The Invitation is OUT – We are now on record as offering to host Rojo the Therapy Llama on First Edition.  We’ve enlisted the help of our listeners to coax the cuddly fella onto the show after I made some disparaging remarks about him on my blog.  I also admitted that I had had some past run ins with a llama as a kid, which frankly left me a little afraid…but a little fascinated by them.  Rojo was very kind to respond to me on his Facebook page – who knew a llama was so popular – and tried to calm me down.  I have since LIKED him on his page, and encourage you to do the same. He is a beautiful llama who apparently does good work in the community.  Our listeners have suggested on our daily poll that we invite him to Food Cart Friday.  He’s welcome any day!

24 Hour Spa – Does that sound good to you?  Certainly does to me, and its one of the adventures we have on the Azumano Travel Show this weekend, Saturday at 6am, Sunday at noon.  There’s a place outside of Washington D.C. where you can hang out for 24 hours, just soaking and relaxing your troubles away.  Ahhhhhhhhh.  We also take a look at Foamhenge on our way to a weekend in Roanoke, surf in the Canary Islands and talk about safe solo travel for women.  All of that and more, including new details on how hotels are taking a page from the airlines playbook, this weekend on the Azumano Travel Show.  And don’t forget, if you can’t tune in when we’re on the radio…you can catch our podcast at KPAM.com or on i-tunes

Jealous Much?  Why yes I am.  On Bicycle Built For Tuesday we talked about two people doing cross country bike trips this summer.  Its one of my fondest dreams, to do a very long trip like that some day.  I know, with all my knee crunching and ankle breaking, it might not ever happen.  But a girl can dream, right.  The way that Lake Oswego’s Jonathan Puskas is doing it wouldn’t be my preferred method, although its inspiring. 

Starting June 15^th, the 42 year old is taking off with his Wounded Warrior Team in the “Race Across America” – they hope to cross the country, in five days.  That’s Pacific to Atlantic! Yikes!!  The group helps injured veterans rehabilitate through cycling, so its an amazing cause. But what a grueling race.

I much prefer how Jennifer Lawrence is riding her route.  She took off from Astoria last week, and she’s planning to be at her parent’s house in Rhode Island by late August or early September.  Now that sounds much more reasonable – if four thousand plus miles on a bike sounds reasonable to you! The 38 year old is also raising money for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  The non-profit fights childhood obesity.  Best of luck and may the ruts be on the side of the road, not in front!

Father’s Day Riding – There is so much going on this Father’s Day if you’d like to take Dad for a ride.  Check it out here:http://www.shift2bikes.org/cal/viewpp2013.php#23-3700  Its Northeast Portland’s turn for Sunday Parkways.  There’s also a host of other crazy rides listed on the Pedalpalooza calendar including “Paddlepalooza”, a “Bike and Bee Hive Ride” and “Swim Across Portland”.  No need to have an average Father’s Day if your dad likes to ride!

Llama Trauma – I have alluded to a past slight from a llama and I have been called out by Portland’s most famous….and well behaved Llama: Rojo the therapy llama.  He responded to several recent posts I made about bad llama behavior, spitting and such, with this friendly invitation:

You definitely need to spend some time with me and my therapy buddies for some "llama rehab" ;-) It's these kinds of videos, and negative experiences with poorly trained llamas (especially in petting zoos) that give us sweet ones a lot of negative press to overcome everywhere we go! Certified therapy llamas NEVER spit at humans, or we wouldn't be allowed all the special places we go. I hope that you will come and meet us at the Junior Rose and Grand Floral Parades this coming week and you might understand why I was given this very special honor-

Unfortunately, I missed my chance to meet with Rojo, so I have extended an invitation, through Facebook, to join Tim and I on First Edition.  Who knew Llamas could not only read blogs…but type too.  Perhaps I am wrong about this llama thing.  Rojo, I look forward to meeting you.  Thank you for being a friend. 

Father’s Day – Stumped and want to show him you truly care? Say it with bacon!  Oscar Meyer has come up with a funny ad for dad.

Long Tall Llama from Tallahassee – I have been vindicated.  A story showed up on the wires about this wayward llama in Florida.  Police had to corral the critter, and he wasn’t happy about it.  Yes, they spit.  I’ve had one spit in my direction.  Thus explains my llama trauma.  They are not always happy animals.  If you didn’t see the story, here ya go:

And Speaking Of Spit --- This from Taco Bell’s Facebook page….reportedly from a store in California!  Eeeh

Doesn't make me want to make a "run for the border."

Rose Festival – The Grand marshal of the Rose Festival Junior Rose Parade has been chosen, its Rojo the Llama!    

You will recall Rojo made headlines recently as a therapy animal for local children’s hospitals and at senior centers.  Apparently Rojo is a media darling.  He photographs well.  I was a little alarmed though – as my on air partner Tim Hohl put it, I have some ‘llama trauma’ to deal with.  They spit, you know.  I brought that up this morning and Mr Hohl poo pooed by fears.  But its true!

I offer as proof:    

And there’s this

Dog reunion update – Remember the woman who thought she lost her dog in the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, then the dog turned up as she was doing an interview with CBS? 

An online fundraising effort has garnered enough to start to build a new home for Barbara Garcia.  She had no insurance, and was very downhearted when she learned she’d lost her dog --- then brightened up when her lil schnauzer mix crawled out of the rubble.  It was so heartwarming and apparently a lot of other people thought so too.  Twelve hundred people have donated so far, around 50-thousand dollars. If you are interested, this is where you can learn more: http://www.gofundme.com/home4barbara

Bike to Work Week – Did you participate? I managed two days last week, Tuesday and Thursday. Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood says more people in the Washington D.C. area signed up – a 20 percent increase.  Portland’s Department of Transportation put out the latest cycling numbers last week, and it shows a 3.3 percent increase in 2012 over 2011.  Overall, since 2000, Portland has seen a 211 percent increase in the number of people riding.  Meanwhile, along Portland’s bike boulevards you are seeing new speed limit signs. 

Big Apple Biking – New York is getting ready to take the wraps off its new Bicycle sharing program.  Reporters there have tested out the new wheels.  The program ‘rolls’ out the 27^th of this month

Bike Racing --- The Human Powered Challenge is coming up this weekend out at PIR, and you have to see it to believe it.  Check it out here:

And if you’d like to watch the races, you can find out more information here:http://www.ohpv.org/HPC/index.html

Traveling On – Good news if you like the Azumano Travel Show, but can’t always make an appointment to listen Saturday morning at 6 am or Sunday at noon to listen on AM 860 KPAM.  Now, you don’t have to!  You can catch us on podcast.  Its simple, go to the podcast section of our website, and look for the Azumano Travel Show (we’re at the bottom).  You can even subscribe, so you don’t miss a single adventure.   

This week …. on the Azumano Travel Show, we make a trip to Sweden and a Midsummer party.  We bubble away in a hot tub on a barge through Burgundy,  discuss the high cost of your baggage and “Break Bad” in Albuquerque.  We also ask the question – what would YOU do if your seatmate hogged all the elbow room.  All of that coming up this weekend. 

Traveling back in Time – The Oregon Zoo has a big birthday coming up, 125 years!   And the folks at the zoo would like to see your photos from the past.  They are asking for contributions for the big celebration.  If you have pictures you’d like to share, contact the zoo.

Closing “The Office” – The nine year run of one of my favorite shows comes to an end tonight.  We’re saying good bye to all the folks at Dunder Mifflin.  I know they aren’t real, but they’ve sure felt like it at times.  Here’s a fun list of 50 of the best office moments – and one of my favorites: 

Bye.....

Traveling On -- This week on the Azumano Travel Show we take you off the beaten path in Australia and journey to the western coast and the Ningaloo reef.  Everybody has heard of the Great Barrier Reef, but this is the smaller, less well known younger sibling.  Its also perhaps more spectacular and less of a tourist trap.  But you really have to want to go there.  The drive can be up to six long hours over dusty roads with temperatures over 100 degrees.  The snorkeling and kayaking is off the charts.  We also get some great tips for summer vacation planning, and check out a six story tall bath toy.  All of that coming up on the Azumano Travel Show, Saturday at 6am, Sunday at noon, on AM 860 KPAM

Traveling to San Francisco – What a fun trip we had for the three game series in the Bay area, watching my husband’s beloved Giants.  They swept the Dodgers.  I got a chance to practice my photo skills with a new lens extension and we tried out a fantastic restaurant.  We stayed at the “W” on Howard Street, off Third. Lovely hotel, but we did feel a bit “unhip” & dowdy staying there.  Average age of those checked in, I’m thinking, was probably 25-30.  Plenty of Giants fans around though, so we weren’t totally out of place.  The best part of our stay, aside from the view from the 18^th floor, was the wonderful Chinese restaurant we discovered.  One of the bellmen suggested “Fang”, just a few doors down.  It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.  Chef Peter Fang offered to put together a meal for us, when he noticed we were having trouble making up our minds about entrees.  Was I ever glad I agreed to that!  Try it when you are in San Francisco. 

Happy Mother’s Day – Enjoy your weekend with your family….I leave you with mommy and child cuteness from the animal world!