IN WHICH WE DO OUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ON CHRISTMAS EVE (RIGHT ON SCHEDULE).

December 24th. In which we look at the calendar, check our watches*, and realise there is nowhere we would rather be last-minute scramble shopping than @powellsbooks . Together, with hundreds of strangers and a billion books. Aaah. Jolly Christmas, universe! ____ #powellsbooks #44books #longholiday2014 #long2014 #longx4 #pdx *we do not, but it had more pizazz than saying "we checked the time on our phones."

A photo posted by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Dec 24, 2014 at 11:01pm PST

It's Christmas Eve, which means...

...it's time to start wrapping presents.

Feliz, all!

FAMOUS BLUE WINTERCOAT.

My son and Leonard Cohen

Normally, I don't like to trick children.*
But when I saw this poster of our son's nemesis,
I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

"Hey buddy,"
I said casually, hoping he wouldn't get a glimpse of what was behind him before I had time to snap.
"Go ahead and stand right..there - okay, move over a couple inches, alright? And..snap. Got it. Look what's behind you!"

He turned around.
"Is that...Leonard Cohen?"
he asked, recognition slowly dawning.

"Yep."
I said proudly.
"And now you have a picture with him! Ha!"

"Well,"
he said, smiling furiously
"I still don't really like Leonard Cohen at all."

"Well,"
I said.
"This picture says otherwise."

And we walked off down the sidewalk together; one of us so proud of himself.
____

A piece of heaven. ____ #jxil04 #portlandnw #powellsbooks #pdx #44books

A photo posted by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Dec 27, 2014 at 2:23pm PST