Adventures in Oregonianland

A Day at the Beach

2009-07-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we decided to go visit the Oregon Coast at Cannon Beach.

There were lots of orange and pink starfish as well as these little mussel guys.

Nicole investigating the tidepools.

Nicole, Me, Christine, Melissa and Ellen

More starfish!

The Pacific was really cold and as the tide got higher, it frequently snuck up on us, which left us screeching and hopping out of the water.

I could not get enough of the starfish, apparently.

In addition to our exploring, we also beached-it. We brought the famous Voodoo Doughnuts all the way from Portland and had a beach picnic of sugar goodness.

Ellen and Melissa's cousin Mike walking up from Haystack Rock.

The whole scene

Christine sunbathing in the chilly coastal temperatures.

More exploring to be done. From left: Nicole, Christine and Melissa.

And yeah, more starfish. But they were so cool!

It was sunny for almost our entire stay, but then the fog and low clouds got pretty bad and we blindly guided ourselves back. Good thing Christine is a human GPS.

When I was a Multnomah County Deputy for an Afternoon

2009-07-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, I did some reporting for a story about the Multnomah County Sheriff's Department's river patrol

Mt. Hood and Columbia River from the patrol boat

Deputy Ken writing a warning

They even let me borrow a real, official jacket.

Mr. Hacky Sack

2009-07-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

For Skip to see: Profile of Hacky Sack inventor

Fourth of July in Seattle

2009-07-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

Before we went to Seattle for the weekend,

we went to the Portland Blues Fest on Friday.

Melissa, Christine, and Nicole

Blues Festival art

Willamette River harbor

Then...on to Seattle!

Christine

More of the girls

The Science Fiction Museum

Christine cartwheeling

My epic Space Needle cookie cutter

Silly girls

Space Needle!!

Seattle from the ferry boat

Our ferry boat ride to Bainbridge Island

Christine sitting all alone in Olympic Sculpture Park

Pike's Place Market

Us crying over the end of the print edition of the Seattle P-I

Happy July Fourth in Seattle!

Nicole, Christine, Melissa at the first-ever Starbucks

Key Lime Cheesecake.

Cheesecake break!

Pike's Place Market

Flowers, Flowers

2009-06-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday in Washington Park.

Definitely Oregon.

Must Have Dogs and Children

2009-06-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Accessories necessary to be a true Portland resident: at least one dog and/or child

Children are also an important accessory in Portland. Anyone who is anyone has one or more and then must allow them to splash around in the Salmon Springs on a hot Saturday such as this.

Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle cross the street together.

Bicycle Love.

The ongoing saga.

Looked like he had crazy eyes, but they were painted on. Kind of scary.

Trip to Washington

2009-06-21T20:06:00.001-07:00

This weekend, we went to Ocean Park Washington.

And relaxed on the sand.

Bridge in Astoria

Nigel took the camera for a while (again)

Miss you guys!

Donuts

2009-06-07T18:23:00.001-07:00

A Saturday Story:

After getting up sort of early and dodging the Rose Festival Parade crowds, Ellen (left), Melissa (right) and I went to the legendary Voodoo Donuts to try it for ourselves.

Ellen was a chocolate coconut and Melissa was orange tangerine.

I, however, went with the oreo madness donut.

After waiting in line for about 20 minutes for our donuts, we went to the also legendary Stumptown Coffee and watched the people pass by.

After breakfast and some short-lived parade-watching, we navigated around uncharted territory, the Pearl District. This is Melissa planning our way.

Near cafe where we ate lunch in the Pearl.

We stopped at a paper and speciality print-making store. This guy was making customized pages by hand.

After our long day of walking, we went back to Ellen's apartment to see Muncie, her cat! Not quite my Ava, but she was fun!

We finished Saturday night with a trip to PGE Park down the street to watch the Triple A Beavers play the Reno Aces. Portland lost in extra innings. Too bad.

Thursday morning I was in Gresham, which is really close to Mt. Hood. It was really pretty.

Our distribution center near our apartment and the ballpark.

Roses, Roses

2009-05-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

Christine, Melissa and Mike (Melissa's cousin) walking across the Hawthorne Bridge.

Garden at Japanese Gardens in Washington Park

Christine and Melissa looking at the view!

Mount Hood above Portland

Japanese Garden

International Rose Test Garden, another part of Washington Park

Rose Garden

Sunset from the living room!

Geese

2009-05-26T20:10:00.001-07:00

They are everywhere. That is all.

Little Things

2009-05-24T20:35:00.001-07:00

Interesting trip to Starbucks...the Jewish guy behind the black computer was reciting some sort of a speech about the modern-day persecution of Jews out loud. I know because I'm pretty sure in the hour I was there, he went through the whole thing for the rest of us.

Near the Portland Symphony performance theatre

This happens everywhere...seriously...I don't really know what it means, but I want to do it, too!!

Usually what my afternoons consist of...the largest black iced tea (non-sweetened) possible, a book and an outside patio.

Photo of Baby Nigel and Dad, I want a Geo Tracker

2009-05-21T22:02:00.003-07:00

I would like to believe this is self-explanatory.

This is here by demand of Mom

Guys Who Put Gas In My Car For Me

2009-05-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

On the way to return my rental car, I filled it up with gas. Only, I didn't fill it up, some guy in a neon orange vest did, which was awesome!! I think Iowa should do this with all of the cold winter weather and everything.
I mean, it gave me enough time to buy some jalapeno chips AND make it to the rental car lot on time.

First-Ever

2009-05-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

I just said today that I would not include links in this blog because they are overdone. I take that back.

Le First Oregonian Byline

First Impressions

2009-05-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

Photographs from my first weekend in Portland, Oregon.

Living room view

Downtown Portland

Nigel the geologist

Multnomah Falls

The "Why Are You Doing This To Me" Face

Waterfront Park in downtown Portland

Mt. Hood