As Charlie keeps getting older, he seems to have less and less time to spend with his dear old “mommy.”  He’s always so busy, and I guess he doesn’t exactly owe it to me; although, I did raise him, feed him, and nurture him into who he is today…no biggy.  Regardless, I’m starting to discover things to do in Portland that I never knew existed!

Here are my top 3 attractions that I have visited for the FIRST time this summer:

1. The Saturday Market

I used to think the Saturday Market was just a bunch of hippies trying to take your money by selling anything and everything.  Boy, was I wrong!  Every Saturday and Sunday you can browse through a diverse crowd of people and find beautiful mosaics, pottery, crafts, jewelry, paintings and much more all made by local artisans.  On top of that, there is an international food court and live music!

2.  The Portland Spirit

I was lucky enough to experience this magnificent boat last week while on a lunch cruise.  I enjoyed a delicious buffet, a live band, drinks, a very friendly staff, and the not-too-hot summer sun on the top deck.  We loaded onto the boat on the waterfront downtown, and it took us on a 2 hour cruise going south on the Willamette River!

3. The OMNIMAX

The OMNImax at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is an amazing venue, unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced.  It is a giant dome screen with digital surround sound that has the ability to bring you into a different world.  I recently saw “Hubble,” which depicts a journey through space and the endless galaxies through the eye of the Hubble Space Telescope.  It is unreal what is out there beyond our happy planet Earth, and you need to experience this!  (It’s also a plus that Leonardo DiCaprio’s voice is narrating you through space!)

As much as I love the summer, and all the free time I have, one of my faaaaavorite things is going back-to-school supply shopping. The second I step into Office Depot and smell the plastic-y freshness of brand new binders and Sharpie retractable highlighters, I’m instantly in heaven. However, I don’t exactly get the same vibe of excitement coming from my mom. As I’m running around the store trying out every office chair and looking for a new laptop, she’s over in the “kids” section searching for markers, folders, and number 2 pencils…boring! She always tries to convince me that we need to “stick to the necessities,” but I have a different idea of what I really need for Fall 2010. Here are some of my favorite online picks.

A safe for the top of my desk. I cannot have anyone taking my favorite supplies.

The best pen you will ever place your fingers on. Makes my handwriting look like I am a TRUE professional.

Binders with zippers are the ONLY way to go. You don’t want anything falling out. This one has a built-in calculator, which is sweet, along with plenty of space for business cards, cell phones, etc.!

Finally, the laptop bag. I have to keep up my grown man image, therefore, although the ninja turtle backpack is ideal, I think I may have to step it up this year with this classy bag.

To make mom happy, I will let her buy me the traditional sticky notes, pencils, pens, markers, paperclips, and scissors, but one day she’s going to have to realize that a working man needs the proper supplies to accommodate his success!