Spring Break

It is Spring Break; one of my favorite times of the year. I look forward to it for a couple of reasons: One, the weather is improving and summer is coming. Two, it's the last great pause before the push to the end of the school year.

This year the weather hasn't been very cooperative. But I did get out of town for a few days. My parents and another couple were headed down to the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville. I went along and lost some money. I am not a good Blackjack player, but I had fun trying. And the penny slot machines can entertain me for hours on very little investment. And the Sunday buffet is outstanding.

Since we were in Southern Oregon we also made a couple side trips. One day we went to Central Point where we visited the Lillie Belle Farms chocolate shop (they make these awesome Red Velvet Almonds) and the Rogue Creamery (love their Oregon Blue Cheese) and of course, Harry and David's Country Village. We also visited RoxyAnn Vineyards.

On another day we headed north to the Roseburg area. Again, we did some wine tasting. This time at Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards. It was a really neat experience. For a fee we sampled three of their wines paired with specific appetizers while seated in the wine cave.

Taste of Home Cooking School

My mother has been a subscriber to Taste of Home Magazine for years. It's been great inspiration for the ole' "What's for dinner?" question. Anyway, Taste of Home sponsors cooking schools; demonstrations of different dishes and it travels around the country. Three years ago I attended the fall demonstration in Crescent City and told mom about it. Last year she, Traci and Meka attended the one in Corvallis. This last Thursday the cooking school was in Corvallis again. Mom, Traci and I attended and came away with some good ideas. I can't wait to try the Mexican Lasagna.

Girls Weekend

Every year my brother-in-law has a "Guys Quad Weekend" in North Bend. This year my father and Uncle Dave went along. Since there were no girls allowed, Mom, Traci and I decided to have a "Girls Weekend". Aunt Shirley and Alyssa came along for two days of shopping and food.

We stayed at the Paramount Hotel, which was a first for all of us. Thanks to Becky for the suggestion. We shopped, using Max, the Street Car or walking to get where we wanted to go. That had the added advantage of keeping our Ikea purchases to a minimum. We had a couple really good dinners at Pastini Pastaria and the Deschutes Brewery. If only the weather had been more cooperative. It was really, really blustery.

We're already making tentative plans for next year.

The March of Time

Is time relevant? Or relative? On the one hand, it's March already and I'm wondering where the first two months of the year have gone. I know all about the mechanics of time. Moon rotates around the Earth; Earth rotates around the Sun and we have days, nights, seasons. But seriously....why does it seem to pass so quickly even when we're not having fun?

The passage of time also has meaning when compared to other things. I sometimes forget, I mean I have to literally stop and count, how old I am. In this respect, time is relative. I spend my days with teenagers, and the more they think they change, the more they resemble the teens I've known since I was a teenager myself. But that's work related, and I don't want to write about work! :)

So, is time relevant or is it simply relative? Maybe there is no answer except the one we really want at any given moment.

Sons & Daughters of Oregon Pioneers

Sunday was the annual SDOP Statehood Banquet at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland. It's an event that I enjoy because there, for that event, a feeling of community. We all descend from people who came to Oregon before it was a state. I enjoy it because unlike many of the "history and genealogy related events" I attend, there are a fair number of junior numbers who are learning the value of the events that have affected who they are and will become. I think that's important.

I talked the parents into attending with me. We had a fabulous meal, and some very nice conversations with our table-mates. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday.

Happy Birthday Oregon!

Today is Oregon'e 150th birthday. To celebrate the state through a birthday party at the Capitol. Thanks to corporate sponsorship there were food goodies. It was a 10 year old's dream menu: Hotdogs on squishy white bread buns, salty Kettle potato chips, cake, ice cream and tiny half-pint cartons of milk. As far as I know all were Oregon products. Umpqua ice cream even created a special "Oregon" flavor (honey, hazelnuts and huckleberries). It was yummy! And did I mention, free? The best deal in town today.
For some photos, check out the article in the Statesman Journal.

The party was packed. My parents and sister joined me in line waiting for food. There were capitol tower tours. I'm ashamed to say I've never climbed the 121 steps. And we didn't do it today. Since the tours happen pretty frequently, we'll do that some other time.

Horoscope

My co-workers and I read our horoscopes every day for grins and giggles. Some days they are absurdly hysterical. On other days we find grains of truth, or those which can be interpreted as truth. Occasionally I find them to hold intriguing possibilities, like the one printed last weekend on my birthday:

"You move your life to a better place this year. This month after some soul searching and a realization or two you get clear about what your goal is. Spring brings hard work and a lucky break, too. Someone pursues you vehemently in April. Travel is favored for August. Your family grows in December. Capricorn and Cancer adore you. Your lucky numbers are 11, 5, 26, 50 and 32." by Holiday Mathis of the Creators Syndicate

So, I'll have to revisit this one come next birthday and see if the horoscope is prophetic or a load of bull.