The snows of December and early January are long gone and we’re getting close to the official beginning of Spring. Usually this means rain and lots of it, but so far things have been pretty mild. An hour ago, I went out to get a sandwich under partly cloudy skies. Just now I looked out the window of my office and was startled to see fog.

But it wasn’t fog. It was just a LOT of rain. Big drops of rain coming from a fat thundercloud poking its head over the edge of the West Hills to see what he could get away with. The sky in the east was clear so sunlight was reflecting off Ol’ Mister Thundercloud’s offering, turning the millions of raindrops into millions of bright white lights and the illusion of fog.

And as I write this, the rain has stopped and the sky above my office is clear even as Ol’ Mister Thundercloud’s buddies are slowing rolling in from the west, great folds of dirty cotton brushing the edge of the hills.

This unpredictability is what makes Spring in Portland one of my favorite times of year. Nature is grandiose in her offerings. Why rain when it can RAIN, gods damn it.

Beautiful.

You’re a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride.

I get a kick out of that every time I hear it.