24, 23, 22... days of Summer

Sip on Alberta (especially before waiting in line at Pine State Biscuits)
Allen Temple church on Sundays; getting out at 2pm... fine people; God Bless 'em
amazing & quality food at the food carts
Jazz
old movie theaters with only a few screens each (Laurelhurst, Rose on Sandy...etc.)
Four Door Farm
friends!!! (fun, lovely, deep, and grounded)
Marcos
Garden Fever!
The smell of Jack's rue
local distilleries
pear brandy
peach brandy
Portland Farmers' Market (PSU blocks on Saturday and MLK on Sunday, especially)
Port
Tibbets' sherry (with handfuls of almonds, especially after a particularly enjoyable Thanksgiving celebration)
Telegraph tea, once sold in bulk at the Alberta Co-op
widespread knowledge for the good of maca, chia seeds, and freshly-brewed kombucha
plethora of kombucha mothers
Vic's Hobby Supply on Broadway (Thank God, there are still some genuine independently-owned  and operated hobby stores in a city!)
Vineyard weddings, particularly those that serve His Bakery pies with coconut vegan ice cream after a delicious noshings and dinner rather than wedding cake!!
ample bike rockstar parking (except at the DMV) especially those businesses that make clever adaptations in metal fabrication that are representative of their organizations market
poles for streetsigns with knitted leg warmers
zine sub-culture
printing sub-culture
Immaculate Heart of Mary on N. Williams 11am Sundays and Holy Days of obligation (Deacon so-and-so & his book)... African congregation mostly from Tanzania; they dress colorfully and stand proud
fava beans
47th Avenue Farm (as an intro to CSAs: Community Supported Agriculture)
get around, go smart cars
Howell's wood products (wood games for children)
The Natural Twenties ultimate frisbee team's captain (his cape with the button)
the lighting on a cool August Sunday evening
walkability to co-ops, grocery stores, post offices, and parks... etc.
hibernation-acceptance during winter months! compassion sows healing and abundance
authentic presence
fairy wings on normal days
bike polo
Peninsula Park & pool
cyclocross culture
.... all types of hobbies, athletic events, wholesome activities....

Yayyyy! I love Portland!

26, 25... days of Summer...

(I understand that these can be repetitive; and my caveat/ excuse is that I'm writing with a timer and there are no pause nor any editing; I'm just in a brainstorming mode... and if things come up more than once over the course of these "40 Days of Summer"... then perhaps, that's a sign that I likes 'em a lot!)

The Hood River Fruit Loop
The pinots (the family of grigio, gris, and noir)
Proximity to "wine country"
Rainsong vineyards (family owned righteous place... hope they maintain they're integrity as they grow through this next phase.. bless 'em)
Municipal compost
Municipal recycling
not paying for water if you unplug your downspouts (in vs. out water metered differently)
Albina Community Bank
bulk food options
dried mulberries at People's co-op
egg-laying hens and a respect for the avian flu
honey bee colonies; bee keepers, Livingscape on N. Vancouver and RUHL Bee Supply!! I love Ruhl; one of my most favorite and life-giving "things" of living in Portland has been the Apiary community; truly!
Seasonal, local produce sourced by local food stores (including Whole Foods and New Seasons)
the founding city of the Heritage SOWL Supper Society (tee hee)
high-concentration of BGI-founded businesses and organizations
high-concentration of BGI MBA students, alum, and faculty
BGI!!! (well, that might be cheating, as they're technically up on Bainbridge Island/ Seattle... well, what is "technical" when we're talking "new paradigms?")
soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents (that are "good" for the Willamette (and other nearby watersheds)) sold in bulk
minimal waste
maximal reuse and re/up-cycling
SCRAP
the old printing press in my basement
the ReBuilding Center
abundant manifestations of Permaculture (i.e the use of sunflowers planted around the border of an old house before planting edibles, to take up the lead paint in their stems, and then to dispose of "responsibly" at a lead-facility after they die back in the winter)
spray paint of mario icons in bike ways (mushrooms, power pellets, gold coins etc. so that while you're biking you can pretend to play real-life super mario bros.)
game nights (impromptu and standing)... a Catan contigent, for sure!
Limbo (the Wall of Herbs, god bless 'em; they are not here anymore, and yet, still an inspiration).
Olympic Provisions cured sausages to take on alpine expeditions:)
Otto's sausage on Woodstock (authentic & Germanic feel)

29, 28, 27... days of Summer (in hindSight).

Pickathon at Happy Valley
Biking still feels safe without sight
Savoy's burger with blue cheese and bacon and their Clinton cocktails
late summer tomatoes
the one gardenia plant outside of that N'awlins joint near Fremont and 14th (the temptation to pick them is near-daunting; and I haven't succumbed... yet)
the Lindens in bloom around July 4th (oh, do they smell delicious).
driving distance to Breitenbush (hot springs), although I've never been the thought of a meditation retreat with crisp conscientious meals sounds divine and replenishing to the soul.
film-makers whose passions are sprouting avocado seeds for months and developing a side-hobby (which becomes financially-profitable and spiritually-lucrative) as time evolves.
folks wearing costumes on a Monday night
"the best of all possible worlds" yes, Candide, in Portland it can be... envisioning a more holistic & healthy future, together, creatively.
The Esplanade.
The Springwater Corridor.
Bike maps.
Bike routes.
The green boxes for high vehicular traffic cross-over with bike and ped areas.
Where artists don't have to starve (probably the Etsy-capital of the world; quite possibly the Kickstarter-capital).  ahh, the puns... capital and capital.
Ants are respected just like another human... deep compassion
Sweaters worn at night; even on the dog days of summer when the days stretch to 90, but not a lot of air conditioners running, and we choose to sleep outside under the stars or on the porch, 'cause it's summah! and the living is Livin'
values. deep holistic compassionate values... asking why five times... like "why do we need guns?"  "and what if in war, warriors had to run to their weapons (like in dodgeball) rather than build up stockpiles?" and "where could we invest our resources to solve problems at their root?... where is the root?"   philosophical in a way that provides hope, health, and healing.
lots of music to see (I mean "hear")
dance parties waiting to happen (just step up and shake your thang)
"wholesome" places for children and young adults to gather and have fun without being alcohol and drug-centric...
..that being said,... lots of homebrew and homebrew shops and hops growing.... like right in my back yard with the plum, the pear, and the cherry trees.
pristine wilderness [to explore and appreciate]
my friends.


(here, I'll take a moment of silence. oh, dear me, it ain't easy feeling the voice of VOCation calling at you; tugging at your heart; how much I'll miss Portland, I may never know... hopefully, we can find "Ecotopia" elsewhere, if we plant the seeds and continue to Live close to our Dreams -- Bless us).

Plywerk
USGBC (United States Green Building Council)
the Ecotrust building
Hot lips pizza (well, mostly their thoughtfully crafted non-corn-based sodas with good local ingredients.. best for mixing with Rum on a hot summer's eve)
The Pied Cow and the double apple;) ... a Parisian harkening....

32, 31, 30... playing "catch up" on Day 16!!! What happens when you lose your sight in Portland, Oregon for eleven days???

One can gain their Sight in Portland without their vision, if they have a Vision.
(Does that make sense?)
Quite a bit of catching up to do today, after be "in absentia" for 17 days.

Here's what we'll do; we'll chunk up the 85 minutes in bit-size morsels, TBD as they flow.
I can't believe it's been 16 days! Thank goodness for the fabulous network of conscientious friends in Portland... as I have regained my vision.

The National Button Society Show hosted its annual convention in Portland (sorry to have missed it this year, BIG time as I would only see on Day 12).

Expert help at Zoom Care within walking distance... great & thorough recommendations, affordable, down-to-earth, caring, compassionate -- AND, they directed me to...

MyOptic Optometrists! Oliver and Summy and staff; you are top-notch detectives; you are the Abraham Fixes Bikes of the eye world: thorough, comprehensive, patient, considerate, and your "99xxx" invoicing is oh too appreciated! ;)

Cocktails named with historical significance, whereby the cocktail name in itself becomes a fertile topic of conversation.

Seeing the same pirate ship moored off the Esplanade at 11pm enjoying the fabulous Autumn summer air, as the one spied while running across one of the myriad of bridges weeks ago.  "Why does it fly its flag at half-mast?" we query.... perhaps, a mate is in Transition.

I heart SoupCycle.

I heart SoupCycle's Purple Passion Soup!

I've been tempted to dress in a cape and mask and all dark violet and be a Purple Passion Soup thief; I don't think that'd be ethically "okay," and I think Portland would understand if that was my true essence expressing itself.

Monday Fun-days at Colonel Sumners Park off Belmont! Can you believe there's dodgeball!? I mean, seriously intense and competitive dodgeball! My oh mY! Those folks can play!  And Monday Fun-day is for musicians, jugglers, hoola-hooping, and smooching too... (oh, did I say "smooching" well, it could be) -- good wholesome fun, and thanks to the Park Rangers who make sure that everyone on the playground "plays nice." Cello, drum, and digitalized didgeridoo (sic).

Sailboats.

Sauvie Island [organics].

International book sections at bookstores (French, Chinese...) ya know really cultured schtuff!

A book section on metaphysics and a book section on maps! Let's just say it "many books and book sections!!!"

EVs.... there's actually a TESLA for rent on getaround! I mean I could drive a Tesla for the day! (and folks know what an electrical vehicle is... and where to get them plugged in.. and their range.... and who Tesla was.. and probably how to write mo' better than I'm doing now).

A rockin' Symphony Orchestra! Love their 2012-2013 program... ahhh, the "Schnitz," what a glorious building... like the Fox Theatre in Atlanta; a one of a kind architectural/artistic masterpiece... Portland does a great job of repurposing old beautiful classic buildings (and blending them in with tasteful infill that's all built to a "walkable" scale ... like the"great" European cities).

The Ace Hotel's lobby and that Stumptown.

Cuppings on Belmont at noon and 2pm of some of the most delicious coffee ever...FAIR TRADE ETHIOPIANs are my most preferred.

Okay,... I'll be back after a few sips of "Hello Summer" (the Fresh Pot's special iced coffee blend).

Days 37, 36, 35, 34, and 33... busy enjoying Portland not blogging about it;)

Boutiques that have tons of sewing machines on the floor that you can sit and sew, affordably (ifn' you don't have a great/working machine, but you have a project). "Modern Domestic"
Metallic Q-huts that have magnetic poetry arranged along them
Ample bicycle parking.. rockstar parking
Blackberries and raspberry-lined allleys
Farmers markets thoughout the city at different neighborhoods on different days
Make your own soap, shampoo, places
Thoughtful & creative architecture and use of "all" space.
Skateparks (and skateboarders and skateboard shops) for folks who are interested in that kind of thing (I am not but something about skateboard-accessibility & nurturing skateboard-culture helps make a city feel safer)
Superb egg-white cocktails (i.e. the Whiskey Sour at Central) and that the eggs are locally-sourced from free-range organic hens
Superb cocktails!
Microbrews and growlers (not that I'm a big beer drinker)
Gluten-free friendly options (hence, Dove Vivi; one of the best pizza parlours in town, and with all gluten-free crust).
Captured by Porches! The only beer that doesn't make me drowsy (well, other than Full Sail's Session Black).. and the hundred bottles of beer on my wall, that I've made ginger ale in.
Everybody's Bike Rental
Abraham Fixes Bikes
SoupCycle
So very many bike businesses of all goods & services: soup delivered by bicycle; bike repair shops, bike rental shops, community (low-income) bicycle shops, tri-bike shops, road bike shops, cyclocross bike shops, mountain bike shops, bike apparel shops; local fabrication shops (wheels, forks, frames), cargo bike shops, innertube recycling shops, hundreds of bike shops all within "walking" distance from anywhere you are in-town (as you wouldn't be able to bike there if you're bike was in full gear).
Comprehensive bicycle maps
Thorough bike routes that make sense for the bicyclists thoroughfares, not just because they're not streets used primarily for cars.
Green boxes painted where bikes meet high-vehicular traffic for increased visibility
Eastbank Esplanade
Springwater Corridor
Pickathon [music festival]
Oregon Country Festival
Pedalpalooza (2+ weeks of early-summer bicycle adventures)
access to Wine Country
access to ski country (cross-country, telemark, and alpine-downhill) i.e. Mt. Hood Meadows
access to the Gorge and Hood River and hiking through lush forests with clean springs and waterfalls
access to a great big body of water (the Pacific Ocean)
access to hot springs (haven't been there yet, but Breitenbush comes to mind)
Bubble Tea
Kombucha microbrews (Dr. Townshend's & Captured by Porches & Tao of Tea)
Tea shops (Smith, Townshend's, Tao of Tea...) as well as...
Coffee shops (Stumptown, Coava, Clive Coffee, Ristretto, Barista...)
New Seasons (a locally-owned thoughtful chain of incredibly enriching grocery stores)
Multiple co-operative grocery stores and being a member of 3 (People's, Alberta, and Food Front)
Dried mulberries in bulk
Dried mangoes in bulk
Dates
Vanilla
Raw food [movement]
Pok Pok and their pandanus-leaf water
Socially-responsible banks and credit unions (I've banked with Albina Community Bank for several years and love them!)
REI plus!
Additional outdoor stores that are locally owned and unique including:
ClimbMax
Outdoor Mountaineering Community (best ice axe/ crampon rental in town!)
Next Adventure
...and many many more
Everyone seems to have some meaningful hobby, craft, artisan, trade beyond a typical "9-5 job" that enriches the community.
Poles woven with knitted socks adding color to the "9-months of [grey] winter"
Powell's bookstore (particulary the middle-reader children's section in the Hawthorne store as well as their cooking and housing annex)
Muse + Art art supplies, locally-owned
SupPortland
Whatever I need to Live; seems to be accessible in Portland! (?? please elaborate, dear)
local game-makers with sustainably harvested wood products (i.e. Chris Howell from Etsy)
Etsy-frenzy!
Adult-gamers
local chapters of national/international well-renown associations (Toastmasters, Net Impact, ISSP...)
Ultimate frisbee leagues
Capture the flag leagues
Bike polo leagues
Architectural heritage, pride, and renovation
Used & vintage goods stores for "hipster antiques"
Handmade aprons for sale
People that care about cooking good healthy food from amazing local and well-stewarded fresh ingredients
Bamboo Revolution!
Woodcrafters
Running routes: hundreds, each unique
Tall old-school chimneys and gatherings of friends & family to watch the swallows at dusk
Boutiques.
Not many buildings taller than about 4-5 stories with very few exceptions... making it to feel like a city scaled to walk/bike ability.

38 days (Tuesday July 24th)... after a bike-ride across Clinton, a run down Belmont, and a walk with the West's golden retriever.

Community gardens; all over the city (in "safe" spaces) that are accessible by walking or biking...sunflowers, corn, and beans growing high on poles.
Treehouses [built for adults] in backyards.
Lots and lots of sidewalk chalk, all over the place in the summer months, AND...
...Lots and lots of sidewalks, AND...
... Lots and lots of people using the sidewalks.
Many different types of trees that make pleasant noises in the wind around people's properties.
Many different types and varieties of shrubbery, hedges, and flowers... always something to "discover" when walking or running about.
Craftsmenship of fences and gates; making them look intriguing rather than "unwelcoming."
Alleys that hold intrigue and foster European creativity; not places of spooks, strange, or waste.
Creative greenery with arbors that closet the waste cans (and mask the odors).

... it's been another pleasant day, living in an "inspiring" city and falling in love with Portland, all over again!

39 days (Monday July 23rd)... after a day with SoupCycle! and laps at Dishman pool...a grand exhaustion.

Locally-owned bookstores that still feel like good ol' bookstores.
People that care about the sourcing of their coffee (fair trade, biodynamic, etc.)
McMenamins: Bagdad, Kennedy School, Edgefield... Backstage pool tables until 2:30am; quality of artwork>> fantastical and inspiring
Stumptown coffee
Pine State Biscuits (Meat (Bacon), Cheese, Egg with Marionberry jam) REAL jam! Real bacon! Excellent biscuits... showin' up the Pine State.
"Summer in a Spoon" SoupCycle's delicious seasonal soup made with freshly chopped mint, rosemary, and basil...ummm, delicious!
[free AND family-friendly] movies in the park.
Sunday Parkways.
The Barefoot Sage.
Salt n' straw
DELICIOUS food (that's sourced with care & consideration for environment and social justice ethics)!

40-days [and beyond] of loving Portland...the countdown; Day 40.

Every day for these 40 Days of Summer between July 22nd and August 30th; I am going to brainstorm for "just five minutes" things I love about Portland.  THEN, on August 31st, there will be no more [required] blogging, instead we'll have a PARTY!!!  I love you Portland!

Bubble tea at Townshend's teahouse, particularly the roasted mate with coconut and tapioca pearls
Sailboats and humble ships on Sunday evenings beneath the Hawthorne Bridge, especially those [of you] who fly pirate flags.
The Hawthorne Bridge.
The Steel Bridge
The feeling of running across the Sellwood Bridge, standing in the middle to take an upstream picture of the St. John's bridge (stretching your imagination and your legs); knowing that you're only halfway there for your marathon-training, and that you might just be the last one standing, before the bridge collapses... whatever shall we do?
Memories at the and of the Veritable Quandary.
A thoughtful local government; "we planned, it worked."