Let's Bowl! Then hit the Rose Garden!

Styling in our bowling shoes

That 8lb ball didn't serve me very well : (

Check out that high score.  Don't be jealous.

Washington Park

Rows and rows of beautiful roses! 

Last night we decided to try our hand at bowling-obviously a golden hand.  People were so amazed by our skills that we were asked to become part of a local league.  Ok I'm lying.  I think some guys actually laughed at me once.  So much for following that dream.  After some nachos and frames, we went exploring and ran into Washington Park.  It houses trails, the rose test gardens, the Japanese gardens, tennis courts, an outdoor theater, and acres of greenery.  We roamed around and watched a ballet company rehearse for their Saturday performance.  Simply beautiful.  We plan to pack a picnic and Adel and head back when it cools down a bit.

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot!

It's flipping hot!  The Portland high temperature record to date is 107.  Well guess what today's high is?!  107!  For all intensive purposes, yes it is hot, yes Adel is sitting right in front of the air conditioner and I in front of a fan, yes I sweat as soon as I get up to put a plate in the dishwasher-BUT- while we are at it, let's go for the record!  Let's exercise our competitive streak and hope for a new record!  I'm thinking 108 should top 'em for another couple of years, especially considering that typical July forecasts in Portland call for a mere 83 degrees.  

So here's hoping!  Cross yur fingers!

: )

Ps-Dust has a job interview today!  Yee haw!

Adel really misses the shelter  : )

On our way to eat lunch at Isabel Pearl

Spending our tokens at the Oregon Brewer's Festival

This was taken under one of the tasting tents

I was harnessing my inner hippie, and Dust was harnessing his inner thug Ha!

This weekend was spent at the Brewer's Festival and in the Pearl.  Friday we had lunch at Isabel Pearl, which quite possibly had the best tofu I've ever tasted.  That evening we headed over to the Oregon Brewer's festival where brewers from all over the country came to let us sample their delights.  Dustin covered the darkest beers, and I handled the lighter options.  We think there were about 30-40,000 people that were in attendance.  I will say it was a better reason to gather than swollen toads at Toad Suck Daze.  Hehe.  We ate dinner at our favorite Italian spot, Mama Mia.  The rest of the weekend we've just been hanging 10, Dustin has been applying for jobs, and I've been laid up in bed sick.  Yuck.  This week we don't have much planned, Dustin will be job searching, and I'll be studying for my ServSafe course.  

I would like to recognize Dustin's father today.  It was two years ago today that he passed away from pancreatic cancer, and although I never had the opportunity to meet him, I know that his presence remains strong inside Dust and his family.  Lots of love to Steve Thompson!!

It Melts! It really Melts!!

So, as you know, Dustin and I try our very hardest to eat a purely vegan diet.  Every once in a while there is a mishap or holiday that comes around and we flub.  Most think that following a vegan diet is difficult.  Well honey, living in the south makes it difficult for sure.  Try tailgating...a southern tradition that you can't miss out on...with vegan brats and cut up veggies. Yes, we were made fun of and asked tons of questions (all of which I think we answer without too much gusto for animal rights.  we try and suppress).  

Moving on.  Portland is a vegan's small heaven.  There are vegan options in most restaurants, and some menus even have a "Vegetarian/Vegan" section-yowza.  There is a vegan "strip mall" consisting of Sweetpea bakery, Herbivore clothing/gift shop, Food Fight! grocery store, and a tattoo shop called Scapegoat.  We hit this area up quite frequently and just love it.  Well, at Food Fight they have a cheese alternative called Teese.  Now we had heard of said cheese and all it's mythical glory.  Could it really be?  A vegan cheese that actually melts?!  Say it isn't so!  

Test time!  Dish of choice-nachos!  See for yourself the beauty of our melted cheese.  This is a big deal for us, can you tell?  All this time we try to defend animals and be their voice, and all we want in return is a melty cheese.  Gift given, and gift taken.

Look at that melty goodness

Upon eating at Hungry Tiger Two, on $1 vegan corn dog night no less, a Christmas tree happened to land in my PBR.  Happy Holidays!

A big day!

It has been a big day for the Thompsons!  Adel had her first grooming experience today.  For those of you who are familiar with her vet appointment, you could see how we may be nervous to take her ANYWHERE.  Well we found her a groomer that was super sweet and great with shy dogs.  Adel had a bath, her toenails clipped and was furminated.  She didn't even snap at Deena!  Woo Hoo, big victory!  Deena said that she came close and that she wouldn't feel comfortable cutting her for another couple of months, but at least it's progress, and she smells so good now!

Adel then met her new vet.  We walked down from Lexidog (where she was groomed) and met a vet that Deena recommended.  We walked around the place, met everyone, and she took some treats from the staff.  She had a big walk in the city and a bit of a "get spoiled" day.  

As for the humans of the family, we are now very spoiled because we leased an AIR CONDITIONER!  Most apartments here don't have air conditioning, and in summers past fans have worked just fine, as the weather is not usually very hot.  Well leave it to us to move to Portland when it's 98 degrees and burning up.  We were miserable staying at home and low and behold as I was dropping off my mail this morning I saw a sign that said the apts were leasing air conditioners.  We scored and had the last one available installed in #507!  

This weekend we are planning on attending the Portland Brewers Festival.  All of the local breweries are coming to the waterfront to let us sample.  Mmm Mmm!  Pics to come!

Our Weekend

The beautiful kale and dinosaur kale

Bouquets of flowers for sale.  All locally grown!

Our yummy lunch of falafel from a food cart at the market.

Great view from where I'm sitting

Laying in the grass and enjoying the sunshine.  Ps, it has only rained one day since we have been here.

Well it has been a beautiful weekend here in Portland!  The sun has been shining and it's about 70 degrees currently.  Dustin and I spent Friday night at Someday Lounge eating vegan nachos and vegan "ham and cheeze" while listening to a band called the Opera Lovers (we think).  Saturday was spent at the Farmer's Market picking up roughage for the week and enjoying falafel on a patch of grass for lunch.  We finally saw Transformers, which we really liked, and ate dinner at Greek Cuisina.  Greek seemed to be the theme for the day.  : )

Today we have been cleaning the apt and are just hanging around.  We will probably finish the True Blood series and gear up for the week.  Dustin's job search continues tomorrow and I am attending a CPR/First Aid class all day.  

We are determined to learn the bus routes this week.  We don't mind walking, but it sure would make things easier getting around the city.  Wish us luck!  

Love to all!  Linz

Happy Friday everyone!  We greet you from our 88 degree apartment.  So, apparently Portland doesn't believe in air conditioning in apts here (go figure, saving energy, saving lives), so here we sit windows open in 95 degree weather.  Think it may be unusual for it to be so sunny and hot here-we only thought we were leaving Arkansas.  No fear though, we have new fans that are gracing us with good air flow and Adel is resting well...I know you were worried.

Today Dustin and I took on the city of Portland's road systems to find a Target and finally hit the NE side of town.  We heard of an all vegan restaurant called Nutshell and were so excited, only to find it shut down.  : (  Then we decided to hit up an all vegan bar called Bye and Bye, but alas, it didn't open until 2pm.  By this point we were open for anything so we settled on the Black Cat Cafe and boy were we surprised.  We had vegan panini sandwiches named after Oklahoma and Missouri.  Very delish.  

Tonight I believe we will try out a new restaurant and maybe hit Someday Lounge-a personal fav.  Unfortunately we found out the New Pornographers were playing tonight, but it was already sold out....so we'll have to find some other kind of trouble to get into.  Andrew Bird and the Decemberists play tomorrow night, so we may try to make an appearance.  People just love a good southern accent up here, and sometimes it gets you in for free!