Fathers Day 07

It happens to be Father's Day, but this is really an update on how amazingly happy we are to be living in Portland. One of the great things about being here, is when I told Steve at 11am "Between now and 6:30pm you can do whatever you want" he actually had someplace to go. In PT we would have had to leave the house in order for Steve to have some quality alone time. Here, he took his Father's Day cash and hit the record shops. By foot and train, with good food and coffee along the way. Sweet.

I get asked every once in awhile whether I miss Port Townsend, and I have to say only, "I miss my girlfriends." Nothing else ever really enters my mind. I don't miss the judgments and expectations I seemed to have cultivated in my circle of acquaintances. I don't miss the Chinese water torture quality of financial stress we lived with for most of the years we were there. I don't miss the sameness of virtually everything: the people, the ideas, the goods and services, the attitudes. I'm not saying I was any different, then. The small town things sucks you in and before you know it you are small town too.

What do I love about Portland? I love the urban feel of our home, and having all the bedrooms upstairs. I love seeing 20-somethings dressed for business. I love seeing brown skin of all shades and ages and hearing different languages. I love walking five blocks to Trader Joes at 8pm. I love getting paycheck every two weeks, paid holidays, and excellent health benefits for $15 a month (total for the whole family). I love that Steve is home with the kids and he does the dishes and the laundry in between unpacking all our stuff. I know this last part will end fairly soon but it is sooooo nice right now.

We had a fun visit with Pam, Brock and Baxter a few weeks ago and discovered some good pizza for delivery. Tonight we found awesome Chinese (salt & pepper squid, Kung Pao w/ chicken, shrimp and beef, the juiciest BBQ pork ever) just a few blocks away. Both were recommended by the family across the street; two attorneys with a new baby and a two year old, who are taking turns staying home (Dad first). Note to self: invite them over for dinner.

The kids and I are settling in to our church, and looking forward to meeting the new minister who starts in August. Both kids are now in school three days a week (different schools), so Steve has the enviable schedule of Mon & Fri w/no kids, Tues & Thurs w/one, and Wednesdays with both. As productive as he's been with the kids home things can only improve with them gone. Lucky me!

We visited my parents at their new house in Moses Lake and got to see my grandma (who now lives with them) and my sister & her family. In two weeks Steve's parents will visit. We have no plans to visit PT but feel that we are getting close to an offer on our house. So hey, you! Come visit! It's a wonderful time to be in the Rose City.