No matter how sloth-like I’m feeling and despite my burning desire to stay home with a good book and beautiful, affectionate cat, I always feel better when I get up and out. Hi, my name is Donna and, despite what you may witness, I have-strong introvert leanings.On Saturday, after pushing myself out the door I went to the Coolidge Corner Arts Fest. Sheilagh Flynn was there but NOT selling any of her wondrous cubist-by-way-of-the-fauves mugs. Though I need another mug like another hole in my head, I so woulda snapped up a couple – they're brilliantly stunning. My wallet breathed a sigh of relief.
And then I came across Jane Simon’s table. I absolutely adore her work and not unexpectedly, I lost my will to resist. A couple of her awesome mini functional sculptures leaped into my arms and wouldn't let go. The siren song of fun art was just too strong.
By the by, I think it rains on festival day – an intermittent sort of sky-drippage versus a full on downpour – every single year. This is just as well as it keeps me from hanging out longer, spending money I can’t spare on, ya know, bunny butter dishes and such.
Question – does ANYone still cook with butter? Spread it on toast perhaps? Use it as a *cough* marital aid, mebbe?
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Last night I dreamed The Amazing Bob was still alive AND healthy – UTTERLY FAB, no? Yes but we were moving out of Valhalla – all of us. WHY!? Where were we going? Beats the fuck outta me.This anxiety-mare might have something to do with Jen and Oni’s annual vaca. While I have my work and faithful cat herd keeping me warm and busy, it’s weird being here without those two. I hesitate to use this descriptive (given my history with a significant number of folks who identified themselves as such) but Jen and Oni are family. I miss them.
They’re off visiting Oni’s brother Kevin in Colorado. I am SO damn envious of this getaway. I want to go someplace new and different! Jen and I had planned on a springtime visit to Portland, Oregon – I’ve never been to Oregon and Jen says this is just plain WRONG. Sadly, my pricey little rental car mash and the unfortunate, ultra expensive Ireland cock-up derailed us BIG time. Maybe, by late autumn or early winter, my purse will have recovered (HOPE!) and we can go. Hmmph.
In any case, J&O are in Aspen now. Yes, the town so expensive that worker bee peasants can’t afford to live there. HEY, just like Boston but without a commuter rail or convenient, beautiful, nearby ocean. Aspen has a free (!!!) bus service but that only runs within the trés unaffordable town limits.
On Zillow I found a two bedroom apartment rental for a piddling $5,870 per month and that was one of the cheaper places. Want to rent an entire house? Trulia tells me that’ll set me back $32,500 PER MONTH. Compare to Boston – you can get a real steal on a two bedroom at $3,356 per. Yeah, motherfucking OUCH!
Today our dynamic duo will motor off to Kevin's rural, affordable hamlet. Here are a few of their travel lust inspiring pics from the road:
I think you'd like Portland. I'm not familiar with everything there is to see here, but there should be plenty for every interest. If you like that kind of "travel lust inspiring" scenery, you can see Mt. Hood from a lot of the city and there's a 600-foot waterfall just a few dozen miles out of town. If you do visit any time other than the summer, bring an umbrella. The climate here is very mild by the standards of most of the country, but it really does rain a lot. I recommend avoiding December through February -- we rarely get snow any more, but it does sometimes happen and even a small amount shuts a lot of things down.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I very much look forward to visiting.
DeleteOn the eastside the sun shines 300+ days ... just sayin' 😎
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard how beautiful Eastern Oregon is—I need to see it live and in person. I’d like to take a train or bus so I can just gawk and shoot pics, not drive.
DeleteBe aware, though -- once you get outside the big cities it's full of Trumpanzees.
DeleteEek!
DeleteHandy thing about being deaf — I don’t have to listen to them.