Under a Red Roof

The Campaign Begins

October 11, 2010 in Admiring, Cooking + Baking, Exploring, Watching by Colleen | 8 comments

Good Morning Gentle Readers! Good Morning Jimmy Fallon (I hope)!

This post started out as something completely different. A dear friend of mine lost her father recently (big hug to you, sweetheart) and wrote how she would love to hear about more normal activities, as she is knee deep in all of the tasks inherent with the loss of a loved one: cleaning house, dealing with banks, bills, a will, etc. When I first read the message, I could comply. I was up to my usual.

Then, yadda, yadda, yadda, I quit my job and our car got stolen (though, thankfully, not on the same day). Not fun or normal. Yet, in the midst of it all, I found myself smiling and laughing, in part because of Jimmy Fallon. In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, I mentioned his awesome work hosting the Emmy Awards a while back. Then I saw him, along with Justin Timberlake and the best house band in late night television, The Roots, do an equally awesome history of rap on his show. I watched it on a loop for about half an hour, and then dashed off to the computer whenever I needed a pick-me-up. It made my heart fill with glee, people! I was dazzled and singing at the top of my voice (that is, where I could keep up).

Then I got to thinking about how that seems to happen every time I watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It’s just a terrific show. I love his style (check out the suit and shoes in the video with Justin – tip top!), his sense of humor and easy laughter, the way his smile lights up his face, his sincere interest in his guests, and most of all, I think, the sheer fun factor of the show. He’s fearless and up for anything. Let’s rap! Let’s play football poker! Let’s get bothered in a tree! LATE!

It made me want to be there, as a guest, sharing a laugh and a smile. But I’m not famous. I’ve written a novel that has yet to have representation and write a little blog all the way across the country. What to do? It being election season and all, I decided to launch my own campaign to be a guest on the show. This week begins with my credentials in the everyday, and the two following Mondays will be, let’s say, more nuanced.

I guess I’ve really taken the Mark Twain quotation from my last post to heart. I may succeed, or I may crash and burn, but hot damn, I’m out of the harbor! As well, I know the video isn’t the best quality (sorry Brian Williams), and our cat Milo speaks before I do, but I had a grand time making it – a blast of silliness and sheer Colleen style goofiness. It took the sting out of a craptastic week and put a smile on my face (and that of my hubster/camera man). Jimmy, I hope you like it, too!

Happy Birthday to my brother Aaron!

Tags: Jimmy Fallon

Portland Hill Walks: No. 16

October 4, 2010 in Exploring by Colleen | 3 comments

What a great way to begin. Do-si-do.

We actually completed this walk weeks ago, but this is the first I’ve gotten around to bringing the photos to you. We were rather excited about this one, as it is pretty much our stomping grounds, Mt. Tabor and the surrounding neighborhoods. What’s more, and I suppose, usual, is that we learned much that we didn’t know and walked streets we hadn’t seen. Sure, we knew they were there, houses sprinkled in the distance of more familiar routes, sometimes daily ones, but it was such a treat to actually walk among them and marvel that there could be so many gems so close yet so hidden to us for the past twelve years.

I think that’s what the hubster and I like most about these books. They give us the opportunity to take our blinders off. So much of our lives are lived up close and with great convenience, speed, and efficiency in mind. We don’t often give ourselves the time to take the long way home, make a “wrong” turn, or just plain wander. Yet the rewards of doing so are plentiful and fine – gorgeous flowers, great views, and new four legged friends among the few.

Tags: Oregon, Portland

The Many Jewels of Opal Creek

September 29, 2010 in Admiring, Eating, Exploring, Traveling by Colleen | 4 comments

Glittering diamonds of dew; emerald leaves, needles, and moss; ripe ruby huckleberries; opalescent water and stone under a brilliant lapis lazuli sky. These are the many jewels of Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, Mother Nature’s living, breathing cathedral of earth, water, sometimes fire, and air. Despite their glimmering and pristine character, they hardly encompass the magic and wonder of this truly special place.

As I am one who sees the beauty, power, and resilience of the natural world wherever I go, urban and rural settings alike, I thought I knew what to expect at the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center – a grand place of primal waters and trees older than the nation I call home. After all, I’ve been to myriad forests and seen the majesty of trees towering above me. I’ve witnessed the scrappy plant proudly blossoming from a tiny crack in the sidewalk. I’ve seen water of such blindingly brilliant hues as to leave me speechless. Despite all of this, I was wholly unprepared for my experience at Opal Creek. The beauty and peace I felt was staggering and resonated deep in my bones. Every step, glance, and sound steeped in the sublime.

It all starts with the journey, literally and figuratively. We load the car here at home, drive south through the cacophony of morning rush hour before turning east. Already there is a shift. There are fewer cars, more trees, large stands of oaks peppered between farms, shopping centers, and even a prison. The landscape changes again as we make gains in elevation, and the grassy knolls turn into vast stands of evergreens. Their clean scent mingles with the dust of the dirt road under our wheels. We park the car, but we aren’t quite to the end of our journey. We walk three miles out of time. It could be the 1930’s of rustic wood cabins, gold panning, starlit skies, and cast iron. And in those places where there is no sound save the chirp of a camouflaged bird or the drip of of a watercourse borne of centuries, we might just be in America before it was, two nameless faces living off the land.

Tags: Oregon, Traveling

Oregon State Fair

September 8, 2010 in Exploring, Loving by Colleen | 3 comments

1955 Buick:

Chevrolet:

1957

1968 Camaro

I’m pretty sure the Walton’s drove this truck –

Ford:

1955

I can’t remember the year (1940-ish?), but how about the beautiful chrome?

1962 Falcon. A friend of mine drove one in high school. Complete with backfires and a muffler that occasionally dragged and threw up wild sparks, hers was much less glam.

Packard:

1932

Ostentatious

Yet, utterly and completely perfect.

1940 Pontiac

Tractors!

Sweet Bunny Love:

Baby Goat

Are you talking to me?

A wee family of mice made from potatoes, carrots, chives, cloves, and beans.

Mark with Segovia the Llama

Ahh, the State Fair. I would love to kiss the person who invented the institution, for there are few activities that I enjoy more. It’s a magical combination of earth, animals, food, and gaiety, all that is important and essential in life in one place. My spirits cannot help but be buoyed and soothed, despite the crowds and lively organized chaos of it all.

Though Willie didn’t make an appearance this year, it was no less splendid for these two urbanites, as there was so much to occupy the hours. First on the list, food, and more specifically deep fried. For it isn’t a true fair experience without the hiss and splatter of hot oil, indeed. We had corn dogs and a giant elephant ear, though it wasn’t THE giant. How people manage that one, I cannot fathom. Then there was a heavenly smoked barbecued sandwich, accompanied by sweet spicy beans and tangy slaw. We topped it all off with cheesy kettle corn and the soothing quiet necessary from over stimulation. People! Cars! Rides! Food! People! Quilts! Crafts! Animals! People!

As usual, 4-H was the highlight for us. There is something very special about these kids. Fearless, patient, proud, and so down to earth, I could talk to them about living on a farm, raising animals, and life in general all day (though I know better – they have work to do!). Which brings me to this last photo. Mark and his sister Suzie (I wish I had a photo of her – she’s got lashes to rival any llama!) are the children of friends we’ve known since first moving to Oregon. They epitomize everything I love about 4-H. They are whip smart, highly interested and educated, and never seem to tire of ignorant city slickers like me asking all kinds of questions, smiling and laughing even, taking everything in stride. Like when Segovia decided during the middle of the obstacle course that it was time to take care of business, number one and two, Mark patiently waited, never ruffling – calm, cool, collected until the job was done. Gotta love that – and the fair!

Tags: Oregon

More Reasons to Love This Town

July 28, 2010 in Eating, Exploring by Colleen | 3 comments

Singing the theme song. And no, she is not being beamed away in the process – just an ill placed light pole.

Two great minds that go great together (like Reese’s!).

Spock and Uhura

Khan!

Those compression chambers get me every time.

A preview of next season…

Awesome Portlanders!

Dang it, Portland, you are awesome, really. Filled with fine sights, lovely weather, a love for the environment, and that sometimes zany creative spirit, I can’t think of a finer place for this red roofed writer to call home.

Take, for instance, this past weekend. The hubster and I had a fine outing to North Portland (NoPo if you are so inclined – I am not) for a play-like production of an episode of Star Trek, “Space Seed” to be precise. First, I just love that a group of people would think to do this – a live production of an iconic television show, why not? Second, to be supported by such masses of people, Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike (peace and harmony!), that there was scarcely a place to sit within earshot after we arrived (90 minutes before showtime, I might add). Seriously, how cool is that?!

Anyhoo, it was a grand time, and though the set was rather simple, it was better than alright: the singing of the theme song, the sound effects, the witty repartee, and, of course, Captain Kirk battling with Khan(!). Called Trek in the Park and put on by Atomic Arts, it is word for word, blow by blow, and laugh for laugh accurate. I never thought it could be so fun!

We followed our adventure with a stop at one of our world famous food cart restaurants (Portland is ranked number ONE in the world for street food according to Budget Travel). A place I’d been wanting to try for ages, it didn’t disappoint. A perfect end to a terrific day, but I won’t spoil it with too many words. I’ll let the pictures do the majority of the talking…