Heading back tomorrow

Hats

These fine ladies became the subject today. We saw them at the Cheesecake Factory in the Washington Square mall just outside of Beaverton. [Funny, I didn't think til now how odd it is to have a mall called Washington Square when it's located in Oregon.] Anyway, I tried a few shots from our table, but was unsuccessful, thus, I pulled the bold move. I got up and went over to them and asked for a picture. They were, as you see, all to happy to do so. I said, "Excuse me, I just love your hats, may I have a picture?"

The lady at the far left had been standing, and the other three beckoned her to sit with them; she hurried over and plopped down. She posed, then said, "Wait... my glasses." She removed her stylish black rimmed glasses, indicating her readiness, and snap... I had my winning shot.

Aren't they awesome?! I've heard of these types of get togethers; women meeting once a month or so, with their crazy hats, for lunch or whatever, but hadn't seen it til now. I love it.

Makes me smile because it reminds me of where I want to be when I'm older. It's the same way I feel when I go to CostPlus and look at all the crazy jewelry, colorful bags and scarfs, and etc. It's the type of crazy and fantastic professor poet I'd love to be, wearing whatever the hell I want because I love it and don't care what anyone says or thinks about it.

So, yey for crazy hats, and yey for fantastic old ladies who remind me of who I want to be and how I want to live.

;-)

Family doodle

I wanted to share with you how funny my family is. This drawing above was done by my mom and brother before I went over to their room to play Apples to Apples.

Again, we're a bit competitive (creative and funny), and this might be a good illustration. Hopefully, I'll get the order and story close.

So the drawing started with a few squares in the upper left, which soon after turned into a house. This was my mom's doodle. In response, my brother drew a cannon complete with lite fuse to blow up the house.

My mom, in response, drew clouds and a rain storm, which would damp the fuse and stop the cannon from firing. My brother then drew lightning, which destroyed the house. (Notice the flames he also drew around the house.)

After rebuilding the house and determining the cannon was still a threat, my mom drew a gun to shoot the cannon with. So, my brother drew a tree falling, an axe, and the words Timber to indicate his counter-move.

My mom rebuilds the house again. My brother shoots the cannon again. So in response my mom draws a bomb (complete with ticking) to blow up the cannon once and for all.

Thus, my brother draws a bomb squad truck. And finally, my mom draws a gas can to burn the bomb unit truck, thus hindering the bomb squad's effectiveness, hereby saving the house from destruction.

Fin. [The order might have been slightly different; but, here you have said illustration.]

After Garden: Pittock Mansion

The last two pictures are my "entry" for these particular subjects. My family is really competitive, so when the first of these last two happened, it became an event of interest. This fine couple walked into my picture, but what was most interesting is how perfectly they belonged there. They became the subject of the picture. They were the picture.

Recognizing this, my mom and I then focused our attention on them as our subject matter. Her's wins, hands down. She caught the two walking to this particular window above, arms around each other, under the umbrella. Looks like some picture of a handsome couple walking in Paris.

The last one above is one of my favorite from the ones I took. I think it's hilarious, as I happened to capture the two peeking into the mansion. (Many of us had arrived minutes late, missing admission to this tourist attaction: Pittock Mansion.)

This couple rules. It'd be awesome if Tony and I someday were like them.

After lunch: Japanese Garden

Lunch: Best Irish Pub Ever!!

Today: Downtown Portland