One sad thing about getting older is that now when I wear a polo on a 90+ degree day, I just look like any frumpy middle aged wanker in a polo on a hot day. Back when I was 20 with a BMI to match, I could make anything look cool.

> 3 of the ‘best lake towns in the U.S.’ are within driving distance of Portland – [Oregonian](https://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2023/05/3-of-the-best-lake-towns-in-the-us-are-within-driving-distance-of-portland.html)

Spoiler: there are no real lake towns in Oregon.

Waiting for a haircut today, I decided to grab a quick lunch. With so few choices, I figured I’d give Panda Express a try. I was surprised that they don’t have a single vegetarian option. Puzzling business decision in 2023.

Sometimes I initially feel bad when I’m a few minutes late to my job in the morning. But then when people who don’t have two young children come in after me I just have to laugh.

It’s crazy to me that the only apparent way to circumvent the product-steering happening on Amazon is by doing a Boolean search on Google.

I have a Strava account that I started pre-kids when I was a lot more active and going on lots of hikes. I follow all these really active people and ultra runners.

Now I just hit record when I’m getting the mail or walking the dog. I love flooding their feeds with these B.S. ‘workouts’ ;-).

Got all the yard work done. Got a new-to-us lawn mower from my wife’s coworker who is moving into a condo and no longer needed it. Pretty nice!

Maybe it’s my blue collar midwestern roots, but I’m one of the few in our neighborhood who doesn’t hire out the work. Lawd knows I need the exercise.

Definitely going to have some tomatoes this year.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers. Hope you get pampered today.

An awesome day. Got out to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge before it got too hot and hiked a couple miles with some friends and the kids. Stopped off for a beer and some food on the way home. Looking like nap time now that it’s 90°F.

Off to do a little hike with some friends in Ridgefield, WA. There’s a nature reserve there along the Columbia River that’s flat and easy enough for our 4 year old to walk himself. Our daughter is 1. She can walk some but mostly goes with us in a pack.

I ended up accepting the promotion yesterday and I’m actually pretty excited about it. Initially I was nervous because I have a young family and change can throw life into a tailspin. But more than the money or the extra time off, it was ultimately the more interesting work that swayed me.

I recently switched over 100% of my microblogging from Mastodon to Micro.blog. I thought I would miss seeing reblogged and tagged content. Honestly, I don’t. Previously, it was a lot harder to see content from the people I actually follow. So much less clutter.

In a reflective mood tonight. Just 14 years ago I graduated during the Great Recession and landed in a kitchen making $6.50/hr. What a wild ride it’s been.

Somehow I missed that Michael Hurley is opening for Horse Feathers on Sauvie Island later in the summer. Of course it’s already sold out, because, well…Portland.

[www.etix.com/ticket/p/…](https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/3977109/horse-feathers-plus-special-guestmichael-hurley-portland-topaz-farm)

Fun fact: I applied for and received a grant a few years back for a 3,200 gallon cistern that collects rainwater from my roof all winter long. There’s a pump inside that I connected to a drip irrigation system and I use it to water my garden all summer long since our summers in the PNW are very dry.

Is it just me, or is SMS spam getting out of control?

I was offered a promotion today in a different department but I’m not sure if I should take it. Several other promotional opportunities within my department just opened up. A big part of me is saying to take the one offered and not wait for something else that may not materialize, but I’m nervous.

We had some pictures taken over the weekend and I’m really happy with how they turned out. Jenkins Estate was in full bloom.

One perk of taking the kids to preschool/daycare every morning is that on the way home I occasionally treat myself to a breakfast burrito from one of the many excellent purveyors of Mexican food in my area. Today was one of those days and it did not disappoint!

These clearer, warmer, longer days are everything right now.

Rocking my daughter sleep, listening to some chill music. Looking forward to seeing Lucinda Williams and Big Thief at Edgefield this summer.

[Lucinda Williams – Fruits of My Labor](https://music.apple.com/us/album/fruits-of-my-labor/1440788291?i=1440788298)🎵

Although the view from inside a car may be perfectly clear, glare obscures us from outside. We know this as pedestrians, but forget it as we wave to them as drivers.

A simple analogy of how our perspectives can be selfish and limited by our current experience, even with knowledge of other views.

I can’t believe I’m raising my kids in a country where, in just a few years, they will be participating in active shooter drills.

I’m still trying to figure out a way to make a decent living abroad. If I could do my education over again, I’d choose a career that is in high demand.