My friend Jamie has been here visiting for the last 2 days and will be here through tomorrow morning, which is why I haven't updated the blog much.  I'll have more meaningful things to say later perhaps, but I just wanted to leave a placeholder about her visit.  She's been really great about taking pictures and posting them so I'll only have a few here.  It's been great to see her (obviously!) and fun to play tourist and to see the city through her eyes.  The weather has been really mixed but we've had enough good weather to get outdoors and see the Gorge and even all the way down to Bend.  When you see things through other people's eyes it can really change how you see things but for me the biggest thing has when reconfirming my new commitment to the outdoors and to fitness..  I just love both those aspects of this place and even if for no other reason that will always be a huge part of my Portland experience.