This morning after a long sleepless night battling a scary dreamstorm, I found Ruby (our 12 toed cat) sleeping in the shower. She stuck her head further into the corner of the shower as the wind howled, the windows shook and I wiggled morning grump from my brow. Despite living inside some of the bleakest gray days imaginable, Ruby and I love Oregon. Its trees and volcanos make me sing aloud in the busy bathroom stalls of National Park rest stops. Do you see that? I'll ask strangers clad in postmodern pants. Just watch the sun cast its orange across the snow making it pink, making it red, making me light up inside right here. I point to my belly button revealing freshly flossed teeth.