WHAT I MISS ABOUT PORTLAND

1. Julian – my hair stylist
2. Say Say Boutique – or any boutique for that matter
3. Pedicures by wonderful relentless Asian ladies
4. Wine bars – actually simply wine
5. McMenamins movie theaters
6. McMenamins pubs
7. Bike lanes
8. Bike shops
9. Progressive grocery stores – TJ’s, Whole Foods, Natures, etc.
10. Social gatherings
11. Mountains
12. Hiking/Trail Running
13. Training partners
14. 24 Hour Fitness
15. Coffee shops – quality coffee
16. Public transportation
17. Airports
18. Restaurants – Ruby Tuesday isn’t a restaurant
19. Urban planning
20. Triathlons that cost $50–I’m not paying $125 to the mid-Atlantic money grubbers
21. Radio stations that moved past the 80s
22. Evergreens
23. Anything locally owned
24. The knitters
25. Proximity to AK and HI
26. West Coast attitude – or lack of
27. Flowers at the grocery store – Carnations are not flowers
28. Farmer’s markets
29. Home delivered locally grown produce
30. Hollywood District & the peeps that live there
31. Dog parks
32. Forest Park
33. Being in kick ass shape
34. Training on Sauvie’s Island
35. Public gardens
36. Open spaces
37. Walkable communities
38. Bakeries
39. Beer & wine in the stores
40. Weekend wine tasting
41. Sushi
42. The Columbia Gorge
43. Oregon Coast
44. Variety in organic products
45. Meeting up for a drink
46. Hugs from friends
47. Complaining about the rain
48. Snow in the mountains
49. The climbing gym
50. All the mom & baby outings in PDX

FOOLED ALL YA' ALL!

Well okay so most of you probably know that I am still around and did not fall victim from a stomach flu as stated in my most recent posting of...December 19th. But my mom did leave me a frantic message on my cell phone really wondering if I was okay. With that in mind I think it might be time to update things a bit and get this roller coaster back on track. So scroll back to December 3rd and update yourself as to the new comings for the Gallagher family.

The chili at our friends’ house did not send my stomach flu over the top, but actually must have had some magical powers because since that day I have felt great. So great that I have gained about ten pounds since then. Oh the pain and suffering that occurs when cyclocross season is over and we take a training break. Here is a visual as to what happens when you take more than a month off of racing and training.

MOVIN' ON UP

Official announcement, as of today Michael was officially promoted at work to a GS-11!!! Wow, he went from active military, to GS-9, and now a GS-11 all in one year. A bit of a show off I think. Or maybe that guy's got it going on!
After all that, I think Michael deserved this nap in his new corduroy house shoes.

NORTH CAROLINA

Michael had to re-certify for his EMT for the military so it was off to Charlotte North Carolina for ten days. Luckily this is where his sister Amy and family lives along with my friend Perrin and her family. So we spent the first weekend at Amy's house visiting with Amy, John, Zoey, Avery and even Michael's mom. It was like a little reunion. Plus how great for Michael's mom to get to have all her children and grandchildren in the same room...that includes Lucy!
Zoey hammed it up for everyone and put on her usual dynamic singing and dancing show for everyone, with tickets needed for admission.
Avery kept a close eye on Gilbert as you never know when he might sneak that special toy or an extra hug from a grownup, too cute.

The following week we were at a hotel in Charlotte close to where Michael's class was going on. I did tour Charlotte a bit as was in a bit of culture shock to see a real city again. Seriously people, we live in a very different place now.
But I got a real reconnection to reality when we visited my friend Perrin and her lovely family. They moved from the heart of NY City. Funny to think that in the NY way she is majorly adjusting and missing a real city. That kind of put things into perspective.
Charlotte was good, but we were happy to be back home in our own bed. Well that is not totally true. After spending six nights in a king size bed at the hotel, we obsess little over how small our queen bed now seems. Plus Gilbert misses having breakfast in bed. Maybe in the forever house...

NEW YEAR

Hello...we are parents with a one year old in a town where we know almost nobody. But we did make it to midnight and had a bottle of champagne and Lucy wore her special New Year Dog bow.