proteanme

Dorencbecher in mist

Originally uploaded by proteanme

This is what it looked like last Tuesday up where I work. No matter what window I looked out, it was thick with mist every where, like a loose fitting cloud bank had draped itself over the campus. I wouldn’t call it magical, but it was a little other worldly. I had a hard time concentrating on getting my work done; I wanted to check out the ghost world from as many vantage points as I could. I guess it’s a result of the micro climate of the West Hills where OHSU sits at about 500 feet elevation – twice the height of good old Paoli Peaks. By the way, did anyone ever go there? If I remember right, there was a ski club at IU and they planned trips to Paoli Peaks, but even then, before I moved to Portland, skiing in Indiana seemed kinda silly. But I’m digressing. The mist gave way to sun shine in the afternoon and I got to ride home in an unusual blast of warm fall air. I’m getting more settled in at my new job, but I hope I never get so accustomed to it that I don’t notice the amazing stuff outside my window.

Front door

Originally uploaded by proteanme

On Friday I got obsessed with trying to capture how the sunlight was filling up certain spaces in the factory where I work. I locked up that day so it was just me, the sun, the shadows, and the creaks of warehouse. I only got two good pics (camera phone), but I think this one maybe gets at the experience a little.

Yesterday witnessed the pleasure of unexpected company and more sun and blue skies. I wore flip flops, which almost seemed decadent. Today I think I might drink some lemonade.

The sun.

I’m dumbstruck.

On Friday, the weather forecast promised something like 10 straight days of sun. Everyone was talking about it. Seriously, they were. So on Saturday I didn’t get up out of bed until I saw blue skies through my blinds, which was about 9am. And man it was beautiful. I loved the feel of my bare feet on our deck. I loved squinting into the sky. I loved the sweat behind my knees. It was sunny for 2 whole glorious days and then yesterday the rain came back. Today the showers have been relentless. It’s just too heartbreaking to keep longing for the sun. I don’t feel resigned or defeated, as much as I feel like I have to let go of this part of myself, this dreamy part that’s always been in love with summer.

Sunshine lights the kitchen

Originally uploaded by proteanme

Our house faces west and we have these two giant windows in the front. The sun fills up the house like you wouldn’t believe.

RU pointed out that my Ides of June title made no sense so I looked it up and apparently I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about. I knew the Ides was the 15th of March and that Caesar was assassinated on that date and before he bit it, the soothsayer had warned him to beware of the Ides of March, but don’t ask me where I got the analogy to stormy weather. I must have pulled that right out of butt. That’s what you try too hard to be clever and the rain is turning your brain into mush.

Here are some jokes about rain in Portland.

• A newcomer to Portland arrives on a rainy day. He gets up the next day and it’s raining. It also rains the day after that, and the day after that. He goes out to lunch and sees a young kid and asks out of despair, “Hey kid, does it ever stop raining around here?” The kid says, “How do I know? I’m only 12.” “I can’t believe it,” said the tourist.  “I’ve been here in Portland an entire week and it’s done nothing but rain.  When do you have summer here?””Well, that’s hard to say,” replied the local.  “Last year, it was on a Wednesday.”
• It only rains twice a year in Portland: August through April and May through July.
  
• What do you call two straight days of rain in Portland? A weekend.