See ya, Portland!

On our way to the airport after another great trip. Loaded for bear with two full boxes of wine and beer. We are going to eat at the airport either at Laurelwood or Rogue, then home.

Wishing for an uneventful trip home. See you soon!

The Gorge and Beyond...

Wednesday was Columbia River Gorge, Bonneville Dam, Fruit Loop and Mt. Hood Day. You guessed it, we didn't get to Mt. Hood. But we did have an awesome time.

We started along the Columbia River Gorge, and stopped at a few waterfalls - see Multnohma Falls in the picture. Note the little bridge. No, I didn't go on the bridge, as evidenced by the other picture of me looking incredibly tense.

It was then on to Bonneville Dam...well actually the fish hatchery. Pretty cool! There were HUGE salmon in the tanks, as well as trout, and Herman the Sturgeon who was ginormous.

After the fish hatchery, we stopped in at Full Sail for a drink and swag, and then went to see a guy at Wyeast that Chris knows from the AHA Conference. He was really great, we had a beer with him at his office, and got a bunch of swag there too.

We then just stopped at one place on the Fruit Loop. Bought some pears, we'll see if they are good tomorrow when we are home. OK, here is the deal. We do not do well with drive, stop, wander, drive, stop, wander, lather, rinse, repeat. So while the Fruit Loop might be awesome for some, that kind of vacation ain't good for us. So we hopped back in the car, and headed back to Portland.

Drank a Pliny (did I mention we got 6 more), packed, went to a later dinner, and passed out. Today we head for home...

Post Script...Beervana

We went to Henry's 12th Street Tavern. They have over 100 beers on tap, and focus on mostly local awesome beers. We were able to use the Kincaid's Gift Certificate that N&J gave us for Christmas - THANK YOU!!

Here is the rundown on the beer we had:

Chris #1: Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale
Patty #1: Walking Man Homo Erectus Imperial IPA
Chris #2: Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Patty #2: Rodenbach Sour

I am going to go either throw up because I'm so full, or pass out. Probably I'll pass out either way.

Moo.

Did I mention we stopped and said hi to these nice cows? It's good luck, you know.

Wait, you say? What about the four Pliny?

So on the way home from Pacific City, Chris started calling liquor stores to see if they had any Pliny. We called "Cork" and they were open until 7:00 and they had some. So we plugged it into the GPS and started speeding. The GPS set our arrival at 6:53.

I dropped Chris off on the corner at 6:56, and he ran in and was told that there was a limit of three per customer. Seriously. I told you this was the best beer ever.

After haggling with the guy we ended up with four. Chris didn't know if I was going to come in, so he wouldn't let me get the three that were due me since he "begged" the guy to sell him four. I think it's bunk, but whatever. One of us has to be the nice one in this marriage. Tomorrow we will seek out another six at the other Cork location. And maybe a few more on Thursday - I'm just saying it's an option.

Ah well. It's now 8:00, and we are trying to decide what to do for dinner. I'm drinking diet coke out of a champagne glass and eating the Tillamook cheese curds (they squeek!). If you ask me? That would be enough of a great end to a great day.

Tomorrow - off to the Columbia River Gorge, Bonneville Dam, and the Fruit Loop, and maybe Mt. Hood. You can see our track record for fitting it all in. I'm looking to score some pears to ship home!

No crab, four Pliny

Well, we didn't make it all the way down to Newport. We left the hotel and spent almost an hour driving around trying to get to a liquor store that had Pliny. Many of the streets were closed due to construction and when we got there, it wasn't open until 11:00. GOD DAMMIT. We then stopped to get a bagel for breakfast and we were on our way to Cannon Beach.

Let me just say this - if you ever pick a spot to retire, or vacation, and you want to see the ocean, Cannon Beach is fabulous. It was absolutely beautiful. We walked down the beach - me in my bare feet trying to not get a pants full of water - and walked up to Haystack Rock (see it in the background of our picture). It was a good setting for another signature self portrait.

After Cannon Beach was Tillamook - yep, you got it, the cheese factory was visited! Um, this you can skip if you come here. We stood in a line and got 6 cheese cubes as tasters, then you could buy all of their cheese at their store. We got curds, which were great, and then got an ice cream cone. I will say that it was some of the best ice cream I've ever had - I guess when you are actually INSIDE the plant it works out that way.

After Tillamook, we did the Three Capes Scenic tour - apparently there are lighthouses. After seeing the first one, I never did see another one. And it was all windy and shit, and since we didn't have a great map, someone in the car was getting a little freaked out. Hmmm...I'll give you a hint, it wasn't me. After an argument about the GPS versus the stupid map in the Oregon Coast guide, we realized we were going the right way to get to Pacific City and Pelican Pub.

Pelican Pub. What should I say? First, and I mean this literally. Not the literally people use for hyperbole, but LIT-ER-AL-LY. It took longer for the waitress to take or order than the time between when we ordered and the food came out. The food was remarkably UN-remarkable. Chris said the beer was solid. All I know is that I was accosted by so many bad smells I wanted to hurl. I think the Pacific Ocean just smells bad. Or at least it does in Pacific City. At that point it was 4:15 and we decided to just head back to Portland.

So. No crab.

OK, let's focus on the positive...

OK, I'm going to get over the sore throat and focus on what a great day we have ahead of us today!

We are driving down the coast, stopping at 4 or 5 towns to walk around on the beach, see the site, look at lighthouses, and eat at Pelican Brewpub in Pacific City. We are going all the way down to Newport, and we'll stop at Rogue, and I'm going to eat crab if it kills me. I didn't do that when we were in Delaware two years ago, so by God I'm doing it on this coast.

I'm psyched to use the new camera lens when we are at the lighthouses and at the beach. We'll post the pictures and you can be the judge.

Well, we're off in a few minutes, and the first stop is at The Cork, a liquor store where we are going to buy all of the Pliny the Elder they have. I spied about eight bottles in their back room. C&J - we're coming over Friday or Saturday with it!!

Remember what a wise man once said...you can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning.

Really?

Woke up this morning with a sore throat. Getting a cold. GOD DAMMIT.

In Vino Veritas

Today we drove down to the Willamette Valley for wine tastings. Chris set the tone for our day as we were walking into Sokol Blosser at 10:00 am by saying, "You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning." I knew there was a reason I love him.

We used our new 50mm lens today - check out the pictures! The one of the grapes I especially like, but our signature self portrait doesn't really work - hence the big faces. But I LOVE this lens.

I've have also decided that this wine club thing is THE way to go. At Sokol Blosser, our tasting was free, and we had about 9 wines, and there were probably normally 5 that were on the tasting menu. The whites were awesome, so we bought a bunch to bring home. And I was toasted by 10:30 am. You stay classy, Patty.

At Argyle later in the day, I said we were in the wine club and asked how it worked and he said, "You just pick out whatever you want." That was it. Word to the wise - just say you are in the wine club and get free shit. We went to five different wineries, and needless to say, I passed out on the way back to the hotel at 2:30. Chris is quite a trooper for driving.

We are off tonight to an Italian restaurant (Piazza Italia) that we went to last year with K & M. If it is as good as last year, it will be fabulous.

ARGH is right.

Just heard on the news that there was a pirate festival in Portland yesterday. COME ON. Imaging the blogging if we'd attended that.

Struck out!

While we were at the Green Dragon, our awesome waitress Jill from Madison was nice enough to give us suggestions for brewpubs and brew bars. One was right across the street - Cascade Brewing Company who had a bar just for barrel aged sour beers, and they were brand new! So new, in fact, they aren't open yet. DRAG. We were so excited! I don't know when they open but I might just call them today and see if we can't get it.

Took the bus back to the Pearl, then walked over to Rogue for a couple of beers. Finished the night at Whole Foods so we could get some breakfast for this morning.

Day 1 finished a great day, even with the rain.

Off to the vineyards today - SO EXCITED!!

Ferrets? Yes, ferrets.

After Bridgeton we went back to the hotel and took a much needed nap. And what a coincidence, the movie "Dodgeball," was on, starring Steve the pirate! See...it is the circle of life Simba. So Hakuna Matata and all that shit.

Now we are Green Dragon after a bus ride that involved a couple and their two ferrets. I mean honestly, I love this town! Don't get me wrong, ferrets are the spawn of Satan, but where else would that seem like no big deal?

So we got off the bus and I kept thinking, we are probably going to get killed in this neighborhood. We walked over to the Green Dragon and it is in what used to be some weird Quonset hut. But now we are inside and it is really grungy cool. I am drinking a Russian River Blind Pig and quite frankly I could get killed and it would be a fitting tribute to my life. They also have some beer here that is apparently made with hemp. Again...how can you not love this place.

I think we are going to a place called Roots next, I can't really be sure since Chris is in charge today. He just said that whatever he looked at on his phone said it was closed permanently...riiiigggghhhtttt...let's go there. I am practicing letting go...hakuna matata, hakuna matata, hakuna matata. See? Circle if life.

ARGH, MATEYS!!!

How could ye be forgettin? The day upon us is National Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Avast and blimey, the grog in this here place brings a tear to me eye.

Don't be forgettin to talk like a pirate today or I'll make ye walk the plank!

(The preceding blog post was for CK in book club and for the rest of our book club.)

Not even noon, and I'm full and buzzed.

We had a wonderful breakfast with aunt, uncle, cousin, and cousin's hubby. The restaurant was called Meriwether and grow much of the food on their menu at a farm they run. Great food and it was so great to see everyone happy and healthy. Best line of the breakfast? While talking about how long we have been married, Uncle says, "How old are you?" And when I said 39, he said, "Oh my God you're 39??" He had the most disgusted look on his face and said, "You're old you know." Um...yeah. Now even more painfully aware of it. Thanks man.

Chris and I are now at Laurelwood sharing a sampler. I have to figure out how to get these guys to open in Minneapolis. They are on par, or a little better than Town Hall. The Free Range Red and the Workhorse IPA are outstanding. We are going to hand here for a bit and watch the Vikings game (quote from Chris, "they are sucking it right now."), then head (stumble) to Bridgeport.

The funny thing I am learning about Portland is that rain doesn't necessarily mean rain, it might mean misting or blue skies with clouds. So we are talking what we can get and today is right now sunny and patches of blue sky.

More to come. Maybe something funny will happen on our way to Bridgeport. :)

Ah...the Pacific Northwest...

We have arrived! In the pouring rain. Flight was uneventful, just like I like it. The most upsetting thing that happened was they they had "The A Team" on as the movie. And one other thing that bothered me...when did the quality of airline peanuts go from OK to really sucky? Chris got two little bags for me, and they had about 12 nuts a piece in them and they were TERRIBLE. Thanks Delta.

Last night we threw on our rain coats and went out in the rain to a place to the Red Star Tavern. Oh dear...I am not supposed to drink when I take my drugs for flying, but there was a Laurelwood Free Range Red on tap! An Organic beer at that!! How could I refuse. And it was tasty...so tasty. So were the pork sliders, and mac & cheese we had. You know, my drugs are supposed to make me not remember anything, but somehow I can always remember the food and beer.

We got back to the room and I fell asleep with my fingers on my phone keyboard trying to write this. Chris had to come and take it out of my hands. You stay classy, Patty.

Today we are heading to brunch with my cousin, aunt, and uncle, then a pub crawl...in the rain. But we are in the Pacific Northwest for a reason - alcohol. And there is no way a little bit of rain will get in the way. As my mom says, we'll just run between the raindrops, and try not to stumble and spill out beer.

Goodbye Sun, Hello Reality

Today is our last day...laundry is finishing up, we're heading to lunch at the club, and our flight leaves at 5:45.

We have had a fantastic trip! But ready to come home to a schedule, our bed, and less food. We are likely more than a few pounds heavier, something neither of us need!

Back to work tomorrow, Friday night going to see Anthony Bourdain (thank you Cory for my birthday present!)...then catching up at home.

Thanks for reading if you did - I know it was boring as shit this vacation.

Peace everyone!

Musical Instrument Museum Day!!

Due to a great friend at work, I was able to get pre-opening ticket to the Musical Instrument Museum, the new museum in Phoenix that was the idea of Bob Ulrich, Target's former CEO. Let me just say - AMAZING! But more later on that...

Chris and I decided to have lunch, go to the museum, and go to dinner and make a day of it. Finally - above is a picture of Chris and me tonight and yesterday...proof we are actually here.

We started at Postino, a great little restaurant with a cool lunchy kind of menu of paninis and bruschetta - very tasty combos, so I took a menu. Look out Book Club! Next time I host, you'll be having bruscetta!! They also had DogfishHead 60 Minute on tap, and Chris got a 1/2 pitcher for $7.50. Yes, $7.50! I had wine, and frankly, should have had beer. :(

We then went to the museum. Like I said above...amazing! There are literally thousands of musical instruments from all over the globe there. Some new, some old, but referenced from just about every country in the world, a few countries I didn't even know! The building is beautiful, and they have this cool headphone system where you walk up to each exhibit and it picks up the music playing so the sound is great, and if you don't like it, you just walk away! I think it is fantastic that someone would focus on this - there is such shrinking in the arts, and kids don't get many creative outlets anymore, so if you can foster a love for music early on, I think we would all benefit!

We then had dinner at Humble Pie - pizza joint. Pretty good. Had a wedge salad that was great, and good pizza. Another glass of wine...didn't pay off. Bummer.

Our one scary piece of news today was that our good friends house was broken into yesterday while they were at work. Their electronics and other important stuff was stolen. I'm just thankful they weren't at home. Makes you feel like the world sucks ass. I'm so glad they are OK, because it could have been worse, although what a pain in the ass for them if nothing else. People definitely suck.

Tomorrow is our last day...going to just hang out, do laundry and get ready to come home to reality!

Say AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..........

Today was cabana and spa day at the Camelback! So awesome.

I could have stopped the post there, but let me regale you with the awesomeness of our day.

First - drove down to Phoenix and had a quick breakfast at Paradise Bakery. Chocolate croissant. Need I say more? Chris had the usual bagel breakfast sandwich (BO-ring) but I had the most nummy, wonderful, sinful, chocolate croissant with a giant milk. Tasty treat #1 of the day.

Then we got to the Camelback. Fabulous. Went to our cabana, and it was just so great. Charlie was our waitress and she was bubbly to the point of annoying, but she acted as if her most important job of the day was to keep us hydrated, fed, and pliant with alcohol. So we immediately liked her.

It's really weird, but at the Camelback, I only ever saw two other people in the pool. Chris and I got in a few times to cool off, but people stared at us. Maybe there were in awe of our sexy physiques in our bathing suits. Stop laughing, it could happen...on Mars. Anyway, it wasn't really a "get in the pool" kind of place.

We had lunch: Bruschetta, shrimp with chili lime sauce, and a turkey club sandwich. Awesome, awesome, and awesome. And we had a few New Belgium Mothership Wits too. (See, you were wondering when the beer reference would come in.) Fabulous meal #2!!

We then napped, read, and Chris listened to the iPod until 4:00 and my spa treatment time.

OK, if you are here, you HAVE to have the Desert Honey Nectar Wrap. So awesome. They rubbed oatmeal, honey, nectar stuff all over me, then wrapped me up like a baked potato while she massaged my head with some conditioner. Then I showered, and she rubbed shea butter that smelled like peaches and cinnamon all over me, wrapped me up again and gave me a facial. Seriously? All I can say is WOW.

Oh my God! I almost forgot the best part!! THE SHOWER!! I took a shower before my wrap, and it was like someone turned on 5 garden hoses and the water just poured on my head. Holy shit! I alternted between feeling super guilty about wasting water (and let me tell you, it was a huge waste of water), and not caring at all!! AMAZING!!

Then I came back to the cabana and Chris's butt was asleep from the cabana chairs and we called it a day.

Now we are back at my mom's and I just downed a Stone Ruination IPA. Amazing. Going to have an Odell IPA next, then finish book #3 that I'm reading here.

Two more days until reality. It's going to blow.

One glass away from a 60 Minute IPA...

Another great relaxing day today. I went shopping with my mom, and Chris and Dave golfed. Found three pair of capris at Coldwater Creek and a cute cake plate at Crate & Barrel. Chris golfed, had a better round than his first one, which is good.

Tonight we had dinner at The Painted Horse, and when we walked in we looked at the taps and saw...DOGFISHHEAD 60 MINUTE IPA!!! Come on, could it get any better? I think the last time I had a 60 Minute on tap was in Seattle. We were both so pumped. I could have cried. And then...disaster.

"We just finished the keg...I'm so sorry." Really? What are the odds?? So sad. At least I think we bought one earlier this week and it is in the fridge.

Best part of the night? Dave ordered a B&B and no one could open the bottle at the bar. After 10 minutes she brought it over and asked if we could open it. Guess who did? Chris. Big man, strong like bull.

Tomorrow we are going to the Camelback Inn and renting a cabana for the day, then I'm getting a Desert Honey Nectar Body Wrap at the end of the day. Likely not much to blog about, but we'll be happy...sunburned, but happy...

Blog overdose.

Q: What is the definition of ridiculous?

A: Me on our Netbook writing the blog, my mom on her laptop reading the blog, and Dave on his Blackberry and now his laptop reading the blog.

You'd think we could just talk about it like normal people.

This year...a Rattlesnake! Psych.

So today was another great day. I went for a great walk, and Chris went on a bike ride. We came back and hung out in the back for a while, while Dave was trimming bushes. All of a sudden he said, "Huh. A baby rattlesnake. In the rosemary bush." Which I interpreted in my head as a small, 4 or 5 inch snake. I ran over, fearless as I am, and Dave tried to point it out to me as it slithered under the bush. I couldn't see it. Partially because it blended in so well, and partially because I'm useless when it comes to spotting things. Even rattlesnake tails.

So my mom called the fire department and they came by. See picture. Three fire department guys with a bucket, a snake grabber (think Discovery channel), and Dave's shovel and rake. That's when I learned that it was 18 inches long and an inch in diameter. Way to undersell, Dave. Clearly I wouldn't have run over if I'd have known that, for Christ sake.

Anyway, they poked around for a few minutes and determined that it was either not going to be culled out, or had gone into a hole under the bush. Then they said, "Call us back if you see it again."

That's it? Really? I've been here 6 times, and this was my first shot at seeing a rattlesnake? Jesus. Talk about anti-climactic. It was like last year when I barely saw the scorpion run toward Dave's chair and then he mashed it like a potato into the carpet. Well, we have 4 and a half days left, so maybe we'll get lucky and see it.

The rest of the day? Pool, nap, golf, nap, beers, and now going to dinner at the club. All things more eventful than the snake.

Tomorrow? Walk, shopping with Mom, golf with Dave, and dinner out. I'm going to try not to take a nap.

Word to the Wise: Altitude and Wine Don't Mix

EDITED: Note: this is a picture of the bathroom in the hotel we stayed at in Flagstaff. The shower was about 2 feet square, and Chris couldn't bend over to wash his feet without getting out.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Chris and I drove up to Sedona and through Oak Creek Canyon on our way to Flagstaff for a fun night of wine bars and great food.

We had lunch at Flagstaff Brewing, and had a yummy burger, and Chris had the ESB and the Porter. Chris really liked the Porter, which is weird for him, so it must have been good. Since I was having wine that night, I had diet Coke.

There were three wine places we were going to go to. We had a meal at a place called Pasto of a cheese and meat plate, and pasta to DIE FOR, but after one glass of wine, we were convinced that someone slipped us both a roofie.

Honest to God, we went back to the hotel for our coats because we were planning on going to the next place for wine and dessert, but we both promptly passed out at 8:15! I guess altitiude + wine does weird things to me. If nothing else, we were well relaxed and rested.

We got up early this morning and had a great breakfast at MartAnne's in Flagstaff and then did a quick sight seeing trip to Sunset Volcano Crater National Monument. Very cool. We wanted to hike up to the rim, but my new Converse One Stars didn't seems sturdy enough to ensure that I would live through it.

We had lunch at Beaver Street Brewery, which doesn't have the greatest food. I'm recording that here so that if we go again, there is a record to help me remember not to eat there. The beer was OK, and I again had a diet Coke since I was driving.

Drove back to Mom & Dave's, and got here about 3:30. On the docket tonight will be the boozefest we didn't get in Flagstaff!! Friday night fun is about to begin!!

Ah...vacation...

What a great day! Got up early, went for a walk, read outside, ate lunch, took a nap, went shopping and spent $200 on beer...I might have died and gone to heaven.

We bought a ton of great beer - Odell, DogfishHead, Deschutes, AleSmith, Lost Abbey...all stuff we can't get at home. Amazingly, we've been to the first three breweries on our last few years of vacations.

After Chris made friends with the beer and wine guy at the liquor store, the guy ran back to the backroom and got us a bottle of Balast Point Sculpin IPA - supposedly very rare. Or we just looked like suckers who would pay nine bucks for a bomber of beer. I think that was after he saw the bottle of Lost Abbey "The Angel's Share" in our cart that was $29.99 for a big bottle (Cory - we're bringing that one home to celebrate once you finishe your boards!).

Tomorrow we are off to Sedona and Flagstaff overnight for sun, fun, wine, and beer!

Helloooooooooo Sunshine!!

Well, we're within 20 minutes of being at the airport for our spring vacation to Arizona, within one hour of my prescription drug fix, and an hour and 45 minutes from take off!

Nine days in the sun! I can't wait. Much needed.

Say a prayer that my flight is uneventful and boring, will ya?