lu-IS

This is Luis and he's my pal and I love him, I even told him so, right to his face and he thought that was okay for one guy to say to another guy, no big woop. He was in our town to look at an art school that he's going to go to next year which means he will be moving here which for me is super great because like I said, I love him.


and his fancy shoes


and speaking of fancy, this is our new rug that my mom loves more than anything else in the world because of the fact that it matches our new couch so perfectly. Luis came with us way out to the farmlands of Hillsboro where we bought the new rug and then we got really lost out in the fields and crops until my dad finally had to break down and ask a man on a horse how to get to the freeway. It was a fun adventure and a good deal because this rug really brings the room together.

kids are in the pool!

We hosted a neighborhood bbq in our backyard, all the families that live next to us, across the street from us and behind us were invited. Something like eight different families came and everyone got introduced to each other and started talking and making friends right away. You can see my new pal Stewart who lives across the alley and who is my age. And another kid I just met that day named Zekie who is three years older than me so he says. My parents are the stars of the street because they brought all the folks together. What happened to those hermit crabbies from Bainbridge Island that no one ever talked to?

Gussy From The Block

We are really settling into our neighborhood over here, our little northeast Portland. We already have a tight little community type deal going on and it's working out for all of us.


Nadine is now like my adopted sister. She comes over our house so her parents can do stuff like work late or see a movie for the first time in a year. And then I go over to their house and get wild and eat dinner with them when my parents go see a film. It's what they call a win-win situation because when Nadine and I are together it's easier on everyone. Not to brag, but she kind of worships me and I take very good care of her.


At the yard sale across the street we go over and hang out and browse. I brought my bank along just in case something special caught my eye. I did in fact score big, for only eight quarters I got a sleeping bag, a Lite Brite, a treasure chest filled with gems and a wooden pinball machine. Mom got two kid chairs and a set of dominoes which she plans to teach to the neighbors for the future Domino Night.


I'm just telling you how good it feels to have all these people around to talk to and play with and learn about every time I step out of my house. Everyone on the block knows me because I can't stop myself from saying hi and inviting people in to see my bedroom. This is healthy for all of us.

I go round

Mamop of the North

So good feeling to wrap my arms around this one again. Mamop and Nicky drove down to Portland to visit with us for a few days. We showed them all the sights and took them to one of our favorite dinner places.


The next day we drove up to the top of the tallest mountain in the state, maybe even the world, Mt.Hood. In the wintertime this is where my dad plans to rekindle his skiing hobby.


Can you see how far up we are, above the beautiful blue mountains? Can you understand how far the town and our house is below?


See the colorful wildflowers? I think this might be the high desert?


There is a big giant really cool hotel on the top of the mountain with huge fireplaces in all the rooms where you rest your cold toesies near in the snowy weather. This was the Overlook Motel in the movie the Shining which I've never been allowed to watch.


And even though I've never seen the movie I still was forced to stand next to this ax and say "Here's Johnny" about fourteen times until I just refused because I don't know what the heck it means.


Good fun times as always with my dear family. Nicky plans on moving back down to LA so I'm afraid he won't be able to visit as much so I savored every goofy minute with him while he was here. Love you Uncle Nick! Love you Mamop! Miss you guys already! Come back soon......

look through my window

art on the floor

Lately I've just been wanting to stay inside and make weird projects on my bedroom floor. It's beautiful outside so my parents keep dragging me out but I think maybe there's not much they can do if it turns out I'm just an inside art type of guy. And my mom and dad, of all people, should understand.

J-E-N

Jen. I know her well, I know how to spell her name. She was living here for over a month and became part of our family life and now she is gone and I am sad about it. I know she is too. But being sad and missing her is the price I pay for having her here to play with me and become my solid good friend forever. And Mom is without a road dog now, but I guess she's pretty used to that. No one rides for free.

B-Y-E J-E-N !!!

A Toddler Runs Through It

The great fly fisherman. Here he is. Bob.


That's him in his waiters. Totally different from the kind that bring you pancakes and juice.


This is the Matolius River. Beautiful place to catch a few fish. Or to not catch any fish. Either day.


Have you guys ever heard the one about the one that got away? It was this big.


But who needs fish when you have a cool and woodsy hotel room with a jacuzzi bath with a window that lets you watch the tv while you tubby. Our room was a lot nicer than the one Mama had to stay in Saturday night after she got home from work real late to find out that we had taken her house key with us and she was locked out until we got back the next afternoon. Sorry mom, but this is the life of the fisherman's lady.


I tell you what though: I don't know many things better than going on a road trip into the scenic high desert with three generations of deWitt men. Make a point to do this if you ever can.

a broken heart is a wondrous thing

Grandpa's here for the weekend which means lots of fun for me at the coffee shops and the art museums and for my parents it means a night out on their own. Last night they got dressed up and went to a very old and beautiful concert hall downtown to see a man that looks like a lady named Antony sing with the Portland Symphony. When I asked my mom how was the show she just shook her head and her eyes got kind of far away and misty and she told me it was too much to talk about in words and it is something I'm just going to have to see and hear and feel for myself one day. It made me want to hurry up for that day so I can feel whatever gives me that far away look in my own eyes. A lot of mom and dad's friends were in town playing music for a big festival of bands thing but they could not go see any regular music after the magical Antony for fear it would take away the sublime feeling inside of them.

Winding Walk Around The Rushing River

This is our first Portland nearby nature day. We went on a hike with the superstar neighbors to the waterfalls. It was perfect, perfect weather, perfect scenery, perfect walk.


Perfect new friends.


Rush.


Gorge.


Lunch spot.


Dad got close to the waterfalling.


Closer even.

Great day. And it was only 25 minutes away. We have committed ourselves to a once a week nature adventure. This is what has to be done now. Feel free.

another first day of school

This is my new Portland school which started today. I was very excited about it and it was very difficult to lay in bed last night and wait for morning time to come because it takes so long to come.


But it came finally and I went to school and I love my new school and teacher Kelly who put my pictures up on her wall already before I even got there for the first day.


And I love everything about the new school, the toys, and the marbles, and the garden and the rope swing and the guinea pigs named Brownie and Pearl, but the #1 thing I like best, at least for today, is the supermarket checkout stand with scanner that actually goes beep and when you come up to my register to buy something I will always tell you "thank you, come again!" Can't wait to come to school again thank you!