introductions

I spent my last day of Spring Break with the brother and introducing him to new necessities.  I have been craving Fire on the Mountain, which has the best wings, in my opinion.  My brother has never been so he was the perfect candidate to tag along.  Afterwards I felt like walking around Portland so we did just that.  In the mist of my happiness that I was able to enjoy a relaxing day doing the things I love (you know, eating and taking pictures) I take out my camera to document, but am denied by "error: the memory card is damaged, insert a new card."  Seriously? Thank goodness for the iPhone, or my wonderful day could have turned into a disappointing one.  I decided right away that we would have to stop for Fro Yo.  My brother's reaction to my remedy? "What is Fro Yo?" I couldn't believe it.  I don't know what this kid would do without me. Really though, I don't know what I would do without him.  If I could have one day a week like this with him, I would be one happy girl. Especially if it meant introductions to new things around Portland every time.

cherry blossoms

I'm not one of those people who has a favorite season to obsessive over, because I obsess over all of them.  I can't pick favorites because I'm always eager for sweaters and pumpkin during the summer, scarves and hot chocolate in the fall, blooming flowers and outdoor happy hours in winter, and shorts with long days in spring. What I really need to be doing here is enjoying the season I am currently in, and these cherry blossoms are really helping me to do just that.  With the arrival of spring just a few days ago, Portland is in full bloom and looking gorgeous.  I can't help but admire every cherry blossom I pass, and wish they were there to admire year round. 

discovering maple

Would you believe me if I told you I had my first bite of a maple bar at the age of twenty five? Ever since that bite, it's been hard for me to even believe.  The reasoning behind this is sort of an embarrassment. After my first experience with it, I went home to my roommate to tell her about my delicious new discovery. Here's how the conversation went:

 Me: "I don't even really like caramel." 

The roommate's reaction? "It's not even caramel, it's called a maple bar."

Me: "Oh." followed by a laugh out of complete embarrassment and a sudden miniature heart attack much like that feeling Ellen DeGeneres describes when belting out the wrong lyrics to a song and in that moment realizes those aren't the actual lyrics. Then an individual's train of thought immediately goes to "how many people have heard me sing this song the wrong way?" Well, I thought "how many people have heard my reasoning behind not liking maple bars?"  

I'm not sure where in my childhood this ignorance to doughnut anatomy went wrong.  I remember getting multiple doughnuts as a kid, but someone needs to be blamed for directing me in the wrong direction. Or maybe someone was doing me a favor, because I don't know how I've gone without maple in my life.  I'm sure I've saved quite a few dozen in my twenty five year absence. So how do I make up for it? A day dedicated to using maple as the main ingredient, of course!

happilyriverrafter

The other night while out at our local German Pub with Stephanie, she brought up the video we made a few summers ago.  There were tears in her eyes while she reminisced and I thought, "I wish Megan was here for this." The setting was perfect: a German Pub, Radler beers, and a girl with a French Bulldog on a leash. After all the talk about it, I had to go back and watch because it had been awhile.  Needless to say, Stephanie was right; the video is so good (in our eyes) and so happilyriverrfter.

 http://youtu.be/b8n5IfxZI3s