Climbing Beacon Rock, Driving to Asperger Group, Meeting folks, and Blowing winds

Made it to Beacon Rock on Saturday afternoon. My husband and I walked along the muddy trail to a series of ramps and rocks. One switchback after another. At one point we looked up and saw an eterinity of bridges climbing the rusty brown rock side. We stopped at an overlook and saw the Columbia River Gorge. The clouds, reflected against the river, made the river seem a sea green. Many small motor boats were zooming back and forth. We made it to the top and then climbed back down. The momentary clear sky trailed after us.Got together with friends for dinner. It was a good Saturday.

Sunday, I made it to the Portland Asperger Group. We met some new folks and had quite a good time. We watched a video on a person who had challenging job experiences. It was good to see that the "diagnosis" helped him understand himself and do better on the job. It's amazing, but the group has become like a second family and, in general, folks look out for eachother. Next month we will have a pot luck.

Yesterday I had a busy time meeting with Internet Professionals Northwest (IPN) I have been filled in the latest and greatest in the Internet world. On the way home, I chatted with a bus driver who got off work and was also taking the Max. Apparently there is a lot of traffic along the Burnside bridge that caused delays. Her riders wanted to get off at the middle of the road along a dangerous intersection. Leave it to the bus driver to save the day and get the folks to a safer spot.

Today, I was blown around by the winds of Tualatin. Luckily I made it back with the car - My husband and I went to the gym. Tomorrow and Friday I will continue to work on my blog article.

Adventures in coffee and conversation

As I slipped in between the rain drops, this morning, in downtown Portland, I came across the warm glow of Java Man Coffee. I entered with my blue, sporty brief case and dripping, Olin College of Engineering, anorak. The greyish fellow in the front of the store asked for my order.

I said "an iced Americano please."
He repeated "Iced Americano?"
I said "yup"
He said "Are you sure, it is cold outside!"

Having been outside, I knew it was cold (45 degrees Far.) but I like iced coffee. Heck, I ordered iced drinks when it was 10 below 0 in Boston. I chalk it up to my November birth in Winnepeg, Canada. I said that I was sure I wanted an iced Americano.

Without missing a beat, the server said "Let me go in back to get it for you". He walked to a room behind the counter and closed the door. 1 minute later he handed me an iced Americano. I sat down at one of the few tables and scanned the room. Russian chocolate cascaded the right side of the counter. Above this, a lighted menu spelled out lunch items with names I could not pronounce. Luckily each item had associated pictures and a description. The server pointed me along to the interview place and I left a happy customer. Definitely a place to go back and visit.

After the interview, I awaited the Max (the Portland subway) to take home. I ran across a woman with 2 boys also awaiting the next train to the zoo. We chatted a bit and boarded the train. She said that she came from Sweet Home. I asked her where this was and she said Oregon.

I did not know such a town existed. Apparently it is an outdoor lovers paradise and bedroom community. There is water skiing, fishing and swimming. Fish range from salmon to rainbow trout to the "garbage variety". My eyebrows arched quizzically when the boys mentioned garbage variety - but apparently it is synomous with the mutts in the dog world. The fish are edible.

I asked if it snowed in Sweet Home. The answer is not really - it rains a lot there and snows in the mountain. Also some folks don't give it the credit it deserves on the map. Well, I will give it credit and speak to the masses about Sweet Home. May there be more towns like it in the world!

A New Beginning

I have landed in Beaverton Oregon and in the world of blogging. I feel like an alien exploring a new world after living 34 years in the North East and for not usually writing my thoughts on the computer.

For one thing, there is a lot more of Oregon than the NorthEast. Take the hiking trails. If my husband and I wanted to we could choose 1 new trail for each weekend of the coming year and still not see all possible hiking trails - How cool is that! We could spend hours upon hours with our GPS searching for Oregon treasure.

The one clinker to this plan is the rain - at least it seemed heavy last weekend.

So much for visiting Beacon Rock - http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Beacon+Rock&pageno=1
Maybe next weekend.

As far as writing my thoughts on the computer. I am doing an article on blogging and thought I should have some first hand experience. Thus, the motivation to create this blog. I am hoping to become one with the blogging experience; although, it boggles me that folks will have time to read my musings. But, what do I know being the new kid on the blog block. Perhaps, in the far reaches of the Internet, a fellow person will reply.

We will see what the future brings.