Well, that's a new one.

Today, several homeless people barked at Simon. I'm not sure what they said, but he seemed offended and just walked off, head hung low.

Market, Market, everywhere a market…

There are one bajillion Farmer’s Markets in Portland alone and three bajillion farmer’s markets just beyond the city.

Mt. Tabor.

We went up to Mt. Tabor yesterday – a great park with a view of the city in all directions. You can clearly see Mt. Hood – huge and lovely - and also what we think is Mt. Jefferson? St. Helens? It’s so awesome up there and I look forward to picnics, hikes and jogs in the park.

P.S. I did not take this pic...but that's what it looks like from Mt. Tabor...

Captured by Porches.

Phillip and I discovered a brewery called “Captured by Porches” – a small family-run brewery out of St. Helens, Oregon. The beer is good, but the story is so endearing that it might just be what makes the beer taste good. A young couple trying to do what they love and make it work. With a name like “captured by porches”….you understand immediately what they are trying to impart with their creation. Only distributed in Portland, Oregon.

Awwwww, sweet.


http://capturedbyporches.com/about.philosophy.html?lcat=1

Mt. Hood

On clear days, we can see the snowy crest of Mt. Hood from our balcony. I can’t tell you how much I love that.

Fourth and Flanders: “Campers”, “Shoppers”, and “Camper Shoppers”.

I’ve told you about the good, now it’s time to discuss the bad and the ugly.

Stelazine, Flupenthixol, Loxapine, Perphenazine, Chlorpromazine, Haldol, and Prolixin. These are the medications commonly prescribed for Schizophrenia. They need to air drop buckets of this stuff over Fourth and Flanders in Portland, Oregon. This is my neighborhood. I’m not kidding.

I’ve never seen so many mentally unstable people in one place. I have turned around countless times to respond to someone, only to realize they are NOT talking to me, but talking to themselves…loudly…and erratically. They hand out food here like it’s the “end times”, but sadly, I think people need medical resources even more.

The homeless situation in Portland is pretty bad. We seem to be in the thick of it – primarily because there are 3 or 4 soup kitchens close by, offering 2 or more free meals every day. I’m betting when the rain and cold comes, a lot of them travel south, but summers here are mild and free meals are flowing like honey onto the streets, so it’s a good place to be homeless, if you have to or want to go that route. Due to the absolutely crippled economy in this city, I’m sure it’s worse than it’s been in the past. I see the line everyday – at lunch, and then again, at dinner. I swear it’s longer every day.

These are truly hard times, something not lost on me in my own situation. I recognize every day that I voluntarily left a pretty secure job in this climate…and then see the masses of people lined up outside my window…who may have lost a job. I can’t help but think it’s no coincidence that I have this daily reminder. It’s an interesting and strange situation that I’ve thrust myself into and it will no doubt be a true test of my patience, perseverance, flexibility and perhaps more than anything, faith in my own intuition.

I will say, that most people in line are (or at least, appear to be) either mentally ill w/ no access to meds, or have been doing the homeless thing for a long long time. Yes – there are definitely the average Joes and Janes, obviously struggling and trying for something better. They are especially heartbreaking. But there are many that seem to not only accept, but embrace (and probably chose), the life of a wanderer. The city truly enables this lifestyle – an observation that begs bigger questions of how much assistance is too much assistance. I don't have the answers..nor a strong opinion. Not to make light of desperation – but some of these folks are professionals! There are the “Campers” – I’m talkin nice packs, tarps, sleeping pads, and even tents! They “hike” through the city, a lot of them young, punked out, tattooed up, accompanied by dogs and just wandering. Then, there are the “shoppers” – who carry on the tradition of hauling some useful, some maybe not so useful, items around in a shopping cart – bags tied to every corner stuffed with….I dunno. Then, there are the “Camper Shoppers”, who have it all. These folks haul entire lives and communities in their carts and packs. I saw one the other day who had a cart, a pack, and a wagon...full of small to medium large dogs barking almost in song.

Sad? I feel that way sometimes...definitely. But, I don’t know… I truly can’t tell who’s suffering and who’s content in this mix of vagabonds.

Madame Squeals A Lot.

Please excuse Seal's unladylike posture and glowing demon eyes in this picture.


Reunited, and it feels so good!

The cat arrived – alive – and that’s all I care about. She was not happy. When they handed me the crate she was totally silent. I think she had, after nine hours, just resigned herself to the fact that she was in a small plastic box in a dark bumpy place ...forever. But as soon as I said her name, and looked through the grated door, she began angrily chirping back at me ….and all was right in the world.

She did arrive with a bloody nose – all beat up from god knows what – trying to escape? Turbulence? I can’t bear to think about it too hard. She was safe and back home with us, so that’s what mattered. We brought her home and the dog went nuts. She was even happy to see him – evident in her willingness to endure the sloppy, full-on lick fest he offered up. There will have to be another life-threatening experience for the cat before we see that again.

So, the cat has been shipped and we all arrived in one piece. Now, we wait on our lives to arrive in boxes on trucks as we clank plastic spoons on paper plates and put our feet up on cardboard coffee tables.

The Loft

The Loft

ooooh, pretty!

PORTLAND.

This is a big city, folks. And we live in the heart of all the action – and the Chinese restaurants! We met our energetic and fast paced landlord at our new loft around noon. Phillip and I discussed later - we are sure our slow responses, distant stares and overall sluggish demeanor created an impression of a coupla country bumpkins. The truth is, that 3,193 miles in a car will change a person! We found it slightly difficult to keep up with her and this may have just come across as, well…. being stupid. Hopefully, we’ll have opportunities to redeem ourselves as moderately intelligent people – Phillip will do some math problems and I’ll draw a picture of something smart looking and we’ll send them to her. That should do the trick.

Our loft is beautiful - bright, east facing, sleek and airy. It has 13 foot ceilings, exposed concrete, and lots of “steeze” (read: style). It sort of feels like someone else’s life at the moment, but I’m sure once our stuff arrives, it’ll feel just like home. Phillip and I definitely look forward to a big front porch and a yard for the dog at some point, but we are both excited about this urban experiment we find ourselves in now. We are walking distance to everything – grocery stores, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, museums, even dry cleaners and hardware stores. Walking definitely feels good. There are approx 20 blocks to a mile here in the city – which makes everything a short jaunt and easily accessible. There are “park blocks” right around the corner. There is also a huge waterfront park about 4 blocks away. This is great for the pups and for escaping the hustle. Bikers are everywhere and traffic isn’t nearly as bad as it could be.

While the city center is pretty exciting and offers a lot, its the pocket neighborhoods that surround the city, where charm and culture flourish. You still have everything at your fingertips in these neighborhoods, but it hardly feels like the huge metropolitan that it is. Old, huge trees, bungalows, and young families everywhere – or hip artsy neighborhoods, vibrant with self-expression. All are slightly different – some sleepy and sweet, some active and exciting.

The other great thing about Portland, and perhaps what we both value the most, is the close proximity to outdoor adventure and beautiful landscapes. Travel in any direction out of the city and you’ll find yourself in farm lands, breathtaking coastlines, snowy mountains, riverside forests or high dessert. There are so many outdoor opportunities around here - and we love that. Already (combined with the first time we came out for P’s interview), Phillip and I have traveled to the coast, the river gorge, Mt. Hood, and beyond. We can’t wait to do wine country, hood river cherry picking, tide pooling and clam digging along the coast, hiking on countless trails, walking in our own Forest Park in the city and boating on the river. Of course, Phillip looks forward to snowboarding ....and I look forward to falling down a lot as I learn to ski.
Beyond that, there is also Washington to discover, which I’ve never seen, aside from Seattle. I'm talking about the Cascades, San Juan Islands, little mountain towns and seafood – just for starters.

Speaking of food, there is a flavor explosion happening in this area of the country! Whether its coffee, food, beer, or wine… they do it right. And best of all, they grow it, pick it, brew it and cook it – right here. We already have a million cheap or free events lined up for the summer – most of them revolving around farm fresh food, seaside treats, wine and beer. Good thing we walk a lot these days.

All that, combined with a million events happening at any given minute in the city, makes for a lifetime of adventure and discovery – just what we want. That being said, all this “fun” is no replacement for good friends and family. We look forward to sharing all this with loved ones…. so start saving your pennies for a flight out. You’ve got a free place to stay and two eager hosts waiting on you….

Made in Oregon

And we did it! Oregon at last…..and it was beautiful. Almost immediately, it changed…first, dry desert, like Idaho, …then patches of green along huge canyons….then lush rolling hills and finally tall, giant green forests. We found our way to Emigrant Springs and set up camp surrounded by massive trees, chilly evening breezes, and the smell of campfires and evergreen. It was beautiful. It was Oregon. We tucked our tent right under a canopy created by tangled trees.

The next day was a relatively short drive - only four hours. Most of it was marked as a national scenic route….for good reason. We traveled the stretch of the Columbia River. The road meandered curves cut by water. We snaked along towards the city….

Utah to Oregon…..Home sweet home.

I hate to admit defeat. But, Simon wore me down. He was out of control and I could not longer keep him from launching over us into the front of the car and under the dashboard…..only to shake for 20 minutes and then decide to go to the back again…and then repeat …and so forth and so on. It was incredibly hectic...and frankly, scary. The last thing we needed was an accident. We pulled over multiple times to try and calm him. Finally, Phillip and I switched places. I drove and Phillip put his “Dad Face” on and got serious with the dog. He finally got him to lay down and then held him there until he stopped shaking or retreated to the back. Simon eventually realized that the coveted dashboard spot was not worth the battle he faced with Phillip every time he attempted. So, he hulled up in the back…pissed off and as far from us as he could get. Thanks to Phillip (and that’s why they call him “Champ”), we got to enjoy half of our drive that day!

As for Idaho, well, it was dry and “other worldly” - long stretches of uninhabited no man’s land. I wondered who lived in that random ONE trailer in the middle of nowhere. How’d they even get out there? And how’d that abandoned big rig (and other car parts) end up in the middle of this wasteland?? Honestly, I was perplexed.

Our excitement grew as we inched closer to our new home state….

THE GREAT SALT LAKE

The trip to salt lake sucked. I mean, SUCKED. The dog had done pretty well thus far – Phillip notes that “pretty well’ means he was asleep most of the way. But now, he was reaching his wits end. The monsoon, the thunder, the loud shoulder strips – it was all getting to be too much. Now, every bump in the road – god forbid a shoulder strip – set him into a ridiculous, dangerous panic. He wanted nothing more than to thrust his 56 lbs body into the front of the car in search of cover and closeness. Not cool, Simon. NOT cool. I was literally fighting him in the back, trying to keep him out of Phillip’s way and away from the front of the car. This went on for hours….and hours…and hours. We were all grumpy and stressed and there wasn’t enough Xanax in the world to calm this dog. By the time we reached Salt Lake, our nerves were shot and we found ourselves wondering whether this place called “Portland” existed at all, or rather, if the road just stretched into eternity.

The one upshot was that the scenery was amazing. Phillip took us up a cliff side road to Loveland Pass that was so high and unprotected, it’d make a brave man tremble. In comparison to the humble old slopes of our home, in the Appalachians, these snow capped mountains were beyond confidant, they were almost arrogant with their rocky cliffs and jagged peaks. Captivating and Majestic …..to say the least.

We arrived in Salt Lake in a frazzled state. However, we were lucky to land at a welcoming home among great hosts. It was here that I met the man behind the legend, the infamous, “Johnny Utah” ( and his lovely girlfriend, Meg!). John and Meg were great and helped us calm down and re-focus….on drinking. I’m tellin’ ya…when you move, everyone wants to pass you a beer (or shot)!! We planned on de-toxing as soon as we hit the PNW. We had dinner at Eva’s Tapas and man, the hazelnut brussel sprouts were out of this world!! I know, it sounds… less than delicious – but you and all of your assumptions about brussel sprouts are just wrong. I will attempt this recipe as soon as I have access to proper tools for cooking.

We went back to the house and talked into the night. John told hilarious stories, I spent over half an hour trying to inflate an air mattress, and we all passed out in a stupor. John and Meg were nervously awaiting news on their offer on a house. The next day, Phillip and I said goodbye to John as he rushed out to sign papers and finalize the deal. Congrats Johnny Utah and Meg!!

Thanks so much for the hospitality.

Rocky Mountain High

Bros, homies from back in the day, screened in porches and beautiful sunsets. These are the things we found in Colorado.

We arrived in CO at last. It was a tough drive, albeit it more beautiful and shorter than the rest. It was tough, because Simon added item # 432 to the list of things that terrify him, when he discovered the loud rumblings of highway shoulder strips. He is NOT a fan. He turns into a monster….a problem that would only become worse later on in our journey.

We’d been looking forward to cooler, drier climates and seeing loved ones since our first night in tick town, Indiana. Phillip’s buddy, Ryan, and my brother, Mike, both live in or near Boulder, CO. So we set aside a day of rest in this beautiful city. When we got there we headed to Nederlands - a small German-esque town. We had some “Carolina” and “Memphis” style BBQ at a brewery called Wild Mountain. It was tasty…but nothing like the real deal ☺. The beer was awesome though, as was the atmosphere of laid back customers reeking of good health, giant wooden beams, and huge windows framing the charming little mountain town around us.

The first night in CO, we camped in a quaint little lot by the river . Unlike any place by a river in the Southeast, there were no – or few – mosquitoes! It was so unusual to enjoy a waterside spot without the constant slapping of skin and giant welts that arise from the elephant man inducing mosquitoes of NC. We were also grateful for the sunshine and cool breeze. It was all a relief after the last couple of days. Phillip went to cook out with friends and I stayed back with the dog and went to bed early – drifting off with the sounds of the river (that made me have to pee all night). Mmmmm….

The next morning, we made our way to Chautauqua cottages – a place we will definitely return to on our visits to Boulder. It was awesome – and just what we needed. When you google image the word “cozy”, I’m pretty sure a picture of this place pops up. Our cottage was tiny and quaint, with a big screened in porch and a stunning view of the Flat Irons. I just can’t say enough. The story behind the creation of this little community is really interesting too, but “ya don’t have to take my word for it!” … http://www.chautauqua.com/history_movement.htm

We started the morning with a long hike to wear out the dog and stretch our legs. Then we headed out to meet up with Ryan and Mike for lunch at an awesome Mexican restaurant. Holy spicy chilli verde, Batman!! That stuff was good…and hot. Ryan also introduced us to “The Premier” margarita, which resembles five shots of various types of liquor, more than a traditional margarita. It was good. One was definitely enough.

Mike, myself, and Phillip then headed out to a couple of brewpubs to try the local flavor. Twisted Pine was just okay, Avery was closed, but the liquor store had all the good stuff. We bought some for a porch session later on and then started thinking about dinner. We ended up at Mountain Sun for a great meal with Dianna, my brother’s girlfriend. Ryan caught up with us and we all headed back to Chautauqua for beers on the porch. It was a great evening – good conversation, good spirits and good friends – ahh, yes, this is the life. Ryan sent us home with the first two episodes of True Blood and some good tunes for the road – Thanks!!! We said our goodbyes and rested up for the next leg….on to Salt Lake to see “Johnny Utah.”