Category: To Occupy my Time

The crew heading off for the Women’s March (and pictures from the road)

People were over for breakfast, and some of the group was headed downtown for the Women’s March.  I had a workshop, so was not going, but Kelly, Burt, Laurie and Matt were gearing up.

“I’ll take a picture” I said, and got my camera ready.  Laurie and Kelly were waiting by the door, Burt was sitting in a chair and Matt was getting on his coat.  “Maybe Laurie and Kelly should go stand by Burt.” I suggested, trying to efficiently get my ducks in a line.

“Wait, are we starting the Women’s March, by having the women orient themselves around a man?” Matt asked.

Below is the photo that came from that statement.

And the official photo.

A little later, I headed out for my own trip downtown.  I have never seen this many people at the Kenton Max stop.

It’s not a protest unless the Margeliz Jewelry Shop is boarded up. I notice the Banana Republic also had the plywood out.  They needn’t have feared, there wasn’t a single arrest.

After my workshop ended, I waited for the Max, watching various people get their picture taken with the riot police.

Hollywood Mock Printz

Getting to the Mock Printz at the Hollywood library turned out to be difficult. That huge amount of snow we had mid-week is still hanging around.  I took the Max downtown so I could swim, and then had planned on jumping on a bus to the library.  But I was met with a new development in transit alerts. Usually these signs say, “15 minutes” or “7 minutes” or “due”.  I’ve never encountered them giving bus updates in miles.  I translated that as being “forever” and planned a different route.The better route was the Blue Max line, which was also delayed, but it was delayed while I was sitting on it, and thus, warm.

We had a great list of books to discuss and a large turnout of teenagers to discuss them.  Danielle, steller Youth Librarian, has nicely primed the pump by having a Mock Printz discussion group that meets monthly.  

After much discussion, here was my vote.  I was pleased that so many people enjoyed The Sun is Also A Star, which I loved, but figured was too swoony-romantic for the general population.

It turned out they loved it so much that The Sun is Also a Star won the Hollywood Mock Printz.  We also picked two honor books, Salt to the Sea and Exit, Pursued by a Bear.Thanks for the fun workshop!

Almost like we don’t live in Portland

This winter thing is no joke this year.  We got a lot of snow.  So much snow, that had it not happened overnight, we would have broken records.

So much snow that the people on the corner could make this larger-than-people-size snowman.

And then, after they make this massive snowman, it snows another six inches.

Here’s what it looked like when I shoveled at 6am.  And it kept snowing.

The trees in the neighboring backyard were heavy with snow.

The backyard was covered.

Antares watched the snow fall.
And then that snow?  It stayed.

New silverware

“Do we want my grandmother’s silverware?” Matt asked me via email query.
“Sure” was my reply.

The silverware has arrived.  Using only this picture, guess the year in which it was bought.  (Don’t read further until you have guessed.)

Look at this nice label in the box, announcing its Solid Stainless status.

And on the back of the informational card, Matt’s grandmother had written the date of purchase.

Did you guess 1965?  You are correct!

I’m pretty excited about this silverware.

Be sure to coordinate your shirts before the photo shoot

This is an article by the Pecks, who are our local home-and-yard columnists.  They were replacing the counter top to their island with their help of their neighbor.

I was amused at their uniformity in clothing.  Apparently, everyone got the black-and-white flannel memo.