Our Vacation

After getting back from our family vacation, Josh Downs and I started planning our own little vacation and decided on a weekend in downtown Portland (about four hours from home).

Thursday: We hadn't planned on leaving until Friday morning, but since Josh hadn't gone back to work yet and since all of my computer gear was headed in for repair (which meant I couldn't work either) we decided to head out on Thursday afternoon after picking the kids up from school.

We stopped at the minute market to grab some snacks (coconut water, Smart Food and dark chocolate almonds), got on I-5 headed North and about three hours later we were were in Corvallis (where Josh went to college) having dinner at 101.

Then we found a hotel (the first one we went to was full) and stayed up watching House Hunters on HGTV.

Friday: First thing Friday morning, we went for a three mile run down by the water, packed up our stuff and took all the back roads out to McMinnville to have lunch at McMenamins. (And found that old train cart on our way.)

Once we got into Portland, Josh dropped me off downtown to go shopping for a new pair of pants to wear that night and then he went to check in at the hotel.

A few hours later, I met him at the hotel bar without any new pants and wearing more make-up than I've ever worn (The girl at the Benefits Cosmetics counter promised to give me a complete make-over if I promised to purchase two products.) where I had the worst mojito I've ever had (The waitress promised me the best mojito I'd ever had and since she was the nicest waitress I'd ever met, I lied and told her it was amazing.)

The rest of the night was crazy.

It involved five or six different bars, too many drinks, a bit of dancing, several taxis, a marital disagreement, a rickshaw ride, a new friend (Hi Marianne!), lots of rain and a few borrowed cigarettes and ended at 4:30 a.m. in front of a gyro stand, eating the best falafel I've ever eaten.

Saturday: Saturday morning started off with a little reminder about why I don't drink more than one or two drinks and why I don't smoke (a hangover) and unfortunately, the reminder lasted all day. We went to Sellwood, hit a few antique stores, ate some lunch and had some frozen yogert with extra blueberries because I heard they cure hangovers. (Not true.)

I'm not even sure if we realized until Saturday that it was St. Patrick's Day and the city was shutting down streets and putting up tents to celebrate.

I'm too old to whoop it up two nights in a row (or even two years in a row) so we decided to celebrate in the hotel room with a movie and some spinach au-gratin from Ruths Chris Steakhouse instead (because I never go to Portland without getting spinach au-gratin take-out.)

I think we were asleep by 10:00 p.m.

Sunday: Woke up Sunday morning and went for another three mile run along the river. This run ended at Voodoo Doughnuts though where we waited in line for 45 minuts just because the doughnuts are so good. (Actually Josh waited in line for 45 minutes - I ran back to the hotel and started packing since it was getting close to check-out.)

And then we made our way back home and back to real life.

I wish real life were as fun as vacation life.

Comments

[Kathy C.]

Glad you two got away...albeit P-Town was nuts on Sunday due to the Shamrock Run...So happy for you guys!!!! :)

[janel]

smiling, smiling, smiling! So happy for you!

[kristy b]

Hi. I have never posted a comment on your blog but I have followed for some time now and it makes me giggle, laugh, and cry..... and I love reading it!! I love your honesty and for-realness...is that even a word? You tell it like it is, the good, bad and the ugly and never try to sugarcoat anything. People like that are few and far between these days. So, I just wanted you to know that your blog lifts me up on a bummer of a day, give me hope when things seem hopeless, give me a good laugh when I need one, and keeps me smiling when things are going great. Thank you for sharing your life!

[Tammy]

Awesome! :)

[Addie]

Sounds like a great little vacation! I'm happy seeing pics of the two of you again!

[Amanda @ Click. The Good News]

Sounds like a blast- glad you two were able to sneak away :)

[mandy friend]

um, house hunters on hgtv is the main reason i like hotels;) {we don't have tv} pathetic, yes.

i'm glad you two got away for some much needed time<3

[Deneen]

So happy you had a good time :)
My husband and I are off this coming weekend to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary so I am excited to be getting away from real life for just a bit as well.

[♥ Debbie]

So glad you had a nice mini vacay weekend!! Crazy I was in McMinnville on Friday shopping at Boresma's which is just a few blocks from McMenamins!! And on Sunday I did the Shamrock Run!!

[Monica]

:-)

[Stacey Clinton]

Hey girlfriend! Those "sausage legs" are looking pretty good! Forest Gump was right... all that running is good! ;) Congrats on looking so great and so glad you two got away for a while. it's good to reconnect, even with marital disagreements.

[Jen B]

Bananas. Bananas will help with hangovers :)

[laura plunk davis]

welcome back....

[val]

You sound like yourself. And you're saturday night sounds hilariously fun. :)

[Faith]

Real life is L-I-F-E real, but so much better than being away from each other or a few drinks or cigs. Hugs...that's all that was needed. That and snuggling, which was the main reason for the adults only getaway...right? How come when adults only nights are planned do they end up "not as we planned?" Smiling because you two are in each others arms again!!

[cinback]

And you couldn't have captured it with a better photo!

[Shannon L]

So happy to see you two together and smiling. It seems like anytime hubby and I have a night to ourselves we end up with a martial disagreement that sometimes ruins the whole night. Sigh, it's real life and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else. So glad you and your little family are back together!

[Leslie]

your list of Friday nights activities sounds like the script for the 3rd Hangover movie! LOL I loved the post. So happy to see Josh home. Glad you had a nice mini vacay. :)

[Colleen Barron]

So glad you have your hubby back home. So thankful for his service and sacrifice for our country. So glad to see your beaming face!

[Dawn Wheeler (Go Beavs)]

So happy you two are back in the same country/state/house. "I wish real life were as fun as vacation life too. But then I wonder......what would vacation be like?

[Aimee B. in Oregon]

happy to hear that you had a vacation. You drove right by my house!!! If I'd only known Id made a welcome home sign and stood out on the hwy near Peavey Arboretum!

[Tracy]

Nice! Love that shot of the two of you. What did you prop your camera on?

[Jen]

Jealous. :)

[borcherding]

First off, great pic of you two and secondly, you two ROCK!!

[Diane]

oh...way to much fun...blueberries hey...will have to try that xxx

[Kelli]

That sounds like the best time ever! Except the drinking and smoking!
Love the photo!
And I want to try spinach au gratin!

[linda]

The only way to cure a hangover is to prevent it. To do that you have to prevent your body from becoming dehydrated from the alcohol. A full quart of fruit juice before turning in for the night.

[Kerensa]

I've been in line at Voodoo at midnight... Crazy place isn't it? Hard to believe they've maintained their popularity for so many years! Glad to hear you guys are having fun!

[Vail Village rental]

Champion on looking so excellent and so grateful you two got away for a while. it's excellent to get in touch, even with marriage arguments.

[Daphne Michaels]

Susan, that lampshade is so pretty! It looks so simple yet classy! BTW, your blog designs in black and white that somehow resembles to an old school gothic style, but it is so majestic to see! I hope your new blog will have many visitors, too. :)