| Thinking in snippets |
[Sep. 1st, 2007|09:07 pm] |
I've been putting off an update, wanting inspiration to strike so I could properly write up the various wonderments that have happened over the last two weeks. Per usual, when you wish for a muse, she stays far, far away.
And so, in brief:
The Find A Home Tour started with a trip to a land far, far away...that being the Pacific Northwest. A beautiful corner of the world if there ever was one and, considering my deep, abiding love for Vancouver, BC, I thought a perfect place to set the bar for a potential moving spot. For nigh-on ten years, I've thought Portland would be IT as far as a place to hang my hat. Imagine my (and, consequently, our) disappointment when the place just didn't gel for us.
We tried to put it into words for several days until Steven finally said, "They're just...trying too hard out here." This coming from transplant New Yorkers, mind! I managed to articulate that, opposed to other places, Portland is having its moment in the sun and, therefore, attracting the EXACT element we're trying to escape (I'm looking at YOU, Williamsburgites and their ilk). It's a city still trying to fit into oversized trousers (from the hippest thrift store, no less), and just not for us. Which is a shame because it seems like those who are area natives aren't quite sure to do with the influx and really, truly mean well while they try to adapt a place they love for the popular kids.
With some sense of relief (oh! and after a fantastic dinner with ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) habilments, whom I miss far too much, and her super amazingly lovely beau, whom I instantly fell in love with...I wish could have them over every weekend for wine and nibbles), we hopped a train to Seattle, not hoping for much. Thank the Fates for low expectations; Seattle knocked our socks off. Completely livable, exceptionally more grown up, ridiculously picturesque...I could go on and on.
Helping form that opinion were the wonderful duo of our Neighbor's fabulous aunt and uncle who escorted us about town all day Sunday; showed off neighborhoods, coastline and the University of Washington campus; "tried" not to give us too much of a MOVE HERE! pitch (and, in fact, told us as much downside as upside to the town); and made us a "light repast" of salmon and potatoes and three kinds of salad and fruit salad with ice cream for dessert. Just a perfectly rejuvenating Sunday, which was desperately needed.
Everything we saw in Seattle -- even the damn hills, after a while -- brought another giggle, another delight. After all, this is a city whose NBC affiliate, KING, also owns a sister independent station called KONG, so that says something. I'll refrain from reviewing the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (I'm sure Steven will wax rhapsodic about it) and other points of interest, except to say that we are VERY intrigued and plan a return visit in January or February to see the town at its most gray and drizzly. Not a big deal for our resident Brit, but could I handle eight months of gloom per year?
Next stops on the tour include Philadelphia (start prepping those Powerpoint presentations now, ladies!) and Baltimore. If nothing else, all this touring and thinking is giving Steven interesting perspective on America, which is fun to discuss and sort through his eyes.
On a completely different note, could we have a shoutout to my Midwestern compatriates for a week that shall go down in civil rights history? I thought I was blown out of the water when an Iowa judge ruled that not allowing same sex marriage was unconstitutional, but imagine my shock yesterday when the lovely Gov. Sebelius expanded job bias protections to cover sexual orientation in Kansas. Small steps, to be sure, but they're huge out there in the flyover -- and quite a statement so close to the next federal election. Woo hooooo, y'all! And thank you, thank you, thank you.
(Guess that wasn't all-that-brief, eh? Wouldn't you know.) |
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relaxed
grumpy
ecstatic
XANADU!!!
anxious