June 20, 2007

julie doiron sings in a basement

She is so lovely. I've loved her for years and this was the first time I've ever seen her live. It was also my first time at The Artistry, an all ages club on Division in SE.

She played half her set by herself, then her backing band joined her. Her voice is beautiful. She even sang that French song I like so much. sigh

all the way from New Brunswick, Canada

fire in the birdbath


fire in the birdbath, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Our hope for a borrowed fire bowl fell through so we resorted to burning twigs on the votives. Since it was our upstairs neighbor's birdbath, not mine, I had to put the kibosh on birdbath fire. As the party numbers dwindled we shifted locations, throwing the keg in the back of Paul's truck and starting a big fire in Elaine & Gina's backyard chiminea just a few blocks away.

We love fire

beers, blankets and way too much food

Everyone brought a side dish to our bbq, along with the tons of sausages and burgers that Camille bought at Costco and suddenly our kitchen is jammed with hilarious amounts of leftover food.

Camille leaves tomorrow for 10 days in Hawaii so I'm left with way too much food just for myself. I might have to have another party just to eat it all.

fun times in the backyard.

Jason, Diana, Gina & Kelly

little girls get cold


little girls get cold, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Thank god it stopped raining (the 2pm downpour made me a little nervous) but it never really got warm out. I don't know who this little girl was (I think she was the daughter of Camille's old high school friend) but she was funny.

Camille borrowed her shoes.

photo by Fooqua

it's her party


it's her party, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

My friend and roommate Camille graduated from Portland State University and had a bbq/party/keg in the backyard. It was tons o fun.

box as hat


box as hat, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

She who drinks the last Hamm's must wear the box as a hat. Caitlin complied. I drank Alaskan Summer Ale.

BBQ in Kelly & Caitlyn's backyard in NE Portland. ahhhh summer. The ribs were fantastic!

porcelain and pine needles

Kelly moved into a new house in NE Portland, just off MLK. They've gutted the upstairs bathroom because you had to put your feet in the bathtub to sit on the toilet. I love old houses.

Bijou in the backyard bathroom

bbq season in full force

Hello everyone!I had a wonderful weekend. Friday evening I went over to Kelly’s new house in NE Portland. Her roommate, Caitlin, just bought an old house with her dad and they’ve just moved in and are fixing it up. I arrived in the backyard where the bathtub and sink where soaking up the evening sun filtering through the evergreens. Kelly gave me a tour of the house. The upstairs bathroom has been totally gutted (thus the porcelain in the backyard) because you had to basically put your legs in the bathtub to use the toilet. There was lots of painting going on and boxes piled up. It’s a great old house with a magnificent cedar tree in the front yard, the previous tenant’s first Christmas tree from 1947. The tree looks much older than that as it’s HUGE!

Friends and family began arriving and we all hung out on the sunny back deck while Caitlin’s dad fired up the bbq and started cooking ribs. Dinner was fantastic and I had a great time hanging out with Kelly and meeting a bunch of new people. I’m sure I’ll be hanging out in that sunny backyard more this summer.

Saturday I spent the day running errands, watching Netflix and reading my book. That evening was Camille’s bbq/party/keg in the backyard to celebrate her graduation from Portland State University. We tapped the keg (MacTarnahan’s) and fired up the grill. A bunch of friends came over and everyone brought some food. We had WAY too much food (always). It was all delicious though from the fresh Oregon strawberries to the blueberry Stilton to the chicken/pineapple skewers. As it got dark I realized we had no fire! My hope for a borrowed fire bowl fell through so we ended up with votives in a bird bath. Soon enough twigs were being piled up and we had a paltry little fire going. It was my upstairs neighbor’s birdbath so I had to stop the fire building. The party numbers had dwindled so we threw the keg in the back of Paul’s truck and moved the party 10 blocks to Elaine and Gina’s. We started a fire in the backyard chiminea and talked and drank beers. Fooqua walked me home which was very nice and did some quick clean up in the kitchen before going to sleep.

Sunday I went over to Elaine and Gina’s where they were preparing breakfast: bacon and pancakes with fresh strawberries on top. YUM! After hanging out for a bit I went back home where I cleaned up the backyard and talked on the phone with my dad. I spent the afternoon watching Netflix and reading my book. In the early evening I met up with Jess at the Artistry, an all ages club on Division St. We went to see Julie Doiron, who writes beautiful songs and has a lovely voice. The show was wonderful and I was so happy to see her after listening to her music for so many years.

So that was my weekend! Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to. I’m off to Trout Lake tomorrow after work to celebrate the solstice. Happy Summer!

xox,
carolyn

June 12, 2007

sunday paper


sunday paper, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I used to get the Sunday paper. The Oregonian calls me all the time trying to get me to renew. It's obnoxious.

Instead I do this

I'll trade you this crown for that parrot

Terry switched his birthday crown for a parrot hat (temporarily) at the Pub at the End of the Universe.

John inspects

birthday singers at the end of the universe

A great night at the Pub at the End of the Universe to celebrate Terry's 30th birthday

she surprised him


she surprised him, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Erin successfully pulled off a surprise birthday party for her husband, Terry's 30th birthday party.

Pub at the End of the Universe

I kicked ass at darts and ate a cupcake

dirty thirty donuts


dirty thirty donuts, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Terry turned 30 so his wife threw a surprise birthday party for him at the Pub at the End of the Universe.

Yes that's a cock and balls donut (cream-filled of course), from Voodoo Donuts, a fantastic establishment of ridiculous, delicious donuts. I wanna try the maple bar which has a slice of bacon on top. yummmm

we like the jet flames


we like the jet flames, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the chiminea in my friends' backyard gets lots of fiery lovin. Elaine is definitely the firemaster, constantly stuffing more wood in, blowing to make more flame and covering her hands in little burns and soot. We all love when the jet flames shoot out the top.

wilco in the sun


wilco in the sun, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

soaking up the early evening sun, listening to the new wilco.

yes, I know my face is overexposed. some purposeful mistakes have their place. High key...

antibiotics and oysters

Hello everyone!

I had a mellow weekend here in town. I’ve been sick again (more fevers!) so I went to the doctor on Thursday and was sent home with some antibiotics. I have since had to stop taking them as I was having an allergic reaction to it since it was related to penicillin. I've never taken penicillin in my whole life since both my mom and brother have reacted badly to it. I'm still waiting for the doctor to call in a new prescription. I'm losing faith by the minute. Ugh!

Friday night I went over to Elaine and Gina’s house where we had a late dinner (steak and chicken thighs on the grill), potatoes (also done on the grill in foil pouches camping style) and of course a huge caesar salad. After dinner Elaine and Kyle and I sat around the fire in the backyard talking until it was much too late and I had to go home to sleep.

I had a horrible night of sleep and woke up in the middle of the night feeling as if I was freezing to death. After taking some ibuprofen and hanging out on the floor register (heat blasting for 30 minutes) I crawled back into bed and slept. I want to keep sleeping and sleeping but I had to get up to get ready to go to a bridal shower. My good friend Jess is getting married and her mother-in-law-to-be and her friends had a get together at one of their houses. We ate fantastic food and Jess opened her presents and all the ladies talked and talked. From there I quickly went to Elaine and Gina’s house. I wasn’t feeling well but they had something that I knew would make me feel better. Brian and Shannon had gone to the farmer’s market in downtown Portland and bought 5 dozen fresh oysters along with some yummy chevre and a whole flat of fresh Oregon strawberries. I ate some oysters, shucked some oysters, ate some strawberries, ate some oysters, shucked some oysters, ate some oysters, ate some strawberries. It was wonderful. I left there and went home where I laid on the sofa watching some Netflix before going out for the evening.

Camille and I drove to the Pub at the End of the Universe (located at SE 28th & Gladstone) for Terry’s surprise birthday party. Erin brought him by for a beer after their dinner and he was indeed surprised. Instead of a cake there was a cock and balls donut (from Voodoo Donuts) and two HUGE glazed donuts (a la boobies) with whipped cream in the middle along with various delicious cupcakes. It was all very hilarious and Terry wore a crown all night long (until he swapped it for a strange parrot hat with someone else in the bar). I had a great time playing darts (cricket) and talking with friends. I only drank a couple beers and just hung out with my water, happy to be feeling well. I left around 1 to go home where I thankfully slept through the night.

Sunday I spent the day cleaning the house, working in the garden, reading my book and watching Netflix. So that was my weekend. Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to. I hope all is well!

Xoxoxo,
carolyn

June 11, 2007

argyle aplenty


argyle aplenty, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Vieve, Emma & Gina in their golf gear. Sunday at the Masters

pretty boys on the course

these outfits are killing me. Fooqua in his schmancy silk deal and Lincoln in the background. I love it

terry's final drive


terry's final drive, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

and he wouldn't like it at all as it swung wide and into the woods. He would throw himself onto the path as only Terry does. Hole 18 at the Masters

the women's leader group is full of love

The women's leader group was very supportive of each other, definitely a different vibe then the men's leader group.

Emma took the women's division and a course record with her combined Saturday/Sunday scores.

blondies in the sun


blondies in the sun, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Alicia walked around with Chiron in his sling and a parasol to keep his fair skin (and hers) out of the warm sun.

Sunday at the Frizbee Masters, Silver Falls State Park

the gentle giant makes a soft pillow

Ken and Terry playing their Sunday round of frisbee golf

sunday morning at the shrine

Nate, Jason & I made a visit to the IJ shrine. It's hard to explain what the IJ (Insect Jesus) is. It's not in frame but instead you can see offering that people have made to it.

Nate drinks his morning coffee out of a champagne bottle, much to my amusement

trickle falls makes a comeback

we had a great time hanging out at Trickle Falls, the camp we used to claim but got to crazy for us. Saturday night the place was empty with everyone down at the costume ball. Dave, Jimmy & Lincoln play some music. Jimmy decided that Dave looked like a washed up rock star. bahahaha

Nate wears Dave's famous Sparkle King cape.

the go go dancer could give birth any minute

Molly was extremely pregnant! Her due date is June 10th. She was sharing the cabin with Amberly (who left the night before when her water broke and delivered a healthy baby boy in Salem). Molly made it through the weekend without giving birth.

Dancing in the go go cage at the Costume Ball. Frizbee Masters

plaidagonia meets tutuland

we have crossbred. Elaine, Gina and I at the Saturday night Costume Ball. Photo by John

good times at the Frizbee Masters

twirly girls


twirly girls, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Tutus make spinning extra fun! Kelly, Emma and some more tutu ladies out on the dance floor at the Saturday costume ball.

Frizbee Masters

tutulanders and a swarm of frisBEES

Emma and her friend (who's name I've forgotten) dancing with a swarm of frisBEES at the Saturday night costume ball.

Frizbee Masters

finally, good food!


finally, good food!, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Dinner at the Masters has always been horrible. This year it was catered by an Ethiopian restaurant and was fantastic.

Kelly and Keith at a picnic table outside

dinner is a madhouse


dinner is a madhouse, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Dinner craziness Saturday night at the Frizbee Masters

jimmy's got the moves


jimmy's got the moves, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Jimmy dances in Church while Geoff looks on.

Frizbee Masters at Silver Falls

sermonizing about stupidity

John gave a sermon about not jumping into rivers that aren't deep enough. His neck was kinda jacked. ouch

Church at Silver Falls State Park

golf on the green


golf on the green, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I sat in the shade (it was HOT out) and watched groups golf through.

Frizbee Masters at Silver Falls

injuries to soon follow


injuries to soon follow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

John leapt off the bridge, rather than dove, but still hit bottom and hurt his neck. take heed!

what a night!


what a night!, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Kelly and Alicia were quite tired and little loopy after staying up all night with Amberly whose water broke at 1:30 in the morning. They drove her to a midwife's house in Salem where she delivered a healthy baby boy just after 9am.

Kelly & Alicia returned to Silver Falls while Amberly went home to Tacoma with her mom & sister. Champagne & naps

colorful woodland creatures

Wampler drives on a tough hole with lots of trees and obstacles.

Frizbee Masters at Silver Falls State Park

biscuit in the grass


biscuit in the grass, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Jimmy and Andrea brought their 5 week old kitten, Biscuit, to the Frizbee Masters. The weekend before she'd gone camping with them up in the national forest around Mt Adams. She's a camping kitty. Here she's comically cute pouncing on something in the sunny grass.

ready for a round of golf

frisbee golf that is. Ridiculous clothing required at the Masters. Dave, in the sparkly gold shirt, has a bin of ugly clothes he keeps especially for this occasion. It's raided by many and enjoyed by all.

Frizbee Masters at Silver Falls State Park

panda bear likes cupcakes and beer

Kelly wearing both her super fantastic pantsuit and a panda bear costume. Little did she know she would spend the wee hours of the night helping Amberly as she gave birth to healthy baby boy in Salem.

Gina made cupcakes for my birthday and extra for the Masters.

backyard at the infirmary

We reserved this cabin (3 bedrooms and a full bathroom and kitchen) for Amberly (due June 10th) and Molly (also due June 10th) and her husband and Lincoln & Alicia with 6 month old Chiron. Quiet zone! It used to be the Infirmary so it was only appropriate.

Amberly would go into labor later this night and deliver a healthy baby boy at 9am the next morning.

that babe would come soon

Amberly (grapes, pregnant, showing us all her kielbasa feet (her words)) would deliver a healthy baby boy the following morning. Her water broke at 1:30 late this night and Kelly and Alicia (with Lincoln and their 6 month old baby Chiron following in a 2nd car) would drive her to a midwife's house in Salem where she gave birth at just after 9am. Saturday night at dinner everyone (over 250 people) would sing Happy Birthday to the new little boy (name still being determined).

It's incredible that she's a mama now and I felt very lucky to have spent this afternoon and evening hanging out with her, on what turned out to be the last day of her pregnancy.

Mama Amberly!!!

the trees drip green


the trees drip green, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

mossy perfection up in Church at Silver Falls State Park

church friends


church friends, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

a mob of friends hanging out in Church at Silver Falls State Park

hooray for the frizbee masters!!!!

Hello everyone!

I’m playing a bit of catch up again! Sorry but last weekend was really crazy and then I got sick immediately afterwards. I’m starting to feel better though so here goes. I had a mellow birthday (Thursday May 31st) leaving work at noon and hiking along the Salmon River on Mt Hood. It was a very warm day out and if I’d been more appropriately dressed I would have jumped in the river. After my hike I went to Elaine and Gina’s house to discover Gina baking me cupcakes (shaped like stars even!). A bunch of Trout Lakers were coming into town as we were all leaving early Friday to head to the Frizbee Masters at Silver Falls State Park. Elaine and Gina made a fantastic make-your-own-burrito bar for dinner. After eating we hung out in the backyard around the fire, heading to bed early so we could get on the road early for the Masters.

I left with Gina around 10am and it was a beautiful drive to the park. We unloaded the car then I went to my favorite place at Silver Falls, Church. It is an outdoor chapel area and one of the most beautiful spots in an area that has no shortage of beauty. A group of us hung out and talked, the sun pouring through the tall, mossy trees. Most people went off to get a practice round in but not me. I don’t even play frisbee golf anymore but I was still going to this event. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Kelly and Amberly had arrived so I went down to their area to hang out with them. Amberly wasn’t sure if she was going to come as she was very close to her due date of June 10th. There is a doctor who goes to the Masters and it’s a short drive to the closest hospital and she is the kind of girl that seems to be up for anything so she decided to come. She was looking fantastic but of course feeling a bit uncomfortable and really wishing her feet weren’t so swollen. We spent the afternoon sitting around the backyard of the infirmary. That’s the name of the cabin we had reserved for her, another pregnant woman named Molly (also due on June 10th and there with her husband) and Alicia and Lincoln with their 6 month old son Chiron). This was the quiet zone for pregnant ladies and little babies. We ate snacks and laid in the sun and enjoyed the beautiful day. Lots more friends began arriving and setting up their tents. The Masters is really just a big, fun party in the woods.

Later in the evening Amberly and I walked down to the grill-out to have some salmon burgers (big thumbs down from me and I love salmon). We lounged on the hill in the lingering light until the bugs drove us nuts. I spent the rest of the night hanging out on our tiny porch cabin with far too many other people. We talked and drank beers and laughed at Dave playing with his $1 fart machine (a mouth piece with a floppy piece of rubber which brought him “far more than $1’s worth of joy”). Later we headed down to the big campfire on the other side of the pond. There was a huge circle of people hanging out and playing music but I was tired and didn’t stay very late.

Saturday morning while making my coffee Molly walked by and told us that Amberly’s water had broken at 1:30 that night and she had left with Kelly, Lincoln, Alicia and baby Chiron. Whoa! What news early in the morning! We had no idea when we would hear from anyone so we just had to wait. I drank my coffee in the sun and we all knew it was going to be a warm day as the clouds were already gone. Dave pulled out his bin of polyester clothing and people began putting on ridiculous outfits. I showered then put on my silky, flouncy black and white shirt with a big floppy scarf attached around the neck, like something a secretary would have worn 20 years ago. For pants I had bright lime green capris with daisies embroidered on them. It was all very ugly for sure. A big group of friends went out to start golfing their first scored round and I walked with them to take photos. It was a beautiful day and some people were getting some crazy shots. It’s always great to see other people dressed up on the course. There were more people this year than ever just golfing in normal clothes. BOOOO! It’s a course requirement that you wear golf gear (argyle and whatnot) or hilarious polyester. You with the khaki shorts and t-shirt….BOOOOO! Around hole 9 or 10 I was starving marvin so I walked with Gina back to our cabin where we made bagel sandwiches. Lincoln had stopped by, exhausted from their crazy night and morning. I grabbed my lunch and walked down to their cabin where they were all starving and tired but eager to share their stories with me. Amberly delivered a healthy baby boy just after 9 am at a midwife’s house in Salem. Both Kelly and Alicia were in the room with her and were pretty blown away by the experience, even Alicia who had given birth herself, at home, just 6 months before. After talking and relaxing a bit Lincoln decided to go for a nap while Alicia threw on some ridiculous clothes, put Chiron in a sling and decided to walk around the course a bit with me. We went up to Church and sat and watched others golf through.

Later I walked down to the pond where I watched my friends belly flop and cannon ball into the cold water. No diving as the water was much too shallow. Even just flopping into the water John hit bottom and kinda hurt his neck. Enough fun in the pond. I sat in the shady grass for a bit, eating snacks, talking with friends and enjoying the beautiful day which is pretty much how I spent the rest of the day, just moving locations throughout the park. We were up in Church when we heard the dinner bell so we headed down for some food. Dinner has always been horrible at the Masters but we had heard that they had it catered for Saturday so there was hope. Indeed they served Ethiopian food and it was delicious and very filling. After dinner Gina, Elaine and I walked over to Emma’s cabin where she lent us tutus (crinolines really) for the costume party. We were wearing all plaid representing Plaidagonia but we were going to have cross bred with Tutuland. Again with the ridiculous clothes! Back at our own cabin we got all dressed up and trounced down to the dancehall where we got free drinks and danced to the blues band. We talked with a bunch of people before deciding to head over to Trickle Falls, the area we used to camp at for Masters before it became overrun with too many people. Amazingly there was no one there, just Dave and Jimmy and Lincoln playing music and a handful of friends sitting around. It was tons of fun and a great ending to the day.

Sunday the girls had to get up early to be ready for a 10 am tee-off with the women’s leader group. I showered and drank my coffee before getting dressed (mixing a red skirt I wear in normal life but it is a crazy pattern with an ugly blue button up with a snakeskin design). Nate and I walked over toward the IJ shrine, picking up Jason along the way. It’s hard to explain what the IJ (Insect Jesus) is but people make offerings to him for good golf. I walked with Nate up to Church for a bit before heading to the cabin. I then hung out in the sunny, grassy field hoping to come across the women’s leader group so I could walk along with Elaine and Gina and take some photos. When I eventually found them I walked to several holes with them. It was so great to see the women’s group so supportive of each other and giving each other hints and tips.
I watched the women’s group finish up their last few holes and post their scores. Elaine placed third and Gina tied with Andrea for 4th. After hanging out a little bit we went back to the cabin to pack up and do some cleaning. Gina had a screw in her tire and while she’d gotten some air she didn’t know how long it was going to hold so we hightailed it out of there and got home in the late afternoon.

So that was my crazy weekend at the Masters. Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to.

xoxo,
carolyn