Rain, rain, rain, bluster, bluster, bluster. As Oregonians we are used to getting on with the events of our lives regardless of our soggy shoes and web toes.
So when my good friend, Denise, turned 40 and regardless of the stormy day...we Sea Hags decided to put together something a little different. It was decided during cocktails that we would make (force) Denise to scavenge all over the town of Oceanside (the land of the Sea Hags) for an array of gifts and surprises and other oddities which we deemed fit for a 40th birthday.
Each participate was responsible for their gift or surprise and to make up a clue as to where in the town it could be found. (one can easily walk all of Oceanside). At each "station" Denise would find her gift, some new Hags waiting to join the ever expanding march, and a new clue. The play began when Lisa lured Denise to her cabin for a decorating consult (something we knew Denise would not be able to resist). Here she was given her first clue (actually a warning) about what was about to happen.
What ensued was great hilarity, near death drowning and horribly bad singing.
Of course, we made her the most obnoxious crown we could possibly come up with and then to add insult to injury we covered it in a gigantic plastic bag! (I said we were true resourceful Oregonians!)
Her head became so ENORMOUS that she had to duck down under the rafters to get out of the cabin!
Here was the next clue:
You may think this crazy,
But please, just walk down 'Daisy',
Look up in the sky,
And soon you will spy,
the next Hagalicious surprize!
We then lowered more 40th birthday adornment...A giant Tutu!
Mags and Denise in Birthday Tutu finery!
Our next clue involved following a trail of black beard like hair on duct tape! Here is the clue....
Oh, what the f***k,
At forty you must pluck,
Or mistaken for Bigfoot your fate,
So follow the hair,
it will help you get where,
a bigfoot might find a hot date!
This was some of the most fun of the whole day as her best friend from college days, Yuri, was hidden in one of the cabins and waiting to attack! Following the trail of hair on duct tape was also rather interesting as the wind rearranged the blobs of tape and hair. (I hear residents were finding globs of duct tape with hair on them for weeks after.)
Followed by the next clue which involved some really bad singing (I warned you!)
We continued to plague Denise with each ensuing clue, climbing down steep, slick embankments, wading through muddy
lawns,then laughing wildly at the sheer insanity of our determination and utter sogginess.
Finally a brief break for us, and an embarrassing encounter for Denise at the local coffee shop. (Thanks 'Brewin' in the Wind' for being such a good sport.)
Back out to the elements and then the most hair raising clue of all. Fellow Hag, Vicky, felt that Denise needed a 'right of passage' into her new decade. So what better way than a journey into the dark side...Drum roll here....the dreaded Oceanside tunnel!
Of course, just getting there had it's own set of problems as the tide was high and the wind was whipping the waves into a frenzy.
This is where Yuri ruined her 400.00 pair of shoes!! (That's her screaming expletives). Being basically a chicken I decided to wait on terra firma and within 911 reach.
Inside the forbidden cave..........
Luckily my visions of rescue helicopters did not materialize. Denise was able to retrieve her message in a bottle which was her clue to where coctails and a warm fire awaited!
Somehow the near death experience made Vicky's cocktail party all the more incredible.
Coctails served were "Lucy Side Cars" and the beautiful red was called a "Bella" both recipes from Lucy Brennan known for her wonderful mixes served at "Mint" restaurant in N. Portland.
A much needed break in the cutest cabin ever! Thank you Becky and Jennifer!
Bedraggled and soaked but we left her alive!
Our scavenger hunt ended with one last surprise. Denise's husband and boys had slipped down to Oceanside and were waiting to ambush her back in Lisa's beach house (complete with streamers and tacky decorations!)
Our day ended with a big dinner complete with decorations fit for a 40th birthday, old photos, black crepe paper and inappropriate glittering projects played homage to our own 'Martha Stewart', Denise we love you!The caption read "Some glittering projects never quite got off the ground"
A well appointed table..........
Vicky and Denise at dinner...my what a long day.
Ok, there is really no literary value of this picture except that it just has to come out.
And so as Yuris' peace symbol climbs slowly up Janis's nose we end another Oceanside Sea Hag adventure. Much love to all the Sea Hags who braved the elements and each other to make Denise's 40th Birthday a day of great laughter and true terror.
And that my dear readers is the end of the story...Peace out!
Great post B, luckily the cobbler got my shoes back to brand new!!!!
Posted by: Yuri | 03/16/2011 at 04:59 PM
I deny the singing was "really terrible," and regret my other poetic clues were not included. That said, I love the post - especially, "What I saw" and "What I Expected to See." love and kisses
Posted by: Janis | 03/16/2011 at 05:25 PM
SO Wonderful, thanks for this post B.
Thanks and love to all the ye old sea hags!
Brandy, you outdid yourself. All the ladies outdid themselves. Yuri - such a wonderful surprise and Janis, your poetic clues deserve a literary award. Love the lot of ya.
It was a really, really wonderful day.
Posted by: Denise | 03/16/2011 at 10:08 PM
THE FISH WILL PROBABLY BOIL IN THE HEAT. CAN ANYONE SAY SUSHI???
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