Hello all!

This is Kalina, reporting in from Portland, Oregon.

I spent Thanksgiving at Rob and Laurie's house. Their home is one of those places that radiates light, warmth, and family, so even though I don't see them often, it feels like going home for the holidays. Their little boy Sam is getting more adorable with age. He's full of stories now, and over the course of the evening I was both a speedboat and a magic crocodile. He demonstrated yoga for us (he knows the poses by name) and since Laurie cooks with him often, he's good at improvising recipes. While we were there he developed a plan for "bread soup," which inexplicably had no bread in it, but is made of vanilla, chocolate, whipped cream, pumpkin seeds, and peppers. I'm in!!

I am well. I've been experimenting with food lately, learning more about cooking with fish and whole grains. I'm taking programming and data modeling classes, as my job has morphed from pure admin a few years ago to being a hodge-podge of training, project management, programming, and database design. I'm living with Mike in a drafty but delightful old Victorian on a tree-lined street only a few blocks from two small neighborhood centers packed with various little locally owned cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants. Sometimes we wake up in the night to the sound of singing bicyclists. We joined a great little gym that offers draft microbrews and free wifi in the common room, and they recycle too. I've been knitting and crocheting lately, but hope to get back into drawing and cartooning within a few months. I told Laurie that some friends of mine are going to name their baby Oliver, and Laurie said in fact she has already met two different babies born this month named Oliver - the name is suddenly in vogue, at least in Portland.

That's my Thanksgiving day report. I hope you each had a good Thanksgiving, even if it wasn't Thanksgiving where you are...

Kalina