Portland, OR

OK, so I am currently in Portland, Oregon, trying to find a new job, learning my way around a new city (it’s all BACKWARDS – more in a minute), and broke as $%^! LOL

OK, rant over, that was quick, wasn’t it?!?

I am finding Portland to be a lovely city, I will have to learn that there is something called weather and seasons occur about every three months, I vaguely remember such things from my youth in St. Louis. The weather so far has been absolutely wonderful, a few rainy afternoons but nothing to make me melt like Elphaba (OK, mixed references, so sue me).

Of course all my Los Angeles friends are trying to plant the fear of Winter into me, but I already have a warm coat that should solve most of those issues, so HA! Thinking of LA, it looks like I started my trip at the right time. I had amazing weather for most of my trip and Los Angeles has been hit with a series of heat waves this year and I hate it when those happen.

Portland seems to be an interesting place, one popular local bumper-sticker reads, “Keep Portland Weird!” Nice thought and I have to admit that it seems to have an eclectic collection of peoples, fashions and presentation.

The job market is not what I was hoping for, of course the Universe is testing me again to see if I will bail into a limo job, trying not to, but I may at least in the short term, I need money…

What can I say, sadly the world does not seem to care about much otherwise (sad).

Of course it likely doesn’t make my life any easier on the job front that the vast majority of my “work” experience is in the limo business, add some substantial computer experience, and everyone is either terrified I might do something to their computers or say how “over-qualified” I am. I wish they would let me make that decision for myself.

I have come to the conclusion that the new blow-off line for applicants is “we just hired several people last week,” otherwise I have the worst timing on the planet, maybe; but whining about it seems to be much more fun and acceptable (except to my Sister-In-Law who threatens to beat me for too much of it).

A personal “No-Duh”: Portland is BACKWARDS!

I am sure this has more to do with me than anything else, but I am having a devil of a time keeping my North-South (don’t even ask about East-West) orientation straight. On the trip up here I seem to have lost my internal compass somewhere around San Luis Obispo, I must have left it some place, (if found, please return it).

I think the biggest part is that I am used to everything being east in my life and in Portland it is all west. I keep getting turned around because I think I am going one direction and it turns out I want the opposite. Like the other day when I realized 30 blocks too late that I was headed the wrong way, ‘Doh!’

Another “No-Duh” thought: “Starting a new life is a pain.”

Be it general physics, Newton’s First Law of Motion, aka inertia, or just the human like for “normalcy” (whatever that is) and the tendency to keep the same old same makes it fun and enjoyable for children of all ages.

It is no surprise why we tend to end in a rut and not forage new paths, it can be terrifying at times and requires stepping outside our “comfort zone.”

Biggest “No-Duh” moment as of late: “Life continues and the only thing you can count on is change.”

If you need me to explain this one, their may just be no help available for you. OK, if you really need the help, just let me know.