Something Is Missing At Mount Bachelor

Snow. Check.  Chairlifts. Check. Base lodge. Check. What's missing here? Holy shit, where are all the condos? How did the developers miss this gorgeous swath of nature in their quest to pave paradise. Mount Bachelor is like the 8th largest ski area in the US and there isn't one single, itsy-bitsy house on it anywhere. Now that I think about it, the last house I saw was 20 miles down the hill in Bend.  Maybe that's what's so nice about skiing here. You actually feel like you're visiting nature instead of some new development outside of Simi Valley. Excuse the pun but it's really a breath of fresh air to look around while you're skiing and see nothing but endless vistas of trees and mountains.  And not have to worry that if you hit some ice and ski off the trail you might end up in Paula Abdul's bidet. I give Mount Bachelor 5 scimitars.

5 Days And No Movie Deal Yet

This is unbelievable.  I have poured my heart into this blog for almost a week now, exploring and charting hitherto untouched parts of my soul and not a single, lousy phone call from one studio executive or star who wants to turn my blog into their 'Slumdog Millionaire', Oscar-winning future.  All my life I've heard that if you are willing to work hard and dedicate your life, or a least a week of it, to your dream than nothing can get in the way of making it happen. Now here I sit day after day by the phone waiting for Geffen, Spielberg or Lucas to do their part and, frankly, they could give a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist. Well I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out.  

Bought A Wheelbarrow. Moved Some Rocks.

That's it.  Some days just don't generate much in the way of news.

When It Absolutely, Positively Has To Be There..Eventually

So today we got a call from the Fed Ex guy while we were in town having breakfast.  Apparently he was running late and didn't think he could get out to our house and finish his route so he called to find out where we were so he could deliver our package to us there instead. I'm not sure if this is really great service or really shitty service.  Anyone?

A Truckload of Gravel

Recently Melanie and I were invited by our neighbors to attend a concert to benefit Sisters High School. It was a great evening with Michael McDonald from the Doobie Brothers performing in the high school's incredible auditorium.  (Nicer than most venues I've been in anywhere.) My favorite, and the most telling part of the evening, though, was when they announced the auction prizes we could bid on.  Prize #1. Three nights at the gorgeous Salishan Resort on the coast with all meals at their award winning gourmet restaurant, two rounds of golf and spa treatments. Polite applause.  Prize #2.  A handmade acoustic Breedlove guitar crafted of the finest wood, inlaid with mother of pearl, finished in gold plate and autographed by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald.  Mild applause.  Prize #3. A truckload of gravel delivered anywhere in Central Oregon. Wild unrestrained applause, screams of ecstasy, small children crushed in the stampede for the door. 

Jesus Gets Better Internet

In Sisters we have a choice of two coffee houses,. They are on either side of town and on either side of the political spectrum. Angelines is our liberal choice and features lesbians and lots of colorful art on the walls.  The Sisters Coffee House is our conservative choice and features religious reading materials and lots of dead animals on the walls. Normally the choice would be easy for me except for one thing.  Jesus gets better internet.  Way better.  So, for the few weeks until we got hooked up at home, we hid our Obama buttons and pretended that Sarah Palin was a breath of fresh air. 

Eat, Sleep and Drink in Portland.

If you find yourself in Portland and you don't want to spend a fortune on your hotel check out the Ace, a great little place right in the heart of town.  I'll start with the only negative and get it out of the way.  It's really noisy so make sure you get an inside room or you'll be down at the desk at 3AM begging for ear plugs. (they had them). Rooms were only $110 mid week and they're small but well equipped and perfectly adequate. The best part of the hotel is the common areas.  One on the second floor which is ideal for working or just napping. Be sure to open the drawers in the large chest and read the notes guests have been stuffing in there for years.

The other common area is in the lobby where there's a huge couch that seems to attract interesting, friendly people at all hours.  On one side of the lobby is Stumptown Coffee. Great coffee.  On the other side is the restaurant Clyde Common. Great food. We ate there both nights it was so good.  Seating is at huge tables and the flank steak is a religious experience. Sometimes, when you travel, it's better to go a little downscale.  The people are usually friendlier and the experience a little more interesting. Such was the case at the Ace.