Girl's Weekend

Last weekend, "The Ladies" had a weekend in Portland. After a conversation-filled drive through The Gorge and a light lunch at Taco Del Mar and Quiznos, Susan and Ronda shared their tickets to the musical Light in the Piazza. Then there was shopping, shopping, and more shopping.

We had been talking about where to eat and all decided we wanted something different, something we couldn't find in Pendleton. Susan knew about this place called The Montage that was under the Morrison Street Bridge. As we were walking into the Lloyd Center Mall she asked two young men, one with dread-locks and piercings, for directions (remember she is a middle school principal, talking to strange kids is normal) Then she asked at least 5 other people for directions throughout our shopping spree. I think all of us were successful shoppers except Latitia didn't find her 3 inch heals or get to buy her $400 purse! By around 10 p.m. she had the directions, again, and we headed out....down MLK to the fruit stand, turn right at the fruit stand, down to 2nd, left to The Montage. We made it to the "down to 2nd" and turned on these rail-road tracks under the dark bridge. This didn't seem right. As we were making a u-turn to try again a police car passed us going down the RR tracks. We went down a few more blocks, left, then up another scary street. This was a door-locker street. There were homeless people all over the place and it was really narrow trying to dodge all of the sleeping bags. Then we spotted the policeman making a drug bust or soliciting a prostitute (we couldn't tell) and we stopped so Susan could ask for directions. It's 2:30 a.m. and I remembered another funny part and Ronda has already commented! In the middle of trying to find this place in the dark alley I noticed that Ronda was very quiet in the back seat. I said, "It's awfully quiet back there, Ronda." To which she commented, "I have my cell phone open and have 9-1 dialed and ready to put in the last 1." Isn't that funny! Turns out we were close, we just had to go around and drive through the maze again and go around the block. We knew we found the place because of all the smokers out on the street! It was a 45 minute wait for a table during which we all had a mixed drink which went straight to our heads, remember we hadn't eaten since noon! It was the sort of seating that you sit at long tables with other people you don't know and nobody cares. The food was awesome! The company was awesome! Note the snail in the picture. That is my leftovers. They make all kinds of tin-foil sculptures that are just a kick.What a great place.

We made it to our hotel just before midnight! Then off for more shopping the next day. I have had my fill of stores. We found two piece suits for the girls, school clothes, a Lightning McQueen backpack, purses, chocolate, clothes, Easter Bunnies, flip-flops, and much much more. It's a good thing I took out that extra seat in the back. At one point Jan opened the back door instead of just the window and it took 3 of us to run to stop the avalanche.

Thanks ladies for such a memorable trip. I know we all were probably tired out at work today, had some extra things to pick up, and loved ones that missed us but it was well worth it!

Please feel free to add to the stories if I forgot some important details. :o)