everybody knows your name

well, the house-buying bug has finally bit. i looked at a few places saturday morning, thinking it would be just a reconnaissance mission... but surprisingly, i ended up liking one of the houses pretty well. (it's the first one on this list; on emerson.) it's at the very tippy-top of my price range, though. i think i'm going to take another look later this week, and if the sellers haven't gotten any other offers i'll put in a low-ball offer myself and see if it sticks. if not, i'm sure there will be others. and i'm told that winter in portland is a good time to be a buyer... there are lots of houses just sitting on the market in the rain and wind. no one wants to move to portland in the winter.

saturday night todd & i went to a photography exhibit up in the st. john's area of town. it was curated by blue moon camera. these folks sell cameras, but also do film developing, too. their customers are incredibly loyal and the staff, apparently, worthy of worship. anyway, over the course of the year, the staff, as they're developing photos, will pull out anything that catches their eye. they'll ask the customer if they mind having the photo shown publicly. if the answer is "sure, go ahead!" it makes it into a yearly exhibit of customer art. the show todd & i went to was an anniversary exhibition of photos gathered over the last 4 or 5 years. there were some really great accidental photos, as well as some really beautiful intentional ones. there is some great amateur talent in the area.

this morning i met my friend paula for brunch at the utopia cafe. they live up to their name. i had lemon ricotta pancakes with boysenberries (!!!!) and an amazing egg scramble with bacon, peppers, mushrooms and potatoes. total yum.

then tonight i went to the symphony to see vivaldi's "the four seasons". can i tell you something about the symphony experience? the orchestra itself is fine and good... i always have a good time... but beyond that i've learned that i freakin' have to Look My Best when i go, because i am invariably recognized as the new announcer at the classical station. my photo is in every program, and sometimes TWICE. i shit you not. here's the inside front cover; the letter written by the conductor.


today at intermission i was stopped by a couple who recognized me by sight. this is a crazy life i'm leading.