Aahhhhhh

Remember when you were young and poor and just out on your own and you drove a car that had no air conditioning but it didn't stop you from driving around in the mind-altering heat? And remember when you'd suddenly drive into the shadow of an orchard and the difference in temperature was always astounding and you could smell the sweet fruit as you sped passed and you hoped the orchard continued for a good long time? I just experienced something similar to that on my bike. Not as intense since it's not mind-alteringly hot outside but just as sweet.

Hot Fun in the City

This weekend I will be attending the Swedish Festival in my home town for the first time in 6 years. When I was growing up my family and I would get involved in some way or another. Before they had kids my parents made a float (for the parade) of Snoopy sleepy on top of his doghouse over their VW bug. After we showed up my mom put her energy into making us "authentic" Swedish costumes. I think I wore mine every chance I got. When I was in the 3rd grade my small rural country school was celebrating 100 years of existence and my parents made a float to resemble an old school house. My classmates and I got to dress up in "little house on the prairie" style costumes and recite our times tables during the parade.

The Swedish Festival is a wonderful mix of ridiculous cheesiness, greasy festival food and a celebration of everything awesome about childhood. We always start the day with Swedish pancakes in the park. Served with lingonberries, they are some of the best pancakes in the world although they are not as good as my dad's. As we eat the pancakes we watch the runners from the Dala Horse Trot (a 2 K run and yes the name just invites ridiculous jokes!) fly across the finish line. Then the May pole goes up just before the parade starts. Marching bands, trailers carrying Kingsburg High graduates from 40 and 50 years ago and the Basset Hound Waddle all make the parade a can't miss. Maybe I'll come home with a new family member.

Without fail the weekend of the Swedish Festival is always unseasonably warm and this year it'll be 103. Woo Hoo! It's not really a Valley visit without sweltering heat. With all sincerity, I can't wait! My sister's pool is waiting.

A Smooch Overcomes

He has overcome the waiting and worry about a full-time teaching position! He has been hired at Chemeketa Community College as a film/writing professor and they are lucky to have him. He works very hard for his students and is an excellent teacher and he deserves this job. Good job Justus! I am proud of you!

Let's not forget though that he does eat pizza and vegan chocolate cake sandwiches among other things.

Birthday Stench

Four square!

Ross brought his broken futon to burn in the fire

One of the birthday girls.........

So, even though we had an awesome fire-pit I have no photos of it. It worked pretty well though. After a bit we all realized there was stench coming for the fire. We all thought it had to be the futon wood burning. It wasn't. I had used some concrete slabs to line the fire-pit and had placed them tar side out. Woops!