Peacefull Stroll

Well for some reason I'm feeling more at peace with being in Portland. Not sure what happened but I walked around today feeling good. I LOVE this city as I've always said but today I felt good about it. Kind of like I was home.
The "merry waver" was on the corner of Burnside again. Waving us on to our Sunday shop at Fred Meyers (the market) there was plenty of activity at PGE Park. Someone pulled up a chair and had a nice little chat with his family. Where in the world he got the chair I'll never know. I watched a young guy chase after a girl and of course I watched to see that she was okay (not that I'd be much help) but he wanted her bus ticket. Wow, she handled that with poise. I'd have freaked out!
At the PGE Max stop there are now 3 skeletons of bikes there. Two actual frames and one tire. Note to self: pay attention to what you lock to the post...EVERYTHING. Tires, frame, whatever you can get your lock around. Sheesh! They work as fast as they did in Oakland when a car broke down and was stripped by the time you got back to it.
As I was crossing the street I saw 2 young guys, one walking wiht his bike and one with his boom box, I have never seen that in real life and he was jamming to old dance music. It was great!
I went for a second walk up the hill (without my umbrella or rain coat~rookie mistake!) to Goodwill and had a good long shop there too! Seems like I tried on everything. Just ask the employee who kept banging on the doors to make sure us dressing room users only had 6 items at a time in the rooms. My goodness! Thats the fastest I've ever tried on clothes.
I came out of Goodwill just in time for the SUN to come out! It was beautiful out. A little chilly but sunny so I dropped my stuff off at home and went for another long stroll around downtown to take some photos. Oh its wonderful here. So much to see, so many colors, so many interesting things in the windows. Fantastic!
My big event with the Hostelling International/ Girl Scouts on Saturday was really fun. 36 kids! Wow! Tanya the main lady invited me to go snowshoeing with a group she's taking out on Saturday, I can't wait! What fun!
Should be a good week. Not sure what the weather holds but I don't really care. THe weather is great either way. When it rains I enjoy the sound it makes on my umbrella, especially when it comes off a canopy and those are big loud drops. Sun is always nice too. Then I'm motivated to stroll on all my breaks and take in the views around the city. Either way. Should be a good week.
Karen

Walk by Crosswalks

This morning on my walk to work I decided to wander according to which crosswalk sign changed first. It was a fun way to get to work. Though I was 5 minutes late as is usual because I get so distracted!
Today was a good day, busy at work, lots of funny people shopping and its Thursday already! Yippee!
After having such a bad start I'm now more motivated than ever. Trying hard to pick something and go with it. I think as spring is slowly arriving I'll be staying busier with volunteer work and activities and life will be good.
Portland Walking Tours is currently hiring and I think I'd be great for that job so I am applying. Its similar to the tour guide jobs I researched yesterday. It will also tie in with the guiding I'm signing up to do at the Performing Arts Center. Man, I love this city. Volunteering is so easy when there is so much great stuff going on and I hope to be meeting some people along the way!
Tonight after work I decided to walk home in another round about way. I am still loving downtown Portland, its all lit up with lights on the trees and the buildings have a glow about them against the cloudy sky. Its fantastic!
I did plenty of window shopping and checked out everyones happy hour picks from outside their chosen restaurants. Boy do people in this city love their happy hour. So many great things to eat and drink here in the evening. I can't imagine having a budget to afford things like that but maybe once in a while!
Soon my blog will be filled with bike adventures further out of the city and new food, new people, new funny stories from crazed opera go-ers! I can't wait for that.
This weekend I am volunteering with the Girl Scouts to help with a Travel 101 class. It should be fun! I am leading some games it sounds like! Oh boy, been a while. But it should be fine!
Tonight I job hunt again for that perfect second job. Hopefully I get a call back from the walking tour people, I'd really like to give that a go! We'll see what happens.

Funky Town

I had a rough start this week. Two days of strugglig to get moving and no spark at work. People notice when I don't have a spark. Who knew. Today is Wednesday the 27th. I'm just rereading my blog draft.

This morning ( Tuesday Jan 26) I had a hard time waking up. But when I finally did get moving I decided to listen to some tunes to get my moving and I chose the soundtrack to Hairspray. First song is all about Tracy facing her day in her city and I had to laugh. The lyrics were fitting. I walked to work today. I really like to walk to work. Its a good boost of fresh air and now I am at work and thinking I've left my happy face at home. But tonight as it was last night too I walk home from work and the day here gets erased. I'm less in the mood for this permanent job all the time. I should have hung on t the idea of temporary work.

1-27 Today I rode my bike into work along side a garbage truck. Have you ever realized how large those things are? I mean, huge! I was certain he saw me so I didn't panic but his truck fills a lane up so he seemed like he was right on top of me! Wow! I'm feeling in less of a funk today. Lots of my notes have been floating around my table so each day I'm greeted by ideas of what I could work toward, goals, ideas, dreams. It helps to keep them handy. I am reminded that its all going to be okay.

Oh man, I just met the nicest old man and he works as a tour guide, for groups going international. How awesome would that be? I'm going to look into it. Lynn just said a travel agent receptionist left here and got a job doing that very thing! She went to a school in San Francisco. Oh yeah, sign me up. I like to teach, talk, travel, boss. It sounds perfect for me!

I'll keep you posted!

La Calaca Comelona

I made it. I rode through the city like I owned it tonight and came back in one piece. Fantastic! I can't wait for lighter nights, I'll tear this place up! Ha!
I was the first to arrive tonight, took me 20 minutes by bike, I beat everyone there by a couple of minutes, not bad really, considering they all live near by and were driving. It got really chilly out tonight too. I'm glad I threw on a heavier coat and shoes instead of flip flops.
The food in this place was really good. Really expensive too! Ouch! But what fun. 14 of us altogether. Most of them have officially been invited to my pub crawl. Should be fun.
This city is amazing at night. All lit up. The bridges have colored lights shining on them and the streets are a bit quieter too. I like it. It is 11:30 at night though too so that helps.
Well, I thought I'd have more to write but I am tired and thawing out now so time for bed! I talked alot today!

Karen

Operation Scout the Route

Well, I am currently sitting here fighting a caffeine buzz from the espresso I made myself today. Sheesh. Not to mention I've ended up doing alot of exercising today as well. My first job was to scout the potential route for a mini pub crawl I'm organizing for my friends here. (unsuspecting co-workers) They don't know how I like to party plan. I walked up the street taking names and checking out the scenery. It was such a pretty day today. I walked down a street and found a perfect location for a pub. It used to be one and is now closed. Just what I need. It had booths and was made of  lots of dark wood and it reminded me a little bit of England. I want to buy it. Don't hold your breath. It was kind of an English day today. Mild weather, the smell of dank old moss on trees etc. Anyways, smelled like England to me. On my way up the street I got a shout out from a crazy lady who was sitting on a street corner, just smelling the roses, so to speak, there were no roses there, nor bus stop, no reason whatever to be there but she was a cheerful one. I smiled at her to be nice, no wave.
Once I returned with all my good notes and pictures in hand I decided to scout my second route for the day which is my upcoming trip across the river on my bike (headed to a restaurant for a birthday dinner for my friend Sacha). I thought it might not hurt to see it all in the daylight. Glad I did that. Its pretty straight forward except when I was trying to get back home I realized I'd left my map at home and was on a one way street going in the wrong direction. So I had to go find someone who could help me. Luckily there was a group of people setting up a catering gig and they pointed me in the right direction. It was a nice ride, down the hill from my house to the river and back up the other side to the restaurant. Oof! Then guess what, same story coming home. Imagine that. I am really glad people are used to bikers because I meandered a bit here and there trying to figure out where I was. I almost ended up on the Train line. I missed a turn somewhere but who knows where. I'll find it tonight I guess.
My motto has never been be prepared. Well, it has been but I'm usually not, I'm better known as ALMOST prepared.
So, it takes about 20 minutes to ride to where I need to go. I have to leave time to get off my bike and catch my breath before I walk into a restaurant full of people. Also time to get my game face and my earrings on :) Sacha doesn't know it yet but I'm packing my big glittery Happy Birthday tiara, yes, I do travel with a tiara. That shouldn't surprise most of you.
So, time to hit the road. Should be interesting. Weather seems to be holding, fingers crossed.
Karen

Oh Bummer

It's Saturday morning. The sun woke me up today. It was fantastic! I will have sun on three sides of my apartmen when summer hits, I can't wait! And I can look forward to a nice cross breeze as well. Oh boy! There are dark clouds hanging around here and there and as soon as I'm done writing I'm headed outside to walk between then for a while!
Yesterday I chose to walk to work. It is always fun to walk because I can pay attention to more little things than when I rid my bike. On my bike I'm focused on staying alive and not falling into the road!
When I had almost reached work I saw a coworker coming out of the 7-11 and she was watching over her shoulder and I couldn't figure out what she was doing. I finally caught up with her and she was really concerned about the little thing that she says transpires in there every morning. The clerk in the 7-11 refuses to let this homeless guy buy beer, she said he's there every morning. I'm thinking more power to him, to not perpetuate the mans problems but then again, how does a person handle that? I remember living in Oregon (college in Newberg) before and I'd come downtown on Friday nights and work in a soup kitchen. Not often but enough to see regular faces. Some of those people chose to stay on the streets and battle it out. I never understood it. Some choose to go to a facility with a bed and chose "lock down" at 8 pm, the rest refuse. Its an interesting cycle.
I also know its naive to hand some of them money but I try to give them the benefit of the doubt I guess. Who knows, someday it may really matter to one of them, I like to think it matters each time.
So back to the story, I wasn't sure if she was about to turn around and go buy the beer for him, it was interesting to watch her react that way.

Friday at work was busy, people are in the mood to get out of town I guess, they were all buying things for their upcoming trips. Maybe they are anticipating refund checks on their taxes this year. I know I am. I know where I'm headed once I get it into my hot little hands too. No surprise I know!

I'm trying to pay attention to those that are just headed out there to see what they can see. I ask alot of questions. How are you doing that, where will you go and the big one, WHY are you going. I could never answer that question with any real solid answer.

At the end of the day I look forward to making my way home. It still seems like new to me. Which is funny. I'm still tryingto find the Safeway Grocery store and I manage to walk/ride by it almost every day. Last night I wandered in to do a mini shop for the weekend. So had all of the city on this side of the park blocks, lines went down the aisles. This market is not my favorite and I'll tell you why. There are always beggers and bums outside this safeway, not just one or two but many and at each door and they are usually young ones here as well, I find it disturbing because I'm walking out of there with a handful of groceries. Though I do remind myself that I work each day to pay for them. But still.
The other reason I am not comfortable there is that on one side its lined with windows and they are above your head but at street level so people can see in. They can watch you shop, see your picks off the shelf, judge what you're going to eat. I mean think about it. When you are in line you can see what kind of night a person is going to have, whether they are single or not (box of pizza), what kind of mood they are in (sad ones are buying Coca Cola and brownie mix). Whether the party is at their house (case of beer), or just a pre-func (six pack of cheap beer). Kids at home (something quick and fun for dinner), first date (that's the bottle of wine). You get the point. We all know which one I am but last night I didn't buy brownie mix or a pizza :) I had the ingredients for a delicious bowl of Pho. Or my American version of it. Noodle soup. Yummy.
So on my way out with my food I chose not to dig out my iPod and really rub it into the man sitting on the street getting rained on. Ugh.
Despite all that I love this city. Its really hard to put into words. Every day I try to put my finger on it but I can't. I mean, I'm as lonely as ever and I encounter all sorts of crazy every day but I love it.
The other day I was walking across the street to get a cup of coffee and I had called my mother to say hi. Just as she picked up the phone an ambulance was coming by so I waited until it passed, since it's really loud in the city and after he'd passed the intersection the train came whizzing by. Since I couldn't cross the street I was waiting and a big FedEx truck came booming by. So mom and I are laughing by this point. As I'm crossing the street finally a really angry bum is yelling at the top of his lungs, not to anyone in particular. Ah the sounds of the city. I could hear mom say "where in the world are you?" "Oh just crossing the street outside my building" ha! I love it! It really made me laugh. In the matter of 5 minutes she heard everything. I love it, something is always going on here. Even though it is just sound at the moment pretty soon it will be action! Yeah!
So, off to see what I can see for now. The next cloud is passing I better get out there. Tonight I'm riding my bike across the bridge to a dinner at a Mexican place in SE. That should prove interesting.
Karen (merry wanderer)

Light in the Sky

Today was the first day it felt lighter outside. I love that day! It's the day you realize you will see the sun again in the evenings. Oh! it's one of my favorite days, next to the day when you first smell that crisp air that signals fall is here. We're on our way back to the sun! Lighter times are coming. It is a spirit lifter, I'm telling you! Though after today it's hard to lift my spirits higher really. At lunch I went for a walk and it was beautiful outside. The SUN came out! Yippee! I hadn't realized how I'd missed it until it was shining on my back and warming me up. Fantastic! This is such an amazing city. I walked around PSU campus and the Park Blocks which are my favorites. Right now all the big trees are bare and you can see all the buildings. It's so pretty. The sun would hit this pink brick building and that big old white church and it was just a nice day out! Then on my way back from a little walk later I realized how light it felt and life was good.

Last night after work I went for a walk. I like to do that, its more like a wander than a walk. (there's that word again) I usually am finding places I'd like to eat, shop, be. Its great. I went to the book store and had a fantastic time saying hi to all my friends (the books) in there. This book shop I like is as big as a city block and has 2-3 levels. I'm never sure how many. You wander from the pink room to the orange room to the purple room. Oh the books!
On the way home though I happened to wander past a restaurant that was closed except for a big long table full of people having a private get together. All laughing, not noticing us outsiders. Another big cafe on the corner was the same way. I felt like one of those people from the movies when you see them standing outside looking in at all the people having their converstaions and their laughs and you are just left outside to watch them. It was a pretty lonely moment I had. One of these days though I'll actually GO INSIDE and see what its like for myself.
Thats what I love about this city, people are friendly enough to allow you to come on in and join the fun.
Even the bums in this city are nice! A few weeks ago I was parking my car (borrowed temporarily) and I was trying to pay and my debit card seemed stuck and a homeless guy was on his way by and he stops me and says. "Happy New Year" and I said thank you and he points at the meter sign and says "free today" and walked off. Well, thank you very much. I hadn't a dime to give him (hence the card in the meter) so I just said thank you.

 On my big grocery shop night I walked past another homeless man who looked hungry and asked for some money and I've been trying to be more generous so I gave him enough for a slice of pizza and he shook my hand and said "God bless you" I thought that was nice.

So you never know I guess. This is the first time I've been in a city and not known anyone. Not had any family to fall back on. I was thinking about it last night. I've done something new here. My mom isn't here to make it all better. Though I kinda miss that. Dad would have a to-do list by now, I bet he doesn't miss that :)

I haven't abandoned the creative writing I have. Its alot of work and ALOT of memories that I tackle when I revisit it and sometimes I am not ready for that so I leave it. I'm almost finished with my story about Madagascar and that is one funny one. It's coming soon.

Karen (city girl~party of one)

The Beginning, OR At Least One Beginning.

THE BEGINNING~ In order to understand where I am today and why I have such a "wanderlust" you should understand where I came from. The original inspiration came from a boy who meant a lot to me a long time ago, my first close friend. I had a memory of this and wrote it down. I think this was my inspiration. He used to always mention wandering.


The original wanderer.
As I looked up from the event at hand I saw him moving. He was moving
slowly, skirting the edge of the meadow-keeping his distance from us.
I knew the man, I saw the sun hit his hair, illuminating him within the
trees, his captors. Aspens always giving away locations with the quaking of
their leaves. He had been discovered by me. I watched him walk through the
sun, through the trees, away from view.

Knowing this man it seemed fitting seeing him quietly appear and then
disappear. Seeing him walk among nature, absorbing every ray of light,
every hint of the breeze. He seemed at home there. I couldn't see his face
but I knew he was smiling.

Seeing him in that manner was very significant to me. He was special to me
and I knew I witnessed him when no one else had, in a way I shared his walk
in the woods that day.

He is still there-still in my dreams, still walking in the sun, among the
aspens. Although his life has changed since then I like to believe he still
enjoys a walk like that.

Wandering, he used to call it. He likes to wander.

The New Year

Its January 10th today. I'm currently in Boise waiting to catch my flight back to Portland.

2010 will be a great year, I can feel it! I'm all settled into my new place in Portland and learning the streets as I walk to work each day. What a beautiful city I live in!
I'm going to start a writing project for the year that I hope all of you will enjoy.

I'll have a clever description in the beginning of the next blog.
Stay tuned.
Karen