Blueberries and thunderstorms
It's definitely summer here in Portland. It's been hot hot hot, easily 90 degrees in the sun. And of course, no one has a tan. It's so funny spending all day in the sun and not getting burnt like I would in California in this kind of heat. I did get a fun sunburn on my back a couple weeks ago, when I sat on the front steps for about three hours reading. Luckily, I really enjoy peeling sunburns. *grin*

Our garden is gorgeous. Zack's been taking really good care of it, weeding and watering and planting cucumbers and peppers. There's a few more sweet peas every day, and green tomatoes, and loads and loads of basil, oregano, and mint. We harvested the radishes already, and the carrots are almost big enough to eat. And the blackberry bush in the vacant lot down the street has ripe blackberries! Several weeks earlier than I was expecting. There's ripe berries, and more almost ripe berries, and more red ones and much more green ones, which is exactly the way I like it. I get instant gratification and the pleasure of knowing there'll be more tomorrow, and next week, and next month.

I've been a lot busier than I thought I would be. We had visitors for a full two weeks after Quo Vadis ended. On Saturday I went to the Oregon Country Fair, which was wonderful. It's a beautiful hippie-fest, complete with lots of dust and sunscreen and people wearing wings and body paint. I saw some good music and ate some good food and bought some pretty jewelry. This weekend, I'm housesitting for some friends way out in the sub-suburbs and taking care of their goats. Next weekend my parents are visiting, and we've got some fun plans to go hiking and stuff. I don't have anything planned for the weekend after that (yet) but right after that my summer college class, Women In Art, begins. There's only one meeting a week, but it's a three credit class, so I think there's going to be a lot of essays involved. Either the second or third week in August my housemates and I are planning on going up to Waldron Island in nothern Washington, which is certifiably one of the top five most beautiful places on earth. And then, on August 29th at 10am, I'm due in Eugene to begin my duties as a junior staffer at NBTSC. I'm so excited about that. I feel like I've been waiting for it for years. I just got the forms to fill out a couple days ago, and I'm all in a dither about what workshops I could teach. Moving out? Deaf culture? Relationships? I'll probably be busy enough once I'm there that'd I'd be fine not doing a workshop, but I'd love to do all I can.

I'm looking forward to school this fall, too. I'm registered for physics, math, and "The Language and Layout of Argument", and I'm thinking about taking a one credit PE class as well. Circuit training? Maybe weight training would be good for me.

Last night there was a thunderstorm. I biked to Zack's house pretty late at night amid spatters of rain and far-away lighting. I like summer here.