A gal's gotta have some nourishment ...

...so why not mix it with a libation?

Last Thursday evening, Marsha, my friend from work, and I made plans to attend a 7:30 p.m. book event at Powells Books. After a full day's work, the two of us knew we had best eat something before going to Powells. I suggested the Doug Fir, the same place I'd been two weeks earlier with Mama and Lucy. Those yummy fish and chips were calling to me, loud and clear.

We left work at 5 p.m., and after a slightly rainy, short, with only one transfer, bus ride, we walked into the glass door on the side of the Doug Fir only to find out that my Mississippi buddy Chris Cooley came to work the restaurant-side bar at 6 p.m.

What to do? What to do?

Then I noticed Joey Lawrence at the bar-side bar. He grinned at me as I said, "Hi, Joey. Do you know who I am?" "Yes," he said slowly, "I thought I knew that face, but I couldn't say for sure. The hat threw me off. And haven't you changed the color of your hair?" Observant young man, my buddy Joey Lawrence--he noticed my Los Lonely Boys hat and the leftover color from my last highlighting at Bella Tocca. OK. I'll quit stringing you along. This Joey Lawrence is a Portland bartender, not the child TV actor who grew up to do pretty well on "Dancing With the Stars." When I first met him at the Doug Fir, with Lamont in March, 2006, on the last visit Mama and I made to Portland before moving here that June, I discovered that he makes a mighty fine rum and cherry Coke.

We decided to be seated by the windows that overlook E. Burnside so that we could order our food; I knew that before we left we could join Chris at the bar for a visit, too. So, I ordered a rum and cherry Coke, telling our waitress to say, "It's for Lamont's mother," to Joey. I figured it would go very well with our appetizer, a plate of giant onion rings, as well as the fish and chips.

I love that photo, but it just didn't do justice to the onion rings, so I took one more. Joey came by for a moment to check on the drink. "Divine," I cried.


You'd think with those crunchy, sweet onion rings and that ice cold libation, I'd have tempered my hunger somewhat. Maybe remember to take a photo of the fish and chips I've been going on and on about? Nope. Marsha and I dove right in, dividing the single dish between the two of us--three flaky halibut fillets and a mound of crispy fries. Nary a thought of camera or photograph passed through my mind as each morsel of fried food passed through my lips! Marsha and I finished eating and visited with Chris at the bar and had one more libation before leaving for Powells.

Now, a bit about the book event. Local author Laura O. Foster entertained us, reading from her new book "Portland City Walks" and showing intriguing slides, too. I found this at Powells' Web site:

Publisher Comments:
From the inspired creator of the beloved "Portland Hill Walks," comes a rich collection of twenty eye-opening walks exploring the backstreets and back stories of the neighborhoods of Portland and five nearby towns. Laura Foster's new walking routes are easy-to-follow, self-guided, accessible by public transportation, and include plenty of snacks and offbeat treasures along the way. From Goose Hollow to Garden Home, Laurelhurst to Lake Oswego, Forest Grove to Vancouver, walks range in length from 2 to 6 miles, with alternate loops for flexibility. Want to explore architecture and engineering? Walks include a centuries-old farmhouse nestled in a city neighborhood and a track made from 20,000 Nike athletic shoes. Interested in the stories of historic Portland businesses? Walks include fun facts about Captain John Couch, William Lair Hill, Fred Meyer, Guy Carr, and Michael Powell. Portland City Walkslets readers peel back the layers of history as they walk the stories of a city's neighborhoods and experience its joys as never before.

And here's what I found about her other book that I bought and got signed that evening:

Publisher Comments:
"Portland Hill Walks" is no ordinary guidebook. No restaurant ratings, no rehashed explanations of how the city got its name. Instead, in twenty meandering, view-studded strolls from forested canyons to cityscape peaks, this lively travelogue answers questions you may never have thought to ask, such as:

* What street used to be a row of floating homes?
* What eastside peak, with its "healthful air," was home to tuberculosis sanatoriums?
* What happened to the lake in Guilds Lake?
* What Portlander modeled swimwear in the U.S. Senate?

Explore the city's streets, stairs, trails, and hidden passageways to discover the stories and spirit of a town rated among the country's most livable places.

My plan is to go on these walks and take photos so that I can share all of what I see and learn with y'all. I don't have a timetable, but I will begin in 2008 and finish in 2009--I've made that promise to myself.

ELLEA, Thursday, November 6, 2008

Each of us got another good night's rest. The only downer of the entire short trip to Lincoln City was just that, it's short length. Nevertheless, we knew we'd best eat up, pack up and head out by noon, check-out time at the Ester Lee. Lucy and Mama both used the microwave to heat up leftover coffee. I'm not a coffee-drinker, never have been, never will be, I can say with certainty. Lucy's new jammies suited her very well, and she's wearing the earrings she found at the outlet mall.

Mama did very well with a blender new=to-her, mixing her protein just like she likes to do each and every morning. It always gives her an energy boost and serves for nourishment until lunch time.

One thing I learned early on up here in Portland is that one cannot under estimate the importance of keeping one's hood out of one's eyes, hence the cap with the bill. Let me say that I have not got it cocked to the side because I'm a member of some gang. I have to set my Los Lonely Boys hat on my head like because I have a barrette holding back my hair on the left side of my head. Mama took this photo, by the way, and did very well. She's famous for cutting off folks' heads! I guess you've guessed that I'm dressed like this and Duncan's wearing his coat because it's raining outside, and it's his morning walk time. A strong wind blowing from the south managed to spray my glasses, right beneath the bill of that cap and my hood both!

The sweethearts happily played Hand and Foot until time to get ready to go.

I spent some time watching the waves, heading north at a sharper angle to the shore than the ones on Tuesday or Wednesday. My goal was to get a decent wave photo and a bird photo. Look at these iPhoto enhanced and cropped photos to see all I was able to get--I'm satisfied, for this time.

It looks like a pelican to me, flying south into the wind.

Yep, I got every bit of it back into the trunk!

And turned in the key at noon, on the dot. Then I took this photo from the office windows. At some point, I'd like to stay with the guys, their girlfriends, Mama and Duncan in the cottage, the top story one that has the tan SUV parked at the door, or the one you see on the right, with the brown door, if it's just Mama, Duncan and me.
Right after I left the key in the office, we headed back to make our exit at the north end of the parking lot so that I could get a clear shot of Cottage 232. That's it with the door open--the housekeeper didn't waste a moment going in to get to work, looks like. That round window was in the bathroom, and that's the chimney for the gas fireplace at the other end of the cottage. I slept near those two windows on the corner to the left of the door, on a twin bed straight across from that great big picture window in the living room and next to the fireplace. Mama, Duncan and Lucy slept in a bedroom diagonally across from my corner, with a pretty good-sized window overlooking the ocean.

A few miles north, on Highway 101, there's a public parking lot with access to the beach. We pulled in there so that I could take a few more photos and the gals could get one last look at the Pacific Ocean. First thing that caught my eye--an exuberant dog, digging sand at high speed which he had halted before I could get the camera ready! However, I like this shot of three different types loving a windy, cold, lightly rainy day at beach.

Next I shot several photos of the gulls enjoying a sort of inlet and/or the beach. I've cropped and/or enhanced these photos, with iPhoto. I hope they look OK. You certainly do get a feeling for the wind when you see those waves.





Notice the wind buffeting this bird's feathers? Is it a crow?


Before my hat flew off my head, I stuffed it into my coat and quickly walked back to the car. Our next stop, for 30 minutes, an antique mall on Highway 101 where Lucy and I took a quick look--Mama and Duncan waited in the car. Then we were off for Spirit Mountain and the penny machines! Look at the beautiful sight that greeted us as we pulled into the parking lot!

While we didn't win big, we did manage to hear some bells and whistles and see some flashing lights, including one of my favorite neon signs on Barbur Blvd.

A few minutes after taking this photo, I parked the Corolla in front of the Doug Fir. Inside at the bar, Lamont waited for us to join him. One of our Mississippi buds, Chris, works there so we got to see him, too. Plus the three of us split a couple orders of their crispy, tasty fish and chips before heading home to the apartment.

All told, our mini-vacation to the coast made each of us very, very happy.

ABC Wednesday - L is for loud and love and Lamont and Leland!

Yep, loud. And I loved it, every single second of the February show at Doug Fir on East Burnside. Loud. Loved it. Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

I first heard Grupo Fantasma in Jackson a couple of years ago at a Crossroads Film Festival after-party at Hal & Mal's, one of my favorite hometown places to listen to live music. Grupo Fantasma, as I found on their Web site, is a "band incorporating elements of funk, mambo, merengue, and cumbia." I don't know what cumbia is, but I recognize the rest of those nouns and know their infectious beat. From personal experience I have to say that it's impossible to be still when this band plays. Besides blasting away to a Latin beat, the crowd of musicians enjoyed themselves a whole lot, just like the crowd on the dance floor. That night I bought their two CDs and played them often enough that I could almost sing in Spanish, phonetically, of course, not understanding a single word, but lovin' it!

So, the Wednesday that I knew Mama would probably get to come home on Friday, I read in the Willamette Week (a local alternative newspaper) that Grupo Fantasma would be at Doug Fir the next Wednesday night. Ah, I quickly realized, Kay would be here to help with Mama's transition back to apartment-dweller, so maybe, just maybe, I could go to the show.

I grabbed my cellphone and called our friend Chris who tends bar at Doug Fir. He's from Jackson; we've known him for 25 years, since the guys were all in elementary school; he's now a Portlander, too, and I love him like a son. I asked him to please check to see if the show was sold out. Nope, it wasn't, and he said he'd see if he could get me on the list as his guest. Whooppee!

Naturally our sweet friend Kay thought it would be grand for me to go, that she and Mama and Duncan would be just fine, so the night of Feb. 20 I got on the #20 and rode right over the Willamette River, 30 blocks to certain, rhythmic fun!

Chris had called earlier to tell me that I was on the list, plus one. To join in the fun, Lamont figured that he would ride his bicycle over after his dinner shift at 3 Doors Down Cafe. What more could a mama ask of her first born son than he be her plus one at a live music show?

Having been to Doug Fir's downstairs show venue in the past when Chris was spinning records, I realized if I wanted to sit down, watch people and wait for the show, I'd best get there early. What I didn't realize was that some other group was opening--they were OK but I don't even remember their name. Some people danced which I think is always good for a band's morale when there's a dance floor right in front of 'em. I sort of chair-danced a little bit, but mostly I was saving my energy for what I knew was to come.

When Grupo Fantasma started playing, the dance floor filled right up, practically packed with people moving to the pulsating sound. I stood up right where I was and had a blast, groovin' to the music, watching the musicians, watching the dancers. During their second song, Lamont showed up, and we had ourselves a fine time. The band played for almost two wonderful hours. I took some photos, and I bought their newest CD and a T-shirt. Lamont walked me to the bus stop across the street, and soon I caught the #20 back to the apartment. It was such a great night that it didn't even rain!



Yep, it was loud, and I loved it, and I loved being there with Lamont. If Leland hadn't had to study for an exam, he'd have been right there with us. I believe I'll throw in lucky as my final L word 'cause I'm one lucky Mama.

If you're of a mind to, go to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for loads of other ABC Wednesday blogs! You'll need to look at the comments at her blog to find out who is participating this week.