Portland

Fun fun fun.
On Saturday I invited Cielle to join some youth and me to go to Portland and do things. The plan was to shop and see Christmas lights, and that we did. First on the list was ride a bus from here to there, and all the way I listened to a bunch of stuff and grew to like a couple of songs. We were dropped off by the bus man on a small back alley street and Cielle's mix lasted all the way from Corvallis, sweet deal. Luckily we were close enough to Powells that people wanted to walk there. To the group it was only a bathroom stop, but to Cielle and I it was a chance to look at some books and at art. I don't see how Powells could only be a bathroom stop. From there we walked in the bitter wind to Pioneer Plaza, passing a dozen max trains as we walked. In some places there were splotches of slick ice. In the Plaza we weren't allowed to wander alone without an adult, in case we were, a church group, going to shoplift, you know. So this lady walked with Cielle and I. I really didn't know her, but she laughed at us anyway, she just laughed, but she did buy us a chocolate marshmallow. (Here!) After this fine adventure it was to the waterfront for waterfront fun in the frozen air. It was beautiful but cold, we walked for a long time until reaching the Saturday market, where we could walk around without an adult. Here Cielle bought her shirt from a nice vender (Here!) It was almost five and again through harsh wind we walked to Old World Pizza, four blocks up. We walked in and got the greatest seat next to the window, where a few bikes were placed. The bartender was great, he had a brightishly-dull orange hat with a feather, and an old suit, probably, and I believe I saw, a pocket watch coming out of his vest pocket. Cielle and I were the only ones to order a pizza without meat, and I think we got the better of the deal. A Pesto base with olives on top. After taking a few pictures and one of a biker that didn't turn out so great (ehm: Here!) We left on the bus to the Grotto for a fanciful light show! After that, ha, no I'll tell you about it. While there along with the 19-degree wind chill we went to a petting zoo saw a baby Jesus in a manger and Dr. Suess land (Here!) we also heard a choir (running water in song form). We were the first to get on the bus and tell the man in charge of the whole junket that we wanted to go to James Mercer's house, not if we really knew the location but whatever. He almost consented but he actually was just telling the bus driver how to leave. Damn! Ah well next time. I missed the freezing rain back home, and its going to be in the 40's for the next week, what bull.

Tuesday again I was in Portland to meet my Grandma at PDX. The crazy thing is she can't walk, so this lady who sat next to her helped her to the exit, the lady was from Corvallis! Sma-hall world.