Portland Memorial Mausoleum

In honor of Memorial Day, we visited the Portland Memorial Mausoleum. We waited in line to enter because Portland Memorial is only open on day a year to the public. Founded in 1901, it is part of Portland's rich history and the first and oldest crematory west of the Mississippi. The property is stunningly beautiful. 

The mausoleum looks out onto an amusement park.

We found some familiar family names.

Seattle in One Day

Mike and Dianne were visiting for a week. We found one day, and one day only, to visit Seattle. Our 12 hour visit included a Boeing Factory Tour and a Pike Place Market Ghost Tour.

We were unable to take photos on the tour for security reasons, but we took advantage of a photo-op from the parking lot.

Boeing's 747 Dreamlifter is used to transport large pieces of the new 787 Dreamliner.

Afterwards, we headed for to Pike Place Market for a Ghost Tour.

Mike and Dianne.

Mee Sum Pastry's Char Siew Bao inerds.

The tour met near the Gum Wall.

What's that spell?

Oh my!

Zoe does believe in ghosts and she was still scared for Ghost Tour.

We visited places with old stories.

What's Seattle without seafood? We're not sure.

Matt, Dianne and Mike after our seafood dinner.

I like land animals, too.

I am a land creature, too.

Mike and Dianne bid farewell to Seattle.

We'll be back to see so much more.

Fire Alarm

The fire alarm went off at 3:20 AM, and I just went to sleep around 12:45 AM. A lot of sleepy residents filed out of the building, partially hoping to see smoke because waking up like this better be worth it. As I wait to hear the fire department's prognosis, a block away someone catches my eye. I spot, in the wee hours of the night, a platinum blonde hair woman with a white tube top, a black shiny mini skirt and shiny white thigh high boots saunter out of a building and disappear around the corner. So unexpected in our neighborhood. So, worth it.  

Brunswick's Tube of Catnip

At Portland Saturday Market, we picked up a tube of catnip for Brunswick. What could be more enticing?

Everything seemed fine at first.

Then he lashed out.

And then going all out crazy.

Later that day we questioned his actions.

He got angry and replied, "I have no regrets."

New York State of Mind

During the first week of December we were fortunate to join Matt's associates in celebrating their holiday party. Matt and I had never been to New York City during the holidays and took in as much sight seeing as we could.

Upon landing, we joined Rachel and Chun for dinner at Wolfgang's Steakhouse for some beef.

Some of the juiciest, tenderest beefiest steak we've ever had.

The following day was filled with lots of walking and shopping up and down Broadway Avenue. But first, Rachel and Chun helped move us to another hotel, closer to Times Square and Central Park. After the quick move, we enjoyed Ramen noodles for lunch.

The new hotel room had a secret compartment. Can you tell where it is?

We waited for the restaurant to open.

Chun's Ramen bowl.

After the company soiree, Matt and I took to the streets to capture the holiday spirit.

Matt with St. Patrick's Cathedral.

While Atlas holds the heavens, I hold him by his toe.

Cue the music.

Cue holiday music to be exact.

On Saturday, we took the subway to SOHO and did some more walking, standing and posing.

Standing.

Posing.

Standing by a "No Standing Anytime" sign.

Blatantly violating the no standing policy.

Standing with a pastry.

More posing, but this time with the Empire State Building.

For dinner, we met up with Chun at Carnegie Deli for some tall sandwiches.

We shared this one.

Chun took care of this himself. Standing behind Chun, our server, who meant business.

What did I say? He finished the whole thing. Our server was lurking.

Chun wasn't done. He insisted we try a real slice of New York Cheesecake.

To walk off our dinner, we trekked from Times Square to the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.

Matt liked the His and Her statues.

Him with Her.

Her with Him.

The giant straw did not intimate Matt while he spoke with Pete on the phone.

Until next time, New York.