It was a real pretty today in Oregon. I drove out to FCI Sheridan ( a federal prison), down through the pinot country, through Newberg and McMinnville, surrounded by hills covered in vineyards, beautiful clouds, blossoming hazelnut trees, and daffodils everywhere. In the ditches, the fields, yards, just everywhere. Then i was in prison.
Medford is not the very most charming town on the earth but it does have a few great things going for it. The people are fantastically nice and the classic rock radio is second to none. Better even than what I remember from Dallas when I was a kid and a radio maven. No clear channel here. Where else do they do a Pink Floyd, Frampton, Lucinda Williams, Grand Funk Railroad back to back? I am in the hotel lobby using the internet right now where the radio is piping and as I'm writing this they played a Joni Mitchell song I've never heard and something else by Elvis Costello that you never hear.
Sometime when I'm down here and have a bit more time I'd also like to do some hiking. They have a cool mesa sort of thing called Table Rock that is supposed to be phenomenal. But alas, on this trip I'm all work, back on the plane in the afternoon. I'm looking forward to being woken up early, in one of my very favorite ways, with a knock on the door by a person bearing eggs and bacon. YAY. 
Yesterday was the closing on my house in Columbus. It turned 100 years old this year and was a terrific place to live and a money pit and totally sweet and a good education. And, as of 9am this morning, I don't owe a nickel to anyone, anywhere. What an odd feeling. So I guess portland is stuck with me now.
Afterwards we went to Voodoo Donut for a late night treat. The magic is in the hole.
X - Johnny Hit and Run Pauline
Gogol Bordello - Last Wish of the Bride
We got back from mexico late last night. pleased to report that we avoided the crowds and bullcrap for the most part. Got a rental car at the Cancun airport and made our way south south, down the coast on dirt roads toXamach Dos, a tiny little set up of hammocks and cabanas on the water. Its on an old coconut plantation in the Sian Kaan Biosphere and sleeps about six, solar powered and way off the beaten path near Punta Allen. That's where Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard used to hide his boat, when he wasn't busy marauding and so forth. Now its an itty bitty mostly mayan broken down fishing village with a heavy business in sport fishing and not much else. And I had all these fine plans to do some fishing myself but instead I layed in a hammock and read Raymond Carver and did not do one strenuous thing for a week except build sandcastles with Rebecca and walk on the beach. aaahhhhh.
What lucky girls we are. We drove up to Mt. Hood today and got our ski on. It was a clear, sunny day and the mountain was so gorgeous and close. We skied until the sun went down (badly, on the green trails) and i think we are getting better. i want to go back! 
