Dear Portland,

This is how it’s done.

Your friend,

Vancouver, BC

Yesterday morning I went for a long walk from where I’m staying, through downtown and back.

If you’re interested, you can click this link and you will see a map of the walk. Wondered why I was so wiped out come the end of the day. Well, because it was a long freakin’ way, that’s why!

On my way, I noticed something amazing. If you look at this photo, you will see a tiny red dot in the middle of your screen, in that middle lane, all alone. It’s a cyclist. In a dedicated, protected-by-a-concrete-median bike lane across one of the major water crossings to get to and from downtown Vancouver. Mayor Sam, I think we have some things we could learn about bike-friendly from Vancouver.

PS if you click the image above, you will get to my photostream on Flickr, where there are a bunch more photos from my trip.

Here is exhibit A regarding why I have this obsession:

This is Mount Hood reflected in Trillium Lake.

My Mom and Dad were here all the way from Mendham NJ, my hometown, so of course I had to take them on the “Mt Hood Loop” that I blogged about here. This time though, in deference to their delicate constitutions (ahem), I left the motorcycle at home. Not to mention the fact that riding three up would be awkward to say the least.

We drove up to Timberline Lodge, which is apparently Chipmunk Heaven:

There were thousands of these little guys running around.

Also amusing is that there is snow in September up on Mount Hood:

I guess these guys gotta keep the ol’ cat tracks mobile even in the summer. Kinda fun, that.

And here are Mom and Dad, drinking in the view. It is very tranquil at this location. Fabulous.

I took a nice photo of them actually facing the camera…with Mom’s camera. Maybe if I’m really nice she’ll send it to me and I can post it here.

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago. My friend Bruno (in snowy Michigan…wait…is it still snowing there? I can’t remember) sent me a package. Two years ago, Dan Worley and I had the pleasure of recording Bruno’s band, Collateral Damage at the Good Noise Studio. After much (much!) pestering, I persuaded him (finally) to send me the latest iteration of the record so I could have a listen. A couple weeks ago, I get a box (not an envelope, a box) with the “in process” CD enclosed. With packing peanuts. And, a small slip of paper.

This requires a little explanation. You see, a couple years ago, I started running live sound at this dive bar in Ypsilanti Michigan called TC’s Speakeasy. And there was this guy, a real hard case, who went by (like Madonna, and Prince, and…) Only One Name, the name of Bruno. And there was this one time, when I had (maybe) had a little to drink, and was in conversation with Bruno near the bar. Emphasizing my point (whatever it was), I went and poked the guy’s chest.

[Freeze]

Collective intake of breath. Beer, whiskey, wine, midway to lips: stop. Eyes turn toward us. Eyes turn away…what’s going to happen?

Thank God. [Exhale] Everybody laughs. And…a good joke is born.

Getting this package in the mail (well UPS actually)? Totally made my day. I laughed a long time.

Yes, I shaved my Van Dyke. Yes, I am letting my hair grow. Just don’t call me a hippie.