Portlandia: The August Visit

I was in Portland this weekend, visiting with davidlevine and kateyule, most generous and congenial hosts. I'm home now, after a long drive there and a long drive back. But the stuff in between was most, most excellent.

We started my visit by meeting at the Clarke County Fair, where we saw The Beach Boys in concert--and yes, the line-up included Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, so it really was as much Beach Boys as one can get these days. Their supporting band was pretty damn fine and Love and Johnston sounded terrific, their voices strong and clear. They made "old geezer" jokes but still rocked the house or, perhaps more accurately, popped the house. We all danced and had great fun. There was a little cognitive dissonance in watching a couple of grandfathers singing "When I Grow Up to Be A Man," I admit. But their renditions of "Good Vibrations," "God Only Knows," "Don't Worry Baby," and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" were all spot on, with tight harmonies for the win! I also have to admit that I was initially a little skeptical that I'd enjoy the show because I wasn't sure how much of the music I'd really know. About halfway through the evening, I realized that they would be able to play for several hours and I'd know most of the music. Though I was a devoted Beatles fan growing up, the Beach Boys were a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth and adolescence. There was no chance I wouldn't have had a blast. A great way to spend the evening.

On Saturday, maryrobinette hosted a writer hangout at Case Study Coffee, and my hosts and I attended for an afternoon of writing. (In kateyule's case it was an afternoon of knitting. She was intent on finishing a sock of marvelous color.) I worked on revisions to a story I completed during the Clarion West Write-a-thon until I couldn't revise anymore a) for getting too many new ideas with how the story might actually end and b) because I got word blind after a while. Happily, my word blindness coincided with the time we'd been invited to enjoy some afternoon sweets and some croquet. The croquet competition was fierce but fun, and we had a pleasant afternoon in the sun whacking croquet balls and enjoying some awfully tasty berry cobbler. The day wound up with a tasty Chinese dinner, family style.

This morning we were up and off to the Portland weekend market (which used to be the Saturday market but has since been expanded to include Sunday). I love going to craft markets in towns I don't live in--the artists are different and always present interesting things. I came home with some lovely artisan soaps (raspberry mint, wild blackberry, and oatmeal, honey and milk), and a beautiful, hand-painted silk scarf in shades of brown and gold.

I departed for jaylake's place around 2:20ish and visited with said excellent fellow for about 90 minutes or so, catching up a bit, and then hit the road. I was delayed on the way back by a hideous accident that backed up traffic for miles, and from which gouts of black smoke rose to the sky. When I finally passed the accident site, there was nothing left but two fire trucks, one police car, the burnt-out hull of a compact car, and a burned swath of grass and some scorched trees up the roadside from the vehicle. It looked bad. I couldn't feel inconvenienced for feeling fortunate to be safe and healthy.

I'm home now, and quite happy to be so. Sophie alternately sits, snuggles, or does somersaults at my feet as I type. All's right with the world, except for the part where it's Sunday night and the work week starts tomorrow. . . .