be a tourist in my own town

I had an observation essay in my writing class and took it as an opportunity to just be out for the day noticing everything that makes Portland Portland. I live in such a fantastic city. 19 hours ago

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” 2 months ago

and could not have been more pleasantly surprised/thrilled to find it much, much more than a bunch of overpriced veggies. :D

And this really sweet guy gave me some free leeks and kale, in the most beatific manner imaginable. First time I’ve ever been rewarded for being late. ;D 5 months ago

Thus it will remain unofficially open, but the personal challenge aspect is complete! : )) 5 months ago

It was so romantic and silly. We practically expected to hear the theme from The Love Boat surging up the gangway. I managed not to trip or fall down in my long flowing dress and stupidly high heels though the obliging gentleman got knocked in the shin on his way up the stairs behind me (he was very polite about it). We happened to venture out on the windy deck just as the sound of Taps was floating from the parked aircraft carrier we were passing by, and a fellow cruiser claimed it’s the very same aircraft carrier that carried the Navy Seals who finally got their man. Really! Well now. And a harbor seal sat on a buoy observing the cruise boat as we drifted by.

Obliging gentleman also spent a good amount of the cruise explaining to me how we might all be a hologram. I objected that’s not possible because where would R2D2 be standing? In other words us as usual. But more touristy.

_{against my better judgement and the advice of the gentleman, I’ll briefly post a pic here…. ; )}6 months ago

as being simply not worth the trouble…but there are several more in the works :D they’re like dragon’s teeth, these tourist-in-my-own-town secret sub-goals are!! : )

A friend’s recent relocation gives us a couple of new adventure buddies : )) ...and serendipity handed us another opportunity for the near future, dependent on good weather – yay! 7 months ago

: )

A day remarkable mainly for its discussion of time travel, a discussion whose goofiness approached infinity in direct proportion to the rate at which we retreated from the speed of light (hey, the roads were all curvy and stuff). Sighted: either two deer or the same deer twice; a red-headed woodpecker; a blue damselfly; assorted squirrels; one male hummingbird; lots of large black beetles on the ground and clouds of midges in the air; lots of titmice chirping in the foliage; four horses with riders (none of them particularly pale and all looking far too cheerful and summery to be apocalyptic); one menacing-looking hiker carrying two extremely large sticks; and three monster trucks (not on the trail, fortunately). 7 months ago

i’ll consider this goal fulfilled when i discover at least five new and exciting places that i hadn’t previously known about. this includes: restaurants, shops, parks, swimming spots, hiking trails, places with a breathtaking view, etc. etc.

i already have a place in mind where i’m going to hunt for good eateries! 8 months ago

I love these trees : ))) 8 months ago

inspired by [in addition to the many others I’ve seen post the goal over the years] Joyjoei’s avowed likely inability to visit anywhere in the Americas anytime soon due to, well, the baht going so much farther in Asia combined with the devilishly long & expensive (as I well know) plane ride required to get here.

Also, Joyjoei just inspired me to take a few more photos of stuff I normally consider just ordinary stuff. If she or anyone else happens to enjoy the results, even better!

Also, it’s hard to get out of tourist mode, and this just seemed like a fun way to document while learning a few things (such as, what are those flame-flower trees called, anyway? I hope it’s “Flame Trees.” ;D

Hopefully I will continue with this goal, and find out. 9 months ago