Turkey Day!

I don't have any pictures, but it doesn't even matter. We all know what Thanksgiving is about... too much turkey, far too many carbs and sweets, all washed down with an unhealthy serving of alcohol. Not to mention the boring football, the sweaty women in the kitchen having hot-flashes, and the family drama that all seems to come to a head on this great day. But what do we appreciate most?? Our family... for their faults and quirks, their habits and mannerisms, their unconditional love and fierce devotion to the family unit. This is what Thanksgiving is to me, anyways. A rememberence of all the greats and the bads, all shoved into one feast-filled day.

Although I was not able to be with my family on this *filling* day, I was lucky enough to be able to barge in on the Schoonover's dinner hosted by Riane and Jake in Amity, OR. Everyone was here, and everyone contributed to the tasty madness. Riane and Jake with the turkey, stuffing, rolls and pea salad. Amber and Ray with the potatoes and wine. Shawna with the cranberries and fruit salad. Melinda and Rick with the sweet potatoes and pies... oh my the pies. Myself with the green bean casserole and relish tray/snacks. Oh yeah... and the most important part of my day: mimosa's in the morning! That's a little kick-back to my family ;)  I'll never have another Thanksgiving without a little booze to start off my day. Thanks Deveraux clan!

A new favorite tradition of mine that we might have started today?? Going around the table and saying the one thing you are so grateful for about the person next to you. We need to appreciate each other a little more. Not only that, we need to vocalize those feelings. Show gratitude, express love, convey sentiment,  proclaim fondness.

So with that, I'll leave you with the only thought left in my mind at the moment. I'm not sure if I'm ready to sleep or to vomit.

Shawna does Seattle.

Our first trip to Seattle!! Shawna and I had an evening off together, so we wanted nothing more than to make it to downtown Seattle. We browsed a few things online, found a few places that we could check out, and headed that way. First, we had to find parking. Who-wee! Miss Shawna decided to drive, so it was quite the adventure for her to find a place to park. After we tooled around for and hour or so, we decided on a parking garage close to the downtown shops and in a well-lit area. Only after we pulled in (to the one way garage) did we find out from the half-English-speaking gentleman that this was indeed a vallet parking garage only. And oh yeah... they charged us about $28 for 3 hours of parking. Whoops! Know better next time. So after we parked, we just perused the strip for something shiny. Don't worry... we found some!

 Don't know what the purpose was, but this ginourmous statue was moving. The arm with the hammer thing. Huh.

 It was too late for us to wander around the Pike Place Market, but have no fear... we will return. If for no other reason than Shawna to see the fish being thrown. I can't WAIT to find all the fresh goodies.

 I guess you know you're on the right street when you reach the cobblestone. Found it!

 Some more downtown with some newly lit trees for the holidays.

 Then we found this light changing stair waterfall thing that wen down 3 flights of stairs surrounded by some more trees lit. We tried to get a picture, this is what we ended up with. Keep in mind, I am taking all of these with only my phone, so no tricks can be used. Does this remind anyone else of a senior picture?

 We had a coffee on the way in and had walked around for 3 hours. By this time we desperately needed to find a restroom. Going into every store we could find that was still open, we were denied at every opportunity. Because we were determined, Shawna figured it was important enough to purchase an adult beverage just to use the restroom somewhere. We found the closest bar to where we then stood and in we walked. Good decision. This lounge was awesome! Pretty sure it was a gay bar, but that's what made it even better. The bartenders were easy to talk to, and recommended some great hard ciders off their specials menu. I tried one made in Oregon, Shawna had a Washington original. We also were privy to some great Spanish hard cider. Not what you would imagine, but I seriously have to find this stuff and drink it with a steak or something. To die.

Then... dinner!! I had found this great spot downtown called the Pink Door. You can't find it on GPS, just by word-of-mouth. It's in this dark-lit, semi-scary (in a non-threatening way) alley with no signs or lights to signify the entrance. The only way you know where to go? The pale pink door about half way down. You walk into this underground parlor and you literally feel like you have stepped back in time into the days of Prohibition. There is a wild sense of gaudy sensuality with the showy flowers, the dark red lighting, the extravagant mirrors covering the entire wall. Oh yeah, and the most important part... there was a cirque de soleil dancer above our heads as we were eating dinner performing on what appeared to be a silver hula hoop. The things she did during her 4 minute routine to music... Wow. This girl was amazing! Dinner and a show, well worth it.

 

Awaiting our reservations at the bar.

 These are our "sexy faces." Ha! Little off...

I ordered what the Pink Door was famous for, the spinach lasagna.

 And for Shawna, the bolognese.

 Of course, you can't go to an italian restaurant and not let Shawna get the bread pudding. I said "Ew," but I'll let her have her moment.

We found some stranger in the alley to snap our picture. She looked nice so I assumed she wouldn't run off with my phone.

Multnomah Falls

It only took 4 months to get there, but it finally happened. Multnomah Falls in northern Oregon. Hwy 30 breaks off I-84 and takes a little 14 mile jaunt through the natural growth. The roads are impossibly narrow, all kinds of people running amuck and we were completely unprepared for the 1.5 mile hike up to the top, but it was SO worth it. As I climbed up the trails on the mountain in flip-flops, carrying my heavy camera, video camera and leading Molly, I worried I wouldn't get any pictures to capture the beauty. Unfortunately, I don't think I did (because it is positively impossible to capture this on film), but I tried real hard! Here's a few of the snapshots I did manage.

 Even the parking lots were gorgeous.

 The first of the falls. This one is called Horestail Falls.

Sooo.... funny story. I decided that I would get a much better shot of Horsetail Falls if I were to climb through the brush, run down the railroad tracks right quick, and snap a quick pic while standing on the bridge. Good thought, right? So I told Shawna my plan, handed over Molly, and was off. Well... I can laugh about this now, but I'll tell you what...    So I was into this shot for a minute, trying to get the right focus and what not, then moved onto what I really had pictured in my mind.

 So it didn't turn out exactly like I wanted. Oh well. I couldn't stay long because I swore I heard a train whistle in the distance. Figuring I still had plenty of time to get down, I started briskly walking back the approximately 2 city blocks back to the point where I crossed the ditch. Keep in mind, I am in flip-flops on some pretty shifty ground. Curiosity got the best of me, so I turned around to look behind me. Guess what I see???? A big, bright light on the front of a train barreling towards me!! Oh yeah, I ran. As soon as I was off the bridge and to a spot where I could dive off the train tracks, I did. I see Shawna, never knownng the better, so I holler out at her, "Shawna! Wait a second!" She has a look of sheer confusion, not having any idea what the hell I was talking about when....

 VVRRROOOOOOMMMMM!!!! The train whizzes by meerly seconds after I jumped off the track. Oh shit, the look on her face was priceless! Not nice, but I will never forget that look. Meanwhile I am giggling my ass off because the only thing I can think of is that one 80's movie where the kids almost get killed playing on the train tracks. Whew! And I even managed to whip around and snap a shot.

 Ok, moving on. So this is the most famous one, Multnomah Falls. This one is somewhere in the ballpark of 680 feet from top to bottom. There is a hike to the top of the falls with a look-out over the edge. Oh yeah, that's gonna happen.

 At a little closer inspection. The bridge where the people are standing is where most people stop and take pictures, then return to their cars. A few adventurous souls (and a few old men who I swear were having a heart attack and a CHF flare-up) continued on to the top.

 Big-T getting geared up.

 Me and my freaky hair. I swear guys, I'll get it under control.

 About half of the way up. This is the Columbia River that, again, divides Washington and Oregon. So, as you can probably gather I am standing in Oregon looking at Washington. How cool!

 My favorite part!! We made it to the top and I am climbing around on the wet slippery rocks in the creek-bed a little ways away from the falls, trying my hardest to get something good, the whole while Shawna is probably visualizing my untimely death for the second time today.

 Couldn't decide which one I liked better, so sometimes I just have to put them both in.

 The view from the top. See those little toy cars at the bottom?

 Molly's always screwing it up.

 A pretty little bridge where the falls start up top.

Last one I could hurry and get before it started raining. Best part of the whole trip there and back.



Point Defiance.

There is an amazing park on the tip of the peninsula of Tacoma called Point Defiance. It was named when it was originally a military reservation started in 1840 because it was thought it could "defy the world." It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States at 702 acres. It contains a Zoo & Aquarium, Rose Garden, Rhododendron Garden, beaches, trails, a boardwalk, a boathouse, a Washington State Ferries ferry dock, and off leash dog park, and most notably a stand of old-growth forest. 

 Looking down at the pond.

 Ducks!! Molly was beside herself.

 Fall colors on a nice day. Doesn't get any better.

 Owen Beach with Mt Rainier in the distance.

 Japanese Gardens in the Park.

 "5 Mile Drive" on the tip of Point Defiance. Is exactly what it sounds like: a 5 mile drive through the park. I guess they close it to cars on Sundays so that only bikers and pedestrians are allowed. This is the old-growth forest I was talking about earlier. The only thing they have done is trim fallen trees from the hiking paths and build this road.

 This lil dude was munchin' on a few nuts for lunch. His friend was a little shy, hiding in the bushes.

 Not sure the name, but the bridge that connects parts of Tacoma.

 And again.

 At the dog park, Molly made a new friend. This Mastiff was such a gentle giant.



 This little lady heard the shutter snap when I took a picture of her Mastiff sister, so she came running over to me and wouldn't give up until I took her picture. Literally... this is her jumping on me. Right after I took her picture?... She ignored me and ran off.

 Now this is a dog park.

More 'coons!



A Monday afternoon drive: Mt Rainier

Being so close to greatness makes act me like a kid in a candy store with my camera and tripod. I drug Shawna along (gimme a break, she wanted to see it too), and we tooled around for the day. We took the back way to the Southwest entrance to Rainier National Park. Being that it was the second week of November, all the roads were closed but one. It worked out though because that's the one I wanted. Score! That never happens. Here's a few pictures too many of the day.

 Slowly climbing in elevation. First glimpse of the valley.

 And another.

 Alder Dam. Gotta look close.

 An old train turned into a bar and restaurant. Whaaaaaat???? How, freakin, cool. We will go back,

I'm sure of it.

Proving we were there.

 Never did see a sign telling me what creek this was. I just like the sun spots in photographs recently.

I just love the fall colors. I am so lucky to be in Washington this time of year. It is positively superb.

 Remind anyone else of Twilight? I know, it's sick. It just really  does look like it does in the movie.

 Can you tell every single one of my photos are untouched? I certainly can. What a wash-out. Oh well, you get the point.

 A dazzling waterfall that crossed our path on the drive. The arched rock is the bridge that we drove over.

 We have hit snow! "Mt Rainier is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of 14,411 feet." Yup, had to Wikipedia that too. Don't wanna leave anyone hanging. Can you see it through the trees? I would have taken many more, but the clouds were blocking it the whole time we were around. I have to find a better spot and go back.

 A little fox that really wanted a free meal. He was tugging at Shawna's heart-strings with his big brown eyes. Again, Shawna says, "Seriously, we can't feed him? But he's so hungry! Can I give him a cracker?" Molly was acting all bad in my cushy back seat. If I would have let her go, she would have run from this little 12-pounder so fast...!

 Starting to see some pretty stuff. Can you see how many layers of hills?!

 I'm assuming the same creek as what was down below. Right beneath this there was a giant waterfall. We probably could have hiked down there to snap a picture, but we would have needed ice picks and rope. Even then we would have still broken a hip. It was pretty gnarly.

 Trying to figure out where to set up for the sunset pictures I was itching for.

 Found my spot. Surprisingly, there wasn't a great selection unless you had a 30 foot ladder or a
helicoptor handy.

 I think this is my favorite. Love the sun-circle. I love pictures that are just a little off from what everyone else is shooting for. I love simple quirks, slight mistakes, something with a little personality. (Or maybe I'm just saying that because none of my pictures would ever sell!) 

 A few minutes later. My finger tips were pretty much frozen at this point. My toes had been numb for 15 minutes. Thank you Shawna, for sticking it out for me to get these. Once in a lifetime.

 My second favorite. It's always the first or the last shot of the day, eh?

 Another fox!! Wow, these guys are really lazy and don't want to work for their supper.

 It was a full moon, I had my tripod, I couldn't resist.

It was SO cold! Maybe it was just that I had spent the last 3 months in Southern Oregon which was super hot in the summer. And yeah, I have to try my hair curly here... it just isn't worth it to try and straighten. So be prepared for freaky ass pictures for the next 10 weeks!