I’ll be joining the fray and coloring my week.

I find today to be quite easy to follow, as it was nearly 80 degrees out, so the boys and I went for a walk and [...]]]>

Hoping you had a very green Monday.

And it followed us all the way to the coast.There were a few breaks in the weather though….

so we at least, managed to get [...]]]>

Leaving town, it looked as if we may be leaving gray skies behind and looking to blue skies ahead.

But this is what met us in Portland.

And it followed us all the way to the coast.
There were a few breaks in the weather though….

so we at least, managed to get out and walk on the beach once or twice without getting completely drenched!

Our trip up to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, was a different story, on the other hand.

What? No one’s told you! The “wet dog” look is in, now.
Still, the trip up Yaquina Bay was worth the impromptu shower.

The view from the top was AMAZING!

I even brought along my old Kodak Duaflex to capture some pictures on our trip.

There’s plenty more where those came from but far too many to show you.
I guess I went a little nuts! Just ask Jason. He’s the one that had to suffer every time I pulled his sleeve, stopped short and yelled, “Ooh, ooh! Wait. I gotta get this with the viewfinder.”

Our condo at the beach was absolutely breathtaking! We felt like kids in a candy store!

Photo courtesy of Bella Beach Management.
Photo courtesy of Bella Beach Management.
Photo courtesy of Bella Beach Management.

The stay was extremely comfortable and we had no complaints about the place.

That being said…….

Our first night was a bit of a hiccup.
We bought a bottle of wine, some chocolates and settled our selves into the huge jetted jacuzzi tub in the master suite.

Suddenly, we heard every smoke alarm in the three level home wailing in our ears.
We both lept from the tub like our backsides were on fire.
I ran through the house, smartly clad in nothing but my “birth day” suit, sniffing the air for signs of smoke.

I sheepishly crept quickly down the stairs to find water pouring from the ceiling of the dining room. Which just happened to be situated directly over a smoke alarm.

We called the management, only to get an answering service. We left two messages, which went unanswered, of course, since it was 9:30 on a Sunday night.

We wandered around the home looking for anything that could boost us up to the 12 foot ceilings to possibly remove the battery or shake some water out.
ANYTHING REALLY! Anything to stop the high pitched squealing of the alarms.

Soon, we heard a doorbell. Oh good! Finally, we are rescued! That, or the alarms are linked to the local Fire Department. And the men in red are about to get a nice show!

It was just the nice neighbor ladies across the street from us. Checking to make sure we were’nt getting barbecued in our sleep.
In fact one of them laughed and said she was outside lighting her cigarette when she heard the alarms go off and she started to worry that the development had special state-of-the-art outdoor smoke alarms.

We appreciated the ladies’ concern but unfortunately, they were also just renting the place they were in, so they had no suggestions of what we could do.

Almost 20 minutes later, our ears were beginning to bleed and I decided I would drag a small sitting chair from the living room over to the wall next to where the leaking smoke alarm was. I scaled it carefully and awkwardly, steadying myself on Jason’s back, ‘er,…. face. It took several minutes but I finally got a hold of the alarm and ripped it from the ceiling in an enormous fit of rage.

Talk about a perfectly wonderful evening completely spoiled!

We sat on the couch for a little while whining and pouting, just blowing off some steam really.
And by the next morning, we had gotten over ourselves.

The home was newly constructed and we were only the second ones to have rented it.
This was just an unexpected fluke in the Jacuzzi Pump. Never happened before.

We used the tub again the next night, only we left the pump OFF! No more Naked Bath time Shenanigan’s for us, thank you!

And no, I have no pictures!
You cheeky things, you.

We still had fun and we definitely want to go back. Only, maybe we’ll bring our bathing suits next time. And an umbrella!

putting all of my (very logical) reasons aside, I just can’t see myself getting by the next several months with this much animosity and anguish [...]]]> I have been making an honest effort.
I want to like Fall and I want to like Winter.
especially, after hearing all your great responses to the Great Bitch Fest of 2007!

putting all of my (very logical) reasons aside, I just can’t see myself getting by the next several months with this much animosity and anguish bottled up inside me.

I set up a play-date for myself with my arch-enemy, Fall and I tried to let down all the barriers I have put up around me for all of these years.

These are some of the “highlights” from our play-date. I will treasure them and look upon them often so that I can remind myself that Fall’s really not all that bad!

I really can’t argue with the beauty and grace of the falling leaves……

and the wonderment and pure joy on my children’s rosy little faces, as they skip through the leaves….

But I still want to cry when I say “goodbye” to my beloved friend, as he quickly kisses the horizon at only 4:30 pm…..

But overall, I enjoyed soaking it all up. relishing in the moment and only focusing on the joys of the season, with the ones that I love……

I only hope Fall can take it easy on me during his stay this year. That way Winter won’t seem so harsh when he comes around to visit!
I am, after all, only human.
And I have very weak lungs…..

still, there may be hope yet.
here is photographic documentation of a tiny flint of Fall Joy……

***DON’T FORGET! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO COMMENT FOR THE OWL BAG GIVEAWAY!***

oh my!

I am so blown away!I posted one of my Portland Zoo photos in a Flickr group called “World Through My Eyes” just 2 days ago and it has already been blogged!!!

here is a link to the group page where I am blogged. (well, my photo, that is)it’s a page of all [...]]]>

oh my!

I am so blown away!
I posted one of my Portland Zoo photos in a Flickr group called “World Through My Eyes” just 2 days ago and it has already been blogged!!!

here is a link to the group page where I am blogged. (well, my photo, that is)
it’s a page of all the administrators’ favorite photos.

I’m so blown away.
did I say that already?
well I am.

in fact, I am so stoked over this I just may decide to hold another contest and make the prize be a large print of that photo!

check back soon and see if my thoughts have accumulated into the actual thing!
you may just find that they have.
I am that stoked!

and you all know how much I like my “Give That Photo a Name” Contests. so, I may go that direction. we’ll see.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day today.
go take your camera with you and find a lovely spot somewhere to take pictures.
enjoy yourself and have fun.
and come back here and share it with me.

you never know, I just might blog you!