Blogs from Portland, Oregon, United States, North America - page 38

12/8/2006 2:55 PM Pulling into Portland, trying to find our way to the club, the bus started to sputter on the ramp from one Interstate to the bridge across the river. We pushed hard all day to make it to sound check on time and now we were less than 7 miles from the club stalled on the road in rush hour traffic. We sat for a few minutes and eventually, after purging the engine of vegetable oil and switching to diesel, the engine fired up again. It has been working fine since. We made it to the club a little late but no one seemed to notice or care, or a least they didn’t say anything. The room had a sort of Route 66 vibe with Texan flags hanging from the wall behind the bar ... read more

Geo: 44.7779, -122.695We lived a dream. Over the year, we learned that living a dream has its challenges, but the rewards are numerous. We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do what we did and to make it home safely and in good health. Now begins another journey in our lives: assimilating back to life in the good ol' US of A: finding jobs, tackling numerous house projects, and wading through the 5,000 or so pictures Justin kept (not just "snapped," but those selected to be burned on CD). We are happy to be home, in our own bed, with our own kitchen and most of all, back amongst our family and friends. Coming home was joyous because of friends who have welcomed us back into their lives. If it wasn't for them, our transition ... read more

I have been reading a lot about Che Guavera lately. I watched the movie, "The Motorcycle Diaries" a few days ago. It really made me think about my own trip and sort of inspired me. Che and his best friend hopped on their beaten motorcycle and rode off into an adventure, re-dicovering their South American home and its people. I've hopped onto my motorcycle, but this feels more structured and sterile. What was I expecting? I am doing this through school. I have time for more dangerous adventure someday. And by dangerous, I do not mean scary, painful, or harmful. My dangerous describes something jam-packed with passion, dirt, beauty, somethng hard to picture but random, and spontanious. So I guess on a much smaller scale, my trip, the one I'm on right now, is a tad ... read more

Listening to David Bowie, sitting in this chair at this computer, once again I feel it is time to move on. It is strange how this doesn't feel so much like a vacation as it does feel like I am just moving around a lot and living in different places. I have come to know these few cities better than I thought I would, I stopped using my maps a long time ago. I have come to know their people better than I thought I would. And by that I mean not only the few good friends and family that I've made, but also the attitudes, lifestyle, and ways of the community ingeneral. I know there is so much more I don't know, but it is fun to recognize faces on the streets an in the ... read more

Ahahaha!! I couldn't stop laughing, it was like a game of tickle with my dad when I was little. Except not at all like that, because I was in down town Portland in a club and dancing. The floor moved with me and I couldn't contain myself, it was like that butterfly feeling when you're on a rollercoaster or driving over little hills knowing you could bottom out at any second. The wood beneath me pulsated with the rythym of my feet and to the music's beat, all at the same time, and I'm thinking: and we're all sober! The Crystal Ballroom is one of the only two music venue's in the US that has a "floating" dancefloor. Hi tech stuff. It moves, wavering around, and as I loose my footing and fall against Jesse, he ... read more