tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91855347419252954952024-03-13T13:28:09.945-07:00Portland 97202My musings and occasional horrors of now living in Portland.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-28443461050888249922011-10-20T13:14:00.000-07:002011-10-20T13:14:43.885-07:00A driving story<br />
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<a href="http://www.freefoto.com/images/21/33/21_33_93_prev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.freefoto.com/images/21/33/21_33_93_prev.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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When we first moved to Portland from the Seattle area, it
seemed like all drivers could do was honk.<span>
</span>It was seriously annoying.<span> </span>As I
have lived here longer, either I have stopped noticing it or it suddenly came
to a stop.<span> </span>More on the honking in a
second.</div>
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This past weekend I was talking to someone who also had
lived in the Seattle metro area, and he was complaining about the traffic up there,
but how at least people knew how to drive.<span>
</span>Here in Portland is not uncommon for only a car or two to make it
through a light.<span> </span>In Seattle, 10 people
would have gone!</div>
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So back to that honking part.<span> </span>Today I was at a red light, and the person next
to me kept honking at the car in front of them to turn right.<span> </span>I don’t know if they could see the person
crossing at the crosswalk or not, but you could tell they were pissed this
other driver was just sitting there.<span>
</span>After a couple more honks, the first car makes the turn.<span> </span>The car behind doesn’t even bother to stop
(the light is still red) and zooms down the road.<span> </span>The license place on the honker…Washington! </div>
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The morale of this story is that people in Washington are
dick drivers and are always in a hurry.<span>
</span>Portland peeps should follow their neighbors to the north lead a little
and at least have four cars could make it through the light...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from <a href="http://freefoto.com/">freefoto.com</a></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-75744936007664894082011-04-04T16:56:00.000-07:002011-04-04T16:56:46.194-07:00Won’t you be my neighbor?<a href="http://localhost:60269/1f401664a5591c8883603226a10b0c5e/image/bebc346f7b132298.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:60269/1f401664a5591c8883603226a10b0c5e/image/bebc346f7b132298.jpg?size=320" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>The day we moved into our house, we had to park down the block as the moving trucks took up the whole street. While we were walking to the house, a lady and her daughter stopped us to find out if we were the new neighbors. They introduced themselves and said that they would stop by later. I figured, sure you will. Neighbors like that only exist on TV shows. Fast forward to later that evening and there they were at my front door wanting to know if I needed anything from Trader Joe’s. Whoa, these people were for real. She gave me a quick rundown of the area, and asked if I preferred chocolate or wine. Easy question, bring on the booze! A few days later she returned with her husband and a bottle of wine as a welcome to the neighborhood gift. I was so impressed by the whole neighborliness of it, in fact I still am.<br />
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Yesterday I was out working in the yard, and the neighbor across the street came over to bring us some cupcakes. She apologized for not coming over earlier to meet us. She seemed really nice and told me if I saw a lot of traffic coming in and out of their house it was because they run a home business, and aren’t selling drugs! The chocolate cupcakes were a great addition to the bottle of Cabernet we were drinking later that evening (not the bottle the other neighbor brought over). A few people asked us if we were going to move after the house got broke into, and we said no we like the neighborhood. And having neighbors that actually care just makes me like it more. <br />
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What is the nicest thing as neighbor has done for you? Or are you the "nice" neighbor?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-18298557964622257732011-04-02T14:31:00.000-07:002011-04-02T14:31:16.528-07:00Redeemed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_DbENtQgBk/TZeVUqQIk0I/AAAAAAAAjY8/3YTpyiwyato/s1600/IMG_5317-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="251" width="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_DbENtQgBk/TZeVUqQIk0I/AAAAAAAAjY8/3YTpyiwyato/s400/IMG_5317-1.JPG" /></a></div>Thank you for a lovely Friday afternoon. Why can't you be warm and sunny everyday?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-68625650443660001382011-03-26T10:02:00.001-07:002011-03-26T10:28:49.664-07:00Look what just showed up!<div><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_B62Rsq_OXyw/TY4cO1JqiHI/AAAAAAAAjWE/-jEs2kE3uQI/IMAG0157-1-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="379" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_B62Rsq_OXyw/TY4cO1JqiHI/AAAAAAAAjWE/-jEs2kE3uQI/IMAG0157-1-1.png" width="400" /></a>Granted I had to call them again, but at least it's here.<br />
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When I looked at the date it was yesterday's paper!<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-82616170152857853382011-03-26T09:57:00.000-07:002011-03-26T09:57:04.407-07:00A couple of bright spots on a gray day<div class="MsoNormal">You know that saying “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well if I followed that saying, I would never say a word!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought after my “you suck” <a href="http://portland97202.blogspot.com/2011/03/pre-breakup-letter-to-oregonian.html">post</a> to The Oregonian, I would try and talk about a couple of place in Portland that I went to yesterday and really enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">First stop was <a href="http://swirl-frozenyogurt.com/">Swirl Frozen Yogurt</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know the last time I went out for Fr-Yo, maybe when I was a kid?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to the place right before they were opening, and the guy working was nice enough to let us in as it was raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think the guy realized what he was getting himself into, five double BOB strollers and 11 hungry kiddos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids were running around grabbing cups and pretty much just being kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once they opened we got a cup of blueberry/strawberry yogurt with granola and chopped almonds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed pretty healthy until the 3-year-old requested we add marshmallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was delicious and I was sad that we decided to split it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A second visit is on our agenda for this weekend.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The second stop is the only place that I would consider us regulars at, <a href="http://www.laughingplanetcafe.com/">Laughing Planet Café</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were first checking out our house, the landlord recommended this place and I almost wish he hadn't as we are becoming addicts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food is super good and beyond reasonable priced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night we had two burritos, a kid burrito, and a side of beans, a bowl of chips, two milks and two beers for less than $30 bucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awesome deal huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think that we have ever had anything bad there and we eat there at least once a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Where are you favorite places to hit up?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-42271652915580881922011-03-25T12:29:00.000-07:002011-03-25T12:29:35.558-07:00A pre-breakup letter to The Oregonian<div class="MsoNormal">Dear Oregonian, </div><div class="MsoNormal">I think we are about to say good-bye, I know that we haven’t known each other long but you suck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to you I had a wonderful relationship with a paper, every Sunday my husband would walk to the driveway and there the paper would be, waiting to be read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted sometimes I was too busy to read it, and it sat by the front door for too long but that’s not the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had paid for it, so it was up to me to decide what to do with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait, you seem lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I give you money, and in turn you show up on my doorstep three days a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted I only wanted to get you one day a week, but I was told that wasn’t an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty easy to follow right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why is that in the almost month I should have received you, you have only shown up on two of the days I requested and that was only after calling in and complaining?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea what it takes to get you on a regular basis but here is what I have done so far in attempts to win you over:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">3/13-E-mail</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">3/18-Automated service</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">3/19-Called in (paper delivered after speaking with someone)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">3/20-Called in (paper delivered after speaking with someone)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">3/20-Supervisor or the likes also calls me and advises that I will get my paper</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">3/25-Left message with distributor and according to the message I would get my paper within an hour</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">3/25-Leave the house and return almost five hours after the message was left and still nothing, yet another message</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">3/25-Completed delivery service satisfaction survey, not to positive</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">You might wonder why I might still want to get you and come tomorrow if you aren’t here, I am sorry to say we are done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">Sincerely,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 87.0pt;">Paperless in 97202</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-67613855641151848132011-03-18T14:03:00.001-07:002011-03-18T14:03:42.714-07:00Reasons I don't like Portland this week<div><p>1.  The Shamrock Run.  The race was fine but whoever setup the road closures should be fired.  Don't lead people to believe a road is open only to find out it is closed and there is no place to turn around.<br>
2.  The Oregonian.  In late February I gave you money for home delivery, where is it?<br>
3.  911.  If what I call about isn't an emergency, instead of transferring me to a line that tells me the non-emergency line number just transfer me.  If I called 911, I am probably upset and not wanting to dig around my purse for a pen.<br>
4.  Punk ass bitches who brake into your home.  Actually this is something I hate, and would love to inflict pain on this person.  I think I would go finger braking with a hammer like I saw on Justified the other night.  </p>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-76568362021577639512011-02-23T11:03:00.000-08:002011-02-23T11:03:50.230-08:00All the colors of the rainbow<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b_Qk2ZINTjc/TWVZ2N-MLYI/AAAAAAAAifE/CBfu3ZllFoI/s1600/IMG_5138.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b_Qk2ZINTjc/TWVZ2N-MLYI/AAAAAAAAifE/CBfu3ZllFoI/s320/IMG_5138.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a> I know that people all over the world dye their hair; I have dyed mine on plenty of occasions. One big difference though between me and the people of Portland is I stick to natural hair colors, not crayon colors. A few weeks ago at Fred Meyer, I saw three different people with three different shades of pink hair. So far I have seen pink, purple, blue, yellow and orange. Odd that I haven’t seen green yet, maybe as St. Patrick’s Day gets closer. What I really find interesting is the range of ages that partake in that colorfulness, I have seen pre-teens to ladies in their 60’s. Maybe when you live in the gray for half of the year, a little pop of color is what you need between caffeine intakes to make it through the day.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: LEFT;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-88759721388154829932011-02-14T14:40:00.000-08:002011-02-14T14:40:07.491-08:00Is it causal Friday again?<div class="MsoNormal">I was getting my haircut yesterday at a very nice <a href="http://carmentafoya.com/">little local place</a> (glass of wine included), and the hairdresser asked what I thought of PDX so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I paused for a little too long I guess, and said we were still on the fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Portland and Seattle are less than 200 miles apart, they seem a world apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In talking with her, the word casual came up to describe Portlandians, and it totally rang true to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portland peeps are just that, causal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fine to leave your house in whatever, and offer no apologizes and why should you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, I left the house in a half Bouffant and pigtails and no one looked twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe people in the Seattle area were too concerned about appearance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked around our music class today, and must of the moms looked causal and happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got up and danced, and no one worried if their hair got out of place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure I can completely embrace this causal lifestyle but I am trying to look at in a different light.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7eVumDpaZE/TVmvA-hXGjI/AAAAAAAAiQE/Fp2s3IzwD-E/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7eVumDpaZE/TVmvA-hXGjI/AAAAAAAAiQE/Fp2s3IzwD-E/s400/IMG_4944.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185534741925295495.post-32029736727097206792011-02-11T14:42:00.000-08:002011-02-11T14:42:49.184-08:00This video speaks for itself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AVmq9dq6Nsg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05501450763205667950noreply@blogger.com0