44. OMSI, 4/30/11

My kids do not believe that I have never been to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) since apparently everybody has been there, but if I have been there I must have Alzheimer’s as the place is pretty unforgettable, and I am pretty sure I would remember this place.

OMSI puts the wow in science for the kid in each of us. You too can explore a world of hands-on fun! With more than 200 interactive exhibits for all ages, five unique halls, eight hands-on science labs, an OMNIMAX Theater, an authentic submarine, and a state-of-the-art art planetarium, there is something for everyone.

I can see why kids would love this place…there is a lot to do that would hold their attention, a lot of hands-on activities for them to engage in. Two of the exhibits that were of most interest to me was Ancient Egypt and Beginning the Journey.

Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science illuminates this remarkable civilization as never before, by focusing on an area that is often overlooked in comparison with the grandeur of the pyramids: The lives of the ordinary people who built them.

We got to meet “Annie” (short for “anonymous”), an unidentified girl whose body was pulled from the Nile River and mummified. Scientists do not know the cause of her death, and it is still a mystery why an unknown girl would get a mummified burial.

The other exhibit that I found interesting was “Beginning the Journey.” OMSI has one of the largest displays of human fetuses open to the public. I was able to examine the different stages of human fetal development during all nine months of pregnancy. It was amazing to see and read about fetuses and how much they can change and grow even in the short time of a week or two. Maybe this exhibit held a special interest to me because my daughter-in-law and son are having a baby.

There would be more pictures, except they do not allow photography. Thanks Keri for opening my eyes to a whole new world…it was a great day!

43. Helicopter Ride, 4/22/11

Feel the Heat! Doors Off! Wind in your face! 2200 degrees molten, red hot lava!

The unforgettable, unique, doors-off Volcano/Waterfalls experience provided us the chance to feel the heat of the world’s most active volcano! We felt the heat radiate from the lava as we experienced the volcanic activity firsthand and the sensation of flight in an open cabin…with no doors in the way. This was an adventure of a lifetime.

We flew in the world famous Hughes 500 (the same model helicopter Magnum P.I. used)! This amazing helicopter seats four passengers and everybody (minus the person who sits by the pilot) gets a window! Departing Hilo International Airport, we flew over the beautiful and lush rain forests of the Hilo area. We saw the world famous Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm, beautiful vistas of Mauna Loa (Hawaii's largest mountain), the current eruption of Kilauea, and beautiful Rainbow Falls.


The scenery was unique. The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated islands on Earth and there is no better way to experience their splendor than by Helicopter.

All of the professional pilots have a deep love of the islands and a fundamental knowledge about the area's volcanoes and natural landscape. We were able to view the flow of lava in its natural environment and receive a personalized narration of the science and magic behind Hawaii's constant volcanic activity. Of course, no Hawaiian helicopter tour would be complete without an additional focus on the lush rain forests, cascading waterfalls, and incredible shorelines of this Paradise of the Pacific.

Located at the foot of two volcanoes and overlooking the spectacular Hilo Bay, Hilo is the ideal destination for those who wish to catch a glimpse of the rough beauty of Hawaii's coastlines and fiery mountains. The city is known to locals as the "biggest small town" on the island, giving it a great combination of small-town aloha spirit and access to the kinds of shops and restaurants that make a vacation memorable.

42. Snuba, 4/14/11

Katrena and I went snuba’n. Many of you might ask, what is snuba? Snuba, invented in 1988, is a dive experience that combines the best of both snuba and snorkeling. It allows participants to go deeper than snorkeling using a shallow water dive system that makes it possible to dive as deep as 25 feet below the surface for up to 30 minutes without wearing heavy air tanks.

Snuba was created for those who enjoy the ocean and would like to experience the wonders of breathing underwater. Snuba is safer and easier than scuba and does not require certification.

A professional guide is with you the whole time. You progress at your pace, letting go of the raft and diving down when you choose to, and diving at the depth you prefer. You wear a lightweight harness that tethers you to the snuba raft on the surface by way of a 25' hose. The raft carries your tank on the surface and follows your every move. You breathe through a regulator, wearing a small weight belt, mask, and fins. Minimal equipment for maximum fun! Beginners are instructed in the proper use of the snuba gear and in a very short time you are enjoying the beauty and serenity of the underwater world. If you have ever wondered what scuba diving is like, there is no safer and easier way to find out than snuba. Many people have commented on the fact that snuba is easier than snorkeling. While you are snuba’n, you can expect to see coral reef here that is frequented by green sea turtles, octopus, and a great variety of tropical fish and marine life.

Let me tell you though, it is a little harder to get used to than one might think. We are always taught to breathe through our noses and not through our mouths. The first rule of snuba is to breathe through your mouth using your regulator. Our brains fight the urge to breathe underwater because every fiber of our being tells us to hold our breath underwater, but our guide told us to make sure and NOT hold our breath. Once you get used to the breathing part though, the rest is easy and oh so much fun.

I only freaked out and panicked once. After much practicing on the surface of the water, I finally was ready to “dive.” The instructor began to dive, but as hard as I might try, I could not dive. The instructor finally came back and put another weight on my belt and that helped, but once again I came to a point that I could not seem to descend as deep as I would have liked. Finally, I started to descend down, BUT all of a sudden I just kept descending, even when I did not want to. Apparently, I was vertical (I learned one is supposed to be horizontal when diving and not vertical), and I starting sinking. Before I knew it, I was touching the bottom of the ocean, 25 feet down. This is when I freaked out and panicked. I saw my instructor but he was looking forward, not backward at me. I began to swim in circles thinking I was about to die when I remembered what the instructor told us if we needed to go to the surface – grab your 25 feet of hose that was tethering you to the raft above and SLOWLY pull yourself to the top – so that is what I did. After I got back to the top, caught my breath and regrouped, I was able to go back down. The pictures I took surely do not do justice to what I saw below the surface, the brightly colored fish, the coral, and the marine life. Sadly, about the time I finally got it all figured out, we had to head back.

Some of you might ask about Katrena’s experience…well, considering she does not like water in her face and she has never even been snorkeling, she did very well. She was able to keep her face in the water and was breathing through her regulator. Who knows, maybe next time, she will even let go of the raft.

41. Oaks Park, 4/10/11

A trip down the midway is a trip through over 105 years of Portland family fun! Ride a pig, cat, or even a dragon on the 1911 Herschell-Spilman Carousel. Twist and twirl on carnival classics like the “Tilt-A-Whirl” and “Rock-o-Plane,” and fly 70 feet into the air on the ultra-modern Screamin’ Eagle. We forever hear that there is no such thing as a free ride, well I beg to differ. Here at Oaks Park there is a free ride for your little ones. There is no admission fee for the “kiddie” rides where big adventures await them.

Survivors of an earlier era. before Disneyland and Six Flags, before steel coasters went 50 mph, and rides were named for cartoons, movies, and superheroes, there were trolley parks. The parks were built by trolley companies at the end of the line in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a way to get workers and their families to ride streetcars and railways on weekends. They had carousels, picnic grounds, and live entertainment, and they were often located by lakes, rivers, or beaches where visitors could take a boat ride or swim.

By 1919, just after World War I, there were 1,000 amusement parks around the country, and most of them were trolley parks. But as cars replaced trolleys, the streetcars and the parks faded away.

Even if you do not have a thing for bobby socks and malted milkshakes, it is hard not to be charmed by the attractions at Southeast Portland’s Oaks Amusement Park. For starters, it is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the United States, and its quaint scale means that little legs will not get tired walking from one attraction to another. Moreover, its riverside location highlights the city’s natural beauty.

Today, only 11 trolley parks remain in operation, one of them Portland’s Oaks Amusement Park, which dates 1905. With a couple of exceptions, most of the surviving trolley parks are smaller, more family oriented, and substantially cheaper than big modern theme parks with high speed 20-story roller coasters. Some still let you pay by the ride, rather than charging hefty gate admissions than can add up to hundreds of dollars for a family. Many of them encourage you to bring picnics rather than banning outside food like some big parks do.

Portland’s Oaks Park is now run by a nonprofit organization that was established by the family that once owned the park, but the park was built by the Portland Traction Co. at the end of a rail line on the Willamette River, just before the 1905 centennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Past exotic entertainment had included a roller-skating elephant and ostrich zoo, and John Philip Sousa performed at Oaks Park a dozen times. Then as now, a roller rink, one of the largest on the West Coast, was a park centerpiece, with live music from a Wurlitzer pipe organ. Oaks Park is thriving with 750,000 guests from spring to early October and 800 corporate picnics annually. It is also affordable: Parking is free, and you still pay by the ride.

Yes, by some Oaks Park may be considered cheesy, but I considered it fun!

40. Saturday Market, 4/3/11

Any weekend in Oregon without rain would be a good weekend to visit to the Portland Saturday Market. I have to say, this is not your garden variety swap meet. There is some real talent here. Ongoing since 1974, the Portland Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the nation. Centered in Portland’s historic Old Town, the market is one of the most popular shopping destinations for local handcrafted goods.

You can stroll down row upon row of local handcrafted items and homemade foods. The Portland Saturday Market – open Sundays too – is open on Saturdays from 10 to 5 and Sundays from 11 to 4:30 from March through Christmas Eve. Where else can you attend Festival of the Last Minute – Procrastinators Rejoice!

The Market offers a unique opportunity for customers to meet the artists as well as see one of a kind pieces created in the artist’s booth. With over 350 small businesses, live music, and a plethora of exotic foods, there is something that will satisfy everyone’s appetite. As one would expect, the types of crafts and artisan goods sold at the Portland Saturday Market vary widely. The market has strict rules on what constitutes a craft or artisan product so there is a definite “handmade” flair here. In other words, you will not be coming across booths selling unoriginal made in a factory somewhere. This rule makes and keeps the market real. I saw many treats: pets items, photography, wood crafts, baby gifts, body products, pottery, games, garden items, clothing, glass art, and jewelry to name just a few. One of the booths that brought the most fun has to be Spoonman...the picture says it all.

There are other artists at the market are, otherwise known as of course, the musicians. These folks draw a crowd and as expected, the style of music is varied. From folk, to blue grass, to rock and roll and even some metal, you can expect to enjoy many different kinds of music as you shop, eat, or people watch.

Of course, what day would not be complete without good food. The menu here was different, was varied, and offered a little bit of everything. The menu rotates as vendors come and go but many of these options are relative staples: Greek, Lebanese, Creole BBQ, Polish, Asian and Thai, Vegetarian, Healthy Mexican, Pacific Northwest style chowder, Guatemalan, Hawaiian, East African, as well as American fare such as burgers, chili fries, pizza, and more. You will also find several packaged foods such as roasted nuts, fudge, chocolates, spices, bakery items, and deserts.

As an extra treat, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and absolutely beautiful. As a photographer, I could not get enough of those flowers, the photo ops, etc. I could have stayed there all afternoon, looking for that elusive “perfect” shot. I am truly blessed to live in a state and a part of the country that offers so many beautiful places to take in God’s beauty…I NEVER get tired of looking for that “perfect” shot…my journey continues and the next shot is waiting for me.

39. Classic Saturday, 4/2/11

Classic #1: Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. The names Audrey Hepburn and Holly Golightly have become synonymous since this dazzling romantic comedy was translated to the screen from Truman Capote’s best-selling novella. Holly is a deliciously eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire. George Peppard plays her next-door neighbor, a writer who is “sponsored” by a wealthy Patricia Neal. Guessing who is the right man for Holly is easy. Seeing just how that romance blossoms is one of the enduring delights of this gem-like treat set to Henry Mancini’s Oscar-winning score and Oscar-winning Mancini-Johnny Mercer song “Moon River.” A near perfect blend of comedy, romance, and minor tragedy, Breakfast at Tiffany's is a must-see classic that, despite diversions from Truman Capote's original novel, remains his clearest statement on what it feels like to be young, ambitious, and on the make in a rapacious city full of hidden agendas.

Classic #2: The African Queen – The best loved of all adventure movies with two Oscar Awards for Best Actor and Lifetime Achievement of Cinematography, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. During World War I, a hard drinking river trader Charles and a prim missionary Rose are forced to take an adventurous river expedition together. Throughout the voyage, they encounter tropical hazards, nefarious German officers, and a surprising romance. Of course, the chemistry between these two actors is famous. Theirs is the quintessential love-hate relationship; other plot elements are secondary compared to what goes on between Rose and Charlie. It is what makes us care about the characters and what happens to them.

Classic #3: Some Like It Hot – When Chicago musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) accidentally witness a gangland shooting, they quickly board a southbound train to Florida, disguised as Josephine and Daphne, the two newest – and homeliest – members of an all-girl jazz band. Their cover is perfect…until a lovelorn singer (Marilyn Monroe) falls for “Josephine,” an ancient playboy falls for “Daphne,” and a mob boss refuses to fall for their hoax. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, Some Like It Hot is the quintessential madcap farce and “one of the greatest of all film comedies.” Some Like It Hot is far from a perfect film, but Billy Wilder took what might have been a rather banal story line and juiced it up into classic territory by squeezing Monroe, Curtis, and Lemmon into dresses and giving them some of the wittiest one-liners on film.

All three of these movies truly are “classics.” I have no doubt the much younger generation may not see them as the classics they have grown to become, but in their day these movies were cutting edge. I am glad that I took a lovely sunny afternoon and spent the time watching them.