Portland on Loan

The reality of moving across the country, is that you’re moving across the country. We’re talking over 3,000 miles. And just because you move your physical self, doesn’t mean that you move your home. Home is Portland. And so we bring a little of that Portland to NYC. Michelle’s granola/environmental/organic/beautiful/crunchy self and my ski crazy/chill/organic/environmental/freckled self. But what we can’t bring with us is friends and family. It’s a bit difficult. But if we’re lucky (and we know that we are) we’ll have those friends and family bring themselves to this big, crazy, interesting city, and while there here, give NYC a little more of the Portland spirit. We’ll use the Portland airport like a library, periodically and often checking out a great piece of the Northwest, sharing it with this city, and returning it to it’s rightful place after a week or two. And we can’t wait to have our first visitors from Glisan or Skidmore or Lakeshore or Stanton or 15th street or Macadam or any of the other places you (and we) call home. Unfortunately (and fortunately) Michelle and I are on extended lone to this metropolis. We’re excited and we’re also excited to share it with you. Here’s to Portland, to NYC, to family, to friends, to seeing you soon.

A Few Pictures and Thoughts for Tonight

I guess it’s my turn to write as we burn down the road. 10:45 at night. Michelle at the wheel. And I pound away at this keyboard. Mirah’s playing on the radio and Ohio’s draped in black. Next stop, Cleveland… maybe, if the caffeine holds up and the CD player keeps us company. The trip has been an exercise in newness, interesting places, endurance, bad food in a great I’m eating sushi in Idaho sort of way and gas stations.

Today we stopped in South Bend and saw Notre Dame. Beautiful town. Maybe the pope will come back as a football in this little football crazy town. That way, he could enjoy all the enthusiasm and greenery and good old fashion mid-American fanaticism, strong Catholicism, nice looking coeds (and fraternity brothers if he swings that way), without having to eat the food.

Cue camera. You see two locals out the side of the window.

Michelle: Hi. We’re not from around here. Is there anyplace you’d recommend to eat at?

Local 1 (late 20’s, slim woman): There’s a Denny’s down the road.

Caspian: Where do the college students eat?

Local 2 (late 20’s, portly woman): Between Two Buns. It a sports bar on campus. They’ve got great buns!

Local 1: Or you could go to Chili’s or Applebees.

Local 2: I love those places.

Failure. But it was a cultural experience. And we did end up eating Thai food in Indiana. Not great, but it was Indiana.

A few things I’ve learned on this trip. America is beautiful. There are many helpful and friendly souls in this country. Toll roads suck ass, unless you don’t have to pay for them. Chicago is big… I mean really big. Nothing taste better than time with a wonderful friend, a laugh and an experience that will be remembered for the rest of memory.

We drive on. Mirah keeps singing. We’ll talk again tomorrow.

Quick Update

Moonscape 2
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Over 1,300 miles. We spent the night in Yellowstone on Tuesday, enjoyed the park on Wednesday and ended up in Deadwood South Dakota Wednesday night. We've got tons of pictures, but we only have time to put this one up. We've got to hit the road. We'll put up more, the next time we find an internet connection.

4 States, 550 miles and 2 Tired Drivers

The bus stops in Missoula Montana. We passed through a town with a weapon depot (Umatilla Oregon), purchased cherries from some roadside farmers (Washington border), ate some of the worst sushi either one of us has ever had (Coeur d'Alene Idaho) and found out that our car CD player is as temperamental as Cirrus. This trip has just begun.

The Copywriter Paints

Mural Friends
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

The whole office took the day off and put out time and talents to work at a youth center in Harlem. We painted 5 huge murals, built puppet stages and benches. It was hot, fun and amazing to see the kids faces after we were finished.

The City Glows

The city glows at night and melts into the sky on beautiful days. I was lucky enough to see a Broadway play today (Pillow Man) and enjoy a beautiful day with friends (David and Grey). In 2 more weeks I'll be lucky enough to spend that time with Michelle. 7 weeks is a long time. I can only imagine what it must be like for the men and woman who must leave friends and family behind to go fight in war. It must be devastating and frightening and incredibly numbing. This thought puts my time away from Michelle in perspective. All the same, I can't wait to see her amazing soul right in front of my eyes, her arms around my body, her smile, her laugh, her fidgeting, her. 2 more weeks. I had a wonderful day today. I can't wait to share some of those days with my wife.

Walking home on a Thursday Night

Walking home on a Thursday Night
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Walking home on Thursday night turns into shuffling home on Friday night turns into 3 AM on Saturday night. You get no sleep in NYC. Fuck the city that never sleeps, what about the Oregonian that never sleeps?

David Enjoys a Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale

It's raining and thundering in NYC. We decided to drink a fine Californian beer (Lagunitas) and visit the roof for a view of the city. Enjoy the view.

It Smells Like Beer

It smells like Portland. It smells like a quick journey through the city. I ran into a Farmers Market, a sunny week, the Brooklyn Brewery, a night in the East Village, a massive amount of sleep deprivation, a rainy night, a new apartment and a painting of a dog.

It's funny. I find myself on the other end of the moving equation. Always, I was on the end that tried to convince the person that had moved to a new town (Portland) that that new town kicked so much ass (and it does) that the place they had just moved from paled in comparison. Now I'm on the other end of that equation. People espouse the wonders of NYC to me always, and it is a wonderful place, but it's just one of many wonderful places. My move here has already broadened my world and somehow I feel like the people who have never lived in Portland are missing something. Just like the people that have never lived in NYC are missing something. I'm Evan and Ginger and Gabe and Sarah and all my friends that moved to Portland and there are now many native NY that are serving the place of me. That being said NYC is great and Portland fucking kicks ass! This moving thing is a total trip. There are so many incredible, interesting places. The journey has just begun.

I can’t wait until Michelle joins the journey.

Finally

Not so good pictures of our new apartment. After what seemed like a million different apartments, I finally found "the one". Here's a few pictures of it. They don't give it justice, but it'll have to do until you come out and sleep on the couch. A few of the highlights are: really large bedroom, full top floor of a brownstone, it's in Park Slope a block-and-half away from Prospect Park, a big bathroom with a full tub, two skylights (one in the bathroom one in the kitchen), a dishwasher (yes!), a small living room, a small room off the living room, access to a common backyard and a coin-op washer and dryer in the basement. But, to really experience it you'll have to come out and see it yourself. I'm looking forward to seeing you all.