Birthday .............

Today was a beautiful warm and sunny day to celebrate a very special birthday with family and friends.  One of Roger's gifts was an I-Pod Touch so now he has a new gadget to play with.

Our guests are gone but Helia will be here for dinner before she leaves for the airport so dad is barbecuing rack of lamb and chicken thighs.  SO, the eating continues...................

Tomorrow spring term begins.  Roger will be taking three art classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and one more on Saturday.  I'm taking a class, The History of the Ottoman Empire..

Dinner at Paley's Place - The 77th Birthday Begins

Tomorrow Roger hits the lucky double 77.  Tonight Helia joined us for a birthday dinner at Paley's Place - exceptional food and service, making it a perfect evening.

Roger's Birthday Surprise

This morning I left the house after telling Roger that I was running to the bakery for pastries.  Then, Bella and I jumped into the car and headed for the airport to pick up Helia.  When I brought her home, Roger was genuinely surprised and absolutely delighted to see her.  She'll be here until tomorrow night to celebrate her dad's 77th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Mike

Mom and Roger wish you a Happy Birthday, Mike.  You're looking good for such an "old man".  Enjoy the day!

Just Askin'

I'm curious to know why anyone would buy an "ugly" grapefruit and pay $2 for it.......................

I shopped at a local farm store this afternoon to pick up fresh produce for our Sunday brunch.  I couldn't resist a photo because they really ARE ugly................

Mama Mia..................

Mike goes back home this afternoon so last night we celebrated with a birthday dinner at Mama Mia.  We've really enjoyed his visit and now we're looking forward to a return visit, along with Teresa. 

Busy day with Mike

After getting pastries and coffee at Pearl Bakery Mike and I used the streetcar to get back to the center of town.  After a visit to the Apple Store, we checked out the sales at Macy's.  Tomorrow is Mike's birthday so it was a good opportunity to buy him things that he really likes.  Our best bargain was a sweater with a $60 price tag for which I paid $6.29.  (Yeah, mom is a very big spender............)

After shopping, we hopped onto the MAX and went to the Old Town District where my favorite pizza joint, Old Town Pizza is located.  This is one of the historical buildings with a tunnel underneath that once was used for transporting cargo to and from the docked ships and also for shanghaiing sailors.

The pizza was yummy and we ate it all.  That's why I am still amazed that we had any room for donuts but - yes, we decided to visit Voodoo to get a cream filled one for Mike and a bacon maple bar for me.  I cannot fathom the number of calories that we managed to swallow today.

Regrets?  Nope.

CAR2GO in Portland

I recently signed up to be a member of "CAR2GO", a company that rents cars that you pay for by the minute.  There are over 200 parked in the center of the downtown area (they claim there is one available in every 2 block radius).  Usually there are two or three parked on the street outside my condo.  Today I asked Mike to go with me on a "test run" to make sure that I could figure out how things worked and we had a great time.  The cost is 38 cents per minute or $13.95 an hour.  Parking and insurance fees are included in the fee and there is a navigation system on the dash.  It was really fun to drive and very easy to park.  The inside was tight but even Mike was comfortable with the headroom and seat.  We took it to Pearl Bakery and left it there for the next person to use it.  I have the app on my cell phone so I can locate cars wherever I go.  Fun, fun......................

Spring Break in Hood River - Columbia Cliff Villas

We're living in "the lap of luxury" due to a Groupon deal and we're staying at a condo complex "Columbia Cliff Villas".  The condo has a living room with glass doors that open to a view of the Columbia River.  It has a fully equipped kitchen including a Keurig machine, separate bedroom, and two TVs.  The bathroom is luxurious with a really big shower.  The mattress can be set to your individual comfort.  Also included were two wine glasses that we can keep and a $25 gift certificate for a wine of our choice at one of the nearby wineries.  We decided to go to Cathedral Ridge where I chose a blend of Merlot and Cabernet. Very nice...................

Last night we enjoyed an impressive dinner at a downtown restaurant "Cellilo" and tonight we'll walk next door to the Columbia Gorge Hotel Restaurant (also with a very good reputation).  We are truly relaxing with no agenda and I stopped at a book store for the latest James Patterson novel.  Oh.......... did I mention the Crown Royal??????

Stuff This Week

My major accomplishment this week was to learn how to deposit checks using my I-Phone.  Wells Fargo is only four blocks from here but I decided that I needed to give it a try.  I loaded the WF app and it gave me directions.  It took a few days for the money to show in the account but it was really easy.  The checks have to be photographed front and back and after clicking a few buttons, it's deposited.

We usually have at least one little electric car parked outside the complex from "CAR2GO" so I bought a membership and I got the member card in today's mail.  Next week I'll take a "test run" to see what it's like.  They charge 38 cents per minute and you can drive them anywhere but they have to end up parked within the center area of Portland.  As an example, I can drive over to 23rd Ave. for lunch and shopping (about an 8 min. drive), park and leave the car.  Then when it's time to return home, I can check my phone to see where the closest car is parked and take another 8 min. drive back home.  Cost: $6.08.  The fee includes parking and insurance.  If I keep it for an hour, the max. fee is $13.98 for the hour.  They have over 200 cars in the downtown area and they claim to have at least one available within two blocks.................. we'll see..............

Roger and I are on a crusade to get better organized.  This includes selling and/or giving away lots of stuff that we don't need or use anymore.  Today we began by getting Roger some storage components for his art work.  Then it's my turn to start "de-cluttering".

Tomorrow we're heading to Hood River for three days.  We found a condo on the Columbia River with a fireplace, small kitchen and patio that overlooks the river so it will be a nice place to relax and regenerate. 

New Year Surprise - THANKS Vicki & Steve

When I opened the door a short while ago, there was a box waiting for us.  It's a new year's gift of fresh chocolate covered strawberries.  I quickly took a photo because there's already one missing.  Who?....... Me?

Thanks, Vicki and Steve.  You know how to brighten our day!

Another Finished Painting

This is Roger's last class project for this term.  His assignment was to make a painting with perspective.  He's on his way to school to turn it in for his final grade.

First Day of Spring - Nowruz

Spring arrived in Portland this morning a few minutes after 4 a.m. which starts the celebration of Nowruz.  The word "Nowruz" is a compound of two Persian words, "now" which has the same etymology as the English word "new" and the word "ruz" which means both "day" and "time", literally meaning the "new day", nowruz is translated as "New Year".  The Nowruz celebration is neither religious or national in nature, nor is it an ethnic celebration.  Jewish, Zoroastrian, Armenian and Turkish Iranians and Central Asians celebrate the Nowruz with the same enthusiasm and sense of belonging.

One tradition that is still honored is that the elders of the family should be visited by all of the younger members of the family.  Since Roger lives in a different country, phone calls are acceptable so since early this morning the phone has rung with calls from the U.S., Europe and Canada.  Roger's brother in Iran called yesterday because phone lines are overloaded the first day of Nowruz and it's difficult to make a call.

Our celebration is very low-key this year but Roger has promised to fire up the BBQ for kabab tonight.

Chris Botti IMPRESSIONS

It's often simple pleasures that make a day special and we have learned how to embrace them.  While dinner is cooking we're enjoying listening to a new CD by Chris Botti "Impressions".  Candles are lit and Roger is working on a new painting.  So, what am I doing?  Having a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir, of course..............

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Whether you're Irish or not, this is a fun day with a great excuse to enjoy corned beef and cabbage.  Regretfully, we weren't able to participate because Roger has finally started to feel the results of the Chemo and it has not been a good experience.  We've agreed that we will deal with one day at a time so we're hoping that tomorrow will be better.  Next year we'll wear green and pretend that we're Irish....................... including all the "blarney".

Girl's Night Out at Quartet and Triangle Theater

Last evening started with happy hour at a new restaurant down on the river "Quartet"  They've been open one month and the restaurant cost 4 million to build so we were anxious to see it and try out their food.  Their happy hour is much different from most Portland restaurants who charge anywhere from $3 to $5 for a burger and fries.  Quartet charges $16.  Happy hour items are $7 each - meaning you can order 3 (very small) sliders for $7 and if you want fries, add another $7.  Allison and I each had one cocktail, a quesadilla and we shared peach cobbler for dessert with coffee.  The bill came to $48.  Would we go back?  Possibly for happy hour, because the interior is absolutely lush and gorgeous, service was excellent and the food was well prepared.  The panoramic view of the river area is also lovely.  Will we go back for dinner?  Unlikely.  Why?  Everything is a la carte with salads between $12 and $17, entrees between $30 and $50, vegetables and potatoes $7 each and dessert $10 to $16.

Following Quartet we headed over to the Triangle Theater to see the play "In The Next Room". The storyline is female hysteria during the Victorian Era and it was very entertaining.  The theater is one of the many small productions in Portland so everyone is close to the stage which makes you feel like you're a part of the story.

Chemo #1

It was a great day even though the first Chemo treatment takes six hours.  Roger took his Political History book with him but after getting meds for nausea and Benadryl, he decided that a nap would be a better idea.  When I came to pick him up, he was wide awake and the nurse said that the treatment went smoothly with none of the potential snags that can happen with the first treatment.  The port that he had implanted worked well and today he realized that it was worth the discomfort and pain of the surgery.

Tomorrow is session 2 which will be only 2 hours.

He's busy working on an art project for his sculpture class so all is well......................

There's much to be thankful for.

Kruger's Farm Market

This morning after stopping at the Grand Central Bakery on Hawthorne I noticed a tent at the next street with a sign that said it was a farm market.  I decided to check it out and I'm so happy that I did.  The place is amazing.  Every in-season fruit and vegetable is available; most displayed in a wooden field box.  The signs indicate that everything they sell is direct from a nearby farm.  The flowers were spectacular and I just spoke to a neighbor who tells me they also sell fresh caught fish.

The photo shows only about a fifth of the items they sell so there is truly everything a cook could possibly want.  Later in the week I'm going to spend more time getting acquainted with their produce.

Portland is enjoying temperatures in the low 60s all week so we're all feeling "spring".............................

Mama Mia Trattoria

This morning I took my second Apple class and I learned how to put my apps into albums (really handy because all the music, photo and navigation apps are together in their own folder).  There wasn't time to discuss using the camera so I'm going to try to learn it on my own.  Mike is coming to visit in a couple of weeks and he's a genius when it comes to technology so I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him.

After the class I took MAX to Mother's for breakfast (forgetting they are closed on Mondays) so I went down the street to Mama Mia's.  It turned out to be a lucky accident.  This place is inside a historic building built in 1886 and the interior is stunning.  They serve "old country" Italian food so I enjoyed a small Caesar, lasagna and a glass of Chianti.

I just checked their web site and they have an online ordering service where you order your food and choose a pick up time plus they reduce the price of the entree by $5.00.  Since we live only about 10 blocks away, it will be easy to pick up a hot dinner and enjoy it at home.  Another reason why I continue to fall more in love with Portland.......................

Another Fabulous "Our House" Dinner and Opera

Allison, Yasuko and I had a great experience last night.  Wayne Miya hosted a group of forty people at his magnificent Japanese style home.  He is standing inside the entry which is enclosed and holds huge trees and plants with a waterfall that empties into a koi pond filled with huge fish.

The evening was a fund raiser for the charity "Our House" and after being presented with our choice of wine, we entered the kitchen alcove where a large variety of sushi was served.

The appetizers were followed with an hour of opera presented by PSU graduate students who sang pieces from several different productions.  It was exciting to hear their beautiful voices knowing that their future will be exciting and fulfilling.

A huge buffet dinner of homemade Japanese food finished the evening.  The photo to the right shows only a small portion of the banquet.  The dessert course was almost as big.

I had my first opportunity to learn how to take photos with my new I-Phone and Yasuko showed me how to reverse the camera to take pictures of ourselves.  Now I need to figure out how to take a photo of myself without displaying those chubby little double chin fat layers on my neck (sob).

Walking With My Face On The Ground

OK, I am now a part of the new generation of people who are seen everywhere with their faces looking downward, squinting into a little box with pictures and icons on it.  I just finished my first class at the downtown Apple Store and I have another class scheduled for Monday.  I bought the I-Phone 4S so this is a totally new experience for me and I'll likely be bugging my friends with I-phones until I learn how to operate it at its optimum.

So far I've loaded:

• Google
• Facebook
• Wells Fargo
• Southwest Airlines
• Instagram
• Google Maps

I would love to have suggestions for other apps that are working well for you so please let me know your favorites.

Roger's Journey Begins... Positive Living With Mantle Cell Lymphoma

In a short while Roger and I will head to the hospital where he will have a "Port-a-Catheter" inserted to carry the Chemo therapy that starts next week on Thursday. 

Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a rare disease and today there is no cure.  Patients can live many years with a good quality of life, however, so we are confident that once treatment is completed, his normal activities can be resumed.  For now, all the necessary tests have been completed and the results have been mostly positive. 

Grandma Has A New Toy................

FedEx just delivered my new Apple 4S I-Phone.  This will be my first "smart phone" so this "not so smart" advanced age person has a lot to learn.  I enrolled in a class at the Apple Store for Friday at 8 a.m. and then I'll go over to Verizon to get all the phone numbers transferred.

Now it's time to read the instructions and get the thing charged.  Ashley has offered me support so I'll likely be talking to her a lot during the next week or so.

1960s Dinner Party

A few days ago a free magazine was delivered with the morning Oregonian.  As I was looking through it I found recipes for food that was reminiscent of how I cooked in the 1960s.  They looked so easy and tasty I made a couple of calls and Allison and Rae accepted an invitation to help us try out the new recipes.  The appetizer was a hot artichoke dip that we served with fresh sliced baguette.  The main entree was meat loaf but this recipe had lots of sauteed vegetables and cubes of cheddar cheese in the mixture.  Dessert was chocolate pie with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.  I'm estimating that we each ate about 3,500 calories but it was lots of fun remembering how we used to eat when we were (much) younger.  I made a point to NOT step on the scale this morning........................