Mini-break to Portland -- the gateway drug

A couple of days away was less rejuvenating and more of an appetite-whetting.  I think I need a vacation.  A real one.
Photos are random and more or less just stuff that looked interesting at the time.  Some, like this one, I can't explain except that there was some draw.

Wet rainy street looked like a movie set.  Why is it so pretty?  Is it always like that?  Are they dressed up early for holiday shopping?

Store window display.

More rainy pretty street.  I think Emily was 'singing in the rain' or something.

I got the impression that my calling this place 'the bra bar' didn't go over well for someone who actually speaks French.

A lot happens at Jake's grill.  After-dinner drinks, dessert, post-opera drunkenness (not mine), group dates (also not mine), announcements that we should all applaud for a celebrated, decorated Marine in our midst, dead animals on the walls, and naked persons running through the streets in front of the window (not me).

Looks better than it tasted.

Tastes better than it looks.

Time to walk home -- pouring down rain.  This photo was an attempt to capture the 3 police cars that showed up to restrain the aforementioned naked man who was running through the streets.  He must have been cold.  I surmised that maybe he's just a visitor to Portland as several times I figured it didn't matter what I said or did as I would not see these people again, most likely.  Though my rationale only had me taking pictures of strangers and laughing out loud when the mood struck.  I kept my clothes on throughout.

View from breakfast.

Look how sunny it is.  Walking to Powells', I found these elephants posing for a photo.

Not the best view, is it?

We sat in the Powell's coffee shop and watched the storm come in.  Dumped down rain for a while.  I spent my time eavesdropping on college entrance interviews going on at the next table.  I think my engaging in other people's lives gives Emily the willies.

Oh, Mary!

Lovely sunflower's dying day.

If you have the chance to stop by a cellar bar, I highly recommend it.  This one in particular, but perhaps any would do.  Down down down the steep stairs into a warm little cave with the friendliest bartender and the funkiest vibe.

Our bartending host.  He made me a drink with apple cider named after fall that was quite good (a little sweet) that he was going to enter into a contest the next day.  I can't remember the contest, his name, or the name of the drink.  Matt?  Ben?  Zeek?  I don't know.  I remember his stories though -- wants to home-brew hard liquors, has a small son, a wife who does lots of different things including the artwork for a local (celebrated) donut shop (Voodoo Donuts). 

I saw these signs all over.  Someone wrote a law.  Someone had to write a law based on a perceived problem?

We sat at the bar and chatted with good ol' whatshisface, but here's a view of the rest of the seating area.

New buds.  He was on board with my 'I'll never see this people again, so what the hell' attitude and probably did not mind being the subject of my photo-intrusion.

Bike scuplture.

Mmmm.  Yummy sushi dinner at a little teeny place with very little opportunities for eavesdropping.

But I managed.  Two women on this side of the table, two men on that.  The woman on the left seemed to be with the man on the left.  The man on the right was doing a pretty good job of talking himself up to impress the woman on the right.  There are more details.  All imagined.  But you're probably not as interested.

There was also quite a mural to behold.

A quick stop at a cajun place for decaf coffee and sweet potato ice cream while Emily warmed up her pipes for karaoke night.

The singing was great (Emily's), but I think Emily was disappointed in the overall outing.  There were a couple of really good singers, a bunch of drunk people, and a "KJ in training" who stood behind all the singers and stared at the women from behind.  I was ready to leave about an hour before we got there.  It wasn't my night though -- so I stayed as long as I could until I started whining. 

Met up with some of Emily's friends from Utah who now live in Portland and have an adorably stubborn, independent, and thoughtful little girl. 

 Who wanted to check out just about everything. 

 

But does not smile on cue.

 I was quite taken with Portland this time around.  Ready to go back for some more exploring!

How I spent my Veterans Day Weekend

Over the long weekend last week, I went to LA to visit my grandparents, et al.  It was a nice weekend and I got lots of computer help, some good chats, a long giggle (when Gram kept saying "bitch"), and lousy nights' sleep, as usual.
I found out when I got there that my Gramps had somehow broken through the "indestructible" glass of the shower.  A shower that was built specifically for him for ease of use.  Two contractors came to look at it and both said, "This stuff just doesn't break.  It's not supposed to break."  Hm.
The glass was still there when I got there, and armed with my gram's gardening gloves, I went to work. 

Before:

And after:

Then I spent a few hours at the party supply shop weighing bags of chocolate for candy-making.  It was just like I was 8 years old again.

I wonder what the next visit will bring . . .

Cross posting

I think it's good everyday and maybe you'll start checking daily, but reason number 5 struck a chord for me. Anyway . . . Here it is http://40gtofighthiv.blogspot.com/

up next: vacation pics and a return to fundraising.

A fall hike, good views, not much else to say.

Last month I joined the Mountain Tribe Hike that is typically a fund-raiser for an organization.  Last month it was Just Like My Child. 

It's about 2 hours or so to get from West Sac to Kirkwood, so Emily and I (and Ripley - hurray for National Parks that allow dogs) started off with the sun.

Ripley helping to clean out the empty yogurt container.

I'm sure I won't remember the names for everything, but I'll try a few.  The view was gorgeous and even though it turned out to be incredibly windy, it was a great day.

Ripley looking pretty dang happy to be out -- check out that doggy-smile.

This tree looks like it had a twisty childhood.  Seems to be compensating and thriving.  Maybe it had a good therapist.

Lake #1 was Frog Lake.  My second favorite of the day.  Bob (our leader) commented it was more of a pond.  I think that depends on where you grew up.

Surveying the area.  She did get in a little, but the temps are not terribly inviting.

A view of the lakes-previously-known-as Twin Lakes (until they dammed it -- now it's called something else, which I cannot remember).  Great view from the trail -- but it hasn't been getting quite cold enough here, so the Aspens just weren't popping out.

Emily and Ripley at Winnemucca.

This was my favorite of the day.  It was a little sheltered from the wind and seems to breathe serenity.  We talked about returning next year for a weekend of camping.

Having lunch at Winnemucca.

First view of Round Lake.  Round Lake was not my favorite -- it was steep getting there (and coming back), the wind was ridiculous, and even though it was pretty, it was no Winnemucca. 

We got there, sat and reflected a bit,

and a bit more . . .

And then hiked back down toward Winnemucca.  I hear the hike to the summit of Round Top is a great one to take on.  I think the elevation is around 10,500, but I can't quite remember (consider that when I woke up in the morning, I was at around 25 feet elevation). 

And so the clean-air adventure came to an end.  We hiked down, and every few minutes I asked Emily how far she thought we were from the car.  Then I'd ask again.  Sometimes I switched it up and asked her how far she thought we'd gone.  It was only a 6-7 mile round trip, but I was ready to be done.

Little did I know . . . 

There was a fire blazing near Kirkwood that day.  They called it a 'controlled burn' but it did not look very controlled.  And at one point, they stopped traffic and we sat there for over 20 minutes, in the smoke, waiting to go again.  With a lovely view of the back of this Tacoma.

I asked Emily to take a photo out her side of the car because there were live flames and I'd never seen a raging forest fire up close.  She took the picture, handed it back to me, and then 20 minutes later, when we got to go again, we passed the area I'd asked her to photograph and she commented that she didn't know the flames were right next to the street.  So -- I guess I got a picture of more smoke and trees, but not the actual flames.

Ugh.

This boat owner planned ahead.

A long day for a little dog.

A yummy reward after a long day!  More stuffed acorn squash.  I love the fall vegetables.  Last week I made thai curried butternut squash soup.  Mmmmm.