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Sequence of events are in no particular order.
TBC→

I was in Portland for 3 days in late August for one of my good college friend’s wedding.
He is now married to an Oregonian.
Instead of doing one Portland blog post, I’ll share some short dispatches of moments y fotos.
Hope you enjoy them.
xxom
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No.1 Books
As I ended the phone call, I stood right in front of Cameron’s books.
A book store can possibly be accurately described as a bedroom; it’s personal, you can easily get lost and your mind travels.

I found Adrienne at Powell’s without looking for her for too long after realizing she told me in our phone call she would be in the red room, and not in her bed room.

Puzzles.
I suppose I have no troubles finding people.
Mazes, elimination process.
I like those challenges. I don’t like them.
I love them.
Math, riddles, translation.

Not luck but rather, an eye color map being built as you walk.
His sweater matches that wall.
That lady sounds like the mall.
And a dash of an accurate sense of direction, that doesn’t always work, and that is just how it works.

Before exiting, I decided to purchase two items that I wouldn’t find in any other bookstore. A tote designed by a local Portland artist and a navy blue patch with golden letters on it.
The woman ringing me out had a bright red 80s sweatshirt with oversized sleeves and a peculiar flower-like pattern on it. Her resplendent Caribbean skin, the softest accent and that nice smile took me back to a hot summer night I had once imagined in a novel.

It had just stopped raining outside.
Her femininity radiation was the highest I’ve absorbed in quite some time and in a matter of seconds my feet had walked me almost magically outside.

And we were on our way to drink coffee across the street at the Maglia Rosa coffee cart, inside West End Bikes.

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Sequence of events are in no particular order.
TBC→

Saw this article linked tonight via Urban Velo [CHICAGO] “Woman gets dragged by passenger in moving SUV …Police have classified the incident as a hit-and-run”

There are a lot of things that anger me as a woman, and as someone who has always lived in city environments. The ‘quietest’ city I’ve lived in is downtown Oakland (not because is quiet, but because everything was closed before 4PM) and been exposed to the constant flow of urban environments. This particular article was extremely disturbing to read knowing the powerless feeling and safety concerns. I am so glad she is OK.

A few years ago I was spanked while on my bike while riding on South Van Ness/13th intersection it was around 1030PM and it was pretty quiet out, so I thought it’d be safer to ride near more traffic (there was almost no one out) this happened right as I was riding under the freeway which is pretty damn dark as is, and it becomes pitch black when you are in complete anger/fear shock. It is the worst feeling of  POWERLESSNESS. For safety, I had to sprint-pedal to get away from the situation.

Don’t these attacking scumbags have mothers, sisters, or significant women in their families? I hope they catch them and make them accountable for these random acts of violence. Spread the word if you are around the Chicago/Logan Square area:

Avid Cyclist Grabbed, Dragged by Man in Passing SUV Erica Demarest | By Erica Demarest on DNAinfo Chicago

Join local writer, the great Judy B. this weekend: 

If you are in SF or will be on 8/25, I would love to see you here! ~judy b.  

Get lit with local author judy b., as she leads you on a bike tour of San Francisco locations that appear in her fiction collection, Stories for Airports. The 3-hour tour begins with a reading at Huckleberry Bicycles and winds its way through the eastern side of downtown, to North Beach and into the Western Addition.

This is a leisurely ride at a comfortable pace with a couple medium hills. At each stop judy b. will read a passage from the book, and light bites will be served mid-way. Sunday, August 25, 2013 1 p.m.
Meet at Huckleberry Bicycles $20 includes a signed copy of Stories for Airports and a light bite during the ride

More details over on the FB event page: Get Lit: A Bike Tour + Book Reading with judy b.

This was recently sent in by KT, pretty awesome huh. luvvit!

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xxom

July 5th, 2013.
Wishing everyone a great weekend ♥xxom

I am deeply sadden, angry, and without words each and every time that I learn of another fatal accident has happened. Bike, pedestrian, it is a LIFE.
Beyond trucks, bikes, helmets debates there is A LOT to be improved and done for PEOPLE. People who walk and people who ride bikes and their safety, as well as people behind a wheel being responsible at all times in a vehicle. As humans: seconds of distraction, impatience, carelessness MATTER.

A LIFE WAS LOST.
A LIFE.
I think about what her family and loved ones are going through. It is something I DO NOT wish to no one, no one ever. to go through. EVER.

This affects all of us in the walking and bicycle community.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family, and anyone that knows the intensity and deep sadness of sudden premature loss.

Life is fragile, be safe out there – please.
xxom

Woman on Bike Killed by Truck Driver on Folsom August 14, 2013

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