Fran redeems herself.

Yes, yes, foggy and cloudy, but ever the optimists we put on shorts preparing for the midday sunshine that never arrived.


P- Let's use Fran (our GPS). Where is she?

G- Ugh! I think the bitch is in the back. Do we need her?

P- Yes, because we don't know where we're going and we don't have a city map. I know you hate her, but we need her.

G- We don't NEED her, we NEED a map!

P- We're not buying a map when we're leaving tomorrow and we have a GPS.

G- She's a lying bitch and I don't trust her. You remember that day she took us the long way home? And that other time when she argued with me about the way to go and so you made me follow her instructions and she got us lost when I knew the right way.

P- The guy who sold her to us said she'd only be 95% right. Give her a break. She's all we've got. Now get her from wherever you've hidden her and be nice to her.

G- Alright. Stupid bitch better not get us lost.

P- Maybe if you wouldn't keep her in a Crown Royal bag.................Maybe she's just drunk all the time since you have to squirrel everything away in the little bags that you have such a fetish to collect.

G- Shut up! My little bags come in handy.

Fortunately Fran took us the correct way and we drove up to Washington Park, designed by John Olmsted, and had lunch in a fir grove in the arboretum. We froze our asses off, but it's still better than sweating and being eaten by mosquitoes. As we neared the end of lunch a group of camp kids returned to their shelter signaling it was time for us to go.

We drove down a winding road, under a canopy of trees, to the Japanese Garden. There we meditated as we serenely strolled through the manicured garden. You know that it definitely appealed to Gina. And Phyllis love the water features. We were enjoying the morning, no longer freezing even though we never saw the sun, and things were looking up for Portland.

Across the street from the Japanese Garden was a beautiful rose garden; row upon row of every size and color rose, cultivated on 3 terraces. We strolled amongst these beauties for a while, then sat on a bench overlooking the scene and the city below.

We then left Washington Park and went to the Rhododendron Garden near Reed College. It was early evening and although the plants were not in bloom, the ponds and bridges were very pretty. Fran had done an excellent job of navigating, so we asked her to find us a Mexican restaurant. Fran suggested and directed us to San Phillipe Taqueria, a little hole in the wall that had the best, authentic Mexican food we'd ever eaten!!!!

G- Finally, Fran does something right!