Us Privileged Few in Everyday Ramblings

I’ve walked by this sign a number of times and just assumed it said something about the historic home converted into offices to the left.

The other morning I actually read it.

Ah. A building that actually moved into the neighborhood! I bet the land was super cheap, such a deal. There is a parking structure for Portland State in the spot where it was now. It is a modest brick building with some interesting rod iron detailing obscured by trees towards the top of the tram picture. It is right on one of those busy roads.

Everything changes.

Yesterday was lovely in many ways. It wasn’t hot, which was a nice change but it was relatively clear. Like everywhere else on the West Coast we have some pretty intense fires going on and so the air quality is not great but at least we had a break in the heat.

The day just flew by! It takes a couple of hours to get to the train station and down to Salem and then we got my new Fitbit out of the box (an accomplishment in and of itself! There is actually a how to video on how to get the box open. I kid you not.)

Once we got it all setup (Kes has an older version) we had to take it out for a spin. It has GPS and does all kinds of fun things but most the most exciting thing is that it monitors one’s Heart Rate without a chest strap! Yippee. It is a little bulky and I may not wear it all the time everywhere but oh I do love the metrics.

Kes just drove Most Honorable and his bike up close to Portland and he is riding back to Salem now and I can watch his ride based on his very sophisticated (and pretty expensive Garmin monitor). Kes is now at REI buying the Fitbit below mine, which does not have GPS. The old one she had on yesterday was not recording properly with her Android. The GPS said we went places we did not go.

Toys! We are a bunch of aged geeks.

Kes is bringing the power cable for my iPad Mini that I left there yesterday. I was so concerned about leaving my phone on the charger I just spaced the other power source.

Somebody stole my New York Sunday Times this morning. This happened two weeks ago too. I reported that and my neighbor’s local Sunday paper was taken both times also. This morning I received a most apologetic voice message telling me that the paper had been delivered for sure and they would bring out another one. About an hour later it was inside the building outside my apartment door with my name taped on it in big red letters.

I sure hope it isn’t a neighbor who thinks this is okay. The hot summer weather has brought out a number of rather sketchy characters that live marginally around here. There is one guy that broke into an unused ivy covered structure like a large garage (at least I think he broke in, he may own it, I don’t know and he is creepy enough I am not going to ask him) who collects bottles on a plastic bag covered bicycle that lives in there. Then there are the rebellious pierced arty Goths up the road.

The problem with this is it could be anyone but it messes with a sense of trust and security.

Oh well. We are so incredibly safe and secure here compared to most of the rest of the world, us privileged few…

The refugee situation in the world is very disturbing. I hope we can find the will to change that as a species.

Last updated August 16, 2015