Portland, OR

Here is a little secret about me. Once a presidential candidate announces their throwing of the proverbial hat in the ring, I go to their official campaign website and sign up, for the updates and newsletters, the endless emails pandering for contributions, and yes, even volunteer work.

And I do it for both parties. Not that I am particularly on board full on supporting any one candidate per se, it is more out of nosiness. I love politics. And the machinery behind it, and the rhetoric and how campaigns communicate with supporters. I know I am a nerd. But more so lately it seems this election is, I hate to say it, exciting…and interminable. Seriously, have the elections always stretched on and on for two whole years. C’mon. But still, I think the more controversial the media makes this race out to be, hopefully the more people become involved in this so-called democracy. Although when you go the lowest blow in politics, you can also bring out the apathy (more so).

Anyhoo, there is a point to this. I have finally just received my first official email from a candidate asking me to follow through on that ol’ volunteer work. And it was Obama. I figured I would have heard from Hillary first, but no. Does this mean that Obama is fearing a loss in this state? Or just forward-thinking? Hitting up volunteers before Hil to subvert her own late efforts? He was just here last week, rallying up support both media-wise and fundraising-wise no doubt.

I wonder how long ’til I get the same email from the Clinton campaign. Any bets?

I was actually a little bummed about moving to Oregon once I learned that Oregon holds its primary so late in May, but it looks like Oregon may have a say in the race for the race for the president.

Here’s a little bit of Obama from the Oregonian. It’s long, so I don’t blame you for not wanting to watch it. I switched to a different window while I watched it, honestly.

1. I hate the song. I really wish he wouldn’t use it.

2. I don’t know how I feel about Richardson endorsing Obama. Feels like he’s vying for a VP invite.

Portland, Oregon, Barack Obama, Obama, Hillary, Richardson, volunteer, politics, campaign, Oregonian

I have to admit that PDX 49 is my favourite local channel in Portland, and for one reason only, The Simpsons. It’s on twice, but everyone knows that three is the magic number. Hint, hint.

The Simpsons are home in Portland, as Matt Groening grew up here, and it is no secret that the show has lifted many a name from Groening’s home town. Terwilliger Avenue finds its Simpsons equivalent in Sideshow Bob. Lovejoy Street in the NW became the Reverend Timothy Lovejoy, and Flanders…well, would the Simpsons be the Simpsons without “fine and dandy like sour candy” Flanders.

PDX is also a great place for Simpsons viewing, as they seem to take active control of which episodes they air. I am not entirely sure how much say each affiliate has in which syndicated shows they air. In some cities, a FOX affliate would be the spot to find Simpsons reruns, but PDX is the CW affiliate, so what gives? And then how much choice do those same affiliates stations get when it comes to which episodes air and when?

Two years ago, in Chicago, I emailed the FOX affiliate there to complain about the rotation of Simpsons episodes they were showing as it was maybe ten episodes and they all sucked. Yes, that may be heresy to some of you, but come on, the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Seasons had some real stinkers in the mix. “My Fair Laddy”? Worst Episode Ever!!

Anyhoo, I was expecting either no response or a response along the lines of “Dear Viewer, This station has no choice in which episodes air. Thanks for watching. Love, FOX Chicago.” Well, I never did receive a response, but guess what? Different episodes started airing from earlier seasons. That leads me to believe that individual affiliates have some control.

PDX 49 leads me to believe that each station has much more control that I thought. The episode that airs at 7:30pm weekdays seems to be chosen specifically for whichever theme the station is going with. This week, and last, PDX has been airing local celebrities favorites. I know, I think that the term “local celebrity” is an oxymoron, too.

I am curious to see how this favorite episode thing turns out with today’s airing. It is after all Valentine’s Day. Will today’s celebrity just happen to choo-choo-choose “I Love Lisa.” Tune in to find out.

The Simpsons, PDX49, PDX 49, Matt Groening, Portland, Terwilliger Avenue, Sideshow Bob, Flanders, Lovejoy, FOX, CW, Chicago

So I’ve been in Florida for two weeks now, and I have one more to go before I get to return to Portland. I am literally counting the hours.

Allow me to digress for just a moment…Something that I do like about Portland is that it seems as though many people I have met there are not from Portland, but rather are people who chose to move to Portland (usually after one visit). I have lived many places now, and most of those cities were cities where people just seemed to grow up there or near there, or it was the closest big city to their hometown. Not to say that every city doesn’t have it’s fair share of people who actively seek out and choose to move there, but in Portland, it seems that many people move there because something compels them to live there. In that most newbies didn’t move to Portland for a job per se, instead moving to a beautiful city and hoping to find a job once there. That is a sign of love.

I kind of feel like a broken record talking about Portland while I am staying in Florida. One, I am not a Florida fan. Sure, I like the Gulf and the Atlantic is cool, but the interior is a like a blackhole of culture. I’m sorry if I have just offended a Central Florida resident, but come on…I’m right. Admit it.

And two, I really like where I live, so I tend to gush…that’s right, gush, and I am not a gushing kind of gal. I know that everyone around me is tired of my talking about how much better Portland is than Orlando. I sort of feel like an obnoxious New Yorker.

But anyway, there is a point to this post today. Portland is a very “green” city. Yes, yes, there’s trees and it’s lush in foliage, but I also refer to the treehugger definition of green. The trash receptacles around town have these little cages on the side for recyclables. Everyone rides the TriMet or rides a bike. I feel like people are giving me dirty looks when I forget to bring my re-usable shopping bag to Trader Joe’s. I love it.

I grew up in Michigan. You know that state with the ten cent deposit on soda cans and bottles. Guess what you never see as trash or litter in Michigan? My parents recycled before it was cool. I remember filling up the station wagon with the bins and bags full of glass, tin cans, and newspaper to take to the one grocery store in town that had these what looked like train cars with a few holes along the side with signs that designated what stuff to put where. Maybe because I was a kid, I thought it was kind of fun. And it seemed like a lot of people were always there. So you see, I have just always recycled. It is so ingrained in me it is a subconscious act for me to separate garbage.

In Portland, yes, there is generally a very “granola” vibe about town. In Florida, I feel like I have entered a Bizzarro World in which everything, and I mean everything goes in the trash. I keep trying to find ways to casually ask about recycling, like, “Oh, hey, where does this big plastic soda bottle go?” I get strange looks, and then the answer, “Um, the trash.”

I looked up some statistics for Osceola County, Florida. They only recycle one percent (yeah, that’s right, 1%) of all steel cans here. Like I titled this post…Culture Shock. They start fires with gasoline down here. Everyone drives an SUV or big pick-up truck. No streets are planned out for pedestrians. 151 hours to go…

Portland, Florida, Orlando, New Yorker, Giuliani, green, treehugger, TriMet, bike, Trader Joe’s, Michigan, recycling, granola, bizzarro world, trash, Osceola County

About Portland, OR has a new writer. Sarah has moved on, and I wish her nothing but the best. She has provided some rather big shoes to fill.

No, that is not me.

So welcome to About Portland, OR 2.0. I’m Lulu, and I am a Portland newbie, having moved there almost a half of a year ago from Chicago. I had lived out in PDX (the airport code for Portland — everyone likes using it as a nickname — that and Stumptown) back in 1998, to study at Reed College. Didn’t last long as I really wasn’t much of a “Reedie”, but I always knew I’d end up in Portland in the future.

Ironically, my first post for About Portland, OR is being written from Orlando, Florida, where I am visiting for the time being. It’s funny, because you would think that I would be enjoying spending January in Florida, but I have to admit, I miss Portland something fierce right now, and it has only been six days. I miss the overcast days in which the clouds are threatening rain. I miss the trees, the lush and odd mix of plantlife, the mosses, the flowers that bloom in the winter, the compost heap in my backyard. I miss the friendly people that say hi to me as I walk around the neighborhood. I miss the hills, and I miss Mt. Hood. I miss sustainable restaurants, recycling, biodiesel buses, and war protests. Sorry to ramble, but I am jonesing for my home, if you cannot tell.

Anyhoo, I am going to try to keep up with what Sarah has established on this site, but I am sure that I will incorporate some new stuff once I really get going. If you have any comments or suggestions, please, I am all eyes/ears.

I also write the watching K-Ville blog for 451 Press, in case you were wondering.

Portland, Chicago, Reed College, Stumptown, PDX, Orlando, Florida, sustainable, recycling, biodiesel buses, Mt Hood, K-Ville

I might make a total of five whole Friday’s Feasts by 2008 … I might be getting into this whole blogging thing. Last week I actually got an email about Mad Gab and where it could be purchased, so at least I know someone reads these “about the author” posts.

Appetizer: Make up a word and give us its definition.
Hoobity! It’s not a word I just made up, it probably happened years ago with my friend Steddie, but we both use it as a greeting, as a goodbye, as an exclamation, and I think I’ve even used it as a password somewhere before. It can mean anything you want it to mean, and you should use it regularly!

Soup: What is currently your favorite song?
Right now, at this very moment, I absolutely love Jon McLaughlin’s Beautiful Disaster. Unfortunately I can’t embed it into my post for ya’ll, but follow the link and watch it on YouTube yourself! Another song that I can’t get enough of is Colbie Caillat’s Magic, which I can embed a version for ya’ll!

Salad: What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?
It was a new iPod and I used Amazon gift cards to get myself a shiny new one. Hard work pays off in my life in the form of Amazon gift certificates now!

Main Course: Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.
Vaseline lotion ALWAYS reminds me of my Grandmother … in a good way. I have a small bottle of it that I use when I am homesick or miss my family and it makes me feel close to her.

Dessert: Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn’t be, and why?
Paris Hilton. Do I really need to explain that? Seriously, come on folks!

I recently started reading another great Mental & Emotional Heath blog called Mental Health Notes and I’m really enjoying reading it. Alicia Sparks wrote a (mostly) light-hearted Christmas-themed post today about The Top 5 Things My Brain Wants for Christmas and I am stealing her idea … but asking Portland to give me presents instead.

1. Lower downtown parking rates! To park all day in most places in downtown Portland (legally, mind you) it will run you $8 to $10. Do you know what I could do with $8-10? (I could have a fabulous happy hour at On Deck for starters!) Today I parked on campus at PSU and managed to get by with $6 instead, but still. Can’t we just be kind and cool and have $0.25/hour parking? We’d be really popular, Portland!

2. Another bridge! You all know how I feel about bridges in Portland and so why not add another one? Make it pretty and give it nice lights and make sure people can walk/bike/skate/etc across it.

3. One holiday season day without being accosted by someone asking me to “buy” a child downtown. Whether it’s actually for “buying” a child, or for saving the Earth, I’m normally in a hurry when I walk around downtown and don’t like to have to tell everyone; “you know, I’m a totally broke college student and as much as I love penguins, I can’t afford to buy one right now thanks.” Just leave me alone for one day, please.

4. A good movie. I’d love to have a really cool movie shot here in town … I don’t want to be in it, but I’d love to see my city on the big screen. (Anyone have any other great Portland-based movie recommendations for me?)

5. An “accidental” run in with The Shins somewhere … somewhere they had all their instruments and really felt like singing New Slang to me. Over and over again. Then they might all feel the need to take me to dinner.

So, readers, what do you want Portland to bring you for Christmas? You have a week to get your orders in!

Another Friday Feast for you! For those of you who weren’t around for the first ever Friday feast, sometimes I write about actual feasting (food) and sometimes I use this meme to give you more insight to myself.

Appetizer: What was the last game you purchased?
I’ve never actually purchased a game. I have received games as gifts, but never actually bought my own game. The last game I received was called “Mad Gab.” It’s a game of two to twelve players where you sound out three puzzled words. These words are “mondegreens” … small words, that when put together, make a word or phrase. “Eye Mull A Mash Een” turns into “I’m a love machine” if you say it enough times. The faster you guess the words, the more points you get. It’s a HILARIOUS game after a pint or two!

Soup: Name something in which you don’t believe.
I don’t believe that there is no prevention for HIV or cure for AIDS. This means I do believe that there is a prevention for HIV or a cure for AIDS out there. It is more financially beneficial for the government to TREAT illnesses rather than prevent. If we can continue treating these horrendous illnesses, someone is making more and more money. With all the advanced research we have out there, I truly don’t believe that there isn’t a cure!

Salad: If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?
LOL Part of me immediately thought “Zach Braff … I could hit on my boss and try to take him to bed” but then paused. I’d probably love to work for Patricia Cornwell (a famous author) or Tom Brokaw. I think both of them have a handle on their fame and their jobs, and both probably use assistants!

Main Course: What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
I have learned a lot of lessons the hard way. The one that stands out most in my mind is learning that I need to take care of myself, because no one else is going to stick around forever just to take care of me. I have to put myself first, say no sometimes, and really take care of me … all before I can take care of anyone else.

Dessert: Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.
It would be small … maybe 10×10. There would be a big window seat and it would always be a warm room. Painted light, lots and lots of candles, a big soft chair, pillows everywhere, a CD player and lighting that I could change. I would probably also really love to have a clawfoot bathtub in the room, too

About Portland OR, Portland OR, Portland, Friday’s Feast, about the author

Oh, wait, that’s me! Yeah, me. I was featured at VanPortlander today and was pretty pleased to see my fun picture up there. “Living in Vancouver; working in Portland. I have some thoughts.” The guys thoughts are pretty funny sometimes, too. He talks more than I do!

So yeah, since I’m waiting on a few interviews to come back to me for future Meet ‘em Monday editions, I figure it’s time to formally meet me!

Hi, I’m Sarah! I’m 25. I write here and I also write for Mental & Emotional Health. I also have a personal blog that I try to keep separate from here.

I am currently a full-time student at Portland State University as a post-bacc student studying public health education. I want to save the world from HIV/AIDS doing education & prevention in either an international or a rural setting. I’ll probably eventually seek to do a rural and international health education. I have a German degree from Oregon State University and it was a good base for international education needs, but not quite what I need for an MPh school!

In my free time, when I’m not studying & writing for my blogs, I love to snap photographs of both people and things in Portland (there is a beautiful brick wall in the Pearl that I SO want to take photographs of). The picture up there is not just one I took, it has me in it. I hate wearing shoes & socks, and so I’m the one mid-winter in my flip flops with my brightly painted toenails. My favorite part of Portland is all the people. I love to people-watch, and Portland is the best place I’ve ever been for people-watching. My least favorite part of Portland would have to be the cost of living. Rent is atrocious in Portland (proper) and it sucks.

While I don’t plan on staying in Portland for my entire life, I will probably always consider Portland my home. I love being here!

About Portland OR, Portland OR, Portland, Sarah Gould, writing, photography

No real entry today … no Meet ‘em Monday … I’m sorry! There should be a post up for Tuesday … if I can get the notes for Friday’s mid-term typed up soon enough!

Stick with me guys … I’m still around!!

personal, school, midterms

This week’s Friday’s Feast is not a normal “Friday’s Feast.” Instead of me telling you about one of the many super-cool Portland restaurants or bars, since I’m pretty stressed out (and driving to Ashland, Oregon for a Lithia Park wedding as you read this), I’m going to do a different type of Feast. This meme (idea shamelessly stolen from Terra at Eating Disorder Talk is meant for you to be able to get to know me a bit! Enjoy, this may not occur again! (PS - the picture of the dragonfly is because I’m a huge fan of ‘em!)

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?
Previous to this year: 9
This year: 5
Next year: 6
Explanation perhaps? This past birthday I turned 25. It was the first birthday (in 25 years) where I started feeling old. It was also my first birthday in 10 years spent as a single woman. I was nervous about being alone on my birthday and so I was dreading it. Thankfully, a very close friend took it upon herself to throw me a bar-b-que in the park over Memorial Day weekend (my birthday weekend) and then proceeded to take me out and let me get drunk on my birthday. Next year, I don’t know where I’ll be mentally/emotionally/relationshipally but I am pretty sure my girlfriends will take good care of me again!

Soup
What is one word you do & then don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of?
Oooh, I love words. No, really, I love words. I read books about words. I write at least 500 words a day (two blogs) and then another page or so in a hand-written journal. That’s without updating my personal blog, too! I have a lot of favorite words (in both English & German).
I love the sound of the words uncertainty, change, fuck, smooth, fantastic and tumultuous.
I love the spelling of the word phlegm. Gross, huh?
I love the meaning of the word evancalous - it means “a pleasure to embrace.” I use the word to describe myself every once in a while. Anyone want to hug me?
***
I dislike the sound of the words moist (even in German it’s gross, too, feucht, pronounced “foycht”), provost, terrible and attache.
I dislike the spelling of calendar and secretary - I always want to spell them entirely with e’s!
I can’t say that I dislike any particular word meaning. All meanings are important to me.

Salad
Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like?
I wear sunglasses when it’s bright outside. Even when it’s rainy, sometimes in Portland it’s still crucial to wear them - white clouds can be blinding. I have two pair of sunglasses I wear depending on what I’m doing. I have a pair of wrap-around tortoise-shell mirrored-lenses that I wear when I’m running or hiking and I have a pair of black-framed mirrored-lenses that I wear while I drive.

Main Course
If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it?
This book is dedicated to my parents for always encouraging me to write, to Mr. Oswald for telling me that I was a wonderful author, to Mrs. Doerner for telling me that I’d never make it as an author, to R.F. Schreiber for pushing me out of my writing comfort zone and to all of my blog readers for making me realize that someone does want to hear what I have to say
(Yes, I have this already planned out. One day it’ll actually be printed, too.)

Dessert
Name a beverage that you enjoy.
Like a true Portlander, I love coffee (the darker the better). I also love beer (the darker the better). However, when I’m not pumping up my system with coffee or cooling my jets with a beer, I drink a lot of water.

Friday’s Feast, personal, meme