Spring Training

Clearly having issues with a picture upload as you can see. When I save it on my hard drive it looks right but at any rate, you get it.

Miss B and I both have new gloves. Everyone knows that the best way to break in a new glove is to play catch, oil, and tie with a ball on the inside. I've only gotten to the last part. But we purchased them which is a step in the right direction. Miss B's is the black one, mine is the other. The last time I purchased a baseball glove it was the spring of 1985. I made the JV softball team making my debut at catcher. I still to this day have no idea why I wanted to play catcher. Perhaps it was the fastest way to varsity, which the next year did prove to be the case. Started at first base but I am so short and squat, didn't have much of a stretch nor a target for the ladies on my team to hit. Purchased the glove with my babysitting money. It was $65 at the Ace Hardware in town. Also was lucky enough to get cleats and wore those all 4 years while playing and some years afterwards playing bar leauge slow pitch. I couldn't believe I had made such an investment. Came across that same glove when we were unpacking this summer. The pocket is torn and some leather just plain gone. Guess it was worth it! :)

Have our tickets to spring training. Will also go see Beckys' parents in March, a trip to Florida. While there we will catch a Detroit Tigers spring training game. We are also headed to Scottsdale, AZ to see the Cactus Leauge where the Giants play. 19 days until catchers and pitchers report. Whoop! Get to see three games while there and can't wait. Will go opening weekend too, such a great day. The other fantastical happening is June 15,16, and 17 they will be at Safeco Park in Seattle playing the Mariners. We will be there for all three games. Bless interleauge play!

Since the new year we have been doing a challenge at Becky's gym. Three days a week we work out doing all sorts of crazy shit. Last week I was flipping a tire back and forth from side to side of the gym. TRX bands. Kettle bells. Medicine balls. Super stupidly difficult core exercises. All sorts of different exercises which kick my ass. There is a group of 6 total, all ladies. Been having fun and actually getting in shape while losing weight. This also requires a food log which has proven to be interesting. Really makes you think about when you are eating and why. Don't get me wrong I do miss most everything I can't have right now. But it's a treat rather than a regular thing. Without babbling any longer, it's a great new way to approach something I've always struggled with, pretty much my entire life.

Mom and Dad come to visit the weekend of March 2nd. Have no idea what we will do but am sure we will figure it out. They are taking Amtrack.

Saw Paula Poundstone last night at the Aladdin in SE. She was a riot. Really. Crazier than you would think but damn funny. Ran the spectrum from politics, pets, kids, and just life. Played off the crowd really well. It was a blast and the second to last event of my birthday month! Lucky me, Miss B spoils me something terrible. One funny thing, we were certainly at the early bird special crowd of the two performances. Pretty much the youngest people there. All I know is please oh please don't even allow me to take on old Oregon lesbian fashion. It's a look. And if you don't know it, come for a visit. It will jump right on out at you.

San Francisco Visit

This is a picture of a jar of beer at Zeitgeist on a Sunday afternoon. There is no better place to spend time than on the picnic tables outback with friends drinking and laughing. Even had a veggie burger too. Such fun!

I have to say both B and I are homesick after our trip. The weather was out of this world and the hustle of the city (which those of you from NYC must be thinking I'm joking because comparatively, the bustle of SF isn't really that much but still more than Portland!) made us recall why we spent so much time there and the things we miss. Mostly we miss our people. In fact, that would be the number one thing. Every place I have lived, you can usually find "things" to make life workable/bearable. It's the people that make all the difference. And wow do we miss our people.

We are on the mend however and are making the most of our return to Portland. We like it just fine and really do love our house. We are working on having "people" here, and overall feel connected to the community. As time goes by we will adjust and feel really at home. Overall, if we can't be in San Francisco, we are more than happy to be in Portland! It's just San Francisco is really something else!!!!

Holiday Sweater Pub Crawl

Amy in all her fabulousness at The Florida Room. Solar powered lights! So very Portland!
Check out those doves on Miss B! K and L get the award for best '80's sweaters!

And it wouldn't be the holidays without a snowman, or two, or three!

Overall the night out was a hit! We had several folks in attendance and trekked across North Portland with style. The bartenders were great judges and it all worked out. I do believe we may have a new holiday tradition.

Off to San Francisco this weekend. Our friends R&D are celebrating their 20th anniversary. Good lord who stays together that long anymore! They do! It will be a blast. Looking forward to returning "home" and to see the SF family. Am afraid we will be homesick after this trip...we shall see. It's been colder than the bejesus here and I know I'm from the Midwest and all but good god, running at 0500 and it's 22 degrees is frickin' cold! Burrrr kitten burrrrrrrr!

Holiday Sam

I know it's ridiculous to post pictures of cats. But he is so dang cute. He loves being under the tree as much as possible. We also found a tree stand which the cats cannot infiltrate to drink the water then barf. My mom suggested it. Way to go mom!

We will be hosting an ugly sweater pub crawl this year starting at the Record Room and then venturing throughout North Portland. Should be lots of fun. Pictures to follow!

Planet Hair

My hair has become it's own planet. I'm pretty sure they may be picking this up on some satellite somewhere and wondering what in the world it is. I wonder that most days when I wake up. Didn't want to get it cut before the work conference in Bethesda MD which I just returned from earlier in the week. Helps to avoid the "Excuse me sir....or I mean, ummm, nevermind". It is pretty kooky I have to say and kind of fun when it grows out. But will be taking some time out this weekend to go get it shaved off. Means I can start wearing my beanies without hair problems.

Travels to DC/Bethesda were good but am glad to be home. Got to see Doug and Carl, our Ptown beach pals. Checked out their new place, ate at alot of good restaurants, and learned a thing or two at the conference.

Have a weekend of friends coming up from Corvallis and will root one of them on in the PDX marathon. Hopefully the rain holds out! We are going to see a Smiths cover band tonight at the Somebody Lounge and am excited about that. Love the Smiths! Other than that it's rooting for the Brewers to beat the Diamondbacks and continue to cheer on the Detroit Tigers. They knocked out the Yankees! LOVE IT! Who says a huge payroll and lots of all name players will get you to the world series....the Tigers just proved you can beat even the highest bankroll. Ha!

Exploring Portland

This is a sandwich from the Screen Door. Fried onions, pepper jack cheese, Louisiana andoulie sausage, a fried egg, and chipotle aiolie sauce. Good grief! Miss B and I split the leftovers the next night for dinner. Not to mention the side of grits and the mimosa to chase it all down. YUM! Can't wait to go here again.

Found this album at the Palace of Industry just down the street from our house. This place should be called the Palace of Randomness. I could not believe how just simply weird it was but liked it. You can sit and have a cocktail or beer while shopping through vintage stuff. I think Miss B should learn some of these songs to up her career choices. Not so?

We went for brunch at a place called Genie's yesterday. The food was good but cocktails fantastic! I had a mimosa and chased it with a ginger lemonade. Miss B had a Bloody Mary (spicy spicy!) followed up by "The Best Summer You Have Ever Had" which was a mojito like type of drink but better as it had cucumber vodka. Her food wasn't so great. I had the biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and bacon chaser. Very good!

What we are struggling with is finding the right yoga studio. Yesterday we went to who is supposed to be the premier anusara teacher in Portland at Yoga Union and truth be told, not so great. It was an all levels class however should have been listed as a 2-3 and gave no alternative options during class for those not as advanced. It was just way too much in terms of sunshine and rainbows blowing out of our asses for the entire class. I miss my San Francisco teachers who had their moments of sunshine but struck a great balance between discussing the good, bad, and ugly. Makes me miss Katchie and Dana for sure!

Other activities of the weekend involved sanding the deck, seeing Moneyball, (great movie!), watching baseball (Giants are out of the post season but am hopeful for next year), staining a wine rack with two to go, going for a run, and just hanging out. Need to get the deck stained if it stops raining. Or should I say when. Really need to get that done before the serious rainy doldrums kick in for the full on winter! It's coming too. Full rain this morning when we went for a run at 0500. It was dark and dreary AND we still went out for 3 miles. Not bad eh?!?! Next few weekends will be occupied with visitors so who knows what we will be up to next!

We found this on a walk through the neighborhood

Some people do confuse the two....I'm just sayin'!