Cold One, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Karen took this one inside Deschutes as we sat and enjoyed the spoils of our victory.
This weekend was all about clean up. Well… food and drink with friends and clean up.
Our place has been a mess. The construction of our master bath addition has created some of it, but seriously, we were in trouble way before this. I think it all really started last year when we were in the rental buying and fixing up mode. We had to concentrate on getting these houses we bought fixed up into rental condition, which meant many many hours working, painting, dry walling, cleaning, moving, etc. During the course of all that things at our own house got out of hand. The yard started to get overgrown. It was like some weird prehistoric land. Plants growing and taking over the world. I could be exaggerating on that a bit, but not much. Then there was the shop… all the supplies in and out of there. Piles forming. Stuff just sort of thrown in because we didn’t have time to put it away or were too tired after working our regular jobs and then working at the rentals after work. It was a disaster. Embarrassingly so. Finally… our house. Cluttered. Much for the same reason… being really busy so you put something down instead of putting it away. We became somewhat ashamed. Which, thankfully, came to a head this weekend.
We decided (thankfully we have pretty much the same clutter tolerance and we’d both WAY over reached it) to clean this weekend. We’ve been working on the yard a bit. Though with the construction much of that will have to wait until our yard is no longer a tool storing dirt pile.
Saturday we went to breakfast with our pal Maggie… nice noshing with you Maggie… at Java Vivace. Lovely crepes. So tasty. Afterward we went in search of plumbing supplies for the bathroom which had to be purchased this weekend so they’d be there for the plumber this week. Then… then folks… we started cleaning the house. A few hours later… ta da!… clean. Spiffy. Lovely. We didn’t clean our room, which is now pretty much a small closet (There are clothes piled everywhere and a huge piece of black plastic acting as one wall. This photo was taken after they’d broken through the little closet door, but now the whole thing is open. No wall. Framing, but no wall). The cleaning of our room will have to wait until AFTER the bathroom is a room and we can put clothes back in a closet. We are now sleeping in the guest room. It sort of sucks, but it’ll be worth it. I’m not really complaining.
Sunday… We met our friend Genine, hey Genine, for coffee. We had to drop off the disc of wedding photos I’d taken for her and her man at their wedding (there were 705 photos on that disc… yeah, really), as well as a book I’d made for them from the photos. It was great. Both the book and the visit with Genine. The book turned out really well. I was pretty proud of it. After meeting Genine we went to REI to pick up our vests and t-shirts for the Providence Bridge Pedal that we’ll be participating in this coming Sunday. Pretty cool, can’t wait (6 bridges, 14 miles). We then headed home for more cleaning. First we picked up all the dry wall our construction guys has removed from the house. A big pile of debris. We are taking care of the removal ourselves to save money, but let me tell you… picking all that up, working our butts off in the high heat on Sunday afternoon… not fun. We did it though. We did it and then congratulated ourselves on being two tough babes. We got back from the dump and went to work on the shop. What a mess in there. A year of yuckiness. A year of filth and clutter and tossing things in without real regard for where things should go. It was terrible. Plus, we had a mouse issue. Ew. We got through a lot of it, but still aren’t done. We feel better about it, and also like we’ve actually done something in there, so it’s not too bad. We’re motivated now and so we’ll finish it.
Ah… the joy of home ownership and construction. The joy of rental work. The joy of having a clean house. The joy of going to the dump with huge loads of crap. The joy of ending the weekend by taking a hot shower and having a fantastic barbecued steak and corn on the cob after working so hard. The joy of being absolutely cognizant of the fact that ife is truly wonderful.
Concert Snacks, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
When one goes to an outdoor concert, one HAS to bring snacks. It’s an actual law isn’t it? We were not the peeps with foresight though, we can thank our friend, Sandy, for the snacks. Sandy, you and your cooler rock!
After River Food and Brew, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
We went inner tubing yesterday on the Sandy River. Spent 5 hours on the river with 7 spectacular women. Thanks ladies for making it a great day. So relaxing, so peaceful, so much fun, and so tired and hungry by the time we were done. We headed to McMenamins Edgefield for some grub after getting off the water. We had to wait a while, 30-40 minutes, but once we sat down the service was pretty good and the food tasted awesome. I’ll post some shots of the tubing experience soon.
On the subject of the actual tubing experience I have to say this… we didn’t die. Everyone we told we were going to go tubing on the Sandy, and I mean everyone, said to us… be careful, people die there every year. They also said the water was really cold. OK, the water was cold, but none of us got really cold until the last hour or so. Before that it was lovely. It actually felt good to be in it. My recommendation though is that if you’re going to do it put in at Oxbow Park (which we did) and get out at Dabney Park (which we didn’t). We continued on past Dabney to Lewis and Clark Park and we all felt, at the end of the day, that it was slightly too long and also so much more crowded between Dabney and Lewis and Clark. The river runs slower there as well… sort of meanders. Probably OK if you just throw your tube or whatever other floation device you have with you and just want to have a leisurely 2 hour float, but we are women of action and loved that there were more rapids up above on the Oxbow to Dabney section. By rapids I mean maybe 2+, nothing crazy or anything. We are not women of THAT much action, especially since this was our first time tubing since our teenage years. We also saw some deer and many birds on the upper section, where from Dabney to Lewis and Clark we only saw people. Loads of them. We had to keep navigating our pod around them. Or should I say Maggie, iron woman, had to keep navigating us around them. Maggie kept getting out and walking, pushing us along as we all clung together. I think she was just ready to be done, ready for some food and a beer. She rocked.
We had a great time yesterday. 9 women, 7 tubes (one for the ice chest), and a raft. 5 hours of floating. 5 hours of chills and some spills and hot sun and cold water and laughter and water guns and mini footballs and laughter and rapids and sun burn and booty up and wild life viewing and peaceful enjoyment of nature. 5 hours spent with spectacular friends having an amazing day. Does life get any better?
A Cool Treat On A Warm Day, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Nothing quite hits the spot on a warm day like shaved ice. Mississippi Pizza was offering shaved iced out front of the shop yesterday during the street fair. Yum. This was Brian’s selection. Cool eh? Uh… pun intended.
Out For A Walk, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Friday night, July 3, we met some friends (yo Sandy and Vicki) at the McMenamins on the Columbia over in Vancouver. It’s a great spot right on the river. We sat outside. It was grand.
Drunken Noodle, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
After our walk from the movie theater back to our car we headed to Typhoon. Karen’s choice of birthday restaurant. Our order… drunken noodles, of which this is fine example, yellow curry with beef, phad thai with chicken, spicy string beans, rice, and a thirst quenching thai iced tea. Uh… I think that’s all we ordered. bah ha ha ha!! Yes, we had leftovers. It’s one of the great things about going to Typhoon… we ALWAYS have left overs.
Red Velvet, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Last Thursday was Karen’s birthday. Happy Birthday Karen. We took off work a couple hours early and headed downtown. First stop… Cupcake Jones. This is the cupcake she chose… Red Velvet. Why was I not surprised? LOL
Appetizer Anyone?, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
We went over to Maggie’s place last Sunday, the 21st, for a little get together with some friends. Maggie apparently had stuff left over from her house warming party and thought getting together was a great opportunity to use it up before she went off to Sweden to see her mom. Every time we go over to Maggie’s we enjoy ourselves. From finding shelter there during the storm last year, to New Year’s eve last year, to the many many times we’ve just hung out at her place it’s always lovely. Thanks again Maggie… you rock girl.
Lunch With Family, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Last Saturday, the 20th, we had a little family get together (thanks again Ab for planning it out!). We met at the Ram in Salem. Nice place. Really good company. We don’t get to see each other much, the seven of us. So many busy lives, so much going on for each of us. But when we do get together… wonderful. I love these people. Everyone of them, good to the last. Just a spectacular bunch. I’m so proud to be their sister. So proud to have them in my life. And I couldn’t help thinking, looking around at all of us (we missed you Kenny), that my dad would’ve loved it. My dad would’ve loved knowing we were together. I could feel him there. Laughing that throw his head back full body laugh. Eyes twinkling. He would’ve teared up. His love that big, his heart that full. My dad, our dad, made us. He lives in us, and is with each of us every day. I felt him there last Saturday. Probably everyone at the table did. There are really no words to describe it… there was magic at that table. Beautiful, harmonious, loving, happy, magic.
Dinner, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
In the beginning God made first class. Or, in our case, business class. Which really, given that our plane didn’t have a first class section, we were considered to be in first class. It’s amazing what saving your miles can do for ya. I recommend it highly. We loved it. Most especially the room. There was tons of it. Plus we had our own entertainment screens and a huge selection of movies to watch, old and new. We selected Benjamin Button and Best in Show. Also… the food. They fed us constantly. And it was good. It was a four course meal. Strange, yet cool. Then there were the hot towels. One of my favorite things actually, given that after you’ve been in the plane for 10 hours you want to feel a bit refreshed. I guess we could’ve used the stuff from the amenities kit they gave us, but we left that for another day. All in all… we can’t say enough about it. We loved it. We don’t know how we’ll manage to fly overseas again without going first class. I’m sure we will, we’ll have to, but it will be tough. We felt spoiled. They addressed us by name. I admit, it was lovely. I know everyone could tell we were rookies. How could they not. We played with our seats for ages, trying to figure out how to raise our leg rests and adjust our lumbar support, and get the back massage things to work just the right spots in our backs. I’m sure the flight attendants were amused. So were we. We laughed the whole time, and then we laughed some more. And then, suddenly, we were in Amsterdam.
Brunch, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Food, family, fun… what’s better?
Cakes, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
I’ve finally reached this last weekend. Mom’s weekend. Saturday we ran around like crazy people, hitting this store and that, preparing to leave. Buying bully stix, and a wallet, some clothes, and the food we’re taking to Mary (stuff she can’t get in England…. you know, Mac and Cheese in the box, Rice-a-roni, Dots. A girl has to have her comfort/junk food. It’s tragic she can’t get it there).
Sunday… we went to Ken’s Artisan Bakery on 21st to pick up these little beauties and then headed over to Steph and Phil’s abode for a little mother’s day brunch. Nate, you rock the dutch babies.
After brunch we were home again, trimming trees, and stacking wood. All in a days work and a weekend for two babes such as ourselves.
… Happy Mom’s Day (a bit belatedly sadly) to all you fantastic caring mother’s out there.
Tea, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Just hanging out waiting for my to delivery of delicious Thai food
sippin on a very tasty Thai iced tea. Yummy.
From this hour I ordain myself loosed of limits and imaginary lines.
-Walt Whitman
Yum… Tasty, Or At Least It Was, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
We stopped for breakfast at the Logger in Knappa on our way back from the clam digging adventure yesterday. Pretty good eats in a rustic ambiance. Great after a tough morning of digging up the little diggers.
Kev’s Creation, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Kev made tiramisu cheesecake. We got none. Hint. Hint. OK, to be fair, he made it for the barbecue at Mom and Don’s place. And again, OK, we didn’t go to that barbecue. So I guess… no damn cheesecake for us. Not even a meager morsel of a leftover.
We seem to never have a dull moment. Ever. Always on the go, always “stuff” to do. Always. Always. Always.
This weekend was no exception. To sum up… We had furniture delivered Friday evening and then met friends for dinner at The Varsity (it was great to see you Jimmy! … and the rest of ya’all too, don’t want you to feel left out even though we see you all the time), we redecorated our bedroom around the new furniture, we rented and returned a U-haul to move some family furniture from our house to my nephew’s place, we met up with friends at a club and boogied our selves down to the ground at Barracuda followed by dessert and coffee at Hobos, we met my mom and new step sistas for a trip to Red Pig Tools (fun for the whole family if you love handcrafted garden tools) and then lunch at the Carver Cafe (pretty tasty… long wait, but great burgers when we finally got them… possibly it was so crowded because I just now found out, while looking for a link for the Cafe, that it was used for the cafe scenes in the movie Twilight…. who knew? Not I. If you’re interested you can find that info HERE), we loaded up a bunch o’ stuff in the truck and took it to the dump (including some hazardous materials in the way of old stain that they only take on the last Saturday of the month), we watched a bad, underscore bad, movie called Choke (don’t see it, whatever you do), and it’s now only three o’clock on Sunday. We’ve decided to turn down an invitation to have dinner with friends at Joe’s Crab Shack. It’s time for us to just relax at home. Hang out. Enjoy some quiet time. Read. Surf the net. Blog.
The sandwiching part of the title of this little missive is about what you ask? OK, so here it is. It relates to a conversation Karen and I had last night on our way to the “Hot Flash Dance” where we boogied and hung with new and old friends. Our conversation was this… though I guess I must first describe what we refer to as sandwiching. Sandwiching is when three people dance together, with one person in the middle… sort of sandwiched in. So here’s what we discussed, which I think is worth sharing if for no other reason than it made us both laugh hysterically. We decided that when you’re young… a teen and in your 20′s, and even into the 30′s… when you sandwich it’s sexy. Three people all sort of dancing together, being silly, being sexy… whatever… it’s kind of sexy. Like a, let’s see if I can find a sandwich that sounds sexy… OK, here it is… kind of like a Grilled Taleggio and Tomato Sandwich. Sounds sexy yes? Kind of exotic, not completely sure what’s in there, mysterious… yet fresh and juicy with the tomato and all. Sexy. But when people get older… later 30′s and then 40′s and beyond… sandwiching isn’t as sexy. And don’t get us wrong… there are still some sexy sandwichers out there. But c’mon people… sandwiching after 40 is usually, in our analogy anyway, like a great bologna and cheddar sandwich. Plain, comfortable, friendly… but not really sexy. We, at this time in our lives, are like bologna. And don’t go feelin’ all sad and bummed for us. We’re not bummed, or sad. We like being bologna. We like sandwiching and laughing our butts off while we do it. It’s hilarious. No longer sexy… it’s just plain fun and silly. There you have sandwiching 101, Karen and Tam style. I love being us.
Waiting For Dinner, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Here I sit, waiting for dinner. Tonight it’s pizza. That’s what
happens when you get two sickies living together and a third person
who isn’t sick, but wants nothing to do with eating food that’s come
remotely close to the sick. LOL
I promise… This is my last and final sick, cold, etc. reference.
I’ve been blogging today from my phone, photos and all. Technology,
isn’t it rockin’ cool.
Crossing, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
We went for a stroll today at the pups favorite park… not sure if it’s really their favorite park or we just imagine it to be since it’s fairly close to our place and they always seem to have a good time when they’re there. Either way, and makes no never mind, they always enjoy it and we do too. I’ve taken hundreds of photos there, though most of the time I do it with the digital SLR. Today, however, I decided to walk on the wild side and not take the big camera with me. I left it in the trunk. I decided to concentrate on the pups and on talking to my sweetie. It was time very well spent. I enjoyed the heck out of it. Though, as you can see by the posted photo here, I managed to squeeze in a few pics with my iphone. I can’t help myself. Again I’ll say, like in the Sixth Sense, but not, I see photographs.
Before we found ourselves at Cathedral Park we’d ventured over to the SE side to try and find a flag pole. Yes… we need a flag pole. We have a flag pole fastener fastened to the house, it just doesn’t have a pole. And now we have flags. That’s plural on the flags. They are Tibetan peace flags. I got them for my birthday, last September, and we haven’t put them up yet. Granted, we were heading into late fall and early winter at that point and who wants to put up flags that will be tormented by snow, sleet, rain, and this year, more snow. So we waited. But now it’s spring and we need a pole so we can finally get those flags up. Alas… the flag place was closed. Seems they don’t operate on Sundays. Bummer. Luckily for us the trip wasn’t in vain… or is that in vein… one never knows for sure. Again, I digress… the trip wasn’t for naught. There was a Japanese place right across the street we’d passed so many times and said to ourselves most times… we should try that place. Today, thanks to the closed flag place and our drive there, was the day. And it was pretty darn good. Tempura, teriyaki chicken and gyoza. Yum. The walk at the park afterward was nice. It always feels good to walk after a big meal.
Trip Number Two, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
It’s a rainy San Jose day. This calls for another London Fog and
another chai…. Of course…. Why not right?
Aftermath, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
We enjoyed a full on Thanksgiving style dinner yesterday… in March.
Very awesome. And tasty.
Back At In N Out, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Another trip for burgers. Have to take advantage of the availability
of good burgers. Yum!
Lunch at In N Out, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
We stopped in Redding for In N Out burgers. They have their operation down. Only burgers on the menu. Only three options. Double cheese, cheese, or hamburger. Very simple. We opted for the cheese and chocolate shakes. This is one of the great things about road trips… you throw your normal eating habits out the window and stop for burgers. Yeah road trips!!
Dibs?, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Another kind of arena action…. The Dibs Guy. As his button exclaims…. you get them for only $6.00. The nose scratch is gratis.
Got Crab?, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.
Nothing is more tasty than some freshly cracked crab on a piece of really good bread with a fresh slice of excellent cheese. Oh yeah, the garlic butter and champagne didn’t hurt either.
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