autumn in portland

Few of us enjoy discomfort. We're stressed after a long day, pour a glass of wine. The news horrifies us, pay less attention. Our head aches, pop a pill. A conversation gets too intimate, we end it and figure out a way to avoid the topic, maybe even the person, thereafter. I'm neither assigning judgment nor claiming I've ever responded differently. Instead, I'm questioning how much of our lives are spent shifting around that which would really challenge us. Growth, as far as I understand it anyway, is uncomfortable.

Mind you, this is coming from the woman who has always opted for the "comfort" of new and anonymous in an unfamiliar city.

It's only natural that our first instinct is to protect ourselves. Survival and such, you know. But a year into life in San Francisco, I fear that many of my fellow inhabitants are confusing self-care with safeguarded withdrawal. The epicenter of American tech and innovation and we've yet to "solve" the homelessness issue; a multi-faceted problem, to be fair, but still. Why and how?

Then again, I'm not sure I have it in me to address the loud silence from some when it comes to our latest Supreme Court appointee because my job requires me to breathe in the space of heartless rhetoric and immigration policy. It's all together awful. Important, too.

And this is before considering what's taking place beyond the U.S. borders.

The horrors of our current reality can be paralyzing. Let's choose action anyway, still. We may not be able to do everything, but we can do something; like vote by Tuesday, November 6th, for example. (Please confirm the precise when and where for you). As for my addressing more personal discomfort–confronting relational discord, letting go of love, establishing new memories in special places such as Portland, I'm working on it... aren't we all? Here's to hoping the growth reveals itself soon.

greenery in stumptown (portland, or)

Portland, Oregon is an awesome little city. It's one of the most environmentally friendly not in the world. It's hip neighborhoods are divided by logical direction. And, it boasts a number of microbreweries and coffee houses. 

Yep, I'd say that I really enjoyed the 24 hours I spent there.

I arrived early on Friday afternoon.

My first 3 hours were spent in one of Stumptown's many coffee shop establishments around the city. I applied for jobs, updated this blog, and waited for my friend to get home from her day of birthday shopping.

 

When she did, I strolled on over to her apartment, passing many walkers and bikers on my way.

 We caught up (it's been month's since I've seen her), celebrated her 23rd year with white wine and cupcakes, and got ready for the night of festivities ahead.

 She is a first-year law student and has many judicial-minded new friends to show for it. We chatted, drank local beer, sang karaoke, and had what can only be described as a grand ol' time.

But, of course, that didn't leave much time for rest. I had half of an Earnest Eats granola plank at around eight and set out for my morning of Oregon discovery.

 Well, that's only half true. I actually spent my first two hours in Urban Grind Coffeehouse with a soy latté and more computer catch-up work.

 Then I set to explore the Pearl District, one of Portland's best known art districts.

 There were some pretty cool views of the city's many bridges.

And a bunch of amazing stores, shops, and in this case, street names. The fact that there is a "LoveJoy St" makes me smile. 

 Of course, there were also many art galleries that didn't allow for photographs. So, I took a picture of a seasonal tree to commemorate my true first day of autumn in the U.S.

 By 1:30 I started to get hungry. I intended to go to Park Kitchen for a taste of local cuisine, and so was disappointed to find that it was closed for Saturday lunches.

 To remedy the melancholy, I went to Silk (a phenomenal Vietnamese restaurant) instead. My curried tofu dish had an exquisite mix of Asian vegetables and I certainly appreciated the brown rice side.

Afterwards, I sped down 23rd street thanks to a suggestion by a thoughtful twitter follower.

In addition to stopping by Portland's famous Saturday market. This picture is not my own, but the selection was as good as, if not better, than it displays.

I left the first city on my Pacific Northwest tour about 3 so that I could reunite with another wonderful friend of mine... but I'll save that story for next time :).