Hipsters don't have swimming suites

   On our way to church this morning, Cate and I noticed a fence going up around our nearby park. After a quick web search, we learned of "The Big Float." For 3 years now, this event has been put on to promote use of the Willamette river (runs N-S through Portland, pronounced Will-am-et) for swimming. The event started, like most PDX events, with a parade. Hundreds of people lead by a drumline marched down the riverfront from the main event to a beach area under Marquam Bridge (Portland has a lot of bridges, they are all named, and they are fiercely loved) from where they would float back to the park. Luckily for us, this route runs right in front of our building.

View from our porch

   Once the floating started, and the sun came out, we had to go down to the water to check it out... here are some of my favorite shots.

 

Out on a barge was a band playing some great stuff like "Honky Tonk Woman" and "Pencil Thin Mustache." It was a very "Portland" Sunday.

Not Texas Hot!

I think Texans have quite a lot of pride on their ability to withstand hot temperatures.  I would consider myself a little weak in Texas standards.  I clearly remember a permanently marked line on our thermostat when I was growing up that was aligned at 90 degrees (I'm sure Marzi would claim it was lower).  We were not suppose to touch that thermostat on fear of death.  However, I always remember pushing the dial so it would barely touch the permanent marker line on the side of life giving cool air.  I remember our poor dog would choose to dig a hole under a bush and lay in it than to come inside.
Fast forward to living in Portland,  I have finally had the opportunity to scoff at others for being temperature pansies.
We recently had a heat wave.  I was unaware that we were having a heatwave till all the small talk went to heat safety. i.e. Drinking lots of water, Staying inside, buying an air conditioner, buying a fan, Bringing pets inside, etc
Fearing the worse I went to weather.com to see what we were in for.  92..WHAT! 92 is nothing!  92 is what we sit through in Texas for 4 hour long graduation.
Brent and I had great fun watching everyone buy up fans and window units.
To be fair,  since Portland does not encounter a lot of hot days, buildings and people are not really ready for it.  Luckily our apt does have an ac wall unit but I did miss my central air at night.
In Conclusion,
Thank you Texas if it wasn't for you I wouldn't appreciate these cool summer days quite so much!

Random pictures:

We have used the Trimet a few times to get over to the Northwest side of Portland.  It is quite comical to watch peoples reactions when a Trimet official actually comes to collect tickets.

Brent and I have been loving all the interesting food carts.  We had the Betty (challah bread, gruyere cheese, bread and butter pickles, white pepper, sea salt, peanut butter).  Really reminded me of my grandfather's pickle and peanut butter sandwiches.