Sheila and I were up in Portland, returning late two evenings ago. The trip, aside from the air travel, went well. Our early morning flight out of Tucson was delayed, but there was enough buffer in the layover that meant we weren't going to miss our connection in San Jose. However, the flight from San Jose to PDX was also late, and Alaska Airlines for some reason had us exit at some slipshod gate where we had to walk a quarter mile or more to get into the terminal, and then another quarter mile to get our checked bag. Budget Rental Car didn't get on our good side either but that was likely not of their own doing as that Portland was having their Rose Parade later on in the week, and demand was high.
There is more that I would like to write about, as far as Portland and Oregon goes. Before getting into the topic at hand, I want to mention that this was Sheila's first time getting to meet Ken and Gillian, who hosted us after we were done spending time in the Columbia River Gorge.
While I was in Portland, I was reminded of something I saw on TV several years ago. It was some years back; long before I had to suffer exile in Trashcan (excuse me, Las Vegas). I'd guess that this was something that I saw one Sunday afternoon in 2012. I was channel surfing, dwelling into territory that I rarely visit. I was looking at what the religious channels were running, wondering what kind of crooks would be asking for money so that the Lord would in turn make me into a millionaire.
I stopped when I landed on the start of a church service from one of the charismatic churches. I can't recall the name of the church or the name of the small town in Georgia that the church was based in. The congregation was all black, and a rather fiery lady preacher who was the surviving spouse of the previous senior pastor was leading the worship.
It was, shall we say, Pentecostal in nature. Now I don't personally believe in the present-day speaking in tongues, I don't believe in getting carried away and overcome with outward emotion in a service, I like order and a reserved audience. That is just me and the personality type that I suffer from, and my statement of preference here should be taken as just that and not as a statement that my way is the better way. To each their own.
As I'm watching this, and as the camera panned over the audience, they really got going. This one black gentleman who had to be around 75 years of age or so got up and started dancing! I found that fascinating.....I mean, he was really moved, and he got up and danced! No, he wasn't trying to pull one over on Michael Jackson. He was overcome with joy and felt no self-constraint in letting those around him know about it. And I'm thinking, more power to you! It was his way of thanking the Good Lord for his blessing, and I think that in the eyes of the Lord that his form of worship is just as much accepted as mine is.
I had occasion to think about this while I was on my trip. I won't pass along any detail of what reminded me. Maybe I saw someone dance on a street corner. Maybe it was in that movie that we watched with Ken and Gillian. Maybe I woke up from a dream.
As I was reminded of that black gentleman, I also thought of what some other people might have thought of that guy getting up to dance. There might a lot of people out there that would make fun of him. There might be some others who would criticize that form of worship; thinking that dancing is "improper" for one reason or other. There might even be a lot of people out there who think that the dancing septuagenarian is a fool.
There's one thing in common that these detractors would all likely possess: not one of them will be explain why they are a better person than the guy who danced in church.
Showing posts with label portland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portland. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Sunday, October 24, 2010
To Portland and Back
Last weekend was the occasion for my annual trip to Portland.....the one in Oregon, that is. Maybe some day I'll make to the one that's in Maine, but the one in Oregon is the one that I go to and I think I've now been there eight or nine times.
My flight left Tucson at 6:00 AM. I took Southwest Airlines this time, mainly because Southwest doesn't charge for checked baggage. Southwest also has the reputation of getting you where you need to go and getting you there on time, and they've never failed me in that regard. You're not going to get an assigned seat from them, which at first I didn't like but now I think it's great that you have that option. If you're walking down the aisle and you see some weirdo sitting at the window, you don't have to sit next to him if you're on Southwest.....unless of course, you're the last one on and that's the only seat available.
The flight landed at Las Vegas later that morning. I've passed thru more airports than I can remember, but this was my first time at McCarran International Airport. Yes, it's true, they have slot machines there. I don't like to admit that I use these machines, but that morning I played a machine, set it to 1 cent plays, and walked away $2.00 richer. You just have to know when to say when.
I found myself at PDX, that is, Portland International Airport right around noon. I rented with Avis this time, and I can't remember the make and model of the car that I got stuck with but I have to say that it was satisfactory in all respects except for one: the brakes were squeaking, and with only 13 kilomiles on the odometer I figured that the manufacturer (now that I think about it it was a Chevy) has some problems with either their quality control, their reliability engineering, or both. (OK, I have to digress.....in 2003 I was working with a former GM reliability engineer and he was the tops in his field. He taught me a lot about reliabliltiy predicitons in digital circuits. I don't think he wrote any books, but he should have....he knew that much).
After picking up my rental car, I made my way to Powell's Used Book Store in downtown Portland. If you're ever in Portland, this place is a "must see". Imagine a five story bookstore taking up a whole city block....well, that's Powell's. And across the street from them is Powell's Technical Books, with new and used books in every technical field imaginable. I filled in some holes in my want list with that visit (some sci-fi titles), and around 4:00 PM I was at the residence of Ken & Gillian and family.
They are all doing very well! My godson, Alexander, is now 11. Meredith is I think 13 this year (or will turn 13) and Felicity is 15, or will turn 15. It's really been neat watching them grow up, and watching them practice their God-given talents on musical instruments.
The next day, Friday, saw me at Powell's again. I know, I can't help myself in a used book store. We have a chain in Arizona called Bookman's, and you'll see me there too, but Powell's is the undisputed granddaddy of used book stores. I picked up a copy of Dracula which I read back in high school, and a new one called The Ruin of the Roman Empire. I'm going to have to stop visiting bookstores so that I can work on the backlog of what's waiting to be read......and that's not a bad problem to have.
After my Powell's visit, I had lunch with Ken, and we had a neat discussion on the Universe where we discussed our beliefs in how it was created. I wish Lynette's son Austin had been there to hear this discussion, and I'm also wishing it had now been recorded. I could go further here, but that's beyond the scope of this trip report.
Saturday Ken and I went to the Portland Zoo, and later on we went bowling with Alexander, and Alexander's friend Gavin. Gavin was very well-behaved, just like Alexander. I think Alexander is hanging around with some very good people.
Sunday it was church, but on this occasion I did not get to meet my namesake. He may have been off in Nigeria doing some mission work. The pastor delivering the sermon though was a namesake to a famous drummer, that being Carl Palmer of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame. Anyway, this Carl Palmer delivered a good message.
After church it was the Cedar Mills Cider Festival, which is an annual event for that weekend in October. There's nothing like sipping on cider from fresh-pressed apples. All of us walked back to Ken's house save for Gillian, who had to attend a church meeting. It was a good walk and a means to burn off some calories.
On Monday I returned home, getting back here around 8:30ish. I had to connect in Las Vegas again, and on the return leg home I walked off from this one slot machine some $4.85 richer. Again, that was a case of knowing when to say when, but I also think that the outcome on that one would have been different in an adverse way if I had played dollars that time instead of nickels.
I've now been home for a few days, the Arizona weather is great, and we are now heading into fall.
Next weekend I'll be in Phoenix on Saturday, as that I've accepted an invitation for a Halloween party. Costumes are optional, which is good, as that I'm not one to dress up for Halloween. I think it's great that other people do that, but for me, well it's just not me.
I'd personally rather have people dress up for Halloween than to go out and rob liquor stores.
I think that's going to be it for now.
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.
My flight left Tucson at 6:00 AM. I took Southwest Airlines this time, mainly because Southwest doesn't charge for checked baggage. Southwest also has the reputation of getting you where you need to go and getting you there on time, and they've never failed me in that regard. You're not going to get an assigned seat from them, which at first I didn't like but now I think it's great that you have that option. If you're walking down the aisle and you see some weirdo sitting at the window, you don't have to sit next to him if you're on Southwest.....unless of course, you're the last one on and that's the only seat available.
The flight landed at Las Vegas later that morning. I've passed thru more airports than I can remember, but this was my first time at McCarran International Airport. Yes, it's true, they have slot machines there. I don't like to admit that I use these machines, but that morning I played a machine, set it to 1 cent plays, and walked away $2.00 richer. You just have to know when to say when.
I found myself at PDX, that is, Portland International Airport right around noon. I rented with Avis this time, and I can't remember the make and model of the car that I got stuck with but I have to say that it was satisfactory in all respects except for one: the brakes were squeaking, and with only 13 kilomiles on the odometer I figured that the manufacturer (now that I think about it it was a Chevy) has some problems with either their quality control, their reliability engineering, or both. (OK, I have to digress.....in 2003 I was working with a former GM reliability engineer and he was the tops in his field. He taught me a lot about reliabliltiy predicitons in digital circuits. I don't think he wrote any books, but he should have....he knew that much).
After picking up my rental car, I made my way to Powell's Used Book Store in downtown Portland. If you're ever in Portland, this place is a "must see". Imagine a five story bookstore taking up a whole city block....well, that's Powell's. And across the street from them is Powell's Technical Books, with new and used books in every technical field imaginable. I filled in some holes in my want list with that visit (some sci-fi titles), and around 4:00 PM I was at the residence of Ken & Gillian and family.
They are all doing very well! My godson, Alexander, is now 11. Meredith is I think 13 this year (or will turn 13) and Felicity is 15, or will turn 15. It's really been neat watching them grow up, and watching them practice their God-given talents on musical instruments.
The next day, Friday, saw me at Powell's again. I know, I can't help myself in a used book store. We have a chain in Arizona called Bookman's, and you'll see me there too, but Powell's is the undisputed granddaddy of used book stores. I picked up a copy of Dracula which I read back in high school, and a new one called The Ruin of the Roman Empire. I'm going to have to stop visiting bookstores so that I can work on the backlog of what's waiting to be read......and that's not a bad problem to have.
After my Powell's visit, I had lunch with Ken, and we had a neat discussion on the Universe where we discussed our beliefs in how it was created. I wish Lynette's son Austin had been there to hear this discussion, and I'm also wishing it had now been recorded. I could go further here, but that's beyond the scope of this trip report.
Saturday Ken and I went to the Portland Zoo, and later on we went bowling with Alexander, and Alexander's friend Gavin. Gavin was very well-behaved, just like Alexander. I think Alexander is hanging around with some very good people.
Sunday it was church, but on this occasion I did not get to meet my namesake. He may have been off in Nigeria doing some mission work. The pastor delivering the sermon though was a namesake to a famous drummer, that being Carl Palmer of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame. Anyway, this Carl Palmer delivered a good message.
After church it was the Cedar Mills Cider Festival, which is an annual event for that weekend in October. There's nothing like sipping on cider from fresh-pressed apples. All of us walked back to Ken's house save for Gillian, who had to attend a church meeting. It was a good walk and a means to burn off some calories.
On Monday I returned home, getting back here around 8:30ish. I had to connect in Las Vegas again, and on the return leg home I walked off from this one slot machine some $4.85 richer. Again, that was a case of knowing when to say when, but I also think that the outcome on that one would have been different in an adverse way if I had played dollars that time instead of nickels.
I've now been home for a few days, the Arizona weather is great, and we are now heading into fall.
Next weekend I'll be in Phoenix on Saturday, as that I've accepted an invitation for a Halloween party. Costumes are optional, which is good, as that I'm not one to dress up for Halloween. I think it's great that other people do that, but for me, well it's just not me.
I'd personally rather have people dress up for Halloween than to go out and rob liquor stores.
I think that's going to be it for now.
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Greetings from Portland!
Hello from the City of Roses!
Well, I'm not actually in the city limits of Portland itself, and I'm not even in the same county that Portland is in......but my hosts Ken & Gillian have their mailing address as being in Portland. They live about a mile or two north of Beaverton, in an unincorporated area of Washington County.
This is not my first time here. In fact, I can't remember how many times I've been here before now. I do know that I was not here last year, but was here the year before.
Years ago when Ken told me that he had gotten a job offer in Portland, I advised him to take it. His family moved up here in either late 2001 or maybe early 2002. The move was pending when I visited him in San Jose in October 2001, and I remember telling him that when you get on the freeway that takes you out of San Jose, it's going to be a weird feeling knowing that this time you're not coming back. I know all about that feeling, having experienced it on 2/23/99 when I left to start a new life in Arizona.
But getting back to Portland, I really like it here. I don't know if I would like living here since I'm better suited for sunshine and warmer temperatures, but at the same time I really appreciate the beauty of Oregon. I've been out to the coast before and have spent a few days in Neskowin. I've been up and down the Columbia River Gorge a few times, and across the river at Mount St. Helens. I'm thinking of driving down to Salem on Monday to check out the state capital, but the Multnomah Falls (which I've seen before) are tempting. It isn't every day in my life that I get to see another part of the country, and whenever I'm on trips I definitely like to play "tourist".
I think I can also understand why coffeehouses are popular in the Northwest. It's due to the climate. When it's overcast and cool, you don't feel like being on your back patio knocking off a beer. Instead you want to be on your back patio knocking off a cup of Joe, and with the view Ken has from his back deck I can hardly wait to be sipping a cup of that kind of brew sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Interestingly enough, microbreweries are big in Portland. I was up here twenty years ago at a brewer's festival during July. I enjoy a great beer now and then, and you can't beat a nice handcrafted brew on some days.
But in October, it's coffee weather, and even though it's rare for me to drink coffee, the thought of having a cup tomorrow is something I'm looking forward to.
It's really been interesting to have watched Ken's children grow up over the past several years. All three of them are musically talented and I'm hearing his oldest daughter practice the harp as I type this. They're also a real joy to converse with. They've asked questions that I wish more adults were capable of asking.
* * * * * * *
That's it for now. Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.
Well, I'm not actually in the city limits of Portland itself, and I'm not even in the same county that Portland is in......but my hosts Ken & Gillian have their mailing address as being in Portland. They live about a mile or two north of Beaverton, in an unincorporated area of Washington County.
This is not my first time here. In fact, I can't remember how many times I've been here before now. I do know that I was not here last year, but was here the year before.
Years ago when Ken told me that he had gotten a job offer in Portland, I advised him to take it. His family moved up here in either late 2001 or maybe early 2002. The move was pending when I visited him in San Jose in October 2001, and I remember telling him that when you get on the freeway that takes you out of San Jose, it's going to be a weird feeling knowing that this time you're not coming back. I know all about that feeling, having experienced it on 2/23/99 when I left to start a new life in Arizona.
But getting back to Portland, I really like it here. I don't know if I would like living here since I'm better suited for sunshine and warmer temperatures, but at the same time I really appreciate the beauty of Oregon. I've been out to the coast before and have spent a few days in Neskowin. I've been up and down the Columbia River Gorge a few times, and across the river at Mount St. Helens. I'm thinking of driving down to Salem on Monday to check out the state capital, but the Multnomah Falls (which I've seen before) are tempting. It isn't every day in my life that I get to see another part of the country, and whenever I'm on trips I definitely like to play "tourist".
I think I can also understand why coffeehouses are popular in the Northwest. It's due to the climate. When it's overcast and cool, you don't feel like being on your back patio knocking off a beer. Instead you want to be on your back patio knocking off a cup of Joe, and with the view Ken has from his back deck I can hardly wait to be sipping a cup of that kind of brew sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Interestingly enough, microbreweries are big in Portland. I was up here twenty years ago at a brewer's festival during July. I enjoy a great beer now and then, and you can't beat a nice handcrafted brew on some days.
But in October, it's coffee weather, and even though it's rare for me to drink coffee, the thought of having a cup tomorrow is something I'm looking forward to.
* * * * * * *
It's really been interesting to have watched Ken's children grow up over the past several years. All three of them are musically talented and I'm hearing his oldest daughter practice the harp as I type this. They're also a real joy to converse with. They've asked questions that I wish more adults were capable of asking.
* * * * * * *
I return home to Tucson on Monday evening. Hopefully. Yesterday when taxiing away from the gate the pilot brought us back to de-plane us due to what may have been a computer glitch or a mechanical problem. I was re-booked on to a later flight, but I don't think I have the later flight option on the way home. I connected in Phoenix on the way up and will be connecting in Phoenix on the way back down.
* * * * * * *
That's it for now. Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.
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