Portland is off the table.
. . . . .
That was my sigh of relief you heard. While the option to move somewhere new and different always has an appeal, I'm not sure Portland and I would have been a match made in heaven. More that we would have ended up on Maury Povich arguing about who hated who first and ending with one of use tackled by the security staff. I'm not saying if it would have been PDX or me, but it would have been ugly.
After two days there I looked Danielle in the eye and said "I don't think I can move here". She laughed and I reiterated with "No really. I think it might be too much". I moved to Spain a Catholic country with a pace that's glacial for any meaningful business, i.e. banking, official paperwork processing. I live in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country where I was awakened every day for months by the call to prayer of the mosque. Traffic meant it could take two hours to go four miles and the only beer was Heineken and it's local equivalent Bintang. I've spent weeks in countries where everything bites and the temperature and humidity are the same number. I think I draw the line at Portland.
Here are some snippets of the notes I made on the music agenda. A lot of these seem to be directed at the hipsters, so only take them to heart if you are a hipster. And if you are, message me to seek treatment.
The 80's are gone. Either know that you loved them and let them go or know that you will never get it because you're 15 and your elders are (or should be) wise enough not to allow you to repeat their mistakes.
There is one Zoey Deschanel. You aren't her.
There are lots of guys who look like pictures of my uncle from thirty years ago - a big, bad, dark beard, floppy semi-curly hair, skinny to the point of needing force feeding. He had thick black framed glasses, a strong Jewish nose (hey, I've got it too), and a general air of nerdy/unstylish. It wasn't good then I'd imagine, it was hilarious as kids when we saw the pictures and it's not ideal now. His style has changed, so should yours.
Why do you look so gay but bring your girlfriend to the concert? If I saw you in Seattle, you 5'5" man in tight pink knee length shorts, white ironic/graphic tank, comb over, bracelet, purple raybans, teal keds with ankle socks, I would know you were at home in Seattle, probably Capitol Hill. In PDX, you insist on dragging your beard girlfriend around though neither of you exchange a word or seem attached to each other.
Come to think of it, most of you hipsters don't seem attached to anything. You are decidedly detached from emotional response. I don't know if you're all high or have spent too many years abusing your livers but I swear a smile or facial expression is a normal part of existence.
I realize that burning bras had it's day. As far as I know, bras are plentiful. There are lots of them around in different colors and styles and price ranges. There is no excuse then to go without. Floppy and wiggly is something that should be saved for jello molds. Bright pink bras should go under bright shirts, not flimsy white ones. Bra straps are not a fashion accessory despite what some magazines and manufacturers produce. If you are wearing a tube top, buy a strapless bra. That's a requirement not a suggestion.
Clothes shouldn't be so tight as to appear painted on nor so loose that you could fit your significant other in them as well.
Men - get your hair situation together. Fuzzy chests with deep V's, mustaches of the 70's/porn star variety, facial hair that is patchy and a bit all over, Bieber hair, overcolored/overtreated and there fore thinner than thread. Men in headbands. Not even for Fernando, sorry Meghan. Sort all that out. I'm about this close to putting a no facial hair clause in my online profiles because there are so few who pull it off, but I don't want to open the door for 6'2'', 318lbs guys to have a go at me because I hate their beard. Not that I couldn't take 'em. . . I just don't have the time or interest.
Was there a great flood in Portland in the last two years? Everyone cuffs everything. Jeans, pants, skirts, shorts. I get that when you're on a bike you cuff the right leg so it doesn't get greasy in the chain but I stopped trying to count people walking around with cuffed pants. Either manufacturers need to make a PDX specific cut that is short enough for all the flood-fearers or there need to be group information sessions about the correct pant lengths. Folded up so it's three inches above your ankle (and your legs are the most horrifying white) is not appropriate.
Why can't you afford a shave and a haircut but you can spend thousands of dollars of lots of often lousy tattoos? I have a few tattoos. I have plans for a couple more but being in Portland for long would be enough to put me off tats forever. I don't think I've ever seen so many neck tats. Lots of full sleeves and lots of generally globby tats. I started getting mine when not every person had one, now Portlanders are getting enough for everyone.
Single soul examples of fashion disasters:
Male, 30's, 5'5''-5'6'' pork pie hat, floppy side part ahir, waxed mustache, wife beater tank top in white, nylon baskeball shorts in black past the knee, long, dark argyle socks, leather "dress" shoes like a lot of middle school boys wear when they have to dress up.
Male, 35ish, 5'9'', short sleeve plai button up, beard, BCGs (see previous post), black low top chucks, flatbilled baseball hat, raybans, skinny jean that was too short, black socks.
Female, early 20's, 5'7'', skort dress in bright purple, blue raybans, keds, long stick strait hair with a leatherband with feathers on it tied around her head just above her eyebrows.
Overall I found Portlanders in need of mending, ironing, shaving, trimming, washing and general tidying up. I think I left Portland with a virus, one that has left me with little defense against "the hipster". It may have long lasting effects; we shall have to wait and see.
Last two only vaguely related thoughts:
As I get older, 21 seems to be getting younger. The shows I saw at the Crystal Ballroom had two sections in front of the stage, one of which was a 21 and over bar section. There were folks in there that make me double take. Not just a couple that I could assume had snuck in but heaps. Apparently I'm not old enough to want to question the young whippersnappers about their id.
Drummers are proof that men can multi-task. Based on some of the bands I've seen recently I should expand that to musicians. I saw one performer from Beirut switch from a trombone to a tuba to a guitar. Another in Royal Cannoe played a keyboard, a synthesizer, a guitar and a tambourine. I doff my hat to you all.
Showing posts with label Portland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portland. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sigh, hipsters
This is the blog post that I have been putting off for over a week. Danielle, here it finally is. I was avoiding it because I know it's going to get me all riled up. To be honest, if it didn't, I wouldn't do the post any justice because it made me riled up enough to take notes in Portland so I could rage in blog form.
Hipsters.
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ok, now, where to begin. I used to think that Seattle and Portland weren't so very different. I've heard Portland compared to Seattle of twenty years ago, that's PDX is SEA's little brother. It's definitely not the city I remember from a few short trips there over the years. And it's not Seattle.
Immediate reactions: It's white. REALLY white. The official figures say that PDX is about 97% white and that the 3% racial diversity exists in just one or two neighborhoods.
It's a social city. There are probably more bars and restaurants per capita in the city than any I've been to. They are for the most part very new or remodeled, with interesting food but similar style choices.
Seattle is by it's nature a casual city. Polar fleece is an acceptable accessories in all seasons and nearly all venues. REI probably sells as many articles of clothing as JC Penneys. Gortex is a necessity, if not a sleek clothing choice. I usually feel a bit overdressed when I go out, but I'm ok with that. I would rather be the most put together person in the bar than another disastrous hiker/biker/Seattle action figure who forgot to change after the days outing. Portland takes casual and poorly dressed to a new level. They don't make the small but important distinction between functional wear and appropriate wear. Seattleites are guilty of going out in clothing that was meant for a purpose - rock climbing, camping - not for fashion. Portlanders either don't realize there's a difference or scoff at it in wearing clothing who's purpose was to clothe a college student when they couldn't afford anything better or know any better. Oh wait. . . that doesn't quite work since they spent more on their ironic t-shirt and poorly fitting skinny jeans than I did on my work-sleek Calvin Klein dress and heels.
Hipsters all think they are unique and different. What they don't see is that they are all minutely different versions of the same. Is this what the "you can do anything, you are a special flower" parenting books have lead to?
Select any three (I think three is enough, four is a definite minimum though) of the following list and you have a hipster:
For the sake of your sanity and mine, I'll cap today's blog there and allow my rant to spill over to tomorrow. Look for more scathing hipster don't, don't and why do they's tomorrow.
**Do I need to include googled photos of all this stuff? I'd imagine a fair number of you know and can picture exactly what I'm referencing. If photos are requested, I'll add some.
Hipsters.
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ok, now, where to begin. I used to think that Seattle and Portland weren't so very different. I've heard Portland compared to Seattle of twenty years ago, that's PDX is SEA's little brother. It's definitely not the city I remember from a few short trips there over the years. And it's not Seattle.
Immediate reactions: It's white. REALLY white. The official figures say that PDX is about 97% white and that the 3% racial diversity exists in just one or two neighborhoods.
It's a social city. There are probably more bars and restaurants per capita in the city than any I've been to. They are for the most part very new or remodeled, with interesting food but similar style choices.
Seattle is by it's nature a casual city. Polar fleece is an acceptable accessories in all seasons and nearly all venues. REI probably sells as many articles of clothing as JC Penneys. Gortex is a necessity, if not a sleek clothing choice. I usually feel a bit overdressed when I go out, but I'm ok with that. I would rather be the most put together person in the bar than another disastrous hiker/biker/Seattle action figure who forgot to change after the days outing. Portland takes casual and poorly dressed to a new level. They don't make the small but important distinction between functional wear and appropriate wear. Seattleites are guilty of going out in clothing that was meant for a purpose - rock climbing, camping - not for fashion. Portlanders either don't realize there's a difference or scoff at it in wearing clothing who's purpose was to clothe a college student when they couldn't afford anything better or know any better. Oh wait. . . that doesn't quite work since they spent more on their ironic t-shirt and poorly fitting skinny jeans than I did on my work-sleek Calvin Klein dress and heels.
Hipsters all think they are unique and different. What they don't see is that they are all minutely different versions of the same. Is this what the "you can do anything, you are a special flower" parenting books have lead to?
Select any three (I think three is enough, four is a definite minimum though) of the following list and you have a hipster:
- Converse
- skinny jeans, double points for skinny colored pants.
- Unnecessary wide belt with big buckle. The pants are already so tight you had to have help getting them on. I know your butt is hanging out but the belt won't help with that.
- An "ironic/funny" t-shirt. They are never either. Double points of it's seriously worn.
- A Jason Mraz hat
- Homeless lumberjack beard. It could be housing a chipmunk (not the Alvin persuasion), last week's pizza leftovers or the axe you'll use to murder me.
- A bad haircut or lack of haircut. I have trouble seeing the difference between the dirty hippie folks who haven't cut their hair because they don't care and the hipsters who spent $65 to look the same way. Triple points for homeless lumberjack beard and long stringy Kurt Cobain-esque hair. Or alternately, Justin Bieber hair on a male over the age of 17.
- Super high waisted colored super short shorts. I've only seen them on females, but who knows what's possibly. Double points if they are short enough her ass is trying to escape out the bottom.
- A long hippie, flowing skirt that you then decide is too long and too flowy so it's tied up at the knee.
- A plaid button up shirt. In a concert sea of bodies, plaid is plaid is all the same plaid.
- BCGs. These are the black, chunky rimmed glasses. A friend from the military told me they call them BCGs - birth control glasses - because they are the only style the military will pay for and you ain't getting laid if you wear em. Now the caveat might be that you'll get laid, but by another hipster. You've been warned.
- Flat billed ballcap. Break that sh*t in. And don't wear it high on your head, like Heather, this girl I went to junior high with. She'd spray her bangs up big, like Kelly Kapowski in SBTB and then put the hat on behind it. (if you do not understand this reference, stop reading now. You can go google it and still not really understand or you are under 25 and will never understand either). As an aside here, also no super flimsy, 80's style, windbreaker material ballcaps.
- Neon anything. Again, I feel like this could easily segue into a Saved by the Bell reference.The brighter the better, especially tops, hats or accessories.
- Keds on men. This isn't Europe and you aren't Swedish.
- Old school raybans. You know the ones I mean that are really in, again. Like they were twenty years ago.
- A mustache. Now this is a tricky one to write. I like a good mustache. Good being the pivotal word in that sentence. This is where my new motto comes in to play. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN, DOESNT MEAN YOU SHOULD*. Sure, you can grow a mustache. It looks ridiculous on you, your face is rejecting it and you haven't realized it. We are all shaking our heads and chuckling. Waxing it out Rolly Fingers style (again, google it) doesn't make it look less ridiculous. Now there are a few folks that can pull it off. There was a fill-in Seattleite guitarist for the band The Heavy at Bumbershoot. He looked fantastic, plaid shirt, waxed mustache and all. *Apply motto to aforementioned beards, skinny jeans and buying a Hummer.
- Tom's. ick.
For the sake of your sanity and mine, I'll cap today's blog there and allow my rant to spill over to tomorrow. Look for more scathing hipster don't, don't and why do they's tomorrow.
**Do I need to include googled photos of all this stuff? I'd imagine a fair number of you know and can picture exactly what I'm referencing. If photos are requested, I'll add some.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
MFNW part dos
On Friday I ventured out to The Doug Fir for two KEXP Lounge shows.
The Doug Fir is a little restaurant/bar/performance area that looks like
a log cabin and is on the corner of/affiliated with a newer hotel. The
lounge was a floor underground, which on a 85 degree day provided a
wonderful cool respite that more than once was compared to a cave. I
missed The Pains of Being Pure at Heart due to a fire that delayed the
buses (it's always something isn't it?) so I skipped over to Sizzle Pie
to wait for the next show. Sizzle Pie is a mini-chain in Portland for
gourmet pizza that was fantastic. I would never have thought to put
sliced almonds with thin pieces of roast, garlic and two kinds of
cheese, but man did it work. I also treated myself to a Crispins cider
and then a local Caldera Amber, which despite being canned, was great.
Upon wrapping up there, I plunged into the underground world of The Doug Fir for Lost Lander. I'm a big fan. They have a great sound, which at some points was a tiny bit like Cold War Kids, at other points was more like a band who I like and whose name is completely eluding me right now. They are coming to Seattle Sunday!
After the Lost Lander show, I emerged blinking into the sun and happily strolled to the patio for a Flat Tire Sunshine beer. Very appropriate for the day. I stayed around to catch the Black Mountain show. Again, it was a band I'd never heard of. In every way they were a great Zepplin cover band, except that it was original music. The female singer looked like she was the daughter of the male lead, appearing maybe 18. She presented a totally unaffected demeanor at all times. There was never a smile or a scream. She was either high or bored. Musically, they sounded like Zepplin from the choices of chords, to the feedback and reverb. I was left thinking "why wouldn't I just listen to Zepplin?"
Danielle met me at the outdoor stage at Pioneer Courthouse Square for two shows, but I got there first and saw Gardens & Villa. I wasn't paying a lot of attention at this point as I was people watching and making hipster notes. They seemed benign though not totally uninteresting. The crowd was about the same and both Gardens and Menomena suffered from an apathetic crowd and lots of synthesizers too early in the day. Danielle came in part was through the Menomena show. Again, I believe they are local. The area was starting to fill and they put on a good show but were hampered by the stage orientation which had them facing straight into the sun. The last show at Pioneer was Beirut which required an additional ticket (included in our ticket fee). I feel like I need to listen to them again while not surrounded by and irritated by hipsters. They look like what happens when band nerds get older but don't grow up. I liked the use of tuba, trombone (both played by a guy who also played keyboard), trumpet (played by a guy that reminds me of ten Spaniards I've met) and even accordion. There was a feeling of trying to do too much on stage by having six members who all changed instruments and stage position. They were clearly a crowd favorite as the area had filled and folks were pushed up towards the stage.
Danielle and I left before the end to make our way over to the Star Theater. The Star was a nice venue. Small inside with a long skinny set up with a stage at one end, but a big patio outside with two bars. It was busy but not overly packed. We had dealings with a waitress who was vacant. It's strange to run in to someone who is really honestly dumb as rocks. She had trouble reciting the beers on tap to us even while using her cheat sheet. A couple more beers here while not paying much attention to Moon Duo (other than to notice the guy in it looked like an appropriately aged and heavily bearded Manson), or Daughn Gibson. Out on the patio we had a interesting conversation with an American Spirit Tobacco Sales Rep about quitting smoking campaigns. We did move in from the patio to hear The Pains of Being Pure at Heart who I liked more than I thought I would.
At this point we didn't have to roam far to find a taxi who, upon Danielle's direction, took us to a Taco Bell where we dismounted the cab and walked through the drive-through. I didn't think they'd serve us since every drive through now has a sign saying "must be in motorized vehicle" but Danielle persuaded the woman to take our order for tacos and nachos. I wonder how often Taco Bell employees get tipped. The walk that Danielle swore was only a mile was probably a couple of miles and we both launched into bed post haste.
Upon wrapping up there, I plunged into the underground world of The Doug Fir for Lost Lander. I'm a big fan. They have a great sound, which at some points was a tiny bit like Cold War Kids, at other points was more like a band who I like and whose name is completely eluding me right now. They are coming to Seattle Sunday!
After the Lost Lander show, I emerged blinking into the sun and happily strolled to the patio for a Flat Tire Sunshine beer. Very appropriate for the day. I stayed around to catch the Black Mountain show. Again, it was a band I'd never heard of. In every way they were a great Zepplin cover band, except that it was original music. The female singer looked like she was the daughter of the male lead, appearing maybe 18. She presented a totally unaffected demeanor at all times. There was never a smile or a scream. She was either high or bored. Musically, they sounded like Zepplin from the choices of chords, to the feedback and reverb. I was left thinking "why wouldn't I just listen to Zepplin?"
Danielle met me at the outdoor stage at Pioneer Courthouse Square for two shows, but I got there first and saw Gardens & Villa. I wasn't paying a lot of attention at this point as I was people watching and making hipster notes. They seemed benign though not totally uninteresting. The crowd was about the same and both Gardens and Menomena suffered from an apathetic crowd and lots of synthesizers too early in the day. Danielle came in part was through the Menomena show. Again, I believe they are local. The area was starting to fill and they put on a good show but were hampered by the stage orientation which had them facing straight into the sun. The last show at Pioneer was Beirut which required an additional ticket (included in our ticket fee). I feel like I need to listen to them again while not surrounded by and irritated by hipsters. They look like what happens when band nerds get older but don't grow up. I liked the use of tuba, trombone (both played by a guy who also played keyboard), trumpet (played by a guy that reminds me of ten Spaniards I've met) and even accordion. There was a feeling of trying to do too much on stage by having six members who all changed instruments and stage position. They were clearly a crowd favorite as the area had filled and folks were pushed up towards the stage.
Danielle and I left before the end to make our way over to the Star Theater. The Star was a nice venue. Small inside with a long skinny set up with a stage at one end, but a big patio outside with two bars. It was busy but not overly packed. We had dealings with a waitress who was vacant. It's strange to run in to someone who is really honestly dumb as rocks. She had trouble reciting the beers on tap to us even while using her cheat sheet. A couple more beers here while not paying much attention to Moon Duo (other than to notice the guy in it looked like an appropriately aged and heavily bearded Manson), or Daughn Gibson. Out on the patio we had a interesting conversation with an American Spirit Tobacco Sales Rep about quitting smoking campaigns. We did move in from the patio to hear The Pains of Being Pure at Heart who I liked more than I thought I would.
At this point we didn't have to roam far to find a taxi who, upon Danielle's direction, took us to a Taco Bell where we dismounted the cab and walked through the drive-through. I didn't think they'd serve us since every drive through now has a sign saying "must be in motorized vehicle" but Danielle persuaded the woman to take our order for tacos and nachos. I wonder how often Taco Bell employees get tipped. The walk that Danielle swore was only a mile was probably a couple of miles and we both launched into bed post haste.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
MusicFestNW
I had good timing for my Portland trip and I didn't even choose it. The company I interviewed with chose the date and time to meet me. It just so happened that it was the same time as MusicFestNW, an eleven year old, four day music festival in Portland. Wooooo! Instead of driving down, interviewing and driving back, I stayed two nights and suffered through two days. Danielle (from previous Bumbershoot blog) was gracious enough to host me and we made plans to do MFNW together on Friday.
I was left to my own devices on Thursday. At about 6pm I walked with Brittany (Danielle's sister) to a great local pub in an area PDX seems to be trying hard to regentrify. The place was beautiful, the jalapeno poppers homemade and fantastic, the local beers different and interesting. From there I headed to McMenamins Crystal Ballroom to pick up our wristbands, then I stayed for two shows. Fort Lean replaced The Hundred in the Hands. I'd never heard of them and apparently they are a local to PDX band. They had a great sound, very up beat and a blend of good song writing with head bopping beats. It took a while to figure out who they were, as MFNW wasn't good about posting changes like Bumbershoot. McMenamin's owns several locations in Washington and probably a dozen in Oregon. The Ballroom was a pretty good venue; the acoustics were good, it was on the third floor and had a nice bouncy floor for when we jumped around. There was a sectioned off bar on the audience floor and they had canisters of water out which was necessary considering it was about a million degrees by the time the second show let out.
The second show was Passion Pit. I'd missed their show the week before at Bumbershoot and was happy to catch them at the Crystal Ballroom. They had performed for MFNW at the Crystal the night before. They didn't let the second show slide but put on an energetic, crowd roaring performance. The audience was keyed up, singing along and jumping/dancing along. I only know who or three of their songs but thoroughly enjoyed the show. Both Fort Lean and Passion Pit had something that a few of the Bumbershoot shows were missing - great music engineers. The vocals were lost to overly reverbed guitars and thumping bass beats. The light show for PP kept the audience as rapt as their electronic feats.
Since this got much longer than I intended, I'll break Thursday's and Friday's reviews into two blog posts. Friday is even longer. Apparently, I like talking about music. Who knew? (wink, wink)
I was left to my own devices on Thursday. At about 6pm I walked with Brittany (Danielle's sister) to a great local pub in an area PDX seems to be trying hard to regentrify. The place was beautiful, the jalapeno poppers homemade and fantastic, the local beers different and interesting. From there I headed to McMenamins Crystal Ballroom to pick up our wristbands, then I stayed for two shows. Fort Lean replaced The Hundred in the Hands. I'd never heard of them and apparently they are a local to PDX band. They had a great sound, very up beat and a blend of good song writing with head bopping beats. It took a while to figure out who they were, as MFNW wasn't good about posting changes like Bumbershoot. McMenamin's owns several locations in Washington and probably a dozen in Oregon. The Ballroom was a pretty good venue; the acoustics were good, it was on the third floor and had a nice bouncy floor for when we jumped around. There was a sectioned off bar on the audience floor and they had canisters of water out which was necessary considering it was about a million degrees by the time the second show let out.
The second show was Passion Pit. I'd missed their show the week before at Bumbershoot and was happy to catch them at the Crystal Ballroom. They had performed for MFNW at the Crystal the night before. They didn't let the second show slide but put on an energetic, crowd roaring performance. The audience was keyed up, singing along and jumping/dancing along. I only know who or three of their songs but thoroughly enjoyed the show. Both Fort Lean and Passion Pit had something that a few of the Bumbershoot shows were missing - great music engineers. The vocals were lost to overly reverbed guitars and thumping bass beats. The light show for PP kept the audience as rapt as their electronic feats.
Since this got much longer than I intended, I'll break Thursday's and Friday's reviews into two blog posts. Friday is even longer. Apparently, I like talking about music. Who knew? (wink, wink)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Jaunt to PDX
After Bumbershoot ended on Monday, I had a couple days to recover and then on Thursday I headed south to Portland for an interview. In someways, Portland is similar to Seattle. Many people say it's like the little brother - Still trying to decide what it wants to be, spending a lot of time drinking and lounging around. It definitely doesn't have a big commercial centers like Seattle does in downtown and on the eastside with Microsoft, Nintendo and the like.
The interview went well but it's still in process to see if I'm going to make the move and take a job there. There is lots of potential, both in the position and with the company which is young and growing. It would be a bump in responsibility and title (hopefully with a commensurate bump in pay) but it would mean moving to Portland and after just two days there, I'm not sure that's a pill I can swallow. More study is needed.
Revelations from the road:
The speeds for traffic leaving Portland were faster than the speeds when I was headed in to Portland. You may see why over the next couple posts.
On my way back to Seattle, I saw two houses, a jet plane minus the wings, three hydroplanes, cars with bikes, surfboards and kayaks on top, and two cars changing flat tires. Impressive for just 170 miles.
As much as gas is at home ($3.85 when I filled up to go) it was much more on the road. I paid $4.15 half way home from Portland. Ugh.
I think Washington was made for nerds and geeks before we even knew there'd be so many gamers here. There are towns like Ryderwood and Vader.
Between that trip and then one out to Ravensdale I put 400 miles on the car in four days. And we both survived.
Expect tomorrow's blog to be my review of shows I saw at MusicfestNW. I am intentionally putting off my hipster blog because it's going to be long and painful.
The interview went well but it's still in process to see if I'm going to make the move and take a job there. There is lots of potential, both in the position and with the company which is young and growing. It would be a bump in responsibility and title (hopefully with a commensurate bump in pay) but it would mean moving to Portland and after just two days there, I'm not sure that's a pill I can swallow. More study is needed.
Revelations from the road:
The speeds for traffic leaving Portland were faster than the speeds when I was headed in to Portland. You may see why over the next couple posts.
On my way back to Seattle, I saw two houses, a jet plane minus the wings, three hydroplanes, cars with bikes, surfboards and kayaks on top, and two cars changing flat tires. Impressive for just 170 miles.
As much as gas is at home ($3.85 when I filled up to go) it was much more on the road. I paid $4.15 half way home from Portland. Ugh.
I think Washington was made for nerds and geeks before we even knew there'd be so many gamers here. There are towns like Ryderwood and Vader.
Between that trip and then one out to Ravensdale I put 400 miles on the car in four days. And we both survived.
Expect tomorrow's blog to be my review of shows I saw at MusicfestNW. I am intentionally putting off my hipster blog because it's going to be long and painful.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Da da daaaaa. . . . Unemployed!
It's official, I'm unemployed.
I just filed for unemployment benefits for the first time EVER. As a contractor, I knew my contract was finite. The end came slightly more abruptly and in a less courteous manner than I'd have hoped for, but I knew it was coming. The nice thing about being a contractor is that you do know it's going to end. When I was let go/downsized from a job before it was a surprise and upsetting. This time it was a good thing. Being without a paycheck isn't a good thing but getting a final answer was. VMC was being mysterious about what they were going to do with me (end my contract, move me to another department) and that made me more anxious than having a decision.
I'm working with several contracting firms and recruiters. I'm applying to everything in the field and can interview any time. It looks like there will be several projects starting in October and I should be well placed to take a position on one of them. Lots of options too: local, travel, longer term, very short term. Hmmmm, what will be next on my agenda?
I am in that old catch 22. I wanted to travel but didn't have any time to do so with work and no vacation days. Now I have the time but since I don't know when the next paycheck will come in, I shouldn't spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on a trip just yet. When I lock in a new job, then maybe. Although, Portland and California are so close they don't really count as travel, right?
With that, I'm off to a phone interview. Fingers crossed!
I just filed for unemployment benefits for the first time EVER. As a contractor, I knew my contract was finite. The end came slightly more abruptly and in a less courteous manner than I'd have hoped for, but I knew it was coming. The nice thing about being a contractor is that you do know it's going to end. When I was let go/downsized from a job before it was a surprise and upsetting. This time it was a good thing. Being without a paycheck isn't a good thing but getting a final answer was. VMC was being mysterious about what they were going to do with me (end my contract, move me to another department) and that made me more anxious than having a decision.
I'm working with several contracting firms and recruiters. I'm applying to everything in the field and can interview any time. It looks like there will be several projects starting in October and I should be well placed to take a position on one of them. Lots of options too: local, travel, longer term, very short term. Hmmmm, what will be next on my agenda?
I am in that old catch 22. I wanted to travel but didn't have any time to do so with work and no vacation days. Now I have the time but since I don't know when the next paycheck will come in, I shouldn't spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on a trip just yet. When I lock in a new job, then maybe. Although, Portland and California are so close they don't really count as travel, right?
With that, I'm off to a phone interview. Fingers crossed!
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