los chicos guapos

Reality...

Shirtless eating contest and a lesson in twinese...

Col. Ward Pumping Station

     These massive steel steam engines are the original pumps that were used to send water throughout Buffalo in the early 1900s. I toured the station and this was the last stop, and it truly left me in awe. The five pumps stand at 60 feet and 1100 tons a piece. It's a miracle that Buffalo has not found some reason to ruin, sell, or neglect them. They are definitely one of my favorite hidden gems in Buffalo!

Good Mourning Monterey

Back in school. Homework. No fancy Adam gadgets. As if things could not get any worse, I have only been taking photos with a completely manual 35mm camera. Wind the film, print them off, scan them in and load them up! Yes, so now there will be major delays in sharing my captured random moments. Indeed, these are hard times but please bare with me.

For now,  here are just a few I took with my phone in the early morning hours of Monterey.

Visiting a place that feels so familiar is a very awkward endeavor. Monterey and the central Californian coast have such a strong hold on me. It was a whirlwind. I was disoriented and I was giddy. I was like a damn kid in a candy shop.

My body aches.

          And not because I had one wild week: two guests visited in a 9-day stretch, back to back. Not because I went all around the beautiful state of Oregon, chasing shooting stars up a sand dune or driving the roadrunner for hours along the Columbia. I ache because I miss familiar people on the west coast with me. I miss having a good dependable woman around.
So it aches, like a phantom limb.

          I washed down a tylenol PM with a small cocktail to quiet the mind last night. What I am trying to say is... please be patient and understanding; I will write a wonderful post filled with highlights of our adventures once my mood lightens and I get over myself.

[Break]

"I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found."
- John Steinbeck, Travels with Charlie


          I spend all my money on pointless travels from point A to point B, however I do this guiltlessly and with pure joy. My kind-hearted mother might not understand any of it, but she knew I needed some cheering up, so off we went to the Virginia coast. It was a wonderful little trip, with the added bonus of extreme heat and humidity, just the way I like it.

We sent this photo to my father: 

1) to say, "We wish you were here too."

2) to remind us that we are very lucky.

 The perfect way to end my travels; they had me at Chambord.

If I haven't said it enough, thanks again Mom!

Rattlesnakes, cougars, and wolves, oh my!

This is Eastern Oregon. It's past the valley, the wheat fields, and just above the high desert. Here you'll find Hells Canyon - the deepest canyon in North America. In my opinion, it beats the grand version on several fronts - it's green, it's approachable, and there is solitude.

We drove down a gravel road and it ended at this picnic spot. It's so odd to feel like I have a right to use all of this open land, and no one is going to come and tell me I shouldn't be there...

One day I might shake my New Yorker disposition.

Do you notice the change in scenery? Well after a two-hour drive, we still could not find gas, so we headed back east. [That is Adam's mom's amazing Toyota, with +310,000 miles!]

We ended up in the Lostine River Corridor. It was an ideal change in plans. 

A very friendly park ranger helped point us in the right direction - with the river and trailhead just behind our campspot.

At 8,500 ft elevation, we hit snow after another half-mile.

I promise I am not always this rugged... my next post will be full of flirty girly photos,
it's a personal challenge!!!

... I really think so

Despite all the beggars asking for our cigarettes,  dollars, and leftovers this week - Portland still has some right to show off. 

A walk through Washington park, one serious urban terrain.

Half way up, you can find this entrance to the Japanese gardens.

This photo does no justice - it's about one-sixteenth of the rose garden.

Where does one start? I lasted five minutes. 

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EXPLANATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Adam wrote the title for my new posting... so now take a look at him triggering a party popper into his face, which is against the advice of product packaging.

This is how we decided to celebrate the end of his first summer course. Anyway, this post was just something foolish and pointless to get your Monday started right.

All-American Holiday

          I am bursting at the seams with American culture. I think I'm going to have a souvlaki salad for lunch then go for a long walk around the Japanese gardens, and continue this effort in the following week...

Smoked turkey and smoked buffalo and my favorite - smoked pig 

on a roll with spicy peach chutney and coleslaw.

Country land, Adam was teaching me about rocks.

My first rodeo in Eugene, OR.

Adam in wranglers and boots, and there's a mechanical bull just past his right shoulder. 

Post rodeo there was barn dancin'! And a monster truck ride?

Adam's dad has chickens and cows and we also set up a tractor hayride for the kids.

 Happy freedoms everyone!

Buttered & bettered, past & present

          If you know me, you know my embarrassing past with buttered noodles. Specifically, I am talking about small shells and butter and absolutely nothing else. You may know that I survived off of them through college. You may also know that I had them every year, specially cooked by my mother for my special birthday feast.
          For the past decade, I have felt embarrassed by my simple palate and narrow-minded past. But not anymore, I have learned to embrace my roots thanks to recipes and commentary found on food blogs like the Wednesday Chef and Lottie & Doof.  I've learned that lots of people love the guilty pleasures of [truly] simple cooking. And I see it all the time - a fried egg on toasted bread with a smear of mayo, or toasted rye with sliced salt&peppered tomatoes, or leftover rice with broccoli and sriracha. Everyone has there go-to 5 minute meal when they don't feel like making a fuss.

Well here is mine: buttered noodles, all grown up.

• Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet, add garlic, crushed red pepper and black pepper. Once egg noodles are al dente, add to skillet and toss. Eat with plenty of parmesan. My only regret is that I didn't have any frozen peas or fresh herbs on hand, but it was definitely good enough for me.

I may need to invest in some white tableware for future food photos, don't you think?

* http://www.thewednesdaychef.com
* http://www.lottieanddoof.com

Oh, Oregon...

Just a few photos to remind me that all the allergies and endless sneezes are worth it - because Oregon... you are so good looking!