Scott and I went on a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Oregon Coast last weekend.

We got off to a late-ish start Friday evening after the initial panic of finding a cat sitter, packing, and then realizing we were starving and to eat. The drive down was uneventful, and as we drove through Longview, Scott said "Should we stop here or keep going?" We were both still ok, so on we went.

Next time, we stop in Longview. We got to Seaside around midnight, and there was not an available room anywhere. We gave up around 1:30 and finally just parked, and spent a rather sleepless night in the car with a dog who just could not get comfortable.

We got up bright and early, of course, and drove down to Rockaway -- we found a little cabin a block from the beach, and rented it right away. It was a nice little place, and they allowed dogs, so it was perfect, actually.

We had a great time, and packed in lots of touristy-sight-seeing. We had a great breakfast at The Fern Restaurant. We went to the Tillamook cheese factory to get some squeaky cheese (YUM!). Then we went to the Air Museum which is really cool, but the best part is the building. We watched the big elk herd there, too.

Sunday we drove around to a lot of different places, the most notable being the Whisky Creek Cafe in Netarts. We ate outside; they let King sit with us. They have the best garden burger with fries I have maybe ever had. Melted extra-sharp cheddar and asparagus spears were the burger highlights. Humm, I think I am hungry.

Of course I took photos, and they are on Flickr.

120 mph to zero in thirty seconds flat

So, I was supposed to have a show at Albion College in Michigan this September. I say "supposed to" because I got a letter Monday telling me that due to an "unfortunate accident" my show would be moved to Spring 2008.

After some hastily sent emails, I learned that a steam pipe broke in Albion's Bobbitt Visual Center, and did signignificant damage to the building and seriously threatened their extensive print collection.

So I am calling myself lucky that they decided to reschedule me instead of canceling my show all together.

I did get some new paintings done for the show, though. So that is good. Not all of them are done, exactly. Hey, I still had a week before I had to crate up the whole show and ship them off. Of course I wasn't done with the new paintings. I still had...hours.... to finish those paintings.

See the nearly finished paintings!! yay!