A swing to call her own

With the public sector in clear disarray, it was only a matter of time before it was necessary for private enterprise to step in and make amends. In this case the public a swings are clearly dangerous: as evidenced by the large "Warning" signs giving Sylvia pause below.

So Aurelia cruised Craiglist and found a private swing offered and a fine price.

All is well.

Until Poppa stops pushing.

Ok. He's back on track.

It should be noted that any reference to the danger of public swings is entirely fictional and can be attributed to the dinnertable's over active imagination. Sylvia continues to frequent and enjoy the many public swings on offer throughout the city of Portland. (Written in case the dinnertable is ever asked to be supreme court justice and old writings are trotted out to establish our dangerous leanings towards private sector swing distribution. The dinnertable is not a swingist and never has been. Some of our best friends are swings).

What a curmudgeon wouldn't know

Beverly Cleary, for those bitter curmudgeons who read the Wall St. Journal in their youth, is an author of childrens' books who set her stories on the Portland street she grew up on. Despite having left Clickitat St. for California (you know the big on is coming) Ms. Cleary described the fictional adventures of Ramona, Henry, their friends, family and pets. The nearest library has an entire section dedicated to her work and the nearest park, Grant, has statues of Ramona, Henry and Ribsy the dog that spray water in summer. At other times of the year, the statues await the arrival of short people to play with.