Portland next week

I can't wait. We'll be celebrating Shannon "Dr. Weeks'" N.D. degree. I'll get to see James, possibly Peter, plus Charles will be at the Organic Brewer's Fest.

Dad and I drove from San Fransico to Seattle when I was 12, but I barely remember it. So this is all I really know about Portland, which is a good start, and possibly all I need to know:

Happy Dad Day

I had a really fantastic day. The kids made me a wonderful card, even got to brew a batch of beer. Plus not only a a Father's Day fax, but we got a phone call from Francesca at camp. Received an AMAZING amp for my guitar, wow. Dad said he and Mom went to brunch at Morty's, then Dad had a short American Spirit Sunday tour to give. We sent him the new Deadliest Catch book, Time Bandit, and a bottle of home brew.

This has been a difficult Father's Day for the extended family. It's hard for me to know what to do or say. But I do know, for sure, that I love my Dad very much, and he's always been there for me, every day, for 43 years. I don't understand why I got so lucky. When my family and friends are in pain, I wish I knew how to make them better. I love my family, painfully, and all the families in it.

Poem by Dick Lourie

"Is There Gas In The Car?" "Yes, There's Gas In The Car!"

Sometimes when I'm down this cheers me up.

From Family Guy, the one where Stewie disguises himself as a popular high schooler and infiltrates the cool kids:

"You can see them on my MySpace page, along with my favorite songs and movies and things that other people have created, but that I use to express my individualism."

"I have a MySpace page too!"

"Yeah, I have mine ironically."