Jack's New Orleans Style Birthday Celebration

There is probably no city in the United States more associated with celebration than New Orleans.  O.K., maybe Las Vegas.  I've never been to Las Vegas so I can't compare the two cities.  All I know is that during our stay in New Orleans it seemed that there was a festival, a party or a parade going on all of the time.  New Orleans is the city that Jack has liked the best during our cross country tour.  He would move there in a heartbeat if I would agree to it.  For me, Las Vegas is a nice place to visit but not a place that I would choose to live.  Too hot and buggy.  Since Jack loves New Orleans so much, I wanted to find a restaurant here in Portland with Creole/Cajun food for Jack's birthday celebration yesterday.  Luckily, I found the perfect spot only a few blocks away from where we are staying.

 Acadia is located on a residential street in a block of buildings that includes a wine bar, an Irish Pub and a coffee shop.  It is close enough to our apartment that we could have ridden our bikes there although we took our car last night. 

The decor is reminiscent of New Orleans and features Jazz Fest posters and Outsider art, which we both like.  The purple and gold color scheme reminded us of the purple and gold drapes in the living room of our former home in Joliet.  (I loved those drapes.  They were worth every penny of the exorbitant price we paid for them.)  

The fleur de lis on the seat covers, light fixtures, and even the bill took us right back to our time in New Orleans.  

It turns out that I made a great restaurant pick.  (Thank you, Yelp)  Everything that we ordered was delicious and the service was excellent.  Jack and I started out by sharing the Barbeque Shrimp appetizer.  It wasn't a typical barbeque but more like a spicy gravy with Worcester Sauce, butter, and pepper.  It was great for dripping our bread.  If I had had a spoon I probably would have eaten the sauce like a soup.  It was really good.  

For our main course, Jack had the Pasta Jambalaya

and I had the Goat Cheese Gnocchi with roasted chilies, toasted hazelnuts and corn.  

Both dishes had the kind of heat that seems to be typical in Cajun food but they weren't so spicy that all you could taste was HOT. The portion sizes were just right because we were saving room for dessert.  After all, what's a birthday celebration without dessert?

Take a look at the amazing bread pudding that Jack ordered! 

When I saw his dessert I almost wished that I had chosen the bread pudding but after one taste of my own banana cream pie with salted caramel sauce I knew that I had made a good choice for my own dessert.

This did not stop me from drinking the leftover vanilla sauce from Jack's dessert.  (I'm breaking my own rule and posting an unflattering picture of myself.)

Bad manners, I know, but after two glasses of Pinot Noir it seemed like such a good idea! 

Even though no one said, "Who Dat?" or threw beads, I think that Jack really enjoyed his New Orleans style birthday celebration.  It seems as if he's aging backwards rather than getting older. The kids always tease Jack that there is a Dorian Gray-type portrait hidden somewhere that ages while he looks younger and younger.  Whatever the secret is I'm just glad that Jack was born 59 years ago and that we are spending our lives together.  He is such a great guy.  I always tell Jack that he is my gift from God. 

Voodoo Doughnuts - Keeping Portland Weird

One of the tourist "must visit" spots in Portland is Voodoo Doughnuts.  Apparently the owner/owners have a wacky sense of humor (or they just know what works in their city) and they've created a whimsical selection of doughnuts that are as tasty as they are unusual.  Voodoo Doughnuts adds ingredients like peanut butter, Captain Crunch, Tang, banana chunks and bacon to their recipes.  Check out the selection using this link to their website Voodoo Doughnuts


In an effort to combat my Catholic guilt over consuming large quantities of greasy deliciousness, Jack and I decided to ride our bikes over to the doughnut shop.  Even though it ruins my hair and is certainly not my most flattering look, I always wear my bike helmet.  I'm not used to riding a bike in traffic and can be a little shaky sometimes so the bike helmet is a good option for me. 

Luckily, Portland is set up to facilitate bike commuting with wide bike lanes on many streets.  Drivers are aware of bike riders and appear to be very cautious and courteous of both walkers and riders here.

After locking our bikes up in front of the doughnut shop, Jack and I walked in to a barrage of color, smells and sounds. The shop features a big juke box and a picture of Kenny Rogers on black velvet.  It was only after placing our order and taking our tray to sit outside that we realized we had come in the wrong door, completely jumping the line that was out the door on the other side!  No one said anything about it, it's pretty laid back here.  

There were so many options to choose from, Jack and I were pretty overwhelmed.  The names were as colorful as the choices.  Should we pick the Maple Blazer Blunt?  The Old Dirty Bastard with chocolate frosting, Oreo's and peanut butter? The chocolate cake doughnut with butterfingers on top? The Tangfastic or maybe the Cock-N-Balls that has "Bite Me" written on it (really)? Maybe the Gay Bar with white frosting topped with Fruit Loops in all the colors of the rainbow? 

We finally settled on a Voodoo Doll each (raised yeast filled with raspberry jelly and a pretzel stake that can be placed in a variety of spots depending on how you want to "hex" someone), a Diablos Rex doughnut for me (chocolate cake, a vanilla pentagram, red sprinkles and chocolate chips), and a Maple Bar for Jack.  I felt a little sick after eating all of that sugar but I know that I'll be back! 

A Day at the Beach

This past Saturday, Jack and I took a drive out to Canon Beach on the Oregon Coast.  Located on Highway 101 about 90 minutes from downtown Portland, Canon Beach is a picturesque little beach town with the types of restaurants and shops you would expect to find in a resort community.  Think fudge, driftwood knickknacks and overpriced clothes - fun to browse through on a rainy day but no competition for the beach on a beautiful August afternoon.  Leashed dogs are allowed on the public beach so we brought Coco along for the outing.  She is a great little traveler and enjoys riding in her little carseat or on a comfortable lap.

One of the things that surprised us about the town of Canon Beach was how uncrowded it was on a sunny, Saturday afternoon.  Think about any excursion you've taken to the beach either on Lake Michigan or in Florida or California.  The hunt for a parking place followed by the lengthy trek from the car to the beach with all of the gear necessary for a day of fun in the sun.  Jack and I had no trouble finding a parking spot close to the beach in front of this cute saltbox home.

We enjoyed strolling around town, looking at the colorful beach cottages and gardens, and the

nautical themed decorations but we were anxious to head down to

the shoreline to get a closer look at Haystack Rock and the Needles, which are the smaller rocks on either side of Haystack Rock.  Do you remember the

movie, The Goonies?  In the movie, the Goonies lived up the coast a bit in the town of Astoria and used Haystack Rock to find the starting point of One-Eyed Willie's treasure map.  On location filming for that movie was done in the area.  Watch it and you'll get a good idea of what the area is like.  Jack brought his binoculars that day and had a great time checking out the birds that make their home on the Rock.

Jack and I were amazed at how foggy the beach was on such a sunny day.  Maybe it's caused by the spray from the cool water hitting the warm air?  We were glad that our friends told us to bring jackets because it was windy and cool despite a temperature in the low 80's.  

One of the things that we like best about Portland is how close it is to OTHER things we like to do.  You can be at the ocean in 90 minutes, exploring a series of waterfalls in 30 minutes or sipping a locally grown Pinot Noir in a vineyard tasting room in under an hour.  Pretty sweet!

Flying Monkeys Rule!

 I often tell people that I have a trivial mind.  I can't seem to remember how much money I have in my checking account or the code for my ATM card but I can name all of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands.  In order.  I can remember the details of sports stars' or celebrities' lives.  I mean, who cares?  I don't even care about those things yet, I remember.  I suppose it's a gift, in a weird way.  I always enjoyed playing Trivial Pursuit when the game was in its' heyday so I was excited when our Portland friends, Nadine and Eric invited us to Trivia Night at a local restaurant, the Radio Room.

Nadine and I met at Joliet Junior College back in 1975 and we've been friends since then.  We've shared all of the ups and downs of life together long distance since she moved first to Colorado over 25 years ago and now to Portland.  The chance to spend some time together with Nadine and her husband Eric was the prime motivator when Jack and I chose Portland as one of the stops on our America Tour. 

 

Jack had to work late that night so we drove up to the restaurant about 15 minutes before the game was scheduled to begin.  We were able to find free onstreet parking about a block away and laughed about how different parking and traffic is here in Portland compared to the larger cities we're used to.  In Portland we said, "We HAD to park a block away!" while in a city like Chicago or New York we would have been doing the happy dance and saying, "Yeah, we found a parking place only a block away!"  

Located in the Alberta Arts District in Portland, the Radio Room is a casual restaurant/bar that features the work of local artists.  They even have a repurposed cigarette machine that distributes small, original works of art for $5.  The food is good, the music isn't too loud and they have a great outdoor space with tables and benches around a firepit.   

 

It turns out that the four of us make a pretty good team when it comes to Trivia.  After choosing the team name, The Flying Monkeys after a painting on the bar wall, we smoked those young twenty-somethings when it came to the "Chips" category and won the first round. 



Unfortunately, our luck did not hold up in the music video category. (If only some of our kids had been there!) I had no idea who those people were in the videos (the game organizer was a former college radio deejay) but it was still a lot of fun.  Jack and I are looking forward to exploring more spots that are off the beaten path as we get to know the city of Portland and we're glad to have such great local tour guides as Nadine and Eric.   

 

 

 





Home Base: Portland

Jack, Coco and I arrived in Portland, Oregon, last week and we like it here a lot.  Of course, we arrived in the middle of summer when the sun is shining and the plants are blooming which helps.  It's hard to believe that we're all the way out here (it seems so far to me for some reason) on the West Coast after starting our journey on the East Coast last November.  The three of us have really covered a LOT of ground!

Neither Jack nor I have ever been to the Northwest before and we think that it's a beautiful place.  While I haven't been all over Portland yet, the city itself seems very green with lots of trees and flowers.  It appears to be less about having the the large open lawn and more about the plants and trees. The hydrangea bush in the picture below is on the patio of our apartment building along with lots of potted plants that hummingbirds really like.

Jack, Coco and l like sitting outside watching the birds and enjoying the cool evening weather.  No mosquitos!  It is surprisingly quiet here considering that we are three blocks away from a major retail hub with shops, a mall and a grocery store.  Walkability is one of the things that really appeals to us as we plan our visits or think about a place to live long term and we are in a wonderful location for walking here.  Last week, Jack and I were able to walk to Blossoming Lotus, a great vegan restaurant, for dinner.  It's located next to a coffee shop, across from a Mexican restaurant and down the street from a wine shop and lots of other retail (including the ever present nail salon and cell phone store, of course).  It's the best of both worlds for me; a cross between the good parts of living in the suburbs and the good parts of living in a big city.  I think that I would enjoy city living but a two month stay in New York City showed me that I'm not ready to give up my car!

We have had some disappointing rentals during our cross-country trek but we love the apartment that we've rented here in Portland. Our unit is on the first floor of what is called a streetcar-style apartment building that was built in 1923.  It's located in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland which is full of Craftsman bungalows, Queen Anne style homes and Victorian homes on tree-lined streets.  It's a neighborhood where people live, not a tourist area. The wood-burning fireplace, hardwood floors and tons of windows give the apartment a welcoming feeling.



 

The apartment feels modern and bright even though the building is almost 90 years old.  I've always wanted a sunroom and for the next few months we'll have one here.  It's a great place to drink my coffee in the morning while I watch the commuters ride their bikes to work.  It's a worthwhile exchange for having no dishwasher, I think.  At least for a little while.

Jack and I have learned how little space and how few things we need to make a home feel like home and we think that we could be very happy in a place like this apartment long term.  I do miss my own things, though. 



We are glad to be here on the "Left Coast" for the next few months and we're looking forward to exploring the area.  Jack and I bought a couple of second- hand bikes and plan to get out and about on two wheels as much as possible, although Portland seems to be a very drivable city.  It's a great place to call home - for now!







Sing it With Me... "Rocky Mountain Hiiiigh"

I've been thinking about John Denver lately.  Love him or hate him, if you grew up in the '70's, the music of John Denver became embedded in your brain due to the continuous airplay of his songs on Top 40 radio stations.  While I was never a big Denver fan, I still know most of the words to his biggest hits.  (Why is it that I can remember forty year old song lyrics but not the code number to my debit card?)  John Denver's music focused on his love for nature and for Colorado, his adopted home and I can see why.  It's been a dream of mine to live in Colorado since I was dancing under a mirrored disco ball back in the day and now, for a time, I am. 

Jack, Coco and I have been staying in Winter Park, Colorado for almost two weeks now and we really love it here.  Located about an hour west of Denver, Winter Park is a ski town in the Fraser Valley.  It is VERY small but it has lots of restaurants and a nice wine bar so all is good.  We are renting a condo in  the middle of town so we can walk to everything.  There is a river that runs right in front of our building and we've been enjoying sitting outside listening to the water and working on our crossword puzzles together. 

Hiking trails and biking trails are right at the edge of the condominium complex property and we try and get out every day for a walk or a run or a bike ride.  It makes it so easy to get motivated when you can just walk out the door into beautiful scenery.  This morning on my way back from a run I saw a fox in front of one of the buildings.    

Last week-end the three of us went for a hike at Monarch Lake which was about a forty minute drive away.  The trail is a beautiful, four mile loop with a waterfall, a river, and, of course, the lake. 

Jack and I agreed that Coco earned a hiking Merit Badge because she walked the entire loop and seemed to love it.  Lots to see and investigate. 

When you look at Coco on the trail with Jack you can see how small she is and what an trek it was for her.  Even small rocks can be a tough climb when you are that small. 

My favorite part of the day was sitting on a bridge watching the river tumble over the rocks below.  It was a nice spot to catch our breath and take some pictures.  The altitude really takes a lot out of you!

Jack and I were hoping to see some moose on our trek but we were out of luck that day.  We did see some beautiful Calypso Orchids, or Fairy Slippers, which are endangered here in Colorado.

While Jack and I don't know if we could ever live in this small of a town long term, we are really enjoying mountain living and we're glad that we have another month to explore and enjoy that "Rocky Mountain Hiiigh".

On a Walk in Santa Fe

It's hard to believe that our month in Santa Fe is almost over.  Of course, missing most of the first week due to car problems in Shreveport, Louisiana, made the time go by even more quickly.  Santa Fe is an interesting town filled with aging hippies (lots of graying ponytails on both men and women), artists, and retired liberals relocated from somplace else.  I've only met one "cowboy" in a stetson and boots and he turned out to be a retired IT consultant from the East Coast.  With a graying ponytail.

As we walk around town, Jack and I have noticed that Santa Fe appears to be a very homogenous city, which is just a politically correct way of saying it's very White.  I haven't checked the demographics on race here but we've seen very few African Americans or Asians and the local minority appears to be predominately Native American.  Almost everyone is friendly here and the people we meet enjoy talking about what they love about area, what brought them here, and why we should consider relocating to Santa Fe.  



I've told Jack that I'm not sure that I could settle in this desert environment.  I miss the many beautiful shades of green in the Midwest and the simple pleasure of driving with the sun shining through the leaves on treelined streets.  I'm missing lawns, trees and shrubs right now.  A typical street in Santa Fe looks like the picture of the adobe house below.  

 Most homes don't have lawns or paved driveways.  They use gravel or dirt for driveways here which, with my middle-class Midwestern filter, seems messy and poor.  It just isn't appealing to my eye.  Outside the Center of town many of the streets are dirt roads, even in neighborhoods of million dollar homes with street names like "Mansion Ridge Road".  For my Joliet friends, imagine neighborhoods like Timberline and Twin Oaks with dusty Land Rovers and BMWs parked on dirt driveways.   

While I miss the green of the Midwest I sure don't miss the humidity.  Jack and I love the dry air, the clear skies and the view of the mountains as you walk down the street in Santa Fe.  We're still adjusting to the altitude which has affected us more than we expected it to.  Sometimes I find myself huffing and puffing just walking around town which is pretty humbling.  It makes me appreciate my good health and want to preserve it.  Running is a struggle so I just try to go slow and put one foot in front of the other.  Local people have told us that it can take several months for your body to produce enough red blood cells to push more oxygen in this high altitude.

  

One of the great things about visiting or living here is that art is all around you. Whether it is a giant sculpture carved from a tree trunk on a main thoroughfare, original artwork for sale on the walls of a local restaurant, or a bronze sculpture in a courtyard, there is always something new and beautiful to notice and enjoy.  



 A person could get into a LOT of trouble buying art or jewelry here in Santa Fe.  I told Jack that he is just lucky we're traveling in a Volkswagon Passat that is packed to the roof, not a Winnebago.  There are so many beautiful, unusual things for sale!  I'm not sure how all of the galleries stay in business - there are so many of them in a concentrated area.  Of course, when a small sculpture is almost $4,000 you only need to sell one or two a month to pay the bills, I guess.  Our landlady told us that she hosts small art openings for new artists in her home in exchange for a piece of art.  That's a novel way of acquiring original art that I would never have thought of myself. 

Santa Fe appears to be a very spiritual town and religious imagery is everywhere.  Christianity, Native American, Goddess worship and Eastern religions all find a place here. 

                                       

I like the open acceptance of all religions and the fact that people talk about things like faith and entering the Age of Aquarius in the same breath and with total sincerity.  I'm sure that bigotry and narrow world views are here, we just haven't run into it. 

All in all, Santa Fe is a great place for a vacation or to stay awhile.  It's full of history and charm.  Good food, Happy Hour that starts at 3:00 p.m. (what kind of jobs do these people have?), art, and some terrific hiking only 45 minutes away make Santa Fe an excellent destination for a girlfriend getaway, a family vacation or a romantic trip for two.  Add it to your bucket list!