Exiting Times in Portland

Happy Spring!
Portland has been in full spring for the last month. Daffodils, Magnolias, Cherry trees, and many other beautiful plants are in full bloom. The sun has also been out and a nice 65 degrees. Brendan, Cricket and I are took advantage of the beautiful weather and had a picnic at Mt. Tabor, its an active volcano!



To avoid Bio-statistics homework I have been baking....alot. Recently I have been on a cupcake binge and made Mayan cupcakes with caramel frosting as well as spice cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting. I also made homemade brioche which I made into bread pudding with apples, golden raisins, and Kentucky whiskey sauce. All of this and Brendan still isn't gaining weight, lucky.

Other things I have been doing is teaching myself to play the mandolin. I have really enjoyed it, but Brendan doesn't always appreciate my new hobby. I also raced an OBRA (Oregon Bicycle Racing Association) race, I did well even though there were 5 crashes! I only went down in one and finished with the pack. Brendan and I also volunteered for a bike fundraiser called the Worst Day of the Year Ride, historically the worst weather in Portland falls during the second weekend in February. Ironically that day fell on Valentines day and it was sunny and warm out.

Before my OBRA race

Volunteering!

Playing the Mandolin

Brendan came down with the Shingles and we spent the evening in the ER, also happened to turn into the morning of my homework. The ER is full of really great people at 10pm on a Monday evening. One man was standing and yelling "take a number and wait to die". While waiting Brendan kindly helped me with my bio-statistics homework. I hate to admit that he was on Vicodin while helping me.

Hanging out in the ER

Finally, I had my first collegiate bike race. It wasn't my best weekend of racing but I finished all of my races. During the final lap of the crit I was in a crash because I got stuck between a curb and another racer who wouldn't move so I tried to slow down and hit her rear wheel. I was bummed that it happened during the last lap and I was in a really good position for the sprint finish. I insisted on finishing the race and the race marshals put my bike back in riding order and I finished. Here is a picture of my race wounds, I also have one on my knee that didn't make it into the picture. As you can see Cricket is sad that I am hurt.

Ouch.

Well that was an epic blog post, I hope everyone is doing well and we can't wait for everyone to visit us! And what would be a blog post without a picture of Cricket.....


Love to all!