We're Back, but not for long

Our family took FOUR. WHOLE. DAYS of vacation together. I stayed up till midnight the night before we left working on a last-minute project I had a deadline on. Found out today, 4 days later- they never got my email. So, instead of looking like I busted my butt to meet their deadline, I look like a flake.

Anyway, we really enjoyed Bend, Oregon. There is a lot to do around there, especially with kids: volcano areas to explore, high desert museum complete with live porcupines, and ponies to ride. There is actually much more than that, but water sports and biking were out with the kids so young, and us so out of shape...

When I was a kid, I loved staying in hotels. In the good old days, my sister and I jumped on the bed, raided the toiletries, made sure to use all amenities. I still do that in fact, except for the jumping on the bed. I don't want to be stuck with that bill! The kids and I used the swimming pool every day, until they discovered the hot tub. They loved it and wouldn't go back in the cold pool! Don't worry mom, they didn't stay in long and weren't fully immersed. I may have indulged a little too much in the all you can eat hot breakfast buffet too. The hotel was above a shopping area and theater. Unfortunately, the only movie we saw was pay per view Curious George. Not a great movie, but I like the soundt track, seriously. I was afraid of the kids waking up while we were watching XMen 3 or something and being scarred for life. They were already traumatized enough by the "spooky cave" (Lava Lands Cave) we made them do, and a large lifelike diorama thing in the Museum of a dead deer getting it's carcas picked over by vultures. Nice. Lots of questions about that.

I feel like I am not writing much pugsy material lately... I do have some puggy things in the works. More about that later.

Right before we left on the trip I met another blogger and her family for the first time in real life- that was interesting! She even gave me some of the wonderful cards she makes, and they are the best! Check it out on Etsy
Sorry friends, I won't be mailing mine out, I will need to get some more. I'm saving these! Thanks Theresa!

Loving Portland, for the most part.

http://www.knick-knack.com/rants/places/portland-oregon-sucks.html

I just read a blog about how Portland, Oregon "sucks". I am sorry to say I wasted way too much time reading this bitterness and the hateful comments. I am not a native to this area, nor am I a "hipster" so I feel I can make some neutral observations.

To sum up the rants:
Weather sucks: Oh yes. Except during the summer when it is not too hot...oh cancel that, with global warming we have had multiple 100+ days this summer. If a lot of rain really depresses you, think about it. I have lived in the Seattle area prior to moving here and have lived about 18 years in the Pacific NW- you don't ever really grow to love the rain. Trust me. It does make everything look beautiful here.

Driving/Traffic sucks: The driving here will make any aggressive, speed-loving person crazy here. I think the Europeans must just think we are insane. I am not a left-lane hogger, etc but I would take the weird slow traffic over the crazy big city traffic anyday.

Recreation sucks: Some kind of complaint about how you have to drive outside the city to climb big rocks, mountain bike riding. Hmmm, that is just stupid. Sorry, it is not right down the street. You could live right near Smith Rock, but believe me, you'd complain about the lack of restaurants or something else. We drive to the beach very regularly and find a nice 1.5 hour drive not to be too bad.

Okay, I'm even boring myself now...
Govt/Taxes: I'm very liberal, so I can't be unbiased about this. If you don't like the politics, there are many areas of this country and State where you can be ensconced in your own ilk. I'm sure I would be uncomfortable in many conservative areas. I have a small business but can't really speak to all these issues.

People suck: The writer specifically named native Oregonians. First of all, do native Washingtonians, Californians or any others who have experienced the phenomonal changes and growth that so many newcomers have brought to their State not have some complaints? Hey, this was place was beautiful before we "discovered" it. I felt like this happened in Seattle too, the original flavor went away with an influx of out-of-town "hipsters" and all the money. I feel like I was part of doing to Portland what others did Seattle- driving up housing costs. But, I felt my personality was already suited to the NW so that part was no adjustment.

Regarding hipsters- Portland is great for married people, couples, and families. I don't think it is the best single's spot, doesn't seem to be a lot of nightlife, not that I'd know. If you want that, this is not really the place. I thought that guy's criticism seemed like he was unhappy by not being acknowledged as being cool. Or people thinking they were cool, but since he had superior experience, he knew they weren't. I just avoid the Pearl and NW 23rd and generally keep my annoyance level low.

We moved here for it's slower pace of life. Driving downtown and actually finding a parking place- on the street! Being able to afford a house. Simple pleasures. Those moving here wanting to lead the coolest, hip lifestyle, will probably feel misled. Oh well, there are larger cities, you are welcome to leave.

Favorite blogs

I have stuff to blog about, but am too busy.
I keep planning to stay up late and get caught up, but while I'm reading to my daughter I almost always fall asleep. The adventures of Noddy are just not that stimulating.

Here are the blogs I read regularly to entertain you. We will be taking a vacation to Bend soon, so maybe I can write more while I'm away from work.

Julia/Here be Hippogriffs

Secret Agent Josephine!

Petite Anglaise- British woman living in France...

Hilarious critiques of celebrity fashions

Suburban Bliss

Waiter Rant

There are more...
Okay, I seriously am busy. Gotta go. Anyone else have problems with procrastination? I think it is getting worse.

New topic, please!

I need to move Salvador's post further down the page. It is unbelievable how much we miss him. I know he was not a person, but he added a lot of joy to our lives and his absence is very noticeable. I want to make a little book or something about him, something to remember him.

Other news, I signed up for a gocco printing class. It is a 3 hour class next week. I hope to make cards and prints of my pug designs. It is frustrating with the shirts not being able to provide the sizes everyone wants, or colors. I hope the cards will also make it easier for me to make more designs. Each shirt is such a major investment for me that I have to limit what I offer.

I really want to make a little thank you to include in my orders. I will also mail it to past customers. If possible, I will take a week off in August and spend time on these ideas. Design work is busy which is good, but means less time for say bone!

Salvador

Salvador died today. There is so much to say about him. A lot of people would say it is silly to feel so much for an animal. Salvador was more than a cat, he didn't have that vacant stare a lot of cats have. When he looked at you, it felt like you were looking into the eyes of a wise old man. When he looked at you, he looked intently.

He had some funny habits. He loved water. He liked any crinkly object and chewed on plastic bags or anything that made noise. He loved to snuggle into your neck in bed and pur and knead you with his sharp claws. He was so affectionate. he was a beautiful cat with the most amazing bright blue eyes, and a Dali-esque musache.

We got him from a cat adoption at a local pet store. He wasn't what I originally had in mind, long haired, white, and very timid. They told us he was rescued from a drug house. He lost his timidity and showed a wonderful personality. He never seemed extremely hardy, but we were surprised when he was diagnosed with diabetes at age 4, almost two years ago.

J took such good care of him. I helped a little, not always in a good way (long overdose story), with the twice daily injections of insulin. Salvador recovered and then seemed to go downhill. We realized, amazingly, that he had somehow been cured and no longer needed insulin. In the process of checking his blood sugar, we made other important health realizations about our family. We are sure our blood sugar would have gone unnoticed if it weren't for Salvador and having testing equipment on hand. For that, he saved us. We called him "San Salvador" after that.

On his last day, I wasn't expecting to say goodbye. He seemed fine. He started choking and didn't stop, J barely got him to the vet in time and he was given oxygen. It turned out he had heart failure and there was fluid pressing on his lungs. the vet told us a treatment plan that included catheters, extended stays in the hospital with a cardiologist, drugs, etc that would only extend his life a month or two. Salvador hates that stuff, he even has a reputation at Dove Lewis. We wanted to bring him home with us, but he couldn't breathe well outside his oxygenated cage. I went in to see him one last time and he started purring as soon as I pet him. I know we did the right thing, but I miss him. I really don't think there are any other cats like him. We were very lucky to have him as long as we did, but it seemed far too short.

I can't explain who Salvador was without it sounding silly. He wasn't just a cat. But you just had to know him like we did. We miss you Salvador. Thank you for sharing your life with us.