Tam’s Think Tank

Today has been a good day.  Soak in the hot tub, shower, a visit from Mom (she came so she could go to the oncologist appointment tomorrow with us), a trip into the city to do my bi-weekly blood draw, and a stop at the Farmer’s Market on 23rd.  It was great to wander around the market. Bought a couple of cookies and ate them, we got some fresh veggies for dinner tonight, and just enjoyed the market and the weather.  It’s not a huge one, but it had a great variety of stuff.  The perfect little stop and outing for us.  Really nice.

We got home a bit ago.  I walked 30 minutes on the treadmill and Mom and Karen both worked out in our mini gym in the shop.  Now they are in making dinner.  We are going vegetarian tonight.  Veggie noodles with spaghetti sauce, salad with tomatoes, walnuts, and a bleu cheese we bought at the market, plus green beans (also from the market), and broccoli.  Sounds really tasty to me, and is smelling great.

Tomorrow is the appointment with my oncologist.  We will, I know, get some answers about the time frame and what’s up with the consolidation rounds.  I’m actually happy to go meet with him.  Get those questions answered.

Get Your Carving On

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

I took this photo walking into a New Seasons. Great pumpkin display going on. We didn’t buy one, but man… wouldn’t that huge one in the center make an awesome jack-o-lantern?

Walking Mississippi

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

So a couple of weeks ago we had the enormous pleasure of hanging out with and then having dinner with Grandpa, my Aunt Syd, Mom, Don, and Kev. It was a really nice evening. A very nice time. I love my family. Seriously, are there any better people out there? I know some of you might be saying yes, there are… as in your families, friends, or whatever, but still… I love these people. They are awesome. I always have a good time, without exception, when I’m with them, which I’m not often enough. And again I will say lucky. I am so lucky to be a part of this brood. Lucky.

Fork, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Another fork sighting. This time in a parking lot near the Loyd Center. What’s with the forks? Is someone trying to tell me something? Fork Off Tam! Fork off!! This one also taken with the phone camera. I had to. It’s kinda creepy this thing with me and forks.

Catch The Wind, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Lovin’ the windmills on top of this building downtown.

The Stacks, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We took a stroll through Powell’s… how could you not? It’s a must.

Jazz, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I get jazzed just looking at this….

Duking It Out, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

As I said previously, we’ve wandered around Portland a few times with the kids in the last couple of weeks. I took several shots during these walks. I love this one. It’s on the wall of a 24 hour fitness.

Random, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Standing on that same street corner Karen noticed a fork randomly laying on a lamp post box (not sure if that’s the technical name for them… but there it is). I took another one as well where the fork was in focus, but I like this one… shows the background for this fork art. So corny, I know. This, again, taken with my phone.

PDX, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Let’s sum up our lives since the last I posted something… which has been a little while ago.

On the 10th of September Mary and Martin arrived from Britain. This was us walking across the pedestrian bridge from parking structure to the terminal. I took this one with my phone. Not bad, with a little tweaking from an app called Camera Bag. I believe this was like the 1974 version of the photo. All browns and muted. Cool.

Colonel Summers Park, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Colonel Summers was hoppin’.

Carolina Pump Station, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We spent yesterday enjoying the sites and sounds of the last Sundays Parkways event in Portland for the year.

The event goes like this… the city closes off a grid of streets in a neighborhood. Those streets go by parks in the neighborhood. People bicycle, walk, skateboard, roller blade, or whatever around the circuit, stopping at the various parks to enjoy food, booths, activities, and music. This particular parkways event was in SE Portland. Our friend Maggie happens to live not far from the route, so we ventured to her house, parked the truck, hauled out our bikes, and the three of us headed over. We had a great time. Met some other friends at the first park, Colonel Summers, and enjoyed a couple of bands while we were there. This photo is of Carolina Pump Station. They were pretty darn good. We also enjoyed a plate of barbecue (we all shared it) and some tasty cookies. Then the three of us donned our helmets, bid farewell to our other compadres, and hit the road to complete the circuit.

Across The Street, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

This is the last photo I took on Sunday after the Bridge Pedal. The building across the street from the Deschutes Brewery.

Finish Line, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

First Providence Bridge Pedal completed… check.

The Gang Is All Here… Almost, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Karen took this great shot of our four compadres as they neared the finish line. Maggie to the left, Kristen to the right and closest to the camera, Sandy sort of in front of Kristen to the left, and Kate up in front of Sandy. Great shot. Great time with you all!

View From The Freemont, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Yes folks, another photograph of downtown Portland, this time from the Freemont Bridge.

Karen, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Karen, rolling along during the Providence Bridge Pedal. She’s heading toward the Freemont, our last bridge, looking fresh.

Rescue, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I took this one, while riding, as we left the Burnside Bridge.  The Portland Rescue Mission has been there for ages and does great work in the city.

Getting Our Footing, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Yep, ya’all knew this shot was coming. The classic, but never boring, foot shot. Guest feet in this shot besides Karen and mine are Maggie, Sandy, Kate, and Kristen. Sitting here right now I can’t remember who’s foot was who’s. I took this on the Marquam with Portland in the background.

View From The Marquam, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Looking the other way from the top of the Marquam you can see the city, and the first bridge we’d crossed over going East, the Hawthorne. I love Portland. What a gorgeous magnificent city.

Monkeying Around, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Bridge Pedal… Our friends are awesome, each and every one. Four of them decided to take the Providence Bridge Pedal ride with us. Sandy, being Sandy, had to do it her way. We love this girl. Fun loving, full of life, sweet, incredibly sincere and giving… you are fantastic. So glad you were along for the adventure last Sunday.

First Stop, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

OK folks… It’s time to recount the last Sunday’s adventures of 6 girls on bikes in downtown Portland Oregon. That’s right, I’m talking about the Providence Bridge Pedal.

There are three ways you can go at the Bridge Pedal. You can choose to ride 11 bridges, crossing all in Portland, and while you’re at it ride 37 miles, or you can opt to do the 8 bridge pedal which comes in at about 24 miles, or you can ride the 6 bridge pedal and go 14 miles. There’s also a Bridge Stride. I’m not sure how many miles that it. We picked the 6 bridge pedal. We, and our pals, decided that since this was our first attempt at it, we should start small. Plus, we are all out of shape. Every last one of us. A sad, but true, fact.

We had a blast. It took us about two and a half hours of crossing back and forth over the river, following the course they had laid out for us. Us and about 18,000 others who’d donned helmets and vests and made the trek around the city. So much fun. It really was.

We had our moments. One of us had an accident, not caused by herself, but by a whobbly kid in front of her who’d made a somewhat abrupt move. Kate, you were iron woman. No injuries! There were a few times we had to get off the bikes and walk. Mostly due to there being so much traffic and congestion in places, but also on a couple of fairly steep hills. We vow to not walk next time! We also sort of vowed to try for the 8 bridge ride next time. That’s 10 more miles. I think we’d best get back out on those bikes.

It was a splendid day all in all. Nothing like having a little adventure with fantastic friends. We did it ladies. We did it. Woo Hoo!!

Break on Through to the Other Side, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

photo by Karen

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.

July 18, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

So much has gone on in the last week my head and my brain are spinning. Wedding, camping, construction at home, too much heat, tubing, a concert, and back to work. My oh my…

This photo was taken on the 18th at my friend Genine and her man Murray’s wedding. My first foray into the world of wedding photography. It was a great day, they are fantastic people, and I think we all were incredibly emotional. Sweet.

Window To?, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

… the soul?