Portland Ponderings and Profundities

Well, I learned a thing or two on the trip to Portland:
1. It's easy to have fun when you don't have to cook.
2. My favorite "shops/boutiques/stores" sell toys.
3. Any town or city with public transportation rates high on my list. Portland has free streetcars, buses and light rail.
4. Anyplace with major bodies of water (ocean, river, big lake) are generally more romantic than other places.
5. If you eat out every day, walking 10 miles still won't be enough to maintain status quo weight. Pity.
6. I'm not the only one out there with a camera.
7. I might actually be a decent artist! Evidence: I showed some photos of my work to 2 different employees at a fancy gallery there and they each strongly encouraged me to submit to their jury process, not knowing the other person already had told me the same thing. One of these persons was an exhibiting artist in the gallery as well as an employee there and had his doctorate; had been teaching in Nebraska and Spain. It was swell.

Pondering on the Parade of Homes

We love viewing the houses each year in the Parade of Homes. The innovations and clever uses of space, decorating ideas and new materials out there are fun to see. But mostly, it's intriguing to see what can be done when money isn't a factor--or rather, the lack of it. If you had all the money necessary, I wonder what differences there would be? I would not spend ALL my money on a house, anyhow. Don't want 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, home theater, indoor basketball court and 3 kitchens. But I'd love a fireplace in the master suite, my own balcony. A turret for the grand piano, a playroom with an indoor treehouse, a stage and a dollhouse etc. Dad would like the outdoor fireplace, a hot tub and a private waterfall...I'm guessing. Don't need real granite countertops (we saw some that were cement, painted and glazed, too) but it would be nice. We see dumb stuff, too. There was a kitchen floor of bricks--looked really cool but how do you mop that? Somebody put carpet in the laundry/mud room--that's asking for trouble. But it's sure fun to see the old-fashioned sinks make a comeback (even if they're not very practical) and a living room with 3 French doors on either side--now that's cross ventilation!

HELP! Dad and I are responsible for coming up with entertainments and activities to keep busy, boys from age 12-18 at an Aaronic Priesthood camp for our stake next week. We are senior couple in a zone--the camp is organized as for missionary training. We thought of a "Rootbeer Taste Test" and the Candy Bar game like we play at Christmas. Dad can bring kickball and the tug-of-war rope from school....is that enough? Is there something you remember from your youth days that would be good? We'll have 14 boys in our zone. Thanks.

I've been thinking about sleeping positions--having witnessed little Simon's favorite: on elbows and knees with face smashed into the mattress (refer to Jacob for a picture). Dad's most frequent is on his side, with one hand under his head and the other holding his chin. I've wondered if it is a subconscious form of keeping himself from snoring or talking in his sleep...
Then I remember Eric napping once with his hands in his pockets, Shannon rolled up in a blanket, tied with ropes and perched on the top of the headboard (about 4 " wide). And the grand-sleeper of all, Jeff, who could sleep virtually in any position in any place. I have a photo of him in his highchair, hands behind his head, flung back and mouth open; another one he is face forward onto the table smeared with spaghetti sauce; one he's curled into a stuffed chair, etc.

I have to change positions frequently, but generally am on the side/back one way or another. I suppose the important thing is that we do sleep. Such a lovely thing it is, too.