You Don't Even Knooow-oh....

Last night, Jersey's best pop engine graced us with their presence here in Portland. The Ergs! Old friends and a dynamic band. I had a great time. After getting a teaser up in Seattle, I was really looking forward to a full set. After much annoyance, I managed to get them to play "If You Don't" and a cover of Black Flag's "Jealous Again". A lot of friends showed up, even briefly meeting Mr. Brandon Tussey. Weird! Regardless, much beer was imbibed, much rock was going on.
Also rocking my face was the great Hunchback! Whoa, so great. Kind of a Mummies feel, these guys and gal brought it. Super fun and energetic. To add to the awesome file was finally meeting Ken, owner/operator of the great Dirtnap Records. He was super nice. I need to stop by his record shop sometime and chat him up some more.
After the show we headed up to Voodoo Doughnut, the premier donut place on the face of the planet. I got the largest donut my eyes have ever witnessed; some sort of fritter with chocolate and peanut butter topping with chocolate chips! I'm trying to watch my weight and eating (and drinking) habits, but I couldn't resist. Shit was off the chain.

Things are coming together for Nathan's arrival. He'll be here Wednesday night and we have a car reserved for Thursday and Friday. Not just any car though, we'll be driving, ahem, a CHEVY COBALT. Line up ladies... that fucker seats four. Look for the 2 hottt dudes looking pimp in our COBY.
I'm not quite sure what exactly we'll be doing other than going to Eugene for an afternoon and maybe the coast (I'll also be using the Coby to pick up some groceries and maybe a coffee table). Of course there's the bars. I plan to take him to a McMenamin's joint or two and probably the Rogue Brew House (maybe the Widmer's Brewery tour?). But man cannot survive on bars alone. Zach's Hot Dogs are probably in order also (veggie la bamba, what what?). So it'll be a lot of eating and drinking, what a vacation for Nathan! You can't do that in Columbia.

Speaking of Columbia, I got the Flat Branch newsletter today and apparently the owners are opening a Mongolian Grill? At first, this was slightly exciting and very intriguing. A local microbrewery opening a local Mongolian grill? Turns out it's a chain called HuHot Mongolian Grill. A slight let down thinking it was going to be local all the way, but I guess it will do well? Apparently it's going to be out south of town, near Buttonwood. We shall see, maybe I'll go out there when I'm back in town. Speaking of back in town, December is definite, I'm buying plane tickets soon! Just two weeks, but I plan to be in Columbia as long as possible before I go back to school.

This is exciting. As much as I love it here, I do fight off some home sickness. Everyone always says "I bet you are glad to be out of Columbia, huh?" Well... yes and no. I love Columbia very much, but I felt I needed to get away for a while. Will I move back? Well, I don't know, it's definitely not out of the question. I'm beginning to feel more at home here everyday. Any time I correctly guess a bus stop time or when I actually give people driving directions or bus information, I feel more like a Portlander. However, I do, sometimes come to a realization that I LIVE HERE. It's very strange and sometimes is completely frightening. And it does get really lonely. I feel like no one really knows me here, which is more than a feeling, it's a fact. But that's okay... this is an experience. The whole scheme of this was I was sick of complacency and need to get out a rut I had dug for myself far too deeply in Columbia. A tired routine and soulless endeavor. I needed something new and fresh, but this comes with sacrifices. I miss my friends and I miss my family. I miss a lot of people and a lot of things.

Blah blah blah wah wah wah.

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