In Which We Plan To Leave Portland And Travel Once More

We are planning on driving down the coast of Oregon, along the beach for a couple of days. I've never spent so much time on the beach! It's going to be so much fun. We might even sleep on a beach! I hope there's seafood involved.

I did get to have freshly caught salmon, twice! My brother in law caught it himself. I wish I could go fishing again. The first time was kind of cheating. It was a fish FARM, and I had help!!!

But I had lots of local treats while I was here, including BURGERVILLE, which is a local chain here in Oregon and Washington. Everything's bought locally, like the produce and organic, grass fed beef. Their milkshakes are THE BEST!!!! My favorite is the Mocha Perk, with real ice cream and espresso, but they also have a vanilla ice cream and WHOLE fresh local raspberries.

We stayed with friends who have their own gardens. The place we are at now even has their own chickens! Apparently chickens are very fond of CHEESE! I had no idea. I wish I could have chickens- my friend says she doesn't feel guilty about wasting food anymore- she just gives all the leftovers to the chickens. We fed them handfuls of raspberries we picked right there. We also fed them macaroni and cheese, which I have to say was one of the weirder experiences of my life.

We ate salads that were entirely made from stuff they grew. I am so envious of that. Not that you can't do that in New York- I have a friend who lives in Queens that does the very same thing. And in fact, sometimes she brings them over to share! But the chickens are definitely a unique portland thing.

It is a little bit sad that we had to go to a funeral while we were here. We visited my friend's grandmother in a nursing home and she died while we were there. But it is a little good as well, since she was very very old and sick, and it was kind of a beautiful moment to be part of. We were singing songs like This Little Light Of Mine and Amazing Grace and she relaxed and then she just went... I felt privileged to have been there.

We also went to a wedding and that was lots of fun. We got some window markers (that I am saving for my classroom, of course!) and we drew all over her car! It was in a park and afterwards everybody put on shorts and stuff. It was really funny.

I really like Portland. EVERYBODY recycles, and uses bicycles, and has the same kind of politics I have, and there's GREAT local food! I wouldn't want to leave New York(they have virtually NO arts programs, and they pay their teachers bupkis) but I'd definitely consider spending my summers here.

So On To California!!! I can't wait to go to Ghiradelli Square! That's where they make the famous chocolate! And I think there are crazy pigeons there too. There are pictures somewhere of me and my sister with pigeons landing all over us. I don't think I was more than five.

I am also looking forward to seeing my friend's baby. I haven't met him yet and I think he's more than a year old!