More "STUFF" From Portland..............

Ah, yes, it's summer time "when the living is easy" - maybe I should say that for us it's more "when the living is lazy".  This is the first summer that Roger hasn't had classes so he's enjoying painting and organizing his studio.

Last weekend was lovely because it rained enough to wash off the trees and clear the air.  Now, that's all changed.  Right now it's 103 with a forecast for about five more days of close to 100 degrees.  This afternoon we're having "breaking news" with GreenPeace demonstrators who are hanging from one of our bridges to stop a Shell Ice Cutter from leaving the port to go to the Arctic to drill oil.  Meanwhile, the Willamette River is closed to traffic, the St John's Bridge is closed and now there's a man who has chained himself to a railroad bridge so it can't open to let the ship through.  Only in Portland........................

It has been fun watching the MAX drivers practicing the new run to Milwaukee.  On August 3rd we have reservations to ride the new train.  The line officially opens on Sep. 13th so we had to reserve seats for this preview.  Once it begins operations, our visitors can hop on the MAX at the airport and get off a half block from our condo.

Bella is doing much better since she got her new medication for her trachea.  She's like a puppy again with lots of energy and now she rarely coughs.

Roger is almost finished with his latest painting.  He says he should be done by about midnight tonight (we'll see................)

Now, we're working on a travel plan for a driving trip to California.  We'll be visiting friends and family in Sacramento, Calabasas, Malibu, San Ramon and San Francisco.  When we get back it will be time to get back on a normal routine.  School starts on September 28th.  Roger is taking three art classes and I'm going to enroll in another art history class.