CARGO, yo.

The Cargo project is really moving along for Lane at CETMA. I spoke with him on the phone for a bit again the other day. We're still trying to see if the paper route can be pulled off with one of these bikes. Right now, it's taking us about 1 and 1/2 hours by car. (170 papers) We are still dialing it in, so I'm sure we can cut at least 15 minutes off of that...It would be nice to sell the Honda, and buy a CETMA.

Well, 2008 is winding down, and I'm reflecting on the last year. My resolution last year was to post on the blog every day. Looking back, I did a pretty good job, I think, though yes I did fall pretty short of 365 entries, there was some pretty good stuff on here (and some total bullshit, too). Either way, thanks for stopping by, and here is to 2009!

The Bar

The Duke set it pretty high, didn't he?

The Call

Colin won his 3rd MOTAB in one year last night, and then called me to tell me...here is a picture of all that going down.

*Note the PDW sticker on his phone.

Pirate Style

There are wants. And there are needs.

Sometimes they are a bit of both.

What Can Of Beer?

No, it isn't a Blaze Orange High Life, but I did stumble upon this Real Tree camo king can of Busch at the Citgo around the corner from Olson's. Also found the homeless camp in the Oaks bottom this morning...right on the muddy banks of the Williamette.
Kind of feel like Zombie today, just trying to teach the body to get into the paper route (ie sleep 4 hours, stay up for 3, sleep 4 more hours). But hey, for $800 a month, I can learn to be a zombie.

What I'm Saying

This is the shirt I mentioned in the previous entry. See that is a rad t-shirt, isn't it?

ALSO, you should head over to Molly Cameron's blog, and check out Belgium!!!!

Apt

Pretty sure I've had the above photo on here before. Pretty sure it is the basis for one of my favorite t-shirts. Well, at 1 am tomorrow, Jen and I are gonna get "trained" on our new paper route. Not sure what they are going to train us to do specifically, but we'll be ready:

Roll
Pack
Throw
Repeat

I mastered that when I was 12 years old. Jobs are kind of scarce out here, but the Powells are nothing if they aren't survivors...speaking of surviving, I damn near burned our house down today when I left some tea on.

Damn, I'm a spazz.

Hey Ya'll, Don't Be Forgettin.

Shakin'

Boneshaker is a little publication that Hurl hooked me up with when we were passing thru MPLS a couple of weeks ago. After a couple of stutter starts, I sat down and read it last night. I gotta say, I'm a fan. Word is you can get them at Powells Books, and I'm sure you can find them elsewhere. Pick one up if you see them.

What I'm Up To

Folks keep asking for photos of what we're up to so here goes. The first is a shot from the Oregon Manifest Show that featured some of our initial product offerings and Kathryn's baking prowess.
The last is a quick shot of the office just as we we're moving in. There is a bit more art on the walls now, some more shelving, coffee making ability, and music.
The second is of our silent partner, Sterling Sharpe. He is our heater/All Pro Wide Out. He has been working a lot harder that either of us lately because of the "arctic blast".
Things are coming together. The wife and I settled in the West Moreland/Sellwood area which is only about a mile from the office. We can walk/ride everywhere, so that is pretty much what we were looking for.
We haven't done much in the city yet, just due to being busy and the weather, but we here able to hang out with a couple of guys my brother and I grew up with back in Michigan, Jeff and Mike Snyder. They've both been out here for sevral years, so they've taken us to a couple of pretty sweet places.
Everyone out here uses the hell out of snow chains...
Oh yeah, there are more brew pubs/craft breweries here than anywhere else.
I'm home.

What's That Rack Lady Up To?

"Just add a pie, a towel and a cargo bungee, and you are ready to roll to that holiday pouluck!"
Damn, that's a fine rack.

Santa Loves Cops

HO HO HO

Arctic Blast

Worst winter weather to hit Portland in ten years? Feels like the midwest...dammit it's cold. We moved into a house down in Sellwood. The whole place, yard, basement, etc. Very sweet set up. It's only .7 miles from work. Yeah you read that right. I can walk home for lunch.
More in a bit...sounds like one Jason Barnes will be in the cut this weekend. Word.

Snow?

Yep snowing sideways here right now. It is crippling the city. Kind of funny.

Holy Diver

I'm a survivor. Feeling like De Niro in Taxi Driver.

Bike Craft

We rolled down to Bike Craft last night at the Roots Organic Brewery in SE Portland last night. LOTS of folks down there. Decent beers too.
We took the opportunity to ride around the city at night a bit as well, and I gotta tell you I'm stoked.

What On Earth?

I stole this from here. I gotta say hell yeah to that. God helps those who help themselves. I've always been a big proponent of the DIY mindset, and these guys have it in spades.
In the office for a bit today getting stuff dialed in...we've got a lot on our plate.

Favorite

My buddy Colin snapped the above shot at Hales Corners this year. I gotta say, the composition is compelling, and it is my favorite shot of the season. What I didn't know was that Christopher, whom you see on the run up in the back ground, had just done a beer hand up...epic.

We're there, man

Portland.

We made it in last night, just after a stop at Full Sail Brewing in Hood River. With a 12-er of Sessions Lagers in hand, we rolled into the Rose City, and finally parked the Honda at Erik and Kathryn's place in North East. We got up this morning and had breakfast at the Tin Shed on Alberta, and I gotta say, if you are in town, stop there and get a San Fran sandwich. You will not be disappointed. Then walking along Alberta, we passed this thing sitting in front of a store....it looks even better in person that I'd hoped.
This afternoon we headed over to the new PDW HQ. It is also a tin shed, but there is much less breakfast fare there, and a lot more pallet racking...but that is ok. The weather is pretty nice, it was delightful to ride around all day without a winter hat on under my helmet for a change, and get ready for this, there was sun!

We are stoked. I'll try to throw down some photos soon, when I have access to a digital camera again. It's on.

Idaho?

No you da ho.

We're in Moscow, Idaho this morning. Getting ready to make the final push to Portland. Jen was accepted to grad school here at the U of I years ago, but we chose to move to Kalamazoo instead. So here we are years later checking it out. The whole town is covered in fog still this morning, but we're gonna head downtown to get some bean juice and see the campus.
Hell of a drive yesterday, most of the way across Montana, then over Lolo Pass and into Idaho on US 12. Yeah, that was a heck of an idea. On the way up and over Lolo, it started raining, then snowing...Lets just say that ridge of mountains was holding back some crazy weather! Jen drove through all the worst of it, and she was bomber.
The drive was beautiful but quite a bit slower than going 75 on the Interstate. We headed down the otherside into the Bitterroot Wilderness area, along the Lochsa River, then into Sweetwater Canyon, to Lewiston, then north to Moscow. The drive so far has been really great. We've seen some amazing things, listened to some books on tape, and generally unwound a bit.

Seen yesterday on Interstate 90 between Bozeman and Butte, a retired couple in a GMC conversion "Get-A-Way" van with vanity plates "NOMOWORK". Classic.

Howdy

From Rapid City, South Dakota!

Windy as hell, but warmer that Minneapolis. Stopped by 1 on 1 and the CRC coffee garage yesterday. Great as always. Finally got to sample some Surly beer. Damn, that makes me thirsty again. The open road is great. But that Tom Bodett is full of shit, stayed at a Motel 6 last night and there was no light on for us...but tonight there was.

Thanks Tom. Tomorrow will be the tie breaker. Also, I think we are gonna check out Mt. Rushmor in the morning, then press on into Wyoming and perhaps Yellowstone.

This One Goes Out To Zack

Gettin' Gone

Well, everything is just about packed up. And as you can see the Honda is itching to get on the road...I'm gonna drink a couple of beers, and get some sleep. We're gonna shove off tomorrow before dawn.

Irony

Ever heard the story of Dock Ellis? Me either until this morning....
Los Angeles, April 8, 1984- Former Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Dock Ellis says he was under the influence of LSD when he pitched a 1970 no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.

Ellis, now co-ordinator of an anti drug program in Los Angeles, said he didn't know until six hours before his June 12, 1970 no hitter that he was going to pitch.

"I was in Los Angeles, and the team was playing in San Diego , but I didn't know it. I had taken LSD..... I thought it was an off-day, that's how come I had it in me. I took the LSD at noon. At 1pm, his girlfriend and trip partner looked at the paper and said, "Dock, you're pitching today!"

"That's when it was $9.50 to fly to San Diego. She got me to the airport at 3:30. I got there at 4:30, and the game started at 6:05pm. It was a twi-night doubleheader.

I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria.

I was zeroed in on the (catcher's) glove, but I didn't hit the glove too much. I remember hitting a couple of batters and the bases were loaded two or three times.

The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while I was looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. They say I had about three to four fielding chances. I remember diving out of the way of a ball I thought was a line drive. I jumped, but the ball wasn't hit hard and never reached me."

The Pirates won the game, 2-0, although Ellis walked eight batters. It was the highpoint in the baseball career of one of the finer pitchers of his time, and arguably,one of the greatest achievements in the history of sports.

Can't Deny It

Errol Morris makes a damn good commercial.

Things We Can't Share

Not everything is as it seems...

Three Santas Go Into A Bar

As was previously discovered. When you get a few of your buddies together and you all dress like Santa, you can pretty much do what ever you want...
MOTAB was one for the books last night. I think they all let me win, but fuck it, a win is a win. The trophy is all time, and I think everyone was happy with the gifts Santa brought them.

Flow

This will horrify you.