Foggy morning commute, April 7, 2014

Once I crossed the street after stepping off the first of two vehicles which make up my morning commute, either two buses or a bus and a streetcar, I immediately realized I had to get my camera out of my backpack and take a few photos. Fog, the streetlights on the Burnside Bridge, the Big Pink disappearing into the fog, the neon Portland, Oregon, sign. All called out to me. Happy to have had the chance to take several photos before the streetcar arrived.



I took this photo as the streetcar slowly headed south on MLK--a split second opportunity.

Seen through the windshield, SE Belmont and SE 33rd

Portland, a wonderfully quirky city inhabited by wonderfully quirky people. One of the things I've believed since I first visited Portland is that this place is special for many reasons, not the least of which is that here you are openly allowed to be yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving from Portland, Oregon

I count my blessings, past and current. I count them every day. I thank the Lord for them every day.


I am thankful to live in Portland, Oregon, where I am with my two sons, where Mama and I thoroughly enjoyed the years between June, 2006, and January, 2011.

While I don't have actual photographs of all of the special people for whom I am thankful, I do have some, so I'm sharing them with you today, Thanksgiving Day 2011.


Mama and Duncan, Kailey and Ginger and Leland, Lamont--Christmas, 2008


My brother Howard, my sister-in-law Vanessa, my older son Lamont, my younger son Leland, his sweetheart Kailey, my friend-as-sister Kay, my friend-as-brother Milton, me, and my friend-as-daughter Casey--August, 2011.

Photos from our trip back home, October, 2009.

Lucy, our sweetheart-of-a-friend. Kay, Mama, Milton, and my beloved Aunt Baker who joined Mama and lots more loved ones in Heaven on April 17, 2011. Aunt Baker had given me a ride to meet Kay and Milton on I-20, eastbound, so that we could be on our way to Talladega for the fall NASCAR race. She and Mama rode on back to Aunt Baker's house where they had a good time together until I got back several days later. Then Mama and I flew back to Portland.


Good friends: Jamae, Libby, and Jean. Fran, Yvonne, and Janet.


Good friends: Barbara, Renee, and Libby. Eve, Rusty, and Peggy. Sorry, y'all, the rest of the photos I took that night are blurry--I was just too tickled to see everyone that I couldn't be still!

Portland, seen from the Aerial Tram

Looking north from the Aerial Tram, the Ross Island Bridge running east and west across the bottom of the photo, the Marquam Bridge curving north and south.


The Marquam Bridge--the upper deck is I-5 northbound, the lower deck is I-5 southbound.


The Ross Island Bridge goes over the Willamette River between southeast and southwest Portland. At the right edge of the photo, about a third of the way up from the bottom, you can see the Aerial Tram. I'm not sure if it is coming up or going down.


Looking pretty much northeast, you can see lots of southeast, northeast and north Portland. The bridges are, from right to left, Marquam, Hawthorne, Morrison, and Burnside.

My two sons, why I am a proud, happy mama.

On Saturday mornings, each son boulders at the newer location of The Circuit Bouldering Gym, 410 NE 17th Avenue. I walked over yesterday and took photos so that I could share them with y'all on Mother's Day. I won't pretend to understand the thought process and decision making that goes along with the strength, flexibility, and determination necessary for bouldering. I shall instead appreciate it.

I took lots of photos of both of them. Leland, my younger son, climbed first.

Looking up.


Heading up the wall.


Changing direction.


Hanging. Thinking.


This way?


Back to hanging.


Left it is.


Steady.


And ...


...up!


He's a good-lookin', strong man. I am so proud.


What is he looking for so intently?


Where will this motion take him?


Now we know. And he's already getting ready for his next move.


Concentration.


Looking to make sure his toe is placed correctly. He is climbing the problem/route with the blue tabs.


Reaching.


Precarious?


Left hand heading for the top. I expected him to crawl on up and go down some stairs that I couldn't see. Little did I know that this particular portion has no such way down.


You touch the top, of course, and begin to think about getting down.


Swiveling to place his right foot on the left side of his body. Gosh.


There's the hold for his foot! It's not on the blue tab, but I suppose it doesn't matter on the way down.


Inching his way down.


What a stretch!


Where is his foot going so quickly?


Getting closer.


Looks sort of like ballet on the wall to me. I doubt Leland would agree with my opinion.


A split-second change of position.


Let me assure you, he is not about to jump the rest of the way.


I wonder if looking down so much makes his neck hurt. I'll have to remember to ask him.


The last step?


Yes. He's down. Others are talking and pointing. Leland looks back up the wall where he's just climbed. Cool.


Now for Lamont, my older son. He started to the right of where Leland had climbed.


He's climbing the green tab route.


Heading up the wall.


Grabbing hold.


Stretching for the next foot hold.


Still stretching.


There it is, the foot hold he wanted to reach!


Where will he go next?


Ah. There he goes.


About this moment, I remember thinking, "I gave birth to a couple of Spider Men!"


Lamont reaches for the top with his right hand and moves his left foot off the hold.


He's a good lookin' strong man. I am so proud.


Heading down now?


Yep, heading down the wall.


He's a long-legged guy, this older son of mine. Long period. Takes after my Daddy's Daddy.


Not there yet.


He's made a decision on where to put his left foot.


He'snot holding on with his right knee, just his hands and feet!


Moving according to plan.


Still working on getting down the wall.


See what I mean about Spider Man?


Another deceptively small looking step.


He's close now.


And...


...he's down!