G R O W Y O U R W I N G S

This my favorite time of year.  I just come alive during September, October, and November.  

I'll admit that by the time February rolls around I am very, very ready for Spring and a little more sunshine. 

Spring is my second favorite time of year.  Must have something to do with change.  I have always been a change junkie. 
( Happy and content musing on autumn... )

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Busy, busy, busy today. But better than yesterday because it didn't feel so mundane--or maybe I just wasn't so mundane.

I met with a headhunter for lunch to talk about job prospects. We met at this neat SE Portland restaurant called Mile's City Grill. Over by Lloyd Center area. Had a great lunch with the dude. He's been working in job placement for 8 years in this community and one of the first things he told me was that when he checked around with his contacts, it seemed like EVERYONE knew me and had good things to say.

Now of course the guy's not going to stress bad things to me. He wants to make money off of me. But I know from personal experience in the last several weeks how people have been coming out of the woodwork and contact me.

Just made me feel good. We had a long talk about the job market and about health care reform and about living in Portland (how great it is) and about our mutual excitement over the hope that Obama brings.

Then since I was in such a high mood, I decided to head off to NW Portland across the river to the New Renaissance Bookstore. A place that a friend had recommended to me. I'd been putting it off for a few reasons--not the least of which was...dude...it's in NW Portland! On 23rd of all places!

Now NW 23rd Avenue is one of those places in Portland where all the bohemian, new age, inner city, cool people live. There are tons of interesting and cool shops along the street. Amazing older (and very large!) houses and attractive newer townhouses and condomiums are springing up all over the place. And the parking is basically NON-EXISTENT! Everyone likes to go, shop, eat on NW 23rd--and there is only street parking and they are very narrow streets. So basically it's hunt and peck for parking and walking for a few blocks (if you are lucky.)

But it was a beautiful (if a tad chilly) day out and despite the fact that I was wearing business clothes and not walking shoes--I decided to check out this bookstore.

Glad I did. Got a ton of books (on top of the books I bought yesterday at Borders). All new-agey (or old eastern if you prefer) types of books. Perhaps more on this on my other LJ if I feel up to it later. Plus got some other neat stuff there too. The place was a little over whelming with all it's terrific stuff! It was in three connected old NW Portland houses.

Then I drove back home by way of SW Portland. So I have photos of NW and SW Portland as my Project 365 post today.

( lots and lots of photos under the cut... )