Flashback

I was mopping the kitchen in my apartment last night in anticipation of my Mother's arrival home and had this sudden flashback. You ever have those??? You're quietly going about your business, then you hear/taste/smell something that brings back a memory you hadn't thought about in years. I was suddenly back in the Wilmington house on McDonald Avenue watching my Mom mop the linoleum in her bare feet. She always mopped in her bare feet. And, she was the only one allowed in the kitchen afterwards, well, until it dried, that is...
I remember being about five or six, hopping from one dry spot to another, in order to sneak a snack without getting the floor dirty or my socks wet. She would catch me OF COURSE, and in a very stern voice say something like: "What..are..you..doing?"
ME: "Mom, I'm soooo hungry"
HER: "Well I just mopped! If you want something, I'll get it for you!"
ME: "Well...what's the difference between your feet and my feet?" (remember, I was only five)
HER: "GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!!"

The memory of her exasperated exclamation made me chuckle last night as I sat waiting for the floor to dry, putting my socks and shoes back on. Funny, I always mop in my bare feet too....

...stupid bluetooth...

...makes it really hard to distinguish regular people who are talking on the phone from the truly insane people who are talking to themselves....

A-O, Way to Go, Ohio!

Well, last week, I jetted off on my first business trip since moving to Portland, and, I must say, it felt kind of good to be out and about with other "meat" people! I am referring to a Product Labeling Class at THE Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio! I'd never been to Ohio and was more that happy to go (on the company's dime, of course). It was two full days of nothing but product labeling, what you can do and what you can't. I know you all are jealous....

If there was anything to truly be jealous of, it was these gardens outside of the Animal and Food Science buildings. The Oregon State University horticulture department could learn a thing or two about campus beautification from these folks... Here is the front of the building in which our class was being held. Both days, I ate my lunch outside in the surprisingly beautiful weather. There's nothing better than a walk around a garden to cure a serious case of chicken-pecking...

Chives and succulents...

This one I took for Mommom. This rose is called Julia Child.

..and a couple of favorite flowers of mine, Irises...


Pansies...or is it Violas?? Can anyone tell me the difference??? Anyway, they were spectacular...

These were in pots lining both of the stairs up to the front of the building.

Purple Salvia...

After dinner on Thursday night, I convinced the three instructors of the class to accompany me into the very cool hair/ piercing/ tattoo parlor across the street. Here is a picture of Lynn Knipe and Kim Karweik smiling nervously...

I loved the inside! It was so Portland, the only drawback was it's actual location being in Columbus, Ohio. The graphic art and band sticker collages that covered the walls and salon chairs made me feel right at home...


Here is Lamar Hendrickson and I posing in front of a very funny advertisement. He was very supportive of my artichoke tattoo idea and even offered to get one with me, as he'd been thinking to get another tattoo to match the five he already had. Lamar was very disappointed when the tattoo artist said we'd probably have to come back tomorrow for the actual application. Since we were all going home the next morning, that was not an option. I was..uh..devestated...ahem..
Anyway, here he is, trying to convey pictorially that I'm a "Hottie Special". After the picture, I called him a shameless flirt. He only laughed and drawled out in his Mississippian accent "well, if I'm ever up in Portland, I'll have to look you up...".

Mom's House

Well, since I'm keeping the home fires burning while Mom is jet-setting, she asked me to take pictures of anything interesting that might be going on while she's away..... and knowing Mother, this is exactly what she meant.

Lupins...

Rhododendrons...

Azaleas....

Sage....

Now I'm guessing...Hostas?

Lilacs...


And another guess...Dogwood??

Mom, hope this allows you to enjoy your garden amidst the drizzly weather in upstate New York!

Craigs List

Since Craig's List is the only internet web site I can access at work without being blocked by the excruciatingly sensitive web security program, I've started looking for possible "diamonds-in-the-rough" that I can get for cheap and personalize. While doing this, I've noticed that there are two items that come up a lot. Couches and wedding dresses. To me, this suggests that front room furniture and marriages fall out of fashion at approximately the same rate....

I will spend the rest of my work day fleshing out this theory....