Oaks Puke

Delaney and I were so excited when she got free tickets to Oaks Amusement Park this week. I had just enjoyed the movie Adventureland and was feeling nostalgic about the huge rides I used to go on with my Dad when I was a kid. He used to give me tips to make myself taller when approaching the dreaded measuring stick that determines if you are big enough to get on the ride.

When we got there, the familiar Carney sounds and smells washed over me and I felt like a enthusiastic kid again. The first ride we went was the Tilt'a'Whril, which was super fun but I still can't figure out if throwing your body weight around actually effects the speed of the turns. I am convinced that the spins are pre-determined.

Next, we went on the biggest ride we could find (the screaming eagle) and waiting anxiously, just to be cut off by the gate until the next ride. Waiting gave us the opportunity to observe all of the glorious heights and turn we were now committed to. It was finally our turn and halfway through the ride I commented to Dee, "This isn't so bad, it's actually pretty relaxing". Famous last words before the pimply teenage kid kicked it up a notch sending us flying through the air at god speed.

We both got off the screaming eagle so sick and dizzy that we had to sit down for quite a few minutes before retiring to the Ferris wheel and bumber cars. We went home with our heads
down low, shamed and disappointed that once again, age was catching up to us.

Soap Box Derby

Every year Portland hosts an "Adult Soap Box Derby". Get your mind out of the gutter; there is nothing kinky about this event, just a bunch of grown ups designing and building engine free vehicles to fly down Mt. Tabor in. Brandon and I have gone since we first moved to Portland. Some of our favorites from the past include; a clawfoot tub with people bathing on wheels, an office cubicle complete with a computer, house plant and water fountain, and a mini Wineebago with six passengers.

This year won't be as memorable, I liked the leg-go car the best. Perhaps what I will remember the best is the crowd, as the years pass it gets increasingly more crowded. That probably won't stop me from going!

Summer Part 2

Brandon and I went on a huge thrift store challenge Saturday all over the Northwest corner of Oregon (and into Washington). It was one of those good days where we found something cool everywhere we went. For instance, I found this 1960's craft kit illustrated below. Kind of like a paint by number, but really a multi-media by number using stones, crushed glass, glitter, cording and tiny tiles. I will keep you posted on my progress.
We also went to the board walk at Seaside and felt like we stepped into a warped world. We have been through Seaside a million times, but never stopped to go to the beach. I never knew such an awesome place existed. Bumber cars, tilt-a-whirl, carousels, arcades, candy shop after candy shop, tons of people. I couldn't believe I was on the Oregon Coast.

Summer=WATER

Friday I played hookie from work and went to beautiful Sauvie's Island and convinced a hand full of friends to do the same. Then we got a MAJOR craving for burgers and shakes at the Northwest's finest Burgerville. I don't know whose brilliant idea it was to put calorie and fat intake on the items ordered on the receipt but we all got freaked out that one meal could equal more than a recommended daily calorie intake. I don't think that's going to help them sell burgers.

Then Saturday I met friends at their apartment complex to swim which was kind of a fiasco. This was one of those HUGE complexes with twenty buildings and apartment numbers like 287649. Turns out it also had FOUR pools. After a series of phone calls that were all "We're next to a brown building, there are a lot of kids in the pool, I'm looking at apartment number 87653!" After--no joke-- 30 minutes and three wrong pools later, Brandon and I were so fed up we were walking back to the car to go home, we heard one shrill scream, followed by a splash and knew we finally found the pool with our friends.

Lastly, Sunday Brandon and I went to the Oregon Coast and froze our butts off. The above picture can demonstrate--that red nose is no sunburn! Going there is more about the fresh seafood, ice cream, taffy and beautiful drive.

Secret Falls

We went on a 7 mile hike yesterday in the rain! Since we didn't get on the trail until almost 3 we felt the need to hustle so we didn't get caught in the dark. It was hard, but worth it. If you are nice and promise not to tell everyone you know, I might disclose the location.