Trout Lake, Washington ~Fire~

A fire, started by lightening, and fanned by wind, on the southern slopes of Mt.Adams, Washington has burned over 6,000 acres in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and east towards the Yakima Reservation. Strong winds have driven smoke in cloudy plumes over the Trout Lake Valley and east towards Glenwood and Goldendale, Washington.

Firefighters and crews have moved into a basecamp located at Trout Lake School: Helicopters and airplanes are seen dropping water and fire retardant on the flames.

Who Am I, Really??

While sipping my morning coffee I try and take a minute to visit a few of my favorite blogs. At my dear friend Jules site I stumbled across this personality test. I always get a kick out of these things. http://drawing.feedbucket.com/start.php

Here is what it had to say about me based on what I drew:

"You are driven and ambitious and tend to make radical moves to reach your goals.You are a direct and forthright person. You like to get to the core of the issue right away, with few signs of hesitation.You like following the rules and being objective. You are precise and meticulous, and like to evaluate decisions before making them.You have a sunny, cheerful disposition."

I bet there are few fokes who would disagree with this...

Portland International Speedway 2008

Portland International Raceway was repaved and reconfigured this winter; all the racers were there checking out the new race track.

I stopped in to see how my friends were enjoying the new track surface. There were smiles all around and tops speeds of 160 plus.

Squirrels Make us Smile

I work at a beautiful college campus with lots of trees and shrubs. Our facilities crew does a great job maintaining the grounds.

Today while sitting at the front desk covering the phones for a coworker a very cute squirrel paid me a visit. Ever feel like you’re being watched? Peering through the glass front door, he looked up at me as to say “Hey Lady, give me some food.”

So being the softy I am for a cute face (just look at my dating record) I jumped from my station and raided the refrigerator looking through everyone’s lunch in hopes to find this little guy a special snack.

I carefully stepped out to toss him part of my coworker’s lunch, and he quickly stuffed his cheeks and walked right up to me for more.

“You’ve done this before haven’t you,” I said in my best soft squirrel voice.
He replied in his sexy Antonio Banderas voice, "Why, yes I have."

The Oregon Ambassadors of Music

In July 2009 my daughter will be boarding a plane from Portland, Oregon and leaving the U.S.A for 18 days. A special letter came in the mail for her a few weeks ago. This letter is reserved for a select few musicians in Oregon. This letter was an invitation to join the Oregon Ambassadors of Music on their summer European Concert Tour.

The many opportunities she has been given have come from countless hours of hard work, practice, and dedication that I can only dream of having. Below are the many places she will visit.

London, England

Paris, France

Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Liechtenstein

Austria

Venice, Italy

Rothenburg, Germany

A flat tire in Shaniko, Oregon

The community of Shaniko is a not-quite ghost town located on Highway 97, about 70 miles north of Bend. Shaniko was incorporated in 1901. The town is famous for its colorful history and was once the nation's largest wool-shipping capital. The enormous sheep sheds of that era still stand on the edge of town. Several buildings are maintained in an Old West theme, including authentic boardwalks and an original schoolhouse and the Shaniko Hotel.

Shaniko was named for pioneer settler August Scherneckau. Scherneckau came to Oregon after the Civil War and bought a farm near the present site of Shaniko. Indians pronounced the name Shaniko, and that is how the locality got its name.

Bla – bla – bla…

It is also the worst place to get a flat tire. There is no one and nothing around, it is a ghost town. While pulling off the road to use the restroom at the Shaniko Hotel, I must have ran something sharp over because when I stepped out of the car I could hear it hissing. I quickly jumped back in and found a level quiet side street to park on so I could change the damn tire. After evaluating the situation, I still had to go to the bathroom and figured I’d better take care of that before attacking this tire.

I drive a vehicle that is only two years old; it is the only new car I’ve ever owned. I have never had a flat in this vehicle but I have had to change a tire in an older car I owned in college. I knew how to do it; I wasn’t real excited about it, but it wasn’t beyond my abilities. So I thought.

Being the responsible vehicle owner that I am, I stopped off at Les Schwab to have my tires rotated and the air checked before I headed to Bend for a weekend of mountain biking. I generally do this before I head out of town. My grandfather used to take really good care of his vehicles and he tought me to do the same.

I couldn’t loosen the lug nuts! As hard as I tried they weren’t moving a bit. Okay don’t panic, I mean really with this short stubby lug nut wrench that comes standard with my vehicle, how could anyone get any leverage. Okay, I’ll get the jack out, I totally know where that is, and I know how to use it. I’ll get my spare out from under my vehicle and come back to the lug nuts in a minute. How do you get the spare tire out from under the vehicle; it looked like it was practically welded under there. Oh dear God what am I going to do.

So out of the ghost town dusty streets of Shaniko came ghostly old men from everywhere. Where there had been no one on the streets now came sweet old ghost men.

God Bless the Old-Men-Ghost of Shaniko, Oregon.

I learned a lot that day. I learned the importance to keeping a huge lug nut wrench in your car at all times. I learned that all new cars have this fancy, very hand spare tire lowering thingy on the back bumper. (Very cool invention). I learned it is very important to keep the manual in the car at all times (even if you thought you were keeping in a safe place in the file cabinet at home so when you sold the car it would be ready to hand over to the new owner). And that it pays to be a sweet woman because old men love to help a damsel in distress.

I was a bit humbled by this experience. I travel around from one fun adventure to another and rarely think about running into problems. On the other hand, I tend to be very organized and plan things out to avoid problems. Accidents are just that; they are unexpected, unavoidable, and happen not matter how prepared we are in life. It is what we do with them, how we react to them, and what we learn from them that counts.

Memorial Day - Mt. Biking in Bend, Oregon

There is no better place to be then in Bend, Oregon mountain biking around Phil’s Trail on Memorial Day. This weekend was the first time I was there and the weather was a bit questionable. It was a cool and cloudy few days to ride in. I’m not complaining, like I said, there is no better place to be then Bend.

I stayed at Eagle Crest just outside of Redmond in a beautiful little one bedroom condo. Cozy, quaint, and decorated similar to what I would do with rich earth colors and sparse nic-nac junk. I am into clean and organized environments.

I enjoyed my ride but have to admit I wasn’t riding as strong as I did the last time I visited the area. With all the extra cold rainy days we’ve had in the Portland area I haven’t gotten nearly the miles in this year. This time last year I was getting 80 to 100 miles a week in. Currently I am averaging 45 to 60 per week. It is funny how I compare each year of fitness to the next. I gauge this years cycling success to last years.

I took in a great walk at Drake Park, a stole up Wall Street and found a path with about 100 cute dogs on it behind the Old Mill District. I got my dog petting and oogglling quota in for the next four months. I had to laugh at the truth to the saying “Owners look like their pets.” Well, a little.
What type of dog would you be if you had to compare?

Me, I’d be a mutt, made up of a:

Labrador (because I am so soft-hearted)
Basenji (because I have way too much energy)

Beagle (because they are so strong willed)

2008 OSAA Band and Orchestra State Champioships

Students representing sixty-eight high schools in Oregon performed Wednesday through Saturday, May 6-9, at the 2008 OSAA Band and Orchestra State Championships held at the LaSells Stewart Center on the campus of Oregon State University.

The question just had to be asked, "Amber, How does it feel to be one of the best musicians in the whole state of Oregon?" My daughter and her amazing orchestra took first place in the Strings Orchestra Division and Full Orchestra Division this past weekend. My heart went out to the poor bus driver who drove home 60 plus high school students at 10 p.m. Friday night as they chanted out the windows "We are the Champions, We are the Champions!"

The top winners in each division were:

STRING ORCHESTRA DIVISION:
1st – Reynolds High School, Directed by Ben Brooks - 322 points.
2nd – Crescent Valley High School, Directed by Charles Creighton - 318 points.
3rd – South Salem High School, Directed by Brandon Correa - 306 points.
4th – Sprague High School, Directed by Scott Esty - 304 points.
5th – South Eugene High School, Directed by Richard Long - 302 points.

FULL ORCHESTRA DIVISION:
1st – Reynolds High School, Directed by Ben Brooks - 313 points.
2nd – South Salem High School, Directed by MaryLou Boderman - 306 points.
3rd – Sprague High School, Directed by Scott Esty and Brad Howard - 299 points.
4th – West Linn High School, Directed by Jeff Cumpston - 277 points.

3 Knights and the Clumsy Princess

I did it again. I can’t believe I did it again. Saturday I put together a ride with my favorite riding partner Mark. He and I ride together as often as our schedules allow. We scheduled to meet at Oaks Park Saturday morning and head out and around Sauvie Island and then back to the park. It should be about a 45 mile loop.

So our plans changed slightly as my friend Joe and Mark’s friend Dale joined us. We welcomed the extra riders and we headed out. Now let me set the stage. Mark is like a father to me, a best friend, and the man who was with me a year ago when I was taken by ambulance off Marine Drive when I had a horrible cycling accident. An accident like that can really bond you to the person who was there for you. Joe – well Joe and I go back about three plus years, he’s a great friend and we have a past. (Enough said) Dale, now Dale is a sweetest man on earth. He is 70-years-old has had two hip replacements and can out cycle all of us, he’s a stud. Me, well I am lucky to have these three great men in my life.

So, of course, I am in the lead because being the only woman on the ride I am not about to be at the end of the line. (not really, I just happened to be in front at this portion of the ride) I didn’t hit the railroad tracks at enough of a 90 degree angle and my front tire slide on the track and I went down. I wasn’t going very fast and I fell on my butt which has the most padding so that is good. But my pride was hurt and I was embarrassed to say the least. Of course Mark grabbed me, Joe grabbed my bike and Dale offered to rub my butt. I popped some Advil, shock it off, and was ready to finish the ride. As we pulled away one of them quietly said to the other, “She doesn’t want to be babied, she could be dieing and she’d never let us know it.”

A few days later and my tailbone is very soar, sitting down has become a very painful experience. :(

New Orleans, Louisiana - April 2008

I spent four days in New Orleans this April. What an adventure! What a different place! From the moment I boarded the plane in Portland, Oregon on Friday morning to when I landed in Dallas, Texas for a short layover and then onto New Orleans Louisiana I knew this was going to be a great trip, a great adventure, a time of discover and just plain old fashion fun. Why? Because I love to travel and I love to explore new places.

My flight was great; I sat with a pilot from New York who was heading home. We talked about life and love and how fast things can change in ones life. His New York accent still makes me smile; I love the many different accents in our world.

I was amazed as our flight descended and Louisiana came into sight from my little window. Flat! The whole state was flat. The water seeps up to the shore line and they are like one. There is no defined line of where one starts and one ends. This coast line was nothing like the Oregon coast with its high cliffs and sharp rock ledges. Louisiana is green and almost tropical looking.

The fun began almost immediately as I got off the plane to find a bathroom. I was met with signs in the airport that were in French, English and Spanish. (This really is an inside joke between my two humorous uncles and myself and as I am trying to right about this misunderstanding of bathroom signs I am finding there is no way to describe it without being politically incorrect. As it is not my intention to offend anyone I’ll just let this one stay an inside joke – except to say “Hommes”) enough said!! (~sheepish grin~)

With so much to see and learn about this place I hit the ground running. After a taxi ride from the airport to my hotel in the French Quarters I was off to see the sights. Bourbon Street here I come. Bourbon Street is legendary and full of history and so much. (More than I ever expected)

I quickly found that it doesn’t have to be Mardi Gras to be handed beads, the expectation is still there. As full of history as this place is it is shadowed by a human-filth. Each morning when I would get up and walk to a corner market for breakfast, I would step over vomit, empty beer cups, used condoms and garbage everywhere. The streets are cleaned each morning when the people have long gone back to the dark places they came out from the night before. One truck drives slowly down the streets spraying a bleachy soapy solution on the streets. A second sweeper comes after that and sucks up the vial remains of the night life that this area is so known for. (Yes, I really did have fun, but this surprised me.) So a few times up and down Burban Street was enough for me. Maybe if I were 24, with a group of gals that party scene, anything goes mentality would appeal to me.

So I was set to discover a different part of New Orleans and I did. The rest of my trip was filled with a trolley ride out to the garden district. The homes were amazing you can see the French and Spanish influences in every building. Plantations are in a league all there own, they are breathtaking. I walked along the banks of Mississippi River. I jumped on a bus and headed to a rickety little dock and boarded a swamp boat and took a tour of the swamps and Bayous. I held a baby alligator and I think he even smiled at me. After years of watching animal planet with my daughter and even watching the Crocodile Hunter, I’ve always envisioned alligators as monsters that lay in wait on the sides of the streets in the south ready to snap family pets up or grab children out of their backyards. Prehistoric beast that terrorize the poor people of the swampy southlands. How wrong I was. When you see them in their natural habitat and the way they gracefully move through the water you find a deep respect for them. They are amazing animals and I have a whole new view of them.

The food of New Orleans belongs in it own category. AMAZING!! I started each evening off with oysters on a half shell. I enjoyed crawfish etouffee, gumbo, crawfish tails aka ‘mudbugs’, catfish, grits, and po-boys, hushpuppies, soft-shell crabs. Everything tasted great! I always ended my evening at Ralph & Kacoo’s Restaurant. I sat at the bar and visited with Allen (the cute bartender) each night. I learned a lot about the local life and what it is really like to be a native of this area.

What an amazing trip. As I sit hear and search for the words to describe it I feel I’ve fallen very short as it a place to experience for yourself.

~Sweet Nothings~ set up right on the streets. The music (Jazz) is almost as good as the food.

Crawfish Tails

A bathroom I chose not to use. YIKE!

Mardi Gras mask shops are everywhere. They are all beautiful and uniquely made.

One of about six alligators I saw while out in the Bayous.

The Italian Cycling Center offers an inexpensive and flexible European bicycling vacation for tourists, fitness riders, and racers. Yes, I'm getting the bug to travel and to cycle - where is the sunshine?

"People don't care what you think until they know how much you care."
I took this quote from another blogger. I view her blog every few days but for some reason this quote jumped out at me today. She is amazing and inspiring! http://julesstones.blogspot.com/

I'm in one of those 'deep emotional' moods lately.

Sunday Ride - and a Goose

I’ve had lots of things get in my way while riding. Bratty out-of-control-kids, peoples’ dogs on or off leashes, people not paying attention, rocks, unexpected pot holes, cars… but today I had a goose stand right in the bike lane and he wasn’t moving for me or anything for that matter.

I was riding along the Willamette River in Oregon City clipping along at 16 mph. I'm thinking as I get closer he’ll take a few steps back towards the grass. Nope! The big dumb-ass stands right in the bike lane and stares at me as if to say “Bring it on lady, I’ll bite your leg if you get to close” or “What are you going to do, hit me, I dare you” or “Hellooo, I was here first” Whatever he was thinking I was feeling a bit arrogant myself so I breezed by him close enough to make him flinch or so I thought. He didn’t move a muscle just watched me go by.

Just to clarify, I would never hurt an animal and if there were gozzlings around I'd have slowed down and move but this guy and I just had to have a little stand off. It was cute!

Locks of Love

This will be the second time my daughter has donated her hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children.

When she was nine she was excited to donate her long hair she found the whole experience very rewarding and it pleased her heart to know her hair would provide for a sick child. This time at 16 when looks are so important and the high school pressures plague all teenagers I saw her struggle with her hair being part of her identity, the one thing that set her apart from the rest. She looked a little torn and even a bit scared of this big change. Her heart hasn’t change, she still loves to help others but like us all societies’ expectations, peer pressure, and a desire to fit in are things we struggle to keep in check.

With a reassuring smile from me she took the plunge and even let me take a few pictures.

Windsor, Ca (Barrel Tasting)

Each year winery’s participate in the annual Barrel Tasting. The goal of Barrel Tasting is the chance to introduce people to wines still in the barrel, help them learn about wine, understand what they’re tasting and offer futures for sale.

I took flight from PDX on Friday and enjoyed a weekend of barrel tasting in the Sonoma Valley area of California.

I visited too many wineries’ to list on my blog but will share the link to my favorite. I enjoyed the wine but also the people and atmosphere.

The only thing that could have made this weekend any better would be to have my bike. The cyclists were out enjoying the sunshine, warm are and decent roads. I was reminded again like on most trips I take how wonderful our Oregon roads are for cyclist.

Wilson Winery by far the best for great wine, nice people, fun relaxed environment and the wine maker is a woman. :)

View of the Wilson vineyard.

Winery Dogs, each winery has a dog... Most were yellow labs but I saw a few different breeds.

Barrels of wine everywhere, yummm.

The wine is extracted from the barrel with a glass wine-theif.