It's supposed to be 64 degrees today, with scattered showers. But the tree outside of my window is covered in scattered sunlight. So. At least this morning, it's beautiful out there.
We were going to hike up Dog Mountain this weekend, but the weather didn't cooperate.
Instead, Doug came over for burritos, and then Amy kicked both of our butts in Scrabble.
So today is my 26th birthday. I round up to 50.
Someday, I want to be a professional writer. I mean, I want to write short stories and maybe a novel or two. Or poetry. Or something.
And that's why I'm a web developer these days: I'm pretty good at web development, and I don't have the slightest idea exactly what kind of writing -- or what kind of schooling, for that matter -- I want to do.
And I haven't written a teeth in months, and I haven't written a short story or poem in years.
My sister's graduation was this weekend. She graduated with honors from Whitworth College with a B.A. in Art.
In the four years since I finished school, I've been a lifeguard, an office assistant, an administrative assistant, a freelance web designer, and a full-time web developer.
I've also married the sweetest girl, adopted the sweetest cat, and moved into the sweetest (if also the smallest) apartment in Sherwood, Oregon.
It's nothing extraordinary. I mean, I've done nothing extraordinary in that time. But I've done some things well, and I've never stopped learning. And really, that's okay.
So Sis, that's my hope for you: that you never stop learning, and that you do some things very very well. I know that you will.
I'm feeling kind of cooped up. I need to get out to get some fresh air. I know I've said it countless times since Spring first began, but that's what I really need: not travel per se (though travel is always good) but just a simple weekend at the coast, or in the mountains.
I'm just too busy to spend a weekend camping these days. And something really must be done about that. I'm choosing my priorities, and I'm choosing the wrong ones.
Last night in a dream I was working on the Saturday Night Live set. One of the actors was missing, so they asked me to play a part. I was handed a script, but no one told me which part I was playing.
I tried to memorize as much as I could, but the skit started before I could even figure out which lines were mine. We were sitting around a table covered with parchment. I was wearing some kind of medieval smock. One of the actors said something, and then he looked at me. I didn't know whether I was supposed to speak or not, so I just said the first thing that came to my mind.
"Well, it's been a long time since I've seen you, now, hasn't it, little man?"
Everyone stared at me. The audience was totally silent. The other actors at the table coughed and looked at me with disbelief. The moment stretched into minutes.
When I woke up, I realized that I should have just looked for the cue cards. But I'm not sure I had them in my dream. I mean, if my dream self couldn't remember to look for them, how would my sleeping self remember to provide them?
It's pouring rain out there. I mean pouring. Not your standard Oregon drizzle.
I love it, actually, except that Amy is taking a bunch of kids to the zoo today.
But she brought a raincoat and a warm sweater, so she'll be fine.
Today, Mike is hosting a Trivial Pursuit tourney. Twelve guys are gathering to play. We've got four versions of the game (and the Star Wars edition for tie-breakers), three different kinds of curry to eat, and several choice drinks.
I think I'm going to win. I know I'm going to win.
Well, maybe not.
It's gorgeous out there. Get outside today, if you can.
Every day this week has seemed like Friday, right up to today. Tomorrow, then, things will be in order.
I just finished "The Hobbit," which was a great pleasure to read. On to the trilogy!
I'm sitting in my office, staring out of my window at a tree shuddering in the wind. The sun is shining, but it's cold out there.
And that's spring in Oregon, for you. Warm today, cold tomorrow. Dry today, pouring buckets tomorrow. It's also the reason the west half of this state is lushgreen.
Amy's coming to pick me up. We don't have any specific plans tonight (for the first time in months). I think we'll probably get out the Scrabble board.
I'm aching to get outside. Everything within me is crying out for fresh, clean, brisk air. And quiet. And a reason to use my beautiful (but pitifully ignored) tent.
Green was getting old.
Amy and I had four good friends over to our apartment on Sunday night. It was the first test of the place, after we finally got moved in and (more or less) unpacked. All good things happened: we laughed a lot, ate well, drank good hot drinks, and talked about important things. But most importantly, we all fit.
