A Ducky Time in Oregon

Northwest ho for Eugene Oregon, my college alma mater some some and then some years ago. First thing in the morning, upon Brock's request, we head to donuts. Not just any donuts, Blue Star donuts!  Far more delicious than the competition, Portland's famous pink-boxed institution, Voodoo Donuts. Forget them. Blue Star is where it's at. We got the fresh bits right out of the fryer! Here Brock and Matt watch the masters at work (they are kneading dough behind Brock's giant white head, pretty terrible picture, they always seem to look different in the blog than from the identical image captured on my phone's screen. Oh well.)

Portland is the city of roses, so we naturally had to pay a visit to the famous rose garden in Washington Square.

Roses schmoeses, they got stairs!! 

So many flavors! Here is the Twilight Zone varietal. 

and Cherry Parfait.

A fun play ground amongst Oregon's breathtaking and very tall trees.

It goes waaayyyy up there, as Brock would say.

The McMenamin brothers were some of the first recognized craft brewers in the U.S., They have their mark all over Portland, and have renovated historical buildings into really cool hotels all with their quirky McMenamin style. These guys travel all over the world collecting lights for their hotels. They also brew pretty tasty beer! So why is this long spiel under Matt on a bridge? Because haven't you noticed that we totally forget to take pictures on our vacations? Anyhow, our hotel was, McMenamin's Crystal hotel and was downtown and we walked across the bridge to get to the industrial section of Portland where we were to meet the famous Paige Mckinney, my college room mate for all four years of college and a dear friend.




Nap time on the go.

Brock woke up the second we ordered our foamy treats. I mentioned that Portland is craft brew capitol of the U.S., right? Here we are at Hair of the Dog.

Yes. You read that right. It was delicious. Just kidding. It was just ok. ha ha ha. 

Oh jeeze. remember that long paragraph I had under Matt on the bridge. It's time for that ol trick again. So after Hair of the Dog Matt and Brock and I met Paige and her wonderful husband Fester at Cascade Barrel Brewing, one of the most wonderful breweries I've ever visited. They specialize in sours and they have a lot. So tasty! We had a wonderful time and made it home for a pre-bedtime dip in the soaking pool. Next morning, we set our sights south to Eugene.

The day started with a meet and greet with all the alums at the new theatre. One surprise was my friend Meghan Smith, pictured in the middle. My dear friend Rachel and fellow duck recently moved her and the fam to Idaho from Chicago. I miss her so and this trip was a great place for us to meet. Here she is with her oldest daughter, Grace.

Uh gawd. Time for that paragraph again. So after the meet and greet we attended a luncheon that celebrated the retirement of two of my favorite profs (a couple actually) and a memorial service for another professor I was fond of. Then we got a behind the scenes look at the new theatre, caught up with many a colleague and relived many excellent times. The boys headed back to the hotel, and I headed to an Absolut Improv reunion. A group of us started an improv troupe 16 years ago that seems to still be alive and well. Matt Berliner, a dear friend and husband to other dear friend Ursula, was also a founding member. We did a terrible scene but laughed the whole way through. The younger generation were in much better practice and very kind to their elder statesmen.

That night Rachel Ursula and I bailed on the university production of Comedy of Errors so we could rehash the glory days and visit some old haunts. The weather was perfect and the company even better. I miss those ladies so much!

And here we are again, a hotel breakfast, shower and maybe even a few hours of sleep later in front of the new theatre.

The whole families! Baby Lilla (Rachel's), Ursula Matt and Mia, Grace Rachel, Andy and of course us at the end.

Back to Portland! This time, we stayed at McMenamins totally awesome Kennedy School, a renovated school turned hotel with a movie theatre, five bars and a pool. Here we are at happy hour in one of the gardens.

Brock and Matt play bubbles in the grass.

Our room was a converted classroom complete with blackboard. Brock has instructed us to draw multiple Murrays. They look a little creepy all together.

Guess what! Time for another paragraph! Short one. That night other college roommate Bridie and her new (libertarian!) husband Brig met up with us for dinner and post Brock-bedtime pints. Bridie and I caught up and talked babies, Bridie argued politics with Matt and Brig was delighted to have a different person argue his perspective... such a fun night!!

I mentioned the McMenamin's light obsession right? Here is one photo at breakfast that might demonstrate such. So much typing, so few pictures, I have to sign off in shame. I guess we had a good time!!