This Is Why I Love Oregon....

I have lived here for 17 years and I've never driven on the Old Columbia Highway. Well, it was such a beautiful day today that I decided it was about time that I did. I washed my car, made a little lunch, cranked up the tunes and headed out. It's amazing to me that such beauty lies so close to my home.

I went to the Vista House and all the waterfalls along the way. One of the little ones I even had all to myself. Of course, Multnomah Falls was quite crowded but it was still fun to go up on the bridge.

I'm a Dork...

"E" for Edward!

Ok, so I like teen romance novels...what's wrong with that??? I'm find them quite refreshing as a matter of fact. Thanks Laura for getting me hooked on the Twilight series. I think I want to become a vampire....yes, I'm for Team Edward. I quess you will just have to read the books if you have no idea what i'm talking about. Check them out: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html. I hope the movie is as great as the books.....

It was great fun to attend the book release of Breaking Dawn with my best buddies, Cindy and Kathy (so sad to not have Laura there). We wish we had brought Kathy's daughter, Madison, with us as cover, but there were actually quite a few women our age there (although most of them had daughters reading the books...)! I know it's sad...I'm reliving my youth!

Nice blogging with you all but I have to go....only 200 more page to go and I'll be done with Breaking Dawn..... :-(

Off to Camp...

Alex went off to camp today for the week. He really has a good time there and looks forward to going each year (I think it's just to get away from me). I sure wish I could go to camp...I never got to go when I was a kid. He'll be there with his good friend, George, but he always meets some "interesting" kids while he's there too. I miss him already!

Life is a Rollercoaster....

Aftershock was AWESOME!

Yes, I LOVE rollercoasters! After our raft trip, the boys and I drove to Silverwood Theme Park in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They have some great coasters and we rode them all (several times)! Not to mention the Water Park.....

You know how they say alcohol kills your brain cells and they never grow back? Well, I think rollercoasters do the same thing. I'm certain I suffered some permanent brain damage or maybe I'm just getting old????

The boys had a great time though and that made me happy :-)

Do you love rollercoasters????

Rafting on The Snake River in Hells Canyon!

Alex, Brandon (Alex's buddy) and I had an incredible time rafting for 3 days on The Snake River! We went with an amazing raft company called Hells Canyon Rafting. It was a first class operation with wonderful guides who took care of everything, waiting on us hand and foot. They spoiled us so much I'll never be able to go camping on my own again! They prepared us the most delicious meals in camp, with wine, guitar serenading and lots of laughs. There were also lots of fun people on the rafts with us and we all had a great time chatting, paddling and playing Catch Phrase (I HAVE to get that game now!). The canyon was absolutely breathtaking. The air was hot, hot, hot and the water refreshingly cool but not cold. We loved paddling through the rapids, "riding the bull", kicking back in the oar boat and kayaking. The boys had great fun trying to splash me. I will have a video later of me getting my revenge!

We went on some cool hikes too. One of them was was up a hill to "Suicide Point". I had a bit of vertigo but the boys loved it. We got to see many petroglyphs from the Nez Perce Indians too. Also, old cabins from homesteaders dating back to the early 1900's. It's amazing to think how they thrived down there in that canyon.

That is our gear boat way down there! What a view it was at the top!

We had awesome campsites both nights and check out the our "bathroom"! Privacy and a view!

We had so much fun and I think I will want to go back next summer! Check out my web album for more pictures....

I've been tagged!

This is the first time I have played a Blog Game. I was tagged by Laura, Cindy & Richard. I guess I tag Kelli since these are all the people that I know that blog!

1. My hometown - I would have to say Encinitas, California, where I grew up.
2. Favorite hobby - Is drinking wine considered a hobby??? Let's call it wine TASTING!

3. Favorite vehicle - I think that would have to be the car I have now, Mercedes CLS 550! I LOVE to drive it!

4. Dream career - Hmmmmm....work? Not too sure I really want to do that but if I HAD too I guess it would be something in the travel industry? Tour Operator? Adventure Travel?
I might be able to do a job like that. Now if we are talking FANTASY career...that would have to be A Dancer (NEVER can happen!) Yeah! Maybe I could be on Dancing With The Stars! I wouldn't mind that job!

5. Favorite restaurant - DaVincis is my favorite as we have been going there for 16 years now and have celebrated so many special occasions in their cozy atmosphere.

6. Favorite guilty pleasure - The Showtime show "Weeds" - it's SO WRONG sometimes but it makes me laugh! Oh, wait, "The Tudors" may have to be on that list too!

Yummy!
7. Favorite flower - OK, well, it's clear why Cindy and I are such good friends - we're both Virgo's, we both love Stargazers and purple is both of our favorite color!

8. Favorite color - While I happen to be on a lime green kick these days, purple will be my all time favorite color.
9. Favorite vacation spot - MAUI!!!!It's the perfect place for all that I love: beaches, sun, ocean, mountains, food and fun!

Cruising...

Ok, I have to admit I do wish I was there right now....this is a picture of Cook's Bay on Moorea taken by our new friends on S/V Destiny. The days on the boat that are like this are absolutely wonderful. However, it's the days when the generator is broken, or the watermaker won't work or the anchor won't hold that I just can't seem to handle. I

know, I admit it, I'm a fair-weathered sailor. Period.
Joe has been having all these mechanical problems of late and is frustrated. He has some new crew coming on board today and hopefully the boat will take a break from breaking and they can get some cruising in!