My sister Renee became the first in my family to visit my new townhouse, but she was
the last in my family to actually come visit me in Portland.
One of the things that Renee is very skilled at is baking. So, naturally, we went to Fred Meyer to
pick up baking supplies. One of the conversations that I had with a Fred Meyer guy went like this:
Paul - So, I know that I'm going to be challenging my own masculinity here, but do you have any
Cream of Tartar?
Fred Meyer guy, chucking - Um, yeah, sure we do. I think I just saw that over here somewhere.
Here you go.
Paul, feeling embarrassed - Thanks.
Shortly after this exchange, Renee was laughing at me and then saw a box of Cheez-Its, which for some
reason made her just lose it. So, I took a picture and then promptly looked down the aisle, and there
was the Fred Meyer guy laughing at us. Apparently, we made his day.
One of the many places Renee and I went was the Tillamook Cheese Factory. It's one of my favourite tours
because it's by far the least efficient factory on the planet. It's CONSTANTLY broken, but they still have
the best ice cream and some great cheese curds, so it's worth stopping in.
Renee, by the Morning Star. For more on Tillamook, visit HERE.
The night before I left for my first trip to Europe after finishing my engineering degree, Renee and
my friend Erik were hanging out helping me pack. One of the things they thought was funny was the
money belt I was planning on taking with me to Europe. Erik immediately thought it was an eye patch
and he and Renee laughed so hard about me being a pirate and tenting on someone's lawn in Germany and
cooking my food in a big garbage can and other ridiculousness. As a consequence neither one of them
can see a pirate sign and not completely go bananas. Here is Renee next to a sign just north of
Tillamook for, you guessed it, a Pirate thing.
A little further down the coast, Renee and I posed for a pic.
Renee, gazing off towards Manzanita Beach.
We had seafood at Cannon Beach and had to run around the beach. I tried to get Haystack Rock to
look like a hat but it didn't really turn out.
Renee scampering around the ocean.
Renee realizing that the water temperature in Oregon in May is not tropical at all.
Renee and I on the beach at Cannon Beach, OR.
I think Renee was doing a tai-chi pose, but I'm not sure.
Yes, I know it's cheesy, but the light at the beach was so awesome, I had to take a sunset shot.
Once we got back to Oregon, we had the lovely Deb Disko over for drinks with my new blender.
Of course, Deb brought over the fun, which in this case was her fun margarita glasses.
Saturday morning Renee and I ventured down to Beaverton Farmer's Market. On the way to the market,
Renee was so enthralled with the flowers by my church that she went over and stole one to put in her hair.
Renee also has this thing with the 'V' that some Asian travellers pose with for pictures. This is
(try this for culturally insensitive) one of the dragons outside the Classical Chinese Gardens in
downtown Portland.
As we were walking around after Dim Sum, Renee saw these people and almost fell over. Apparently,
this is a a group of people who proclaim that "When I get older I will wear purple and a red hat,
and be ridiculous". Renee asked to take their picture and one of them hugged her afterwards and
wished her a great trip. The group is inspired by a poem by Jenny Joseph that you can
read here LINK
The crazy purple dressed red hat ladies have a website here LINK :
As is always the case with my fun visitors, I took Renee to see my favourite chop suey restaurant
Hung Far Low. I think they also serve cocktails...
Renee and a couple of elephants on Park Avenue, in Portland.
We walked around the Saturday Market under the Burnside bridge, and Renee found some freaks.
Did I mention Star Wars had just come out?
I was instructed that the caption here should read, "Renee getting the seal of approval".
I was also instructed that the caption here should read, "Nice beaver, Renee!".
Apparently, my girlfriend Natalia had had a haircut that she didn't like and that she thought made
her look like a pony. Naturally, Renee took this and ran with it. Here is the shoes she found for Nati.
Renee and I were so stoked to sit down to a great barbeque at my place with fresh steak from the market,
Tin Din potatoes (I thought you'd like that Dad), a nice salad with Tillamook cheese, and garlic bread
that we had to take a picture.
As a special surprise for Renee, I took her to the Portland Opera's production of The Abduction from the
Seraglio . Here she is in my house ready to go.
Both of us before the opera.
After the opera, we met some of my friends for karaoke at the Galaxy on Burnside. We were a little
overdressed, but check out this sweet mullet at the door! Close up below.
Mullet at the Galaxy. Let's call it, the "Galaxy Mullet".
My friend Paul Dehaan and I at the Galaxy.
Paul and I and Allison with the comb over.
Paul and Allison. Apparently Allison also like the "Thumbs up" pose.
Ha, Paul, Allison, Amanda, and one of Ha's law school friends. Did I mention that Ha (on the right) is now
finished law school??? Way to go dude!
We can't have karaoke without an action shot. Here and Paul and Ha singing something.
Renee and Amanda Hoffus teaching the shower dance.
When Ha drinks, he hits on EVERYONE relentlessly. Here he is hitting on Amanda and having a great time.
If you get queasy easily, you may want to skip the next picture.
So, my friend Jason Stowers has had sleep apnea for quite some time. His doctors finally did surgery
on him and chopped out a bunch of his throat. The running joke is that he should be able to climb
harder since he weighs less (about 4 oz).
I couldn't very well take Renee touring in Oregon and not stop at Calamity Jane's.
Whenever I'm in the Zigzag area, I always try to stop in and see Tony Holmes and his lovely wife Kelsey.
Renee is apparently having some serious mothering tendencies and needed to hold Tony and Kelsey's
latest addition, Faith, who was about 10 weeks old here.
We drove up to Timberline Lodge to see where they filmed The Shining.
I guess I don't understand, but Renee was SOOOO excited to go eat at Fuddrucker's when she found out
that there was one in Tigard. I guess it's gotta be that great jalapeno cheese sauce.
Renee really liked this poster at Fudd's.
One of the last things we did in Oregon was tour the Oregon Zoo. Here is Renee with a peacock.
We took the Zooliner around Washington Park.
Renee in a train car.
We went into a cage with a whole bunch of Lorikeets in an open-air aviary. These birds were
flying around our heads, and you can buy a little cup with juice and they'll drink right out
of your hand.
Renee and an Asian elephant.
In a grand tradition of me riding things, here is an elephant.
We debated sending Renee on the plane with this hat on.
Renee liked the monkey one better.
Renee and a zebra.
And now starts the parade of asses. I sort of got sick of saying, "Oh cool, we're at the
whatever exhibit, where are the animals?", only to discover that all we could see was their butts.
As such, we will play, Whose Butt Is It Anyway?"
Hippopotamus.
African Pygmy Goat.
Zebra.
Peacock. Actually, I also took this picture since it reminded me of a top that Natalia wore at a
wedding. Here is that picture: LINK
Renee's favourite ass - the mandrill. For more about the Zoo, check out their website
End of the Whose Butt Is it Anyway
Renee monkeying around (terrible Dad joke).
Hmm, I'm sure I could probably make some rose amongst the thorns comments, but I won't. This is
at the International Rose Garden in Portland.
Renee and I found the Rose Queen for her. Denis and Leah and I had also found it when they were here.
The last night Renee was in town, we had some friends over and played a game of Cranium. Renee
was a VERY gracious host, as we served root beer floats, layered nacho dip, chippies, shortbread,
unbaked cookies, root beer Jelly Bellies, and peanut butter fudge. My mother would be proud.
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