Mixed Bizness

I like it here. It's young, clean, and friendly, as far as I can tell. People say "excuse me" when they bump into you, or almost bump into you. Cars always wave you the right of way, and people say hello and smile to you when you pass them on the street.

Maybe Northwesterners lack the vehement rage of the Midwest. Makes sense. Feeling trapped? Head to the coast (an hour west), or maybe to the mountains (an hour east). San Fran is five hours south, and Seattle is three hours north. There's no snow here. Maybe that has something to do with it.

But here's the kicker. I watched Stranger Than Paradise last night, some weird Jim Jarmusch movie about a road trip I'm not sure I understood. Point is that they drive from New York to Cleveland, and then down to Florida, trips I myself have made many times, but Oregonians probably have never. Their road trips are probably to California, Washington, probably Idaho, Arizona or Nevada. Most of these people have likely never been to Kentucky, West Virginia or even the Carolinas. Boy, they don't know what they're missing. I'd like to find a nice gay man to take home to Ohio. Introduce him to my parents. Take him around the Not-So-Midwest. Show him Cleveland and the Ohio Valley. Expose him to hillbillies. Maybe take him hunting.

Here's how it works in my neighborhood:

The Willamette river divides Portland into east and west. I live on the west side of the river. Burnside Street divides the city into north and south, and I live about 500 feet south of Burnside, putting me in southwest Portland. North of me is the Alphabet District, and two blocks to the west is Washington Park.

Today I'm finding Powell's. I hope that I can do it by public transpo, and I'm all beat up from walking so much yesterday. Also, I'd like to get to the river, as I haven't seen it since my Yugoslavian cabbie drove me over on my way from the airport. I'd also like to get to the other side of it, because I hear it's cool over there too.

Am still jet-lagged, but it's getting better. Today I woke up at 7:30 instead of 6:30. The rest of my stuff is getting here on Friday. Only two more nights on the air mattress.

Is this boring you? Did you even read this far? I know, I know. I'll step up my game soon. This post was dull, even for me and I wrote it. Sorry.