Friday night Dad and Marsha came over for a Dominican Republic style chicken dish we made. They brought Mickey so Sango was happy - and sad when they left. The food turned out well, and it was pretty healthy I assured them. Dad has lost 30 lbs!

Saturday we gorged ourselves at Saburo suishi and went to Portland Taiko's fall show with Akiko and her boyfriend Jordan. Jordan seems very nice, easy-going and has a good sense of humor. The performance was fabulous, but a lot more movement and dancing now that the ensemble is under new directorship.

Surveyor's Ridge

Sunday was a huge 25-mi ride on Surveyor's ridge with Jon, Justin, and Jeff B. The weather was phenomenal - even Rainier was visible. Justin blew us all away of course on the downhill...

<--- Jon with Mt. Hood

Naomi and I watched another film by Koki Mitani (All About Our House - last week we watched Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald). I like how he views interpersonal conflict and sees resolution as a group process that involves cooperation. I know that's a banal description, but all I can say now.

Sunday we rode into town and saw a small exhibit on Japanese naturalist/landscape wood block prints. We ended up buying a year student pass, which is great because the (new) museum is gorgeous. There was some stuff from the Hokusai/Hiroshige era up until the 1990s.

Jon and I rode the Siouxan creek trail near St. Helens. Peaceful ride with a few small waterfalls and emerald green pools.

Brian and Ruta had their combined 70th birthday (Brian turns 30) and Andre and Ruta's place. Julia made a huge amount of food and a wonderful multi-layered cake. We enjoyed some cognac-like liquor from Dagestan and laughted about how wacky Central Asia is.

Ape Canyon Ride

Labor day weekend, we went to St. Helens to ride bikes. The trip up Ape Canyon was spectacular, 3.5 hours, hot and bone dry. Sango was boarderline heatstroke, but found a trickle of a creek to wallow in at the end. The trail took us to timberline, which had a stunning view of the mountain close up. Wide-open and desolate, like being on the moon.

Saw Brian and Julia at Henry's for drinks on Sunday night. Afterward went to a sort -of-gay latino dance club in the Pearl and heard some great cumbia, etc. We had a round of tequilas and Naomi nearly passed out.