Still Around. No , I wasn't kidnapped, nor did I spontaneously combust, I've just been toooo dang busy to blog. Let see, there's been a trip to Portland, OR, a sick doggie, my improv class, the church picnic, the singles group, and getting the shop ready for the Balloon Fiesta. Not much going on, really. So I will try to update things.
Portland. Went to visit my pals KL and Mike in Portland the week of September 10-13th. One word: GREEN! Not used to all them trees! Next word: CLOUDS! Overcast most of the time, with intermittent sunshine, and light rain off and on, mostly at night. Didn't do a whole bunch, just hung out mostly, but had a full day that Saturday.
In the morning, we went to the Beaverton farmer's market, where I sampled more apple varieties than I knew existed, had a great knautwurst. and bought some yummy toffee coated almonds. Then, it was off to downtown Portland and a visit to the legendary Powell's books. My shop is about 1/100th the size of this place! There are a large number of various rooms covering from 3 to 4 subjects each. Just the Sci-Fi, Mystery, and Poetry room was larger than the biggest shop in Old Town! We spent about an hour and a half there, and only covered about 3 rooms. I did manage to find some mysteries I couldn't locate in the Duke City.
After that, Mike and I stumbled across the soundcheck that 1980s band Tears for Fears were doing in Pioneer Square for their free concert later that evening. We stood inches from the stage and watched the soundcheck... that was cool! KL caught up with us at the tail end of the soundcheck. TFF is her favorite band, and she had Roland and Kirk sign the hood of her jacket. Next it was off to the Rockbottom Brew Pub, a beer sampler and some salmon fish and chips. Afterwards, we made it back to the concert, where considerably more people had gathered. This was a benefit for a local reading program, featuring two uninspiring but not awful local acts, TFF, and Five For Fighting, some very popular shoegazer band, near as I can figure. Everyone in the crowd over forty years old was there to see TFF, everyone under forty was there to see Five for Fighting. TFF were great, and they played their old hits and songs from their brand new album. We left after TFF, but not before some twenty year old in the crowd got really pissed at me for calling the headliner band "the Fighting Five." Oh well, so I'm just a stupid, ignorant old guy, I guess.
The coolest thing about Portland is their MAX light rail system, which is cheap, clean and easy. I know Albuquerque has been looking at Portland as a model for our proposed system, and I'll put in a positive vote.
