Blackberry break Oregon style

I had organized a ride today with friends today just to continue to check things off my list as quickly as possible - having already consumed a screamer shake from Coffee People, had a Tillamook cheeseburger from Burgerville, and spent over $35 at River City Bicycles. I convinced Marshal from our office, Tommy Brooks, and Chris Moller (Mary's husband) to go and do a lap or two at Sauvie's Island. I also got in touch with my old college teammate Alalia who is a 4th year at OHSU to come out for the ride - she brought her fiance and her father out, too. We headed from a swank little coffee shop on N. Mississippi where I forced coffee on Marshal out toward St. Johns to go over the bridge and dodge as many participants of the Bridge Pedal as possible.

We made short work of Hwy. 30 and got to Sauvie's rather quickly chatting all the way - I spent most of the time bounced up and done the line of my friends catching up. At the beginning of our second lap Alalia's father, who is a pretty tech savvy guy, said "Hey, does anyone mind if we do a quick blackberry break?" I thought to myself, "Huh, ok. This has actually never happened on a ride. But you know, I may have an email or two waiting for me."

"Sure," I said, "let's find the next wide spot in the road."

Wait...I thought for a second...realized where I was and who I was with and started laughing with embarrassment and relief.

Blackberry...blackberries...berry...jam...oh lord.

That moment said a lot about my life's progression. While I thought I had made progress creating enjoyable nooks and crannies by sometimes actually stopping and smelling the roses in the middle of an email, for instance, I know now that there are still some places and moments out there where you get to unplug and get your fingers all purple.

Those moments are glorious.

Mt. Hood (home)

Yay!

Greatest day ever...

Not only am I currently situated in a window seat of a plane headed
home to Oregon, BUT a worker of mine made the comparison of my crop to
that of Tintin, whose likeness showed up in my cubicle next to another
fictional idol of mine, Joshua Lyman from The West Wing. Since I have
both the trenchcoat and the hairline, I can't decide which accessory I
need next: the little white dog, or the power-brokering feminist girl
friend.

Northbound

I'm currently nestled into a window seat on the #66 and can't wait
till the rails rock me to sleep.

Invade!!

Katie and I snuck into the brand new, yet-to-be-opened, wrappers-still-
on-the-chairs, smell-of-paint-in-the-air William and Mary Mason School
of Business building. Certain people who may read this may choose to
be impressed by this excursion. It's a beautiful colonial-inspired
modern space that made me want to go back to school.

Virginia is CRAZY!!

Not only do they not provide proper, wait wait, NO signage on roads,
but they let dogs drive!! This is Denver the dog. I had to have him
pull over so I could teach him how to use his signals.

Another UHaul

My friend Katie is going to grad school in Williamsburg and I'm being
the caravan driver to help her out. It's nice to get out of town, but
it is a reminder of where we are in our lives and how transient this
town is: another friend rents a UHaul and leaves.