Last week I pondered the date when summer truly ends in Oregon. I think it would have to land in mid-October, around the time the region sees its last day of temperatures over 70 before the winter rains.

It may have come early this year. On Wednesday, the high temperature in Portland had to be in the low 80s. On Thursday, it rained all day and the temp barely cracked 60. In the space of 24 hours I went from using a table fan to smelling that weird odor my furnace cranks out every autumn after being ignored for four months.

Still, I'm not convinced summer '06 isn't down for the count. It's only resting for a bit. We'll see another 80 degree day by Halloween, I know it. That pina colada mix I bought last week will not go unused.