UNSCRAMBLED STATES OF AMERICA

Nicholas is in a geography phase currently. He cannot get enough maps, games about countries, states, or license plates, or books about all of the above. It is quite cute, and his encyclopedic knowledge of all things geographic is equivalent to mine when I was about twice his age. This interest, I believe, comes from his desire to understand his world and to become familiar with all that is out there.

More than anything though, Nicholas loves learning about the United States. He has already declared that New Hampshire is his favorite state even though he has never been there. He likes it because it looks beautiful in the books and because his mom and dad have been there. He has even made up his mind that he will go to college there. Dartmouth here we come! Go Big Green! Cate, according to Nicholas, will be moving to Connecticut, and she will also be attending college in the Constitution State. Go Yale Elis! Have I mentioned that their 529s have been tanking? According to Nicholas, Kathleen and I will move to Manhattan around that time, and eventually Nicholas will settle in "Brookland" because Sesame Street is there. As you can see, he has it all figured out!

Not just content to talk about states, Nicholas draws states incessantly. He can draw a map with each state depicted accurately from memory now, and he knows nearly all the capitals and license plates.



We have a license plate spotting game, and we have seen and photographed 44 of the 50 plates in the past month. If anyone can send us pictures of: North Dakota, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississsippi, Washington, DC, Delaware, and Connecticut, we would be forever grateful!

I hope Nicholas always remains this passionate about things as important as our world and his place in it. I have a strong feeling that that is the state he will always be in.

PORTLANDIA

Recently, I began watching the TV show Portlandia, and I can honestly say it is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. Sure, the show is replete with inside jokes/references, but the appeal is much broader than the confines of the Rose City. In liberal enclaves throughout this country- think Cambridge, Brooklyn, Berkeley, Seattle- people like those depicted in the show exist and flourish with their farmers' markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and bike lanes. I, too, like all those things.

However, what draws me to this city and to this show is Portlanders' desire to be authentic and unique while at the same time respecting everyone else's right to want the same thing for themselves. I have lived in no other place that exudes as much independence, pride, or energy. People here, like me, are both particular and passionate about the things that interest them. The shows does a great service to that vibe.

The latest episode of the show began with an "Allergy Pride Parade." That says it all! While those with gluten allergies were celebrated, those with air, sun, and water allergies were also lampooned. Near the end of this segment, one of the hosts of the parade, played by one of the stars of the show Carrie Brownstein, inadvertently consumes a candy with dextrose, to which she has an allergy. She chokes and dies off-camera. Moments later, a hearse with her remains inside enters the parade, and she is eulogized. If you are not feeling it, you need to watch the episode for yourself. I was dying laughing.

There are far too many moments and characters with which I identify on Portlandia to list here. Portland, as the other main actor on the show Fred Armisen says, is where the young go to retire. Portland is also the place people go to savor every last bite of life in the flavors they like best. If you think of a town as a fast food restaurant, Portland would definitely be the local chain Burgerville- a locavore's paradise. Would you like to try a seasonal shake? Oregon hazelnut is currently in season.

However, a slow down and smell the roses riff on the motto of another fast food restaurant- Burger King- rings true in Portland: your way... whomever you are...eventually.

NEOLOGISM

Today, this beautiful little cow helped me to unload the dishwasher. When Cate picked up two ceramic coffee mugs, she said, "Dadda be careful! These are fragilous." I asked Cate to repeat what she said and to define fragilous. Cate said, "Fragilous dad- it can break."

I started cracking up. This led Cate to crack up though I am not sure she knew why. Fragilous it is!