Red Soil

I was about forty-five minutes north of Portland, and my car became lopsided on I-5. The left front tire was quickly losing air. I pulled over to the side of the road. It was eight-thirty on Friday night.

The evening had started out well. I went to Easy Street and bought Sleigh Bells' new album Reign of Terror.

The album cover is awesome. It was sunny and warm out. After buying the CD, I was waiting at the four-way crosswalk in front of the record store, and somebody said my name. It was Dana. Being a fan of Sleigh Bells, she got excited when she saw what CD I got. She was walking home, and I was walking to Husky Deli for some jalapeño chips (same direction), so we walked together. I told her I was on my way out - going on vacation. After getting my chips, I left town, windows down, Reign of Terror blasting.

I have perfected a (safe) way to watch TV while making long drives. My laptop fits snugly between the front seats, resting on the cup holders. I was watching The Departed when my tire blew out. It wasn't as dramatic as in the movies - my tire didn't explode and I didn't lose control of my vehicle.

I was now under my SUV, under a street lamp, in the dark, putting my spare on. And the night had been going so well. I calmly and quickly jacked my car up while listening to music. A policeman walked up to me. He helped me put on my spare. The spare immediately fell flat as soon as the car was lowered. There was no air in it.

His name was Officer Randy. He told me he had spent the day in Chehalis at the range. He said I could get a ride down to Vancouver.

So I did. Officer Randy has been on the police force for twenty-three years. He was a detective for thirteen years. Nice guy. He dropped me off at Safeway. My brother, Thomas, who lives in Portland, came and picked me up.

We got up early the next morning and drove to my car. We got my spare pumped up at a gas station just south of where I was parked. We got the tire on, no problem. Thomas went to his car to leave.

I get in my car. Ahhh. Everything was finally going smoothly. Okay. I reach for my pea coat to grab my keys out of the pocket, then I realized something. I had had my hands inside my coat pockets earlier that morning. And they were empty. I walked back to Thomas' car.

Sooo...I left my keys on your table.

Thomas laughs.

You serious?

Mmm.

We drive to Portland and back. Stopped in Woodland's Les Schwab and got tires. We dropped my car at Thomas' place and finally hit the road. Only about four hours behind schedule.

We drove down I-84 to Hood River to stop at Double Mountain Brewing.

Double Mountain was packed. Mostly with college-aged kids. I got their Kolsch (delicious). Thomas got their IRA. Having had the diet of only popcorn and jalapeño chips all day, it was amazing to get an actual meal, some awesome pizza. We left the brewery at six and headed south.

It was a good three hours. We finally got to the land of red soil and Ponderosa pines. We were in Sunriver.  Here's my family:

Mom (Debbie):

Hugh:

Thomas:

Dave and his girlfriend, Natalia:

Sophie:

Rose:

We ate a late dinner and got in the hot tub. It was glorious. I wrote this the next afternoon in my journal:

     "Sitting in the hot tub. It just finished hailing. I'm smoking the end of my cigar. Regina Spektor's "Us" is playing on my Pandora playlist. I'm surprised that the pages I'm writing this on haven't curled up from the rising steam.

     It's been a busy day - we spent it all in Bend. I love that city. Thomas, Dave, Natalia and I went downtown this morning. It was a brisk forty degrees with dead-looking silver clouds that loomed low. I liked it. Nobody was out. It was quiet. We hung out at a teahouse for a while, visited some stores, then went to lunch at Good Life Brewing. Good food, good beer. 

     My cigar is out. And I'm starting to get too hot. The sun is coming out. Going to rest my head in it's warmth."

Those have been the past couple days. Today was a little more relaxing. Thomas left, which sucks. He has to work, though. I have two more days here, then it's off to Arizona on Thursday. 

I've been noticing how much bands change throughout the years. Particularly, the band, "fun." I just got their new CD, Some Nights.

I've been a big fan of this band, from back when the singer (Nate Ruess) was in The Format, one of my favorite bands. The Format broke up, and Nate Ruess started his new band, fun. The first CD was amazing. This one's okay. The first three songs are amazing, and the rest of the album sounds repetitive, in my opinion. Maybe I need to listen to it more. The style of both bands, even though they have the same singer, is totally different. The Format was more pop-alternative, whereas fun. is pretty indie. What's been really interesting to me is the changes in the lyrics. In the first song off The Format's first album, The First Single, the chorus says, "so, let's cause a scene, clap our hands and stomp our feet". The Format came out with one more album before splitting up. On fun.'s first album, there's a part in the sentimental last song, Take Your Time (Coming Home), which is about the break-up of The Format. In it, he says, "...but, I too, am through with causing a scene". Based on lyrics, it's been intriguing watching him grow. On both of The Format's albums, and fun.'s first album, the last song has been a slower, ballad-type song, which is typically sentimental. Not Some Nights, though. I was pretty bummed about it. The titular song is a little, but that's it. The album is also a lot more - I hate to say this - mainstream. There's auto tune in it. Which I found strange. Like I said, though. Maybe I just need to listen to the album a little more.

It's been a long time since I've written. Two months? My goodness, so much has happened since then.

It's been an incredible, but difficult few months, full of highs and lows. They've been unlike any I've ever had. Ultimately, it's been amazing. I've learned so much.

Had a crisis of faith for a while. I was constantly being told that I don't believe Jesus is who He says He is. I don't know. It was weird. I still need prayer for it. I believe the lies I'm told a lot. Something I'm in constant prayer for protection from.

I've met new people, people I'm incredibly thankful for. 

I'm very interested to see what happens in the next couple months.

Be expecting another blog post soon. I'll definitely write one in Arizona. 

Where it'll be ninety degrees. 

I'll be at the coffee shop in the morning.

I'll be on the beach in the afternoon.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing in the evening. We'll see.