin.  I'm going to take my customary "Love and Logic" response, which is:  offering chores and/or allowing them the opportunity to creatively solve their boredom problems.  Now, I just need to brace myself for the "I'm huuuuuuungry" cries, which seems to be a highly contagious problem that quickly spreads from one child to all four within minutes of onset.  I cannot handle whining, nor can I handle preparing snacks in the kitchen 24-7, so I usually respond with a "Are you sure you're just not bored?" or a "Lunch is in an hour--you can wait."  When neither of those work, they are welcome to help themselves to something quick and easy like fruit or chips.

After many days of gorgeous, sunny weather, Oregon is now overcast and drizzly, as is customary for the last few days of school.  Just when you think summer is here and the sun is here to stay, the clouds pull a fast one on us and hover in the Pacific Northwest skies.  Just a little inside Oregonian knowledge, you know.

Speaking of Oregonians, I feel like a whole lot of people are moving here.  Like, a LOT.  Some of my friends seem to agree, while others sort of shrug and look at me like I'm nuts.  But my afternoon commute to pick up the girls is getting more and more congested.  I see license plates from all over the country each day, and I can't help but wonder if these people are just passing through, or new arrivals.  The cars on the road are getting nicer and nicer-- lots of wealthy individuals, it seems.  I've lived in Oregon for 23 years, and the metro area for the past 12.  I've noticed a palpable difference, and I can't help but wonder if "Portlandia" has been a catalyst for this change.

 Thanks to Fred and Carrie, Portland is once again a new frontier, now that people know we actually have electricity and don't travel via covered wagons.  At least now the burbs are clogged with Nike hotshots, Lexus SUVs and a Whole Foods on every street corner.  Sure, we have rain, but we also have comparatively "cheaper" houses and short-ish commutes (I guess 30 minutes IS shorter than the 2+ hours some people spend communiting each day?).  Young people hop in their Mini-Coopers and arrive here in droves, yearning for the free-ranged Promised Land of food carts, Intel and CSA deliveries. 

I'm probably not weird enough to don the ubiquitous "Keep Portland Weird" bumper sticker on my minivan.  But if I can be a curmudgeon for a minute, I would like one that says, "Portland Is full now, KthanksBai."     

Okay, now I'll stop with the complaining!  I guess it's been a long week for me.  For some reason each day has felt like a Friday, which is kind of nice, except I keep expecting a break but can't seem to get one.  Transitions, even good ones like summer vacation, make me oversensitive to any little change and hence, I make mountains out of molehills.  Or it could be that I started my day at the dentist, getting my mouth drilled for three cavities.  Eck.  Fortunately my dentist office is fairly swanky and I got to watch HuluPlus while I had my teeth worked on.  I've been on a big "Moone Boy" kick here at home, so I decided to watch at the dentist, too.

Sail Away, Sail Away, Sail Away, Enya parody, from the "Ghost Raft" episode

Bad idea.  If you have a chance to watch something while you have lots of sharp tools and drills in your mouth, I suggest NOT watching something funny.  When  David Hasselhoff started singing at the Berlin Wall event, and his leather jacket lights up, I had to look away from the screen because I couldn't allow myself to laugh.  I've never, ever had that problem before during a dentist appointment.  It was probably one of the strangest things I've ever experienced.  

Padraic:  "I hope he plays the keyboard on his scarf"

Aaaaand... I'm signing off now, because I FINALLY have a night to sew!!!!  I'm very excited.  I have the happy dilemma of actually NEEDING some dresses added to my wardrobe, so I won't delay any longer.  I hope you have a great Pentecost week and enjoy a fast-free Friday.  Ahh.  Friday.  Finally!!!!  :) 

* Moone Boy is available on Hulu.  It is like an Irish "Wonder Years" that is set in the 1989-early 90s, an era I remember quite clearly.  It can have some crass moments, so I apologize if you end up watching it and are offended at all.