Arctic Blast 2008!!!

Holy shit. Where did all this snow and ice come from?

Snow on top of ice on top of snow. The whole Portland-Metro area is totally paralyzed. Hardly any stores or restaurants are open (including my beloved Sushi Train, sniff), nobody’s at work, and we’re glued to the TV watching the endless news coverage (and hoping our power doesn’t go out). Apparently the last time Portland got hit like this was 1968, the year before I was born, so I can accurately state that I’ve never seen weather this severe in my entire life.

I repeat, holy shit.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

It snowed today. Like, a lot. I know, I can’t believe it either, but it’s true. The mongrel Bijou gazed out the window, confused and awed by the transformation of the outside world from green to white. She’s seen snow once before (Christmas day, last year), but it didn’t last long, and there wasn’t much of it. She began to whine and mope, and it became clear that we’d have to take her out for a walk. Teresa and I, along with both girls (Isaac was out with friends, and Logan didn’t want to go) bundled up tight, leashed up the hound, and set out for some frosty adventures.

Later on, we managed to get all four kids outside for a group shot:

I’m a bit concerned about the commute to work tomorrow, but I can’t deny the magic of this weather. It’s probably unrealistic to think that it’ll hang around till Christmas, but one never knows…. *

* Note from the future: Be careful what you wish for…

It's Beginning To Sound A Lot Like....

...Christmas (duh). I’m far from religious, but I can’t deny that I possess a deep love for Christmas music. Well, most Christmas music (I can’t stand that idiotic Feliz Navidad song, for example, and the Chipmunks make me wanna kick something). But yeah, I love Christmas music. Uh-oh…. Sounds like a Top 10 list brewing.

TOP TEN ALL-TIME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS:

01. Merry Christmas (aka White Christmas) – Bing Crosby

02. A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra – Frank Sinatra

03. Ella Wishes You a Merry Christmas – Ella Fitzgerald

04. The Christmas Song – Nat “King” Cole

05. A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack) – Vince Guaraldi Trio

06. Elvis’ Christmas Album – Elvis Presley

07. Snowfall – Tony Bennett

08. Making Spirits Bright – Dean Martin

09. Christmas Classics – Bing Crosby

10. A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives

Every year I get myself one new Christmas CD. Last year it was An Oscar Peterson Christmas. This year…? I dunno yet. I’ve heard Sarah McLachlan’s Christmas album is really good. Yeah, maybe I’ll get that. My list needs more females. I really wish Pink Martini would do a Christmas album. THAT would be awesome (and would undoubtedly break into my top ten… it’s probably time for Burl Ives to exit gracefully).

Big D Strikes Again!

Last month I shared a couple of wicked Photoshop jobs my old pal Donovan did, on pictures of both himself and yours truly. Well, he’s gone and done it again, this time working his digital magic on the shot of me at yummying down at Giant Burger (from my previous blog entry):

I forwarded the picture to Teresa, who responded with a single word: Ewwwww.

I particularly appreciate the use of black and white, which not only evokes the George Romero’s original Night of the Living Dead, but also makes that green brain pop brilliantly. Truly something to behold.

Hey, anybody hungry?

My God, It's Huge!!!

So what’s a hungry family to do when everyone’s sick of Thanksgiving leftovers? Why, they go to Giant Burger in Lake Oswego, of course.


I’ve extolled the virtues of Giant before in this very blog, but I’ll do it again. Giant is something of a local legend in these parts, mostly because of their fucking huge burgers which, by the way, are delicious. That’s um, pretty much it. Ain’t nothin’ fancy here. Just big, tasty burgers. What more does one need?


While we were there some photographer was taking pictures for an upcoming feature in Mix, a new magazine spotlighting local food and drink establishments. When our huge-ass tray was ready for pickup, he swooped down like a vulture and snapped a few shots of it. Plus, I’m pretty sure he got a shot of Teresa and I waiting in line to order (here’s hoping we show up in the magazine). I thought about taking a picture of him taking pictures but, fearing a possible photographic infinity loop, I held that particular impulse in check. He then ordered a milkshake, took it outside, and proceeded to snap literally dozens of pictures of it. Puzzling as this was, my attention was soon commanded by the enormous Filler burger. Grease ran down my chin, and I swooned.







Haven’t been there, you say? Well, what are you waiting for? Sheesh, you only live once.