And we're back...sort of

Where in the name of Sam Hill have we been!?

Well, let's see. Ryan returned home from another two-month stint at sea and has been getting his land-legs back. We have moved. And I am growing possibly the world's largest baby boy. Not really. But that's what it feels like. His due date is less than three weeks away now and we are both processing this inevitability in our own ways, which tends to take up a lot of time and make us busy and distracted people.

Fortunately we are mostly settled into our new home and his little baby things are mostly procured & put away in the right places. Now we just have to wait and distract ourselves with football (I don't know how he manages to find things to say and watch about a sport not currently in season) and sewing (curtains! burp cloths! a quilt! and more!).

The picture above is from a recent photo session we had to document this landmark event in our lives. More blogging to come soon, but maybe not until after the baby is born. Because, you know, we are preoccupied people these days.

10 years

(this below is Ryan's "woman, I'm loosing my patience" look)

Yesterday was the 10 year anniversary of our first date. It was one of those dates that started early and went all day long, with stops along the way at the Boston aquarium, Logan airport to watch people arrive and depart (pre 9/11), the movies, and the grocery store for dinner ingredients. We were having so much fun - have I told you this before? - that I plumb forgot I had a date with someone else, Randall, that night. He called to tell me he was on his way as Ryan and I were cooking dinner for the first time together, and I simply said "I'm sorry - I can't go." Its because we knew, Ryan and I, we were on to something big.

And indeed we were. Still are.

R&R in their prime

This is apparently what we look like in our element (think ocean behind us, fire before us, shooting stars and constellations above). Magical moments, people.

Side note

Yes, this is the third of four consecutive posts this evening. You could say I'm procrastinating. You could also say I'm a bit aimless. That's because Ryan's out of town.

I was thinking. Check this out:

1. Ryan is currently on the second of three field trips out to his old stomping grounds in Eastern Oregon. If you didn't know, he is an expert in all things paleontology-related. This trip is with a group of eleven year olds. The way I understand it, the boys were planning on riding in his van and the girls were going to ride in the female teacher's van. Makes sense. He already new ahead of time which trouble-maker was going to sit up front with him, and he and the other instructor made plans to stop several hours into the drive out there to shuffle misbehaviors around if necessary. If you're still with me, thank you, and how about this? On his last trip out a few weeks ago with college students, they were just getting going on I-84 when the hood of his van spontaneously popped open. They safely pulled over and eventually made it to a gas station, where some folks got out to stretch. Back on the road a few minutes later he noticed they were one man short in his van. Isn't that funny?

2. I have been to Idaho once this summer, am heading up to Mt. Rainier tomorrow, and will be down in Sequoia/Kings Canyon next week for work.

3. We were at the coast last weekend and have an extended camping trip planned in the Olympic National Forest coming up.

4. Ryan has booked a trip to Maine for a MONTH and I'll be joining the family back east for a week.

My point here is that this has unintentionally become a very busy summer of travel. Some for fun, most for work. Time is flying by.

Ryan: A Study

Destination Silver Falls, Oregon

Friday Ryan and I up & played hooky for the first time in 2010. And boy was it fun. We took a mini road trip south to hike and sleep in the forest and to just take a break from the Thesis and the Architecture.

Technically, this was a planned hooky day, which in my mind is just as good as a spontaneous one. Here are the details:

LODGING
We stayed in a rustic cabin at Silver Falls State Park. This turned out to be a very good, affordable option. The cabin was a step or two above tent camping, and we didn't have to worry about setting up a tent in the rain. By the way, the tents and yurts at Oregon State Parks book up very early, so plan accordingly. Interestingly, all 14 cabins were full, but we didn't see any tent campers this weekend.

FOOD
Since we were "camping," we brought most of our food, but did have a delicious and memorable dinner at Bavarian Haus in Mt. Angel, Oregon.

SITES/ACTIVITIES
Always a favorite, we stopped first at Mt. Angel Abbey in Mt. Angel, Oregon, to tour the beautiful library, to check out the the newly refurbished, award-winning bell tower, to listen to the Liturgy of the Hours, and to soak up the stellar view.

The highlight, though, was hiking the Trail of Ten Falls, an 8.7 mile loop past ten enchanting waterfalls and through lush forest at Silver Falls State Park. We try to do this hike at least once a year.

Other worthy stops while in the neighborhood:
- Window shopping at the antique stores and general exploring in Silverton, OR.

- The Oregon Garden with a Frank Lloyd Wright house to tour

- Covered bridges tour near Scio, Oregon

- Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - September 16 - 19, 2010

Three years ago

It was the best decision yet.

Balancing act

After a bit of a health scare this week, we have a new mantra to get us through the rest of this year and The Thesis, which has become the third member of our little family (just like mine did a few years ago, ahem):

Simplify.
Focus on home.
Focus on health.
Focus on work.
Shed the excess.
Period.

Saturday

Yesterday t'was a perfect day:

- AM at Mt. Tabor, lounging on a blanket surrounded by GREEN grass, massive trees, chirping birds, watching the city beyond, chatting about stuff, Noah's Bagels for breakfast; air was perfectly soft & damp - neither warm nor cool

- Noon time at Rose Garden to check on the flowers' status (just bushes as of yesterday) and to check on Mt. Hood (still there, ever regal)

- Lunch at Cha Taqueria in on NW 21st, a new favorite

- Hair cut for a lil' pampering

- PM at home, tucked in with our favorite Saturday night OPB TV and a fabulous dinner prepped by the Mr.

Delish.

When I say jump

Yesterday, after complaining that we haven't saved any correspondence or little notes to each other over the last eight years (you know, the whole love-letters-in-a-shoebox thing), I was delighted with Ryan's compensatory approach:


While it doesn't even begin to make up for the notes long gone, I think this is a good start!

Where!?!

Where in the name of Sam Hill have I been!? I'm afraid I have no good excuse. Well, I did go back to working a full five-day week. Maybe that's it. I'm just plain busier.

So then I up & took another "sick day." This time we went to Voodoo Donuts, the Zoo, Skyline Restaurant, and Powell's. The finest Portland has to offer - it doesn't get any better than that. Here's what we saw:














This is what I look like after a very good day.

R&R in need of some R&R

Sometimes you just need to get the heck out of dodge.

So, Ryan & Rebecca are heading to the coast for some Rest & Relaxation. Not for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, nor because its bright, warm, and sunny outside. It's none of those things this weekend.

Its simply time for a break, a change of scenery.

See you in a few days.

Photos taken last summer at the coast.

Playing hooky

Ryan surprised me Monday by taking the day off. We played hooky, just like the old days in Boston. Back then, we used to spontaneously decide (on the way into work) to call in sick and explore the city instead. Those days are some of my best memories of living back east. We'd go to Southie, to Wonderland Station (inspired by the movie), to the aquarium. We hit up the places you'd never normally go, all in the spirit of discovering something new.

Sensing I was feeling a teensy bit of the February Funk, he concocted a beautiful little scavenger hunt of sorts that involved uncovering slices of Portland previously unknown to either of us. We started early, he drove, and I had no idea where we were going until we landed at each new place. It was fast-paced, organized, and I quickly noticed the theme: local, independent clothing, shoe, furniture, and skin care boutique shops he thought I would enjoy.

What a man, huh? And we went all day long, visiting the neighborhoods of Alberta, Mississippi, the Pearl, NW 23rd, and Hawthorne. Over 30 stores were browsed in all, with coffee & lunch breaks inserted here & there.

By the end of the day I was even more enamored with him than ever and totally overwhelmed by his meticulously planned outing. It was a perfect day. Thanks, babe.