Reunited

The reunion with Gerty was highly anticipated. Even living overseas for a year and a half has not sated my love for all things water, including canoeing. With Kaden's questions of when, eagerness to sit in my boat grew. Eventually, calendars aligned and an adventure was planned.

Even with his 496 questions, Kaden was a fantastic navigator/passenger. As we were approaching Ross Island, a wading heron took flight and flew a few feet over our bow. Kaden gave a soft 'whoa' and said, "Mei Mei, that was beautiful!" This was after an entire conversation of how and why the pirate ship (a black hulled boat with an old fashioned steering wheel) was docked offshore from Sellwood Park.

Ross Island turned into Kaden's playground paradise. After docking on shore, his sheer delight in the spongy sand was infectious as he ran to and fro, squealing with glee. After our picnic lunch, Robert and I took to blackberry picking. Kaden was armed with his bucket to help, but before one berry could be plucked, he was waist deep in the Willamette, filling the bucket with mud while murmuring a grand story of silliness that only a toddler understands.

Eventually, we returned to shore, complete with another conversation as to why there was a pirate ship in Portland.

Bonjour, Bebe Audrey

Lisa and I joined our event planning awesomeness once again to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Audrey Labrum with a French-themed afternoon picnic in the park. Aside from random interruptions from strangers who had reservation claims on the tables we had chosen (but had not put out their signage), it was a beautiful day to celebrate great friends and their new addition.

Timbers!

Last time, it was still named PGE Park. Last time, the stadium was in the midst of major overhaul. Last time, we weighed the pros and cons of being season ticket holders for a MLS team, but decided to pass due to an unknown budget. Last time, we bellowed "shag your women and drink you beer" among a Timbers Army cheering for a USL team.

Last week, after stopping in the official Timbers store, the sales rep allowed Zach a few moments by the fence for his first look at the new Jeld-Wen Stadium.

This week, after a year and a half furlough, we found ourselves among the Timbers Army mayhem, twice. 

The To-Banker clan joined forces to watch the friendly game between the Timbers and Aston Villa.  Since it was a friendly match, the Army was toned down which ensured that Kaden did not return home with a cuss- word laden vocabulary. It was still rowdy, but not obnoxious.

Pre-game antics were cause for a double take as Tom Hanks appeared on the huge TV screen flipping the coin and presenting the game ball. Apparently, he is an Aston Villa fan.

It was a great game to take an aspiring soccer player to see, as he was fascinated with everything on the field (including Timber Joey), goals were scored and penalty kicks were taken. Kaden's enthusiasm was entertaining and it was fun to experience it as a family.

Our second night was to see the Timbers take on Chivas USA. Alongside Mike and Milan, we joined the much rowdier and more vocal Timbers Army.

While waiting for the game to start, I finally got to see the infamous collage hanging in the stadium foyer. Last year, we had so many people send us pictures of the picture reminding us that we forever are in Timbers lore. Plus, upon further perusal, I found that Kaden's solo pictures had also made it.

As for the game, it was a brutal 90 minutes filled with fan frustration and snarky comments. The Timbers were unbelievable, having seventeen shots on goal with no goals. We lost 1-0.

Thanks to Zach's obsessive behavior in regards to soccer, as well as his internet sleuthing skills, we have more tickets for the upcoming August games. Yeah!

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

"Hats have power. Hats can change you into someone else."

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In September's world, many things began with pan. Pandemic, Pangaea, Panacea, Panoply. Those were all big words, to be sure, but as has been said, September read often, and liked it best when words did not pretend to be simple, but put on their full armor and rode out with flying colors.

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"This is for washing your wishes, September," said Lye, breaking off another of her fingers with a thick snap. "For the wishes of one's old life wither and shrivel like old leaves if they are not replaced with new wishes when the world changes. And the world always changes. Wishes get slimy and their color fades, and soon they are just mud like the rest of the mud, and not wishes at all, but regrets. The trouble is, not everyone can tell when they ought to launder their wishes. Even when one finds oneself in Fairyland and not at home at all, it is not always so easy to remember to catch the world in its changing, and change with it."

The Last Dragonslayer

"You can read my thoughts?"
"Only when someone feels passionately about something. Ordinary thoughts are pretty dull. Powerful ideas have a life of their own, they carry on, unshakeable, from person to person. Wouldn't you agree?"

Jazz Festival

While the Tos headed to the beach for an overnight stay, we went to Cathedral Park for the Jazz Festival. It was an afternoon/evening spent listening to an array of local jazz musicians, reading and playing cards beneath the beautiful St. John's Bridge.

Upon our departure, we spied this awesome emblem on the back of a fellow jazz listener. We love that the chopsticks were included.

Party Day!

The day started with a baby shower to love on Anya and baby Lucy.

The afternoon was spent laying in the sun and sliding.

The evening was a To-Banker shebang, reconnecting with great friends. 

(Little) Sand in the City

After a picnic lunch in Laurelhurst Park with a friend, we decided to jaunt downtown to see Sand in the City. It is an annual event where Pioneer Square becomes a large, sculpted sandbox. After being out of the country for a while, it is nice to know that some events have continuity. Though, we did notice that the sandbox had shrunk in size.

Since we visited on opening day, we actually got to see the sculpting in progress and the start of the judging. We didn't stay to hear the results, as Melissa and Hadley were coming to spend the night, but we enjoyed our stroll around such beautiful and intricate creations.

The Comfort of Familiarity

The comfort of familiarity is a beautiful and sweet thing. Since returning to the Northwest, I have been asked frequently what I want to do or see. Of course, adventures are to be had, yet for the moment I am content with basking in the familiar. Yes, living overseas is a dream. As I talk with strangers and reconnect with friends I am reminded of the incredible opportunity we have been given, yet it comes with an underlying nuisance.

Overseas, we are constantly in a heightened awareness mode. Is this really the price? Where does this bus go? Was that guy trying to reach into my bag? Are they trying to scam us? Does this dish have meat in it? Rarely, are we able to truly relax. Within the US, we have (for the most part) snuggled into the familiarity. Cars are driven in a coherent method. Gyms are open longer than two hours. Coffee shops still smell fantastic. Showers and toilets are separated within the bathroom. Bathtubs are a gift from heaven.

When the time comes, I will be ready to return to the other side of the world for it is where our home is at this time, but I am extremely thankful for the mundane and commonplace within the mother country now.

Stardom

Zach's brush with movie stardom in China was so memorable that he could not pass up the opportunity to be an extra in the show, Portlandia, when it was filming at Multnomah. Due to a non-disclosure agreement, details are unavailable, but he did say, "I will definitely be in the show."

Little Timbers

Storm clouds on the horizon, sun breaks and a U-23 (aka Little Timbers) game equals a fantastic evening in Portland. However, having to wear a hoodie in July was disturbing.

Weisser Wedding

This was a highly anticipated event of our summer for several reasons. First, within the first week of being in the Northwest, we were going to see many people that we love greatly. Second, Zach was honored and excited to be co-officiating the ceremony with Joel. Third, we love Lori and Kyle and have grand hopes for their marriage adventure. It was a week that did not disappoint in laughter, late nights and celebratory goodness.

The rehearsal was entertaining. At its core, it was the meshing of two cultures and it was hysterical at points. For the Asians, it was a short rehearsal. For us white folk, it was really long.

As for the rehearsal dinner, it was a completely new concept. In Vietnamese culture, a morning ceremony is held the day of the wedding instead of a dinner the previous evening. For most of our friends, it was the first rehearsal dinner they had ever attended.

The wedding day was spectacular. Kaden and I were to take care of each other, which we did rather efficiently and had tons of fun in the process.

The reception was not only a time to celebrate the marriage, but time for us to reconnect with friends we had yet to see. We spent our evening catching up with Amy, Jono, Mike and Liz. Plus, Kaden and Zach took time to watch the Timbers game in the lobby.

As with all weddings, there was a sigh of relief at its completion, as well as a next day wedding weary hangover. It truly was an amazing day to celebrate two fabulous people!

Twelve Hours

As we chased the sun across the sky, our anticipation heightened. The time with our families was great and farewells are always hard, yet we were ready to head to the Northwest. Kentucky is for family, Portland is home.

After a delay in Phoenix, we finally set foot on Portland soil in the wee hours of the morning. We became even happier after setting foot into the familiarity of the To(-Banker) house, greeted by Lisa, Gracie and Addysen. We didn't go to bed until hours later.

The morning was a happy reunion with Kaden. Wide eyed and beyond excited, he leapt into my arms for a ferocious hug. Within the hour, we had perched in our normal spot -- snuggled with a book in hand.

We were in Portland for twelve hours before we headed north to Seattle for a week filled with Weisser wedding festivities.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time we endured a thirty hour flight and a bizarre jet lag recovery plan in order to spend a week alongside our families, eating chocolate melting cakes and soft serve ice cream, watching comedy, sunbathing and exploring ports throughout the Caribbean. These are the untold tales. 

Port: Cozumel | Destination: Tulum

We were excited that the Mayan ruins would be a nice addition to our unintentional 2012 theme of ancient civilizations. Unbeknownst to us, the pyramids and Angkor Wat had set a high standard. We had started big. The pyramids are a feat of man. Angkor Wat is artistry beyond comprehension. The Mayan ruins are broken blocks.

Upon my parents’ recommendation, we took a day excursion to Tulum with Zach’s family. Mom and Dad raved about it, especially since the site is located on cliffs directly by the turquoise waters of the ocean. The site was breathtaking, but since their visit the location had been deemed a historical preserve and ropes were strewn everywhere. No longer were visitors allowed to climb the ruins. Nonetheless, we were not disappointed with our choice. The funniest part was watching tourists chasing after the iguanas in hopes of a great snapshot, only to be thwarted when the iguana fled into a roped off area.

Our return to the ship was the eventful part, as it seemed we had hit a time warp or the tour group had miscalculated the return. We were supposed to be on board by 5:30pm for a 6pm departure. We dinged our cards at 5:50pm, with fifteen people yet to be on board. It was a close call. We dashed to our rooms for a quick shower and wardrobe change to make a 6pm dinner date.

Port: Belize | Destination: Altun Ha and River George

The ruins of Altun Ha were more to our expectations. Majestic and mysterious they were, still we were reminded that artistry was not a focal point for the Mayans. However, Zach had watched a brief documentary on one of our bus trips and learned that math was the art of the Mayans. It made sense, thus we quit looking for great creativity.

By the time we had reached the ruins, Zach and I had grated nerves. It was a cultural shock at its core—English overload. This shock moment was induced by a too talkative tour guide. For the hour trip to the ruins, she did not stop talking. Then, when we reached the ruins, she joined with a partner and neither one of them stopped talking and stated that the group must stay together. It was beyond infuriating. At the base of unique creations, we rebelled and wandered (or we would have gone postal.) It made for prime photographic opportunities as no one was walking around. Another lady eventually joined our meanderings, sharing the same sentiments and said that the biggest one could be climbed via the front. So, Zach took off only to be beyond the first staircase and yelled at by the tour guide. Actually, he clapped like he was getting the attention of a dog, which didn’t work because we had missed the lecture that when he clapped, we needed to pay special attention.

We could climb in the back via a recently constructed staircase. One piece of misinformation and we were labeled troublemakers.

The second leg of our journey was a cruise on the River Wallace. It was the heat of the day, so wildlife was not teeming, but we did get to see alligators, birds, iguanas, bats, manatee snouts and dolphins. Mom and dad remarked how much the river banks had been developed since their last visit.

Port: Honduras | Destination: Around town

We forewent a structured excursion in Honduras. We had our fill of cheesy tour guides and regulated situations. We ate a leisurely breakfast, overlooking the beautiful island of Roatan as a morning shower turned the ocean to a murky gray to match the sky. Once the rain passed, we disembarked and rented a motorbike outside the Carnival port gates. It was spontaneous and typical back alley shady. We had puttered for about an hour when the whoop of a cop bike caught our attention and we were pulled over. 

The two policemen spoke very broken English and our Spanish nonexistent. Thanks to China, we are more patient in such situations. Gestures and broken phrases quickly explained the situation. Although we had asked our motorbike owner (who said no), it was the missing helmet upon my head that had caught the attention of the local cops.

Darn blonde hair.

Of the pair, one cop was preparing to write a ticket while the other kept pointing towards a mystical courthouse or fine-gathering shack. Upon hearing that we would return to the ship, the paper and pen were put away and we backtracked.

The moto owner was shocked to see us so soon, but once he saw our disgruntled looks and tale of a cop run in, he quickly obliged and rummaged a helmet for me. We were off again, in the opposite direction.

Weaving through back alleys and side streets, we quickly realized that Honduras Roatan was not much. Of course, we loved seeing the typical day to day activities of the locals, but were reminded how much cruise ships shelter passengers from local happenings and even the native people.

We returned our moto early afternoon and strolled the port shops. We found our artwork, a few gifts and a football jersey for Zach. 

Port: Costa Maya | Destination: Downtown

It was limited-time port stop. Six hours to be exact. While my family was going crazy on Segways, we headed downtown with the Banker clan. Downtown is a liberal term in regards to the strip of beach edged with trinket shops. Nonetheless, it was quiet. It was quaint. I got a massage for ten dollars alongside the turquoise waters and underneath a palm tree. 

Further Tales of a Ship Bound Girl

Time spent with family within the confines of the ship were entertaining and rich in memories. The comedy club became an evening must do. Dinner conversations as we watched the wake of the ship were varied. An evening round of putt putt was hysterical, as the ocean wind whipped around us. The comparison of towel animals was a predictable evening hallway conversation.

Recollections of our week pillaging and plundering on the high seas are delightful; many moments morphed, shaped and planted well within a thankful heart that we were able to embark on such an adventure alongside our beloved families.