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Pennies as dots to look more like stars.  

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Yep, keep Portland weird.  We know “Dammit” better than most

Sleepless in Portland

It’s been several weeks since we left Portland but I have to let everyone in on a secret: I miss the hell out of that strange, wonderful land. Now, I can picture my sister screaming at her screen, “Yeah, ‘cause you’re so GODDAMN WEIRD!” I will let you be the judge of that statement but will admit, the freedom to try any look, any food, any opinion is nothing to scoff at.

But, that’s not what I’ve gathered you all around here for today; I want to talk about people of Portland and NOT just how weird they claim to be and are.

In order to give you a foil, let me explain our experience in Seattle. While also a great place that we enjoyed every minute, we made, ummm, around zero friends. I think we talked to our landlords like twice and one time was just to apologize when Dexter peed on the deck and soaked them below. For awhile I thought we were doing something wrong there since we had a huge group of friends we were sad to leave in Denver. I was relieved (horrified?) when a co-worker that used to live in Seattle informed me it’s a phenomenon called “The Seattle Cold-Shoulder” and is a recognized issue that results in low birth rates in the city. I kid you not.

So, I want to bring you back to Portland. My phone is currently full of Portlander’s phone numbers from almost every night we went out to the bar. I’m talking people inviting us to play on their softball teams to others just wanting to grab drinks again.

There are stories created in Portland that still make me giggle to myself. I think about the night I watched the sunrise in someone’s backyard, scolding Dexter to be quiet since the guy’s kids were sleeping while splitting a single beer (he forgot he was almost out). Then I remember meeting a young, religious man who admitted to us that he “went to pray at the church but it was closed so [he] decided to grab a beer instead.” I could go on all night (or all day if you’re reading this in the morning).

Despite having numerous, amazing one-off meetings, some of our best memories come from the residents next door to our place in Portland. Our favorite was “Dammit” Dave. Picture someone who has an uncanny resemblance to the Dos Equis guy who starts or ends every sentence with “dammit”. Yeah, that was our neighbor and he was famous (or infamous) at the local bar, Binks. There were many nights I’d find myself down at Binks listening intently about Dammit’s inventions, his night out at black dance clubs, or even teaching me how to bar fight correctly. To string a couple cliche phrases together: saying our Portland leg of the trip wouldn’t be the same with out Dammit would be an understatement.

It’s wonderful having all these people willing to break the ice, especially for an introvert (self-proclaimed) like myself. Jessica and I were floored with the experiences. The opposite feelings from Seattle began to settle in; we thought we were this interesting, US traveling couple that everyone wanted to meet.

Those illusions were shattered when we met someone not from Portland one night who confided in us how it freaks him out that anyone, EVERYONE will try to talk him. It wasn’t just us, Portlanders just have this insatiable curiosity of others coupled with little fear of striking up a conversation with complete strangers.

Don’t mistake me though, I do remember quite fondly of all the food, artwork, music, craft beer (drool) of Portland and you should definitely visit because of those traits. Just don’t be surprised if you make a friend (or ten) along the way.

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Is this the one, your one, the one we’ve been waiting for?

He’s here.

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Going through my Mother's house the last two weeks, I realized I had forgotten her love/obsession with owls. #Irememberfindthestarlight #findthestarlight

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that I must tell you that this story must wait for now.

For how long I cannot say. I control many things in this world, but time and the will of others are not two of those things.

You have always known this story is not another story. It’s not a story we can approach and take from it what we...

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What a beautiful summary of Chapter One.  Waiting impatiently for Chapter Two to begin.

Chapter One of Find the Starlight is explained here.

Many details have been left out. Many experiences that now belong only to those who were there to see them.

This looking back truly saddens me. 

There are so many things about this door I wish I could close. So many doubts about whether or not it ever should have been opened.

But there is no putting the bomb back in the plane at this point. 

So we had best get moving.

-M

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The Prologue to Find the Starlight is explained in a new way here.

What I have to say is said in images and text. So you may want to enlarge this while watching it.

If you are just joining us, this would be a good place to start before reading the questions some have had.

Chapter One will be explained in much the same way very soon before we move on to Chapter Two.

The wheels are turning once again.

If only turning wheels helped on a dark ocean.

-M

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It has been longer than expected, I know.

But things have changed, I am happy and horrified to say, and they are still changing.

The Orange Key has yet to be delivered to its new owner. Chapter Two has yet to begin. But it won’t be long now.

Schedules are spontaneity’s natural predator, and...

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Chapter Two: Near and Far

Sidebar updated at Find the Starlight on 11/11/14.

Now Chapter One: Spark and Smoke has ended. In this chapter, mysterious boxes were shipped and hidden around the world, and those who were inclined to do so used what was in those boxes to find a rock and open very important door. The details of that search are coming soon.

Now begins Chapter Two: Near and Far.

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I've been having so much fun with this little guy and his brother. I'll miss them so much when they leave. I guess we'll have to go back to France for a visit.

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Freshly plucked from the garden and their fragrance is intoxicating.

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How is it possible to contact F.X. Caldeira if she is dead?

Is she?!

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Big Red Riding Hood.

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Are you my master?

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#photobomb #hoffsome #google+

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Mercury circa 1702

Professor Mercury, how old are you?

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Found this in my saved drafts, I thought it had been posted.

ODE TO A POEM We found the lost boy who hoped for the spring, but a fountain of youth it did not bring. Tymethief was positive it was Ponce de Leon. as it turns out, she wasn't wrong. Then for our maidens that stood in a ring, a hotel ceiling was the thing. The lost girl Discovery we followed her north, to the Library of Congress where dad brought her forth. For four months we sat there looking for a hole and for many a player, this took its toll. One by one the players disappeared, no solution for this line, is what we all feared. Then one day there was a visitor in chat , but it wasn't the guy we know in the hat. Drunkyshirt as cvxn has lovingly called said use the coin, to get us un-stalled. But take her first name when you go remember it follows news you must know. So we lined up the holes to find our new place and once again we were all in the chase. Cornchak deduced Solis was her first name Solis and sun are one in the same. We scoured the KC newspapers of past, but the resource we found was incredibly vast. The 11th breath is what we needed to use a vial of air and a date we did choose. Back to the newspaper archive we ran, only this time, we had a plan. The thing we sought was on page number two for in that story we'd find our next clue. Summerland is where the train took the son submissions were made each hoping they'd won. Soon we would see Cornchak's answer was best the third word he found and submitted was west.