The Backdoor and French Bakeries Replicas

I have become aware of two things since my last post. One is that I do not post as much as I would like. The other is that I really need to read through what I am writing and do some editing before I post. Maybe one of these days, I will go back through and fix some of the typos and confusing sentences, but not today, I think. I am too hungry for life today, to anxious to get out and experience something. Not saying that I will, but its not mood to sit in edit it.

I went to the zoo yesterday with baby sis. I felt like a little kind and was practically skipping. Until I got all sad and depressed seeing all the poor creatures locked up on some rather small confines pacing back and forth because they did not know what else too do, looking all sad and worried. There was the most gorgeous wood carving with ivory inlay of an elephant in the elephant museum that I fell in love with. They was also a new born baby elephant, as of August of this year that was hidden under a hidden alcove that I did not get to see but chatted with one of the zoo’s volunteers about. It was a good day all together and we talked about going back for when they light up all the lights for Christmas.

Speaking of times of family friends and merriment, some good people from the good o’ SJ days visited a weekend or two ago. It was nice to have them here and reminded me much about what I miss about SJ and Sitka. We had fun though creating new memories in Sitka. We managed to cram four tours of four different districts in that short weekend our feet were soar but spirits high.

I have not been successful with finding a job yet, but have been able to find a local hangout in the form of a coffee shop that reminds me a great deal of the backdoor, in that most people that go there seem to know each other. I am starting to be recognized by smiles and slight head nods by some of the regulars as well as developing a couple of friendships through hanging out there. (Yeah, friends, a social network and a little piece of home)

My father had surgery the same day Obama was elected. The surgery went the same way of the elections, it turn out fine.

I am ready a new book that I got from the Library. It is called Early Bright by Ami Silber, about a Jewish Jazz musician/con artist from around the late 40’s. It is written beautifully, maybe a bit over the top at times, and has an intriguing story, very sensual with splendid metaphors.

I have not gone anywhere spectacularly lately, Except for Ken’s Artisan Bakery on 21st and Flanders. They specialize in baked goods and pastries “they way the do it in France.” I wouldn’t know if its like they do in France, but they make a melt in your mouth pumpkin macaroon that (pardon my bluntness (I just could not bring myself to say French) are better then sex.

So if your in the mood for, heh heh hem, some good eats, and your in Portland Check out Ken’s Artisan Bakery on 21st and Flanders.

Its been a long while since I've posted.  Here I could probably wax philosophical and ramble on about the inevitable ups and downs of life.  But lets just skip all that at say at times I was down and at others I was not.  But I'm here now and writing this post. 

We, my Sis and I, had a couple of interesting excursions.  One was a long drawn-out drive to pick up a u-haul truck then a love seat and sleeper couch a good deal more expansive then when anticipated from our mad craigslist using skills.  Lets just say we ended up in Clackamas (our second trip to the place, both times unintentional), Lake Oswego, and Tualatin before we made it home, which is in Goose Hollow or near 18th and Jefferson.  If you google it and see please don't laugh too hard and remember that we were paying for the u-haul by the miles.  (that's not even mentioning the tow hitch falling off and being flagged over on a bridge of a freeway).  But we have a couch, two for that matter. 

We also have a set of simple blue dishes that we acquired from Ikea for $24.89 (along with a headache brought on by the complex floor plan that  makes you walk past everything while advertising deals that turn out to be not so great upon closer inspection).  On which we had dinner at our apartment with my former english Professor, her significant other and one of their friends.  It was a nice day that ended with a stroll out to the vacant lot to the side of our building that is a lovely garden waiting to be unleashes for years of neglect and an overgrowth of ivy, but boast a rather plentiful garden space of herbs, tomatoes and very bright red peppers.  

The job search continues, but with the rising panic of having no current income and upcoming bills I applied for unemployment.  I must say doing so took a bit of stress and urgency out of the job search.  

Halloween is just around the corner.  I can't wait.  Fall is already hear. I've never seen leaves turn such colors.  I had a rather magical moment walking in Washington Park when the win blew the orange hued saucer sized leaves off of the branches of gloriously patterned limbs in such numbers and illuminated by a light from behind that it was the sun raining upon the earth. 

This place holds so much magic.  No wonder so many people flock here.  If only there were enough jobs for them all.  

Poetry

I am in love with the poetry of Billy Collins.  He writes the most beautiful, fully meaningful, pieces that sink to the stomach with light well crafted words that carry a lifetime of feeling.  If you don't know him personally, I highly suggest that you become acquainted.  

Some nights while laying awake daydreaming, resting or reading I hear a sound that reminds me of the sorrowful call of a mystic ocean creature straight out of tales of Sinbad or Odysseus. It brings my mind to fanciful stories that are accentuated by the enveloping damp air of the seclusion of night.  So far I have deduced the non-fanciful source of the sound to a) some part of the trimet system stopping or starting, wheels squeaking on cold wet metal or b) the Oregonian printing press starting up.  I think its the latter, but I'm not sure if either of my theories are correct.  I bring it up for two reasons.  One is that P-city is creative wonderland for aspiring writers and artists, the sounds, sights, richness in color, and personality all add to stories and inspiration that one can't help be want to produce to reproduce.  Its been wonderful.  The second reason is is that I think the sound is the same sound that begins The Decemberists song "The Infanta."  Living in their city of origin makes their fokelore based music not only make sense but all the more inviting to listen to.  

I'm going to make dinner tonight.  Its going to be Baked sweet potatoes topped with a salad of mixed organic greens cold rice and tomatoes over a homemade chili made with blackbeans, yellow, red, and orange bell peppers and yellow squash that will be topped with pepperjack cheese peach salsa and unsweetened yogurt. Hopefully it will turn out well.  

When I'm done with this post I'm going to type up and post another poem that I have written during my time here so far.  Its not the beautiful sad yet uplifting work of Billy Collins, but its mine and I'm attached.  It's somewhat deep, and not so happy, which may be reflected of the anxiety of moving and the lonliness of being away from familiar people and places.  

I am becoming increasingly more curious to discover how many applications and resume's one such as myself needs to turn in before landing a job.  Lets just say that the count is quickly rising above thirty. 

All hope is not lost something will turn up.    

So it's been a busy and not so busy weekend.  I guess we did a lot but I think things still feel a but empty because its all new and were missing bits of home. Baby Sis and I made a trip to target, after a brief, albeit somewhat unintentional visit, to Clackamas, with a friend and picked up a few odds and ends to go out with a group for eighties night at the Fez Ballroom.  It was an interesting night, emphasizing the point that Baby sis and me have well in some ways opposite preferences.  We ended up separating, her going in search of a hip hop club, and be wondering around popping into different bars and chatting with bouncer's who used to work in Kenai.  

We both went for a long run today with the dogs.  It was a great run.  Dampened streets from earlier rain, the sound of rubber tires rolling over wet, puddled cement, cucumber crisp air, street lamps and an ipod with interpol, bloc party and modest mouse playing for motivation and some Andrew bird for a cool down.  

We got back to what would be advertised on craigslist as an shabby chic vintage apartment, to our door in which the top lock fell out earlier in the day when we shut it and discovered yesterday when we locked ourselves out that it is pretty easy to break in by just lifting up the back window.  Maybe not safe, but at least we know we can get in if we ever lock ourselves out.  

This weekend Sis and I had a taste of the high life.  We went to Andina, a peruvian restaurant to which Sis's coworkers gave her a significant gift certificate.  We feasted on one of the best meals either of us has ever had, followed by a night out at a upscale club (or at least one that pretended to be with hyped up marketing) called Aura's   Description of the meal follows (I'm tempted of going back just for the pink guava, honey infused, ruby port, lime zest anise sugar rimmed drink):

Tapas:

Causa
a traditional preparation of freshly mashed potatoes, infused with key lime juice and pressed into a cake with assorted fillings

ESPARRAGOS PERUANOS fresh asparagus brushed with olive oil and grilled

Drinks:

CAIPIRINHA
fiery cachaca shaken ecstatically with muddled limes and superfine sugar
served on the rocks

ATARDECER PORTENO
pink guava nectar shaken with honey infused vodka and lime juice topped with a float of ruby port and a sprtiz of lime zest, served up with an anise sugar rim

Main Course:

ADOBO DE CERDO

pork tenderloin quickly braised in the Arequipa style, with butternut squash and gorgonzola ravioli, green apple, and a tamarillo-rocoto “uchucuta

CONCHAS DEL SEÑOR DE SIPÁN
quinoa-crusted diver scallops perched on top of wilted spinach and potato-parsnip purée, with golden beet and crabmeat "cannelloni”, and a duet of red beet and passionfruit reductions

Desert:

FLAN DE QUESO DE CABRA
creamy goat cheese and lemon cake, served with fresh seasonal berries laced with basil and habanero

MOUSSE DE VALLE Y SELVA
a tiered semi-freddo of velvety lucuma and espresso mousses, chocolate ganache, and crushed cocoa nib meringue, served with espresso shortbread

Deficient Funds

P-town, Down Town,
Pen Up, Palm out

Not Alms Alms Alms for the poor
But God-damn I want to shout so that you'll take
account of the God-forsaken state of a wreck I'm in.

Pretty Shoes, they go click clack on the warm red brick
of a hollow bowl, a skater's dream, It's the city holding court for us to preen.

Deficient in funds, please fill my cup, a figurative cup,
With coins, coins, coins, conscientious coins that see, me
and say with a metal cling, "In God we trust."

They're our own personal platters on which to stand,
an alternative to falling into the deep black something.

On Which, were people on display in the bright colors of plenty arranged
in stitched precision over arm and leg, surface representation of the lower level
cafe, where scones and talent are up for those who'll pay and give praise
to the hangings on the wall

Paintings of the graves of gods and other tangible reminders of times repeating gong and our own spot in the plot quickly loosing sand.

But chin up, times not up, there's still a penny to be had.

Not Quite a month

It seems like the world is catching up with me and this weeks seems to have no beginning or end. Becky arrived last week with the two dogs. The rest of my boxes arrived and becky picked up her stuff from Washington. So our little apartment is full of dogs, kennels boxes more papers that you would think a person (or two) would have after moving, and shoes, lots and lots of shoes. We decided to use one of the bedrooms as a closet, partly because the bathroom is only accessible through that room, and use the separate living room for the second bedroom. So far its working, we are just in need of storage and organization, because right now all our stuff is just sitting.



The job search continues, and it seems to be kicking my ass. Excuse the language. Nothing like a good boost in the ego to get a bunch of rejections letters or no replies to more that what I think is not over 2 dozen applications. My hopes are still high, and my mother suggested changing my phone number to a local address. Which I will do when me debit card comes in the mail. By the way, if you ever move to a big city and don't change to a local bank right away or keep checks, DON'T LOOSE YOUR DEBIT CARD. Not only do you feel pretty not self sufficient because your baby sister has to pay for everything, but its pretty damn stressful to wonder were the hell it went and when its going to come in the mail. On the plus side it is keeping me from spending too much and shopping when I should be conserving money until I am producing and influx of funds.



The poetry slam was an experience. I'm not sure its my cup of tea exactly, my work seems to be more heady and less crowd rising. But I'm attempting to go in a new direction with my work, good poetry approachable by audiences and geared towards following the example of oral traditions such as in Native american culture instead of institutional. We'll see where it goes. Hmmm, lets see interesting places I've been this week.



Washington park, it just keeps going and going, has two rather good statues of native american figures.



I made it too a Hookah place, Urban Hookahs, and tried some Hookah with who I will call Kinko. We talked too, probably a bit to openly for people who have only known each other for about a week but for some reason it works.



Becky and I made it to Typhoons, an amazing and not too spending Thai place with excellent service, the host must have came out and talked with use a good three times, and our server made sure to check on us and make sure we were doing all right.



We also stumbled accross the Backspace, a coffee joint, art gallery, gaming place and I believe bar. It was rather early, and not many people were there but the baristas were funny and chatty and pulled some great shots. Talked to the manager, who happened to be from Alaska about a possible job opening, they weren't hiring, but it was a good conversations and a place I hope to go back too. And I can't help but mention the Portland Coffee House again, they have been consistently pulling excellent shots, the best I've had so far in Portland, far surpassing the downtown Stumptown's, which is still a great place to go and write and people watch, but starting to loose what made them great, their attention to excellent coffee. The focus now seems to be on expanding, growing, producing, and being hip. Its kinda reminding me of how Starbucks started, with a dedication to coffee finding its way lost to a dedication of commercialism. sigh.



Halloween is approaching. It must be a fantastic experience in this creative, colorful town. Not too many ideas for costumes though. Something will come . . .



Take care for now, Will write again soon.

Oh the places I've been

I've been in the City of Roses for over a week now.  With no job and plenty of time on my hands I've been able to do a lot of exploring and discovering.  Through exploring I've already developed a couple of favorites, where the locals are starting to become familiar faces instead of colorfully and well dressed blurs.  So here goes a list of the places I've been to and enjoyed (in no particular order).  

1. Stumptown Coffee on 3rd and Pine-A very young hip coffee joint with amazing coffee they roast themselves -yum

2. Cameron's Books and Magazines - According to the signs the place has been around for over 100 years.  Its piled with older books and magazines in a wonderfully chaotic organization.  Good prices too

3. Cargo - A fun and colorful import store in the pearl district full of antique and imitation antique furniture and nick knacks

4. The Multnomah County Library - Just a beautiful library with an amazing staircase and the largest collections of children's books I've ever seen.

5. Waterfront Park - For a brief time of panic I was worried about living in a place without immediate access to the open wilderness and water, then I found this park and new I'd be okay. 

6. Powell's Books - Last but not least, the city of books that takes up an entire city block and still have books left over for a few other stores scattered around Portland.  

Also check out Guidance Counselor and New Bloods to Portland bands I'm liking a lot right now.  (Ian from Guidance Counselor works at Stumptown and is pretty funny)

That's about all I can think of for now.  There's so much, I can't imagine ever being able to see it all.  

Best wishes to all and hope life is treating you well. 

signing out as pc

Well that's all I can think of right now, but I know there is a buc

Just Moved

A little less than a week ago, I moved from Sitka, Alaska to Portland, Oregon.  Two people have already commented on how the move is about finding a new me.   I think its just about finding me.  I'm pretty sure I'm only as new as I ever was or going to be.  What is new is the way I go about presenting, identifying and taking care of me.  

Right now I'm sitting in my new sparsely furnished antique apartment listening to the sound of chainsaws and fire trucks and smelling the lingering smell of smoke from the fire that happened two houses over while I was out.  Thank the good lord, or whatever is, for it being two houses over.  I thought it might of been mine.  There were a lot of fire trucks, that first appeared three to four blocks away.  

There are a lot of homeless people in this city.  Even more it seems from a few moments ago.  I can't help but think how selfish we, people, can be.  I was just walking home from buying rug for the kitchen, thinking about how I spent too much, while walking by people living out of carts and coming home to a neighbor whose lost of a home only to thank a figure who may or may not exist for thinking well enough of me to avoid burning my things.  

I'm here to write.  I hope I do.  I have not a job yet, have dipped too far into my savings but have been undeniable busy.   I've met up with former professors, who were wonderful, comedic and delightfully interesting to be around.  I ran into a friend, who was in town for the weekend and spent a day with her (Cerissa) and met with an Ex-boyfriend (Peter) whom should remain a good friend but, agreed upon by both parties, at a distance.  Other random things I've done include: cleaning every square inch of the new apartment (except for the bathroom, that comes last) gone to the Byways cafe featured on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives, got whistled at and called beautiful by complete strangers and have received the best haircut I've ever had.  

I think I'm well on my way to discovering the new parts of the original me, but there is still so much more to do.  More to come as the days go by.  .  .