Happy Rat #2

Sometimes a rat just wants to enjoy a good massage.

Coyote Grows Frustrated With Vegans

My son did a Thanksgiving Day run sponsored by Tofurky. The other sponsors were all promoting the vegan life as well.

As the course was being set, a coyote appeared, only quickly to depart, his disappointment in the lack of meat clearly discernible.

No BBQ scraps for this guy.

Modeling Bad Behavior, Again!

A still from the "Biggus Dickus" scene in Life of Brian.

My son and I enjoyed Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” recently, which is fine, because the movie is excellent and funny.

However, last night when I peeked my head into his room, he was enjoying a subreddit dedicated to making fun of a conservative website focused on confronting and vilifying liberal college professors.

I couldn’t help it, but I contributed to a report for this website. We passed on the information that Biggus Dickus University had a professor who was snorting cocaine off the bible during class.

Such a good laugh with the kid! We really bonded.

We always pay, in the end, for such folly.

It’s Monday and let’s all hope for some indictments this week. 

The Rat and the Towel

Kid Brings Political Satire With New Song

My Mouth Burns But I Can't Stop Eating

Portland Book Culture Is Awesome

There are plenty of writers and readers in Bridgetown, as well as several independent bookstores not including Powells. The place is deep in book culture.

I’ve been going to author events recently and one of my favorite places is Annie Bloom’s Books in Multnomah Village.

What I like about these things at Annie Bloom’s is there is no format. Whatever it is, it starts at 7:00. The author may read a lot or a little from the book, interspersing remarks, or none.

The above photo is from the Cindy Brown event. She brought along three voice actors and turned one of her chapters into a radio play. The performance was exceptional with different accents and corny jokes.

At the end of the Gretchen Van Lente event she invited the audience to have a beer with her. For Cindy, she brought wine and a sheet cake into the bookstore.

Of course, there is a bookstore cat, who somehow likes to walk down the center aisle when a reading is underway. I always hope to be acknowledged by the cat, but this hasn’t happened yet.

Here it is, your rat moment of Zen.

Irving the therapy rat looking philosophical in his space pod.

Late To The Party: Harry Potter Versus Star Wars

If I’m not falling apart, I like grocery shopping. I like seeing what food products are available and consider the exercise a reality check about the larger society of Portland.

A few days ago, at the checkout counter, the New Seasons staff were involved in an animated discussion about which film series had the greater impact – Star Wars or Harry Potter.

The most passionate speaker claimed that the Harry Potter movies were the truth of the millennial generation. I hadn’t seen the films, but I’ve always gone to many of the Star Wars films, believing this was a form of cultural literacy I needed (I really don’t).

The Harry Potter fan turned out to be in the minority of his peers, although no one had much enthusiasm for Star Wars either after a bazillion movies. At least they had seen many of the Star Wars films. Most baggers and checkers hadn’t even watched two of the eight Harry Potter movies.

When I thought about a blog post I knew I was really late to the party as there were already hundreds of Star Wars versus Harry Potter graphics.

Kid Starts Textile Art Project

Everyone Deserves Medical Care

Our dear rat Muktuk came down with a respiratory ailment. All of us at Portdaddia are wishing him a speedy recovery.

Everyone deserves medical care.

Art Rat And Sushi

We are still doting rat owners.

The below video is of our favorite sushi roll -- the Mt. St. Helens!

Big Day for the Eighth-grader

The kid finally got his wish – to get a taste of what the big high school would be like. He followed a student around the school to understand the challenges awaiting him.

Even better, he shadowed a senior (!) who introduced the kid to many people and allowed him to sit in on his conversations throughout the day.

The kid was blown away at how the system of public education could be so easily subverted and ignored. I was hoping for something else, like, how many great opportunities there were to do cool stuff. I suppose “cool stuff” is in the eye of the beholder. One student impressed the kid by taking two weight lifting classes back to back. Go figure.

I’m glad the kid is thirsty for change. Some things stand the test of time.

Stoke

Hot Sauce Audit Reveals Full Range of Spice

My go-to sauce is Aardvark Habanero.

Dead Kennedys Has Become A Thing With The Kid

I’m really happy the kid is liking the Dead Kennedys. Whatever this type of music meant to me when I was young back in the Regan years, it’s clear that the songs now speak to a new generation with themes of non-conformity and opposing mainstream culture.

I tell the kid that in the song, "California Über Alles," the band is afraid of Governor Jerry Brown exerting fascism over California and then the United States. For a band looking for a dystopian image, they posit something that looks sweet and comforting when compared to our current political landscape.

Gratuitous rat picture:

Snacks For Election Night

The Teenagers Get Their Halloween On

This is the son and his big friend about to go out and knock on doors. You know a kid is coming to the end of trick-or-treating when his thoughts are only on the tricks he might pull.

For the record, the evening passed without my being aware of any incident.