The Weekly

Tags

Music, pleasant surprise, Portland, snow

View from the balcony

Drama of the week: snowcalypse didn’t happen. After 2 days of full-on media panic over the “4-inch snow”, and the predictable shopping spree created by folks’ fear about being stuck at home for a week, and the agonizing wait (the snow was first forecast to fall at 4pm, then delayed to 6pm, but actually made its much anticipated debut at midnight), we got a meager 2 inch. It wasn’t even that cold. In fact, it was so sunny the next day that most snow melted by mid-afternoon. As a result, we didn’t get the day off! Sigh, what a letdown!

Highlight of the week: so there has been major construction going on in my neighborhood since last December. Some sort of sewage overhaul. Since my apartment building is in a cul-de-sac and there is only one road out, I have to drive on the torn up, broken, and then shoddily and hastily repaved road every day. Needless to say, I was rather irritated every time I had to make various zigzaggy maneuvers to avoid Grand Canyon-sized cracks and cavernous potholes (okay, I exaggerate, but it was pretty bad). Three months later and the construction is still going, off and on.

Photo from Gregory Williams @Flickr (My road is worse than this!)

Two weeks ago, after another round of steering wheel acrobatics and much wincing and cringing, I was finally fed up and ready to vent. I sent an email to ODOT, got a call back the next day that I contacted the highway department while the local roads were managed by the City. Okay… Three phone transfers later, I left two messages (one to the “inspector”, who was on vacation so I left another message to the general service line). I’d never complained to the government about anything before (it was a tad unnerving leaving my name, address, and phone number on the voicemail, as I grew up in an environment where people are afraid of the country, where the government is something to be feared and shunned, where you will end up in jail if you offend the almighty administration), and honestly I wasn’t expecting any response.

Imagine my surprise and relief last week when I got not one, but two phone calls from two inspectors. They explained to me, very nicely, that the ugly eyesore of a paving is temporary and they will get the construction company to repave the road properly after the project is completed (a few weeks down the road, no pun intended). Wow, I was quite impressed. Sure it took them almost two weeks to get back to me, but they did eventually, and even though there is nothing they can do, knowing that there is an end to this nightmare is still very reassuring.

Great find of the week: Agnes Obel and her debut album Philharmonics (like millions out there, I stumbled upon her music through Grey’s Anatomy). Her voice reminds me of Sara Lov of the Devics, and Julia Stone of the Angus & Julia Stones. They share the same clarity, fragility and sense of intimacy (as if they were singing just for you in an empty room). How can I describe her music? Achingly beautiful and hauntingly exquisite, dreamy, folky, and cinematic, like soundtrack to a movie in muted colors (B&W or sepia). It takes you to a different place, somewhere in the long forgotten past, somewhere with water, woods, old photos, things lost, and people missed. Originally from Denmark, she is another one of the many excellent female singer-songwriters that Northern Europe has produced in recent years — must be the nordic chill and forests. My favorite tracks are Riverside, Philharmonics, Katie Cruel, Brother Sparrow, Just So… but this is really one of those rare albums that you can listen to cover to cover, over and over again. Below is her “official” video (I don’t like the blurry imagery and shaky camera, but there is something strangely compelling about it, and you can hear the song in full):

"Just when I thought I was out…

Tags

Portland, snow, weather, winter

… they pull me back in!” says Snow. Yes, it’s snowing, AGAIN! 

I am sooooo lucky to be witnessing this amaaaazing once-in-40-years weather – I shouldn’t have said “this is it” yesterday coz clearly this ain’t over!

White Christmas

Tags

Portland, snow, weather, winter

Took a three-hour walk from home to LED, then on to TJ & FF, and got coffee from JV en route. I wanted to see Forest Park before all the snow melts, and it was already starting. Instead of velvety smooth, snow drifts on the ground are now slightly porous and look like rocks that have been eroded by years of wind and rain. Snow either tumbles down from trees, or melts into icy raindrops that give your skin a strangely pleasant sensation. There are “100% natural ice sculptures” everywhere – shimmering, half-translucent icy/snow that takes on the shape of leaves or whatever it clings on. It was a magical walk – I even saw three snowmen! 

It started to rain late afternoon. Guess this is it, the biggest/longest stretch of “arctic blast” for Portland in decades. Despite all the inconveniences it has caused, it’s been fun.

trekking to the gym

Tags

Portland, snow, weather, winter

Emboldened by yesterday’s trek to the grocery store and haunted by the (delusional) image of rust forming in my joints after so many days of being confined to the apartment, I decided to walk all 15 blocks to the gym. It doesn’t sound too far, and it isn’t, but it took me at least half an hour one way (didn’t bring my watch so the estimate might be off). After much slipping (the packed-down snow has now become part ice) and trudging (the slick sidewalk prompted me to deliberately walk on – or in – the snow accumulation) and comical arm-flailing, I finally reached the gym, sweating profusely (no warmup necessary!). The workout was fine, but with all the walking and bag lugging and apparel changing, I think I will do the “organic” thing tomorrow by perambulating in the park instead (please don’t rain!!), or better still, taking a “long march” to Trader Joe’s (exercising and shopping – two birds with one stone!)… 

On my way to the gym a bus slowed down beside me. “In a hurry? Wanna get on the bus?” the driver called out to me. “It’s okay. It’s just a few more blocks,” I said, surprised “Are you sure?” he said. “Yes, but thank you!” I said. “You are welcome,” he called back and the bus went ahead. Awwwwww… isn’t that sweet? Such heartwarming friendliness from random strangers still amazes me and touches me in a weird way (as in, “the world is beautiful” and “should pass on the good karma”).

A walk in the snow

Tags

Portland, snow, weather, winter

It was “supposed to” be clear today but the flurries came mid-morning and never actually let up. The wind did die down so I decided to take a photo walk, since I didn’t really need anything. I was in for a shock! I knew the road condition was bad, but until I actually stepped into the snow that had accumulated on the parking lot, I had no idea it was “that” bad – the snow came all the way to my mid-calf. The whole neighborhood was transformed from a verdant garden to a winter wonderland: cars half or fully buried, houses framed with domes of snow, trees lined with white ribbons, roads covered by undulating snow mounds, and even the most mundane things such as trash cans, fire hydrants, and benches, were magically transformed into something pretty by the pristine white coat. The snow was not super soft and fluffy like that on Mt. Hood and made a pleasant crunchy sound when I walked on it. 

People were surprisingly cheery: there was a sense of (sometimes tacit) camaraderie amongst the brave souls that were out and about, through a nod, a smile, or a short exchange about the weather.  Some trudged in snowshoes, while others struggled in sneakers. I even saw a girl running in a thin layer of Under Amour shirt and matching capri. Wow! At a street corner a guy was telling a passer-by about the doggie snowboots (red boots for the paws) on his lab. As if on cue, all the elusive condo dwellers I had never seen came out to clear their driveway. Most cars on the road were trucks or SUVs, but I saw a jeep spinning its wheels stuck at an intersection. 

After picking up some pastries I took a short but nice walk in Forest Park. Even snapped a picture of a cute woodpecker! I was toying with the idea of lugging all my workout stuff to the gym on foot as I was itching for a workout, but decided against it after the earlier walk. It’s just way too much of a hassle and a bit too far under the current circumstances. Gosh, I really really need to go to the gym. If it continues to snow like this I am seriously considering running outside like that girl I saw today.

The snow continues…

Tags

Portland, snow, weather, winter

It’s the 2nd day I am under “house arrest” by the snow. This “arctic blast” is worst than the one that last weekend. The parking lot is now completely blanketed by a thick crunchy layer of snow. I heard two of my neighbors *attempting* to plow the snow out from under and around their car but eventually gave up because the snow is hardened by the ice on the surface. My car is buried up to the tires. According to the weather forecast the snow is not going to melt anytime soon (not until Wed!!!). I am going crazy staying in, but feel thankful that I live relatively close to a grocery co-op so worst comes to worst I can just walk over to buy food. The balcony floor is mostly covered too. I took a few pictures and it was actually kinda nice to step out to breathe in the clear crisp winter air, if only for just a couple minutes. Today is the first day of winter – the weather really lives up to it.

first snow / party / interpreter of maladies

Tags

books, culture, friends, Jhumpa Lahiri, neighbors, Portland, snow, weather, winter

Yay! First snow this winter!!! Winter is not my favorite season, and snow not my favorite thing, but mostly because of the inconvenience (the scraping & driving), not because I don’t appreciate the poetic swirling of snowflakes and the magical landscape of white on green. I even ventured out (attempting) to meet EC and gang for lunch, but didn’t make it. The freeway was at a standstill, and my 2WD was doing rather poorly on the road (swerving and skidding even at low speed). As I was already late and didn’t want them to wait for me, and given the driving conditions I didn’t want to become another one of those “snow-weather-accident-statistics”, I turned back and headed home. Even that short stretch of road took me half an hour. I pray that schools will be closed on Monday. Interestingly, even though the freeway was paralyzed with traffic, the Fremont Bridge was deserted. My neighborhood almost became a ghost town if not for a few shivering figures chasing after their dogs and (ridiculously brave or simply insane) runners.

When I was sweeping the thick fluffy layer of snow off the car on the apartment parking lot, I said hello to a guy in his 50/60s, who was doing the same thing. After a while, a pickup truck drove by and stopped. A woman called out to me and said: “My husband is worried about you. Your car might not do well on the road. We have a 4WD so if you are stranded somewhere give him a call and we can help you.” Her husband, the guy I just saw, handed me a card with his phone number and told me their apartment number. OMG?!! Good samaritan in my apartment building? This is so amazing – they actually “worried about” me and offered to help? I am by now so used to the tepid, if not downright chilly, relationships between neighbors in this complex that I was so shocked and touched I didn’t know what to say. I thanked them and said I would call them if that happened.

This is my first REAL Christmas/New Year in Portland. Technically it’s not, but I “escaped” to somewhere else the past two years. This time, I don’t feel like traveling anymore. For the first time I feel so settled in here that I want to stay and just savor the moment. Just sit back, breathe, and relax. That’s all I want.

Friday night went to CM’s “hors’ d’oeuvre party.” I was surprised that she invited me. She is teaching faculty that I work with every term. We might have lunch once per year to discuss classes and so on, but being invited to her house for a “social” party was definitely unexpected. I said I would check my calender even though I knew I had nothing on Friday night. My first, instinctual response was “no…”, as I thought it’d be awkward to “mingle” with all the other teaching faculty in her department. What do I have in common with them? Small talk is not exactly my forte either, and plus I have been quite a shutin lately. However, part of me was interested, curious, even a bit excited, about seeing these people outside of work. After talking with EC and GS at length and a lot of soulsearching, I decided to say yes.

And guess what, I actually genuinely had a great time. There were a few people I have worked with, but meeting new people was really not as “exhausting” as I thought. Never much of a “networker”, I ended up talking to most people. The conversations flowed easily, and when one ended, we just drifted off to chat with someone else. I had planned to leave after one hour but ended up staying over three hours. The food was delicious, and there were at least a dozen wines. I am so glad I forced myself to go, even though I was still thinking of excuses of not showing up on my way there!

Finished reading Interpreter of Maladies by the beautiful and talented author Jhumpa Lahiri. Her writing style is simple yet exquisite, her tone warm and tender, her portrayal of characters and their life predicaments honest and sympathetic. Even though she writes about people of Indian heritage, the themes are so universal the stories transcend ethnicities. The author is adept at observing the most minute details to expose the most private inner workings of the human heart. Sometimes the stories resonated with me so much I felt almost vulnerable, as my eyes welled up in tears. The book is a wonderful collection of short stories, although a couple of them (A Real Durwan & The Treatment of Bibi Haldar) are not quite on par with the rest. I am esp. thankful that the author didn’t intentionally “exoticize” either her writing or her stories (maybe a little, in my least favorite stories aforementioned), as I am sooo tired of reading books with “pidgin English” (or of the sort) written by native speakers who try too hard to contrive a poor imitation of the “ethnic speak.”

It seems my houseplants are having a growing spree, in WINTER! My rubber plant didn’t grow an inch the whole summer, but since November, it’s been sprouting new leaves like crazy. The dragon tree doesn’t seem to have changed much to the untrained eye, but to me it seems have become more luxuriant.