My Dad and the Map
Mood:  mischievious
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
When my dad visited last weekend I put him in charge of figuring out where we would go Saturday afternoon. He ended up with two choices and he let me decide and I do admit I might have picked incorrectly (stupid art museum!) but that is not the point. We were heading over there and he handed me the Oregon books I own and wanted directions well the maps were tiny and hard to read. It hadn't even occured to me to grab the large city map before we left. So we were driving around and he is asking me how far things are and what the best way to go is. I couldn't tell so he decides that I need a good map of downtown. I tell him that I have a Portland map in my car and since we just happened to be in his car I hadn't thought of bringing it. I say all of that but it was like he didnn't hear me and he continues on about the map of downtown and the absolute need that I have of one. When we finally escaped the art museum we tried to use the books' maps to judge the distance from the art museum to Powell's. Even now I am still not sure what the distance is. We decided to drive to Powell's and while we are walking around inside he finds this little free map of downtown and starts telling me I should take it home and put it in my car. I actually already have this exact map from a previous visit to Powell's and there is also the fact that I have a better map in the car. I take this little map, thinking that this is my version of the TPS Reports in 'Office Space' because I have a perfectly good map in my car it just happens to not be with us and no matter how much I say this he keeps trying to solve my problems with a free map.

"Did you get the memo about the DOWNTOWN MAP??"
'I already have a map.'
"Hmmm... well I 'll leave this one with you since you need one."
'Ok dad....'

When we left Powell's, we tried to use the litle free map to find Widmer Brewery but of course Widmer is not in downtown so the map was useless. When we finally find Widmer I put the map down on the seat hoping it would be forgotten. Unfortunately he picked the map conversation right back up after we leave Widmer and were headed to the Olive Garden. I managed to leave the map in the car that night in another attempt to leave it behind in his car, it didn't work. Sure enough the next day as we head back from Shari's he sees the map. He starts telling me I need to keep the map because it would be helpful next time I want to go downtown. Once again forgetting that I have a better map in my car. So after we do a quick run in to Albertsons, so that I can pick up some cereal and a few other items I needed; I put the map in my grocery bag to appease him. While he told me how that map would be my solution to the mysteries of life.

hehe I love ya dad.... :)
The map is in my car waiting for your next visit.