In Boise, one is either a Seattle or Portland person, and I had figured myself the former. I've been to Seattle many many times, and have become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of its streets, its neighborhoods, its scary parts, and its shopping. I am both comfortable and bored with Seattle. It's a great city, but almost too big and a little on the sterile (though not clean) side.

Portland, oh Portland. I had taken you for an upgraded Boise. The last time I was there, you were dingy, slightly smelly, and full of wannabe grungers in flannel and Chucks, all ready to rock, though lacking any talent. The grungers were Portland herself, and I couldn't wait to never come back.

Through the miracle of a little-known Boston Band coming out West, I was forced into the open arms of Portland once again. I was looking forward to seeing her friendlier inhabitants once again, but my intentions were virginal, and the city nonwithstanding, my thoughts were only of her dirty past.

Portland, I must say that I'm smitten. Though you totally tried to blow us over the Hawthorne bridge on Friday, and freeze us on Saturday, we persevered, and Sunday you were as sweet as warm pecan pie. You are clean, Portland! Even in your outlying boroughs, you were scrubbed, nary a gum wrapper soiled your gutters. Your inhabitants have changed - from the grungers of yesterday to the oh so cooler-than-thou hipsters, you are filled with college students who now shower and dress in gold lamé, which, as everyone knows, is totally for the irony of gold lamé.

Your parks and bookstores are gigantic, filled with everything a girl could want - my legs and arms are sore from the scenic hike and stack of hardbacks purchased at incredible rates. And for geeking? Powell's Technical bookstore made my head dizzy with knowledge and want.

And the little touches - Mississippi Studios, The Basement bar, The Jolly Roger, Ladd's, and the Horse place (Horse Brass? Horseshoe? Horsehead?) all let us imbibe to the fullest extent... with possibly (probably. definitely.) too many adult beverages.

Thank you, Portland, for being so good to us. The stories of the JBE show, the buyfest, and the nights out are forthcoming, as are photos (expected load: tonight). I have to say that my NW city of preference has changed. And it's all for the better.

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The anticipation of travel is the best part. I find that once I reach my destination, the time there is magical, of course, but the lead up is breathtaking. Every time I have a trip planned, I keep telling myself to enjoy the time before and during the trip as much as possible, because it's going to be over before I know it, and it turns into just a memory the instant I land back in Boise. That's when the depression and heavy drinking start.

Just kidding.

My friend Laura and I are leaving for Portland tomorrow, returning on Monday. One of my favorite indie bands, Jim's Big Ego, has finally come to the West coast to play some shows. Since they're not coming to Boise, we have to go out to them, and while we're there, spend some quality time with friends who have been too far away for too long.

I should come back with many many photos, as I haven't been to Portland in years, and I'm sure that many things have changed. I am looking forward to proper public transportation (Boise, get a clue!) and living it up closer-to-the-west-coast-style.

Until next week...

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Erm... I think this is my very first meme. I'm not cool enough to be tagged. But because my friend zach is all chummy and licking Sara Pink's shoes and all that, he got his through her, and sent it on to me.

Also, wow. I have posted more this week than in the last 6 months. I am so better than you.

The rules: list seven songs you are into right now, no matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to. (via knit, purls & curls)

1. Tripping
Robbie Williams
Intensive Care
Badass song, even better video.

2. To All The Dreamers
Soul'd Out
Yakitate! Japan EP
I heart heart heart this song. Japanese rap? Yes. With eng(r/l)ish? Yes. Awesomeliciousness? Totally. I turn this up sooo loudly in my car.

3. Onna no Ko Otoko no Ko
Yuko Ogura
School Rumble EP
J-pop at its finest. Fun, bubbly, singing about boys and how they're stupid. Rokken.

4. Room Without a Window
Operation Ivy
OPIV EP
1990 ska, represent. An oldie but goodie.

5. King Without a Crown
Matisyahu
Live At Stubb's
This is such a kickass album, everyone should own it, even if you're not zionist or jewish.

6. The Mariner's Revenge
The Decemberists
Picaresque
On repeat while cleaning the kitchen - there's nothing better. Use only in the kitchen, though. Do not attempt to play while dusting or other cleaning. That requires different music (Tool, but I'm not going to get into that now).

7. Kissing The Lipless
The Shins
Chutes Too Narrow
I think this will possibly be on my main rotation for the rest of my life, as it's been in there for 2 years or so now. Short, perfect, Shins.

As for the passing on part, zach and ms. pink pretty much monopolized on our shared friends. Therefore, I tag Queen Alisha, Northend Nique, Styro, and LAURA, who hasn't blogged since November, slacker. I know that's not 7, but there's no hope for me. Also, since I don't think any of the aforementioned peope will actually complete this "meme" (since I don't think they actually read my blog), and if you haven't been tagged by this blog chain-mail thing and want to it, consider this an open invitation to do so per my request. Just input a comment down there, and I'll edit this so it includes your name. Onwards, populaire blogophillies.

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Making me puke some:

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the West’s publication of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons was an Israeli conspiracy motivated by anger over the victory of the militant Hamas group in the Palestinian elections last month. “The West condemns any denial of the Jewish holocaust, but it permits the insult of Islamic sanctities,” Khamenei said.

I mean, is there any non-muslim person out there that really thinks that all of this fighting and killing and throwing things isn't going more than a bit overboard? And of course it's an Israeli conspiracy - they totally told the Danish newspapers to run the caricatures to piss off Hamas and the neo-palestinians. So there. And yeah, "the West" condemns denial of the holocaust (because it happened, people), and yes, it allows insults of Islamic and all other religious sanctities. Many christian beliefs (as well as Judaism) don't allow illustrations of G-d (and Jesus, see: christianity), but no one goes apeshit when there are cartoons specifically doing so. These things are drawn all of the time. I just don't understand.

And I love that on MSNBC, there is a link to the cartoons that states, "View the cartoons that started it all. Warning: Contents may be offensive"... but the cartoons are so small, one cannot read the inscriptions, nor figure out what many of the drawings are. Yeah, it'd be in Danish (depending on which newspaper was scanned), but still. If you're looking for something you can actually read and/or understand, just google it.

I really enjoy Aussie Dave's posts on this issue, especially this one. He just happens to be the one who got me to listen to "The Transformed Man" by William Shatner, which is currently being pumped into my ears. Hearts.

Sigh.

This is what I'll be missing out on tonight due to being really really sick. I'm glad, however, that I finally got our wireless router set up and that I can do things like post on the blog from the safety and warmth of my own bed.

Church
by Keith Croner

Not unlike the weeks before
24 Fridays in a row
Members old are back in town
Attendees’ ebb and flow

This is my congregation
The New Testament and the Old
In alcoholic communion
My friends, my flock, my fold

A supper table without bread
Not the first, far from the last
We give not our bodies
Just dilute our blood
Recite teachings from the past

We talk, we laugh, go through the motions
Verse, Chorus, Verse
Habitual ritual practiced
Regardless of our thirst

This campfire of camaraderie
Warms my weary soul
But I wish I had more to share, to say,
My life has taking a toll

Tonight more so than oft
I’m awkward, stiff and stuck up
Is sobriety
Playing tricks on me
I guzzle to catch up

Yet connection is elusive
I’m faining faith in stealth
Is it that I’m too sober?
Or lacking something else?

I’m damaged goods
But aren’t we all?
Martyrs in this mire
Nailed on crosses that we chose
Preaching to the choir

Drinking is the practice
In friendship place our faith
Bonding is our form of prayer
Support our saving grace

Minna, have fun without me, and pray that my nose is less sore from the blowing tomorrow, and that I'll eventually be able to breathe without coughing! xox

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This article made my blood boil. Normally I don't get into politics on here at all, but suffice to say, I am vehemently pro-Israel. No matter how left one may be, to side with terrorists, which they are, no matter how many times they say they aren't, is a big farking mistake. Hamas, people, is a terrorist organization. If Osama bin Laden had sent that letter in, would it have been treated to such dignity? I think not. Whenever something like that is sent in from a terrorist, there are so-called "specialists" called in to verify and negotiate and create a hullabaloo. This letter was printed in Newsweek, not the daily newspaper or ran via video stream from MSNBC, but Newsweek. A magazine placed in doctors' offices and lobbies everywhere, within easy reach of children and soccer moms. The most frustrating thing about the article is the fact that the little voting bar on the side ("Should Israel negotiate with a Hamas-led government?") is not working for me, so I can't sit here and register the "NO! NO! NO!" going off in my head.

Possibly more later when I calm down a bit. Stay tuned...

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