How Do I Look?

Amy and I got new haircuts today. Mine is a buzz, like most balding, slightly overweight 30 year old dads in cargo shorts have. Amy's is a sexy and sassy new 'do. What do you think?
When we go on our date tonight (to the Dark Knight!!) do you think people will think "How did he get so lucky?" Thank goodness for my stunningly attractive wit and charm.

The magic of voodoo

This is what I had for breakfast this morning. Yes, that is a maple bar with real pieces of bacon on it, courtesy of Voodoo Doughnut here in Portland. It seems a bit odd, but it was fantasgreat. A little bit like eating a piece of bacon and a pancake soaked in maple syrup in the same bite. The thing about Voodoo is that not only do they have crazy doughnuts, like ones covered in Cap'n Cruch, or rolled in a crushed up Butterfinger, even their just plain old regular donuts are incredibly good. It is a good thing that it isn't too close to my house, or I would get a Voodoo dozen every three days.

So this is love...

Editors Note: When I was having dinner last night, I took a lovely picture from my camera phone to post on this blog of my own, actual view of the Deschutes River. Then, I was too stupid to figure out how to get the picture from my phone to my computer. Anyone know an 11 year old boy that could teach me how? This image came to you via google images.

So I spent last night in Bend, Oregon. Unfortunate name, lovely town. Bend is in central Oregon and is really the only town there. (Other than Sisters, its neighbor - seriously, was there a "Worst Town Name in America Contest going on that week?)(And as another parenthetical, every time I drive through Sisters on my way to Bend I sing that old timey "Sisters" song by Rosemary and Judy Clooney really loud in my car...It is the end of a 4 hour drive. I am a bit stir crazy at that point.) Anyway - I have a store in Bend. I used to think it was the middle of nowhere, and it is, but now I am discovering Bend is a cool town, with beautiful scenery, cool shopping and nice people. So last night I went to wander at a great area downtown called The Old Mill District, which is built in and around an old mill and power plant. Very chic with good restaurants, shopping and a movie theater. I ate dinner at Greg's Grill on the Deschutes (the river that runs through Bend) and it was great. Usually when I travel I just go to Carl's, Jr. or something for dinner and go eat it alone in my hotel room like a sad, lonely obese person. Who wants to sit in an actual restaurant by themselves? But I had some time to kill, so I gave Greg's a shot. I had a great table on the water and could see the kayakers and the ducks and the bikers and enjoyed some good old people watching. I also enjoyed some good old people listening, as the couple at the table next to me were clearly on a first date. They were middle aged, and looked very nice (except that he was wearing one of those free polos that corporate america guys wear that he got from the Technodyne Rep at the company picnic last fall - not appropriate date attire!) but I don't know that it was a love connection. Here are some snippets from their conversation, taken out of context for your pleasure and amusement.

"Long story short.." which I heard this guy say like at least 7 times. Note to you, sir: it is too late. Your story is already long.

"She used to love to go out on her boat fishing, topless, and talk with her dad who had been dead for several years."

"They do plastic surgery on horses, you know. To make their eyes bigger."

"My dog LOVES cell phones."

"I love to gamble."

I am no romance expert - ask my wife. But somehow I don't think these are the soul stirring conversations on a first date that lead to a second. I'll see if I can catch them walking hand in hand next time I am in Bend.

Imagine That!

Today Jonah told me that his long-time imaginary friend, Danes, was, in fact, "brown." I'll admit. . .I was a bit surprised. Not because he's black. But because, for a couple of years now, Jonah's been blaming every shady thing he does on the elusive Danes. I kinda pictured him looking like this:

I guess I ought to mention that he was watching a preview for the new Eddie Murphy movie at the time (looks like a gem!). Incidentally, Danes' favorite color is black, and his favorite shape is a square. For some reason, Jonah thinks a favorite shape is super important. It has made me think a lot about my favorite shape. I'm thinking a circle. . .for car wheels and pizza and doughnuts, etc. But I do like a clean modern line (square?). Hmm. . .I guess it IS super important!

Also, if you get the time, pop on over to this blog, where Josh's sister shares her experiences with some very special people. It kills me.

Sons on a Beach

I'm sorry. There I said it. I'm sorry that I have made this blog into a Travel Guide to the greater Portland area. I'm sorry that I have made some of you feel bad about the places you live where there is no Trader Joe's, no My Favorite Muffin, no Powell's, etc., etc., and so forth. It was never my intention to have you go to bed at night regretting your choices that have caused you to live in Utah, or western Colorado, or Chicago (I think those are the three places my blog readers live!) Really - I am sorry.

So no more guilt. No more "Here are all the reason's to hate where you live." Just me and some pictures and some witty wordplay.

We felt like it was time for a real trip to the beach. We went once for an afternoon to Seaside but I had a work trip coming up in Lincoln City and Amy and the boys thought they should tag along. Then they could hang out at the beach, while I worked. This may sound like I got the raw end of the deal. But I just chatted with my employees, did some coaching, interviewed someone and went to lunch and had soft-shelled crabs, sushi and Soba noodles in a lovely broth. Amy had to schlep 250 items up and down several flights of steps, watch two little boys, schlep them back up when the had to potty, and schelp all of the stuff up at the end of the day. So think again about who had a more relaxing day. Plus, I still got to walk up and down the beach in the evening when I was done with work.
They thought getting in the water was pretty funny because it was COLD. This is Oregon, folks, not Santa Monica. We spent lots of time wandering up and down the beach looking for "she shells" and for glass floats. Evidently in Lincoln City there used to be a lot of hollow glass balls that would wash up on the beach from Japanese fishing boats (the balls were the floats that would hold the nets up.) Now that fishing boats have started using cheaper plastic floats there is a group of artists that makes 2000 floats every year and hides them on the beach for tourists to find. (If you are nerdy like me and enjoy costal trivia, click here!) We didn't find any floats, but we found lots of "she shells." Here is us looking and what happens when you tell my kids to pose for a picture:

Playing in the waves:

The water may be cold, but come on, this is a beautiful beach with some goofy children in the foreground:
Before we called it a night, we had dinner at Pig N' Pancake, which is the northwestern coast's answer to Denny's. They had free balloons, so my kids were happy. After a long day in the sun and sand, they were pretty tuckered.




OK. I can't resist. Don't you want to see this beach!? Don't you want to find a glass float?! You should come here!? (Or move here.) Ok, ok, ok. I am done.