DAY ONE IN PORTLAND

Well, okay, any one who knows me well knows that I am TERRIFIED of flying....I continue to fly because I love our children so much that I will sacrifice to fly and visit them....so of course I had to get on an airplane to fly to Portland today. My husband, John, and each of our children and even my MOM called me to ask, "Who is going to hold your hand while you fly?" I had already had this thought more than once, unfortunately. I had my borrowed library book (which I really think I am going to like by Jeffrey Archer) so I was ready with something to cover my eyes with when I really wanted to scream in fright.....(this is my normal flight behavior) I walked down the aisle and saw a very nice looking man sitting in the middle of the plane in the window seat. I asked him if I could sit on his row. He nicely said that I could. A short time later another woman came and asked to sit in the middle seat....GREAT! I needed the aisle because of my anxious stomach. (later Sandy Tippetts, the wonderful new friend in the middle seat told me she was afraid that I meant I had the flu) Sandy is from outside Vancouver, Washington (but raised in Malad) and we had a wonderful visit the entire plane ride...The kind gentleman by the window was Craig Aramaki.....SMALL WORLD....... Craig is in John and Brittney's ward in West Linn! Both Sandy and Craig were truly good Samaritans.....they cared for me, calmed me, and befriended me.....I am so grateful! I will never forget their kindness. Thanks so much Sandy and Craig! I loved getting to know you and learning about your families....I will have the chance to see Craig when I visit the Willamette Ward. They are very SPECIAL NEW FRIENDS!

We picked Johnny up from work to go to dinner ....I had to take pictures of Johnny behind his desk----some of the bottles West Coast Container distributes, and the Starbucks bottles of syrup that West Coast Container distributes to every Starbucks west of the Mississippi-----check out MAGOO, THE WORK MASCOT! Magoo is HUGE! He weighs about 17 pounds and lives at the office. He is a great cat! He thinks he is HUMAN.

Britt's birthday was last week and so we went to California Pizza Kitchen for a belated birthday dinner. I absolutely love the Penne pasta with grilled sausage, onions and peppers...I don't think John loved his sausage and pepperoni pizza, but Britt and I were happy with CPK!

I saw some of the Oregon stereotypes tonight also. I have never seen a smart car in person....da duh! This smart car is so tiny it is toy like....but it is energy efficient and much better for the environment than my V8 Infinity SUV....so look how cute! The next stereotype was in Starbucks....a poster about a Better Living Show....the highlight-----how to save trees by making paper out of elephant dung....YES.....ELEPHANT DUNG! I don't want to be the dung picker upper.... P. S. The poster was made from Elephant Dung....very bright yellow and very soft paper....it might have its pros!

My very first visit to a Starbucks and my very first Starbucks hot chocolate! YUMMY! This is how you order what we had tonight.......A tall hot chocolate, skim milk, no whip and extra vanilla......try it! I loved mine and it warmed us all up on this very cold shivery rainy night in Portland.