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It’s another vacation in Portland. I enjoyed the trip in November but spent 6 hours each day working on homework. This kept me close to the downtown core, and didn’t give me much chance to get  really explore.

This trip I’ve done a better job of getting out, though not as great of a job touching base with friends.  I’m more comfortable with the city, and  more able appreciate things that are outside the realm of “touristy”. Give it a few more visits and I’ll have a better understanding of the city neighborhoods and  their inherent culture. It’s good to know, in case I consider relocating in the future. (Could I be PDX-Jo? Dunno,  I’m considering it a courtship right now, something I’ve never done with my other moves.)

In the meantime,  I have to say that Portland is weird. From the deer statue in the middle of main street,  to the variety of retail in the pearl district to  the mangle of food carts in the downtown district. Portland is WEIRD!

I’m having an awesome trip though. Thursday I ran around from Pig and Pancake to the North, to Penzeys to the South. I hit Yarnia and Pix Patisserie, and  dinner was at Kenny and Zuke’s for shitty service and a  kick ass ruben.

Friday was spa day. I needed a haircut and wanted a manicure before the quarter began, and opted to schedule an appointment at Aveda and a visit a local nail place.

A stop at Knit Knot Studio yielded yarn for a project, and a visit to Powells was intended to achieve my texts for next quarter. I came way with another copy of A Local Habitation because my kindle is out of juice and I wanted to read it again on the train home. (I finished it yesterday, but it’s just that good.)

I tried for my burger and beer at Deschutes,  but again was stifled by a  25 minute wait. Instead I ended up at Melt where I over indulged in two cuba libras. (Rum and coke and… something else)  I hadn’t had anything since my 8am coffee and yogurt, so the rum hit me pretty hard. I wandered back to the hostel, stopping to stare drunkly at the produce at Trader Joes first.

Saturday found me at the Saturday Market, The Original, and  traveling back home, watching coupling and knitting the whole way.

In the end it was a good trip, though i didn’t do most of what I expected. No Tram ride, I didn’t get ahold of Betse, and I didn’t make it to the peruvian place I was dying to try.   It was good though, and nice enough that I’ll probably ask Portland on another date.

February 2000 Rob and I packed 8 feet of a U-pack truck and attended our last Estrella War. We filled our geo metro with the rest of our stuff plus cats and caffeine. Thus began the drive to Seattle. It took 3 days, but we landed here around the 1st of March, found our new apartment in Mountlake Terrace and began to settle in to our new home.

There have been a lot of changes in those 10 years.I’ve gotten divorced, formed a partnership with my current significant others (8 years strong) , gotten engaged, become backup guardian to an amazing teenager, and future step mom to a vibrant elementary-aged girl. My life has had a revolving cast of characters of friends and chosen family. From classmates to coworkers, community members to sweethearts. Some are with me now, including those I look forward to walking the long path of life with me, others will move on though I’m glad for the impact they had on my life.

I’ve lived a little bit of everywhere in Seattle, from Wallingford to Broadview, Greenwood to Burien, and that initial stay in Mountlake Terrace. (Never lived on the other side of 520, somehow I don’t think its compatible to my non-driver lifestyle) I’ve traveled from Victoria to Eugene, from Orcas to Winthrop. I’ve taken ferrys, trains, and airplanes.I’ve traveled with friends and family, and gone on solo adventures too. (I there was still a ferry between Port Townsend and Seattle)

My personal identity has shifted, my professional roles have changed. I’ve become more independent, more responsible and in some ways more reliable. (Still a flake sometimes. I think I’ll always have a schedule from hell.)

Seattle is home. The Pacific NW is “my country”. Mt Ranier greets me at the sunrise, the Olympics frame my sunset. I walk the hills from Capitol hill to Downtown, I ride the ferries from Seattle to Bainbridge and Bremerton. I love our seafood, pan asian fast food and local beer. Mild winters and subdued summers.

Chicago is where I grew up. Arizona was a stop over on the way to adulthood. Seattle is where I have come into my own.