Earlier today, I'm missing the sunshine and waiting to go for my morning walk.

I cannot go outside yet because the landscape crew is mowing. My allergies had already had their way with me from the moment I woke up, so I have taken the allergy pills and have shut the windows. Now I can breathe better, I'm not sneezing, my nose has stopped running. I'm dressed and ready to go on a walk, but I'm waiting until I no longer hear their equipment, maybe at least a half hour after the sounds cease. To pass the time, I'm deciding which sunshiny images to share with y'all. Here goes!



Exquisite petals, photographed looking up from the steps that go to the front yard at Albertina Kerr.



After the landscape crew noises stopped, I ventured outside. Lo and behold, our grass had not been cut! So, I walked across the street to go make the block and quickly realized that the mowing had been going on at Albertina Kerr.

National Train Day, May 10, 2014 - two photos of a hug and the resulting joy, plus a bit about my personal joy

The hug. In the space between Union Station and the tracks, the Oregon Zoo's Titus the Tiger handed out hugs to all who approached.



That single hug sent this little girl over the moon. Such joy!

By the way, I'm sure that you've noticed I've been gone. In fact, I've been off my game to one degree or another since May 13. My repetitive refrain, spoken only in my mind: Allergies, get the behind me!

Finally, I say finally, I believe I have won! My energy levels returning to normal, my eyes not itchy and/or watery, my left ear just about completely unstopped, I no longer have to take allergy pills regularly because of whatever is blooming, pollinating, blowing through the air. And I no longer have to worry about busting out in ugly sneezing fits that always, always, always happen when allergies impact my body, and I feel the slightest chill. Ask anyone who has heard a sneezing fit of mine--they'll tell you just how ugly they are.

While in my work cube I endured and sneezed until the fit ended, miserable among a few co-workers, but I recognized that I needed a method to keep me from sneezing among a larger crowd on the homebound bus, once the air conditioning came into use in June. When I waited at the bus stop, I knew as the sun shone on me and my backpack that I'd be sweaty, warm, the perfect prey for chilled air. The only thing that saved me on those after-work commutes was my rather voluminous black rectangular scarf which, before I stepped onto the bus, I tented over my head and shoulders, hiding my arms and hands. I sat down and held my backpack on my lap and carefully kept the scarf in place. As long as I remained covered until I stepped off the bus once I reached the stop near my building, I didn't sneeze. And let me tell you, I felt joy every single time I made it without a sneezing fit. Real joy.

Rooftop Garden Friday, No. 2

Near some more of those purple flowers, I saw these golden ones. I plan to return to the rooftop garden tomorrow or the next day, depending on the weather and my allergies. I want to see if more of the golden flowers have bloomed. I hope they have!

Bicyclist and pedestrian--interesting head-gear and hair-do choices

Once again at lunch time, someone, no, two someones, passed by and I took a photo that I like. One of the many things that I like about Portland is that you find it easy to be yourself. You can be a man and wear a colorful, striped bicycle helmet. You can be a man and wear your bleached hair, roots visible, in a topknot.

By the way, the last 10 days or so, my allergies have been hammering me, so much so that I've missed some sunny, blustery lunch hours and their attendant photo opportunities. Drat it. These allergies have been worse than any other year that I can remember in Portland, except for when we had just arrived in June, 2006.

May 22, 2009--look at that sunshine!

If my allergies would leave me alone, I could have been out and about at lunch on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, and found a sight much like this one that I happened upon years earlier in downtown Portland. No kidding. It was a record-breaking 91 today here in Portland. And it should be a similar temp tomorrow. Maybe the allergies will have settled some and I can get out at lunch without ending up having a sneezing fit. If so, I'll have my camera with me.