surprise party success followed by financial aid on the beach and topped off with a baby girl!

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay in my posting (some of you are quite vocal about this!) but I was out of town until yesterday for a work conference. More on that later. Friday night I drove down to NW 23rd with Gina to get a slice of pizza at Escape from New York. Afterwards we went down the block to The Ram's Head for a pint of beer. From there we met John at the T & P, another McMenamin's establishment short for Tavern & Pool. John and Gina played pool while I sat and laughed at Gina's cheating ways. The shit-talking between the two of them is pretty hilarious. Mark and his friend William met up with us after the Blazers games was over. There were more pints and more pool playing (though less cheating). We hung out until midnight when sleepiness beckoned us home.

Saturday I went over to Elaine's house where we hung out and had breakfast together. I did some laundry and we watched The Aristocrats, a hilarious documentary about a dirty joke that all comics know but it generally not told on stage. This film is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended. It made me and Dave & Elaine laugh out loud repeatedly. We actually paused the movie for a while to take a break. It's easy to get de-sensitized to the filthiness and be less and less shocked by it. Bob Saget...nasty!

I went home and napped for a bit and read my book then went back to Elaine & Gina's house for dinner. Elaine & Gina make the absolute best tuna melts with grated carrots and red onions. While they were preparing them I was reading US Magazine (affectionately called Crack by Gina & me) when for a moment everything seemed to move just a bit and the entire world seemed unstable. I said, "What was that???" but no one responded and it was so brief I didn't really think much of it...an odd moment. Later it was on the news that there had been a very small earthquake (2.8) centered around SE 30th & Burnside at that moment that I felt something odd. As tiny as it was it was *my first* earthquake. There's been other small ones since I've lived here but this was the first I actually felt. I love firsts! I'm sure I won't love my first root canal, my first broken bone, my first lawsuit but you know what I mean!

Around 8 PM we all left to go to The Ambassador, a karaoke bar on Sandy Blvd. It was a surprise birthday party for my roommate Camille. She *loves* karaoke more than anyone I know and actually goes by herself sometimes to karaoke. Do you know anyone that does that? Her friend Jamie had arranged the party. Everyone succeeded in keeping it a secret; there were a few slip-ups that were recovered from. Jamie showed up with Camille who was genuinely surprised and stumbled backwards several feet upon realizing what was happening. We all ate some appetizers of greasy chinese food and the karaoke started. Camille sang "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls (bahahaha)in her pink-stockinged feet until the bar staff insisted she put her shoes back on. Dave sang Patience by Guns n Roses and even did some good whistling. Camille & Bridget danced back up both for him and Jamie when she sang "Sweet Child of Mine" (more Guns n Roses!). Jamie & Andy did a duet on a Cyndi Lauper song. We lit the candles on the cake and sang happy birthday and Camille blew them out (damn that one trick candle!). It was tons of fun and there were lots of people there but unfortunately I wasn't able to stay out very late. I got home at a reasonable hour and got up early to leave the next day for my work conference.

My co-worker Susana picked me up a little after 9AM and we headed toward the coast. It was a very rainy drive with lots of downed trees and branches. We have had an incredible amount of rain and the coast especially has been hit with very powerful storms that produce crazy winds. It was likened to driving in a car wash for 2 hours. We arrived at the Salishan Lodge at Gleneden Beach right when lunch was starting. We listened to the keynote speaker then had one session that afternoon. In the evening we went to the reception and had a drink and some stinky cheese and fruit. Oh how I love the stinky cheeses! For dinner we were grateful to stay at the lodge where US Bank was hosting a dinner for about 15 people from different colleges. While we were eating dinner the wind was blowing so violently that it actually sounded like thunder. Several times the lights flickered and once they went out for just a few seconds. Our dinner was wonderfully decadent: crab bisque, rack of lamb with baby beets and greens and chocolate ganache for dessert. We had several glasses of an amazingly silky Pinot Noir. Susana and I thought of the many, many thousands of dollars in student loans we had processed for US Bank and enjoyed every bite and every drink. I love incredible meals like that. I went back to our room and fired up the fireplace and read for a bit before sleeping oh so soundly...despite the gale blowing outside.

Monday after breakfast there were more training sessions. I found this year's conference to be infinitely more useful than past years. We had a 30 minute break which I used to walk down to Siletz Bay during a nicely timed break in the weather. I got some pictures of the water and bits of blue sky and returned just as the clouds burst. More training sessions then lunch. In my efforts to sell my photocards I tried to connect with the purchaser for the gift shop (and all the gift shops across the street that are affiliated with the Salishan). She was out of the office so I left one of my photocards for her at the front desk with a note introducing myself, explaining what I do and inviting her to contact me. I need to start doing this en masse at shops in Portland.

After our last afternoon session we had a long break before dinner so I quickly went to the beach which is not readily accessible from Salishan but is about a 10 minute walk. Amazingly enough the sun was out! The sun has been a rare sight around here these days so I felt unbelievably lucky to be walking on the beach in the sun! I was equally surprised by how few people were out there. I took lots of pictures and marvelled at the huge amounts of sea foam. The 70 mph winds of the night before were apparent with lots of driftwood on the beach. I saw an ominous looking raincloud to the north that was quickly approaching. The sun was still out though so the light was really magical, that golden glow that is so perfect for taking photographs. I took as many as I could before I thought I absolutely must start walking back to the lodge. I walked underneath the lodge's awning *just* as the rain started falling. Such timing!

That night my roommate, Susana, and I shared a bottle of Pinot Gris that she had won in one of the lender drawings. We watched 24 and slept very well. We had a long session that next morning. During our break I checked my email in the computer room off the lobby of the hotel. That's where I learned that Betsy had given birth! She and Ross are now parents to a daughter named Eliza Jayne. Betsy wasn't due until early March but mom and baby (4lbs 11 1/2 oz. and 18'' long) are healthy and happy. Eliza will stay in the hospital for bit but hopefully should be home in a little over a week. While reading the news I was shocked! Last year during this same conference I learned while sitting in the same computer room that Greta had given birth to baby Valentine(also early but just by 3 weeks). Eliza & Valentine even share a birthday (January 29th)!!! I am so thrilled for Betsy and Ross. I've known her since 8th grade and he was in high school choir with me. They're an amazing couple and I'm so excited for their family. I can't wait to meet Eliza and tell her about the world. Betsy is a mama!!!

After the last session Susana and I were back on the road to Portland by noon. The weather was equally awful as it had been on the way down: sideways rain, flooding rivers, downed branches and blowing debris. I was grateful to get home safely.

So that was my weekend! Please let me know how you are and what you've been doing. I hope all is well!

xoxo,
carolyn