Highlights for 2009

Tonight 2009 draws to a close, and with it brings about the end of the '00 decade. We know that a lot of people have had a rough go of it this year and wish we could say that we were footloose and fancy free, but that would be a lie. However, a new year approaches and we choose to accentuate the positive. The best way to do that is to post our top ten highlights from 2009. In true New Year's Eve/David Letterman countdown fashion, here is our list starting with 10 (of course).

10) First off, we experienced our first full year in PDX. We experienced all four seasons, dove into the local culture, started to learn the true meaning of the phrase "Keep Portland Weird", rode mass transit, and started to explore the abundant natural wonders in and around Portland.














9) We accomplished several household projects. We hooked up our old desktop computer to our TV, and freed ourselves from the bonds of Comcast cable. Our bedroom finally got painted and decorated (pictures coming in 2010). Our biggest accomplishment this year was our patio garden. We successfully grew tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, peppers, and even strawberries. It was great having fresh produce right outside our door. The cats even helped monitor the crops.











8) Saw the Wienermobile in person. In October we traveled to Kansas City to attend the marriage of some friends. While there we enjoyed a nice mini vacation which involved a tour of Boulevard Brewery, and a road trip to Lawrence, KS to see the University of Kansas campus, as well as enjoy a meal at Local Burger. But this trip will forever be remembered as the time we saw the famous Wienermobile...awesome!!











7) Discovered nerd heaven aka OMSI After Dark. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) hosts a monthly evening for adults only, so the 21+ crowd can enjoy all the fun interactive exhibits without snot-nosed kids getting in the way. And for an added bonus, you can do this while enjoying a beer. We attended a couple times and learned all about Da Vinci's inventions, the Mona Lisa, and even got to be crime scene investigators in true CSI fashion. Below are pictures of Peter getting ready for file his investigation report with CSI Director Gil Grissom and Sara as a very striking Mona Lisa.
























6) Visited the Oregon coast more than a few times. We walked the beach, ate clam chowder, saw the iconic Haystack Rock (pictured below), and embraced our inner Goonies.











5) Enjoyed a few brewery tours. During the summer we toured Widmer Brothers Brewery (in Portland), and Full Sail Brewery (in Hood River, Oregon). It was a pretty neat experience to see how beer is made, and to see where the beer we drink comes from. We also visited Boulevard Brewery in Kansas City (there is great write up about the Boulevard Brewery tour here). The tours inspired us to try our hand at home beer brewing so stay tuned for that adventure in 2010.














4) Attended some really great concerts. This year we were fortunate enough to attend an amazing and FREE Hold Steady show. We also saw The Shins, Starlight Mints, Ben Kweller (where we got to help him celebrate his birthday), and Mates of State with The Black Kids in separate but all equally awesome concerts. Looking forward to see some more great live shows in 2010.











3) Saw the Pixies perform during their 2009 Doolittle Tour. In November we drove up to Seattle and spent a glorious evening with the Pixies as they played the entire Doolittle album (plus B sides). We had every intention to blog about this shortly after the concert, but the shear gravity and awesomeness of the show has rendered us speechless ever since. Let's just say it was one of the greatest moments of our lives; the Pixies are true artists. Below are some pictures of the concert. If we ever find the right words to provide more detail, rest assured you will be the first to hear about it.








































2) Watching the inauguration of President Obama. This is the first time we got to see someone we voted for assume the presidency. It was a great day. We know there are a lot of 2009 wrap-ups that are taking more detailed looks at President Obama's first year. So, we just want to simply say that he inherited quite a mess, and that some people need to stop wasting time with non-issues and focus their energy on healing the United States.















Plus President Obama uses beer to bring people together (see "Beer Summit"), which is awesome!


1) Developed an obsession with craft beer. Just in case you haven't been paying attention during the rest of this post we have mentioned beer several times, and that's because we are living in Beervana. Beervana is the prefect word to sum up the overall craft beer culture that exists here in Portland, and we have officially been sucked in. We have done the brewery tours, the beer fests, and visited just a few of Portland's many brew pubs. We even watched an OPB special about beer in Portland. This year we learned about the process of brewing beer, the difference between a larger and an ale, the many various types of beer and the corresponding tastes, and started to learn what beer should be enjoyed with what food. Yes, it does sound kind of pretentious but remember it's just beer; the working man's beverage and Ben Franklin's favorite refresher. And you know what? That kind of sums up Portland-a little pretentious, a little working class, and a little intellectual.











Thanks for sticking with us through 2009. We know our blog posts were less than regular, but 2010 is a new year and we promise to keep you up to date on our adventures in Portland. We might even include one or two looks back at Oklahoma. Happy New Year and best wishes for 2010!!