Wearing white while talking about Labor Day.

As usual, I actually did something of interest, then forgot to update you about it until weeks later. Since it's now September 20th, a Labor Day update seems appropriate, yes? Sometimes this blog is like a time machine!

Anyway, I went up to Washington to Lake Chelan with the Price brothers and 30 of their closest friends. The thing about Lake Chelan is that, in addition to being over 50 miles long, it's also the 24th deepest lake in the world (and 3rd in the country). 24th deepest! When it comes to superlatives, I get excited. After cannonballing in the lake with one of the guys on the trip, I said something akin to, "Say, did you know that Chelan is the 24th deepest lake ON EARTH?!" and he nonchalantly said, "Oh yes, I researched before I came." Needless to say, nearly everyone on this trip got an A+ from me.

We stayed in 3 very nice lake houses, which unfortunately I have no photos of. But here's the 24th deepest lake on Earth:

The only 30 seconds when it wasn't raining.

I want pancakes! Also, because I'm concerned about my internet reputation, I need to make it clear that I'm wiping my hands on my shorts, not grabbing my own butt.

Tally ho, bacon nightmare! This grease-log was lovingly handcrafted from sausage, hamburger, and cheese, then snuggled into a bacon-latticed blanket. The arm is there for size reference. (Size XL)

Goodbye, summer, you treated us well! Ready and waiting for hot cider and cardigans.

Doing things the easy way.

Well, so much for my good intentions. It's for everyone's benefit that I haven't updated, as they would be filled with whining about various things that don't matter, some that do, and lots of desperate laments for more sleep and hugs. Luckily for all of us, the 3 worst weeks of the year have ended, and now I'm ready to paint my kitchen tabletop with chalkboard paint and show you a few photos from my birthday.

28. I skipped up to the forests of Washington with some of the people I like best, to a little campground called "Collins" (hmm!) on the Duckabush River. Remember when I showed you that lovely photo? Turns out I had no idea what I was getting into:

It is so good to let yourself be celebrated once in awhile. 28 felt the same as 27, and 27 felt the same as 26, but 28 feels different than 26, so I know something's happening inside. It's hard to say what my favorite part of the weekend was, but between you and me, I think it was the banana pancakes. (Not pictured: meteor shower, cupcakes, tofu tacos, nerdy card games, early morning swims, streamers wrapped around old-growth trees)

Blogarhythm

I have tons of exciting news to share. Would you like to hear the most boring piece of news first? Then check this out:

Behold, or else. (Photo: www.shoeguide.co.uk)

These are an early birthday gift from my loving mother, and... man, oh man. Man! I made the big switch from New Balance to Nike, and ended up with running shoes from the future. They're actually even brighter than in the photo, because in the future, they use only space-age materials (from space). One other thing: they weigh less than 6 ounces apiece. That's less than a sandal! A light sandal, even! Ok, one more other thing: I love them so much that I went running twice today. I also set a new personal record mile time the first time I ran with them. Hooray, a new fanatical devotion!

News 2: I have selected a camping spot for my birthday trip! It's a super-awesome site on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, which will remain nameless until I return, since I don't want someone Googling "super-awesome site on Washington's Olympic Peninsula" and showing up with 30 friends while I'm trying to secure a campsite. But here's a photo of the mystery spot:


Hopefully it's this pretty in real life, and not just a parking lot that's been photoshopped with rocks and water. I'm very, very excited to share my birthday with special people, surrounded by nature. I also might wear a tiara while we're hiking. It's my birthday, darn it!

News 3, the only piece of real news: I got my own apartment!! It's a pretty cute little place with hardwood floors (#1 wish for my living space), and it's only a few blocks from both the library and one of my favorite parks. Can you believe that I've never lived alone before? With my level of crankiness, it's nearly impossible to comprehend. I'm going to miss my housemates, but as I've gotten older I've gotten less and less interested in communal living, and more and more interested in PURE SILENCE ALL THE TIME. No talking. Shhhh. It will be so nice to come home after hanging out with friends to my own quiet place! But you're still invited over, of course. I have tea!

HELL(o)

SE 20th and Lincoln. Artist unknown.

Look, I'm not kidding around here. It was nearing 90 at 8 am. Yesterday was 105, today's the same. In desperation, I went to look for a portable air conditioner, only to find that fans and a/c's are sold out in the entire Portland metro area. Instead, I jumped fully clothed into our backyard kiddie pool, then walked across town soaking wet to meet some friends at an air conditioned bar (for a nice glass of ice water). From now on, I plan to do most daily activities while dripping wet.

I'd also like to talk about my room for a second. I came home last night to find that my candles had all completely melted. What does that put my room at... 120? 125? Needless to say, I've evacuated all living things from the upstairs, including my computer, which refused to turn on for a good hour after leaving my room. I also unwisely chose this week to start transplanting some plant cuttings, and I'm worried for their tiny lives. Hang on, little dudes!

Today's my day off, and I'm dreaming of my freezing-cold office. (I am not dreaming of yesterday's deathly hot bus ride home from my freezing-cold office, where the overheated bus stalled on the side of the interstate, and some dude felt the need to turn to me and say, "Hot enough for ya?") Needless to say, I will be spending the day touring the city's most powerfully air conditioned establishments. I believe I have enough activities planned to keep me away from the house until 11 pm, whereupon I will retire to bed under a wet towel. It should be down to at least 98 by then, so, you know... no big deal.

Help?

Hot Hot Heat

(Taken in Eugene at the University of Oregon, where I accompanied Colin to a lecture last week)

Time is moving fast. It seems like only 8 days ago, I was promising you that I'd update at least every 7 days. And wasn't it just a few weeks ago that I was laughing at the indignity (oh, the wonderful, delicious indignity) of wearing a sweater in July? Well, those innocent times are over -- it's 100 degrees, with no A/C in sight. Tomorrow, 102. Wednesday, 102. By the weekend, 93. At last, something to look forward to!

All jokes aside, these are not happy times for me, and I don't think I'm alone in that sentiment. As my companion was remarking yesterday, people are moving almost as slowly as they did when we got a foot of snow in December -- I no longer understand how to deal with harsh weather, and neither does anybody else here. Current PDX hot weather fashion consists of only two extremes: 1) "How little clothing can I wear without being arrested?" and 2) "I'm going to walk around in tight jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and pretend this isn't happening." My personal strategy so far has included 2 cold showers a day, outfit changes every 8 hours, and cold bottles of Limonata on the porch. Also, whining! So much whining.

LOOK AT MY FACE!! I DON'T LIKE THIS ONE BIT!

On the other hand, the hot weather has produced some lovely sunsets.

And, well, I guess it's pretty nice to jump in the river when it's really hot outside, especially when you're with a friend. (Note: the person in the photo is not my friend. Also, this is the Sandy River, at Oxbow Park.) I suppose things aren't so bad. Still, Portland: HOW ABOUT TURNING ON THE A/C?! Oh, that's right, you don't do that.

Well, I suppose I'd better get back to lying motionless on my bed.

Exploregon

Dear Friends,

It's been so long that Blogger forgot who I was and demanded a password when I tried to update my own blog. It's been so long that I couldn't remember the password, and spent almost an hour trying to figure out what obscure, secret word I possibly could've chosen. (Sometimes I'm so dumb that I outsmart myself.) But look -- here I am! I won't tell you my password, but can I tell you what I've been doing? It's been so long, but I've still been thinking about you a lot.

June passed, July's here. Since we last spoke, I've been camping three times:

Backpacking at Eagle Creek:

Bike camping on the Nestucca:

Central Oregon, Metolius River & Suttle Lake:

(don't be fooled, I'm dying of heatstroke.)

Then, I celebrated America's birthday...

...by keeping hydrated in the 90 degree heat...

... participating in a water balloon toss...

... and mostly, by jumping in a giant inflatable bouncy castle.

Then there were fireworks on the waterfront!

Oh! And here and there and in-between, I was...

... using glowsticks as mustaches...

... learning to skip stones...

...building hula-hoops...

... and finding new reading spots.

There was a bike scavenger hunt...

... and then I nearly broke my ankle trying to cheat during a 3-legged race.

I rode the bus to friends' houses, birthday parties, dinners, movies. It was late, it was early, it was hot, it rained, I ran after it, I missed it, I made it. I had a carton of raspberries, I wanted thai food, I was going downtown for lunch, I was tired after work, I was spilling ice cream on myself.

There were flowers...

... and flowers...

... and flowers.

And in-between I was walking and thinking, holding hands and holding coffee. To the library and back, to his house, to their houses, to air-conditioned cafes (it's hot!) but mostly to nowhere in particular, which is what I like best.

So there! But how are you? Are you well? I'd like to know. I've resolved to update at least once a week (mainly because it takes too much time to upload a month's worth of photos into one entry). Coming up are two special birthdays (one is mine! 28?!), a bike-building project, and a trip to climb Mt. St. Helens. Summer. Summer!