Peachy in PDX: Kimi's Intro to the Northwest

There is waaaaay too much to document it all here so, here is the truncated version in chronological order...

Land and go to Colin's on 22nd (this is colin)







Besaw's for brunch (besaws.com)

My yelp.com review: "A former PDX'er took me here to relive some of his past. This little joint used to be his Sundays ritual with a newspaper and friends in tow. The staff was very friendly and accommodating but the food seemed less than stellar, not bad, but didn't live up to it's former expectations. He had the breakfast burrito which was OK and I had a 3 mushroom omelet served with rosemary potatoes. The desserts look delish tho we didn't try any and the atmosphere was cozy and casual. There looked to be an covered outside overflow area complete with heat lamps for busy weekend revelers. The adjacent parking lot looked like it filled up quickly but was a handy addition considering the hard to find surrounding street parking. I feel a bit guilty about the 3 star rating considering I would go back to this place, but wouldn't consider it worth any long wait if there was a crowd."


SRM to meet Joe

SakeOne in Forest Grove (sakeone.com)

















My yelp.com review: "Honestly, I have no idea what this place would be like on a packed weekend. We went during an off time and got an unplanned hour-long, grand *private* tour by Greg, the Sake Master. Typically the brewery is open daily 12-5pm with tours starting at 1, 2, and 3pm.

After the founders of SakeOne realized that the country's best water supply for sake was the Pacific Northwest, they located their new sake brewery in Forest Grove, Oregon, on the east slope of the Coast Range, in 1997. SakeOne, the country's foremost sakery, was built at the edge of a lush rainforest aquifer.

Greg, took us through the extensive sake making process step-by-step complete with visuals of the polishing process, water and filtering, yeast addition, finished koji, fermentation, pasteurization and bottling.

Afterwards, we had a tasting in the tasting room. We were fortunate and able to taste several imports and infused sakes in addition to the standard domestic sakes. The best kept secret was given to us by one the tasting room staff -- make sure to check out the overstock bottles of sake on sale in the tasting room and bring some home. The were bargain prices for magnum size bottles and the only requirements was that you drink them fairly quickly ... no problem! How much cooler does it look to bring a ginormous bottle of unique sake to a party rather than a standard two buck wine chuck?! I say bring on the sake.

Oh yeah, less than an hour from Portland, and just off Hwy 47, SakeOne is an easy piggy back off the over 200 wineries in the surrounding Willamette Valley."

Hotel Oregon and the Rooftop Bar in McMinnville (hoteloregon.com)

My yelp.com review: "Full of local flavor, this quirky establishment hosts arts-and-crafts like themed rooms with both, private, shared and down-the-hall bathroom accommodations. Depending on what type of experience you are up for, you can really be adventurous here! The rooms had a sort of temporary boarder feel, not the "I'm on a private vacation oasis" sorta feeling. Even the well appreciated high ceilings, hosted a set of communal water pipes that allowed you to hear the splish splash of adjacent boarders. Needless to say, this is no shi-shi (sp?) hoity, toity place, but chalk full of character. We stayed in the "Thomas White" room with a painted image of him on the walls and several quotes about his contributions to the McMinnville area and specifically Hotel Oregon. Our room had a private bath with a separate closet and water closet/shower. A pedestal sink and mirror oddly hung out inside the bedroom during outside the water closet door. The large 2nd floor window looked down on the quaint town of shops and eateries.

The Roof Top Bar was one of the highlights of this place. Service is a tad slow, but drinks are cheap. Once noted as the highest point in the county, the 360 degree view was still hard to beat. I can only imagine that summer time seating would be stellar."

Bistro Maison (bistromaison.com)
Warm, romantic setting with an intimate feeling of table-side chatter with the chef and wine recommendations by the owner. Yum. Wonderful dining experience. Left completely stuft. Would recommend to anyone staying in town and would definitely go back again.


Red Fox Bakery -- my yelp.com review: "VERY small, fresh, limited assortment of delish goodies. Very friendly service. They had m-a-y-b-e 8 assorted baked goods in one bakery case and maybe 4 cookies in the other.... BUT it was right next door to Hotel Oregon, and for a light pick-me-up morning nibble, it was perfect to take on-the-go towards the Willamette Valley wine country!

We tried the red pepper and goat cheese pastry and the cinnamon roll. I was delighted to see a savory selection in addition to the typical, all-too-sweet assortment of morning goodies. The cinnamon roll was made with croissant bread so it was flaky and had a light powdered sugar and butter glaze on top...mmmm good. Their small, behind the counter bakers rack sported freshly made challuh (sp?) bread, some special cornmeal rye bread, assorted baguettes and a variety of bread loaves.

Jeff, maybe an owner/manager there, gave us all sorts of winery recommendations and was a delight to chat up about local offerings."

Evergreen Aviation Museum and the "Spruced Goose"





















Sokol Blosser Winery (sokolblosser.com)




Dundee Bistro (dundeebistro.com/photo-album) "that's a sandwich?"

Torii Mor Winery (toriimorwinery.com)


















(more later.....)

Lange
Bar 15
Shanghai Tunnel
Mary's
Cup and Saucer
Oblation
REI...for the love of marmot's impulse jacket
Asher's Bday Party...yikes...kids!
Greek Orthodox Crab Feed...gluttony to the extreme.
Acme...
Relish
Cheeky b
Daily Cafe
Adidas
Puma
East West Fusion
Japanese Rock Memorial
Pho Van
Airport

no matter what

I love my mom.

She works so hard.
She gives so much -- to her career, to her friends and most especially to her family.

I remember staying up until the wee hours of the morning working on high school project deadlines with her right beside me. She never held my hand or looked over my shoulder but was my support, my rock. Without being controlling, she let me know that she was there if needed.

A teacher by nature, she teaches in every aspect of her life. Leading by example. Guiding those around her with her enthusiasm and verve for life. I love my mom.

Sometimes lacking in the communication department, I don't fault her... merely think it's all those years talking to her 4th graders! Nonetheless, she is genuine in her gusto, her concern, her empathy and her love.

Happy birthday mom. I love you.

2007 AAAS Annual Meeting

15-19 February • San Francisco
Science and Technology for Sustainable Well-Being

Free events: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2007/0212am_free_events.shtml
About AAAS: http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/

The extraordinary intellectual smorgasbord of the AAAS Annual Meeting makes it the year's most important gathering for the growing segment of the science and technology community interested in the interactions among disciplines and in the influence of science and technology on the human condition. While the aim of advancing science and technology is already, in itself, a strong motivator of the interdisciplinary thrust of the AAAS Annual Meeting, the character of the challenges to the human condition creates even more powerful incentives to exploit the interdisciplinary approaches that are the AAAS hallmark. Among those challenges…

• An appalling fraction of the 6.4 billion people on the planet continue to lack adequate nutrition, clean water, and the energy they need to meet their most basic needs.
• HIV is running rampant, most out of control precisely where people are poorest, and the defenses of populations everywhere against other natural or manmade pandemics are perilously thin.
• The great global reservoirs of biodiversity — tropical forests and coral reefs — are in peril from a combination of overexploitation, rapid climate change, and other anthropogenic assaults.
• Weather-related disasters — floods, droughts, wildfires, and “hundred-year" storms — multiply before our eyes, while many of the most powerful governments and corporations cling to their “wait-and-see" stance on whether regulation of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is required.
• The economic and security challenges of overdependence of the world's energy system on petroleum continue to receive more lip service than serious policy responses, in industrial and developing nations alike.
• The United States and Russia still maintain enough nuclear firepower on short-reaction-time alert to destroy both countries and much of the rest of civilization; reserve the right of first use of nuclear weapons, even against adversaries who do not possess them; and wonder why nuclear proliferation seems too hard to contain.
• And the intelligent use of science and technology to help dry up the wellsprings of terrorism remains an even more underdeveloped endeavor than the uses of science and technology to build our defenses against terrorist attack.

While the reality of these problems has been growing ever more apparent, the gaps have been widening between what is needed to address the dangers and what is actually in place. The need to close these gaps plays precisely to the strengths and priorities of the AAAS. No other organization is better positioned to rise to this challenge.

For this reason, the AAAS Program Committee has chosen “Science and Technology for Sustainable Well-Being" as the theme for the 2007 AAAS Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The achievement of sustainable well-being depends heavily on economic, sociopolitical, and environmental conditions and processes, and on their interconnections. Progress needs to be thought of in terms of improving the human condition in all of these dimensions — environmental, sociopolitical, and cultural as well as economic — and sustainability should be thought of as making these improvements in ways and to end points that are consistent with maintaining the improvements indefinitely.

This is a challenge not just for developing countries—where large proportions of the population still lack the most basic ingredients of material and social well-being—but also for the industrialized ones—where many of the practices that support the levels of material well-being already achieved are not sustainable in resource and environmental terms and where widening gaps between rich and poor within countries, and fraying social safety nets, threaten sociopolitical sustainability as well.

happy valentine's day

"People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel." -- Author Unknown

#49..."want to help others"

I'm generally cash poor so when it comes to philanthropic endeavors I'm a bit lacking. I figure one of the biggest contributions I can personally make that requires no cash is my blood.

Have YOU donated blood lately? My next appointment is March 3rd at the Blood Centers of the Pacific Irwin Center on Turk and Masonic in SF -- http://www.bloodcenters.org/default.htm. You can come with if you want....

56 Facts About Blood and Blood Donation
One for each day between your blood donation!

1. 4.5 million Americans would die each year without life saving blood transfusions.
2. Approximately 32,000 pints of blood are used each day in the United States.
3. Every three seconds someone needs blood
4. One out of every 10 people entering a hospital needs blood.
5. Just one pint of donated blood can help save as many as three people’s lives.
6. The average adult has 10 pints of blood in his or her body.
7. One unit of blood is roughly the equivalent of one pint.
8. Blood makes up about 7% of your body's weight.
9. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his or her body.
10. The average red blood cell transfusion is 3.4 pints.
11. Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds, keeping you healthy. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O. AB is the universal recipient and O negative is the universal donor.
12. Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood.
13. Shortages of all types of blood occur during the summer and winter holidays.
14. If all blood donors gave 2 to 4 times a year, it would help prevent blood shortages.
15. If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood.
16. About three gallons of blood supports the entire nation's blood needs for one minute.
17. Blood donation takes four steps: medical history, quick physical, donation, and snacks. The actual blood donation usually takes less than 10 minutes. The entire process, from when you sign in to the time you leave, takes about 45 minutes.
18. Giving blood will not decrease your strength.
19. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
20. Fourteen tests, 11 of which are for infectious diseases, are performed on each unit of donated blood.
21. Any company, community organization, place of worship or individual may contact their local community blood center to host a blood drive.
22. People donate blood out of a sense of duty and community spirit, not to make money. They are not paid for their donation.
23. Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.
24. One unit of blood can be separated into several components (red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate).
25. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s organs and tissue.
26. There are about one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood.
27. Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.
28. Platelets help blood to clot and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
29. Apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) is a special kind of blood donation that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as platelets.
30. Donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection.
31. Donated platelets must be used within five days of collection.
32. Plasma can be frozen and used for up to a year.
33. Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins and salts.
34. Plasma, which is 90% water, constitutes 55% of blood volume.
35. Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.
36. People who have been in car accidents and suffered massive blood loss can need transfusions of 50 pints or more of red blood cells.
37. The average bone marrow transplant requires 120 units of platelets and about 20 units of red blood cells.
38. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants need platelets donations from about 120 people and red blood cells from about 20 people.
39. Severe burn victims can need 20 units of platelets during their treatment.
40. Children being treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types.
41. Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their iron levels.
42. Cancer, transplant and trauma patients and patients undergoing open-heart surgery require platelet transfusions to survive.
43. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the United States, 98% of whom are of African descent. Some patients with complications from severe sickle cell disease receive blood transfusions every month – up to 4 pints at a time.
44. In the days following the September 11 attacks, a half a million people donated blood.
45. Females receive 53% of blood transfused; males receive 47%.
46. 94% of all blood donors are registered voters.
47. 60% of the US population is eligible to donate – only 5% do on a yearly basis.
48. 17% of non-donors cite “never thought about it” as the main reason for not giving, while 15% say they’re “too busy.”
49. The #1 reason donors say they give is because they “want to help others.”
50. After donating blood, you replace these red blood cells within 3 to 4 weeks. It takes eight weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.
51. Granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, roll along blood vessel walls in search of bacteria to eat.
52. White cells are the body's primary defense against infection.
53. There is no substitute for human blood.
54. It’s about Life.
55. Since a pint is pound, you lose a pound every time you donate blood.
56. Anyone who is in good health, is at least 17 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days.

on being "girlie"

Yes, yes I'm a girl. Duh.

I tend to think of myself as fairly independent. I might not necessarily choose to, but faced with the challenge I would (and have) done simple , yet typically "guy" things like change a tire, jump start my car, lean halfway out my 6th story window to wash them, paint my room, hang artwork and window treatments, set up the home office network, spend several nights out in the wilderness with no modern facilities or human contact, .... thanks much in part to my dear dad. He is a big advocate of sink or swim tough love, the concept of if you don't try you won't learn and just doin' it. He taught me to think for myself, drive stick, and gave me my first and only 99-piece "Just for Her" tool kit when I moved into my college dorm. So, on some level, I pride myself in living up to his expectation and not not doing something just because I it's a "guy" thing to do when I could just ask easily give it a run for the money. Even if you fail, at least your tried and you're better prepared for the next life challenge.

All that aside, I amaze myself when I become "girlie." You know, save your beau's text messages so you can read them over and over from your bedside long after he's sent them or save a flower from a bouquet you got and dry one of the buds so you don't have to throw them all away, or blow you away with something so unexpected you don't even know how to respond (and you have a response for everything), or save the card and envelope of a hallmark card you got in the mail because it was hand addressed to you and had a memorable stamp, or get "dolled" up just the way you know he likes it when normally getting dolled up at all is more a chore than a necessity. For someone who "prides" themselves on independence and is relatively low maintenance, does it mean something when someone else make you feel "girlie"? Are they breaking down some unintentional internal walls? hmmm.....

Mmm delicious ambiguity

wing it

Improvise, as in The interviewer had not read the author's book; he was just winging it. This expression comes from the theater, where it alludes to an actor studying his part in the wings (the areas to either side of the stage) because he has been suddenly called on to replace another. First recorded in 1885, it eventually was extended to other kinds of improvisation based on unpreparedness. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

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My spin on this involves less unpreparedness and more exploration -- being open to all things as of yet undiscovered. I'm sure there are times for discretion where absolute preparedness is necessary, but every incident has opportunity for improvisation. Like the job interview you've studied for but not knowing exactly what set of questions you may be asked or preparing for test but having to go through an oral exam or essay portion. There is some level of subjectivity and "wingin it" factor. On a more personal note, one's daily adventures from what you cook for dinner to what you do on the weekend, to how you celebrate a birthday or toast to good times can be so much more liberating if some element or all is left open to spontaneous ambiguity...

I am a proponent of framework. Everybody likes to have a general idea of what lies ahead, but the journey or the details are what make me tick...and I don't want to drone through life to the same beat day in and day out. I get that what makes one person "in there element" and another not, has much to do with comfort level. I am most "comfortable" not getting too comfortable or doing the same ol' thing. I aspire to keep things interesting, always expanding on my baggage and being prepared (like a good girl scout) for not only what you expect but also what you may not expect and fly where the wind takes you.

Be bright. Be brief. Be gone....

A little on passion and faith:

As Blaise Pascal said, “The heart has its reason which reason does not know.”

Faith has its rewards, but it isn’t rational. It’s beyond reason.

Bonus: Fake Your Way Through a Conversation (with Correct Pronunciation!)
If you fumble with a philosopher’s name, nothing you say afterward will sound credible. So, learn to pronounce these names correctly, then start worrying about their ideas.

(George) Berkeley is properly pronounced like Charles Barkley (bark-lee). This name is commonly mispronounced “burk-lee” like Berkeley, California, which, ironically, is named after George Berkeley.

(Friedrich) Nietzsche is commonly mispronounced as “nee-chee.” The correct pronunciation is “nee-ch-ya” and rhymes with “pleased ta meetchya.” “Pleased ta meetchya, Neechya.” Say it!

Lao-tzu (born ca. 604 BCE) is spelled several different ways in English transliteration from the Chinese. But no matter how you spell it, the proper way to pronounce it is “lau” (sounds like “ouch”)-“dsuh”. The stress goes on the first syllable.

(Charles Sanders) Pierce (1839 – 1914) is commonly mispronounced as “peer-s.” The correct pronunciation is “purse,” which is somewhat funny because Pierce rarely had a penny in his purse. Oddly, Pierce took his middle name, Sanders, as an anglicized form of Santiago, or “St. James,” in honor of a fellow pragmatist, William James (1842 – 1910), who helped him out financially.

(Ludwig) Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) is a name that demands authentic German pronunciation, and there are plenty of ways to slaughter it. Here’s one that embodies all of them, “wit-jen-steen.” The correct pronunciation is “vit” (rhymes with bit)-“ghen” (rhymes with ken)-“shtine.” The first name is pronounced “lude-vig.” If you think it’s hard to pronounce his name, try reading his Tractatus.

Thoughts on Baggage

The optimist might argue that baggage can be good, an effective learning tool, things that one must go through, must experience in order to travel the social continents. In fact, you might say that your baggage was then expandable. What once was a small carry on, soon outgrows its case and requires a tote, then a zip up caddy, then the unzipping of the expandable pocket. All in the hopes that one day, if you land in the right spot, in the right company, the bag can be opened, released and you might be even find yourself almost baggage-free... that your former weights had been let go and you could live off the land in harmony or something.

The pessimist might say that baggage held on to for too long, even compressed into vacuum sealed bags, eventually leaks and explodes. This kind of baggage can be dangerous. It can weigh you down and hold you hostage, so much so that you are unable to fly and trot the world of resonant experiences, all because you are weighed down by your own shit.

(The realist) Either way, we all have baggage. I think with the right travel companion I may be able to shed some of this shit and live fully, but until then, it's going to continue to explode in my face.

Las Vegas Market

3 days at market.
4 nights of play.

1) birthday presents worth waiting for.
2) okada, la reve and the wynn lounge.
3) cocktails, the PB&J dinner test at fusia, working late.
4) cocktails, furniture style awards party, GVR sushi, sake and lounge, passing out at work. the pre-flight phone hunt, PDA, missing my flight, the passing of clover and the beginning of ....

two weeks. two weeks.