OBF

I must admit that a strong selling point for moving sooner rather than later was to be able to comfortably partake in this event. It was worth it.

I originally balked at the idea of attending more than one or two days, however, spreading many excellent beers over three of the four days of the festival was helpful in many ways. More beers, better memory retention and zero hangovers. The weather was perfect, if even a little cold towards the end of the night.

Obviously this post has been in limbo for a few days...I wanted to find my list of beers.

So notable beers (er... for me) are as follows:

- IPA's -
- Pliny the Elder (really a double) from Russian River --when they ran out on Saturday Freed actually let out a cry of anguish so loud I thought the entire tent would turn to find its source.
- Hazell Dell IPA from (you guessed it) Hazel Dell
- West Coast IPA from Green Flash - I went back for this one twice (oh yeah)

- Pales -
- Double Dry Hopped Pale from Boundary Bay
- Powderfinger Rye from Big Time

I was going to go through a few more styles...but only a few stand out so those are:

- Other -
- Ned (Flanders style Red) from Rock Bottom - had the smell of a good red wine, the most unique beer I tasted all weekend
- Sirius Ale (Imperial Cream Ale) Laguanitas

...and of course there were many beers that I have had before that I had to restrain myself from trying in the first two days so I could experience new ones:
- Summer Solstice Cream Ale from Anderson Valley (hot moving day beer)
- Hop Rod Rye from Bear Republic
- Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout from North Coast
- Proletariat Red from New Old Lompoc
- Pike IPA from Pike Brewing Co.

Alright alright, now I can recycle my list which is all messy and has stains on it from some precarious chili rice snacks...

Crime Scene

This picture is actually from the salmon hatchery on the Gorge. But it looks like a chalk outline from a murder scene...and it made me chuckle.

Colorfast?

An observation:

I noticed that the large magnet "ribbons" that people have placed on their cars have a tendency to fade.

The yellow "Support our Troops" ribbons have all faded to white. Perhaps it's a sign?

In case you were wondering...

It takes about the same amount of time to listen to the Tool album Aenima as it does to watch the apartment building across the lot try to burn itself to the ground.
Sorry I woke you Toph.

But in all seriousness the apartment building closest to us [which is across from us] had shrubbery catch fire (the day after fireworks...I just don't understand) tonight. We can't sleep. The 3 engines, 2 trucks and supplementary SUV's blaring and flashing their lights are a bit sobering. We had been playing a nice game of rummy and sharing a bottle of Viognier; the screen doors letting in all manner of apartment ambiance and I heard someone outside say something had caught on fire...we have had at least 3 false alarms in our building alone...kids pulling the alarm...blah blah blah...I stood up and saw one floor of the apartment directly across from us ablaze. I reached for the phone and Joe reached for our orange bucket. He went to stifle the fire (barefoot and boxers I might add) and I called 911. For all the bad things I've said about the loud, raucous, obnoxious apartment dwellers in our complex (who may have possibly started it--three cars sped off from the scene...cue bad mystery music) at least 5 or 6 guys rallied grabbing buckets, large bowls and locating extinguishers whether personal or apartment supplied to put out the flames. In fact I was feeling a bit silly about having called the fire department because they had calmed the 30 foot flames so well. Until the roof caught fire. Joe said it was like trick candles, watching the shrubbery go out and the wall catch on. Indeed, I had a hard time explaining to the fire department the proximity of the bushes..."how close to the building?" " ZERO FEET! The wall is about to be on fire." And so it was, Joe says the entire wall burst into flames.

So the Tool album ended an hour ago and the lights are still flashing. The flames have been quelled, the dueling chainsaws lulling us into...well, further alertness; both Joe and I were called outside to talk with the "inspector" and the wine is gone. How depressing. 8 days to go until we're out of here...and two apartments crisped. I mean really fried. I know I'm being a bit tongue and cheek but...

We had all our rain for the year in one go and now it's dry enough for whatever caused this. I have nothing nice to say about the weather and its calamity. At least everyone got out. I was so astounded that for all our false alarms no ONE had pulled the fire alarm that while I was one the phone with 911 I screamed for someone to pull the one for the building. We all like to think we did our part. Turns out 6 people called 911, that makes me happy. The last time I called 911 I got put on hold. (of course it was in Los Angeles, during rush hour, in 1997...ask Toph he was there).

Sitting in a car can be exhausting

...actually that pretty much sums it up. A few long drives and many days touring the city trying to figure out where we are (mostly me...it will take years before I can figure it out, I'm sure) and where we can live...and who will employ us.

When we weren't sitting in the car becoming one with the seats, we did have the opportunity to hang out with Andy and Michelle (who graciously gave us a guided tour and sustained us with excellent food) and to go hiking up in the Gorge area. Simply beautiful.

And given a 9-hour drive back south to reflect, I can now assess some interesting points about moving.

• Being close enough to drive to a wedding the same day it is held (good)
• Mountains... (very good)
  
• Neighborhoods and crime areas come in "pockets" (hmmmmm)
• Close proximity to good friends (very very good)
• Close proximity to good beer (very good)
  
• Being in a relaxed city where people smile and say hello as they pass you on the street (mostly good)
  
• Being in a relaxed city where returning phone calls can be done in the 11th hour (bad)
  

Pretty much everything came down to the end of the wire and the only thing that is certain is that there will be a roof over our heads. For that I am thankful.

...and blah blah blah came home and started the process of deconstructing.

there is more to say, it involves a beautiful windy wedding, a bit of interviewing, a long-awaited DVD :) (well worth it) and this past June - 2 years and counting for us.