Days 80-96: Pretty quiet around these parts.

Yup.  Preeeeetty quiet.

I am hoping to hear about a job very soon.  Two interviews and some paperwork filled out and about a week of waiting to hear for sure, so.  Fingers continue to be crossed.

I've been in a near constant state of low level freakout about the election, as most of you probably know since I've been bombarding you all with emails and Facebook hoohah and so forth.  Rachel Maddow has been helping.  A lot.  If you aren't watching her show on MSNBC already then I can't recommend it enough.  You can watch the episodes online if you don't have cable (like us).  Smartest commentary around and also a truly civil and courteous tone.  Very helpful.  

In the meantime, we're finally unpacked completely.  The final box was full of cds, and all the books are on the shelves and we're finally getting some art on the walls, too.  Another jam has found its way into jars and into our cupboard, plum/pluot with a little raspberry this time.  We're planning a run at apple butter this weekend, since John doesn't seem to think a weekend is complete now without a little canning.  I'm not arguing.  I love me some apple butter.  I only hope the stuff we come up with is anywhere near as good as my Grammer's was.

We've been going to the dog park and picking up awesome sticks...

But mostly, I can't stop noticing the trees and the colors.

Unbelievable.  Also?  Hills.  Portland has hills.  Chicago?  Not so much.  In Chicago the thing I noticed all the time was the city.  Buildings and traffic and noise and smells.  Here I just can't stop looking at nature.  The birds.  The plants.  Everyone has gardens.  The hills are a mix of evergreens and spectacular fall colors and the light on the mostly bright, sunny days so far this October is pure gold.  We're living on the east side of town, which is far more residential and our street and neighborhood is pretty low-key.  We went to the west side of town Saturday night to go to a performance by a small local opera company (in a bar!  like edgy Chicago theater!  neat!) which was downtown, and then ate dinner in the area that is exactly like Lincoln Park in Chicago (swanky shops, expensive houses and upscale doodads).  Being in the midst of all that was disorienting and a little strange.  The life we've been leading, or at least the life I've been leading since we've been here is so quiet and small.  It feels incredibly good.  After being in the bustle it was so good to come home.