Glad to see your back. Been kind of wondering if you had thrown your computer off the back porch and forgot to go look for it. I'm sorry your evergreen state experience was bad, but that is the price for big city. It's been a few years since we've lived there. We like to visit, but we don't do that more than once or twice a year.
Getting back to your story, the pebbles seem to be taking priority over the balls. But I can't make those choices for her. I would so much like to take W and get away for awhile, perhaps get out of the rut we live in for a day or two. I'm glad you were able to enjoy Portland.
Give us some insight into what we can help you with.