Look Behind You!

Usually I am so focused on getting to work in the morning to really take in the view but on Tuesday, some pink brush strokes in the sky caught my eye and when I turned around, I was amazed to see this:

The view from the Burside Bridge:

And while you are remembering to turn around once in a while, don't forget to look where you are going so you don't miss the contrasting dark sky and remarkably red of the trees...

Reading is Fundamental

What is it about this time of year that makes me want to hole away in my bed and read and cook and drink tea and wear warm socks and a tacky winter sweater with skiiers on it? Could a hundred Christmas songs be wrong?  Seriously, David Sedaris even has a homge to Christmas; Holidays On Ice. I thought it would be a fitting way to get the season started.

I have this stack of books (next to a stack of magazines) by my bed and depending on my mood, I pick one. Really, the magazines are there for me to thin out. One impulse buy at the register has a tendency to follow me for months until I can convince myself that the article on glitter pumpkins is of no more use to me. This often takes more time than you would think. You can glitter anything, you know. Think of how cute some pink and red glitter pinecones would be for valentines day! Just sayin...

In any case, I had purchased a couple of books that I had been meaning to read, then Katie sent me Eat My Words, which she had read for Grad school and that sounded interesting, and THEN after a particularly  lucky day at the library where everything that I had been meaning to check out for the past six months was actually in, my pile became unmanagable. It's a good thing I own World War Z and Fragile Things (my leftover Halloween choices), because I only have three more weeks with the Idiot Girl, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and Where's My Jetpack?...a short, torrid affair to be sure but for someone with the obvious attention issues I do, learning about sauces one night and then the reason that jetpacks are a terrible idea the next (three words: inebreated human torpedo--Isn't that the greatest thing you've ever heard?!) is perfect for me.

P.S. Keep those recommendations coming!

Notes to self:

-New favorite word: Wordsalad. I heard it from a clinical psychologist to describe the ramblings of his more challenged clients. Pretty sure it's an accurate description of the things I say before coffee, too.

-Dinner at the Savoy with your momma might not solve all of your problems, but it can make things look a whole lot better.

-My first experience with sardines at the Farm Cafe was not scary at all. Unlike their handmade gnocchi which was scary good; What is the secret to gnocchi?!?

-While loosing weight is awesome, midriff exposure is not. Not at the office, not if you loose 30 pounds, not if you look like Tammy Wynette and especially not at age 60, not at any age...Midriff exposure is just not cool. It's a serious problem. Seriously.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson is a writer, damn it! The things one overhears in a Community College locker room can be so disturbing: Pasta feed/ shaving party anyone?

-I finished "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" and it made me realize that with just a little more thought in my grocery shopping and gardening, it could make a big difference. I also learned that Barbara Kingsolver is the 74th most dangerous person to America and that there are things about the sexuality of turkeys that I have no business knowing.

-The sirens in my neighborhood are normal. Less normal is a chorus of sirens at 9 oclock at night, or at any time. Finding out on the morning news that it was the crew of Cops involved in an accident just down the street...Represent Portland, ya'll!

-Cardinal Rule of going by yourself to places (like housewarming parties) where you don't really know anyone: Man the booze. You will not be lonely for long.

-I should go to more rock shows. I have yet to out grow them. As a rule, they should also be held on weekends, what is all of this Monday night business?

-You are proficient in the ways of etiquette and still you manage to offend someone you don't even know by asking "for realsies?" *slaps hand against forehead.* But for realsies. Scotch comes from Scotland. It's not a quantum leap. Otherwise, I like you.

Mount Angel Oktoberfest

Even before the first day of fall there is another tradition that marks the beginning of my favorite season; Oktoberfest.

Despite the approaching cold weather, Oktoberfest (to be celebrated each year at Mt Angel in September until your dear reporter can afford the real thing) is usually hot. This year however, dark rain clouds threatened to chase people indoors, which was perfect fall weather (unlike that stupid hot sun) and which is not necessarily a bad thing when the whole town is decorated in the Bavarian theme and indoors could be the Biergarten (with an "i") where a stein and traditional German music await (the music is best appreciated over a stein anyway. How we love to celebrate other cultures...)

It stopped raining long enough for us to walk around the craft area, to watch in hypnotic wonder at the Sound of Music techno remix group dance number, get snacks (and the accompanying tummy ache) and to watch the Weiner Dog Races (is that even German?) before the clouds rolled in and dumped on the crowd as they gathered to watch the Glockenshpiel (we just LOVE zee German language!) tell the story of Mt Angel.

So now that it's all over and you must look forward to it all year, here are some things to keep in mind for next year:

-Apparently, they were not selling the robin hood hats that I love so dearly this year. Best to bring your own from last year to be safe.

-If you want the Bavarian Bar (you do,) ask for the Bavarian Bar. Do not ask for "that ice cream thing with the chocolate and stuff," as this means "Ring that bell, young lady! Rodger! Get this young lady the works! Yayyyyy!" in German. You do not want the works. But, as the $5 benefits the firefighters, you just ring that damned bell as hard as you can and go "YYyyaaaay!" And get yourself some Pepto.

-The likelihood that you need a giant button pin of yourself in your beloved robin hood hat smiling like you don't have the tummy ache from hell is minimal. Get one anyway.

Ten pairs of shoes on a wire

Or is that ten and a half?

Portland Sunrise

Paid Time Off: Boston/ Maine

Where are my manners? I didn't even leave an "Out of Office" reply for you...

First there was Boston; confusing directions and even more confusing intersections, beautiful to look at, fan-effing-tastic food---and the people; I love them. They get me and I love them. That, and they are so close to Rhode Island that they even eat the Willow Tree Chicken Salad and drink the Narragansett Beer. Salt of the earth, I tell you!

I spent some quality time with the bestie before leaving her in Simmon's capable hands, caught up with some oldies but goodies and made new friends of cashiers and bartenders alike. It was really very exaughsting...

Then, there was Maine and the Penobscot rafting trip:




7 hours in an old Jeep Wrangler and we only knew the tall german girl on the far right in the stylish helmet, but everyone else made us feel right at home (some of us more than others-winky, winky) but who wouldn't feel right at home with a little sangria, 50 lbs of sausage (not just a dirty joke) and no privacy?