Welcome Home.

So, I've moved again. I am still settling in, but things are taking shape and I am pretty pleased with my new place. I have this urge, however, with my new life to pare things down and not have so much stuff and so many expenses. First on the list of things to change was getting a bike. Hopefully I will be able to keep with this and always ride when I can and not drive unless I have to. And with gas well over $4 a gallon and rising steadily I don't think that should be too hard. Second, no Internet at home. So, this morning I am at a coffeeshop halfway to work enjoying a bagel and coffee and free wifi. Well, free aside from the bagel and coffee. I figure even with a coffee purchase each time I need the Internet it will still be cheaper than paying for it at home. Plus, I'm online all day at work anyway. I don't need to be on the computer that much. And thirdly, no TV. To clarify, I do have a TV (passed down from David, thank you) but I'm not going to get TV. No cable, no rabbit ears. Just a DVD player. I'm hoping this is the start of many things to pare down on and hoping this will make me much more productive if I don't have crappy TV and Internet to distract me all the time.

Well, it's getting to be that time. Time to go on to work. So, I bid you adieu until the next time I need some coffee.

My new bike!

Hooray! I bought a bike! I spent the weekend searching all the good bike shops around town and found some nice bikes that mostly fit my needs, but were on the edge of my price range or just way too damed expensive (but nice). But, on the whimsical advice of a co-worker I went to go see a little yellow number off craigslist that was way under my price range and had everything I wanted. Except that it's a 1974 and I am a little wary of repairs, but it's Portland and a crazy bike guy is never far away to help out. It was previously owned by a young dreadlocked hippie boy. He said he looked up the serial number of the bike and it was manufactured in June of 1974, so he named it June. And I couldn't help but love it.

Any of you who really know me well know that I don't like to be noticed, and I was wary of it being a yellow bike, and drawing attention to myself. But, it's yellow, and therefore cute and I just couldn't help myself. So, I present to you, June:

Obamania

This weekend I spent a good deal of time outdoors and Oregon was unseasonable hot. For all my Texas chums, they will scoff at me, 2 days of 100 degree weather and another 2 days in the 80s. I must admit, I was sweltering, and I still am. And the raccoon eyes sunburn on my face, neck and shoulders doesn't help. Most of this sunburn came from the Obama Rally on Sunday.

I met a group of friends in NW in the late morning and we headed off on foot to Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown. Much sooner than I expected we found the end of the line, which was about 25 blocks long. And we waited and moved very slowly through downtown Portland telling inquiring passer-bys every few minutes, "We're waiting for Barack Obama", for about 2 and a half hours. The starting time of the rally was nearing ever closer and we still hadn't made it to the waterfront park and were starting to get a little nervous that all this waiting had been for naught. But, we arrive at the park about 10 minutes before Obama came on stage to find this crowd:
Final head count was about 75,000. And, although I'm not the most politically active person, and his speech wasn't the most awe-inspiring of all time (I could almost recite the next line in my head half the time) it was a pretty awesome experience to be amongst so many people who were there with a common cause (the most laid back crowd and three hour line I have ever seen) and to be seeing the person who might just be the next President with a little luck. God, I hope so...

Bikes.

I had considered stopping my blog writing, as I don't really have anything profound to say and frankly, I don't think anyone reads it but me. But, I'm going to give it another shot.

Today (well, this afternoon, more specifically) finally feels like Spring, or maybe even summer. Very exciting stuff. It's time for change, time for renewal. I want to walk to the store this afternoon, but it seems so far away (9 blocks), and I keep thinking, if only I had a bike. Yes, if only I had a bike. I have been thinking about this for a while and I think this might have to be a soon purchase. Gas is too damned expensive, and when I am driving around town in the sunshine I am jealous of the people on their bikes with the wind in their hair. So, if anyone knows anything about bikes beyond that they have two wheels and some pedals, I would be glad to know. Thanks in advance for the advice!