2 Week Check-in. Yes! I see success!

     So, for the last two weeks, I've had my big bum beaten at the gym. He-he, try saying that over and over again really fast. When I weighed in today, I was 8 lbs lighter. Hooowaah! 
     Now I can't take all the credit for my weight loss. Yes, I've been watching my calories. It's been a painful and sometimes pout-inducing experience. But a lot of the credit goes to a spiffy personal trainer from my gym. She and I worked out a little agreement. I work with her every week to edit her writing. In return, three times a week, she puts me through the most heart-pounding, exhausting, butt-kicking workout. And her little boot camps last an entire hour. Yes, there is no, "let's cool down for 20 minutes while you stretch" thing going on. It's a full hour of pure hell. 
     But I'm seeing differences. In these few short weeks, I've noticed my clothes fitting better. I feel stronger. My muscles no longer scream when I try to sit down and my lungs are improving. I haven't had an asthma attack in a week. 
    So, my next goal it to be 4 lbs lighter by the end of January. Let's see if I can do it!

New Year, New Beginning

Yes, I'm back! It's January and it's hideously cold outside right now. The chances of me crawling on my bike are below 0%. I'm not a sucker for self-punishment. But it is the beginning of the year, and I'm full-blown resolutionist. I can't help it, that's just my nature.
    So, here's my deal. I worked out hard in 2012. I went to the gym at least 3 times a week, I rode my bike a ton, and I gained 20 lbs. That sucks!
     That means one thing. Something I absolutely hate, but have to do. I have to control those darn calories. So I did the rational thing and bawled my head off, then found a calorie counting website to keep track of my food. So the Big Bummed Girl is now officially at Sparkpeople. My goals this year are to lose 50+ lbs and to bike a century. I'll post weekly here to let you know how it's going, and as soon as that weather is a bit warmer, I'll be back on my bike.
     If anyone is interested, here is my Sparkpage: My Spark Page

A Ghost Sighting at the Cemetery: Performance of Hamlet at the Lone Fir Cemetery

     I had a wonderful opportunity to watch Hamlet put on by the Portland Actor's Ensemble. The play was performed in the center of Portland's Lone Fir Cemetery. I know, I know! It's impossible to pick a more appropriate place. Needless to say, I was in heaven. If you can imagine heaven being an eerie, pioneer cemetery.

     If you ever have a chance to visit the Lone Fir Cemetery, I highly recommend going. It's amazing and creepy. Here is an example of amazing: 

Macleay Mausoleum

And here is an example of creepy:

grave of James B. and Elizabeth Stephens

Wait. Let's get a close-up of that so you can really see the creepiness. I hope you don't have nightmares tonight.

As for the play itself. It was well-acted and entertaining. The play was performed in a flat grassy area surrounded by tiki torches and spotlights. 

 

The audience members arranged themselves on the slight slopes surrounding the area. People with sand chairs were supposed to sit behind those who sat on blankets. But, as you can see by this picture, they didn't listen to instructions as well as they should. 

Yes, that was where I was sitting on a blanket. I had to crane my neck to see around the chairs, but it was still worth it.

The play started out with the ghost of King Hamlet walking around the audience. Wow, did that set the right mood for the play. He was such an ominous ghost. And I loved the modern military uniform.

 

the ghost of King Hamlet walks

And here is Hamlet. Some of you may have already heard this, but Hamlet was my first literary crush. In the 6th grade, he was my ultimate hero. I still get mushy inside over his character.

Poor Hamlet. Such a tragic hero.

For those who were hearing impaired, there were interpreters that spoke with sign language nearby.

sign language interpreter

Since the play started at 7 pm, it soon grew dark. That was when the torches and spotlights were handy.

the troupe of actors for a play within a play

During a fifteen minute interlude, I rushed through the cemetery, taking lots of pictures.

what an appropriate marker for the surname Dragonhorn.

Yes, that is a teddy bear. How could I not think of Edgar!

This is just plain beautiful

 

this looks like the perfect setting for a scary story

another beautiful building

     I'd like to take the time to thank my friend, Heidi, for inviting me to join her for this marvelous adventure. I owe her big time. Thanks Heidi, you rock!

  If anyone is interested. The Portland Actor's Ensemble is playing a final encore performance of Hamlet on July 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm. But it won't be at the Lone Fir Cemetery.  For more information, check out their website : http://www.portlandactors.com/

Haunted Places: Ebenezer Chapel of Dayton, OR

Ebenezer Chapel, located next to the Odell Cemetery

The Myth

Ebenezer Chapel is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in Oregon. According to local legend, the Preacher Ebenezer, who founded the Ebenezer Chapel, was a polygamist cult leader with seven wives. In a violent rampage, he murdered his thirteen children (aged 9 mo-13 years) then burned their bodies in the chapel’s fireplace.

 The remains of the corpses were buried in the cemetery attached to the Chapel.In recent years, a man was supposedly hit by a car next to the cemetery and was abandoned there to die.

 For years the chapel has been haunted by glowing lights, voices, and scratching sounds in the walls. 

The facts

As romantic and chilling as the above story sounds, I have found no historical data to back the legend. According to historical documents, the  chapel was built in 1860’s. It was rebuilt in 1926 using the original fireplace and much of the building's materials.

There was no proof of a preacher named Ebenezer. No one is sure how the chapel got its name. There was a man named John Odell who had thirteen children. Like most families from the time period, some of them died, and some lived to have their own families.

The Odell cemetery has 48 people buried there, eighteen don’t have headstones.

side view of the chapel

Inside the Chapel

a large hole in the fireplace wall

Inside view of the chapel

Yes, I brought Edgar

.

Oldest Headstone in the Odell Cemetery. It belongs to Samuel Angel who died in 1856. What an appropriate last name.

Civil War Veteran, William J Carpenter

I loved this cross

Most of the headstones are broken off, leaning against the trees. Everything is covered in ivy.

Willard Coovert  1855-1882. I loved the rose on the headstone.

The day was beautiful and I got my first sunburn for the year. It was wonderful to get out with my friend, Adrienne, for another bike ride. In total we biked about 15 miles. Expect my rides to get longer to prepare for the Cycle the Lakes ride of 100 miles!

Unveiling the Newly-Painted Bike

Finally, after a long and miserable winter, spring has arrived. Just in time, the hubbyman finished painting my bike. Here it is in all its heavenly glory.

Yes, that is a new backpack too. It was a birthday present. The backpack has a spiffy pocket for Edgar-the-teddy-bear to sit in and a hydration unit so I don't  die of thirst.
     Taking advantage of the first sunny day this spring, I hopped on my bike and rode up to the cemetery. It was a nostalgic ride. For so many months, I haven't been able to bike because of the nasty weather. Just getting out on the familiar roads made me giddy. The sun was warm, the birds were chirping, and the air was tinted with the scent of magnolias.

Isn't that a beautiful view. The sky is blue, not gray, and the hills are lush and green.

         The cemetery was alive with spring colors. One thing that I adore about the South Yamhill Cemetery is the unique flowers that are planted there. Most cemeteries are boring and immaculately landscaped. Here, flowers are allowed to flourish.

Because the cemetery is nestled in a forest, periwinkle blooms everywhere. I had to tread carefully in order to not step on one of the blossoms.

Daffodils and hyacinths were blooming.

Hellebore=awesome! What an appropriate plant for a cemetery. I want one of these planted at my grave.

Normally, I'm not a primrose person, but this looked stunning. I especially love the dark wine color.

Hyacinths

The daffodils that I planted were still blooming.

I left an Easter egg at Edgar's grave, figured he would appreciate that.

I don't think I mentioned this before, but the cemetery has an outhouse. Just one more reason why this cemetery rocks.

 A real mother out there thought "Yes, I will name my son Shirlock." For some reason, this just struck my fancy.

      After visiting the cemetery, I rode a little further down the road to the McCabe Chapel. 

 
I was able to get in a 15 mile ride without getting rained on. That in itself was an Easter miracle. I look forward to more beautiful days and wonderful rides. This year, I plan on driving to more remote areas to bike. I can't wait for my next adventure.

Finding the Obscure: Vintage Shops of Portland

     Oregon is never dull. There is always something interesting to see. For my latest adventure, my buddy and I took to the streets of Portland, in search of the obscure and noteworthy. Our first stop was the City Liquidator's store. It screamed interesting and unique. I had to grab a photo of the mural on the side of the store.

Inside was just as amusing. There were antique vehicles hanging from the roof including this cute bike.

These helmets and armor are perfect for when I stock up for a zombie attack. I wonder if I can find a katana there?

  

Look it's an elegant statue of Scooby Doo!

 

This couch belongs in our house. I want it now!

 

Leaving the liquidators store, I caught this bike rider pulling a small trailer. It just screamed Portland.

 

Our next stop took us to Vintage Pink. What a spiffy store. I could spend hours and tons of money at that place. 

 Isn't this tandem bike adorable. It would be fun to ride it with the hubby through the streets of McMinnville.

 I loved the color of this dress. Too bad I'm not skinny enough to dream of wearing it.

Hehe, this would make for an interesting piece of furniture in our house.

 

Boots appropriate for a zombie attack. In fact, I want them for anytime wear.

 

I liked these owl salt and pepper shakers. It was only later that I really looked at the squirrel behind the shakers and thought What the heck? I think those are nuts it is holding.

 

 Cute vintage slippers that are nothing like the above boots, but still fit under Laurie's style.

 

Driving up in the hills I saw this building. It looks like the perfect place for a haunting. I want to go inside and see what the interior looks like.

My bike is now painted and hubby will start putting it back together soon. Expect another biking post within the month. Can't wait to get back on two wheels.