This and That..............

So, as usual, we're about to legislate "stupid".  If you outlaw selling oversize sugar drinks, what happens next?  Why are politicians wasting time on this when there are so many important social issues in jeopardy?

John Edwards is a free man - or is he?  Imagine seeing him on the street.  Will you show respect or want to punch him for impregnating a girlfriend while his wife of many years and the mother of his children is dying of cancer?

What's going on with men who are killing their wives and children and then committing suicide?  We've had several here in Oregon in just the last couple of months.  Last week, in Oregon, a mother, a 4 month old and a 2 and 3 year old were all killed.  It makes my heart ache.

OK - I guess that it's time to think of something good....................................
ahh............ I'm thinking.................

Comments ???

Blogspot tells me that my blog was read over 1,000 times last month, yet I rarely get a comment.  If you are interested in what I have to say, I would love an "ataboy".  Better yet, tell me if you disagree as I always enjoy hearing what others think.  I don't do FaceBook anymore and I miss the input from those who read my entries.  If you're reading this and plan on visiting Portland, please write.  I love to tell people about the amazing experiences that you can have when visiting this beautiful city...................

Food Cart Tour - Portland

 At noon today Bella and I took the streetcar to downtown at the corner of Alder and 10th Avenue where there is a huge pod of food carts.

I signed up with "Portland Food Cart Tour" to take a walking tour of carts that started on Alder and 10th, then over to 5th Ave., and ending on 3rd Ave.

The tour guide, Brett, told me there are over 200 food carts in Portland and more are opening every day.

What I found interesting is that many of the carts feature professional kitchens with all the amenities of a restaurant kitchen.  The carts are monitored by the same inspectors that regularly check restaurants for cleanliness and safety so the cart owners take hygiene very seriously.  The first photo is Brett who is ordering dumplings from "The Dump Truck" cart on Alder.  We sampled one with pork filling, one with portobello mushrooms and one called a bacon cheeseburger dumpling.  The dough is hand made and the dumplings are steamed in the Chinese tradition.  From now on I'm going to get my "cheeseburger fix" by ordering a few of the dumplings - very very delicious - .

The second photo is of an ultra professional cart that was specially designed and built to be the "ultimate food cart".  Take a look at the menu - yes - you're seeing Escargot !

The open air "cart" was really interesting.  The owner has the stove mounted on a trailer and he brings all the makings and condiments in his station wagon and cooks outdoors with a tarp overhead to shelter him from sun or rain.  He uses locally made sausages and weiners and he will top the dogs with "anything".  Hey, Allison - when are we going there for lunch ??

Another one that I'll return to is a gourmet sandwich cart that prepares sandwiches with unique food combinations.  I'm going to try the pate and cornichon sandwich when I go back.  Another interesting cart makes Belgian Waffles using fresh made dough instead of batter.  They fill the dough with crystallized sugar that partially melts inside the waffle but also leaves some crunchy sugar.  They open for breakfast so my plan is to drive down early in the morning and bring some home.  They also make a bacon maple waffle - I probably should also try that, don't you think?

Finally, the "Built to Grill"'s owner specializes in Italian food and makes hand made pasta every morning.  This is just too good to be true................

Que Pasa in Portland

Que Pasa means "what's up" or "what's happening" and tonight we found out that in Portland the answer would be "not much at Que Pasa Cantina".  We used a Groupon tonight.  When we got to the restaurant we were surprised to see that it looks exactly like a typical cafe in a poor Mexican town.  We were hesitant to go inside - however, they were very busy so we decided to take a chance.  Regretfully, the service was really slow and inattentive and the food was just "so so".  Groupon gives an opportunity to try new places for reduced costs so tonight we basically "got what we paid for".  It's a disappointment because with a little work, this place could be so much better.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Today was "girl's day" at the movies with Cheryl, Allison.  After lunch at South Park we saw the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and it was very sweet.  It's definitely a movie for older people to enjoy (maybe with their grown children) - a little corny but very cute.

Allison and I are ready to pack our bags for India.  It looks like a fascinating place to visit !

A Day of Memories..........

First and foremost, today is a day to remember all those people who took time out of their lives to fight to protect our country and those many who sacrificed their lives.  They are sometimes too easily forgotten.

It's also a day to remember those family members and friends who are no longer with us, leaving an empty space inside our hearts.

While we enjoy the holiday, let's not forget the meaning of the day.

CUTE.............

Lori just sent this picture of her and Pam and it's so cute, I had to share it with you.  It was taken at Lori's 50th birthday party.  She surely doesn't look anywhere near that age.........

Intense Weather..............

We're snug inside our condo watching the most amazing thunder and lightening rain storm that we've ever seen.  A short while ago it was sunny................

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts

This morning Ann and I enjoyed a new experience by taking a "Seasonal Cuisine 101: Elegant Picnics" class at a local culinary school.  It's located downtown and the streetcar stops right in front of the building so it was easy to get there.

The class started at 10 a.m. with a chef's demonstration on how to make aioli.  Later we used the aioli as a binder for a crab roll and a sandwich spread for a grilled chicken sandwich.

We also assembled a baby heirloom tomato and watermelon salad and for dessert we baked a summer berry buckle

The recipes are fairly simple and we did all the washing, chopping, assembling and cooking.  There were six students so we were all busy for about two hours.  The best part was getting to eat what we fixed and there was more to take home.   We both got to keep our aprons so we are now "Master Chefs".  (impressive, don't you think?)

Time to eat.

Ann's chopping celery for the crab roll.

One wall in the kitchen is lined with professional stoves and ovens.

East Burn and Gracie

n





Ann organized a girl's night out starting with happy hour and dinner at a neighborhood dive on Burnside "East Burn".  It looks like a hole in the wall until you look at the happy hour menu and find a spinach salad with fresh pears and pine nuts for $5 and crepes filled with fresh mushrooms, fresh vegetables and chicken.  Cocktails were only $5 including a Maker's Mark whiskey sour and a lemon drop so we had a leisurely time at the cafe before walking a few blocks to the Triangle Theater.  

The theater is a small neighborhood theater that tonight featured a play "Gracie" that was written and produced by a local writer about Gracie Hansen.  She ran a nightclub in Portland in the mid 1960s that featured beautiful women, comedians, singers and other entertainment (some risque).  She was a colorful and interesting woman who later ran for Oregon State Governor (no, she didn't get elected) but she added a lot of color to the politics of that era.  Pictured above are Ann, Allison and Cheryl.

4

4 a.m.

4 years

The hurt doesn't go away................

An Interesting Bible Interpretation.............

Here's something to think about..........
Janice

________________________________________________________________
Dr. Laura Schlesinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice
to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as
an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according
to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The
following is an open letter to Dr. Laura that was posted on the Internet.

Dear Dr. Laura

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other
specific laws and how to follow them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in
her period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is,
how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend
of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can
you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don.t agree. Can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room
here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to
death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with
their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident
you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is
eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan,
Jack

Saturday

Saturday started with an early drive to a Beaverton estate sale.  No, we don't need anything but we did buy some elegant crystal footed tea glasses because Roger says that tea must always be drunk from glass.  One of our favorite cafes for breakfast is in Beaverton so we stopped at Tom's before returning home.

The photos are more of Roger's drawing class projects; the first is ten vignettes of items that have texture drawn with pencil and the other is the first lesson on drawing with colored pencils.

Last night Roger stayed at home to continue working on his homework and Allison and I went over to the Keller Theater to see the Leonard Bernstein's opera "Candide".(also called "Optimism". )  It is sung in English but the printed sub titles at the top of the screen still helped.  The tickets were a gift from our friends, the Fields, with seats five rows from the front center and we thoroughly enjoyed the story and music.   

Happy Birthday, LORI..............

This began as a very special day on May 19, 1962 - Lori's birth day.  You do the math - because this year is a true milestone of years well lived.

Lori, my dear one, you are wished the happiest of birthdays today.  You have filled my life with joy and love so this day is truly a celebration.....

TUCCI - Lake Oswego

Today I picked Roger up from his calligraphy class and treated him to lunch at a restaurant in Lake Oswego, "TUCCI".  We had a table outdoors surrounded with twinkle lit trees, flowers and foliage and we enjoyed a 5***** lunch.  The menu is small but there are many healthy choices with everything freshly prepared.  It truly was a special dining experience.  Now, I'm already planning a return trip.

The week has been busy and the weather has been fantastic so we have truly enjoyed Spring in Portland.

 

A Tribute To My Mother.............

This is a photo of my mother, Anna Marie Wall Fandrich, at the age of 90.  At that time, she was in full blown dementia but she was happy and content, even though she didn't know who Gary and I were.  I was the "nice lady who took care of her" and Gary was "the man that I lived with" and she called him "her man".

My mother immigrated from Russia with her parents and younger brother, Adolph, on May 1, 1910.  She started school at age seven, but she spoke only German.  She said that other students in the classroom tutored her so she could learn to speak and write English.  Her first job at age fifteen was working as a housekeeper for $10 a month.  Other earlier jobs consisted of working in a local mercantile, a live-in housekeeper and nanny and working as a cook in places she called "Old People's Homes".  

In 1938 she moved to Sacramento where she soon met my dad, Sam Fandrich.  They married in 1939.  She was an attentive mother who loved to sew clothes and cook delicious meals for her family and she always had a large garden filled with vegetables.

While I worked, she helped take care of her grandchildren, Michael and Lori, when they were between the ages of one and six.  She loved talking about the wonderful and funny experiences she had while caring for her grandchildren.  Ashley Friedli, her only great grandchild, was very dear to her heart.

She was a loving, kind, and sensitive person who will be remembered for her gentle-hearted qualities.

Cindie wrote a poem that turned out to be a solace during times that often were difficult while caring for her.  It reads:

"It is said that the Mother-daughter bond
is one of the strongest
and it can never be broken,
And that means
Some things don't have to be understood
or solved or perfect.
We just keep on loving each other through life.
No matter what."

Last Calligraphy Class............

Today, at class, we had to put our work on a bulletin board for critique.  After only three classes, we all learned alot, but now we realize that there's much more to learn.  Now I have lots of practice ahead of me and I'll try to enroll in a more comprehensive class in the fall.

We're enjoying an 80 degree day in Portland so everyone is outside soaking up the sunshine. 

Wine Tasting at Vino Wine Shop

Ann invited me to join her at a wine tasting at a wine shop across the river where they set up tables in an outdoor patio and serve five tastes of a varietal.  Tonight they served Petite Sirah.  The charge was only $10 and the pour was generous so we're feeling that "glow" that a couple of glasses of wine will bring................  They encourage people to bring a picnic lunch or snack to enjoy with the wine so we brought some wonderful snacks from City Market.

I didn't take any pictures because my batteries died in the camera but we're already planning a return visit so I'll be able to show you later what a lovely place it is.  First class in every way............

I Can't Believe We Ate The Whole Thing............

 Allison and I outdid ourselves today, at least in regard to ingesting calories.............


We started out on MAX and went to Old Town Pizza for lunch where we discovered that we don't have to order TWO mini pizzas - next time we'll just share one.


We walked past an art gallery so we decided to check it out and it was a great experience.  I'm anxious to take Roger with me for a return visit.


After lunch we walked over to VooDoo Donuts, waited in line and finally made it to the counter where we ordered a cream filled maple bar with crispy fried bacon on top and a cream filled chocolate glazed donut.  Yes, we shared but we still managed to consume a huge amount of calories.  


Our third stop was the "Church of Elvis" on one of the side streets.  I'm not sure how to describe this place - it's truly an art experience with little windows filled with crazy things that all move around when you put a quarter in the slot.  You can even get married there for only 25 cents (no, it's not legal, of course), however, if you go inside you can get a license and get married for only $25.00.  You can also get legally married at VooDoo Donuts but there it costs $125.00, and you're able to bring 10 guests with you.  (No, I'm not kidding - maybe that's why people say "Keep Portland Weird".)

Monday............

It was a busy day today, taking care of some routine medical issues and getting a shingles shot.  This afternoon we drove back to the campus to view the Spring Student Art Show where the college features the best paintings, sculpture, ceramics and drawings for the term.

Roger's drawing teacher was so impressed with his work that she entered his drawing and it was accepted for exhibit.

We're very excited about having 70 degree weather for about five or six days this week so there's a lot of skin showing on the street as all the young people are trying to get a suntan (while they can).  For Roger and me it means that we can fire up one of the barbecues and leave at least one window open.

Yep......... it's Farmer's Market Day..............

Ann and I enjoyed another beautiful day at the market where flowers are for sale everywhere.

Asparagus are finally in season along with strawberries so Roger has been promised home made waffles with fresh strawberries and yogurt for tomorrow's breakfast.

Eating, of course, is a necessary part of being at the market so today I tried a breakfast "burrito in a bowl" which was really delicious.  It was scrambled eggs with green chilis, cheese and sauteed potatoes in a bowl with warm corn tortillas - a fitting way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  Ann loves the buckwheat breakfast crepe so we both enjoyed our unique breakfasts.

After the market I went to my calligraphy class and we spent four hours learning letters and technique so now it's time to start cooking some of the wonderful things that I purchased this morning.  Roger is especially looking forward to the wild Oregon smoked salmon.

Rhododendron Season in Portland

Walking to the market this morning, I realized that it's the beginning of Rhododendron season here in downtown.  Most are still in their budding stage but we have one week of sunshine coming up so they'll open quickly.  The azaleas have been blooming for some time but those in shady areas are still bright and beautiful.

 

Memories of 53 Years

May 3, 1959.  A special day in my book of memories....

May Day................

This is the face that greeted me when I returned home this afternoon after attending my class and having lunch at Carafe.  It doesn't show in the photo but she's laying on a fox fur pillow and sandwiched in between two others.  

See that look on her face?  It's a "I hate you for leaving me alone and now I'm going to sulk the rest of the day".  Fortunately, for me, I had some left over steak in my purse for her so I'm truly forgiven now.........  

Originally I had planned to take the streetcar downtown to see a movie after class but the local news people suggested that no one go downtown unless we want to be active in the May Day "Occupy Movement" that is taking place today.  Right now all I hear is small airplanes and helicopters surrounding the area and, according to the morning news, the police are out in force.