portland

The City

I have heard people here joke that no one shaves or showers in Oregon. I can get behind that motto as it’s become my own personal motto as well. I haven’t smelled any stinks yet so, I can’t vouch for the authenticity of the showering part, however the shaving thing seems legit. As for the showering thing, the humidity was at 92% before we drove into the city of Portland and my hair would never dry at that rate had I washed it before we left. Add to that it’s chilly (have I mentioned that it’s chilly here?) and to be outside in 39 degree weather with wet hair sounds like the pits! Therefore, ergo, concluded, etcetera, showering here loses some points for me, not that taking a shower ever had a whole lot of them to begin with.

The city of Portland was really cute. It sort of reminded me of San Francisco a little bit, maybe a little bit of San Diego thrown in there. But with a WHOLE lot less people. And I still didn’t see anything weird. Where is the weird I keep hearing about? Maybe all the weird took a shower day and their hair was all collectively too wet to go outside.

Maybe I’m looking at this all wrong. Maybe “weird” isn’t something to see? Is it a vibe? From what I saw of Portland, it’s cool and trendy but I’m not getting “weird”. Is “Keep Portland Weird” just some propaganda branding by the tourism board? Like when Valencia, California tried to call itself “Awesometown” and put it all over buses and stuff? Where/what is the weird?? I want to see the weird!

It was a good day! The weather was very nice and the sun was out for a little bit. We went to Powell’s which is a bookstore that takes up an entire city block.

I know that this picture is super blurry but I got rushed across the street as I started taking it and well, this is what you get for rushing me. Pretend it’s capturing a ghost that is interfering with transmissions or something.

This is the only other picture I took today. It’s a Doc Marten’s store. This has become a running theme.

One more full day of Oregon trip left. We’re going hiking!

Oregon Day 3. Don’t Read This.

Today we drove through places that looked like they could be in a movie or a book or an episode of Dateline. I have a lot of thoughts about this place that I want to fully formulate because I want to do this place justice. I have a LOT of thoughts.

We went to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry today. The kids loved it and honestly they could’ve stayed there all day.

I think we’re going back into the city tomorrow and I can’t wait to finally get a feel on the “magic and weirdness” that Portland has to offer.

I wish I had more to say right now. I DO but it’s not necessarily my thoughts yet? Basically there are a lot of white people and a lot of churches and I need to see more of Oregon to make a final call on this but… sunrise at 7:51 am. Sunset at 4:45 or something? That is seriously messing with my sleep cycle.

I’m tired. I have thoughts that I’ll put together eventually but I made a point of blogging everyday and I have FULFILLED this thus far, as bad as it has been. Oregon people, reading this, don’t get on me yet, I admit I have biases being from both Colorado and Los Angeles, and I haven’t seen Portland yet officially. However, I still have yet to see a person of color. I have seen 27 churches and several guns. That’s a bad combo, statistically.

Every place we’ve been has had a play area for kids, and while cool theoretically, I have thoughts on that as well. Because, of course I do.

Tomorrow we’ll talk. Possibly. Depends on how riled up I feel. Oregon folk, please don’t take this as a challenge. I’m from Colorado, it’s real hard to impress me on outdoors and for 2, I’m from L.A., show me weird. I have some biases. I admit them. Please don’t take this as Anti- Portland. I haven’t been there yet. I’m from Colorado. My children LOVE Oregon. I’m trying really hard to not be from Colorado or Los Angeles. I’m trying to feel the draw.

Guide me. Show me the way. I love you.

Horses, Hops, and Mt. Hood

Portland. Day 2.

Before I begin, I’m just gonna panic attack for a minute and say OH MY GOD as I sit here in silence, in a dimly lit room, at night, and suddenly realize that there is a huge glass door behind me leading to the back yard and now I can’t stop imagining I’m about to have my Scream debut (and death).

Is this because I said that I was going to go all 90’s chokers and mini skirts and Doc Martens the other day?? Listen up, Mask Guy who is reading this over my shoulder, I have seen this movie, I know your game, I don’t care if you’ve set-up some elaborate scene to make me open the door, I will not look out that window. This is what Dua Lipa was warning me about, and I do not like scary movies so go bug someone else.

Was I tough enough on him?

See, this is precisely why I’m a city person. The Great Outdoors really isn’t that great, we’ve discussed this previously, AND  there’s murderers. Yes, I know murders happen in the city but every scary movie, other than like Child’s Play, takes places in rural areas. You know this is true. I am now going to think about this every night that we’re here. Fabulous.

Anyway, Portland, day 2! I don’t know how that’s even possible, because we’ve done SO much and it’s been very nice, and VERY cold (that part hasn’t been my favorite part).

This is going to be picture heavy and word light because it’s late and now I’m scared of demons and serial killers.

So our day started off meeting a horse named Angel, who I’m told might’ve been not as much of an angel as her name would suggest. She tried to eat my older son’s hood off of his jacket but she was also super cute and fluffy so, jury is still out.

Then we drove up to Mt. Hood and the boys went sledding and saw snow for the second time of their lives ever which makes me, as a Coloradan feel like I may be failing my children.

In theory.

Snow is friggin cold and if you notice by the MASSIVE amounts of broken sleds, dangerous.

It was fun, the kids had a blast I was cold and complained a lot. And then we went to dinner at a place called Hopworks or something which is a cool restaurant on top of a brewery.

I am wrapping this up in a really choppy way because

  1. Don’t pick up the phone
  2. Cold
  3. Tired
  4. Not even looking at that door behind me again as long as I’m on vacation.

Maybe Angel will eat the masked guy’s hood off and he will be exposed like this is some kind of Scooby Doo episode.

Until tomorrow.