September 5, 2010
Swift Watch 2010
Well, here we are approaching September. And September is Swift watching month here in Portland. For those of you who do not know what Portland Firefly is talking about, I shall explain.
Portland is on the flyway for a type of bird called Vaux Swifts. They migrate from Alaska to Mexico every year and use Portland as a stopover on their long journey. These little birds like to roost inside of old hollowed out trees or very tall chimneys.
The old chimney at Chapman School in North East Portland has been a favorite roosting, resting place for these acrobatic birds for many years. And they do put on quite a show in the evenings just before they dive inside the chimney at night to go to sleep. It is this aerial show that brings Portlanders out for the free event!
These birds are predictable as to the time they go to sleep at night and so Portlanders bring out their blankets, their picnic dinners and we sit and watch the spectacular show.
The Audubon society provides information on this event and here is the link to their website. http://audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swift-watch
If you enjoy watching the International Space Station flyovers you can also coordinate an ISS sighting with your Swift watch. Go to this website for the ISS sighting times in Portland: http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=United_States®ion=Oregon&city=Portland
So choose a night to attend and perhaps you will see Portland Firefly there…. our family makes it an annual event!
PS: This school is in a residential area so please be sure to respect the property of the local homeowners ~ don’t block driveways and take all trash back home with you. Enjoy!!!
September 3, 2010
Labor Day Weekend
Well, today signifies the last weekend of Summer. In Portland, we have had the coolest summer in 17 years; hopefully our fall will be warm so we can continue to enjoy our beautiful outdoor scenery. We are hoping to go to a couple of parks for walks and picnics and just enjoying each other and nature.
But…. Portland Firefly will be hanging her beautiful large American flag outside early on Friday morning. One last summer’s chance to show my patriotism. I hope you will remember to fly your flag as well!
Have a great weekend!!!
September 2, 2010
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month….. Need I say more??
Probably not, but here goes anyway…..
Teal is the color for Ovarian Cancer –so Portland Firefly has been wearing a lot of teal lately. I make sure to wear it whenever I give my speech.
Here are the symptoms again…
• Ovarian cancer, sometimes called “the silent killer,” is not silent. Symptoms such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling of fullness or urinary issues, can be subtle but are usually present early.
• When symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, feeling of fullness, or urinary problems are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent, and a change from normal.
The symptoms of Ovarian Cancer will be a change from how you feel normally and will continue over a period of two weeks or more. Some other symptoms may be extreme fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, a feeling of nausea, increase in waist size, back or leg pain, reflux type symptoms. Many women are mis-diagnosed with irritable-bowel syndrome which causes a detrimental delay in treatment.
Most women know that they are sick in a way they have never been sick before. Do not wait. See your gynecologist immediately and ask for a pelvic and rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA-125 blood test. Some doctors may also order a CT Scan which may show the presence of ascites or fluid in the abdomen.
August 28, 2010
Kevin
When I boarded the little American Eagle regional jet in Springfield, Missouri, I took my assigned aisle seat behind the bulkhead wondering if I’d have the ‘entire row’ (two tiny seats) to myself or if the flight was full.
The flight was not full and just as the Flight Attendant was beginning the required FAA Safety announcements, a man came up from behind me and asked if the seat next to me was taken. But this was just not any man… oh no!!! He was absolutely gorgeous! Tall, muscular, and with an engaging smile. And he was wanting to sit next to me! Of course the seat was available!
His name is Kevin and he told me a lot about himself on our flight to Dallas. He owns a ranch outside of Springfield and has his own airplane and a lot of other ‘toys’ all made possible by his lucrative job working on a deep-water oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
Yes, the Deepwater Horizion Gulf oil disaster had just happened a few days earlier. When we were on our flight to Dallas he was being called into work for a special training session. He explained so much to me about how the deep water oil rigs work especially his job in keeping the rig level and stable and in position. All this is aided by computers of course and this handsome man was an expert in his position.
The oil rig workers endure many hardships while on the water-borne rigs but they are well compensated for the time they spend away from their family and homes. Yet this handsome man was sacrificing a family for this job. I think he planned to eventually settle down, but it is difficult to give up the lucrative benefits of such a job.
Any way we spent a most pleasant flight and he warmed my heart with his smile and conversation. I wish him safety and love….
August 27, 2010
Hood-to-Coast Relay Race
International Space Station Sightings 2010
This Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday you will have the opportunity to see two ISS flyovers each night! NASA publishes the times of the ‘sightings’ and you can be sure that they are accurate — it is NASA after all!
One point to remember is that the ISS path takes it generally from west to east, but it may show up in the sky from South West to North West or anywhere in between. Its path is then toward the East. The longer the flyover time, the higher the ISS is in your sky. On Friday and Saturday nights, there will be a 4 minute visibility so Portland Firefly strongly urges you to look at that time because you will have a better chance to see it if you have never seen it before. That will make your future sightings easier! Have fun!!!!
Go to this NASA link to map out your plan for watching: http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=United_States®ion=Oregon&city=Portland
For those of you in a different region of the United States, you can go to the same web link just input your nearest large city! Your sighting times will, of course, be very different from ours here in Portland!
August 18, 2010
Oregon Air Show 2010
The Oregon Air Show is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Hillsboro Airport. For those who live in the area, please be aware that there will be increased traffic and some roads will be closed during certain aerial performances.
Some of the performers are the Marine Corps Harrier Jets, the US Patriots Team, F/A 18 Hornets, Sons of Legends, and many more.
This is one of the best events around our fair city and the weather should be perfect for a day ‘looking up to the sky’.
For more information click on the following link: http://www.oregonairshow.com/
August 10, 2010
Shopping Miracles
Well, I have always had an affinity for finding just the right thing when I go shopping and today was no exception. Only today (as I have done on other occasions), I told God what I needed to find before I went into the store.
Well, how amazing! Or, maybe not! I was able to find exactly what I was looking for and on sale, too! On top of that during my eight stops today, I found a parking place in the shade of a tree seven times. My black car really liked that and so did I when I climbed back into it after completing that errand! Oh, the eighth time I found a spot right in front of the door to the store in a parking lot that had no shade!
August 4, 2010
Portland Road Repairs
Now Portland Firefly has yet another reason to like Portland….
Week-end night-time repairs…
Yes, this city actually uses their brains in figuring out how to repair roads with the least disruption to the driving public. How? They schedule road repair and road maintainance for night times.. and usually on the weekends when there is less traffic. Then they make an exception… on Holiday weekends, they suspend road repairs and have all lanes open.
Just one more reason to love my new state!!
August 3, 2010
Kindness of Strangers
I have something that I want to share with you all. Whenever you see someone who is undergoing Chemotherapy and they are out shopping or at a movie or walking in the neighborhood, they are expending a huge amount of energy just to show up!
It takes me such a long time just to get dressed, put on my make up, wrap my head and drive somewhere that I feel as though I deserve an award for showing up! And it is quite possible that I do! Add to that the ‘charming’ chemo side-effect of ‘chemo-brain’ and it amazes me that I can remember anything at all –appointments, driving directions and names. A new phrase I’ve employed often recently is,”Now, please remind me of your name.” This is said, of course, with a sweet (“I’m really a ditz”) smile. Remember, just ditzy, not crazy.
I hope this gives you a new appreciation of those with cancer that you see ‘out and about’.
Oh, and if you extend a special courtesy to one of us, we really do notice and appreciate it –even if we fail to acknowledge it at the time… It one of those moments you realize later when you are at rest and your chemo-fogged mind is reviewing the days activities and you realize that some stranger showed you loving concern in a way you didn’t realize at the time and never thanked them for it. So you thank them then and ask a special blessing for them during their day.
August 1, 2010
Ezra
Portland Firefly finally arrived at the Portland Airport after spending two days in the Dallas terminal trying to get on a flight home. Since my travel was standby, I had not arranged for a ride to pick me up and bring me home, so I decided to take the Max.
I love the Max; Portland has a terrific public transport system and I always enjoy watching the humanity on the train. This trip was no exception.
Leaving the airport, I visited with a businessman who is an expert on tumor marker blood tests. I had just come from a conference where we had a session devoted to this topic. What are the odds of that! After he got off at his stop, I just enjoyed the ride for a few minutes until the train stopped for the passengers at the Zoo.
In the dark tunnel that is the Max’s Zoo stop, onto the train bounded Ezra. He was so full energy and so talkative that I was a little concerned. But he was a very likeable young man, 20 something , with a wild, messy ponytail of dark soft almost curls sort of sticking out everywhere. He started talking to me — telling me how he was taking the train to Wilsonville where he planned to hitch-hike to Bend to gather his belongings. As his story goes… his friends took all of his stuff to Bend and refused to bring it back to him. All of his clothes, his (probably meager) possessions, including his wallet with his ID in it were in Bend. This talkative, small in stature, compact bundle of energy told me that he had quit smoking two months ago and he was very proud of this accomplishment. He went on to comment that he didn’t realize just how improved his health was until he had to run several blocks to catch this train, yet he was not the least bit winded. I complemented him on it as well.
He had all of his things in a ripped plastic bag that he had set on the seat between us. I couldn’t help but to notice it and I wondered if the tattered plastic bag would make the trip without spilling its contents all over somewhere.
We continued to visit about things that mattered to us. He asked about my cancer and told me that he knew of two young women who had a type of gynecological cancer. He then added that he would never consider marrying either one of them. A family was too important to him. It mattered not that they might be beautiful, employed, and wonderful in every other way; he would not consider them. He then went on to tell me all about his name ~ a biblical one ~ and about his parents, both his adoptive as well as his biological ones. I was shocked at his piercing comments to a stranger regarding such personal matters, but he probably figured that he’d never see me again and he is probably right. This openness only added to his likability and charm.
Earlier that morning in Dallas I had packed a plastic bag into the side zipper of my carry-on suitcase. “One never knows when one might need an extra sturdy plastic bag,” I told myself. Well, I was almost home and I knew that I would not be needing that bag. I reached into my carry-on bag and withdrew the untattered, untorn piece of recyclable material and offered it to this interesting young man. He was happy to have it because it did look as though his ‘suitcase’ might not make the trip all the way to Bend.
We parted at the next stop wishing each other well.
July 30, 2010
QVC Super Saturday Live Designer Sale
Super Saturday Live is this Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 11:00am – 1:00pm West Coast time.
QVC presents Super Saturday Live, a nationally televised sales event featuring designer products in support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). The net proceeds from this event will be donated to OCRF to advance ovarian cancer research, raise awareness of the disease, and eventually find a cure.
Designer Sponsors
In support of the fight against ovarian cancer, QVC has invited top brand names and companies to donate high-quality accessories, beauty, jewelry, and home goods at wholesale cost. This merchandise will be sold during the Super Saturday Live event both on QVC’s broadcast and QVC.com with all net proceeds benefiting OCRF. Check out the brands that have partnered with QVC and OCRF this year to make this event a success:
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| Amrita Singh | Bare Escentuals | Dalton Cosmetics | DHC |
| Dr. Denese Skinscience® | Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care | Honora | It Figures!® |
| Joan Rivers Classics Collection® | Judith Ripka | Laura Geller | Lierac Paris Skincare |
| Lucky Brand | Mally Beauty | NARS | Perricone MD |
| philosophy | Slatkin & Co. | Supersmile | Smashbox Cosmetics |
| Talbots | tarte: high performance naturals™ | Votre Vu | WEN by Chaz Dean |
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| Jacqueline Kennedy Collection | Juicy Couture | kate spade new york | LORAC |
| Poppy King’s Lipstick Queen | Rivka Friedman Jewelry Collection | Theory |  |
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This is just a partial list, for more information, go to : http://www.qvc.com/cgen/render.aspx?qp=promo|supersaturday_2010&rewrite=no#
July 26, 2010
Today is Paper Shredding Day
Don’t forget to take you boxes or bags of paper to the KGW Studios to participate in their free paper shredding day!! It’s today!!
From 5:30 am to 7:00 pm at the KGW studios at 1501 SW Jefferson in downtown Portland. You are allowed to bring 2 file boxes or 2 paper bags full of paper for the freee shredding. Recycle and save a tree!
July 25, 2010
Ethiopian Refugees
While at the airport last week, I saw something that moved me.
It was one of those ‘airport golf carts’ that transport passengers from one gate to another because they have a special need. Well, if ever someone needed the cart this day, it was the woman I saw in the cart.
The thin black woman was from Ethiopia, I guessed, and surrounded by children. Sitting softly tall in the cart’s back seat, the beautiful mother had an African ‘baby sling’ wrapped around her complete with infant. She was also struggling to hold a restless child about 16 months old. Close in next to her was another boy about 3 years old who was mesmerized by what was happening all around him, yet not willing to leave the safety of his Mother’s side. He was seeing things he had never seen before and I wondered how this trip would affect him. Absolutely his life will be changed for the better, but what of this trip will he remember?
Then my gaze advanced up to the center seat — another boy identical to the two behind him, but about 5 years old sat with his mouth open looking mostly ahead of him. And in the front seat was the cart driver along with ‘big brother’ who was probably about 7. Again identical to his three brothers; there was no doubt that he was part of this same family.
I have seen such families before when working as a Flight Attendant. I believe that they ‘win’ some sort of lottery to come to America . And come they do. With nothing but the clothes on their backs. Literally. No checked luggage. No carry-on bag. Just their paperwork and maybe a few possessions in a white plastic bag with blue lettering.
This Mother had a large white / blue lettered plastic bag (about the size of our grocery bags) sitting where the luggage goes in the cart and that is how I confirmed my inclinations of their status. There is a very distinctive emblem on the bag and that plastic bag is ALL that she brought with her and 5 children to America.
They are sponsored by a family somewhere and that is where they will be living. The mother may decide to take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes and the children should begin school soon. Usually they settle in communities with similar families for common encouragement and because they can communicate with them until they learn English.
Anyway I still have the picture in my mind of this beautiful contemporary Madonna with child plus four more in the airport golf cart. And yes, Portland Firefly prayed a special blessing for this brave mother as I passed by.
July 24, 2010
Shop QVC for Ovarian Cancer Research
Saturday, July 31, 2010 QVC will be having a special event to benefit Ovarian Cancer Research from 2 to 4:00 pm Eastern time. That would be from 11:00 am to 1:00pm Pacific Daylight Time on the West Coast. It is called Super Saturday Live and they actually have some designer items on sale online now.
I was told that the show items are very nice, high quality and that they are below retail prices so they sell out very fast. This sounds like you should not miss this opportunity to pick up a few goodies (early Christmas shopping perhaps) and benefit Ovarian Cancer research in the process.
Some items are already available onlline at:
http://www.qvc.com/cgen/render.aspx?qp=promo|supersaturday_2010&rewrite=no
July 23, 2010
Free Shred Day
KGW is having another free paper shredding day on Monday, July 26, 2010. For every 6000 pounds of paper that we recycle, we save a tree!!
So be sure to take up to two ‘file-type’ boxes or two grocery bags of paper to the KGW Studios (1501 SW Jefferson) in downtown Portland on Monday, July 26, 2010 between 5:30am and 7:00 pm.
July 16, 2010
Sand in the City
What do you get when you mix over two hundred competitors, thousands of spectators, great food, live entertainment, master sand sculptors, and 450 tons of sand? It’s Yoshida’s Sand in the City! As the premier fundraising event for Kids on the Block Awareness & Powerful Puppetry, this event brings the beach to Downtown Portland.
Grab the kids, and ride the Max to Pioneer Square to enjoy the sandcastles….. no rain expected this weekend!
For more information about this event: http://www.sandinthecitypdx.com/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=336058&lis=1&kntae336058=186FF1BB36CC43E3B93365BFCCE00698
July 7, 2010
A Tea Party
Portland Firefly has found an easy fun way to entertain that does not wear her out too much. I have started having tea parties at my home.
Tea Table by PDXfirefly
I start out by deciding who I want to attend; and it is usually a very small group — usually two or three others in addition to myself. I make sure that the people attending are compatible in some way. This does not mean that they have to know each other — just invite people who you like that you think would get along with each other and may have a common interest.
I have a beautiful dining room – very light and airy – with comfortable chairs so I set my dining room table and that is where we have our tea party. Mine is a little more formal than you need to have it; but that is how I like to entertain ~ comfortably elegant. I have a lot of pretty items and it is fun to get them out and use them; they aren’t doing anyone any good sitting in the drawer or cabinet!
Because of my limited energy levels, I plan my menu several days in advance and I write it down. I also assemble my serving pieces and get out the dishes and silver that I plan to use. I clean the house several days ahead of time, so all I have to do the night before is to freshen up the place. Besides we will be doing so much talking that no one will notice a little dust or disorder. And, if they do, well…. they don’t have to come back again!!! The big advantage of preparing the house ahead of time is that I have more days to enjoy a clean house! And for someone with cancer ~ cleaning the house is a big deal, believe me.
Now what to serve…. I usually serve only one type of tea which I make in the kitchen in my best tea-pot which I then bring to the table and set it on a plate lined with a doily to catch any drips. The tea that I serve is called Good Earth – caffeine free original. It has a naturally mild sweet and spicy taste and I have yet to find someone who does not like it.
I have a tiered serving dish that was a gift a long time ago. It is perfect for putting tea goodies on. I usually serve home roasted nuts, fresh berries, dried apricots, dates or hibiscus flowers, a wrapped cheese, fresh made (just an hour ago) scones, chocolate truffles, a vanilla cream filled creation, cucumber sandwiches, and maybe a special small cookie such as a meringue. Use your imagination ~ you want to have a variety of textures and colors on you serving tray ~ and make the items small sizes and easy to eat with your fingers.
To accompany the scones, I serve Raspberry Jam, Lemon Curd and butter in separate dishes with their own tiny serving spoons. If these items are dished out and refrigerated an hour (or more) before your guests arrive, you can set them on the table as you answer the doorbell and they will still be cold at tea time. You can have your tiered tray of goodies on the table as well or on a nearby table or just around the corner on the kitchen counter. It should be close enough so that it will be easy to grab it and set it on the table as your guests seat themselves. Always reserve the seat closest to the kitchen for yourself!
As my guests arrive I have them sit in the living room and when everyone has arrived, we go to the tea-table. At that time , I’ll bring in the warm scones and the tea. I actually have the water all hot well before my guests are scheduled to arrive. It will stay hot on the stove (with a lid on it) on low temp once it is brought to a boil. I also ‘scald’ my tea-pot. That means that you put very hot water into the pot to warm it up before you actually add the tea bags and hot water for tea. It helps to keep your tea hot longer. You can actually make your tea in the kitchen when your first guest arrives (hopefully your remaining guests will be there soon). That way, you can all spend more time at the table visiting and enjoying the tea goodies and each others company.
Because, the whole idea of a tea party is to visit and create time together with your friends.
Now, this may sound like a lot of work to some of you out there. But remember, you are doing all of the prep work ahead of time so that you will be refreshed and able to enjoy the time with your friends. I also like to have several tea parties planned near each other. Maybe one on Tuesday at 11:00 am and another one on Thursday at 2:00 pm with different friends. I already have the food and everything is out and ready to use, so it is pretty easy to do it twice.
July 2, 2010
Happy Fourth of July
Today begins the July 4th weekend celebrations. The neighbors started shooting off fireworks two nights ago, thankfully not too late in the evening!
Here in Portland and in the surrounding municipalities, including Washington state, MANY of the firework use laws have changed. It is important that you check your local rules so you don’t purchase or use illegal fireworks. Since the rules vary considerable, the fireworks stands may sell you a product that is illegal where you plan to use it.
Some of the stands were even unaware of the rules changes, so don’t rely upon them to give you the correct information. They are … after all ….. selling a product… and they want you to buy it. Also, some cities can only shoot off fireworks on certain days. So Buyer Beware!!! The law enforcement fines are very hefty this year.
Oregon law bans possession, use, or sale of any fireworks that fly, explode, travel more than one foot into the air, or more than six feet on the ground. These fireworks are illegal. You are encouraged to report illegal firework activity through the City’s non-emergency number, (503) 823-3333.
Why are most fireworks illegal in Oregon? It’s not rocket science: Oregon law states that fireworks outside the above definition are dangerous and strictly limit the use of these to professional displays only. Illegal fireworks cause:
- Countless injuries including trauma and burns from unplanned explosions
- Reoccurring trauma to many of our returning veterans suffering the effects of their service to our Country
- Enormous property loss each year by causing fires to residences, landscape, and wildland
- Emotional trauma and anxiety to many small children and animals, who are especially vulnerable
- Environmental pollution, measurable in both air and noise
In Portland, our difficulty is that many of the fireworks that are illegal in Oregon are legal in Washington and readily available to anyone who can drive across the Columbia River. Given the physical, emotional, environmental, and economic costs, as our population becomes more aware about these real consequences, it will become increasingly clear that illegal fireworks in the hands of amateurs is no longer a ‘patriotic’ act.
For those of you outside of the city of Portland, contact your local police or fire department on their non-emergency phone number. Now … if your house is on fire … call 911!
Happy and Safe Fourth of July!
July 1, 2010
Time to Fly Your Flag
Today, July1st is the beginning of our patriotic season!!!!
Patriotic Firefly is getting ready to hang her beautiful large flag outside. I’ll leave it up over the holiday weekend and that will be ok because I’ll have a light on it at night.
Won’t you make the effort to fly your flag also?
June 29, 2010
Follow-up Doctors Visit
I had my second two-month follow-up visit at my doctors last week and I am doing well. Everyone says that I look good (thanks to make-up!) and I do feel good. I still get easily fatigued and I am still trying to get rid of the neuropathy (which can become permanent).
My last several CA 125 results have been bouncing back and forth between 12 -13 -12 – 13 -12. This time it went up a little bit to 14. It was down as low as 7 at one time. The normal range for this test is 30 or below and mine started out at 3000, so I am still in the normal range and really not too concerned about it yet. Doctors also look at ‘symptoms’ and usually do not restart chemo unless one becomes ‘symptomatic’ (exhibiting symptoms). The exception to this would be a rapidly spiking CA 125. If my CA 125 went up dramatically in a short period of time, I would be restarting Chemo immediately.
And so, for now, I shall continue on my course of treatment. What is that? I am glad that you asked….. Nothing! Just living life and enjoying every minute and making moments and memories. I am enjoying my friends and family and planning my travels. As some of the chemo’s side-effects start to wear off, I’ll have more energy and a clearer mind (no more Chemo-Brain) so that I can finish my writings.
June 28, 2010
More of The Best of Craigslist
Last year, Portland Firefly put links to several funny posts from ‘The Best of Craigslist’. As you know, one must be cautious when reading Craiglist as there are unsavory items posted there. The following links are wholesome and funny and you should not be offended by them….so enjoy!!!
Awesome Organ : http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/den/1614955019.html
Shadow Kitty: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/1604951280.html
Boat for Sale: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/min/1603624338.html
Igloo: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/phi/1598455512.html
Smart Person: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/nyc/1596308401.html
Peanut Butter Cookies: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/min/1572392968.html
Personal Assistant: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sea/1571652383.html
June 27, 2010
America’s Got Talent ~ Portland Style
Two nights last week, the America’s Got Talent TV show aired their Portland auditions. As usual there were a lot of flakes and horrible acts, but there were also some pretty spectacular acts as well! The next step for these acts is going to Las Vegas for the competition part of the show and several from Portland were put through to go to Las Vegas.
Some of the acts sent from Portland are:
The 75 year old harmonica player who was a watch maker from Belguim;
The 76 year old lesbian retired teacher who hand-whistles ( and sells her book);
The two sweet blond singing sisters who have Cystic Fibrosis;
The mesmerizing rock-wall dancing couple;
The handsome singer;
The teen-age epileptic young man who flies indoor kites;
The young stunt bike rider;
and the North West’s premier Air Band ~Airpocolypse!
Yes, Portland is Weird and it is that very atmosphere for creativity (weirdness) that lets people develop unusual talents and abilities. I hope that one of our Portland contestants will be the winner!!!
June 26, 2010
Portland Rose Parade 2010
Having grownup in Southern California, Portland Firefly was aware of only one ‘Rose Parade’ and that is the Pasadena Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena California. Last June as I was sitting in my recliner recovering from chemo, I heard the news talk about a ‘rose parade’. I thought they were crazy because everyone knows that the rose parade is on January 1st, and not in the middle of June! Well, I was wrong!
Known as the City of Roses, Portland has its Grand Floral Parade during its June Rose Festival. Hence the name “Rose Parade” in June! Last year I watched it from my recliner; but this year a dear friend asked me along for the day. I felt that I could handle it as we took our lawn chairs and I could just sit for as long as I needed. After the parade, we wandered around the Waterfront Park until it was time to leave for home. We had a great day and a lot of fun. I might even do it again next year….
Here are some pictures from the parade. I hope you enjoy them. If you scroll over each picture, a title will pop up to tell you which float it is! Enjoy this on-line parade!
June 25, 2010
Big Lunar Eclipse Saturday
This Saturday morning ~ June 26th~ early~ just before sunrise, there will be a special eclipse of the moon. And for those of us on the West Coast it should be spectacular!!! It will be worth getting up early to see this sight; you can take a nap after breakfast!!! Look low and to the WEST just before dawn. Begins at 3:17 am; greatest effect at 4:38 am. I know …Yawn!!!!
Although the eclipse is only partial, it will be magnified in size and charm by the “Moon Illusion”–a result of the eclipse occurring close to the horizon from viewing sites in the USA.
The eclipse begins at 3:17 am PDT (10:17 UT) when the Moon enters the sunset-colored shadow of Earth. By 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UT), the moment of greatest eclipse, 54% of the Moon’s diameter will be covered. From beginning to end, the event lasts almost three hours.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/24jun_lunareclipse/
