General Observations of a Week in the Pacific Northwest

Two posts today – one is general observations of my trip, the other is traveling in general.
General observations: in Oregon, you don’t pump your own gas. Seriously. The little guy comes out, gets your credit card/cash and pumps it for you. Apparently illegal to pump your own gas there – and let me tell you, I could not get used to it. I figured I’d cause an incident so I just waited until returning to WA to refill the tank. The Teacher wouldn’t stop for gas at Costco (closed on Memorial Day) and then when we arrived at the next station, she just sat there. I was like, WTF is going on? I certainly spend no extra moment of MY life at a gas station and here she was relaxing in the seat like we were at a spa. Guy comes up, takes the card and pumps the gas. Meanwhile, another guy cleans the windows. Bizarro.

Oregon and Washington are two incredibly beautiful states that I need to return to in the near future. I was able to see some highlights but nothing like what I would see if I had more time.

Although 15 years had passed since laying eyes on the Teacher, it was as if we had seen each other the week before. She and I have maintained our friendship through letters, emails and a very rare phone call – and yet we were right back there with it, hanging together as if no time had passed at all. Her husband, SOC (for Short-Order Chef), made a mean breakfast each day I was there and apparently does this each morning. Is this heaven? No, this is life at my friend the Teacher’s house. Nice. Jealous, yes I am.

My liver and my heart may need transplants thanks to this trip. I ate and drank to my heart’s content and now I think I had better make appointments with the doctor and the gym immediately. Regrets – none.

The Oregon coast is more beautiful than I had imagined, and I had imagined paradise. Awesome.

Sherwin-Williams received all their “green” inspiration from WA and OR. Literally, a million shades of green there, in various shades from super light to super dark. I was and am astounded by all the variations in green there can be in nature.

The Washington leg of the trip was just as awesome, with a trip to the Mariners’ game and downtown Seattle, to a really strange trip to Woodinville for winery tastings (in a warehouse district – near auto body shops (WTF)) and just relaxing at home with a movie (Dear John – a boo hoo’er if there ever was one).

Also on the trip, I met a very attractive guy. I won’t out him here, he knows who he is – and meeting him was a highlight. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly alive. If for nothing else, thank you, you sexy fucker you.  Amen.