baby girl
Originally uploaded by Rosie O'Donnell.

Springtimely tips are popping up all over! Our Lady of the Squirrels covers the duckling beat, while reader Andrea B. shows us the way to a nicely drawn bunny. And as for myself? Well, I know where you can get some cobbler smocks, cheap.

Yeek! It is evidentally time for another installment of the Best PDX News Photo of the Moment!

So, in response to reader Teresa S.'s commentary, yes indeed our new house is very cute! And, unfortunately, I don't actually own any Jandek myself, but Our Lady of the Squirrels might somewhere, so we'll keep you posted if something turns up as the unpacking continues. That whole film festival I mentioned last week turned out to be super awesome by the way, as expected. The Beaver Trilogy is definitely something to be seen if you ever get the chance, especially the first part, and the Jeff Krulik and Chuck Statler programs were also quite excellent. AND, not entirely surprisingly given that he's from D.C., Jeff Krulik (the man behind Heavy Metal Parking Lot, Ernest Borgnine on the Bus, and many other films - most if not all of which can be viewed on his website) knew Frances, a fact she herself was unaware of until she went up to ask him a question after his films had been shown on Saturday night. He was there the following night introducing Chuck Statler too and we talked to him a little bit again - he's a really nice guy, offered congratulations on our upcoming nuptials, got O.L.o.t.S.'s email from her... so that was cool! Plus the Chuck Statler program included the video for "He Can't Love You" by the Michael Stanley Band, which I had completely forgotten about since it was on the radio circa 1980 but totally remember now, as you will too if you were listening to the radio then and can find a soundclip or mp3 somewhere (I just got it off Limewire myself). In short - recommended! And now I must return to some working - Happy National Plumber's Day!

Hey, there's wildlife out my window now! So perhaps you've been wondering, other than looking at squirrels and unpacking and etc., what are we up to these days? Well, let me quickly fill you in on this week's activites: last night we went to see Jandek, tonight we're going to see the Beaver Trilogy, and the weekend's plan can be found down at the bottom of the list here (Jeff Krulik and Chuck Statler)! Lack of cultural activites my ass, including Art Brut last month and Ladytron next week I've probably already done about as much in Portland as I did in 6 years of living in NYC. Granted, actually leaving the house might've kept me a little more active back east, but still.

West had tended two previous nail-gun injuries, as well as a Seattle woman who hammered a nail into her forehead. "She said she had had sex with the devil," West said, "and wanted to get the devil out." And as nail guns grow more common, nail wounds are increasing, West said.

But he had never seen so many objects in one brain.

I've been crazy busy here this week, as Our Lady of the Squirrels and I just moved into our new house on Saturday and there have been many related interruptions during my workdays since then, plus I have a big old project I'm buried in for the 'actual' work. But reader Steve L. has sent along a tip that I should share with you before it goes stale:

“She heard a chirping noise and saw this flash,” Joubert said. “I guess he was thinking he could make a home out of it.”

PLUS, a brand new installment of Overheard In Portland!

Man on downtown bus, overheard by reader Frances: "Hey! That's the same cop that did my investigation when I got shot!" (and then Mr. Gang Member got off the bus at the next available stop so he could "see what was up".)

and, overheard by me while I was down in our new garage two days ago:

"BAWK-bawk-bawk-bawk-BAWK-bawk-bawk"

AND, finally, for an illustrative glimpse into our local headlines, I am unveiling a new feature called Best PDX News Photo of the Moment!

"She's right there," said Pastore. "I'd like to be able to reach in and grab a piece of fur. That's what's so frustrating."

Alright, STOP - Hammerblog.

Overheard In Portland Twofer Tuesday!

Teenager on the MAX train, Blue line: "Dad, do you like public transportation as much as I do?"

Lady walking with friend near the Seven Corners New Seasons: "Well and then there's the onion incident - hold on, let's wait until we have a little more privacy..."

It is true, I totally overheard both of those things. AND, as a bonus, I just read this:
Joey Fatale, the 4-foot, 4-inch New Yorker who heads the all-dwarf KISS tribute band MiniKiss, is denying published reports that he tried to sneak past security last month at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to confront a rival band leader, 4-foot "Little" Tim Loomis of Tiny Kiss, for allegedly ripping off his idea for such a group.

Overheard in Portland by Our Lady of the Squirrels on a #10 bus this morning...

Guy on cell phone: "Poland? And you need those kind of rifles, huh? I'd settle for a .22 right now." And then a few moments later, "Sure , yeah, I'll take two of those. That'd be great."

I still haven't overheard anything further here on the streets of Portland, but there is word of a crafty sea lion, sent in by reader Andrea B., to share with you. Also, I don't think I've mentioned this, but around the time of my westward movement I received a free Mr. Toast doll from his creator (and my Flickr contact) Dan Goodsell, in order to photograph him, and one of my pictures was recently posted on Dan's blog here. AND while trying to find some news on pygmy rabbits - a group is petitioning to have them added to the endangered species list - I found this small bit of hedgehog news, and I like the picture of the hedgehog, so I will throw that in as an extra bonus for you. If you have nto the time to read the article, here is the most fun of the facts presented: When rolled up from fright or cold Ms. Tiggywinkle is about the size of a grapefruit and oven mitts are needed to handle her.

I keep forgetting about this and then re-membering when I'm away from the computer: I've got an exciting new feature to roll out called Overheard In Portland! It's a lot like Overheard in New York, but a little different. I've only got one so far, but as soon as I or Frances overhear anything else, you'll be the first to know. In our inaugural installment, a man is walking down his front path toward a car, and a woman holding a toddler in her arms comes out onto the porch behind him.

Woman: Daddy's got to find a book about bats.

There you go; savor it while watching this red hot tipped item, sent in by reader Andrew H.