November 08, 2001
An inauspicious start

Location: Portland, OR

So we spent last night in Ashland OR, which was really pretty. Unfortunately it is now just something to be wistful about as we are now in Portland and at a hotel downtown. And I don't think it's such a bad hotel, really, as hotels go. But there's a lot of noise and stuff outside and we changed into a smoking room because at least it has a view, of the Willamette River.

Anyway--in Ashland we had a great little B&B called Peerless Hotel, about 5 blocks from downtown. After a long 6 hour drive up I-5 through California--during which we stopped in Weed, which was really creepy and undead--we got up to Ashland at about 5, just when it was getting dark. We checked in, and the P.H. was very cute--we got an upgrade (complimentary) to a room with a jacuzzi tub, which was quite nice of P.H. The room had very high ceilings in an old, renovated building, and it was way cute.

After checking in we walked downtown into Ashland, finding our way eventually. A lot of the stores were closed and it was very quiet, sort of creepy w/r/t people not being out, even though lots of people were driving. We walked through downtown and saw a lot of slow-walking, laid-back people; then found a Thai restaurant called Thai Pepper. Dinner was great--tiger rolls (crab meat with cream cheese in spring rolls), curry wontons (fried wontons with curried beef inside), coconut chicken soup (very sweet--good) and green coconut curry chicken.

After dinner we walked back to the B&B--it was very dark but the neighborhood was very cute and back-east-like w/ leaves on the ground, changing color, etc. Back at the B&B, we read for a while, then went to bed early. 10:00 is earlier than usual.

Next morning (this morning) we woke up at 8:00 very well rested, and washed our hair, then went to breakfast in the Garden Room in the B&B. Lots of fruits (melons, grapes, pineapple), banana bread, and also a mushroom-cheese omelette and sausages. I'm not big on salt in the morning but I liked the omelette a lot, although I had to alternate it w/ some fruit and orange juice to keep from feeling slimy and salty.

After breakfast we checked out, then drove over to downtown Ashland and walked around. It was beautiful--we went into Lithia Park, into the trees; and there were ducks in a pond, and it was so pretty and crisp. Mena collected leaves that had changed color, and we walked for about an hour. Then went to a stationary store where Mena bought some materials for keeping a scrapbook of mementos.

Then we left Ashland and drove about 4 hours until we got to Salem, where we got into a big fight at Willamette University.

We also got gas at a full-service station. We pulled up and I started to get out and the guy was just like standing there so I thought maybe the credit card swiper didn't work and I had to prepay, but then he said "how much?" and it dawned on us that it was full service. So I said "I'll just pull around to the other one" and he said "all stations are full service in Oregon". Which is weird, and it meant that I didn't wash the windows or use the bathroom because I was thrown off. I wouldn't want to be an Oregonian travelling to CA--you'd look like a real snob, just waiting in the car calling "boy" while waiting for someone to service you. Oh well.

Anyway, after the fight we were off to Portland, and Mena got directions to the hotel, downtown, but then we got there and it was/is a letdown after the lovely Ashland B&B. And we got in a fight because Mena blames me for the hotel and says I have no standards. The fight was basically due to being tired and hungry and worn out. It is smoky and noisy--although not as noisy right now, I admit. And for someone who said she couldn't sleep through all the noise Mena is sleeping now. Although now she just moved slightly, so maybe she picked up on the evil thoughts I am sending her way. :)

Anyway--I think this will turn out okay. We'll see. We have to reserve our Seattle hotel. We thought about changing Portland lodging but lots of B&Bs are all booked up.

We had a good dinner at Alexis, a Greek restaurant on Burnside (big street). I like walking around Portland. The dinner we got was combination appetizer and combination entree so we could have some (or rather lots) of everything. Mena was optimistic about her tolerance for eating cute animals, so we were okay about the meal containing lamb, but then it turned out she wasn't really up to it. No matter. Very good dinner: we both liked the squid and the moussaka a lot.

After dinner we went to Kinko's and spent too long looking at email, MT messages etc. Kind of a pain because it stressed me out about MT but at least I turned off the MT email download confirmations that Mena was receiving tons of.

Then we went back to the hotel, watched some Thursday TV, ER in particular (nuns like Carter) (so does Mena--she just smiles when we comes on the screen. So sad for me.)

That's about it.

P.S. in Salem the fight basically ended when Mena threw water on me. I think maybe she wanted to make me mad, but that act basically ended the fight, cause then she started cleaning up the water in the car, like off of the garage door opener. :)

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