“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes...you're Doing Something.”
-Neil Gaiman
-Neil Gaiman
View from the hotel parking lot
Portland, Oregon and surrounds in late summer is the most beautiful place on earth. I have visited many places, but the Rose City in September consistently scores my top ranking for stunning natural splendor.
Welcome To The Radisson
I arrived to Portland and was scooped up by the free shuttle and delivered promptly to the Radisson hotel. I booked this hotel stay entirely on points, but it cost every one I had and then some, so I was hoping for a positive experience. I was far from disappointed.
On arrival, they greeted me warmly, and immediately upgraded me to a king suite with in-room jacuzzi. “Nice,” I thought. But then I actually saw the room, and my eyes just about popped out of my head. When I walked into the room, they had left a welcome card with my name on it, and the jacuzzi was huge! I had a corner office, err I mean room, with beautiful natural views of the lake (did I mention they have their own lake?) and the forest paths around it.
I went hiking several times around the hotel, and my soul drank in the calming anodyne of the natural surrounds, far from the hustle and bustle of the city center. I meditated, enjoyed the silence, and felt at peace.
On arrival, they greeted me warmly, and immediately upgraded me to a king suite with in-room jacuzzi. “Nice,” I thought. But then I actually saw the room, and my eyes just about popped out of my head. When I walked into the room, they had left a welcome card with my name on it, and the jacuzzi was huge! I had a corner office, err I mean room, with beautiful natural views of the lake (did I mention they have their own lake?) and the forest paths around it.
I went hiking several times around the hotel, and my soul drank in the calming anodyne of the natural surrounds, far from the hustle and bustle of the city center. I meditated, enjoyed the silence, and felt at peace.
Mrs & Mrs
Love these custom-made M&M's
Stephanie's perfectly-framed and beautiful tattoo
"Tying the Knot" so to speak
The following day I attended the main event of my visit, the tying-of-the-knot of my two friends Stephanie and Lesley. The wedding was a refreshing and satisfying mixture of traditional charm and the urbane, and an unusual affair on many fronts.
The cordial clashing of family traditions, expectations, queer indie culture and a backwoods venue coalesced into an experience of a lifetime, with the perfectly-framed tattoo on one of the brides, custom-made M&Ms, pre-vow readings from science fiction author Neal Gaiman and a helpful sign directing people to sit in a seat, any seat, so help you God.
The careful preparations couldn’t prevent ALL the arguments, of course. Family is family, after all, and we all have our expectations and family doubly so, but everybody pitched in, solved problems, started the magic happening and refused to let it stop until we exhausted the final drop of our exuberance on the dance floor.
The cordial clashing of family traditions, expectations, queer indie culture and a backwoods venue coalesced into an experience of a lifetime, with the perfectly-framed tattoo on one of the brides, custom-made M&Ms, pre-vow readings from science fiction author Neal Gaiman and a helpful sign directing people to sit in a seat, any seat, so help you God.
The careful preparations couldn’t prevent ALL the arguments, of course. Family is family, after all, and we all have our expectations and family doubly so, but everybody pitched in, solved problems, started the magic happening and refused to let it stop until we exhausted the final drop of our exuberance on the dance floor.
In Wonderment Of Nature
Small waterfall I found while hiking
The Mighty Columbia
Babbling brook next to the path
Multnomah Falls upper, lower and bridge
Mossy trees and racing water
The following day, I took drove out to Multnomah Falls, the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the United States, and a magical faerie-tale land of splendiferous plant life and beauty.
I gaily shot photos of the falls and then joyfully scampered up the mountainous trails for several hours, disporting myself thoroughly. I adore the area, and it’s absolutely one of my favorite spots in the world.
At some point when I visit Multnomah Falls, though, I always get a momentary tremulous chill, regardless of the outside temperature. A friend once sat in front of the falls all day, composing a poem as he reconciled within himself and with his past. At the end of the day, he turned himself into the police for past crimes committed but not yet punished. He atoned for his wrongs and went to jail, but came out the other side a better man.
About 80% of his “crime” was not his fault, though, but rather the fault of another person. And everyone knew it. But in the end the blame lay on his shoulders, and he stoically accepted his penance. The above makes me think of all the big and little wrongs that we commit against ourselves and other people, and how we go about atoning and making amends and moving on with our lives.
I gaily shot photos of the falls and then joyfully scampered up the mountainous trails for several hours, disporting myself thoroughly. I adore the area, and it’s absolutely one of my favorite spots in the world.
At some point when I visit Multnomah Falls, though, I always get a momentary tremulous chill, regardless of the outside temperature. A friend once sat in front of the falls all day, composing a poem as he reconciled within himself and with his past. At the end of the day, he turned himself into the police for past crimes committed but not yet punished. He atoned for his wrongs and went to jail, but came out the other side a better man.
About 80% of his “crime” was not his fault, though, but rather the fault of another person. And everyone knew it. But in the end the blame lay on his shoulders, and he stoically accepted his penance. The above makes me think of all the big and little wrongs that we commit against ourselves and other people, and how we go about atoning and making amends and moving on with our lives.
Happy Panty Day
Yeah SEA-Tac Airport!
On my way back from Portland to Tucson, I had several hours to kill at SEA-Tac airport in Seattle, and I was elated to find out that my absolutely-favorite-in-the-world panties had a whole STORE!!!
Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, but I’m telling you these things are amazing! Ex-Officio makes definitive travel underwear. Their products fit fantastically, wick away sweat, dry in an hour, don’t rip or tear, never smell bad, and come in super-cute and sporty colors and styles!
I went into the Ex-Officio store and excitedly chatted up the clerk, who commented that 90% of people who come into the store have never heard of anything about Ex-Officio except for the underwear. Yep, I fit right into that demographic, but that didn’t stop me from checking out the rest of their travel and exercise clothing options. In addition to a couple fabulous new underthings, I managed to make off with several other clothing items that I had desperately needed for months. I left the store deliriously happy, dancing on air over to my plane to fly back to Arizona.
Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, but I’m telling you these things are amazing! Ex-Officio makes definitive travel underwear. Their products fit fantastically, wick away sweat, dry in an hour, don’t rip or tear, never smell bad, and come in super-cute and sporty colors and styles!
I went into the Ex-Officio store and excitedly chatted up the clerk, who commented that 90% of people who come into the store have never heard of anything about Ex-Officio except for the underwear. Yep, I fit right into that demographic, but that didn’t stop me from checking out the rest of their travel and exercise clothing options. In addition to a couple fabulous new underthings, I managed to make off with several other clothing items that I had desperately needed for months. I left the store deliriously happy, dancing on air over to my plane to fly back to Arizona.
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