May 31st and Every Parent’s Nightmare

It’s Friday Follow Up time again, where I blather on about where I walked around Portland for the week and post tons of pictures of the interesting, beautiful, and quirky.  Basically, whatever catches my eye.  On to:

Thursday’s Highlights-

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday.  How can one day be both so good and so bad?

The good–Thursday morning, Micah and I met with Susie Rice, who works for the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Walk.   I’ll be posting more about that excellent meeting on Monday, but for now, it’s safe to say that we were very excited about meeting with her and talking about how we can help each other out in the future.

Our meeting was at the Starbuck’s downtown in Pioneer Courthouse Square.   When we came out of Starbuck’s, there were three equestrian officers and their horses standing around.  The police were happily chatting with the people of the city.  People were petting the horses and generally enjoying the exchange.  I think that’s why the city keeps equestrian units.  I think they are wonderful talking points and are a great way for the police to connect with the city’s people in a positive way.

So of course, I had to pet all of the horses, too.  I asked one of the police officers (the only female in the group) if I could take some pics and she said sure.

Meet Asher. He’s a sweet guy who likes to lick everything. Windows, cars, buildings, the stone his nose is touching…. We got to watch the licky thing in action. Asher’s officer was funny describing what he does.

Note the swank shoes. The officers said they help protect the horse’s feet. Metal horseshoes slide and slip too much in the rain on the brick. And they actually have some cushion in the insoles, so the horse’s feet don’t suffer so much shock from walking around on concrete all day long.

Micah and I walked to Willow’s school from the transit center and we got in some nice family time.  It was raining off and on while we walked, so I didn’t drag out the camera for most of it.

That was the good.

The bad–Willow was riding her bike after school after we got home and got hit by a car.  I’m SO glad we have a no helmet=no bike policy, because that helmet probably saved her life.

*breathing deeply* Where do I start?  This is every parent’s nightmare.  I got a phone call while I was making dinner from a lady named Heidi who was on the scene, and she told me Willow had gotten hit by a car.  One of the last things she said to me before we hung up was to breathe, she seemed okay, and mom love.  Or something to that effect.  It was very sweet, but I’m afraid I wasn’t quite in the mindset to hear it.

Willow’s accident site was only a few blocks from me, so I grabbed David and ran out the door.  As we rounded the corner and could see the fire truck and ambulance, David’s eyes got huge and he took off!  He left me in his dust as he sprinted down to the intersection where Willow was.

I got down there, and there were all these EMT’s and cops and the poor girl who was driving the car who looked absolutely stricken.  Willow wasn’t covered in blood, which wasn’t what I was expecting.  I hear Willow got hit by a car, and immediately in my imagination, she’s bleeding everywhere.  In fact, she only had one tiny scratch that I could see at first glance.  However, the EMT’s were putting the neck brace thingy on her and were busy lifting her onto a stretcher.

Then I saw the car that hit her and I about panicked.  I thought for sure Willow was going to die of internal bleeding or something, because the windshield of that car was spiderwebbed so bad it was impossible to see out of.  The front bumper had a bit of damage, too.  She had hit the car, went flying into the windshield, and bounced off.  I was shaking, I was soo scared.

The EMT’s told me that she had some amnesia of the event, and couldn’t remember what month it was, was complaining of head and neck pain, and so they wanted to take her in to the trauma center to check her out.

Off we went to Emmanuel Hospital, me blathering on like an idiot to the poor driver of the  ambulance (and wondering at the back of my mind whether I had turned the burner off or on when I left the dinner on the stove).  Micah, Dad, and David met us at the hospital.  Fortunately, my dad had the presence of mind to make sure the stove was off.   We didn’t need to have a burned down house on top of Willow getting hit by a car!

When Micah got there, they had already wheeled her off to get the CAT scans.  He was napping when all this happened, and I was in too much of a hurry to rush out the door to wake him up, so he was in major freak-out mode and didn’t know how she looked or how bad it was.  He saw she wasn’t in the room and started bawling, his imagination getting the better of him.

Willow got poked and prodded and X-rayed and CAT scanned AND….everything came out okay.  She’s got a nice sized goose egg on the noggin.  She has a  scrape on her elbow, and it’s bruised and swollen a bit.  But she’s okay.

She’s okay, people.  I’m crying from relief.

They gave her scrubs to wear at the hospital, since they cut her shirt off. That upset her, since she really liked her shirt.

Willow’s scraped up elbow is about all the visual evidence she has that she got hit by a car.

Funny girl, when she saw that her thumb nail got torn down below the quick (one of the few places on her body that actually bled), she said, “Darn it!  And I just painted my nails today, too.”

She has regained her memory of the event, as the amnesia was merely temporary.  I asked her what happened.  She was going down the hill on SE Pine, approaching SE 32nd, and looked one direction, but didn’t look the other.  She was going down the hill fairly fast, and having fun.

Willow never saw the car coming.  Fortunately, the driver was going very slow.  If she had been going 25+, like most cars do who go through that intersection, Willow probably would have had significant injuries.

I feel bad for the girl who was driving.  This has got to be a nightmare for her, too.  She probably keeps reliving the event in her own head and hearing the thuds as Willow hits the car and the ground.  I know I would.  Poor thing.  She looked like she wanted to vomit when I saw her.  She looked kind of shaky and I asked her if she was okay.  She nodded, then said, “I’m soo sorry!”  I don’t blame her.  I didn’t pursue talking with her further, since I was more worried about Willow at the time.  Now that it’s after the fact, though, I can totally understand how she must have felt and possibly still feels.

After we got home from the hospital around 8 or 9pm, Willow went to bed.  She was tired from all the trauma and she was sore.  I don’t blame her!

So when I say I only managed to squeak in 5.37 miles yesterday, I think I have a pretty darn good excuse.  :)

May 30th

Friday Follow Up time is here, where I take the time on Fridays to post about where I went walking in Portland in the last week and what I was doing.  Without further ado,  here are:

Wednesday’s Highlights-

This is the oldest sidewalk date stamp I’ve seen yet in any of the neighborhoods within a 2-3 mile radius of my Dad’s house. There are probably some older ones out there somewhere, I just haven’t found them yet! Imagine–this sidewalk is 108 years old, and it’s adjoining one that’s 100 years old!

Because it was such a nice day and because I was so relieved Micah was okay, I went for an extra long walk on Wednesday and walked the farthest I’ve walked since 2009.  I walked all OVER the neighborhoods between Belmont and Division, winding around and doing loops around blocks as I explored.  And then  some more exploring around the Laurelhurst area, as well.  As usual, I tended to spot the oddball and the beautiful.

Wednesday I walked 11.44 miles.  Wooohoooo! And I was hardly sore the next day.  Didn’t need any ibuprofen at all.  I must be getting used to it.  :)

Home made fence. I love the details.

This was only one section of this crack in the sidewalk. The whole THING had a zillion ant running around…like ants.

Nice mural. It’s outside a martial arts studio.

This cute closed sign was for the White Rabbit Vintage Furniture shop.

Willow thought this flower was cool. So did I, which is why I took the picture.

Beautiful poppy. I’ve never seen this color poppy before. Poppies are my favorite flower.

On this ledge outside the window, somebody had stacked all sorts of interesting little tidbits. This is just a small selection.

Why these three things go together, I don’t know. I love that the skunk has a clothespin on his nose.

Porcelain tulips planted in the yard.

Are these artichokes? I’ve never seen purple artichokes before.

If you want to live in a castle bad enough, build your own, I guess.

Another pineappley-pine-cactus-ey tree. Second one I’ve found in Portland so far!

I love the paint job on this old VW van.

This hammock looks home-made.

Somebody’s tree altar? That artwork is about 2″ X 3″. There were lots of other things scattered around it, too.

I like that I got the worker’s reflection in the rock.

Funny!

Some terribly violent toys here, ripping people into bits… I wonder if I should be concerned, lol.

It’s a green car…

No, it’s a purple car! The perfect car for pulling nefarious crimes. Witnesses would never be able to describe it properly. Dang color change paint.

Is Chrome spelled backward for the benefit of the drivers who would be in front, looking in the rearview mirror? How odd.

I love that the ladybug is flexing the muscles.

Pretty!

Poppies!

This was an odd gate, but cool.

A church’s homegrown playground equipment.

I like this door and entry.

Another church that was very art-centric.

I love the suit and tie on this little man!

What the? Is the church trying to build something Leonardo designed?

There is a fish skeleton on the top. Hm.

And this is the device. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to DO anything, other than look cool.

This is the church that the interesting Da Vinci-esque sculpture is behind.

Interesting idea. Vintage to go.

This mural of the girl on her scooter shows her with a tramp stamp. I thought it an interesting, fun touch.

Willow, giving me The Eye for some joke I cracked while walking home from school.

Laurelhurst Park has some interesting ducks that I’ve never seen before. They are blackish brown, with hints of green and purple (think color change paint, like the car above), and with poofy feather pompoms on some of their heads. I was taken by them!

This is the oldest sidewalk date stamp I’ve seen yet in any of the neighborhoods within a 2-3 mile radius of my Dad’s house. There are probably some older ones out there somewhere, I just haven’t found them yet! Imagine–this sidewalk is 108 years old!

May 29th

It’s time for my Friday Follow Up again, where I post about where I walked here in Portland, this last week.  Here are:

Tuesday’s Highlights-

Micah was released from the hospital around mid-afternoon.  They actually let him walk out, which is a first.  In all the hospitals he’s been in over the years, this is the first time that he has been allowed to walk out.

For whatever reason, most of my walking ended up being more toward the evening.  I walked all over the heck and back in the area near Micah’s dialysis clinic, because even though he was in the hospital this morning, he still has to go to his usual Tuesday appointment.

There were some really neat things to photograph around this area, and I finally had a nice enough day that I was able to go back to those areas I mentioned a week or so ago that I wanted to take pictures of, but had forgotten the camera. I actually got lucky, because one of the things I wanted to photograph was these rock and found object sculptures and the owner of the house happened to be there.  So I got to chat him up and learn more about them.  That was really cool.

Hidden inside this structure are all sorts of little things, including a brass buddha, thunder eggs, and other fun things.

This was part of another sculpture, and possibly my favorite part.

He told me that he is always looking for interesting shaped rocks to add to his sculptures or build new ones with.  He also said that he is always changing the items on the sculptures.  So they are always works in progress, or the flavor of the week, as it were.  He also mentioned that people come along and add their own touches, too.  But the sculptures definitely have a hint of the divine as well as the profane, and it is a wonderful combination.  Glitter skulls and pirates share space with tiny brass buddhas and prayer flags.  I adored it all. They are like urban outdoor altars.

Now that I know they are constantly changing, I know I will be back from time to time to see if I can spot any differences.  :)

Tuesday I walked 10.64 miles!

Two horses stand sentinel to the porch.

My daughter has the same sense of humor as me, because she giggled when she saw this photo and said, “Hey, Mom! Get a shovel. Let’s dig up the tree. It’s free!”

I didn’t see any goats. Now I’m disappointed.

Bright house with lots of nice windows, which I liked.

To dissuade passersby who would try to steal produce from the yard garden…

I liked this porch. It looked so inviting. I wanted to go up there and enjoy the porch swing.

Isn’t this owl cute?

This tree is related to Charlie Brown’s kite eating tree.

Other side of that bright house with the big windows.

This art was on top of a couch. They are so similarly colored, it’s as if they were made to go together. Saw them at a yard sale.

Pretty mailbox.

I *think* this was once a dinosaur sculpture.

Walking down this street was like walking through a jungle. Where’s my machete when I need it?

Aren’t these called bleeding hearts or something like that? They were pretty.

What is up with Car2Go? I see them everywhere in Portland.

One of the rock sculptures.

This was part of another sculpture, and possibly my favorite part.

Hidden inside this structure are all sorts of little things, including a brass buddha, thunder eggs, and other fun things.

Pretty snapdragons.

A very patriotic color scheme.

This tree had some gnarly branches. Gnarly.

I’ve never seen a triangular watchacallit with the windows like this before.

This was a great way to cap off a walk!

Micah’s dialysis clinic.

May 28th

It’s time for the Friday Follow Ups, where you get to come along with me virtually and follow my every move as I walked about this great city last week.

Monday’s Highlights-

Unfortunately, at 4 am ish on Monday morning, I got a call from my husband, who was at the dialysis clinic.   He dialyzes at night time Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Apparently, when he was dialyzing on Sunday night, he started having horrible chest pains and they took him to the hospital, for fear he was going to have a heart attack.

Micah at the hospital.

This has happened to Micah before, though it hasn’t happened in a long time.  Usually, it has something to do with his medication needing to be adjusted or else he has too much fluid in him (could be he ate too much sodium or drank too much).  When he first started dialysis and was getting used to it, it seemed he was in the hospital once a month or so.

But despite the fact that I’ve seen Micah go in and out of hospitals, it still is stressful every single time.To fight the stress, I worked out at the gym and walked a whole bunch.  I ended up walking another ten miler, which was great, especially after my abysmally low  weekend walking numbers.

By mid-afternoon on Monday, Micah had been poked and prodded and had all sorts of tests done.  The only test left they decided they would do the next morning, and that was a stress test.  But the doctors felt that the problems Micah were having were more than likely from having too much fluid in his system.  His “dry” weight is 97 kilos.  He was about 10 kilos over that, which is an enormous amount (you dialysis patient folks probably understand that and are nodding your head going OMG!).  Micah said, “I think I overindulged this weekend because of the party.  I drank a lot more stuff than I usually do.”  Um, no kidding.  Yeah.  And he had three or four hot dogs over the course of the weekend, which are chock full of sodium, to boot.  Bleah.  So we are both going to be watching that in the future, especially at get-togethers, where the impulse to indulge is great.

It makes sense that so much water would be in him, when you think about it.  For those of you unfamiliar with dialysis, what happens is that the blood of the body is run through a machine.  The machine removes the toxins and the fluids that the kidneys would ordinarily excrete.  When the kidneys are working properly, people urinate out all the soda, coffee, iced tea, and other beverages they drink.  If they aren’t working properly, then the fluid that would have become pee just builds up and builds up and doesn’t go anywhere.  You know that saying, “gotta pee so bad my teeth are floating”?  Well, if people drink a lot between dialysis appointments, they need to dialyze so bad their teeth are floating.

I joke, but actually, the problem really isn’t a joking matter.  When there is too much fluid in the body, it can collect and pool in the lungs, effectively suffocating a person and making the blood pressure shoot sky high, causing heart problems and leading to heart attacks.  So it is really a serious issue if dialysis patients take in too much fluid and sodium, which encourages fluid retention.

The crazy thing is, when this happened back when Micah was first learning how to deal with the dialysis and was over-drinking, the fluid would build up in his lungs and he would know, because he would have symptoms.  This time he didn’t have any symptoms until he started having chest pains.  The doctors surmise this is because he’s working out and getting healthier.

So while it’s great news to hear Micah is getting more fit, it’s also uneasy-making to know that he might be less apt to feel like he is under the weather when he is.  Big sigh.

Anyhow, while I waited for the hubby at the hospital, I tried to do my business as usual,  which included my walking, working out, and working on my game prototype.  I got some nice photos Monday, too!

Monday I walked 10.15 miles.

Pretty flowers. These are at Oblique Coffee Roasters, a coffee shop across the street from our house.

If you can’t go visit Africa, paint it on your garage.

This tree is BEGGING for a tree swing.

I thought the sign was cute.

This is the very tree where a squirrel came close to peeing on my head. On purpose. Then he threw some bark or an acorn or something at me. Dang squirrels…grumble grumble.

This lonely foot weight was hanging out on a street corner all by itself. I wonder where the mate was and why somebody left it behind?

This place has GOOOD pizza. But it’s false advertising, since they don’t serve the pizza naked, drat it.

Cool mural.

Another mural.

This cemetery isn’t too far from my house. I wanted to go in and explore, but I saw a no dogs sign. Maybe another time.

The dogs who live here must be in HEAVEN!

Outside of the dog yard for really spoiled dogs.

Aha! So that’s the name of the place. Ironically, this is right across the street from the cemetery, which doesn’t allow dogs. Maybe that’s why there’s so many fire hydrants in the yard….

I hope they get this fountain flowing soon. It looks like it would be really neat.

I liked this house.

Me and geometry. In this pic you can’t see it very well, but the tile mosaic has some strips of opalescent tiles that were really pretty.

I can’t get away from the gut trucks here in Portland. They. Are. Everywhere.

Portland has a lot of these bikes. I’m not sure what the appeal is–it’s a longer way down if you fall. And you’re more likely to hit overhanging tree branches. Maybe I’m just too practical to appreciate it?

I couldn’t live here. I would feel like I was in prison.

Urban farm store. Considering how many homes I’ve seen with chicken coops in their yards and the bazillion gardens I’ve seen, I’m not surprised that there is one of these not so far from where I live.

Microbrewed fertilizer? Um….that sounds…icky. When they stir it up in the vat and it smells extra stinky, they know it’s ready?

Another cool van mural, even if this one is for a business.

This is the business that the van belongs to.

Interesting window display.

I love the neighborhoods around my home! So artistic!

Micah at the hospital.

May 27th

It’s time for Friday Follow Ups!  See what happened and where I walked around Portland this last week!

Last Sunday’s Highlights-

I didn’t walk too far this day, since I was still in recovery mode from the birthday party barbecue.  However, the walk I did, was very, very enjoyable.  Sunday’s theme seemed to revolve around art and quirky things, Sunnyside Environmental School and some really neat houses.  The Sunnyside district in Portland is home to some of the artsiest people, I swear!  I saw some fantastic mural painting.

One small part of a mural I saw that wrapped around somebody’s garage. For more pics of that, check the gallery below.

And apparently I missed a painting party that was going on Saturday to repaint the Sunnyside Piazza.  They have an annual block party every year to refresh the paint at the intersection.

The block party announcement. Sounds like they probably had a ton of fun! I think it’s soooo cool a whole neighborhood gets together like this every year to enjoy art, become art, and re-affirm their community.

Sunday I walked 3.27 miles.

The entire mural on one side.

One small part of a mural I saw that wrapped around somebody’s garage. For more pics of that, check the gallery below.

The entire mural on the opposite side.

Sunnyside Piazza

Another blanket for a telephone pole. Only this one is tiny. More like a necklace, perhaps?

This decorative stick in this pot needed a blanket, too.

Pretty mosaic.

The block party announcement. Sounds like they probably had a ton of fun! I think it’s soooo cool a whole neighborhood gets together like this every year to enjoy art and be a community together.

Some of the detail work on the edge of the sunflower.

I’m guessing the 2004 date is when they started this painting block party annual tradition?

This is first made me curious what was down the street that the street was blocked off. My curiosity was rewarded by the wonderful Sunnyside Piazza!

These frogs are adorable, sitting there on that bench!

Okay, I think this is the girliest house I’ve seen, with it’s color combo of light pink, darker pink and white. And yet….I have a confession. I like it.

There was also WORD art in addition to visual art on my walk this day. These window frame holders are outside a house used for writing workshops and whatnot. In the frames are poems and inspirational written word tidbits.

Sunnyside School, the school Willow will likely be going to this fall. It’s an environmental school, whatever that means.

Sunnyside School has developed a butterfly garden!

The pathways around the school are filled with artistic touches.

What school paints door murals on their doors? This is cool!

The school also has gardens everywhere. In this area, strawberries are being grown.

The school also has its very own chicken coop, right next to its front entrance. When I passed here, it didn’t register to me that it was a coop (what school has a chicken coop?) until Dante scared the crap out of the chickens (and me, since I wasn’t expecting it) by barking at them.

Check out the mermaids and octopus in the detail at the top of the porch!

If you think this house is colorful, wait to you see it’s neighbor….

Wow. Just wow. I wonder how long it took to paint that way?

Hello, gargoyle!

Because a day can’t go by without me admiring flowers, here ya go!

The houses here in Portland are quite often covered in solar panels.

Cool oliphant.

Kitsch is alive and well.

I liked how dramatic the columns looked.

Fort Awesome

Some kind of alien egg among the foliage.

Reflector with so much graffiti, it looks like art.

Love this bumper sticker. It makes for a good motto!

This house’s rock retaining wall was actually a sculpture. They designed a sun and other stuff.

Love the art van.

The “constipated people don’t give a crap” painted on the back had me laughing.

Ending my walk with tranquility. My walks are meditative in some ways, so this seemed appropriate.

May 26th

It’s Friday Follow Up day!  On to:

Last Saturday’s Highlights-

David’s 19th birthday! Yaaay! I’m an old woman!

The big day of the barbecue arrives and I still hadn’t baked or frosted the cake. So I had to do that first thing in the morning.  I made sure to set my alarm for 8:30 so I could get up in time to get everything done.  I also had to prepare the hamburger condiments, slice the tomatoes and onions, etc.  I packed up all the food, which there was TONS of, the grill, the charcoal, and the family and I loaded up the car.  My dad and his sister also brought tons of stuff to the park, too, to make it more comfortable.  Extra tables, chairs, a mat and cushions to lounge on, tablecloths and pins, banners, balloons, etc.

We also had to scope out a park, since I hadn’t reserved a space.  For Portland Parks and Recreation, there is a $17.50 application fee to reserve a park space.  The application fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied.  So if I picked a space, and it was already taken, I would have to pay the fee again to request a different space.  Then, if that was available, pay for the actual reservation fee (which ranged from $22 to over $100 depending on the space).

Forget it.  I figured we would scout out a place and take our chances.  So we did.  We ended up barbecuing at Oregon Park, a nice little park on NE 30th and NE Hoyt. We set up shop, called a jillion folks to let them know where to head, and had ourselves a nice l’il barbecue.

David and his blinged out phone case for a birthday present. Which HE requested and was thrilled to get.

We were very worried that it would rain, since the day started out so overcast.  But the clouds burned off and the sun came out and it was beautiful!  The weather gods were very kind.  They waited until 30 seconds AFTER we got all of the stuff unloaded after the party was over before opening up the heavens and drenching the streets.

Fourteen folks showed up for David’s party and we all had a great time.   Dad brought his ferrets and they got lots of attention from the kiddos at the park.  From the canine kiddos, too.  But, the ferrets are fearless and didn’t seem to mind.  To them, an outing at the park is a big adventure!

Martin is a little go-getter. He was all over his little enclosure, looking for places to escape, no doubt!

The ironic thing is, I figured we should have a barbecue because it would fit in our budget better.  Wrong.  I think we could have had a pizza party and saved money, after all.  ’Cues can be expensive!  Still, I think this way was more fun.

I thought that we would probably have lots of leftovers, too, because I marinated 8 pieces of chicken, grilled 12 hamburger patties, a package of hot dogs, and two packages of sausage dogs between 14 people.  I was amazed when I looked over at the ‘cue station after we had all loaded up and had eaten, and there were only two hot dogs left after all of that.  Whew!  We were hungry peeps!  Then even those disappeared when my cousin’s dog Misty managed to get away from him and just that quick–GULP!–they were gone.  I was laughing about it and thought it was hilarious, but I think he felt bad.  So, no leftovers except a little bit of orzo salad and shrimp and egg salad, and a couple of pieces of grilled corn on the cob.

Unfortunately, due to all this excitement (and hard work!) I didn’t get much walking in–only 2.06 miles.

Setting up grill central.

Some of the loot, before David got it open.

David’s 19th birthday! Yaaay! I’m an old woman!

David, my 19 year old.

My aunt Chris.

Typical Dad. I think Willow snapped this pic of her grampa. (He isn’t papa, grandpa or grandfather. He is grampa.)

Willow snapping a self-portrait. She likes doing this! I find them on my camera all the time. :)

A couple of my dad’s Littles. Littles are what he calls the ferrets.

Willow and her cousin Emily. My aunt brought the mat and cushions.

David and his friend, Matt. Matt brought Munchkin for them to play.

Micah, my cousin’s wife Alice, and my mom.

Friend of the family Marrla and in the background, Emily, Willow and her little friend Isabel.

Isabel and Willow.

Ferrets! Martin is looking over at my dad, wanting to get out and play!

My dad holding a couple of his Littles. The blonde one is Sage, who is the mellowest one of the bunch. He acts like he’s stoned, he’s so mellow.

My aunt Chris and my sister, Tia. My aunt Chris was instrumental in helping out with the cake and flowers/decorations at my wedding. She’s a baker and she does flower arranging.

My cousin, Gary and his puppy dog, Misty. We were surprised, because we actually had two hot dogs left. Then Misty decided to make sure we didn’t need to worry about leftovers! It was hilarious.

Any money in there? (You know that’s what kids secretly hope for. Kids! Hah! Adults too, probably.) :)

My niece, Emily.

David checking around for more loot.

May 25th FFU*

*FFU is Friday Follow Up.  Not Friday fuck ups.  Or flippin’ frick off.  Or…  (Wow, what language.  And here I’ve got a baby photo below.  I’m so classy.)

Me on Fridays!

Well, it’s time for Friday follow ups again.  Last week, I conducted a poll as to how you all would like to read my blogs.  75% of a whopping 4 respondents (wow, I sound all political bloggy), said that I should have a post for each day, and that day’s photos in a gallery, so you all can see them easily, rather than make you go to the Portland Walkabout Log page to try and hunt down the extra photos I post of all the days.

So, I’m trying that out.  We’ll see how it works.  After a couple of weeks or so ago, I may ask your opinion again whether the new way is working well or not.  I want what I post to be easily accessible and readable, so I will need your input to let me know if I’m succeeding!

Last Friday, I posted that after my tweaking-the-knee injury last Tuesday the 22nd,  I hoped to kick butt over Friday and the weekend.

Ah, for the best-hoped plans…

Friday’s Highlights

It turns out that I am a terrible mother.  I knew that Friday night that my son was supposed to be busing into town from Job Corps and that I needed to pick him up from the Greyhound station.  What I conveniently forgot was that Memorial Day weekend was the weekend we had planned to celebrate his birthday.

Well, to be more precise, I didn’t forget that we were planning it, I just forgot that I had a MILLION things to do to prepare for the birthday bash we were holding on Saturday.

Because we are on a budget, we figured that we would have a barbecue at a local park.  Barbecues are fun, right?  And a few weeks ago I bought two ten pound bags of chicken leg quarters for 55 cents a pound and stuck them in the freezer.  So I was all over the barbecue business.  Save money, have fun.  Yep.

Well, I forgot how much work barbecues are.  Late Friday morning I realized just how much stuff I had to do before the party.  Needless to say, that meant most of the day was spent running errands (buying groceries, last minute gifts, cards and wrap) and then much of the evening was spent (indeed, I was up til 2am!) cooking and doing prep work.  I made a spicy shrimp and egg salad, a Greek orzo salad, baked up chocolate chip cookie dough brownies and chocolate chip cookies, made a kick-ass Asian style marinade and started the chicken in the marinade (making sure I kept some separate so that it wouldn’t be tainted with chicken juice).  I also wrapped all the gifts.  And I STILL wasn’t finished.

So my walking log is an abysmal 2.92 miles, and most of that is related to running around shopping and taking the dog for walks!  And no photos.  :(  But the lack of photos Friday is just a small blip.  I took tons more this week, so stay tuned!