Awake

A day to celebrate

couple weeks ago, when I found out the event I would be working late into the evening would be not on the 1st, but, in fact, on the 2nd—Britney Spears birthday!—I spoke to my boss with a clarity and straightforwardness that surprised even myself: "Well, I was more than happy to work the event on the 1st, but, um, well, the 2nd is also my birthday, and actually I was kinda thinking, just considering really, to take the day off, maybe." She marked me off before I could even, ahem, consider the matter fully. God bless people who don't put up with my analysis paralysis. :)

Initially, and even up to the last minute, I thought I would spend the day pondering. At the beach or somewhere equally natureful and pondery. But the more I envisioned the day, the more I found what I really wanted was to spend the day in Northwest Portland. Revisit the home town. Visit places I love or have always wanted to experience. So, it was decided. The day would be spent celebrating my return to Portland. The agenda: Japanese Gardens, Lunch in Northwest somewhere, the Art Museum, Powell's City of Books.

The day began earlier than expected with a birthday call from my dear sweet mother at 7am. Shortly thereafter, my upstairs neighbor decided to run the dishwasher. Twenty minutes later, I was drinking Vanilla Almond tea and reading Markus Zusak's I Am The Messenger (a book I have scarcely wanted to put down since I started it).

Skipping through a few delightful hours of leisure, it's five minutes to ten, my camera is packed, shoelaces are tied, and clothing layers are being gathered when the phone rings: It's Grandpa. Probably wanting to wish me happy birthday. That's so sweet. I answer the phone: "Hi Amber. It's Grandpa. Did you forget about me? Lab tests at 10?" I replied, "Yes, Grandpa. I did forget about you. I forgot to write it down and it's my birthday. I was just out the door. But I will come right now and pick you up and take you." So that's what I did.

An hour later, my camera is packed, shoelaces are tied, clothing layers are gathered, and I'm off to the Japanese Gardens. This was my first visit. (Hard to believe, right?)

I saw some volcanoes...

...a pretty waterfall...

Portland Japanese Gardens

...amazing trees...

Portland Japanese Gardens

...and serene stones...

Portland Japanese Gardens

...(among other things).

Definitely will be going back there soon.

I continued down Burnside to 23rd and decided I really didn't want to parallel park on 23rd (even though I'm an excellent parallel parker), so I continued down to The Pearl and decided to have lunch at the first place I recognized and had parking nearby: 50 Plates.

Love their logo. Brilliant.

Enjoyed my lunch experience immensely, but I think I'll stick to happy hour (a little more within my budget). :)

From there I cut over to the Art Museum...

...and viewed the Raphael portrait (stunning, especially in juxtaposition to the many other portraits displayed in the adjoining rooms of the same period) and the China Design Now exhibit (fascinating...I especially loved the wall devoted to typography, so much that I couldn't pass up getting a book of Chinese typography designs from the gift shop after).

Finally, just missing the Street Car, I walked down to Powell's City of Books. I escaped with a couple of gems that I've been meaning to procure.

After that I met up with my folks for dinner at Chen's then window shopping at Washington Square. (And, yes, we did manage to limit ourselves to the windows.)

All in all, a great day of celebration.

Now back to reality.

Happy Thursday.