How much to ride the aardvark?

There are some freakishly large animals hawking stuff in Oregon. What is it that makes people think that using giant animals will make you want to buy their products?

I'm not even sure what this is, but there's a sign in front of it saying "Do not attempt to ride." I think it might be a paper machet aardvark. I'd also like to point out that Hub City is in the middle of NOWHERE in Oregon. Must be doing big business to afford the aardvark.
This is the drive-thru at the Taco Bell. The chiuaua's thought balloon tells you today's manager's special.
I think the bear likes the salmon a little too much. But I'd definitely buy bait and liquor at the store it's on.
The freakish thing about the lumberjack at The Woodsman Hotel? It has two faces. If you walk to the other side, there's the exact same face pointing the other direction. I should have stood right in front for the full effect of being able to see both profiles!

At least the Gilchrist bear only really wants you to go to church.

Priceless

Cat from a dumpster... Free.
Cat figuring out she has the ability to balance on the top of the door... free
Dog watching cat figuring out how to get down from on top of the door...

Priceless.

before and after

Before...

After...

We are achieving what my gardening friends call "the Big Bang". Apparently that's where everything starts filling in and the barren ground starts disappearing. Pooh King enjoys standing guard over his flowering domain.

Lava River Cave

I went on a spooky trip into the Lava River Cave near Newbury, Oregon. The cave is a remnant of the lava tubes that formed during a volcanic eruption a bazillion years ago. My friend, Karyn, and I rented a lantern to go down into the cave.

The temperature in the cave is about 42 degrees. It was dark and damp, and there is ice on the ground!

I kid you not, I took this picture. I think it's a ghost.

It scared me very much. I was glad I was holding the lantern.

I ran and ran, and got back to the surface. I don't know if Karyn made it out. I sure will miss her.

The new 'do

So, here's the more playful side of my new do. It's scrunched up and a bit wavy thanks to "Big Sexy Curls". I figure since it's raining outside, there's no sense trying to do it any fancier than this!

I love it when...

... the sky is still a bit light at 9:30pm

... Pooh King curls into the back of my legs

... the coffee is perfect in the morning

... you have a drink with a coworker who tells you that before now, she's never had a female friend, and you know that you've shown her an extraordinary opportunity.

... you're thankful for the return of a spring rain, since you won't have to water the flowers.

... a patient thinks you're extraordinary

... you think a patient is extraordinary

... the neighbors' 4 year old grandson boldly proclaims his love for the whole world

... you learn that you would rather go on a trip alone than go with someone who has no opinions and a limited willingness to share their life

... you're glad your dog came along on that trip

... even if he wound up eating 21 dog aspirins afterward

... you're thankful for the job you have, even though you know it's not your forever place

... you think you might have found a place worth stopping for

The other Coast

Here are the other ones!

How many dog aspirins???

So Pooh King came back from Portland with a significant limp. He was injured in a rousing game of hotel soccer (those of you who know about Pooh King's soccer talents know how intense this game was.) I had to pick him up to put him in the car on Saturday. By the way, chunky monkey weighs in at 77 pounds these days. Even with his thyroid medication.

Yesterday he was barely walking, not even trying to get up on the couch (shocking!!!) and didn't want to walk to the kitchen to eat... though he ate fine when I brought the food to him. I went to the store and got "dog aspirin" which is 120 mg buffered aspirin and sectioned to be given by weight of the dog (10 pounds per half pill.) So, I go to the light side last night and give ole' Lumpy 3 pills, 60 pounds worth. This morning he was moving a bit better, so I gave him 3 more. Apparently, at that point, I lost my mind. I forgot to put the lid on the bottle and left it on the counter.

Have I mentioned that these dog aspirins are liver flavored?

It turns out it takes about 21 aspirins to make a dog vomit... all over the rug in front of the door.

At least he's not limping much anymore.

The Oregon coast

There are more pics, but once again, they won't load. More tomorrow.

More of the Oregon coast...

and if I was enamored with Portland, I was speechless over the northern coast. And for me, being speechless is saying a lot! I drove down 101 from Newport to Coos Bay. I'll just leave you with the pics...

More from Portland

This is part of the "mall" that runs right through the middle of downtown for several blocks. One of the reasons I was so enamored with Portland was because of all the GREEN in the city! There are trees and parks everywhere. Of course, it's green because of the large amount of rain, but hey, when it's beautiful, it's GORGEOUS!




This was an elementary school's art exhibit. All of the pieces were made out of household objects... like laundry baskets, collanders, disposable baking pans. It was so cool.







The entrance to the Chinese Garden in Chinatown/Old Town. I don't know why they don't call it Chinatown OR Old Town, but it's in all the books with the slash. Go figure.






This is one of those Driftwood horses that my family passed around via email. It's downtown at the Portland Museum of Art.








This is me having a beer at the Pyramid Brewery. It used to be the Portland Brewing Company, but sold out to Pyramid a few years ago.

and now I can't get any more pics to load... so you all have to wait until tomorrow.

Aaaaaaaaahhhh, Portland

I started the weekend by driving through Bend on my way to Portland. Bend is a quaint little town, but not exactly what I expected. Basically, I drove through Bend (not the fastest way to get to Portland from Klamath Falls) so Tessa (nurse that I work with at the hospital who also had the same stretch off so decided we would do Portland together) could visit her uncle in the hospital. Pooh King and I spent a quality hour and a half laying in the grass out in the sun while Tessa was inside. Fun. We had lunch at the Bend Brewing Company just so I could say I'd been there. We got to Portland at about 8:00, after leaving Klamath Falls at 10 am. It should be a 4.5 to 5.5 hour trip.




This is a statue in Pioneer Courthouse Square, downtown Portland. Friday started sunny and clear. What a great way to see Portland by foot. I walked about one billion blocks. Most of them I actually walked twice. Or maybe 50 times. Tessa, while she's a pleasant person, not so exciting to spend a weekend with. And definitely NOT decisive. Hence the marathon miles.





This is Portlandia. She's on the Portland building on SW 5th Ave. Portlandia is the second biggest hammered bronze statue in the country, behind the Statue of Liberty. I'm not totally sure what she represents, but I think she was pointing at me and saying "You should move here. But leave your CDs at home. They're not safe in the car." I should have seen her last time I visited Portland.

BakerQuest did it...

Chris Baker tagged me, and now I'm doing it to you. More on Portland to come.

Below are 10 questions...whoever I tag has to reply with answers and then repost the questions on their LJ and tag a few people. Ready, set... GO!

What was your impression the FIRST time you met me? Have your thoughts about me changed now, if so, how?

What song best describes me?

What flower?What’s your favorite feature about me?

What’s your least favorite feature about me?

What kind of weather best describes me?

If you were to give me a “nickname’ what would it be?

What is your favorite memory of us together?

What would you LOVE to see me wear?

If you had ONE wish for me, what would it be?

I tag the following people to answer this (and therefore admit to reading my blog):
Jeaner
Peg B
Chris B
Amy Norton
anyone else who wants it!

I'm back from Portland. Had a great weekend. Too tired to blog it now. Must sleep. Will download pics tomorrow and write about it all. Hugs and kisses.

Migration Sensation

K Falls has the sensation! Congratulations to my friend Jen Platt who shares a birthday with International Migragory Bird Day. Lucky, lucky girl.

One of the nicest things about Main Street is all the trees and flowers. Looks just like the picture of small town life, just as Norman Rockwell would have painted it. Except maybe for my new hair stylist... Wil... who reminds me of my Dad in personality, and the most fabulous gay stylist in NYC in his abilities. It turns out he is a straight man in his 50s with a daughter in college, and could double as a truck driver. Or maybe Santa. My hair is a little different now. More sleek and less flippy. Less platinum and more golden. Aaaaaaaaahh, Wil and his big ideas. I do like it though, and pictures will follow.

And this is "The Daily Bagel". When it's open, it's open. When it's closed, it's "SHUT". Good coffee, decent bagels (at least they make them there instead of opening a Lender's bag). Most importantly, when they're open, there's a dog bowl with water, and two tables with chairs for the two-legged types.

In multiple places around town there are oaks and red oaks planted. Very colorful!

Life is slow this week. Working too much, but I'll be off Wed to Sat. Time to plan a trip!!! Any suggestions for the great Oregonian road trip?

But I don't want to be a martini

You Are a Martini

There's no other way to say it: you're a total lush.You hold your liquor well, and you hold a lot of it!

This is a test I took online to determine what "drink" I am. I can't get the link to load.

Now, that's not totally correct... but maybe has a little truth to it. I did one, ONE, and only ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tequila shot on Cinco de Mayo. I didn't hit the wall, but the wall hit me right in the face, ran over me, and came back to kick my ass on Seis de Mayo. When did I get old? I used to be able to drink tequila like water, then go to class at 8am, get an A on the test, and go to work afterward. Again... when did I get old?

A nurse that I don't work with much (actually, we did CPR in the same class, but otherwise I've had NONE of his patients in the last 5 weeks) felt the need to tease me today about being a "newbie". Now, for those of you who know me well, my 5 year PT school graduation (GRAD school, not undergrad, mind you) anniversary is next month. My patient, after asking "exactly how old are you?" didn't believe I was really 31. I love her. She's my new favorite patient ever. I have literally seen hundreds of patients with total knee replacements. She is my favorite. And it has nothing to do with how she's doing.

Maybe I'm not so old after all. I am doing 'Tini Tuesday with a group of girls I work with. It's fun. Maybe I am a martini.

Cinco de Mayo... aye yi yi yi!!!

Now I know why I couldn't find a sombrero for Juan the lawn jockey. They had all been snapped up by the local Mexican restaurants to dress up their assortment of dead animals. Now, I haven't really seen a bunch of mounted heads in a Mexican restaurant, but I know one thing... It's so sad to know they were killed at a party!

I spent Cinco de Mayo in the traditional fashion... drinking cheap tequila margaritas with some friends. Unfortunately, I missed the parade (yes, there was a parade!) since I was busy being a vulture for a bar table. I don't think there were any tractors this time, but I can't say for sure.

This morning was spent riding my bike around town. The sun continues to shine on me and I love it! Now I know why K Falls is called the sunshine city. I also made an appointment to have my hair done on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

So, here's my little daffodil, all bloomed. There are plants popping up all over the yard. Don't know who planted them, or why they picked a completely random pattern, but there are tulips coming up too.

Is it any wonder I can't get a book read in less than 3 months? The Great and Powerful Oz has taken to sleeping on top of my head, or next to it, or across my face. She purrs so loud while trying to smother me. You'd almost think this was cute...

Until she starts giving love bites or tries to smother me. My Gram is right, she's actually a terrorist in a cat suit. Guaranteed to get past Homeland Security.

Who wouldn't want a piece of this?

Time to turn it around

Thanks Jeaner, Randy, Mom, and everyone else who wrote and called to tell me I'm a jerk. I appreciate your ability to tell me to get my head out of my arse. So, here I am, helmet firmly intact, realizing that having a boring week does not a boring person make.

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself when I'm sitting home alone... alone with Pooh King and Oz-fest, that is. I get that "oh-woe-is-me" feeling, and commiserate that I am 31, single, homeless (well, home-ownership-less), childless, and planless. I feel pointless. Then I remember that I chose this. I chose this life over the much more boring, painfully boring, oh-woe-is-me life that I would have had if I had stayed with you-know-who. Thank you to all who wrote and called to point out that I needed to do a cranial-anal dislocation and get back on track.

Maybe this little depressive event was spurned by the cute-boy-who-flirts-with-me-but-has-a-girlfriend asking me what I had done on Friday because he wanted to go out but couldn't find anyone to hang out with (girlfriend was out of town) and didn't have any way to get in touch with me. Let's think back to what I did on Friday... rode bike around town, worked out at gym, did laundry, had dinner by myself in my wanna-be-red-light-district apartment, 2 glasses of wine later decided I didn't need to shower today because had already fallen asleep twice on the couch by 10:00. What a loser!

So, here's what I'm doing. Nothing. Well, not nothing, but nothing much this weekend. I'm working a little overtime next week, and undertime the week after. I will have a 4 day weekend. I've contacted some people I know on the Oregon coast. I'm hoping that I can spend a day or two there, then head to Portland and the Oregon wine country for a day or two. I need to spend more time exploring the surrounding areas. I need to spend more time not feeling like I'm missing out on life. I need to spend more time accepting the choices I've made and discovering where else they can lead me, and what adventures await.

My helmet is on, and dog is my copilot!

By the way Mom, the music is Daniel Powter's "Free Loop"

I'm boring. That's all.