I love Portland

I decided to venture out into downtown Portland today. I love this city, especially on days like today. The sun was out (most of the time) and I felt to going somewhere. I decided to head down to Portland Saturday Market, yes on a Sunday. I took the Max Train across the river and enjoyed the views of the bridges spanning the Willamette.

I felt that I HAD to take the picture below. This sign has become somewhat controversial as of late. You see, the building it is on was purchased by a group that wants the sign to come down. The community revolted, as this is a Portland landmark. It may not be around forever, hence the need to take the picture.

Okay, now for my quirkiness...Portland hosts the "Smallest Park in the World," yes, right downtown. I have passed it may times and always wanted a picture. Today, I got it! Meet the Mill Ends Park, located in Portland on Naito Parkway at Taylor. Click HERE to read more about this adorable, and little known claim to fame that this small parcel has. Also, the picture below REALLY is the park, all of it, taken in the middle of the street. Love this stuff!

“Life isn't a tiptoe through the tulips.” ~Shannon Hoon

Life may not be a tiptoe through tulips, but today sure was.

One of my favorite parts of my job is the outings. I don't necessarily like planning/coordinating them. It can be a challenge. But I most definitely LOVE some of our destinations. Today, we headed down to Woodburn, OR to see the tulips at the Tulip Fest. Can I say, it was truly a beautiful sight to behold. See some quick photos below:

They have the awesome wooden shoes and every year that I take a group of our participants I make them all have their pictures taken in the shoes. This year I also made sure to get a picture of me in the shoes!

~HAPPY SPRING~

What I want in a man...

I received this as a forward in my email. Made me chuckle...
What I Want in a Man, Original List (age 22):
1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises
10. An imaginative, romantic lover.

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32):
1. Nice looking (prefer hair on his head)
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week.

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42):
1. Not too ugly (bald head OK)
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady -- splurges on dinner outoccasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange thefurniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends.

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52):
1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off couch onweekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers my name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends.

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62):
1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend.

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72):
1. Breathing
2. Doesn't miss the toilet

Didn't make the cut

In talking to people about my trip I discovered that there were a lot of pictures I had taken that didn't necessarily "make the cut" into previous blog posts. I decided I'd compile them because they are interesting, to me anyways.

I loved all the blooming flowers while I was there.

On the Tidal Basin...

One Halloween Josh wanted to dress Butters up like a lion. I had found this lion hat for him...such a little model!

Soldier at the Tomb of the Unknowns

All the people on The Mall.

Butters loves to drink out of the toilet. Hilarious picture!

Below: Princess Martha of Norway at the Embassy of Norway.

Library of Congress

Supreme Court Building

The Metro: my mode of transportation for the week. I got to be a pro, I'd say. (Not like it is too difficult!)

Kites flying on The Mall.

Stars at the WWII Memorial

There were squirrels everywhere...especially in the trash cans.

Love this picture from the Vietnam Memorial

From the back of the Lincoln Memorial you can see the US Air Force Memorial that is near the Pentagon.

It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on...someone to tell on! ~Author Unknown

In light of my recent trip to see my brother and the time we had together, I have been feeling sort of sentimental and nostalgic...

My brother

You make me laugh. You worry me. You make me proud.

You hate talking on the phone. I always know when something is wrong because we talk forever. Or at least more than the typical 10 minute conversations.

I remember you throwing a micro-machine at my head. You barely missed my eye. Making mudballs and playing mudball in the backyard until mom told us we had to move away from the house so we retreated to the alley. "Camping" in the backyard.

I remember late night conversations in the dark (lots of them). The fun of your 21st birthday...I'm still surprised you wanted you big sister to visit for that. Dueling pianos are a blast.

I'll never forget the adventures we've gone on. Climbing the mountain of snow in the park on the way to school. Sledding down the hill behind the house...you saved me that one time. Remember? I had punctured a hole in my leg. Pretty sure I still have that scar. You loaded me up on the sled and took me home. The wrestling we did on the living room floor with mom yelling at us to stop or go outside. You would encourage Max to eat my hair. I would hold you down so that he could eat (or at least lick) your face.

I'll never forget when I was home sick with chickenpocks and you had the duty of hauling all my school books home for my make-up homework. I think I yelled at you in my delerium one of those afternoons...only because I was feverish and thought it was MUCH later than it really was-forgive me?!

We had all kinds of pets...dogs, cats (in the garage--we weren't supposed to take them inside--mom would kill us if she knew--hi mom! good thing we are both a long distance away), anole lizards, hamsters, turtles...we had funerals for those pets who departed also. If anyone were to dig on the south side of the house who knows how many little bones they'd find, if they haven't disintegrated by now.

The paint is still on the tree down the street from the house from that summer when we would play with Mandy and Bubba and we were pretty sure that by putting paint on the tree trunk we could change the color of the leaves- I would have bet money on it if I had had any at the time. Do you remember the fort that wasn't really a fort, but just actually really tall grass that we patted down and were surrounded by more really tall grass. And grandpas hammock?!

There was the occassion when mom was gone and we had a party...mom don't read this part. Actually, you can read it. Grandma was also out of town and a week later Grandpa asked us both if we had heard "all that racket the other night?" Our "party" consisted primarily of friends hanging out...it was the most mild "party" you could imagine. It was still daylight out. It was drama kids from high school. It was lame, actually.

You tried to teach me to throw a baseball and a football, and well, you learned it just wasn't going to happen after that. We used to walk down to the convenience store...I don't know what we'd get. I'd sit and work on homework while you were at baseball practice. I consumed massive amounts of sunflower seeds when we'd be at your games though all kinds of weather.

We spent hours jumping on the trampouline at Aunt Diana's and Uncle Marty's. Digging tunnels through the snow. We also spend hours crawdad fishing in the pond by Dads shop. Then we watched Pete eat them....gross. Awful really. We'd climb rocks at the waterfalls and Horse Tooth Resevoir. We went on all kinds of adventures in the park and we'd play basketball on the school playground. We'd spend hours shoveling the driveway out, only later to slide down it and hope we didn't slide into the street and all the oncoming traffic.

You have graciously accepted visits from me as you've lived in different parts of the country. We always have lots to talk about in person, for hours actually. I always wonder if we will be like Mom and Uncle Ron and still talk on the phone weekly and meet up every-so-often somewhere around the country for some common interest event? I hope so. Like I said before, you make me laugh and you make me proud, and sometimes you even make me worry, but it is a good sisterly, I love you worry. Thanks for being my link to childhood and who I was then. It is true what they say about family, they are your links to who you were and stay with you as you become who you are destined to become.

Tying up loose ends...

I can't believe that it is my last day in DC. I have truly, whole heartedly loved this vacation. I had a list of so many things to see and do while I was here, and although I didn't get to see them all or do them all, I knew that was a risk I was taking with such a wealth of things to experience. The weather has been absolutely amazing. In the 70's and 80's. I couldn't have asked for better. I've gotten sunburned, even with the aide of sunscreen. This was the first time I have vacationed, essentially alone, and overall didn't mind it. In some ways I sort of prefered it as I could take my time and not worry about if I was boring my travel partner. I was odd taking pictures by myself, but that wasn't a big deal. It was nice having Josh meet me in DC after work or to meet him in Silver Spring and have someone to be around in the evenings. Josh and I were talking and decided to vacation completely alone would indeed be lonely, but I wasn't alone in the evenings. I am thankful for the good times I have spent with my brother and for being able to see things I'd always dreamed of seeing. I have already started my list of things to see next time I come that I missed this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I went by the White House Visitor Center, which was fascinating and stored a wealth of knowledge. I also saw President Obama's motorcade once more, fitting to see it the first and last day of my trip. He was on his way to the Nationals opening day baseball game.

I did go by Ford's Theatre. I wasn't able to go on any tours as they were sold out. On the list for next time.

Across the street from the theatre...
...also on the list for next time...
...the Peterson House, where Abe Lincoln died in the morning hours after being shot.

After going by the theatre and house, it was fitting that I go to the only Smithsonian Museum that I would set foot in during this trip (besides the Castle-turned visitor center), the National Museum of American History, to see Lincoln's Top Hat.

I also saw the original sculpture memorial to George Washington.

My last stop during my very short, 30-45 minute trip to this museum, was that of the kitchen of Julia Child. It has become a very popular exhibit after the recent movie release of Julie and Julia.

After seeing the few things I had the stamina to see I was done. I told DC, "peace out, I am going home." I never have gotten to the point where I was ready to be home in Portland, but I am most definitely done with all the people that I have been around for the past six days. Like I said earlier, "I saw a lot. I have a lot more to see." Shortly, to celebrate my last night here, Josh and I are headed to a restraunt to watch the championship college basketball game and enjoy some nachos and the last night of each others company in some non-tourist normalcy that this trip has been peppered with, for which I am grateful. It has been a grand time, but as I must, I will return to real life in anticipation of my next great vacation, whether it be back here to this wonderful, historic and thought provoking place, or another place just as grand.

Thanks for following my adventures. Hope you are having some of your own!

"I have sworn upon the altar of God...

...eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was our 3rd President. Before that he drafted the Declaration of Independence and was known as the "silent member" of Congress. The Memorial dedicated to his memory and influence in this country is directly south of the White House on the Tidal Basin. Josh and I didn't make it far enough around the Tidal Basin on Saturday to see it, so I decided to go back today to see it.

It is amazing that most of the beautiful cherry blossoms had fluttered away because of the heat by the time I made it back over to the basin. Below you can see that the trees are almost all decked out in their greenery, rather than the soft pink of their blossoms.

It amazed me how low the planes came in to land at Reagan Airport. In the picture below you can see a plane coming in to land.

There are beautiful inscriptions on the interior walls of the memorial that are from Jefferson's writings. They are powerful words.

I got really good at taking pictures of myself with things in the background...