How In The World Is Joseph Sandiego?: "i'm with the band"

After a record-breaking, blog-posting, ambition-draining month, I can hardly bring myself to write. First, a review of some stuff that most of you know about because you were there. Then, some other stuff. How does that sound?

Earlier this month, I went to the Burg for Gru's birthday. My sister and bro-in-law hosted a BBQ. Lots of people. Plenty of kids. Hamburgers, hotdogs, cake, ice cream, and presents. Gru got lots of neat stuff. Nerf guns, Guitar Hero, a bike...I got him Mario Super Sluggers.

A few days later, Gru got to take a couple friends to Splash! and Chuck E. Cheese's. I almost didn't go because I didn't have a swimsuit with me. Can you believe Wal-Mart doesn't stock any men's swimsuits this time of year?! That was my second (of 2) negative experience with that store this trip. I do not look forward to shopping there. Andy had the great idea to stop at Big 5 on the way out of town. There, I picked up some trunks on clearance for $5.

It had been many, many years since I was at Splash!. It was pretty much exactly the same, though. I'm the only thing that's changed as I spent most of my time in the hot tub and kiddie pool. I didn't go down the slide and only sat on the edge of the wave pool a couple times.

After Splash!, we went to Chuck E. Cheese's so that we could be kids. Michelle treated me to some coinage (tokens, really). I had fun getting tickets, which I gave to Gru. I did get myself a Fun Dip, though. ;) Gru finished the day with 505 tickets and elected to get one 'big' prize rather than many small ones.

Two of Gru's friends spent the night. Sometime after one went home, I went outside with the boys and played Nerf gun wars. That was fun. In the afternoon, Michelle took my car to her softball game and left me with the kids (Gru, Jake, and Tay-Tay) and the Tahoe. Tay-Tay made a poopy diaper right after she left. Such an adventure! ("Gru, where does Mom keep the baby wipes?!")

Flash forward to Portland. Lemme see...what have I done? Oh, the title. I did merch for Another Cynthia again last Saturday at Tonic Lounge. Sold only one CD. We'll try again October 3 at Dante's. Speaking of Dante's, I haven't been to Sinferno since I've been back. One night, I was showered, dressed, and ready to go but became unwell. Last Sunday I elected to stay in. I thought it might be bad form to show up for my first day at a new clinic on just 3 hours sleep.

For several weeks, Shaun and I have been working on his landscape utility device, which looks similar to the retaining wall that you may be more familiar with. First, we had to dig up the old one. It was made of rotting wood, though it wasn't as easy to remove as you might think. Then we had to level the ground and lay bricks. Each brick is probably 50 pounds. There are about 180 bricks. Each one had to be carried by hand uphill from the front driveway to the backyard. That's slow work. The first layer was the most difficult because it had to be made level. Sometimes I'd only lay six bricks in a session. But really, we had some good times staying up into the night with the utility light shining on us. Glad it's done. Now we can put up the fence.

Last night, after working my half day at the new clinic, I met a friend for dinner and drinks at Henry's. The steak was delicious and the beers were cold. They have a refrigerated strip on the bar to keep drinks cold. It's quite nifty, really. Then we bailed and walked up 12th looking for something different. And what we found was Vault Martini. I never thought I'd end up there, surely one of the trendiest places in the Pearl District. It was Monday night and the place was super quiet. We got ourselves a cozy corner booth and had a couple cocktails. Vault has an extensive cocktail menu (mostly martinis, of course). They all have crazy names and crazy mixtures of crazy craziness. My first was very good, though I can't recall what it was. My friend's first was really good too. It was rum + chai. The reason I can't remember my first one is because of my second one. Actually, both of our second drinks at Vault were notable. Mine for being nasty in a good way. And hers for being super sweet ("...like melting a bunch of watermelon Jolly Ranchers and drinking it"). Mine was called Ninja. It's a concoction of Mazama pepper vodka + guava puree + pineapple + fresh lemon and lime. (note: I remember my first drink now that I looked at the menu. Wrath = bourbon + white peach puree + fresh lemon syrup)