Ooops! Did I put Jana? Haven't been able to type lately and really don't know why that came out. I think sometimes I am still thinking Jana rather than Jane. Better start checking my posts! I guess we are staying at the same hotel??? Which one is it? The one you suggested or the one Katy suggested? I'll have to go back and take a look. Which do you prefer Jane? That way I can make the reservations soon, like sometime in April. Oh, about the airline...never heard fo them.

SUSAN...sounds good to me!

Keep your fingers crossed ladies that we won't be moving then. I told V if that happens him and Jason are on their own! Just kidding....

Well girls, as I don't know Portland at all, I don't have much input. I do know that Saturday is the only day I will have available.

The good thing is....with my schedule changing, I will be able to get to bed earlier and head up earlier.

But since June is still a ways away, it's hard to really know what could happen.

I'll do my darndest to make it though!

I can meet up wherever anyone wants to. I already posted on my availability, so I won't repeat it here. Marti, since you don't know Portland that well, you can meet up with me on Saturday if you like. I live on the south end of town so we could meet up and I can get us around for the day.

Cristina - thank for the kind words. The funeral was a friend from ages ago who died of AIDS last week. It was a beautiful service followed up by karaoke, since that was his favorite thing to do. Karaoke scares the you-know-what out of me, but I enjoyed watching everyone else

Cristina - I'm thinking the Marriot would be nice, but would that be okay with the others? I think you, Angie, and I would be the only ones to need a room, though, right? It would be too much of a coincidence that you'd be moving that exact weekend, wouldn't it? Hopefully you could schedule that for the weekend before or after with no problem.

It's this one: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PDXCS

Marti - since you'll be on a different shift by then, couldn't you join us Friday night, too? Maybe you could even take Friday off and spend both days with us. One day is sooooo short of a time.

Katy - that's sweet of you to offer to meet up with Marti. Btw, I did a karaoke song with Neal on our 2nd anniversary. The song was "What a Difference You've Made in my Life" by Ronnie Milsap. Neal can sing, but I can't carry a tune in a bucket. We bought the video tape, and watch it once in awhile for laughs. So sorry about your friend.

JANE...that sounds and looks fine to me. Don't think that would actually happen...us moving at that time. Our contract with this real estate company is up June 4. And this is already planned so...don't think anything is going to stop me from coming.

MARTI...ditto what Jane said about maybe taking Friday off.

KATY...what a nice celebration of your friends life. I almost played my first DH's favorite song at his funeral but then thought...everyone would think I really lost my mind! Every Sunday morning, early (he let me sleep in on Sundays) he would get up and turn the stereo on and listen to Party Time by T.G. Sheppard-he LOVED that song! Anyway, I actually think some of the guys he worked with would have understood. I know funerals are sad but I think to do something in honor of the person who passed is nice whether some understand or not.

SUSAN...you don't really have to take off work for the week. I would hate for you lose that money. And we could always do something after work. But it's up to you of course.

I won't know much about taking off until the time gets closer. I have the end of June off for Jhanai.....I don't know if I'll enough available by then.

Can only wait and see.

As for parking and riding w/someone (Katy or Susan) I'm all up for that!! I would feel so much more comfortable.

We'll see as time get's moving!

Marti...June will be here before ya know it! I can't believe how fast the months are passing! March is almost over already. Hope you can take an extra day to spend with us.

Jane...let me know for sure if that is the hotel you will be staying at, that is if you do come.

Susan and Katy...how far are you ladies from that hotel?

I'll have to go back Katy and see what days you are available. My brain is shot!

It looks (the motel) like it is over by the Washington Square Mall. I would say 4/5 miles. You could do directions from Katy or my address and see what the distance is for sure.
You are going past the downtown area and south of me and Katy. blah - blah.
I guess the answer is I really don't know - lol

ok, I did the search myself and came up with 5.4 miles. Honestly, I think the area down there is worse than Portland downtown.....with the mall and everything and freeways are connecting in that area.
Not to be a pain or anything -lol

What do you think Katy????

Cristina - yep, June is right around the corner. It'll be here and gone again before we know it.

Susan - yikes! We don't need WORSE traffic!!

Well, if Marti's going to ride with one of you anyway, why don't we just stay downtown? Staying south of Portland was for her benefit. Marti, what do you think of that? And how do you others feel about it?

Ellen - are you coming, too? Please say you will.

Downtown sounds better to me! I had originally planned on staying down there since it would be closer to everything I plan on going to, and I wouldn't have to get a rental car except to go to the coast! So downtown is good for me! Where downtown is the question!

Wasn't sure it took my post above, the reason I am back for a few minutes. Hit submit and then starting getting that server is busy stuff. So went elsewhere and came back.

It is just my thought that it is worse. I could be lying...... who knows....lol

I just totally avoid that area with the mall on weekends it is a pain. Thinking the downtown area would be nicer on the weekend. You don't have the workforce traffic and such - blah - blah.....
everyone is at the mall......lol

Marti is welcome with me if that helps any.

Hey, look what I found!!

http://www.markspencer.com/

It's an affordable downtown hotel, very near Powell's bookstore and some tea rooms. It has a roof-top garden seating area and seems clean. What do you think?

Let me go by it tonight on my way home and see. We don't want you near the drug scene. I think I took Mike to a motel close to there so he could have his drug time jk.......
lol - geez, we don't need you JLs involved in a drug heist. I will go check it out
Actually, you know that is a nice area. I use to live up there on 19th and it is close to the gardens. Also you can take the Vista Drive over the hill where Katy & I live. Wonderful homes and beautiful drive, you could avoid all the freeway traffic that way.

Hi Gals - the Phoenix Inn is by the I-5/217 interchange, if memory serves. My dad stays there because he's not too close to the city, which he hates, but has easy access. The traffic is bad during rush hour, but not too bad the rest of the time. Could be a pain if you feel like you are constantly having to drive into town, but good for Marti coming from the south. Bu then, she can just come park at my place as well - whatever works.

Personally, I would stay downtown. I think the Mark Spencer would be good for all the reasons mentioned. I just visited a cool yarn shop that's pretty close to Powell's, so Angie and I will just have to go buy some yarn after we load up on books!

http://www.knit-purl.com

Re: my availability. Just so people don't have to look back. I am involved with VBS at church that week, so my mornings are busy. I can meet up in the afternoons or evenings that week, and I am saving all day Saturday for the JLs. Sunday, I'm booked with church and a matinee of Hairspray. If anyone else gets tickets to that, we could meet up - and you could meet my DH!