First, the extra boring stuff. I have established a friendship based on awkwardness with the fellow from the previous posts. He does not want me as his lady wingman – he apparently does not need such a person in his life because he is so good with the ladies. Yes, my eyes are rolling. This idea may not have been my best idea, but I’m sure it wasn't my worst.
Now, for the less boring stuff… I met my life goal of seeing Belle and Sebastian! I had a lovely trip last week. I flew to Portland on Sunday. I was a little gravol-ed and Sunday was pretty much a write off. I met Justina at the market where we looked at crafty-touristy things. I hauled my pretty pink suitcase around for what felt like a year. We checked into our room for the night and did some exploring of the city. I bought an eye-opening graphic novel about Malcolm X. Monday morning we got up bright and early and dropped off our bags at the Ace. Hipster overload. It was a great place with a really comfortable bed. We did a walking tour and later met Becky at the train station. More exploring and tasty food.
TUESDAY I SAW B&S! They were great. Life goal completed. Wednesday Becky and I took separate trains to Seattle, and Justina flew home later in the day. Seattle was…fine. I liked the hostel I was staying in. Went to the Seattle Art Museum. Ate a waffle. I saw B&S again, and Cat Power. Wow. She sure is a talented musician. Too bad about her anxiety. Eeeaaaarrrrrllly Friday morning I got up and went to the Amtrak station. Despite being there two days earlier I got lost. But I made it in time and enjoyed the ride to Vancouver. Bummed around Vancouver for the day then jumped on the train home. Now time for reflections… I like the train, but I do not like sleeping in coach. Next time, I hope to get a sleeper. I like meeting homeless people in cities unknown to me. There were tons of people asking for money in Portland. It wasn’t until I was in Seattle that I realized that they were all white. Hmmm… In Seattle I was in my best business casual skirt (but still appropriate for a pop concert) when a busker tried to warm me up by telling me he liked my glasses, I was dressed well, and I looked like Katie Couric. Maybe all white women look kind of alike but even so I do not look like Katie Couric. Not even a little. I was talking to some street folks in Vancouver about a tent city that’s popping up in Feb 2011. One guy was quite the story teller. My favourite line was how he was once so cold he “froze his kidney”. No kidding. On the train a guy in his 50s? 60s? sat with me for awhile and told me a story about how he’s a writer and he’s working on a new piece about (pause for 50 seconds) “intuitive philosophy of quantum time”. Pretty sure he was shitting me. Overall it was a good trip. It was soooo good to be away from regular life. And soooo good to be back.
