Cedric Grades Essays: The Four Stages

Cedric offered to grade my papers for me today, and I watched him go through the expected process of mental deterioration.


Cedric sits down to a stack of papers and feels good. There's a warm glow surrounding him, and he's proud that he finally beat the urge to procrastinate.

Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Marshmallow Meringue

You know you're on the right track when you start out a baking project by making chocolate covered cherries.

New Friends

Look who we met today. We found him down the seven-mile bike trail that starts near our apartment. He wasn't biking though, just spending some field time with his other pals:

Oh, hello.

How has your week been? Joe and I had a busy one. We saw Susan Orlean and Steve Almond read on Thursday, which was delightful, and funny, and sad, and back to funny all in a couple of hours.

We drank a free glass of whiskey and ate a free slice of pie at a late night reading with ten authors.

We went to a poetry salon.

We taught our classes.

Joe interviewed Susan Orlean for Willow Springs. 

We discovered the perfect burger place (one we have walked by several times): Buffalo burgers! Elk burgers! Duck, and salmon, and turkey, and black bean burgers! A special condiments bar! Their own special french fry sauce! We will be back. And there will be pictures. I've gotten used to looking like a weirdo taking pictures of my french fries.

Picnic

Yesterday we met some friends in Couer d'Alene Park, a little chuck of grass and benches and trees (about 2 x 2 blocks) right in Browne's Addition. It's even got a tennis court! 

 Even though it's only about five blocks away, Joe and I rode out bikes.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...

when he's running from a girl on a bike?

Is that a woodchuck? His stealthiness made a clear shot impossible.

Portland: Part 2

The second half of our visit to Portland brought more rain. But that's okay because it also brought donuts, and flowers, and friends.

We woke up early (kind of) to cross one of Portland's many bridges on our way to Voodoo Doughnut.

This was Joe's view the entire time, as he does not like walking across bridges.