Environgirl @ MindSay

When Environgirl, Tristaprez and I were in full swing of our young and carefree days we would always listen to this song on the way to the club or wherever we were going for the evening.  Sometimes we'd listen to it while getting dressed. To this day, I associate this song with the three of us going out on the town.

Do you have a song that reminds you of hanging out with your friends?

I was determined to get out of the house today even though I am broker than the Ten Commandments.  The husband finally went to Beaumont to pick up his car (his brother came and got him) so that left the kiddo and I with a car and nowhere to go.

 

I decided it would be a good idea to drag myself to the bank and deposit a check that was pretty much already spent.  I asked chatnoir why is it that I always seem to dread going to the bank. He replied it was because it reminded me of how broke I really was.  Damn it if he wasn't spot on!  After depositing my check, reading my balance and getting my feelings hurt, I realized I need to get some gas.  Apparently I'm a glutton for punishment.  It wasn't too bad though, I actually saw a place selling it for $3.69 a gallon!!! Most places around town are selling it for about $3.75. 

 

On the way home, the kiddo said she wanted to go to the bookstore.  I was pleased until I realized she just wanted to see her Aunt Environgirl at work.  Since I hadn't seen hide nor hair of the Paganista since we went to Portland in March, I figured why the heck not. Besides, I needed to buy a few pages of purple prose. That's right, I enjoy reading pure, unadulterated drivel! The more heaving bosoms and throbbing manhoods,

the better! 

 

The Cocolette chose a Junie B. Jones book and I bought some steamy paranormal romance novels. We had a good time chatting it up with Egirl and trying to make ourselves look like real customers so she wouldn't get in trouble.  When things got really busy, the kiddo and I went to the cafe area to have lunch and read our books.  I was surprised that she didn't get antsy.  She actually read a few pages of her book after eating her lunch and sat quietly! I guess when we go back next week (a book I want will be out by then) I'll get her that Indiana Jones book she was begging for.

 

   

This is part two of the entry entitled The Chocolate Trifecta Brings the Fiyah and Some Flava to Portland 

 

Arcades

 

That evening after we checked into our plush hotel and dined on sushi, Tristaprez suggested that we go to this arcade called Ground Control. I thought it was a great idea.  It had all of these old school video games like Donkey Kong, Galaga and Ms. Pacman.  I almost lost my mind and my money trying to play Centipede.  Back in the day, this used to be my game.  That centipede couldn't mess with me! That evening it wasn't the case.  I spent at least two dollars and I only got as high as sixth place! That's okay, though. It meant I got my name on the board!

 

 

Here we are at the arcade.  I like this picture of the three of us. Tristaprez t-shirt just made me laugh!

 

 

A kick assed Star Trek pinball machine.  I just had to take a picture of it!  The artist seemed to be quite flattering in his or her depiction of the actor's physiques.  Have you ever seen Dr. "Bones" McCoy so ripped? I didn't play this game because I am horrible at pinball.

 

 

My two best mates. :D  Egirl got hit on by this really cute guy.  We kept laughing because he was so drunk.  She said, "I'm sorry sir, but I can't understand a thing you're saying."  He replied,"That's okay honey, I don't know what I'm saying either." LOL!

 

 

Trista and me.

 

 

A bad photo of my bittersweet sixth place finish on Centipede.

 

We finally left Ground Control and went to a bar called Kelly's.  Everyone was very nice to us and we even got in to see a live band for free. It was actually $15 to get in, but the door man liked us so he marked our wrist and let us in.

 

The band wasn't exactly our cup of tea so walked back to our hotel and ordered room service.

 

 

Mmmm....scrumptious! The guy who brought up our room service tray said they threw in the drinks for free as an apology for the long wait.  I don't recall waiting a long time for our tray. *shruggs*

 

 

 

Protests

 

The next day we ordered breakfast and were what my Granny used to call "slugg-a-beds".  I blamed my laziness on jet lag. After all, I woke up earlier that morning around 6:50 am because it felt like 8:50 am to me (I was acclimating to the switch between CST and Pacific / Mountain Time). I read a little bit and fell asleep again. By the time we dragged our asses out of bed it was almost three in the afternoon. As we stepped out of our hotel we ran right into a protest! We were cheering them on and screaming "Hell yeah!".  One lady came up to me and said, "How do you like our protest?"  I replied, "It is fantastic!" I nodded my head toward Egirl, "My friend and I just got in from Texas and we are glad we had a chance to see this."  She clapped and then said, "I'm sorry Bush is from Texas. It's a shame."  I replied, "Honey, he's from Conneticut."  She laughed and went back to join the protest.

 

 

Protest in Portland by ~ObsidianJewel on deviantART

 

 

Dreamgirls

 

After Trista and Egirl had to pull me away from the protest, we went shopping.  I got a nice coat because it was on sale and two really cute hats from Ross.  When we got to the mall, Trista gave us some of her business cards (she works for a Wihelmina Modeling Agency affiliate).  She said if we saw anyone who may look like they could model we should give them a card.  I scouted a very tall blonde woman with very high cheekbones.  She was gorgeous and natural. Not overly made up.  Trista said I may have a knack for model scouting. :D

 

When we got back to the hotel we decided to stay in and just have drinks at the restaurant bar. They said we could actually bring the drinks back up to our room.  I ordered my usual White Russian with Vanilla Stoli. 

While I was following Tristaprez and Egirl out of the bar, a woman and her friend stopped me and asked, "Excuse me, but are you ladies from the cast of Dreamgirls?"  LOL!  I told her "I wish!" She said, "Well you ladies look so adorable and chic in your outfits."  I thanked her and left.  I told Trista and Egirl what she said and they laughed all the way back to our room. 

 

Maybe that's why everyone at the hotel was being so damned nice to us. Hmmm.....

 

 

We're your dreamgirls boys. We'll make you happy. Yeah, yeah, yeah...

 

Voodoo Doughnuts

 

On our way to the airport before leaving Portland, Ray, Tristaprez's Spousal Unit, took us to a really unusual donut shop called "Voodoo Doughnuts". They have very unusual donut flavors like, maple syrup and bacon flavor and Butterfinger donuts.

 

 

Ray bought the Voodoo mix which is a baker's dozen of whatever flavors the pick out for you.  Here's our mix.

 

 

Check out the Fruit Loop donut!  It was so cool that I decided to save it for one of the little Tristaprezes.  The donut to the left of the Fruit Loop donut is a Butterfinger donut. (the previous photos are bigger because I took them with my cell phone.)

 

When we got to the airport, our hearts were heavy.  Once a year is not nearly enough time to hang with your best buds. :(  Egirl is planning on going back in the summer.  I hope I can go back in the summer, too. 

 

At least once a year, my two best friends, Environgirl,  Tristaprez  and I get together and recreate the magic of our younger days.  Back when everyone was single and living in Houston, we were a bad assed trio.  We went out every weekend and painted the town red.  Oh, the stories we could tell!  Alas, marriage, children, relocations and basically growing up has pretty much eclipsed the power of Chocolate Trifecta.

 

Last year we went to New Orleans, this year we decided to meet Tristaprez on her new home turf, Portland, Oregon.  I must say that I absolutely love Portland! It is a beautiful city! The plum trees and the camilia bushes were blooming which complimented the deep green of the gigantic spruce trees.

 

 

Here is a picture of the plum tree in Tristaprez's backyard.

 

 

Here is a picture of downtown Portland I took with my cell phone.

 

 

Downtown Portland at night. This was taken across the street from our hotel.

 

My plane landed on Thursday at 11:59 pm. As soon as I stepped off the plane and into the cool Oregon air, I took a deep breath.  "Ooh, It's brisk!" I declared.  It felt cool and crisp. I loved it!  Ray and Lil Tristaprez #2 laughed. I would like to personally thank Ray, Tristaprez's husband, for picking me up at such an ungodly hour! 

 

Environgirl arrived the next morning. Ray, being the cool cat that he is, woke up, fixed me breakfast and drove back to the airport to pick Egirl up. Lil Tristaprez #2 and 3 accompanied Ray and me to the airport.  We had a big laugh when Egirl announced, "Oooh, its cool and brisk!"

 

Unfortunately, Tristaprez couldn't get out of work that day. "Not to worry, Aunt Myclette and Aunt Egirl" said Lil Tristaprez #2, "I can show you around the neighborhood!" So Lil Tristaprez #2 and Lil Tristaprez #3 took us to some nice antique shops, a new age shop called "The Third Eye" and their favorite cafe called "Fat Straw". 

 

 

My adorable tour guides. We are at an internet cafe called "Fat Straw". Lil TP #3 blows a kiss to the camera.

 

You Can Leave Your Hat On

 

For some reason before I left for Portland I had the compulsion to buy a hat.  I found the black hat that I am wearing in the previous picture at a beauty supply store for $3.00.  When I got to Portland, Trista said that wearing a hat was a very good idea because it was a rainy town.  She said that she started wearing them a lot since she moved there. When we picked up Egirl, she said she too had a strange compulsion to buy a hat.  What's even more funny is that we all had hats in a similar style.

 

 

 

Tristaprez and Egirl strike their "author poses" for the book covers of their great American novels -- wearing their hats of course.

 

 

After purchasing this hat at Ross during one of our shopping expeditions, I too decided to strike my "author's pose".

 

Friday evening, the three of us checked into our fabulous four star hotel, Hotel Monico. We then went to a sushi restaurant for dinner.

 

 

 

 

Trista and Egirl lounge in the lobby of the hotel.

 

 

Mmmm..... Sushi....

 

That's it for now. Next up will be Arcades, Protests, Dreamgirls and Voodoo Doughnuts. 

 

 

 

I have so much to do before my trip to Portland, Oregon tomorrow. Environgirl and I will be visiting our friend Tristaprez and setting the town on FIYAH! I have to wash and pack warm clothes because it will be rainy and in the 40s and 50s there.  I also have to go to the bank and buy last minute items.  All this needs to be done by 3:30 when I have to pick up my kiddo. The kicker?  I'm so fucking tired right now.  I just want to go back to bed.

 

 

I like flying, but this will be my longest flight to date.  It will be four hours and thirty nine minutes long.  Hopefully, the on flight movie won't be too bad. LOL!