bicycle mania!

yesterday i was motivated. yesterday i woke up and realized today was the day i was going to get a job...or at least an interview. first things first, i needed a coffee shop and chai and free wireless. so, i jumped of my trusty ol' trek and headed to urban grind. portland has tons of coffee shops and everyone seems to have a different opinion about which has the best coffee/space/atmosphere/music...it goes on and on. i have got to say urban grind is the best place to be productive. i rewrote resumes, wrote cover letters, and learned more about portland. not to mention the fact that one of my housemates gave me a free chai just for being me. living in a house with 11 other people has it's benefits. another example: the only interview i've been offered was at a travel agency my housemate, duncan, works at. i am as hooked up as possible. it's amazing.

next, i was off to the library, where i experience my first time being mistaken for a boy. she was old and very friendly. it's okay. i filled out a volunteer application, printed all my job papers, and headed out. next, stumptown coffee, renowned for the best coffee in town. maybe when i have money i will test out that hypothesis...

next, OMSI. i am basically i walking billboard for how fun science can really be. if they don't hire me, i don't know who they will hire. i've met few other folks that are giddy about why the sky is blue, or the ocean for that matter.

next, kinko's and my first bike ride into downtown. i was super confident on the bridge over, imagining i would be a pro. but, let me to you, one way streets that are three lanes wide and bustling with cars are freaking scary. luckily it's portland, so everyone was very nice and left me a giant cushion between their bumpers and me. there were times though when i would discover that i was the only person in a lane and realize that it's because it's a bus only lane...i was swerving like a mad woman from lane to lane...sometimes i signaled, sometimes i was as surprised as the driver behind me that i was turning at the next signal. it was super nuts, but i am still in one piece, so i am sure i will hit the city streets again soon.

next, lint, not your typical yarn store and my dream job. i was trying not to drool on my resume and cover letter while waiting to hand it in to one of the employees. there were cubbies upon cubbies covering the place full of amazing yarn in colors so crazy i've never seen them grace the selves of other yarn barns. the projects on the walls were a kick. i'll pee my pants if i get an interview there.

next, across a bridge...i wasn't sure which bridge at the time...i was very very lost. at this point i was high on job opportunities and so ambitious that i headed up to northeast. halfway i realized what a giant endeavor i was embarking upon and began to ache and reflect upon the crazy amount of riding and thinking and scheduling i'd completed, and realize that nothing may come of it. few of these people are going to call back, let alone hire me...safe to say i slowly spiraled into a less than cheery place. next thing i know i glance up at the street sign and discover that i am just driving across Schuyler St. no one spells skyler like that expect when they are lebn and it's his last name. the downward spiral became a raging tornado of bad. next street sign glance is Failing Street...great. thanks portland, why don't you fucking poop on me some more.

finally i hit alberta and i'm stoked to see the cutest knitting shop in town. i walk up, grab the handle, and tug on a door that belongs to a very locked business. shit! it's closed. i am wicked surprised because i am imagining it's about 4:30. i check my phone and it's 5:59. yikes! off to sara lozito and lauren's for amazing food. i am pretty down, and not jazzed about the ride back...my shoulders are killing me from lugging my shoulder bag around and i just wasted a few hours 'exercising', rather than transportation. i started thinking about how tough you have to be in the city. you got to be in it for you and yourself alone. i was thicken my skin with each pedal push i completed.

THEN! the GREATEST THING EVER HAPPENED. i was heading down a block when i spotted an old, gangly, homeless dude on the corner. i don't really give him any attention until i see his arms spread open and he starts staring at me intently with puppy dog eyes. i start thinking...what the fuck is going to come of this incredible situation. is he going to say something? at which point he exclaims in a raspy desperate voice, "i can't take this anymore! I LOVE YOU." beyond my wildest dreams. i yelled back "THANK YOU," for no other reason than him lifting my spirits. the giggling went on for blocks upon blocks. what a silly absurd town. i adore this city.

in conclusion, at the end of the day i was pooped from how many tons of miles i'd ridden on my bike that day. but, i discovered that riding your bike in this city is rad, and i am no longer intimidated by bridges, city streets, or schuyler street.

hooray for bicycles!