For the last three years, summertime in Portland hasn't begun until the first week in August. Until August 1st you better be wearing a light sweater or your nipples may just explode all over the heirloom tomato dealer at the farmer's market.  I suppose this sort of chilly summer weather is the envy of most of the country. My poor grandma dot hasn't left her Jersey shore house in weeks for fear of melting in her car. 

Most Portlanders take proper advantage of our 26 (or so) full-sunshine days by doing the following:

Purchasing cheap inflatable devices, packing a 12-pack of beer in a cooler, and floating down the placid Sandy River with a lap dog 

Hanging out on the Bluffs while playing a variety of handmade string instruments

Juggling golden beets under a fir tree at Irvington Park

Riding a unicycle along the Willamette in a muslin kilt

Playing a game of naked softball at Kelly Point Park

Sitting in a large vat of chilled and cubed Hermiston watermelons

Gathering on front porches in nothing but suspenders and underwear and braiding each other's ass-length hair

A short and sweet interview with my wife, FF: It's July. The end of July and FF sits at her desk working on random blips and bleeps of the beginnings of another novel. Her posture is decent, and an outsider who isn't as familiar with posture might even think it's mostly good. She wears a red dress. The same red dress she's been wearing for years now. A dress with subtle stains on both the hem line and bosom area. Her eyes are lined in black liner and her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail at the nape of her neck. She blinks rapidly and every four minutes pauses to do a handstand.

FF: So this is work for you?

FF: Yep. I spend ALOT of time working. Making things for other people. Making things for myself. Making things that sell and sometimes things that don't sell. Making things that may not ever go anywhere at all, but for some reason, I keep at it. 

FF: And do you enjoy it?

FF: I sort of hate that question. I think the nature of work is, for the most part enjoyable and not-so-enjoyable. I like it sometimes and despise it other times. It's work. If you have to do something every single day of your life. Wake up, get dressed, feed yourself, on and on and on, more than likely, you are going to have a precarious relationship to it. 

FF: So is that why you do handstands?

FF: Absolutely. Handstands are good for changing up the scene and shaking up your blood a bit. And everything looks different from upside down. 

wallace

Please remind yourself to read: Aesthetic Preferences - Wallace Shawn  Thank you. Have a sparkly day.