A weekend of fun

Pictures from this last weekend which share a little of the fun to be had in good ol' Portland Oregon. It all started with my companion in the PCC bathrooms which I got to admit brought me a chuckle. Then as paraded downtown looking for a bus home I got held up by a Trimet transit emergency initiated by the kind fellow seated in the wheelchair. As the story goes while the number 12 was making it's way over westbound over the Burnside Bridge he was acting funny and when the driver asked him if he was ok only to have him a few minutes later pee on the bus and pass out. From the spot where I took the picture I could smell the alcohol that may have contributed to the situation. After that an extra bus was dispatched in order to whisk away the mob that lined the street only to turn us into the bus from Speed, because if we went anywhere under 50 miles per hour we could probably see clearly the obscene gestures and foul language directed our way as the bus sped along without stopping (we were filled to the gills and I am thankful I got out from that sardine can alive). One of the highlights of the weekend was testing my mettle in the game of futsal. More like the outdoor version of the "Beautiful Game" where there are out of bounds lines it is however played on a tiny field (even compared to an indoor arena). Fast paced and you're always running trying to exploit the other's team weakness in order to press the advantage the team I played for (which is Brynn's cousin's husband's Brian team) were able to lay to rest the team that had the previous week defeated them. Well we were able to get off to a fast start and pretty much control the game throughout and I think it ended up 9-4 with two assists and goal from yours truly. What's more that served as a precursor to the following day's indoor game where I notched my first goal of the season (albeit in the motif of Henry) which helped soften the blow of another loss by the Cougars (at least we didn't get goos egg'd) and kept me searching for my first indoor soccer victory (28 games and counting).

Finally a blast from the recent past, I dug up this picture from my phone on the day of my aunt's baptism. Just me and Mr. Mikey hanging out before the service and Frances looking very coyly at the camera.

Books Books Books

So, I had forgotten how much I really love reading..Someday I'd love to have a huge library in my home. I'm kinda picky and haven't gotten into a book in awhile. Just today I finished a book I started yesterday and let me tell you it got me excited about reading again!!! 

I've always had a love hate relationship with the library like most people I think...love because you get to read as many books as you want for FREE.. but only if you return them on time... why oh why can't I remember to turn them in on time or at least RENEW them??? I have decided to turn over a new leaf this time around, however. I have a fresh start at the Portland library so no fines for me ever! I hope... 

Little Big League

My biggest dream is to own a professional sports team. In recent years it's developed a little more thoroughly as I want to own the Timbers. Long has baseball been my official pastime, the Yanks my team, the Volcanoes the team I would end up buying. But now has come the time with soccer that i've grown an insatiable appetite for the game that can only be satisfied by being part of the magic that is the Portland Timbers. Brynn and I were talking about our dreams (you know the one... where a million dollars fall into your laps and suddenly you're free from all the drudgery that spurs the desire for that particular dream) and we the topic fell on the Timbers and where I would be sitting and there is no question, given the choice to be there all season I would be in the north end with the Timbers Army. So when news came that the city council has approved that sees PGE Park being renovated to a soccer specific stadium and home to the newest team to join the MLS I am happy to see that it is my team will become a permanent fixture upon the sporting skyline here in Stumptown. And who knows maybe one day I will run into Hank Scorpio and i'll wake up one morning to find that I have a team left out in my front yard and I would take anything... well anything but the Shittle Flounders....

On the field

I am so proud of the Elders Quorum. We came out in force today to help the Bemis' move, it's a great blessing to see so many honor that call by one of our fellow brethren for help. That is how the gospel is supposed to be.
Tomorrow we have an appointment to visit with our home teachers, Matt Hoiland and Taylor Mallard, and I am excited. I have not seen a home teacher in over a year in the shuffle between the singles ward in Monmouth, the Brush Hills ward in Salem, and the creation of the Maplewood Ward in Portland. I've talked about it before on how a faithful set of home teachers really have meant so much to me and was part of the reason I stepped on the plane to Oklahoma. I earnestly believe that being a home or visiting teacher is the greatest calling one can have in the church. We were talking about entrance into the Celestial Kingdom last Sunday and how after we are baptized into Christ's Church we honor our covenant and the requirement came from the Doctrine and Covenants 76 on how we must be valiant to enter into the Father's Kingdom. I know that diligent home teachers who show through their valiant effort that they are faithful to Lord's commandments are the greatest asset to sharing the fullness of the everlasting gospel.

Snow and Society

Tuesday was a day of epic proportions. Portland was blessed with a beautiful blanket of snow. This blanket was only like 1 inch but it caused a night of interesting events.
There were many happy Jamba employees at 4 pm on Tuesday. We kept running out to see the snow! Snow that we hadn't seen for a year! I got off at 4:45 and learned that Clifford wouldn't be picking me up because our car was stuck in our parking lot. We like all other North Westerners were unprepared for the weather we were having. I will spare you the gory details, but it took me five and half hours to get home that night.  Four of which was spent on a bus that was stranded right outside of down town Portland.
The night was a long, cold one, however it made me realise a few things.
It really amazed me how unprepared the city of Portland was. Most years we get a day of snow and its usually gone by the next morning. Last year we had a week or more of snow. So, I would think that there would be at least a game plan for when we get this kind of weather. I didn't see that they had any game plan on Tuesday. Everyone was caught off guard, I get that, but really.. there were at least four buses stuck around me.. tons and tons of people stranded with no other way to get home and we all had the city to grumble about. Don't get me wrong, the Trimet system is pretty dang good in my opinion. We can get anywhere without a car which is comforting. But it was crazy to me how a LITTLE snow turned everything upside down.
It was also crazy to me however how strangers bonded with each other. Its rare in this day in age to see strangers talking. Everyone is paranoid including me. I try not to make eye contact with anyone on the bus, especially shady looking ones. Judgemental on my part yes, but I've watched too many Law and Orders and read too many true life crime books not to. On this particular snow day, however, many were stranded with only the bus as a viable means of transportation. It was great to see how many people were talking and joking with each other. I was talking with a few people around me and we were even planning on maybe calling a taxi and splitting the cost. I later sat next to a lady on the bus and we were stuck together for four hours. I learned that she just moved from SoCal, she is new at her job and they all jokingly blame her for the snow, she loves pancakes and she desperately tries to convince her sister to move here all the time. She was a nice, funny lady and it was refreshing to talk to someone who was a complete stranger. I saw this happening all around me and it made me smile.
I have always believed that people are inherently good. It's saddened me that throughout my years I have become suspicious of strangers around me, I don't trust many. I know this is for a good reason, for there are many out there who want to hurt others. But, it was so nice to bond with strangers around me. Sitting stranded on a bus for four hours could have been an awful experience, and although it wasn't Disneyland, it was still a good experience and one that I smile at.

2009, a year in pictures

A few pictures documenting a wonderful year. Marriage, Honeymoon, the move to Portland, school, callings, work, the abundance of love from families and friends. We really were blessed this last year and I look forward to another prosperous one in 2010.

Stretch Armstrong

It seems like forever since i've visited the site but nary a week has passed before I doth putteth letters upon this page. A few winners and losers of the past week.

Dorks in a goofy looking hats scored a big win in WINTER STORM '09! You may laugh but as I stood at the bus stop for over an hour and a half my ears were completely toasty? How about yours? Oh... you were inside... dang you. Unfortunaltely for Brynn, Jack Frost forgot to inform her of his plans and she ended up freezing throughout a hellacious four attempt to leave downtown Portland and get home to the warm, warm, heater that I had turned on for her. I believe she got off at 5:00 and caught the 4:15 Sherwood Express which deposited her safely at the transit center around 10:00 pm. At least she wasn't the lady look forlorn when she learned that her bus was due at 6:00... AM! To paraphrase Brynn when the snow blows into Portland all bets are off as people turn into crazy aborigines, stabbing everyone looking to just get ahead.

Your tax dollars lost a big one this year as Portland proved that it is consistent in one thing... year in year out they are woefully unprepared for the frozen miracle from the sky. Let your votes do the talking.

What is it about money and losers. Unitus Credit Union who I allowed to protected by my banner of "they can do no wrong" screwed us over majorly as they told us we would not qualify for a loan or a credit card (no history) to pay for Brynn's education. If that wasn't bad, they were the same people who gave us the advice to wait until we really needed it to apply for said loan before leaving us scrambling on how to finance the term. Tom, the same guy who signed us up and called month after month reminding us that we could sign up for an unsecured credit card broke the news so this one's for you...
Finally we end on a positive note. Christmas. Always a winner was made even sweeter by spending time with two families this year. I wish there was enough time in the world to visit with each one of you during Christmas and New Years but suffice to say we love you all and may the new year bring many great treasures.

We are free!

Happy December, Water Crisis 2009 is finally over and we've apparently go clean water running again (or so they say). The way I kind of understand it is that Portland stores it's waters in reservoirs around the city, the ones in Washington Park and Mt. Tabor Park being the ones I actually know of  and then pipes it from there to us. Both are open reservoirs which though they are gated, they are open, out in the air. In the past they have argued about closing them up but to that end I remain in the dark on what happened other than the fact they must have said no. Following the issue, I read that they may not know where the E. Coli came from but i'm sure the whole of Portland should be on the edge, as this serves as a nice reminder to everyone to keep extra food and water on hand. What was surprising was how many members (including us) were unprepared and had to boil water which would have been an easy problem to remedy had we been prepared with a few extra gallons of water. Lesson learned.
Thanksgiving was a hoot and am grateful our families lives so close. We have a few friends who have to travel back and forth to visit their families out of state (and who would want to leave this sweet land of Oregon)  I can only imagine how dreadful that on a regular basis (especially if you are poor newlyweds). Yay for Dallas and Salem, Oregon!

Sunday dinner

Food is the quickest way to my heart. Bar none. One of the things that i've grown to love is spending Sunday with friends and having food, drinks, and games. This is a tradition that dates back to the days of Vatican I (ps very excited for the Vatican's Thanksgiving, Brynn and I are totally there) and one that remains dear to my heart. Hanging out around the firepit, kicking back a few, and relaxing. The week lying ahead never mattered because you were guaranteed to always be in good company. Now that tradition is revived in some form as we make our rounds in the Maplewood Ward, eating and greeting, getting to know the other couples of the ward. Granted the dynamics are a bit different with the odd kid thrown in here and there, negotiating bed times and shoe off rules, but it's just as great. The setting is reminiscent of the traditional American Sunday dinner, though admittedly growing up in my home we didn't have one, it was always guaranteed that we would be home to spend time with family because Sunday was usually a day that our busy bee activities didn't intrude to lure us away from the hive. I am so happy that we are in Portland, surrounded by so many friends and making new ones.

We made it our alright..... just barely

Muhahaha to our humble internet abode where we rest from our adventure at FRIGHTOWN the scariest place known (to reside in the Memorial Coliseum aside from Bill Walton's Locker.) It was a fun little excursion into Portland's darker side filled with wicked clowns, floor creepers, and giant cyclopes we made it out alive to give it a six skulls out of ten.
There were three haunted attractions. The first two were pretty freaky especially for Clifford who wet his pants almost :) Ok not really it was probably me who wet my pants. The scariest part was probably Clifford going through a curtain before me and the putting his hand out to grab me! Pretty freaky bowie.. The last attraction however was the lamest I've ever been too. It was very light and full of plastic, non moving monsters. It was very disappointing and made me wonder whose great idea it was and why no one told them it was LAME.
But on top of that they sucked us dry for twenty bones each (apparently their stupid coupons aren't valid on weekends) and made us wait in line for about an eternity and a half. The good thing was they did send people out through the line who would occasionally draw a shriek or two. As the Halloween season draws to a close (crazy!) I think we'll make plans to go to Milburn's Mansion next year (outside of Hubbard and winner of best old school website,) because they have Haunted Woods where my own creepy crawlies will make sure to take the spook out of me.

Clifford and Brynn

Snooty people

So I haven't posted in awhile because our laptop was acting out and we had to send it to the company to be fixed. So all we have is our iPod which is really annoying to type on but I figured I would suffer through it since it's still going to be awhile till we are reunited with our computer again.
This week has been a great one so far... I had Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off which isn't good for our funds but it's been good to have a lot of time with Clifford. Monday we visited some art galleries which was really fun and in the first one we bought two prints! Our first pieces of art! It was a larger store and the workers were pretty snooty which made me want to change my mind and not buy anything. Since we weren't buying several hundreds of dollars worth of stuff we got crappy service and had to wait forever for someone to check us out!
Tuesday we went out again and explored Lake Oswego. They are a bunch of fancy pants too!! We ended up going to ikea and Clifford saw the magic of it!! He was won over by the 50 cent hotdogs! We didn't buy anything but got some good ideas.
Wednesday Clifford "went deaf" for a class project. It's been really difficult since I don't know much sign. I really sympathize with the deaf and loved ones of the deaf. It's so hard to communicate. Also we watched tv with the sound off and closed captioning which really shows how much sound plays a huge part. It's been great to walk in different shoes but I will be grateful in ten minutes when he can hear again!
I went to the temple with my dad again yesterday! It's been great having him come because it's really gotten me motivated!! I had a goal to go more since we live like 5 min away!
We've made friends with a family in our ward. They were new the same Sunday we were! They are a lot of fun and we've been having game nights with them on Sundays. They have a darling eight month old girl and she really is sooooo cute! We played the Beatles Rockband and she was singing (or making noise haha ) along with her mom and dancing! She just wanted to be a part of it and it was soo cute!
Well I think that's all we've been up to!

Quick hits

While our laptop is vacationing in California we are stuck using Brynn's iPod to pump out a few tasty morsels here and there.

We've spent the past week parading around Portland as Brynn and I
 have had time together. Our intention was to go on a gallery tour this Monday and see what priceless works of art that are adorning this city
but it was no sooner than our first real store (we had been in a few before this one but it's the kind of place that sells seventy five dollar pillows, Owen Wilson serves as a picture frame's model, and old ladies who shop there drives a Mercedes that look like the Batmobile) than we had in hand our first pieces of art. That's right, we own art crazy! But let me tell you about service, if we are buying something for a significant amount of dough I expect someone to be there immediately. For such a high end place (they sell little "handmade" pumpkin pins that look as though a kindergartener had painted them for a whooping eighteen bucks) they ought to have at least a little bell. Yeeesh.
I also kidnapped Brynn and drove her off to IKEA where apparently dreams are made out of. I have to admit that going in I remained convinced that it was all some plot by the Swedish to brainwash our women by selling the trendy furniture but they may be onto something over there. Granted the room by room thing is cool at first (gets old by the second) i really dig the prices. Even has Wally World beat in some cases which is always a bonus. Not to mention they won me over with their cheap hot dog meal. Two bucks, two dogs, drink and chips... Who could ask for more?
Been spending the better part of twentn four hours Deaf for as part of research I need to do for a paper. Been a very interesting day with a few important details that have stuck out. One is the loss of communication with others and primarily with Brynn. It's hard because our interactions today have been limited to simple gestures and "I love you" signs. Any more than that and the process becomes laborious and stressful. I am eager to communicate but I can see between fingerspelling and teaching simple signs the strain that is put on Brynn. At times I've wanted to call it quits because all i want to is connect with her and then I can see on some level what my dad may feel like. Where there may not already sophiticated language in place simple feelings, ideas, and meanings get lost in translation. Lucky for me in eleven hours it's all over with but i cannot help but think of those who can't just simply remove their earplugs and again listen to the radio or share about your day. Maybe when I have time i will post the paper.
Got a job at Soccerplex which I'm really jazzed about. They called after in landed the job as a sandwich artisté at Subway (who convniently forgot to call me for over a week, making it easier on my concious to bolt) and it looks like I will in part help build a program. Hopefully this will give valuable skills for the future not to mention getting me back into the game i love so much.

A joy!

It's been a joy to have Brynn here in Portland. It's given us a chance (as she is a fine motivator) to go out and see what makes Portland great. It's really easy to get sucked into the school, work, sleep routine but i've been wanting to show her for so long how great Portland was and we've been fortunate to have some time to do that.
The other day we went on a walking tour of downtown on a search for statues that seem to be scattered all over the city. A few of them you question their purpose in being here



but who am I to complain at what makes Portland great. The culture, art, and vibrancy of the city make it so much fun to live in. We can literally turn the corner and find something to do!

Whadda’ busy week!

Geez you’d think we were movers and shakers.

Quick recap of what was a big week as we ended up Portland in a much anticipated move.

Tuesday with a little help from some from friends we packed up our belongings and skirted up to our new home in Portland. We were able to find a wonderful two bedroom apartment off of Barbur Boulevard. It’s centrally located between Portland State and PCC, right on a bus line, just in the middle of everything. Today on our last day off together (as we’ve been enjoying our one week summer vacation) we were able to go both to Portland and Tigard for breakfast, shopping, and sights with ease. In particular i'm fascinated how each of the neighborhoods bring their own flair. Mississippi Avenue is one of my favorites, next week I think we'll hit up the Portland Spelling Bee that is held every Monday night at Mississippi Pizza. Ahhh it’s so good to be back in a city I love so much.

Church was great and we’ll be seeing many changes in the coming week. Apparently the stake here has been in a real flux and this Sunday’s attendance (of around 100+) was the biggest in about a year. They’ve redrawn the ward boundaries and we don’t know where we will be by this time in two weeks so we’ll see where we will end up. Met quite a few friendly faces and for really the first time, young married couples who are our age which is really nice. A few of them ended up being old faces from my other branch at Portland State which was a neat surprise. It’s weird though starting anew as I personally am somewhat of a introvert and making new friends hasn’t always been my strong suit so there is the obvious wish to have things remain the same but if experience has taught me anything is that with change we can have something better if we are willing to sacrifice the comfort we desire.

With school starting in a week and part of the reason i'm up here is to attend PCCto become an ASL interpreter and I am amazed on how the Lord will bless us in the most amazing ways. For the first time ever I was able to sit in on a deaf branch of the church. It was located in this very classic looking church (so different looking that I passed it three times because it clearly isn't part of the church's building plan) made of stone and with sweeping steps in the back, intricate woodwork, just gorgeous. It was a very uplifting moment as I sat there and looked at the gospel being brought to people through the hands of His children. I'll be excited to go back and continue to absorb and in time serve.

Brynn got a job at the Lloyd Center Jamba Juice and has been working since Friday. We had a little fun on the bus as we practiced getting from home and work. I’d never thought twice about how the bus worked as I had for most of my life ridden the city bus. Trimet’s system is wonderful but as I saw Brynn fumble around so cutely with the money machine I wished that everyone would get the opportunity to experience what a wonder it is to be able to get around nearly at will. I won’t lie though there are the pitfalls of the transit system as it brings everyone and I mean EVERYONE into one place. Brynn had the pleasure of being hit on the MAX when she was riding alone on Saturday. Haha. I won’t lie in that he made a good choice but next time he’s a dead man.

Saturday also brought dark clouds, ten foot breakers, and a big red dog on the ocean (even for only a few minutes). Got to live the life on a boat as I spent all of Saturday with Joel and Greg Warnock out in the Yaquina Bay, fishing, eating burgers (on a boat), and fighting the ocean. I can’t describe how fantastic it was being on the ocean riding the waves. It was wild and somewhat scary looking back and seeing how big those waves were and how quickly the caught up with the back of boat and lifted it with impunity. Man if only I could retire today (yeah, yeah I know, I haven’t even begun the fight) I would plunk down some dough and get myself a fine sailing vessel. It’s of course a lush lifestyle and we didn’t actually bag any of those jumping salmon but it was exhilarating, every single minute of it.

The final tango

Summer is winding down and we have been really getting out there. Having landed the apartment in Portland and having a whole week off we've had the chance to really get out there. It's been a fantastic week.

We attended the Monmouth Stake Temple night and it was a beautiful time. Being able to again strengthen our faith and renew our commitment to living the gospel brings so much joy. And the amount of people who responded to President Petersen's call to fill the chapel makes me so proud to see the saints heed the Lord's servant. So many came that we were able to witness the selfless nature of brethren who when seeing that we were filled to capacity and there were women without seats graciously got up and offered their own. It was good to see that gallantry still has a place in the world.

OMSI was amazing. We took Tyler, Connor and Trent to see the museum (Trent being a first timer). It was funny because we had never been to a musuem together as a couple (the only other time was when I arranged for Brynn and I to go with Trent to Willamette University's art musuem, Trent acting as my beard) so Brynn didn't know that i'm a slowpoke when it comes to looking at things. Especially when most of the exhibits are interactive, I can spend ages in each section. So as the others ended up zipping through I was moving as slow as molasses. This obviously didn't sit well with Connor because as I was nearing the end of the second exhibit she ingeniously (I think having had seen this technique practiced with Karli and Bill) invoked the wife clause ("Brynn wants to see you") and off we went to the CSI exhibit. All in all it was a fantastic way to spend the day seeing ourselves do the weather on TV, making paper airplanes, flying into space in a Gemini capsule. I think we were there for four hours and I hadn't made it all over the museum.



One of the biggest rip offs was the State Fair. We each hadn't been for years personally because of bad experience working there with the carnies. Ten bucks to get in and no way we are going to pony up three to four dollars to get on the lamesauce rides, we ended up going back and forth up the aisles looking at people's wares and food. Ended up finding a new exhibit to the fair. It was a Sea Lion outreach program that held shows every day to educate people about sea lions and it featured two sea lions that had been rescued. The neat thing was that you could buy a ticket to get a kiss from the sea lions and sensing that this would be the one redeeming factor of our outing we each got a ticket. The kiss was so cold and wet but not as gross as you would think. Each dollar also went to funding the program and the sea lions themselves.

Farmers we are not...

Well it is official. Gazing into our crystal ball we have forseen a future in which the smell of cow poop is not part of our life... besides after cliff's in the bathroom.
We went to our friends pool party right next to a dairy... enough said.
I now teach the 5 and 6 year olds at our church in Sunday School. It went well besides the one kid wearing cowboy boots who was kicking the other teacher and eating people with his toy dinosaur. I've found in life that there are always the same kids in almost every group. There are the annoying ones, the quiet ones, the mean ones, the smart ones. As a whole the class went pretty well after we got the kicking kid calmed down. We learned about being accountable for our actions. At this age, they are kind of willing to listen to a lesson although snack is a must. So it was actually quite enjoyable. We also played a fishing game and a matching game which the kids loved.
Last Saturday we went to the Temple. Afterwards we went to eat at a place called The Montage. Its a cool, off beat little cajun restaurant in a random part of town. Clifford got alligator linguini which actually wasnt too bad.. it kind of tasted like shrimp! I got the old mac' which was delicious. Also, instead of giving you a box for your leftovers, they rap them in tinfoil and make crazy creations. Clifford got a swan and I got a flower!!
My mom and I went to a new cafe called The French Press. They serve coffee, smoothies, and crepes. I had no idea there were meat crepes. We got a cordon blue crepe and it was delious!! We highly recommened this place. It is on commercial across from the strip mall with jamba juice and Verizon.
Our lives haven't been too exciting lately but we thought we would update you!!!

'Gator

Last night we went to the Portland Temple and it was great. We often create barriers that are non existent and I was happy to see how really easy it was set aside a few hours and enjoy the blessings of the Lord's House.
Afterward we went to the Montage located under the Morrison Bridge which is a nice little joint which serves a cuisine focusing on Cajun food. I discovered a while back with some friends when I was living from Portland and it has long since been a favorite. Usually i'm a stickler for eating the Spold (spicy and old mac) but I was feeling adventurous and went with the Gator linguine. Not half bad. Not too spicy and really the Gator tasted something like shrimp but not to fishy. A little Portland Punch to wash it down (my only complaint is with the drink which aren't refillable) and a nice night was capped.

For all those who came....

And those we missed... Here are a few pictures from our sealing at the temple in Portland. We love you all.

Clifford