OREGON COAST GOODNESS

Last weekend, Violet and I had our annual adventure at the Oregon Coast.  Besides being eaten by bugs and getting a gnarly cartwheeling injury on my inner thigh – it was the best beach trip EVER!  We collected sea treasures, tracked wildlife, tortured children, made smores, went mud mucking and had an overall amazing time!  I even caught a salamander!  Ya gotta love Camp Westwind.

QUICKIE (but a goodie)

GUESS WHAT?!!  We’re switching it up for the next couple weeks – to adventure-mode in Audreality!  Tomorrow morning, we hit the road with Violet, her friend Sage, and my buddy Nathan, for four days at Camp Westwind along the Oregon Coast!  On the horizon: my first trip to Hawaii (?!), the Pacific Crest marathon, Hood 2 Coast, Seattle SeaFair… and MORE!

Here’s one shot from Saturday night at Departure with Becca & Alicia (courtesy of my good friend John Hardy aka “origipunk”), several from last Sunday’s BBQ at Bladberry Farm on Sauvie Island, and a couple of my new furry friend, the local raccoon.  Enjoy.

MAY DAZE

The weekend started with kickball play offs, where Mud Muckers rounded up a fabulous first season.  We will absolutely be back for more this summer.  (Want in on the team?  Get at me for details.)  Friday night, after the game, we headed over to Amani’s for a party.  Saturday, Violet had a performance with her class at Richmond’s Spring Festival.  Later that night the End-of-Season party popped off… and Becca, Alicia & I took on the town.  Summer is near!  You can taste it!

NEW & IMPROVED (?!)

New Roomies!

Greetings!  Last weekend my big broski, Liam came to town with his girl Megan for a quick visit before they actually move in.  This house is going to be such a zoo… I love it!  Turns out she’s quite speedy – I finally get a live-in workout/running buddy!  Dream come true!

Naturally, we hit up First Thurs.  Friday a tiny dog tried hilariously to mount Peaches.  Later that night it was out on the town with Becca & Piero.  Saturday was more of the same (not pictured).  Sunday Mud Muckers played Midnight Thunder in a tie game!  MUCKINSANITY!!!

Upon request, the pics are bigger and the captions are gone.  (What?!  You don’t like my commentary?!)  Fine.  I’ll shut up now.

FUN FUN FUN (Somehow, it never gets old.)

Lovely Lila-belle

Dr. Josh & Dara

Sir James & Miss Lila

Ben & James - What a pair!

Awesome Amber

Silly Boys

Bobby & Laura

Rosemary!

Leslee aka Lester

Go Amber!

Fresh from the Red Dress party...

Sunday Funday rolled around and we proceeded accordingly:  Mud Muckers creamed the Sex Panthers in a fabulously muddy game of kickball!  Then Geoff and I were off to Chung’s for her 30th at the Bladberry Farm…where (among other things) we came face to face with a pack of long horns!

Diana's Dog, Haley

I Heart Spring

Banana Creme Goodness

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUNG!

Geoff, the homerun hitter!

All Wrapped Up

SWING Batterbatterbatter!

Chung's Chicks

KILL!

Tracy at Bat

POW!!!

Nice Shakers!

FIESTA!

Steering Contest

SEE?!  Wha’d I tell ya?!  FUN FUN FUN!!!

SHAKIN’ & STIRRED

The last 24 hours have been a little surreal.  Then again, this is Audreality – so I’ve grown to expect the unexpected.  I’ve just gotten home from a hike in Forest Park and dinner’s on the oven – possibly burning – but my yearning desire to share the following shan’t be restrained…

Yesterday was the first (official) Last Thursday of the year on NE Alberta.  If you don’t know – or haven’t been – I highly recommend it.  Pack a flask and get there before sundown, for a stroll.  Feast your eyes, ears, and tongues on the fun!  After making a new friend from Peru – while waiting for the train – and telling him about the evening’s upcoming excitement, naturally he wanted to tag along too.  And that he did.  But not before I had a chance to go home and start our brand new veggie garden!

My Sweet Violet

BEFORE

AFTER

I love my Becca-boo!

Some Guy & Becca

BEAR!

Piero & Norberth

Cute Puppy!

Street Music

Becca makes my hair stand on end too...

Together Gallery

Mirror Mirror

As Pictured

Randoms

Keeping Portland Weird

Hip Momma

Grrrrrrrrrrrrlfriends

Becca & her twin Liz

The night ended fairly early – and for good reason – because Peaches and I had an action packed day today, starting with one heck of a train ride, when – much to my delight – the mysterious balloons appeared.  There was a quiet 2-year-old, named Gregori, who had been watching Peaches intently.  I presented the first balloon to him, after I noticed it clinging to the window with mere static alone.  It looked like a wiener dog… he loved it!  Next thing I knew, there were four or five other balloons hanging around.  I nabbed the purple flower.  “I love whoever did this,”  I said, not expecting a reply.  A gritty old man leaned towards me.

“The flowers always go first,”  he said with a wink.

“You did this?!”

“It’s my way of tagging,” he explained.  I asked his name: Tony.  What a guy!

Peaches and I got off the train at the Rose Quarter, walked over the Steele Bridge and along Waterfront towards PSU.  We managed to sit through one dreadfully boring hour of lecture before killing another hour or so in the park blocks, playing fetch with the football players.  It seemed appropriate.

At 2pm, my buddy James and I set out for our weekly hike.  We arrived at the meeting place at the edge of Forest Park and piled out of the car.  Peaches was thrilled.  We ambled over to some classmates, who were sitting in their car, where we were shocked to find our friend Mark having a major seizure!  I’ve never witnessed anything like it.  I called 911 and stood next to him, dumbfounded.  He was shaking violently, eyes wide open.  After a few minutes, it passed.  I put a hand on his arm and felt him relax.  He looked at me gratefully, but couldn’t speak.

Soon the paramedics arrived.  He managed to say a few words – he was extremely dizzy.  The neural connections in his brain must’ve been seriously sputtering.  Poor guy…  Then he disappeared into the ambulance, so we regrouped and set out for the hike.

Peaches

Mystery Balloons

GO VIKS!

Fractals!

James a la Nature

Peachy Poochie!

After the hike, it was home for dinner with the fam and what I thought would be a quick turnaround.  The minutes turned to hours and just when my head was about to explode from waiting, Alicia arrived.  As it turned out, we were perfectly on time.  Crossing the Willamette into downtown, fireworks lit the sky.  (That’s a good sign!)

Blurry...but I still like it.

Birthday Girl & Friends

HA!

Looking forward to whats next… Ciao for now!