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Hello friends. The Decemberists are playing a benefit show here in Portland, Oregon for our son Hank’s school, Victory Academy. WE LOVE THIS PLACE. It’s changed our lives, immeasurably, for the better. Sadly, they’re currently at capacity in the small space they rent from a church and need to expand in order to accept new students and grow. So they’re building a new school �� a terrific LEED certitfied school with lots of light and space �� and are in the midst of a big capital campaign to raise money for it. This benefit show is one of many parent-organized fundraising efforts. I’m also putting together a JAW-DROPPINGLY FABULOUS kids book illustration auction for Victory that will open in April. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, find our more about this benefit show, including where to buy tickets, .

And learn about Victory and its capital campaign . You can always donate money directly to the school, which has non-profit status, on their website. Thanks!

1. We conjure Milo into being.

2. Hank is disturbed to find us practicing black magic.

3. ��HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! JOIN US!��

4. ��Never.��

from on .

therapist: What do you do for “self care��?

me: What do you mean?

therapist: You know, what do you do for yourself to reduce stress? What do you do for you?

me: I work.

therapist: I think you misunderstand me. What do you do just for yourself? To take care of yourself?

me: I think you misunderstand me. I work.

Milo Cannonball Meloy!

I designed a mural celebrating St. Johns, my beloved de facto Portland neighborhood!

click to enlarge

It’s being installed on the side of the Grocery Outlet on Lombard and will be unveiled at the St. Johns Parade in May. This mural is one of a handful of public art projects I’m involved in on that block. The neighborhood association is raising funds and seeking volunteers to help with the others so stay tuned for more info you’d like to take part. Or, if you’re antsy to give/help now, email Jennifer Levy. She’d love to hear from you.

A million thanks to St. Johns citizen and public art enthusiast Robert Petty, who did so much work to make this happen.  He roped me into it out of the blue and I’m so glad he did. And thanks to Whit Anderson, who came up from California to paint this on panels in the empty space next to the St. Johns Ace Hardware. He’ll be slaving away on it until Tuesday so peek in and give him a thumbs up if you’re in the neighborhood.

Also, thanks RACC, Jennifer Levy and the St. Johns Neighborhood Association, ZGF Architects who gave Robert the week off to work on this, Ace Hardware, & the Grocery Outlet!

Eidolon is a debut poetry collection from my old, brilliant college friend, Ken White.  Friends, this book is beautiful.  I can’t wait for its poems to see the light of day.  Look for it from Peel Press in Missoula, our old stomping grounds, sometime this year.  They plan to print both a big edition and a small, letterpressed one.  I’ll try to get my hands on some copies, hopefully of the latter, to sell in my shop.  Stay tuned!