Too Much for Saturday (in a good way)

There were too many fun things to do Saturday; we tried to make it to all of them, but didn't quite. Warm, sunny day, and the first stop was the Portland Highland Games. A one-day event, and $20 per ticket, we almost didn't go. But we did, and I definitely got $20 worth of entertainment out of it: a little Scottish food (sausage rolls, beer, Tipsy Laird, etc.--no Haggis though!) pipe bands, other Scottish musicians, vendors catering to the shopping whims of anyone who might have a smidge of Scottish heritage that day, and best of all, the Caber Toss. Strong men with too much time on their hands try to run with a huge 150-pound log, and then, when that gets to be too much, they try to throw it. Not sure how they judge it, aside from maybe who can run the farthest with it, but it's fun to watch. Also, I saw my friends Annie, Corey, and Sarah there.
OK, that was in Gresham. Next event is in St. Johns, or so I thought. We drive all the way across town to attend a barbecue that I thought was in St. Johns. Once we're in the vicinity, I turn on the navigation on my phone, only to discover that the barbecue was, in fact, behind us in Kenton. Oops. So we stop for tacos at Taqueria Santa Cruz, and walk down to the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. Drink some wine, relax, and then the mosquitoes come out. Time to leave. Maybe we can still make it to the barbecue? Maybe.
By the time we get back to the Kenton area, it's 9:30, and I'm guessing it's too late: the barbecue started at 4:00.
Time to go home. Fun Saturday.

Beckham!

David Beckham is in the center of the photo, #23.

Saturday, we had dinner at the Kells Pub on NW 21st, and then went to the Timbers versus Galaxy match. It was an all-around great night, due to the following events:

• We took the bus to the match, and it was easy! It was convenient! The stop is 2 blocks from our house. I'm so glad to have the option again to take the bus places, because my last home didn't have much in the way of bus services--none at all on the weekends, in fact.
• The new Kells is fun, and I had the best Shepherd's pie, possibly ever, there. Good whiskey-based cocktails too. 
• At the match, I got to see David Beckham score 2 goals in short order! Yeah! Beckham! It's like "Footballers' Wives" live! The Timbers lost, but that's too be expected (sorry Timbers Army). Also, Derek got me a cool Timbers t-shirt.

 

Finally

• Derek came home smiling tonight--always a good thing.
• Had a great evening: cooked a very nice Greek-themed dinner, watched the Timbers game (they won!), and walked up to Mount Tabor.
• Discovered a little cafe a few blocks from our house nestled in at the very end of Belmont at the foot of Mount Tabor.
• Can sleep in tomorrow.

Moving is Rough

Derek and I have been moving all of our excessive crap over the last two weeks, and it's been rough. Tired and grumpy. But it's over now. We just need to unpack everything, and it's coming along. So I'm finally back to the blog. Here's the day's roundup of pleasantness:

• Seeing Erik Spoelstra today across the street from my office when I was coming back from lunch. 
• The kitchen is almost entirely unpacked and ready.
• I can now go straight home after work instead of running to my old house, packing up the car with old stuff, and getting exhausted.
• I'm going to bed imminently.