freeze-dried ice cream bar

freeze-dried ice cream bar
Originally uploaded by Philip Williamson.

The Space Museum opened in McMinnville the other weekend (iMax theater, Titan rocket, lunar dune buggy), so roving bands of 'astronauts' passed out packages of dehydrated ice cream bars.
They basically taste like cardboard Oreos.

Mocha mayhem!

Mocha mayhem!
Originally uploaded by Philip Williamson.

The Oregonian front page has been getting more... stupid.
I think they won a Pulitzer last year. Ever since it's been like "Big Cat Attack at Portland Zoo ...in 1976." "Tsunami - could it wash away Portland??... no."
This story is about a criminal trial in Portland where someone threw their drink at a Starbuck's manager. And flicked whipped cream at another employee. Newsy.

The "Sunrise Edition" headline was "Are Oil Prices Being Manipulated?"

I guess this is the "Idiot Edition."

Sheridan Mud Drags

When I saw the signs for the Mud Drags last year, I thought maybe it was big tractors hauling heavy things through the mud. Dragging them as it were. Even still, I knew that Max and Rex would love it (whatever it turned out to be). With a name like "Mud Drag," you can't go wrong.



What it is, though, is two lumpy bumpy mud-filled lanes that run about 100 yards. Two trucks ease up to the line and two big guys with flags make sure they're even. When the light changes, they roar down to the other end, trying to stay in the track, not get sideways, and not lose.


I like the homemade-fun aspect of this event. There aren't any professionals, the trucks are mongrel dogs, and people come out to cheer for their friends.


"Ford Killer" blowing smoke out the pipes... which run straight out the manifold up in front of the truck. That's a Dodge over there, but let's see what happens.

"BWRRRWWRRR!"

"Agh!" It rolls. Oops. The guy got out fine.

This is where I remember to pan the camera to take pictures of moving objects. High school photo class finally 'arrives' with me... 20 years later.

This guy got sideways and ended up in the median. Twice. Once on a solo run! Now THAT's entertainment! Max turned around and said "are all these people DRUNK?!"

Look out fer them Duke boys!
The prevalence of Confederate Battle Flags this far North and West of the Mason-Dixon line isn't puzzling, but it is kind of funny. Where are all the State of Jefferson flags?

Here's the mud-covered judge for the outside lane. He tooks some heckling ("You're BLIND!") as a few spectators got a few Ice Buds to the good, but he didn't react. Earplugs, I think. In the background you can see the orange Dodge that rolled, all trailered up to go home. I guess that's a good reason not to drive your rig to the race...

I'm a big fan of granaries, feed stores and silos, and Sheridan has a nice one. I think I'm going to the Willamina Mud Drags next week, too...

UFO Festival 2007

This year's festival was really good!

I thought the floats were way better than last year, and I didn't miss the wacky marching band from last year who priced themselves right out of the parade. Next year I want to make bicycle-powered UFOs to ride in the parade! It'd be great if they could be lit from within and taken to the Starlight Parade, too... ah, fantasy!













This man here...

Has GOT to be related to this fella here.


I like pictures of people way better than floats, so that's what you get here. So far people have been pleased to see themselves in my Flickr stream, but if you want your picture removed, I 'll take it right down. If you'd like prints, I think Flickr can provide them for a nominal charge.

Portland's First Thursday

What to do in McMinnville on a Thursday night...

Go to Portland.

That's a joke...

But in addition to the things that make Portland great, there's the First Thursday Art Walk in the Pearl.

Mark and I met up with Clinton at his pad in the Northwest and went down to see some art. That place is hoppin'! We parked in a garage all evening for $5, saw good art, bad art and mediocre art, at a bunch of places. Of course, none of us agreed on which art was which.
I saw some abstracts I liked, which is getting to be less unusual for me. Clinton was completely dismissive of the Robert Motherwells and Rauschenbergs we saw (the Rauschenbergs were pretty lame), and Mark arranged to get some information about one of the artists at Rake Gallery.

We ate really good burritos at El Grillo, just off Burnside. They share a bathroom with the strip club next door, so you get an eyeful on the way to pee. Remarkably flexible ladies. Professionals.

The people watching was the greatest (not just the stripper). There were two young men in dresses and aprons, passing out 'Rent-a-Wife' cards. If Angelina and Lisa find out how great it was, Mark and I are going to have to watch the kids while they go in for a Thursday evening. So mum's the word...

Evergreen Aviation Museum

The air museum in McMinnville is the home of the Spruce Goose, in case you didn't know. My dad didn't, and he's a lifelong plane geek. Pilot, mechanic, EAA member, Oshkosh attendee, Pacific Coast Air Museum volunteer, etc.

The Spruce Goose is a big plane.



They have a tiny one if the big one is too overwhelming.


Of course, the big hit is the toy store Museum Shop, at least for Max. "Please can I have the Boeing set?"
"No. It's FORTY dollars."

More abstract crops of fusilage graphics here.

Where the streets have old names...

On Cowls Street above Third, you notice something odd about the sidewalks. The ancient pavement has street names embossed in the concrete, but they're different from the names of the streets on the signs. Judging from the dates, the sidewalks were laid from 1911 to 1914.

Here, Cowls is labeled "C", and Cedar is about five blocks East of its present location.

It's kind of a cool mystery which would evaporate if I walked down to the Library and asked someone about it.

I like mystery, though.