Best Weekend Ever

I know this blog is about my life in Corvallis.  But I recently had the most wonderful weekend in Portland and Beaverton, with both of my sons in town.  Jacob was here for a week and a half from Peru.  I hadn't seen him in a year, and I won't see him for another year, so it was a special time.  We started off the weekend with dinner at Sushi Land.  I love the immediate gratification of seeing and taking the small plates.  It is so easy.

Then we went to see "The Imaginary Invalid" at Portland Center Stage, meeting my friend Gererdene there.  Here I am in the alpaca shawl that Jacob brought for me.

Here I am with my best theatre buddy Gererdene:

And here are Nick and Jacob:

We laughed all through the play.

The next night Nick had a gig, so Jacob went with Gererdene and me to "Dissocia" by Third Rail Rep.  That play was pretty amazing in terms of staging, and left us with lots to think about afterwards.  I was happy that Nick got to see it another night.

On Sunday evening we invited anyone who wanted to see Jacob to come over.  We collaborated on food to serve. It needed to be a buffet which could last, as people were coming at different times.  Jacob came up with a wonderful Peruvian dish.  It had layers of mashed golden potatoes, chicken, and avocado.  Topped with slices of hard boiled eggs.  We had red cabbage with a peanut vinaigrette, Gary's home made applesauce, and a green bean/corn/tomato/chipotle pepper dish I came up with.  I made squash pies. 

The whole idea of this party was a little wacky - some family, some friends, people coming at all different times, and I asked Nick if he would play his Joanna Newsom pieces that he adapted for piano and his voice for anyone interested, later in the party.  My temporary housemate, Donnell was there.  Here he is talking with Gary.

And a new temporary housemate, Stevie, had just arrived from Boston, so she was also part of the party.  She is very cool.  She designs neurofeedback machines for people to help with various conditions.



It happened to be SuperBowl Sunday, so we needed some cheeseheads - Jeff and Amy:

And other relatives and good friends:  Here are Matt and Amelia with Jacob:

Alex, Liza, and Rod:

Gererdene and Pam:

There WAS interest in Nick's piano music.  He performed a wonderful Joanna Newsom piece and also an original composition.  Amy who has known Jacob and Nick since birth (literally!) joked that she taught Nick everything he knows.  Liza also does some piano/singing entertaining, so she had that in common.

It felt like a JUST WONDERFUL evening to me.  Guests left, which left Jacob, Nick, Stevie, Donnell and me still in the house.  I love having a full house.  And seeing these photos reminds me I really am attached to my Beaverton house.  I hope I can continue to have my cake and eat it too, with life in the country in Corvallis and trips back to my other home.