Chemo Round One, Day 4: Flugtag came back to Portland today. I stayed home, but in 2008, I had a blast at the event!

The anti-nausea meds continue to work! Hallelujah! The main chemo side effect I'm dealing with--peripheral neuropathy which is nerve pain. And how!

From mid-thigh down, my legs have been humming since yesterday at 3:30 p.m.--that's the only way I can describe it, underneath the skin it feels like tissues are vibrating slightly, thus I decided the word humming fits. Plus my knees and sometimes my ankles have ached and have not wanted to be stretched out on the recliner or on the bed, so I've stood up and walked around. I did manage to sleep some in both places during the night, after I took some Tylenol. Off and on today, the humming and the aching waxed and waned--thank goodness. Those times of steady humming are not any fun, period.

Another thing that peripheral neuropathy causes is stumbling and balance problems while walking. This has happened enough that I noticed it as I made my way around the apartment, so I decided not to walk in the hallway today--no reason to tempt fate, right? No falls or trips in here--I am blessed. Plus, although I have felt tingles and twinges in my hands, they've been few and far between.

One more good thing, I now only have to take anti-nausea meds as needed, so that means less chemicals entering my body. That's got to be a good sign!



Today's event, covered by all of the local TV stations, evidently drew too many boats to the river to watch, so that the Coast Guard withdrew the event's permit at 4 p.m. The waterways have to be clear for commercial traffic, I think one station mentioned. Anyway, here's a photo that I took of a giant Big Wheel when I went in 2008 and stayed for hours and hours of crazy entertainment.



Here it is as it hit the water. I cannot tell for sure from subsequent photos, but I'm pretty certain that not only did the pilot (the guy on the Big Wheel itself) and the buy you see jumping off in this photo but also those other two in khaki and black jumped into the river. I don't have them jumping or on the way down, but they're not standing with the media crew, so since they were done pushing their Big Wheel off the edge, surely they all three jumped. Crazy folks having fun in Portland. I'll bet that went on today and the fact that the Coast Guard shut down the boaters watching didn't stop the competition from completion. One TV station said that Red Bull will release the results on Twitter.

Here's some info on the event itself, in case you're wanting to understand why anyone would want to get in a crowd of 80,000 people like I did in 2008 and watch folks jump, well, try to fly, off a platform into the Willamette River.

Why You Should Go

Red Bull Flugtag (“flying day” in German) has taken place worldwide for 23 years, entertaining more than 500,000 people annually. Teams of five from across the U.S. can submit a creative concept at redbullflugtagusa.com and if selected begin building their human-powered flying machines. Come August 1, 2015, they will push their crafts off of a 28-foot-high deck into the Willamette River in an attempt to break the world record of 258 ft. Participants will be judged on distance, creativity and showmanship.

Portland is the only U.S. Red Bull Flugtag taking place in 2015. A truly city-stopping moment, Tom McCall Waterfront Park has been filled with up to 80,000 spectators in previous year’s Red Bull Flugtag events. The fun packed event will let the wackiest and most daring participants from across the U.S. make a splash into the Willamette and attempt to break the current 258 ft. world record set in Long Beach in 2013.

Insider’s Secret

Anyone can apply to fly in the competition! Past applicants have used inspiration such as their favorite food, pop culture, technology, and mythology, and have even attempted to drum up hometown support with crafts based on colleges, sports teams, and other elements that their city is famous for – all in the name of testing gravity’s limits for the public’s entertainment.

Your Wallet Says Free to apply and free to attend!

Saturday, August 9, 2008 - and more also flew

Team B.A.M.F. is next. Hey, don't get on me--that's the team name for real. That propeller really turned--neat!


The pilot made a hard landing, and loads of safety personnel swarmed to the site.


Here you see him headed for the pier. I never heard any other news about him, so I hope he's A-OK.


HOME HANGAR: Silverdale, WA
PILOT: Baraka Poulin
FLIGHT CREW: Chris Arend, Emily Arend, David Shamrell, Sondra Tripp

ITINERARY: “The inspiration for our Flying Day aircraft is the P51 Mustang from World War II,” says Chris Arend, captain of a team from Silverdale, Washington. “It’s a beautiful plane, and we think that it will be amazing to create a scale replica – especially if it flies!” The members of Team B.A.M.F., while using an acronym that is distinctly modern (you figure it out), will otherwise be evoking an earlier era: the time of victory gardens, Rosie the Riveter, and a sleek, single-seat fighter aircraft that helped to foil Hitler’s plans for global domination.

Graduates from Gonzaga’s mechanical engineering program, Baraka, Chris, and David appreciate fine design, and they are “eighty-five percent sure” that their homemade model will score some decent hang time. Meanwhile, Emily and Sondra (a pastry chef and a musician/novelist, respectively) are bringing their creative skills into play to make the entry’s presentation as authentic and entertaining as possible. “We decided to compete in Flugtag on a whim, but now that we’re in it, we’re all over it,” Chris comments. “Our design is a classic – many people are fond of the P51 for its historical significance – and our skit will be classy and cool at the same time. We think it will get some good points!”

Team Oregon or Bust--you've gotta read how they came up with their team name--it's a hoot!


One of these guys might be the one who did the back flip off the deck. I just can't remember, but I seem to remember someone tall headed for that floating wooden framework, all of a sudden. And the crowd of 80,000 collectively gasped.

HOME HANGAR: Bend, OR
PILOT: Christopher Rosch
FLIGHT CREW: Kyle Dover, Robby Marshall, Kevin Mozingo, Pat Tyvand

ITINERARY: "We grew up in the same neighborhood and have been friends since day one, almost fifteen years ago," says Bend's Chris Rosch, captain of Team Oregon or Bust. "We're five guys who went to the same middle school, high school, and college and have spent our lives riding things – sleds, bikes, or whatever – on tow ropes behind cars, off bridges, and into porta-potties." Lost in nostalgia, he cracks a smile, "We also spent our lives in love with our friends’ mom. I'm not at liberty to say who, but the bet is still on."

As Chris and his Bend bros Kyle Dover, Robby Marshall, Kevin Mozingo, and Pat Tyvand build their flier on the sun-dappled shores of the Deschutes River, they explain the team's name. "OREGON: for lucid water that rivers off the only mountain in the world with year-round snow riding, for making shoes with waffle irons, and for the Fosbury Flop." They go on, "OR: because it's the postal abbreviation of Oregon," and finish poetically, "BUST: for the unlucky folks who fall short – like Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark expedition into Oregon Territory, who learned that you can kill many things, namely buffalo, with a gun; but not appendicitis." There's a brief pause before Chris finishes the rhapsody, "Also, for being a synonym of cleavage."

Team Chinese Take-Out used the Kung Fu fighting song in their skit.




Then someone called to make a take-out order, on the giant phone.


So, the driver took off to make the delivery.

HOME HANGAR: Burien, WA
PILOT: Jesse Lenihan
FLIGHT CREW: Amy Codd, Tony Codd, Steve Cogdill, Eric Freytag

ITINERARY: “We met over some delicious Chinese take-out,” says Tony Codd of his Red Bull Flugtag Portland team. “We were all eating in the parking lot of P.F. Chang’s when we realized that we were probably soulmates, or at least meant to be friends – really good Chinese take-out friends.” Tony claims that the Seattle-area crew was already building a glider shaped like a carry-out box when they serendipitously heard about the Flying Day competition and realized they should enter.

When they’re not trying to figure out the best flying feng shui for their crazy carton, Tony and Amy Codd, Steve Cogdill, Jesse Lenihan, and Eric Freytag attend school (North Seattle Community College and Highline Community College), practice karate (Steve has his yellow belt), and work at jobs in fields ranging from construction to pulling espresso. And, of course, all of them practice their chopstick skills on a daily basis. At the big event on August 2, their skit will be based on that benchmark of civilized society, Chinese food take-out and delivery. “Someone will call in a take-out order from a giant telephone while the other four of us are practicing kung fu onstage,” explains Tony, the team’s captain. “The order will be delivered by our glider.” Perfectly deadpan, he adds, “The music will probably be something Mexican.”

Team Kells Irish danced and then flew.



HOME HANGAR: Portland, OR
PILOT: Jessica Gilrein
FLIGHT CREW: Jake Flynn, Chris Harrison, Brooks Masiba, Mike McGinty

ITINERARY: Kells Irish Pub in Portland is rated the Number 1 Irish Restaurant and Pub in the nation. Besides awesome food and drink, Kells offers live Irish music nightly, and each March people travel from far and wide to attend the Kells Portland Irish Festival, a multi-day event that raises thousands of dollars for charity. With many long months until next St. Patrick’s Day, however, it seems that Kells employees Jake Flynn, Jessica Gilrein, Chris Harrison, Brooks Masiba, and Mike McGinty just couldn’t wait for another Irish party, so they’re bringing the high spirits of the Emerald Isle to Red Bull Flugtag Portland.

“Our inspiration was 75 percent Guinness, 24 percent whiskey, and 1 percent sheer stupidity,” laughs Mike, the team captain. ”As to what our craft will be constructed of – I can’t say at this time. But I can tell you that we will bless it with the tears of our opponents.” (Aye, there’s a good lad.) While the team’s construction materials are confidential, their blueprint is not: they’re going to launch a pot of gold crowned with a four-leaf-clover wing. It’s all about luck, in other words. And, Mike says, with the luck of the Irish this team isn’t worried about spanning the Willamette – they’re wondering if they can clear Mount Hood.

Friday, August 8, 2008 - more also flews

Team Pink Viking jumps with wild abandon. One of them is upside down!


How about these hats? The horns stayed on!


HOME HANGAR: Portland, OR
PILOT: Amanda Knoedler
FLIGHT CREW: Brian Billiter, Chris Combs (off-deck support), Scott Dixon (off-deck support), Seth Henderson, Josh Johnston, Scott Petersen

ITINERARY: Anyone who’s ever watched rugby knows that rugby players are tough. Unstoppable. Oblivious to pain, cauliflower ears, and random jokes about what it means to be part of a “scrum.” In Portland, a special breed who appreciate rugby hang out at North 45 Pub to watch OSU matches – and plan their Flugtag victory.

“The construction of our aircraft, the Pink Viking, is an elaborate process that we’re taking one pint at a time,” says Josh Johnston, the owner of North 45 and captain of the Pink Viking team. Inspired by a legendary culture whose reputation is as fearsome as that of any menacing rugby pack, Josh and teammates Brian Billiter, Chris Combs, Scott Dixon, Seth Henderson, Amanda Knoedler, and Scott Petersen are building a replica of a Viking drakkar, or dragon ship. “Pink Viking’s version of the drakkar will be made of canvas, pipe, and a giant pink hang glider fastened atop as our sail,” Josh explains. Supported by pounding drums and chanting spectators, the Pink Viking teammates will throw down a presentation evoking “The Haka” – an intimidating Maori-inspired war dance that the dreaded New Zealand All Blacks rugby team performs before every international contest. Josh vows, “Pink Viking will definitely give the crowd something they’ve never seen before.”

Team Chips 'n' Dips stirred up a treat for the crowd.


The pilot gets situated in the dip bowl.


Love this huge chip!


The chips and dip heads for the drink.


This makes me think of the Flying Burrito Brothers.

HOME HANGAR: Seattle, WA
PILOT: Kees Beemster Leverenz
FLIGHT CREW: Shane Boland, Riley MacPhee, Will Pigott, Will Sweeney-Samuelson

ITINERARY: Are Shane Boland, Kees Beemster Leverenz, Riley MacPhee, Will Pigott, and Will Sweeney-Samuelson mind-blowing philosophers, or just a bunch of dips? No fair peeking at the name of their entry – listen and judge for yourself: “Flugtag is a chance for a generation inundated with media and life-made-easy electronics to step back and think for ourselves, creating a tangible expression of our ingenuity and determination,” says Beemster Leverenz, as Pigott chimes in, “It’s an opportunity to dream, and maybe even fly.” Riffing on that motif, Boland expounds, “We have imaginations that soar like mighty falcons above a calculating world full of naysayers and accountants – our craft will be fueled by our limitless yearning for glory and buoyed by our incomparable optimism.” Sweeney-Samuelson nods, “When you can tap into the cosmic ether and harness the sparkle of the stars, you have little to fear from terrestrial competition.”

Although these visionaries now spend the school year at colleges from coast to coast, they all grew up together in Seattle. The concept for their “Tortilla Chip Air Ship” was born from the heretofore unexplored aerodynamic possibilities of processed corn products – and growing young men’s preoccupation with between-meal snacks. “We’ve already got a salsa suit for our pilot,” states MacPhee. “On August 2, we’ll hope for a good headwind and let the chips fall where they may.”

Here's something totally unique, Team Naugahyde Numskulls.


The edge of the flight deck beckons. Wait. What's that dangling from the craft?


It's a stowaway! See what I mean about finding neat stuff when I crop these photos?


She got a ride to the pier, just like a real team member.


HOME HANGAR: Portland, OR
PILOT: Kris Roberts
FLIGHT CREW: Mark Adams, Lisa Angst, Scott Henriksen, Matt Huntley

ITINERARY: The Naugahyde Numskulls have a unique Flugtag strategy: "In a word, it's Geekosity," explains Matt Huntley, a Portland-area computer engineer and special effects artiste. "The shared impairment of the voting audience," hazards Mark Adams, a local government bean-counter. Finally, a telemarketer with a name that's all too appropriate for membership in this oddball group – Lisa Angst – sums up, "We're counting on sympathy votes." Joined by chemistry manager Scott Henriksen and production-manager/theater-student Kris Roberts, they're going to be putting the "Imp" in Impaired, the "eek" in Geekitude, and their dignity in the Willamette by bringing the WoW factor to Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
These teammates will be “honoring” the World of Warcraft, a multiplayer game set in a fantasy universe, where players can be lord of their domain without ever leaving their mom's basement. And why not? Sure, WoW is the kind of activity that sentient beings admit to only in the anonymity of dimly lit chatrooms; but there are millions of players out there, people. Millions. Can a fan base larger than the entire population of Oregon be wrong? Just in case there are any haters in the audience, though, the Naugahyde Numskulls are stacking their deck with an asset that will appeal to everyone with a love for the absurd: an interpretive dance tribute to the YouTube/WoW greatest musical hits.

PDX Flyers came from the Port of Portland which owns and operates four area airports.


Are those fairy wings on one of the team members, there at the edge of the flight deck?


Every team member made a successful landing in the Willamette.

HOME HANGAR: Portland, OR
PILOT: Steve Koester
FLIGHT CREW: Ava Frank, Walt Haynes, Melissa Porter (off-deck captain), Jenna Smith, Josh Thomas

ITINERARY: “We speak the international language of flight,” says captain Melissa Porter of her Flugtag team. The “PDX Flyers,” as they’re calling themselves, are all employees of the Port of Portland, which owns and operates four airports. The Port’s motto is “Possibility in every direction,” and Flying Day teammates Ava Frank, Walt Haynes, Steve Koester, Jenna Smith, and Josh Thomas (supported by Melissa and a number of other employees behind the scenes) feel that they have more than just the “possibility” of flying into fame. “We represent both the aviation and marine sides of the port – that means we have expertise in both the air and the water, which is perfect for this event,” explains Steve, who will man the controls of the group’s human-powered craft. He goes on, “Many of us are actual airplane pilots.”

With the team members’ collective know-how, they thought it only fitting to construct an airplane-shaped flying machine, which they’re building using PVC, vinyl, recycled carpet tubes, and “random odds and ends.” They’ve also recruited a local musician to compose a song for their skit. When asked if all this preparation will result in actual flight, Melissa grins and states, “YES! We are totally betting on it. But in the case of a water landing, the seat cushion can be used as a floatation device.”

Yep, one team really did go bananas at the competition!





HOME HANGAR: Beaverton, OR
PILOT: Sean Devlin
FLIGHT CREW: Will Cahoe, Ceci Estraviz, Lauren Macey, Sean O’Hollaren

ITINERARY: You can’t help but love some Red Bull Flugtag Portland teams. Take the Banana Bonanza crew from Beaverton – they’re just naturally apeeling. Will Cahoe, Sean Devlin, Ceci Estraviz, Lauren Macey, and Sean O’Hollaren recently graduated from high school, and they’re a tight bunch. Sure, they’re a little green – but what they lack in experience, they make up for with enthusiasm. “Ceci got a banana costume for Halloween and needs to get more use out of it!” says Devlin, the team’s pilot. “We all wanted to get one, too!” It’s clear these teenagers have soft spots for one another, so why shouldn’t they spend their last summer before college building a banana boat that really is a boat made of bananas?

Of course, they see it as an aircraft. “When the time is ripe,” Devlin explains, “we’ll present our Banana Bonanza to the Flugtag faithful and weigh in with a flight that will be unforgettable no matter how you slice it.” The 18-year-old acknowledges that the 30-foot vertical drop from the flight deck has been a hot tropic – make that topic – among his teammates; but they’re not yellow, and they don’t plan to slip up. “We may be young, but our courage won’t dessert us,” Sean states. “We know it’s a jungle out there.”

Thursday, August 7, 2008 - Two of the also flew, in all their creative craziness

I have to say that I'm sticking with the Red Bull Flugtag photos because I keep discovering fun stuff when I crop and get a good look. And I keep getting a comment or two from various team members. It's really exciting, to know that they're enjoying the photos. Now, the first of I-don't-have-a-clue-how-many-I'll-post-also-flews!

Here's the AC Rockers and their giant chopper.


Look at the lady at the helm of the flying chopper. She's intense!


HOME HANGAR: Portland, OR
PILOT: Natalie Shirm
FLIGHT CREW: Jesse Donahue, Jeremy Kleine, Nolan Lougheed, Brad Robinson

ITINERARY: You never know what will happen at Portland's American Cowgirls Bar & Grill. From karaoke being sung and records being spun to league poker, there's something for everyone. It’s a rad scene, and it gets even better: On August 2, AC staffers Jesse Donahue, Jeremy Kleine, Nolan Lougheed, Brad Robinson, and Natalie Shirm will bring the good times right to Tom McCall
Waterfront Park in the guise of the "AC Rockers."

"This is an opportunity to spend quality time together creating a craft of love," says Natalie, a 23-year-old (and, for the record, fabulously hot) bartender. She bats her eyes sweetly before breaking into a giggle, "Just kidding! We want to get crazy and push our bad-ass craft off a 30-foot drop!" Actually, Natalie will be the one getting pushed. The teammates love motorcycles, so they're building a custom chopper out of PVC, wood, chicken wire, and papier-mâché. With Natalie hanging on for dear life, the four moto-men of the crew will launch their bike into the skies, supported by a cheering contingent of employees and customers. As always, AC's rockin' music will enhance the experience: the team will be blasting Mötley Crüe's "Girls, Girls, Girls."

Now for the second also-flew, today.

What child, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece--you get the idea--among us hasn't either played with Legos or given Legos as a gift or looked for teensy, tiny Lego parts? This entry brought back vivid memories for me.

Aren't these Lego suits fantastic? What a lot of foam rubber! At least that's what I surmise it is. I can't remember if these guys are supposed to be drinking Red Bull out of their mugs or not. I do remember that the team name is Lego My Red Bull.


I wish I could remember the music that went with their skit. I know--my memory's pitiful--but I do remember having a good time.


Look! The white Lego guy's yellow head hit the deck!


As four team members pushed their craft towards the end of the flight deck, it became obvious that each of them had removed their heads, except for the pilot. "I believe it's best that he kept his head, don't you?" she asked, tongue firmly planted in cheek.




You can see the Sheriff's deputy giving three team members a lift on the raft attached to the Sea-Doo. This photo and the next one show you a bit of the armada of boats on site for the fun.


And two more team members here, behind the other deputy's Sea-doo.


Lego guys come ashore in the next few photos, thanks to diligent helpers.


How about the Canada geese? Every time I looked that direction, there they were, right in the middle of things.






HOME HANGAR: Portland, OR
PILOT: David Oppliger
FLIGHT CREW: Ross Baechle, Justin Braund, Troy Keely, Jefferson Vowell

ITINERARY: At Red Bull Flugtag Tempe, David Oppliger captained a posse of plumbers to toss a titanic toilet into the Arizona air space. Flush with excitement after the experience, David vowed that someday he’d Flug again; and having relocated to Oregon, he jumped on the chance to enter this year’s Portland event.

This time he’s dropping the juvenile bathroom humor and instead going with something that’s simply juvenile. David and his buddies Ross Baechle, Justin Braund, Troy Keely, and Jefferson Vowell will toy with the concept of human-powered flight by dressing up like Lego people and launching a giant Lego-style aircraft. David points out that Lego is the most popular toy in the world, and this group has the talent to make their plastic plane look great. Three of the teammates work with their hands every day – David and Justin are pipefitters, while Troy is a cabinet maker. Meanwhile, Jefferson is in marketing, so while he may not know how to draw a blueprint, he does know how to work the angles of the crowd. Finally, Ross is an EMT, and, David notes pragmatically, “that’s a good kind of person to have on hand when you’re launching 30 feet above the water on a craft made of plastic bricks.”

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - ABC Wednesday, C is for Choice

As in the Red Bull Flugtag Peoples' Choice Award winner, Team Space Balls, here before your very eyes! They got 6700 votes, by text message.

I have to admit if I were a text-messenger, this way cool Winnebago would have gotten my vote, too!


Mama got a big kick out of this entry, especially since it reminded her of the 1987 Winnebago that she and Daddy had, right down to the shape of its nose and the color, too. Their actually Winnebago was a 33-footer, she told me just now. I couldn't remember that statistic, but I can say that I agree with her--the similarities are uncanny.


There's Princess Vespa, playing to the crowd during their skit. Dark Helmet and Lone Star duel while Barf looks on from the front of the Winnebago.


I'm particularly impressed with the streaks of white paint on the black windows which lend an air of realism to the craft. How about those windshield wipers, too?




See Pizza the Hut, the fifth member of Team Space Balls, running to catch up with the others as they push the flying W towards the end of the flight deck?


It's off! Hilarious fun for everyone!

Here's a crowd shot from Red Bull USA--80,000 came to Flugtag.


HOME HANGAR: Everett, WA
PILOT: Matt Solie
FLIGHT CREW: Wayne Akana, Takaichi Aoki, Seth Cardon, Chris Carlson, Pierre Chambion, Marylou Collins, Hiromi Imai-Dellario, Stephanie Lightbody, Brian Mann, Michele Mislang, Maya Okano, Natalie Saez, Dave Smolinsky

ITINERARY: “Our inspiration comes from the movie ‘Spaceballs,’” says Matt Solie, captain of the eponymous Red Bull Flugtag team. “Being that we work at an aircraft interior manufacturing company, this will be one pimped-out flying Winnebago!” Matt is employed by Jamco America in Everett, Washington, and the co-workers who appear with him on the flight deck this August 2 (Chris Carlson, Stephanie Lightbody, Brian Mann, and Michele Mislang) will be representing a larger, multicultural contingent of employees who are helping to build the funny flyer.

While it’s true that the group is constructing their craft on the Jamco manufacturing floor (after business hours), fellow competitors shouldn’t worry too much. These teammates realize just how unlikely it is to fly any handmade aircraft lacking mechanical propulsion, let alone a boxy recreational vehicle. A master of statistics, Matt enumerates, “The budget for the movie ‘Spaceballs’ was estimated at $22,700,000. Our budget is a handful of screws, old airplane parts, and whatever we can gather at the company bake sale. We’re just looking to have fun and show the crowd a good time.” He evaluates the entry’s chances like this: “Your odds of being killed in a tornado are 1 in 2 million; and the odds of our flying over the river are about the same.”