Ten Interesting Factoids On Portland

Of course there are many more than 10 interesting things about Portland, Oregon/Beaverton area, but here are a quick few;

1. My son-in-law and youngest daughter (and 1 week old grandaughter!) live here.
2. There are amazing running and biking routes everywhere. Jan and I are trying to experience as many as possible.
3. Within a one hour drive are mountains, rivers, rain forests, the Pacific Ocean, wineries and much more.
4. Portland is the home of local brewed beer and we are trying as many as possible.
5. Portland voted down having the water supply have flouride automatically added. Coincidently, or maybe not, there is a dentist office within a few blocks of anywhere. Jan printed off a dentistry certificate from the internet and soon we will be opening our own office. I will be the dental assistant.
6. Jan and I have run around the Nike headquarters on their pine mulch 2 mile path a few times. We believe we have seen Olympians Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan running on the private Nike paved trail across the street. A bit weird, that area is wooded, has many posted signs, and a security guard traverses the path on his moped keeping non-Nike employees away.
7. You are not cool in Portland unless you wear a winter hat with long tassels, whether you are male or female. Jan and I are not cool.
8. Vehicles do not rust. I haven't seen so many pickup trucks or VW bugs from the 1970's since an antique auto show.
9. Tillamook cheese is awesome! I don't eat cheeseburgers, ever. A burger with Tillamook, Oregon cheese is totally different and delicious.
10. Portland is so far from our workplace and in a three hour time difference that it is impossible to think about the possibility of telecommuting to work.

Grandpa

My first grandchild was born on 11/21/12 at 2:01 am. in Portland, Oregon. Her name is Ellowyn and, of course, she is beautiful. Jan and I had the good fortune of being in Beaverton, Oregon and will be staying for a couple more weeks.

Casey Jones

Adapted from Grateful Dead, Casey Jones.

Riding that plane
Seems like a dream
Surely wish I had some
...dramamine

This old jet makes it on time,
Leaves Ra-cha-cha bout a quarter to nine,
Hits O'hare in Chicago
At a quarter to ten,
you know it's central time again.

Riding that plane,
Portland ahead, New York behind,
Surely wish I had my dramamine.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind,
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

Portland ahead, baby Magoo,
Take my advice, you'll be meeting Grandma soon.
Baby Mama's sleeping, weighing in
...well, don't ask if know what's good for you.

Riding that plane,
Seems like a dream
Wish that pilot would increase our speed.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind,
And you know that dramamine finally hit my mind.

Trouble with you is the trouble with me,
Got two good eyes but you still don't see.
Come land on the tarmac in the rain,
The tires squealing hear us scream.
Seems like a dream.

MCM Finish Video

Mike Weinpress crossing line. He is running on center yellow line, red hat and shirt, long black socks. Mike's clock time is 4:00:30, chip time 3:58:51. IE seems to like to block these videos, so try Firefox if you can't get it to view.

 http://www.csnwashington.com/video_content_type/mcm357-404?t=171-432

Lou crossing the finish. He is right in the beginning of this video along right side of road. Red hat with blue visor, red shirt.
http://www.csnwashington.com/video_content_type/mcm-451-502

Jen Katz. http://www.csnwashington.com/video_content_type/mcm342-350

Jen is in pink top, along the center yellow line, looking ready to run another five miles. She is near end of this video.

Charlie Mullen finishing. Clock time 4:41:34, chip time 4:39:55. Charlie is in white hat, dark clothes, near center line and saluting Marines about 20 yds before he finishes. http://www.csnwashington.com/marine-corps-marathon/mcm-440-451

Take It Easy - marathon theme song?

Adapted from Jackson Browne hit, "Take It Easy". (actual song begins at 2 minute mark).

Well I'm a-running down the road trying to loosen my load

I've got twenty-six miles on my mind
Four with too many hills, five into the wind
Two across a bridge that makes me whine.

Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own feet drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don't even try to understand
Why you run marathons over and over, so take it easy.

Well I'm a-nearin’ the corner in Crystal City
With such a fine sight to see
It's the mile 23 sign, my lord,
Starin’ back at me.
Come on quads, don't say maybe
I've got to know if you’re goin’ to cramp and scream
We may run slow or we may win
But we will never be here at MCM again
So c’mon legs just let me get back to Rosslyn.

Well I'm a-runnin’ mile twenty-five trying to loosen my load
Got a world of trouble on my mind
Lookin' for motivation to keep on goin’
But it’s just a little hard to find
Take it easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own feet drive you crazy
Come on quads, don’t say maybe
I gotta get up the hill to finish and see my baby.

You know we got it easy
We oughta take it easy