Whirlwind weekend

What a weekend it was too. Friday night after the gamers left our place, I promptly went to bed knowing that 7 am would come all too early. I was right! As the sound of my lovely alarm clock went off, I lay there thinking, "Why am I getting up at this hour on a Saturday?!?". Then it sank in, I am getting up at the butt crack of dawn (this time of year anyway) to go work out. Yes, working out at 7:30 am on a Saturday. Jealous aren't you? Feeling groggy I managed to get dressed, pick up my work out buddy Denise and hit the gym. I should have realized that while I was trying to walk on the treadmill like a trained gerbil, that my staggering around might be a sign that I was coming down with something. I forged on through a 40 minute walk and a 15 minute bike ride.

The work out was to justify the next part in our Saturday plans which was homemade cinnamon rolls with a group of Googlers prior to our trip to the Fruit Loop to visit orchards during the Heirloom Apple celebration. Our hosts for this sugary goodness of breakfast were wonderful and I thank you so much Aim & Skippy! We all loved those sticky, gooey, buns of sugary, frosting happiness. I took some of my homemade sugar free applesauce, Steph made these yummy potatoes, there was fruit, juice, milk, and coffee. It was a lovely breakfast for the 15 of us who got up that early to eat it.

Heirloom Apple DaysOct 2007

After the food filled our bellies and likely added a pound or two to our thighs, hips, bellies, or elsewhere, we headed off in a caravan of 4 cars filled with 8 adults and 4 children. At the first stop the kids each got a free pieced of fruit,went on a tractor ride through the orchard, pressed some cider, and learned that an heirloom apple is a variety of apple that is 100 years old or older. You don't' see these in stores much and the orchards are trying to preserve them, because once they are gone, there is no bringing them back. We lost one carload before continuing on as the self proclaimed "Nap Nazi" had to get back to put their little one down for the mid day nap, which I heard didn't go so well... something about all the sugar and excitement? Huh, odd that something like that would affect a small child. hehe

Next stop was more apples and pears with a petting zoo thrown in. There was this crazy looking goat who had 2 sets of horns. He was scary. Ame got a leg of lamb there, I would have NO clue how to prepare lamb. I have only had it one time that I remember liking it. She better be letting me know when she makes that thing, as I am sooo crashing her place for leg of lamb dinner! After admiring the gorgeous mountain view (Mt. Hood), petting the pigs and goats, buying our fruit, jams, and leg of lamb, it was time to head on to the next stop. We lost yet another Carload to nap time. Ya know, I am going to have to start looking into this nap time thing. I am thinking it sounds like a great idea!

We drive some more through the valley with views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, it was a beautiful sunny day with that slight chill in the air that reminds me snow is just around the corner. The next orchard was having a fun German Edelweiss celebration. They had brats, sauerkraut, potatoes w/ apples, fresh cider... it was delicious! Once our bellies were full, yet again, it was off to Packers for big ass cookies a bit of pie or ice cream and then home.

It was a long day, but the day wasn't even half over as we still had a Halloween party to go to that night. Ya know what sucks about losing your job in October? Not having enough money to properly celebrate Halloween as it is my favorite holiday. After my busy day I had needed a nap and we woke up in time to go to the party but unable to find a last minute costume idea.

*sigh* I am getting old. There was a day when I would be able to not have needed a nap, then found something to make a costume out of and gone onto the party and been there until the wee hours of the morning. What happened to those days? I want them back! I hate this feeling old crap, it was around 9:30, yes that is pm, not am the following day, that I looked at Matt and said, "Are you ready (to go)?". It wasn't even 10:30 by the time we said out goodbyes and hit the road back home. I want my youth back damnit!

Sunday I crashed hard. Woke up somewhere around 11:30, had a screaming headache, trying to fend off a migraine. It wasn't pretty. M and I spent some quality bonding time (as in our asses bonding to the couch) together. We caught up on all those tv shows we love. It is great having several episodes to watch all at one time. So we have now caught up on Bones, House, and Criminal Minds. I can't wait to see Heroes tonight, love that show.

Peace out for now and enjoy the pics!

Weekend in review

I have a bit of catch-up to do it seems as I haven't blogged since last week and it is already hump day! Eeee gads! I had a fantastic weekend went with some friends on a drive to what is called the "Fruit Loop". Basically a 40 mile loop in Hood River, OR, that highlights 20+ farms, orchards, etc. We stopped and picked apples at 35 cents a pound was a steal, went to a lavender farm whose outhouse was painted lavender and called the "Lavender Loo", went to an old fashioned general store that had fresh huckleberry shakes, pepper jellies galore, and homemade jams from every possible berry imaginable, the last stop on the 3 hour tour was a wonderful treat where cookies grew larger than dinner plates and they had scrumptious fruit pies a plenty. Here is a link to the pics taken, feel free to comment.

Fruit Loop--10.2007

If you are ever in the NW part of Oregon anytime in the spring through fall/ early winter you really should stop along the fruit loop. Pick up some fresh fruit and support the local farmers.

Later in the evening after having stuffed myself with apples we decided try one of the 3 Chinese food restaurants in town. I was so spoiled living in Portland where I could have Chinese (and good Chinese too, not this wannabe over fried, nastiness that I have now), Thai, Japanese, Korean, you name it and it was available. Now I have to suffer with bad, worse, and no f*ing way will I go there. It is sad really. Small towns like the one I live in need some diversity, it is their residents that really hold them back. The people who grew up in the small town who doesn't like change and all the "big city" folks taking over. I ask you, what is wrong with a little bit of culture. What is wrong with some diversity and change? I digress, the food on this Saturday night was actually quite good. I have a lovely orange chicken which wasn't too overly breaded and had a very distinctive non fake orange taste. Dare I say I would order it again?! Yes, I do believe I would. The pot stickers, chicken friend rice, cashew chicken, and Lo mein, were also very well done. I think I have to take back the choices of Chinese, it is now Good(almost very good), horrible, and still no f*ing way.

Sunday was nice and relaxed, got to go have breakfast at my fave little pancake place with friends. So, we have all decided to do our own "Biggest Loser". Seems there is about 30 of us who have pitched in $30 each and at the end of our designated time (sometime in December) we will split the pot between the person who loses the most weight and the one who loses the highest percentage. I am really hoping to win at least one of them if not both. It is a huge motivator to lose weight and workout. With all that said, Sunday was my last day to enjoy those yummy pancakes and highly greasy eggs and bacon.

That is all for now, I should get back to work, I think I should anyway. I will be back later to update you more on the week, who I am, and those off the cuff thoughts in my little mind.

-Peace :)