keep portland weird.

I have decided to share my unique experiences since moving to Portland. Not only is this the city that is infatuated with the phrase "Keep Portland Weird" - but it is the city that lives up to that phrase each and everyday. And for that I give many praise. It's one thing to have a dedicated 'mission statement,' but it is quite another to actually fulfill those expectations with flying colors. Go Portland! Okay so you're probably thinking to yourself - what is it that makes Portland 'weird' well hold on to your panties because this is some good shit!

Over the past three weeks or so we peeps at R/West ( that's the ad agency I work for ) have had what people have tagged as "squatters." That's right people who have fucking pitched a tent in a parking spot right outside our building. Now the fantastic thing about this little 'camp site' is that they could actually set up shop, hunker down, and chill the shit out. No one came knocking on their god damn tent saying - HEY get your shit outta here ... this is MY PARKING SPOT! Nope, not it Portland. Here you can do whatever the hell you want when you don't have a place to call "home." That shit kind of kicks ass. Thanks to the "Do Not Disturb the Squatters Act." These peeps now reside right outside ... how lucky are they?

Not quite weird enough you say? Okay well how about the endless amount of peeps who roam around talking to themselves wrapped in an entire sleeping bag ... just going for a stroll. Nope not good enough? Okay - well last night I decided to do something risky, that's right I walked from NW where my girlfriend lives, across Burnside to my humble abode. Well, the not so intelligent part was that it was 9:30 at night. Now this is where shit gets good.

Picture this. Two raggedy old men. Probably in their 60s standing / sitting inside two shopping carts posted up in an ally. Singing 'Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" by Bob Marley. At first I thought it was two old women - only because of the long hair and funky skirt thing one of them was wearing. But nope, sure enough ... two old men enjoying each others company while singing a tune, that until that point used to put a lovely vision of Mexican beaches, Coronas, sand, and sea in my mind like a short escape from reality.

Let's just say - that fantastic visual is now LONG GONE ... Ughh thank you Portland. Reality BITES.

As you can imagine the 'weirdness' doesn't stop once you get to work. Oh no, today I got out of the elevator and experienced a young male professional in a suit and all - doing a Hawaiian type dance, with his Ipod on, and a toothbrush in his mouth. Eyes closed, doing a dance routine. I have to admit - this little experience kind of made my day. This kid had no care in the world, and was probably having a short 'get away' from his office life - maybe envisioning a Hawaiian beach with hula babes, coconuts, palm tress, Mai Tais you get the picture. For that I am jealous! Any chance he was listening to Bob Marley?!? Or maybe that one really fat guy that sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." - I love that song.

Anyway, I hope Portland stays weird. Because it's got character. People appreciate that shit here. Where in Seattle or somewhere a bit more Metro, People turn up their noses, turn their cheek, and pretend they don't see it. Well you want to know the truth? Those peeps who are chilling out singing Bob Marley are probably happier than the over caffeinated, high strung corporate peeps who work 14 hours a day.

How's that for reality?