Goodbye Summer

by Katy on November 8, 2009 · 23 comments

Heart oregon

I am a native Oregonian, which means that I’m not supposed to be bothered by torrents of rain that run rivers down our city streets from October through June.

I guess I’m a disgrace to my home state.

Today saw rain, rain and more rain that stranded me in my house. Both my sons had soccer games, and mother-of-the-year that I am, I chose to stay home, since my husband is already the coach and I really hate standing in the rain watching kids be miserable.

It was too rainy to comfortably walk anywhere, and I had nowhere to go. So instead I went a little stir crazy. I did some baking, some cleaning and a lot of looking out the windows. Even though the furnace was chugging along, the only time I felt warm enough was while doing dishes.

The rainy season is really truly here now, and I suppose I need to buck up and continue to live a productive life, even if the sky is falling. I do see people biking and walking in the pouring rain, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they’re not native Oregonians and are trying to prove their macho imperviousness.

It’s just that I really miss summer. I miss dining al fresco, I miss my outdoors clothesline, I miss being able to walk my errands without having to don a rubberized jumpsuit and I miss sunlight that actually penetrates through my windows. (Because yes, at noon today we had all the overhead lights turned on in order to not trip over one another.)

I do see that the seven day forecast shows just one possible day without rain, which I consider to be terrible, horrible, no good, very bad.

I think I might move to Australia.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

melt November 8, 2009 at 4:21 am

From one who moved 4000km north (within Australia) to chase the sun- you’re most welcome! However you might need to stay south – less tropical downpour, more drought…

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Jinger November 8, 2009 at 6:56 am

We are just the opposite here in Austin…while I love summer for the wonderful swimming holes we have, I don’t relish the 4 months of 100 degree heat. The rest of the year is so delightful that we endure it. Now it is 70’s day and 50’s night…no AC or heat needed and brilliant blue sunny skies.

Come on down!

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thenonconsumeradvocate November 8, 2009 at 11:30 am

The Australia reference is from, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst.

The main character has a terrible day and wishes he could move to Australia.

Katy Wolk-Stanley
The Non-Consumer Advocate

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Bad Hippie November 8, 2009 at 11:37 am

I used to be that soccer mom – not attending games in the rain. Then the coach asked me to help out, and I learned why Columbia rain gear is important. Now, I voluntarily PLAY on an adult soccer league and actually look forward to games in the rain.

There’s not a whole lot of chances (as an adult) to play in the mud and stomp through soggy grass chasing a ball. It’s pretty darn liberating. 🙂

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Angela November 8, 2009 at 12:19 pm

I wonder which is worse- no rain in the 10-day forecast, or only rain. In Los Angeles, we don’t get nearly enough rain and it’s too hot and smoggy. But I love the “rainy season” which starts now- or maybe, hopefully soon…

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Kristen@The Frugal Girl November 8, 2009 at 12:37 pm

I would get tired of the rain too! We don’t have such a rainy season where I live…it just gets kind of cold.

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Carla November 8, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Here in Northeast Texas our little town just had 17½” of rain — for October. We’re having a nice string of sunny days now and thoroughly enjoying it, but I will often remind everyone that only a few years ago we had a terrible drought. You can’t control it one way or the other so accept what you have and make the best of it, I guess.

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Non Consumer Girl November 8, 2009 at 4:17 pm

It is blue skies here in Sydney Australia today. Lovely spring weather.
I think I’ll make the most of it and go for a walk in the sunshine!

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Melissa November 8, 2009 at 4:55 pm

My son played yesterday, during that horrible storm. They finally cut the game short when the lightning started. And, no, I didn’t go (I used my four-year-old as an excuse).

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Ellen November 8, 2009 at 7:12 pm

We’ve had a beautiful week, but it was snow and COLD last week. Yesterday my husband and I made a memory raking leaves. Today he’s back in the hospital. We count our blessings.

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Caroline November 8, 2009 at 7:38 pm

Yup, we have some pretty awesome weather in Oz. We returned from SE Asia last night and the oppressive heat and sweatiness of the tropics undoes me! It’s always good to be home, but returning to the best possible weather of sunny, breezy spring days makes it super sweet!

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TracyB. November 8, 2009 at 7:51 pm

Katy…I feel your pain. I am just north of you about 20 or so miles outside of Seattle. The good news is that the closets are now getting purged and its about time.

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Karen November 8, 2009 at 8:25 pm

Last week we had 23 inches of snow in my yard (which was still green). That all came down in 1 1/2 days. It closed all the schools and it was wonderful to be inside and sip hot chocolate and snuggle with a book. Now it’s all gone. I guess we all have different weather. I wouldn’t do well where you are Katy with 6 of 7 days cloudy and rainy. Hang in there.

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allison November 8, 2009 at 8:25 pm

being a native Californian who is soon to be living in rainy OR I am dreading it. Why couldn’t the kids have moved somewhere with less rain? I only like warm rain that you can play in and I hate to be cold. I think the place I liked the best of all the places I ever worked was Singapore….sun and rain almost everyday and awesome storms that came in over the ocean….and I was never cold. But,then again, they have the dreaded, stinky durian! *lol*

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Kate November 8, 2009 at 8:28 pm

I hear you!!! It rained like crazy all day Saturday in Seattle. I went nowhere and thought – fall/winter is definitely here.

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pikarufa November 8, 2009 at 8:29 pm

As a fellow Portlander I used to avoid the rain more until I read this quote: There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. After that, I take my dog to the dog park in the rain more often than before.

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Penny in Australia November 8, 2009 at 10:41 pm

I’ve not heard that quote before (about moving to Australia). But it is a good idea!

I’m in Perth, Western Australia, where the weather is a delightful 28 degrees celsius (82 degrees fahrenheit) today. And there’s a nice breeze blowing… if only I wasn’t stuck in an office.

Gotta take the good with the bad though – you won’t be envying us in February when it gets to 40C (104 fahrenheit) and stays that way for 5 days in a row…!

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Diana November 8, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Being only an hour south of you, I can understand. I’m native to the area and actually get tired of the summer sunshine, but the wind blowing the rain sideways I can do without!

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magdalenaperks November 9, 2009 at 7:32 am

Ah, shepherds’ weather! I raised Shetland sheep in Maine and New Brunswick for more than ten years. I wore my old off-shore sailing jacket and pants – it’s called foul weather gear for a reason. Katy, time to get out the long handles and maybe a snuggier sweater. And I’ve never heard of tough people being called swarthy before. Is it because they are out in the sun? Obviously not, must be a west coast thing!

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Tonya November 9, 2009 at 7:33 am

I agree about not liking the overcast, rainy days.

Remember, things could look up for you this week. You could find a toy in the breakfast cereal box, or maybe the cat will sleep with you. (Gotta love Alexander!).

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BarbS November 9, 2009 at 7:45 am

Love the reference to Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. One of my favorite books. (Am I dating myself?)

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Beth November 9, 2009 at 10:37 am

I second the notion. Good kids’ book. Most of us need to threaten to move to Australia once in a while.

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