I got back from Portland nearly a week ago but I have been sick since I got home. Seemingly everybody knew that it is common to catch a bug from the recycled air on a 'plane yet nobody thought to mention it until I was already sick. I suppose that getting ill after a flight is a "flew" bug?

Portland is beautiful and I feel like I didn't get to spend nearly enough time there, all the more so because of how much I enjoyed being with the pink squid thing. The tree-lined streets are so soft and soothing that I regret not having taken any pictures of them. In fact I hardly took any pics at all. I attribute this mostly to being so bowled over by the pink squid thing that I could think of nothing so mundane as holiday snaps. All of her friends were totally spiffy too.

We went to the Oregon Zoo and saw the three-week-old baby elephant and many other critters that I did not photograph except for this lazy lazy hippo:



elleseven is so sweet that she can tempt the birds down from their lofty perches



Failing that, she can use her tree-climbing skills to join them



After that, where better for refreshments than the puntabulous AfriCafe?


See how my tubby little belly protrudes?

There was also a visit to the Japanese Garden.

The austerity of the Stone Garden



The view overlooking Portland



Spoiled by an asshole in-shot


The serenity of the Zen Garden



The Koi Pond



I also discovered that I like taquitos, my eggs over medium and dark chocolate covered pretzels. I love sourdough. Mmmmmmmm

We also spent a few days in Pendleton once the world famous Round Up was over.


Main Street, Pendleton

I made friends with Ruca the sweet but crazy little cat.


So much so that she was soon falling asleep with her head on my arm and drooling on me then showing her true acceptance by sticking her butt in my face.

There was a baptism of fire as we not only had dinner with elle's parents but the following morning her father offered to drive me around to she me the surrounding countryside. All very hospitable but somewhat nervewracking considering it was only four or five days after meeting her for the first time in person. Her parents were both charming and her mother made a delicious meal but I was still slightly apprehensive when her father pulled up a dirt track and led me to a "fishing spot" on the riverbank. I kept watching his hands in case he was going to pull a gun and warn me to keep the hell away from his daughter but thankfully no such unpleasantness ensued.

Talk about stacked

check out the topping on that pizza pie.

Frodus the brave and strong dog came to help us eat the pizza


And we show off our engagement tattoos

I need to photoshop this to make my arm look less girly.

It was simply amazing to instantly feel so relaxed and natural around someone, so right to be with them.

In 6 hours I fly to

to visit

A full report plus many photos to follow upon my return.