Kitten Adventure!

Beth and I have a grand dream of writing children's books featuring kittens with the themes, Kitten Goes to Work, Kitten Goes Grocery Shopping, etc. Well, the other day, we acted out Kitten Goes to the Park. It was a great adventure! We got some strange looks, including 'one' from an entire high school girls tennis team. We got meowed at by an older (cat) lady. We got to rescue Lincoln from a tree. (Indy is quite an adept ascender and descender.)

"Yeah! Climbing trees! Living the great Cat Dream! Adventure! Intrigue! This is the life."

"Oh my god -breathe-breathe- why do I let you talk me into these things, Indy! Help me."

"Oh man! I'm such a Wild Cat. Why did they bring me back to the apartment? I will show them my inner tribal self by adorning my face with war paints derived from this lily pollen..."

"Phew! It's exhausting being a Wild Cat. Zzz Zzz"

Nicer Weather

Spring weather seems to be peeking around the bend here in NW Oregon! Here are some pictures surrounding the theme:

Hiking! Yay! This is a falls along Horsetail Creek in the Columbia Gorge. I saw lots of people with lots of dogs. Pretty standard. One odd thing though - a guy on a super strenuous stretch of trail smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer while hiking. I breathed in his disgusting secondhand smoke through two hole switchbacks as I ascended and he descended. Ugh!
Also, for those who have asked about seeing my new hair color, here it is. I told you it was REALLY close to my natural color.

Kitties! Sunshine! Lilies! Yes, it's almost perfect. If only the cats would stay off the table...

Cats riding bikes - you can't make this stuff up.

The Good with the Bad

St. Valentine's Day:
Caita called and told me that I was her Valentine whether I liked it or not.
A lady asked me if I had a child in middle school.

Happies

Big cat, little box.

Be Mine! Oink!

That's Hip!

Beth and I went dancing on Friday night, my first time here in Portland. Now, I have definitely done things like go outside, walk down the sidewalk and generally be in the city, but... I never really got so wowed by the hipster "thing" as I did on Friday. Perhaps it was the density.

Now, to be sure, I am not the first person to comment on the hipster phenomenon. Simply google the word and you will have pictorial definitions, diatribes and intricate step-by-steps for overthrowing them. There is even a Portland mayoral candidate who is running on the platform of banishing the hipsters from my very own neighborhood (I must say could not find anything about his methods. Concentration camps in NYC?).

Anyhow, on Friday, I got a look into two aspects of the hipster culture: The look and The music. The look is usually described as ironic. I am trying to look cool by looking not cool. Yes, going out to dance looking bad, on purpose. Now, I don't really have a problem with that. Though, I am puzzled when that look requires loads of warm goods: coats, toques, many layered ensembles in general. It's hot; it's crowded; it's dancin'. At least the "classic" skanky club look is practical for the activity (kinda). Now, the guys and their hair and... Beastie Boys Sabotage video meets lumberjack meets our parents' embarrassing high school yearbook photos. So, I'm puzzled, but not bothered by their look - nothing too remarkable about that. That's fashion.
The music. That was the source of my problem with the hipsters. The DJ played intentionally bad music! What? Why?
Hey! I'm trying to dance here!

Blue?

Why are sad songs "the blues." They should be called "the greys." Every little sliver of blue sky that streaks past the clouds is a welcome interruption here in the grey and rainy winter of Portland. I think the reason that I miss the snow is because it is so BRIGHT.
My silly attempt to escape actually turned out pretty well. Yesterday, Beth and I went south to Eugene. It was silly because there was no hope that that was going to be a cheerful sun bath... It turned out well because of the food.
On the way, we stopped at an art exhibit at one of my favorite places in Corvallis. The neighboring town of Albany is planning to install an old timey carousel in their downtown area. The animals are on display - including works in progress - at ArtCentric gallery.

After the art gallery, we went to have delicious, delicious soup at the simply named Soup Shop - a delight every time. It was early afternoon when we left Corvallis for Eugene.
We walked around downtown, and only got rained on a little bit, before going to the coffee shop to warm up and play cribbage. I finally beat Beth! We rounded out our stay in Eugene at the Sweet Life pastry shop and the Pizza Research Institute (they put potatoes on the salad, and it was wonderful!).
Finally, it was back to Portland for the bar and darts. I'm not sure if it was beginner's luck or what, but I was almost decent at darts. Fun!

Some People Have All the Good Ideas

I wonder if they will go for it...