Dispatches from Portland, Pendleton, & Tillamook

Last week I traveled 956 miles.  I didn't plan to drive that much.  It just happened.

I started out in Portland, as is my usual nowadays. Things were moving along swimmingly...on Monday.  Since I had to leave town for a couple of days, everything went to crap as soon as I left.  Nothing major, but some damaged materials and one damaged employee.  It just sucks to be in another city while that is going on because I can't see first-hand what happened.  I have to get all of my information second-hand.

Tuesday, I had to leave early and drive over to Pendleton so I could catch Pershing's football game.  If you have never been to a junior football game, your life is not complete.  It is the most fun football to watch.

Go No. 77!

Woodrow and I sat and chatted during the game.  I took an Instagram photo of him and when I said "I'm going to make the caption "Chick Magnet", he said "Are you kidding me?  Have you seen this cowlick on my head?"

While W and I chatted, I noticed this patriotic fellow behind him.  His hat says 100% American.  His pants say "Have you seen Napoleon Dynamite?"

Had a meeting in Pendleton the next morning.  Actually, out on the Indian Reservation and there was some sort of meeting going on there amongst members of various tribes.  There was a small market set up where you could buy beaded items, leather goods, jewelry and misc. other items.  I bought a really cool silver cuff with a big hunk of turquoise on it.  I should take a picture.  That doesn't sound very pretty.  I love it.  I wore it to work yesterday and two of the guys actually complimented me on it.  They surprise me every day.

Back to P-town on Thursday.  We have at least 7 regular deer up there.  By regular, I mean that I see them frequently and recognize them.  I'm sure there are more.  These two twin bucks have what you call "a-typical" antlers.  They are going to look crazy when they're older.  Right now, it's hard to get a good picture of the antlers because they are so small.  These deer are about a year old.

They have very little fear of the equipment and people.  You can't walk right up to them, but they will come within 10-15 feet of you.

We also have a Mama and her new fawn.  This was the first morning I had seen these two.  Having a new baby makes Mama a little more skitty around people.  They didn't stick around long.

So, this was my Thursday morning.  Kind of chilly and foggy.  The sun came out later in the afternoon.  About 3, I got a call that there had been an accident at another project.  So, this was my Thursday afternoon.  Trying to figure how and why this happened:

Long story.  Everyone is okay, but I spent an unplanned night on the coast and got to get up early to watch two huge wreckers come pull this thing up a 100 foot hill.  It was raining sideways and C.O.L.D.  I think I stood up on top of that hill watching this take place for about 4 hours.  I made the two hour drive home with the heat on high the whole way.

Lastly, I'll leave you with another unknown fact about construction workers:  They are lovers. 

I don't know who wrote this or why, but I find little spray-painted messages all over the place.  They are usually making fun of each other.  This one cracked me up.

j