Tag: Portland

Stand-in camera not making the grade.

I broke my camera.  I dropped it, while putting away tools after working on this project.  It cracked and it was the crazy time of the year and I haven’t had time to take it in to see if it can be repaired.  Matt has lent me his camera and I’m thankful I have something, because having a camera at hand has become something that completes me.  But sometimes the shortcomings of the stand-in camera are maddening.

Oh, if you could only see the detail of this outfit.  His shoes were black leather, with grey spikes.  Not spikes exactly, more like studs.  But pointy, in triangles.  Then, the red pants and the grey sweater to tone it down, but combined with the gray bag and the hat to keep the interest going.  It was a picture of man-in-his-40s dressing perfection.  And all I got was this blurry picture.
 

And this one.
 

Hard times for readers of the Oregonian.


Our full-time movie critic (Shawn Levy) has been gone for more than a year, but this week we said goodbye to our theater critic, Marty Hughley.  Last week it was the music guy, Ryan White, a reporter I always read, even though I never listened to the music he was writing about, because he was such a good writer.

The point of having a full-time critic is that I get to know their preferences and that helps inform a decision if what they are talking about is something I might be interested in.  Having a bunch of part-timers is not helpful in getting anything done but giving a summary.

The thing I hate most about this transition is that the Oregonian refuses to acknowledge that they are settling for a lesser product.

Fabric Depot

This is where I buy a lot of my fabric, simply because it is so tremendously large.  Fabric Depot is (for my world) very far away from me. It’s a 20-minute drive or an hour on public transportation. But boy, is it fun when I get there!
 
In the summer you can shop outside and get great deals on clearance fabric.
 
Just one section of the store!  This is what I call the “fancy” material.  Bridal fabric as well as all the tulle and also material for workout clothing.
 
The pattern department is huge.  Aside from the usual shelf with pattern books, they have all these independent patterns.
 
Here is the fancy cotton, wool etc. section.  It’s such a big store they have to have huge signs hanging from the ceiling.

I regularly read Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing and often hear the lament from commentators, “I have no good fabric stores near me.”  So I feel very lucky to have Fabric Depot in my (extended) back yard.

Kids and “Allow Me.”

“Allow Me” is the name of the sculpture in Pioneer Courthouse Square.  I frequently see tourists standing next to it, taking photos.  Today’s crowd was a group of  what I would guess are middle school students.
 
After I took this picture one of the kids came over and stared at me.  I attempted to engage him in conversation to find out where they were from, but he wasn’t having any of it.

Soon after, their tour guide arrived and they gave her their attention.

(prompt) ends. Broadsheet Published.

For the past 10 weeks I’ve been taking a writing class called (prompt) given by Write Around Portland.  It’s been a fabulous experience and this night was no different.  Tonight we got our broadsheets, which feature work by everyone in the class.

I was quite happy with my (prompt) experience and in the future I will publish a few of the pieces I wrote during the class on the blog.  In the meantime, thanks to Write Around Portland, my fellow class participants and especially Matt Blair, our instructor.

I spy an STP finisher


I’m not at all in a long-distance bicycling portion of my life, but I think I will be again, someday.  Which means someday I will complete the STP, just like this guy.

While I was waiting at the light, I could see hordes of other finishers crossing the intersection behind me, but by the time I got my camera the light had changed and I missed out on a great picture.

Laurie Notaro

Kelly and I wandered down to Powell’s for our third Laurie Notaro reading.  She was funny as ever, in her hilariously charming over-sharing way. If you are looking for a bit of a pick-me-up any of her books of essays will do.

ps.  The gallery installation behind her was incredible.  A whole heap of author portraits done by two artists. I especially loved the style of Allison Bruns (the top one pictured here).  She was great at capturing expression.

More pictures of the exhibit.
http://powells.tumblr.com/post/51569909347/travelingbookgirl-powells-city-of-books