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The week after midterms may be a weird time to go on vacation, but I embraced the opportunity while I had it. I carefully mapped out the places I wanted to go , Yarnia, Voo Doo donuts, Mill End, Pig and Pancake and more. I created a bucket list of my homework to get done while “gone” and printed my ticket for the show.

I took the train down on Wednesday afternoon, coming into Union station around 3. I made my way over to the Portland Hostel NW, my base of operations for the trip. The hostel was clean, spacious and had fabulous customer service. I only had 1 problem the entire time, and that was that building two, where my bunk was had few 3 prong outlets. I forgot the converter for my cord at home. (The bathroom had a three prong outlet, I didn’t learn this till Friday, and did leave my laptop plugged in there over night. )

Without a way to plug in, I needed to find a coffee shop with wifi and power, that would let me “rent space” for the price of a cup of coffee. World Cup Coffee and Tea was just the place. Right across from the Hostel, I was able to tuck myself into a window seat and still pick up the hostel’s wifi signal.

Wednesday was the concert, and I had a great time. Climbed into bed a little after 1, and proceeded to sleep like a log. Until 6am that is. When I heard my morning alarm going off, locked inside my locker. Carefully I climbed down from the top bunk trying not to disturb the girl below and praying it didn’t wake the other 7 girls who shared the bunk room.

I made breakfast in the kitchen in our building. (There were three kitchens at least in this place) then headed to World Cup. I then built a brief routine, work fro about 6 hours on homework at World Cup, pack up, head out for lunch and touristy wandering, then back to the hostel for a bit, then dinner, then more homework. Ahh such a life.

From Portland Vacation

I will never take homework on vacation again.

On Thursday it was Powells and Deschutes brewery. I’d been heading for Noodles and Company, but the idea of a microbrew sounded better. I got an elk burger and a sampler of 6 beers. Some were amazing, some were eh. Sadly, having gone so long without real food, my tolerance was at a minimum, so I couldn’t follow up with a second beer.

From Portland Vacation

I wandered around Powells, still marveling at the conundrum of cookbook costs. I just can’t bring myself to pay $30 or more for a cookbook anymore.

For dinner, I met my friend Betse out at the Laurelwood Pub. A great kid friendly pub near the Hollywood district. I ran a little early, so killed some time working on homework at Starbucks, then met her around 8. It’s always amazing to meet someone I’ve known for years online in the person. She was a doll, my only disappointment was that I didn’t get to meet the infamous Fritz, her puppy.I headed back home, and killed the rest of my battery life wrapping up homework, then again was off to bed.

Friday, I did a little more wandering, hit the Button Emporium (great for fabric trim and ribbon as well as buttons,) found the library (looks like a real library, not a cheese grater), Found the food carts (too overwhelming to choose just one), found the douchiest place in Portland (Ace Hotel, seriously, gel’d up hipsters with macbooks, also next to Stumptown. )

Lunch was Kenny and Zukes, which had the best deli food I’ve had since I’ve been to New York Bagel and Bialy in Chicago I had a chicken liver sandwich that was so thick and rich that half got packed away for my lunch on Saturday. Wandered back to Powells where I ran into an old friend, funny how it takes an out of town trip to see people I know.

I wandered around looking at architecture taking photos.  I’ll post  more photos tomorrow. I went back to the Hostel, did some more homework , did some reading and took a short nap. Dinner was at the Blue Moon Tavern, a McMenamins joint. Food was good, service was typical for McMenamins .

Friday night, I lucked out and found a spot in the main hostel building that had a three prong outlet, and  set myself up there for a bit. I had a table mate, and between her and another guest had a great time shooting the shit for about an hour. It was one of those great interactions that  just made my night.  (He reminded me of my friend Chris. “How’d you get from Austin to Japan? “Oh I sold myself to the highest bidder ” )

Saturday I got up and headed out earlier then I needed to. Checked out , wandered to the trainstation and checked my bag. Breakfast was coffee and a Voodoo donut.

From Portland Vacation

I wrapped up the morning with some time at the Saturday Market then just headed to the train station to wait for my ride home. I upgraded to business class for the ride home, a worthy expense.

In the end, I didn’t get to 90% of the places on my map. It just wasn’t that kind of trip. My homework had me occupied,  and it just wasnt a trip where I felt like I had the time to spend doing much sightseeing.  Even bussing out to another area was risky, because i needed to ensure wifi and power access for at least a portion of the time.

All in all a good trip.   I’ve got a ton more photos, but didnt want to overwealm you.   I’ll post more over the next few days. Next up? A girls trip to Portland? Dragging Aron to Portland?  Who knows, but I’m not bringing homework next time.

I’m sitting at World Cup Coffee in Portland, directly across the street from the Hostel on day 3 of Deb’s Portland adventure. I’m having a marvelous time. The coffee shop here is accommodating, and I’ll be able to hang out until I’m “done” with homework for the morning, or my laptop battery is charged. Whichever comes last.

I came down for They Might Be Giants, but have also had great beer (at Deschutes brewery) fun cupcakes (at Saint Cupcake) and dinner with an old friend (from Livejournal). This part of Portland is pretty walkable, but I’m sticking pretty close to home. My ambitions of all the places I might go.. well a little … ambitious. I don’t want to spend all my time on a bus, and I’m close enough here to walk to Powells, and Voodoo and the Ribbon Emporium. It’s also raining, which doesnt stop me from doing things, but it makes them less appealing. I also have a fair amount of homework that I need to accomplish, while yesterday was productive, today needs to be more so.

They Might Be Giants rocked my socks off. I got in line about an hour early, and found myself next to a family who had driven down from Everett. Camille, 18, Clayton, 16 and Dad had driven down to Portland to catch both the in store appearance and the show. (Seattle was 21 & up, Portland 16 & up) We chatted easily in line, and then when we got in, We all wound up at the front of the stage.

Since it was a mixed ages show, they had half of the ballroom blocked off for a beer garden, and the front of the stage and other half of the room were set for everyone else. (Plus a balcony for those who didnt want to drink or stand) I stood in the mixed ages section so i would get pelted with confetti from the canon, almost get hit by a drum stick, and count Flansberg’s nose hair.

It also meant that I was surrounded by Kids who said, “You’ve been a fan since flood? I wasn’t born yet. ” Indeed. TMBG are very intergenerational. I bet they thought I was my line-mates mom. Thats ok. One of the reasons TMBG is so special to me is that Mom and I shared the interest. She gave me a love of Neil Diamond, I gave her a love of the Johns. And I know, when I’m dancing like snoopy to one of their songs, bouncing along with those around me, she’s bouncing with me too.

More on Portland when I get home, including photos. I’m going to go do homework now.

Some of you have offered to help with homework and I need you now. I am working on a video about coffee, the rituals related to, and how our choices inform about our life story.

How can you help? Call me: (206) 651-5332 and to my voicemail Give me your name, region/country/city age and answer one of the following questions:

1. Describe your Coffee ritual. (How you brew? what you drink? What you add? ) Take your pick

2. How do you choose what coffee to drink?

3. Any interesting coffee story you think i might be able to use.

I may or may not use your voice in the recording, I may have someone read it from the voicemail translation, or i may just include you in the actual video. If you prefer one or the other let me know.

If you would rather email me, do that, or leave a comment here.