UPDATE and several photos I took on the way home from work Thursday

UPDATE: I slept fine. As Mama used to say every school day morning as she flipped on the overhead light in my bedroom, "Up and at 'em!" That's me, y'all! I did wake up with an allergy/sinus headache, though, so I took something for it. I doubt it will bother me for long. I plan on getting to the bus early again today, just in case I need to rest a bit before beginning work. Thank goodness TriMet considers NE Sandy Blvd. to be the traffic corridor that it truly is and services my bus stop frequently, with two bus lines. It certainly helps me a whole lot!



After work yesterday, I caught the streetcar north to East Burnside and NE Grand Avenue where I waited for one of the two buses that would get me home, either the 12 or the 19. I decided to take a photo of the construction going on at the Burnside Bridgehead--those two buildings going up that have obliterated the view of downtown as you head west towards the Burnside Bridge. For some reason, I'm fascinated with cement mixer pump trucks--I guess there's a truck somewhere at the end of the orange pumps servicing both buildings, one in plain view, the other behind the tree and the old billboard. Take note of the Peter Corvallis box truck, please. More about it later on.



My camera has an exposure compensation button which I decided to use in this photo to learn about it. I wanted to get a photo that allowed us to see the orange cement pump better. Did I add too much here? I think I did, at least for parts of the photo like the sky. By the way, here's why I believe we can't see the cement mixer pump truck. There are several streets at a lower level than the ones we can see in the photo. I've never driven down there or walked down there, but I've seen them from walking on the sidewalk on the bridge. I'll be glad when I'm well enough to explore, even if it might be limited to walking the sidewalk on the bridge above it all--I imagine it will be some time before pedestrians are allowed down there.



Here's a screen shot that gives you a bit of perspective, I hope. There in the lower left corner, I wrote ME because that's where I stood to take these photos. I hope the labels I've written here will help you get an even better perspective of the area. The multi-lane road at the bottom of the screen shot is the Burnside Bridge. Through the label for the tall building, you can see the streets down below the bridgehead--that's what folks call the part of the bridge as it joins the east side of the Willamette. When I ride a bus west across the Willamette over the Burnside Bride, or in any sort of wheeled vehicle, I go along that curve to the right of the label about the orange pump. Those two little blue dots to the right of the empty lot are where I sometimes change to either the streetcar or a bus, heading south.




After work, as I neared the stop where I get off the bus--see the Subway sign--I took this photo when we were stopped at NE 18th and NE Sandy Blvd. I couldn't resist that sky and Dave's lot--he comes into the Blue Diamond now and then, an interesting man who's been in business there for practically my whole life. Seeing those dark skies, you'd think we soon had a down pour. Nope. By the way, the Blue Diamond is beside those leftmost trees up the sidewalk, just past that traffic signal at NE 20th Avenue. I love my neighborhood!




After I got off the bus, I waited at the traffic signal at NE 20th Avenue and took this photo. I cannot resist taking photos of this building--I adore triangle-shaped buildings and am thrilled that I get to see this one often, plus enjoy time in the Blue Diamond which is behind the Halo Salon. While I wait for the light to change, I usually decide whether to walk on the north side of the building, the left side in the photo, or the south side of the building. Depending upon how tired I am, I take the south side which is probably 200 steps shorter and offers one place to rest, at the backdoor of the Blue Diamond. If I'm wanting to get in more steps, I go up the north side of the building--there are three places to rest, if I need them, a pew in front of the Blue Diamond, a bench in front of the Silver Lining pawn shop, and the low wall at the bioswale at the corner where NE Glisan and NE 22nd Avenue intersect a few feet before NE Glisan intersects with NE Sandy Blvd. Like I said, I love my neighborhood! Oh, about the Peter Corvallis truck--while I waited here, in came toward me on the street to the south of the Halo Salon! I couldn't believe that I saw it again in just the short time that it took for me to get from East Burnside and NE Grand on the 19 bus. Oh, one more neat thing--I had the same driver on the 19 on my way to work and on my way home--she recognized me and my hat!

UPDATE and seen in the neighborhood

UPDATE: Stayed awake better today after sleeping well during the night. Portland's weather has been cooperative with my not having to run the window unit, so the fresh air in the apartment has been great. It is predicted to be much warmer tomorrow, so I'm going to turn it on before I go to work tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers, love and concern.



Naturally, this is an eye-catching vehicle. I have no idea what it is, other than pretty. I took this photo from the south sidewalk along NE Sandy Blvd. That's the credit union during the remodel, there on the north side of the street, in the trees.



Naturally, this is an eye-catching color of hair. The TriMet bus is stopped at the bus stop on the north side of NE Sandy Blvd. This is the one where I catch westbound buses when I go to work or into downtown. The fence is still up from the credit union remodel days. The colorful shrubs are still in the planter, too. I miss them!

October 28, 2007 - little did I know that I'd live within walking distance of this intersection by the end of January, 2011

I cannot even remember why I was at this intersection on that particular day. I had to have been in a car, stopped at the traffic signal to get this perspective which I am really enjoying. Nowadays, Monday through Friday if I've been to work and am going straight home afterwards, I walk across NE 20th Avenue at this intersection with NE Sandy Blvd. which is the wide street on the left side of the photo. My apartment building is nearby.

The Blue Diamond PDX is in this building, right behind the Halo Salon. It's sign is just visible through the tree trunks on the left, mostly between the second and third tree trunks. On days when I'm exhausted, I walk on the sidewalk to the right because a doorway to my building is closer if I take that edge of the triangle. On days when I've still got plenty of energy, I walk on the sidewalk to the left. If I'm going to the Blue Diamond before I go home, either sidewalk works--the front door is on the left beneath the sign, the back door through the kitchen is on the right. I am blessed to live in this neighborhood. The Blue Diamond is one of the reasons I say that. By the way, when I took this photo, Bev and Steve didn't own it, but Janessa worked there. Small world, for real.

My neighborhood, it's all in the direction that you look.

Yesterday on one of my walks in the sunshine, I took a photo looking each direction, while I stood at the corner of NE 22nd Avenue and NE Flanders Street. This one looks north towards NE Sandy Blvd. where NE Glisan Street intersects it a few feet west of where NE 22nd intersects with NE Glisan--it's one of many unique multi-street intersections in Portland. The tall hedge corners the southwesten border of the front yard at Albertina Kerr--the steps I go up and down on my walks are to the right of that red sign in the distance. Those great wooden benches where I rest are up those steps.



Looking south on NE 22nd Avenue. The streets in my neighborhood, known as Kerns, are wide enough for two-way traffic and parking on each side. 



Looking east on NE Flanders Street. I am blessed to live in a neighborhood with sidewalks in such great shape and so level, too! And how about all of these trees! Soon I'll be walking this way, making it the whole two blocks down to NE 24th Avenue and back. Eventually I'll make the loop which will total six blocks! I return to work on Tuesday, May 26, so my goal is to increase my stamina incrementally, and making the loop will certainly help.



Looking west on NE Flanders Street. That's my building to the right. When I leave for work each morning, I go out the side door of the building which is down this sidewalk a little ways. I walk down to the intersection with NE 20th Avenue--where you can see blue and white way down the sidewalk. I turn right, push the walk signal button and wait to cross NE Sandy Blvd. so that I can turn right after I've crossed the street and walk about 15 feet to the bus shelter. Oh, I forgot to point out that when I go this way, I walk right by the back door of The Blue Diamond PDX, my neighborhood bar--the best one in Portland as far as I'm concerned! Since surgery, I've been going to the front door of the Blue Diamond on NE Sandy, though, because it's a longer walk by a couple of hundred feet--I need each of those steps, not only now when I'm recovering but always!

Signs, out and about in NE Portland, No. 2

Northeast Portland interests me for many reasons, not the least of which are the sorts of signs I find now and then. This one seen from the TriMet bus window, used to say Paulsons on the ovals--I think it's vintage and have to wonder if it originated with the Paulson's Floor Covering store that used to be in the building, since the number of ovals matches the number of letters in the word. There must've been an apostrophe on that next to the last oval, looking left to ride as we ride along westward on NE Sandy Blvd.
 

Busy Sidewalk, No. 2

I took this photo on Saturday, March 15, at 12:14 p.m. The daddy and the stroller captured my attention. Bye the time I got the camera up to take a photo from at least a block away, he'd turned to look over his shoulder. The photo looks north on NE 16th towards the intersection with NE Sandy Blvd. The cream-colored building behind the daddy with the double-stroller holding two sleeping babies is on the southeast corner of the intersection. I cannot tell what he has turned to look at or for. None of the people in the distance are paying him any mind. Everyone's happy to be out in the sunshine in mid-March!

Can't stop sharing these photos of my snowy neighborhood, even on Valentine's Day!

It's just that this particular bus shelter means so very much to my life. And to see it blurred by the falling snow sort of tickles me. Not that I want it to snow like this again any time soon. I took this photo on Saturday, February 8 at 10:37 a.m. The colorful building in the background houses the Oregon Children's Theatre. An abandoned car, in the drive-through, going against the actual direction for service, at the Community Consolidated Credit Union. Club 21, also within walking distance of my building, but across NE Sandy Blvd., so I have never been there. I see no reason to cross a busy street on foot to have a good time. Here's my favorite neighborhood spot to walk to for a good time--The Blue Diamond PDX--which is on the same side of NE Sandy as my building. I took this photo on Thursday, February 6 at 5:24 p.m. Lots more snow fell during the night and on Friday and Saturday. Finally, here's the Blue Diamond on Monday morning at 9:14 a.m. Look at all of that snow beside the sidewalk. I took this photo standing to the east of my bus shelter while I waited for the first bus of the morning commute. I had waited to go to work so that the ice on my sidewalks--which had fallen from late Saturday afternoon, through the night, and into Sunday--had a chance to melt a bit. We were above 32 degrees and had a light rain falling. By the way, I have no idea when NE Sandy was plowed because I didn't go outside at all on Sunday, and the last time I saw it on Saturday at 3:02 p.m., it looked like this. It's obvious that no plowing had happened--the street is practically the same level as the sidewalk, only tamped down some by the vehicles that managed to get from Point A to Point B, wherever that may have been. You can't see it in the photo, but take my word for it. The freezing rain and/or sleet had started to fall, so I walked on home.

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

April 11 movement--a pedestrian in my NE Portland neighborhood

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April 2 I stopped after I had passed this young woman so that I could take a photo of her as she crossed NE Sandy at NE 20th. Can you guess what first brought her to my attention? Was it the heavy shopping bags? Her jacket that says Devil Woman on back? Her hat? Nope, it was those platform shoes. I used to wear platform shoes, open-toe sling-backs. Never platform boots. Oh, did you notice the home of Oregon Children's Theatre in the background? Or the yellow Mini Cooper?
 

Here's the original photo, for comparison.

Hollywood Theatre, No. 5

Looking west at the Hollywood Theatre in a photo that I took on September 30, 2012. Now you can see the apartment building standing on what was a vacant lot, seen in yesterday's post. I can tell you that the view when you're eastbound on NE Sandy Blvd. is no longer what it was in yesterday's post.

See the lights on the left side of the Hollywood Theatre building? They are in the ladies restroom--it has a small vestibule or lobby or seating area, I'm not sure what to call it. I'm pretty sure it's original to the building which has been turned into a theater with three screens, one big one downstairs and two smaller ones upstairs. Despite that yellow insulation showing on the apartment building, I like how this photo turned out.

Here's an article about the plans for the building, from the Portland Mercury, May 2, 2011. And here's another article from the Daily Journal of Commerce, December 5, 2011, about the beginning of the building project. It remains to be seen what sort of business will be on the first floor of the apartment building. It would be cool if it were a good restaurant.

Hollywood Theatre, No. 4

Here's a photo of the Hollywood Theatre that I took May 19, 2011. Can you imagine how fine that tower looked as you drove or rode eastbound on NE Sandy Blvd.? What a sight to see.

Speaking of seeing, I did see "Win, Win" and "Jane Eyre" here--thoroughly enjoyed both. "Hobo with a Shotgun" is not my cup o' tea.

Can you guess the two-word name of this business?

Two clues. One, the shape of the sign itself. Two, the red-colored design inside the circle. First word, seven letters; second word, six letters. Have fun! For those in Portland, the business is on the north side of NE Sandy Blvd., just east of the intersection with NE 28th. I took the photo as I waited for the 12 bus.

Eye-catching kick at the intersection.

Naturally I noticed this inflatable martial arts character, but not in time to get a photo as the bus buzzed by going east to Killer Burger on Saturday a week ago. So, on the way back towards home, I remembered to swivel around and make the effort to get a few photos as we slowed down for the bus stop diagonally across the street. That's why this photo is at a slant--I decided to share it with you SOOC, straight out of camera, no alteration at all, not even any cropping.

The intersection--the blue car is turning northeast from NE 42nd onto NE Sandy Blvd.--is five blocks west of Killer Burger , a block wset of Whole Foods , and two blocks east of the Hollywood Theatre , and one block east of Paulsen’s Pharmacy .

Rose Festival Fred Meyer Junior Parade on June 6, 2012

Nicknamed by some "the children's parade," last week's event drew a crowd of 40,000-50,000 along its route in the Hollywood District, Northeast Portland. The Rock 'n' Roses refers to the theme for this year's Portland Rose Festival. I took a day of vacation so that I could go for the first time. After lunch at Killer Burger at the corner of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 47th, I took my lawn chair outside, found a space on the sidewalk at the curb, and settled down to enjoy myself.

I expected to see lots of bands and scout groups, but I didn't expect to see maybe 40 children of all ages being pushed along in their wheel chairs by people who might be parents or who work or volunteer at the Providence Child Center.

Here are two photos of just a handful of the children and those who care enough to provide them with a chance to be in a parade. How neat!
 

I found this online about Providence Child Center which is Part of Providence Health and Services:

Providence Child Center (PCC) has been caring for Oregon’s most vulnerable children for over 60 years. Today it continues to fill an important gap in the community not provided by any other organization regionally. We are rooted in the commitment to promote the inherent dignity of all children by providing each child in our care the opportunity to achieve his or her potential and the highest quality of life in an atmosphere of acceptance and love.

And this explains all about a concept new to me, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
Pediatric recreational therapy

Also known as: Recreational therapy, pediatric; Therapeutic recreation, pediatric

Recreational therapists provide recreational activities and treatment for patients with disabilities or illnesses. Therapeutic activities can include arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music or community outings. Recreational therapists improve and maintain the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their clients.

The therapeutic recreation team at Providence Child Center provides recreational opportunities for our kids that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life. Our therapy staff is supported by hundreds of volunteers who make it possible to provide unique and exciting recreational activities.

The following are highlights of a few of these programs:

• Crafts, music and sports groups are continuously provided by our creative staff, volunteers, and community partners. 
• Community integration field trips to Portland Trail Blazer Games, OMSI, the Saturday Market, the movies and more. 
• The Friend to Friend program partners local students with our kids for a year’s worth of friendship and life-long memories. 
• Holiday parties, like the annual Christmas Present Celebration, a Valentine’s Day Dance, the New Year’s Eve party, and the Chinese New Year’s parade. “Foster” Grandparents who help with everything from getting our kids on the Portland Public School buses every morning to tucking them into bed at night. 
• Special events and typical child-hood traditions including the Jr. Rose Parade, a traditional Prom, birthday parties and summer camp. 
• Alternative therapy services like music therapy and pet therapy– we’ve hosted everything from harps to lamas! 

It is our goal and privilege to provide therapeutic recreational activities that celebrate ability while ensuring every child in our care has access to typical childhood experiences. 

The other few moments that I witnessed during the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on May 20, 2012, at the intersection of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 20th Avenue, right in my neighborhood!

The sign boldly states "Street Closed." Well, until the Portland Police Bureau officer (and a nearby, out of the photo TriMet employee) decided that the time had come to let the traffic stopped on NE Sandy flow east and west. Thus, the runners came to a stop, waiting silently, speckled with falling rain. I heard only the sound of tires traversing the wet pavement.
 

This intersection must have been just one of many on the route at which runners had to stop for a short time while law enforcement officers cleared the stopped traffic. NE Sandy Blvd. is one of the major thoroughfares in northeast Portland, used by two busy bus lines, even on a Sunday. Since it was cool and rainy, I wondered whether or not the runners welcomed the short pauses. I have to imagine that, for the most part, they didn't.
 

The intersection is almost cleared now. Runners, ready!
   

There they go, on their way mid-way from mile 10 to mile 11 and beyond!

The first of a few moments that I witnessed during the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on May 20, 2012, at the intersection of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 20th Avenue, right in my neighborhood!

A woman on a bicycle cautiously approached NE Sandy, heading north on NE 20th Avenue. Since there's a police officer stopping traffic from the center of the intersection so that runners in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon can continue on their way, she crosses the street. I like how the red hand on the traffic signal looks as if it is attached to her bicycle helmet like the comb on a rooster!
 

Here comes the next bicyclist crossing Sandy behind her. I have to say that I am shocked somewhat to see that the two of them are bicycling the city streets in flip flops. Thank goodness they're wearing helmets. I'll bet they're together--the flip flops give them away.

 

The two of them wait patiently on the corner, searching for a break in the runners. You can tell how much rain the man's been riding in when you take a look at the discolored front of his shorts; her pants are wet, too, but the difference in color is not easy to discern unless you click on the huge original size of the photo which I cannot put here on the blog--sorry. On that original size, it's easy to see drops of rain here and there, too.



Just about made it, threading the needle all the way across NE 20th, heading west.
 

Yep, home free now. What cracks me up is that when I looked at this photo as I cropped it, I wondered what in the world is that woman doing with the toes of her left foot? The dark spot caught my eye, and I had to see for myself, so I clicked on the huge original size of the photo to take a look. She's got those two outer toes crooked upward like she's trying to keep them from hanging off the edge of her flip flop as she trots along beside her bicycle. How many of us do something similar, unconsciously? I used to do that back when I wore flip flops.

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 3

Last Saturday on the way home from a fine lecture at the Architectural Heritage Center and a rewarding trip to Powell's Books, I got off the bus for the block and a half walk to my apartment building.

On the corner, I noticed these two stacks of orange traffic cones as I crossed to wait for the traffic signal to change at the corner of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 20th Avenue. "Hmmm," I wondered. "Is tomorrow's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon coming by here?"

Then I saw the man approaching on the bicycle, wearing, of all things, an orange knit hat covering,  I imagine, a head full of dread locks. I couldn't believe it--orange and orange, right at the same instant that I stood on the corner, camera on its strap hanging around my neck.

Yea for serendipity!

(And more about the cones later on in this series.)

666 pounds of doughnuts and Voodoo Doughnuts' boxes used to be in here!

On August 18, 2011, I stood on the sidewalk with Milton and Kay, totally surprised to see through the plate glass window of a building a couple of blocks from my building the giant pink box which had held a a world-record heavy helping of Voodoo Doughnuts earlier that month. I leaned toward the window and said, "I cannot believe this! Look at this, y'all!" Needless to say, they stopped to look with me and I explained what I had heard on the news about the attempt by Voodoo Doughnuts to break the record for the largest box of doughnuts in the world. And here we stood, looking at it 10 days later! How cool is this serendipity? Way cool.

Here's a write-up I found at Bites on Today: "World's largest box of doughnuts weighs in at 666 pounds" By Keith Wagstaff 

How much does the world’s largest box of doughnuts weigh? About 666 pounds -- a sign that eating 3,880 doughnuts might put your arteries through hell. 

The giant pink box of doughnuts -- a stunt from Voodoo Doughnut's owners Kenneth "Cat Daddy" Pogson and Tres Shannon -- was unveiled on Portland, Ore.'s Hawthorne Bridge during an event called Brunch on the Bridge. 

To help Voodoo achieve its goal of making it into the Guinness Book of World Records, Portland’s mayor Sam Adams, a notary and a scale master were on hand to verify that Pogson and Shannon had indeed constructed the world’s largest box of doughnuts. 

“I think we must have set another record when we handed out 666 pounds of doughnuts in just 45 minutes,” said Shannon. “It was a good way to give back to the city of Portland, which has been pretty good to us over the years.” 

The sweet crate, a giant version of the doughnut shop’s regular pink box, contained 380 smaller boxes filled with glazed doughnuts, all arranged nicely into a pyramid. The pair piled on an assortment of their signature treats, from apple fritters to their Fruit Loop-crusted Loop doughnut, until they reached the magic number to break the current recordholder's total of 297 pounds. But why aim for 666 pounds? 

“The current record is a little less than 333 pounds, so we just decided to double it to 666 pounds, which kind of goes along with our voodoo theme,” said Shannon. “It’s the mark of the ‘yeast’.” 

Voodoo is waiting for official certification from Guinness World Records. After the tally, more than 1,400 people in attendance got to share the doughnuts.

And here's a link to an article at KATU TV Channel 2 about Brunch on the Bridge and the Voodoo Doughnuts participation in the event. If you look here, you can see the inside of the box with the pyramid of doughnuts and lots and lots of regular-sized pink Voodoo Doughnuts boxes!

P. S. I've figured out how to get blank lines where I want them! Now, if I can just get this to work as my post. You see, I work on my post, editing and getting it exactly like I want it, in my practice blog. Then I copy and paste it onto my blog. Here goes! Copy. Paste. I'm crossing my fingers! This is a great development, a stunning start towards figuring this out! Hooray! Thanks, Karen, for those words you put into a comment on April 4--they're the reason I'm on the way to figuring out what to do! Thanks!

Paulsen's Pharmacy, Hollywood District--they've got a soda fountain!

I took these photos on October 15, 2011. I just found these hours on Yelp: Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.


Found on the Internet at a site about the Hollywood District: Paulsen's Pharmacy has continued to operate out of its original 1918 location at 4246 NE Sandy Blvd. Famous for operating a 1920s style soda fountain, Paulsen's offers old fashioned customer service along with the latest products.


An online review of Paulsen's Pharamacy: Dec 12, 2008
First-class service! Don't automatically bring your prescriptions to a chain store! Paulsen's has been in the neighborhood for years, and it is small enough that you can pretty much always find Mr. Paulsen himself working in there to answer questions. When my toddler was having a meltdown while we waited, they gave her a free treat. They have helped us out with various problems, including doctors' office communications. Highly recommended!


And one more online review: 7/28/2010
I've been filling my prescriptions here as long as I've lived in the neighborhood, and there is something wonderful about getting to know the people who own a local business and that they remember your name when you come in. I've been carrying on a month to month conversation with one of the clerks where we swap notes on board games. Bonus points for the ability to get a mint chip shake at the fountain while I wait for my prescription. I love that there are still "Mom & Pop" businesses like this in my neighborhood.



A piece about Paulsen's Pharmacy at Neighborhood Notes dot com, posted June 17, 2010: Surprisingly, yet another blast from Portland’s past can be found less than two miles down the road at Paulsen’s Pharmacy, which will be celebrating its 92nd anniversary this July. These days, a modern-style Coke dispenser does a lot of the work (customers can add cherry, chocolate or vanilla flavoring to their soft drink of choice), but vintage soda taps are still kept on-hand just in case a traditional flavored soda or sweet cherry phosphate is ordered up. It was these taps that first spawned the moniker “soda jerk,” which described the action of pulling back on the soda tap to add carbonated water to the flavored syrup.

Paulson’s can also fix you up with a shake, malt, float or sundae while you wait for your prescription, and in true vintage form, will pour you a hot cuppa joe for just 85 cents.

I took this photo on August 24, 2011.

And here’s an interesting article about the drugstore and its pharmacist, in the Catholic Sentinel.

Our buddy Lucy's come to visit, all the way from Mississippi, via Minneapolis where her daughter's family lives

Here's the dynamic duo, headed towards the Buick as I had driven up and stopped to get them where they waited outside the airport baggage area. I had already put Lucy's bag into the trunk when I went to fetch the car. On the drive into Portland proper, Mama said for me to watch for somewhere to stop for something to drink and maybe a bite to eat.

At the traffic signal to the left of this building, I had read on their window, among other words, "coffee" and "milkshakes," so I suggested we give it a try. Both of them were game, so I circled. We parked on NE Sandy Blvd., right beside the door to Fairley's Pharmacy.

Y'all know Mama will be 83 in January, well, Lucy's two years older. Both of them had a time getting out of the car, so much so that we got the giggles.

You cannot tell from this photo, but the height of the platform running along the counter with the stools on it made it impossible for the three of us to sit there without risking a terrible fall. And I wish you could tell how much wider the building is at this point--it's one of those triangle-shaped ones seen here and there in Portland, on both sides of the river.

This splendid machine made me a fine chocolate milkshake, with the help of the skilled young woman manning the counter.

Here's my shake, with the rest of it waiting patiently in the metal container from the milkshake machine.

The soda counter turns the corner, going towards the prescription counter. Inside the small glass case we found some good-looking shortbread cookies, some even dipped half-way into chocolate.

I really like the retro-look of the "Prescriptions" sign.

The girls each ordered a 12-ounce house coffee. Lucy asked for milk for her coffee. She gave it a generous dose of what turned out to be half and half, plus some sugar. Mama takes hers black.

As Lucy stirs her coffee with my milkshake spoon, Mama pours a bit of water into hers--she always has to do that because it's either too hot or too strong. And there you see our shortbread cookies; they turned out to be very good.

Revived, Lucy called her sister Winnie, down in Jackson, Mississippi, to let her know she'd arrived safe and sound. I got Mama to lean over and smile for another photo.

Just before we left to get into the car, both of them graciously posed for me again, standing beside the stools--ain't they sweet?

After our delightful interlude at Fairley's Pharmacy, we wandered around Portland's Hollywood District, looking for the great big Fred Meyer grocery store that I had been to once, as a passenger in June, 2006. I just couldn't find that store, and then I accidentally got us onto I-84, heading into the city, so we exited at Lloyd Center, a shopping mall. You see, we were not looking for groceries alone, we were looking for a jewelry department where we hoped to get Mama's chain repaired or replaced so that she could once again where her heart pendant. Lo and behold, we found a handicapped parking spot right beside a door to the mall--Mama has a rear-view-mirror-hang-tag. Then, for more lo and behold, we found a jewelry store right inside that very door. And the store manager made Mama a deal she couldn't refuse on a new chain. Oh, joy! Mission accomplished. Then we went to our neighborhood Fred Meyer to buy some groceries before heading to the apartment. Right now they're playing a card game they love, called Hand and Foot. Duncan's curled up beside me on the couch as I blog. "Bridget Jones' Diary" just finished on Lifetime, and I'm waiting for the local weather forecast on KGW-TV.

I've taken vacation all week, and we're spending Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Pacific Coast, in Lincoln City. Duncan can go with us, and the place has wifi! I'll keep y'all posted on our fun times.

Sunday evening we're going to 3 Doors Down Cafe for dinner; Leland and Kailey are joining us, and Lamont will be cooking, so it'll be a neat night.