There is Absolutely NOTHING Like Portland Oregon on a Sunny Day!

Cherry blossoms in bloom along the westbank of the Willamette River!

It definitely doesn’t rain ALL the time in Portland Oregon.  As a matter of fact, we often enjoy these unexpected explosions of early Springtime.  If we weren’t true Oregonians, we’d be packing away our sweater and galoshes and pulling out the flip-flops and shorts.  But, we know this is just a welcome “tease”.  As I was “tooling along on my townie”, I noted that I am constantly amazed at the beauty, the cleanliness and the diversity of Portland!  I enjoy seeing that “Spring had Sprung”, then bike over one of the ten outstanding bridges in downtown to the eastbank of the Willamette River and check out rowing lessons.  

Rowing lessons offered on the eastbank of the river!

A little further down the eastbank is the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) with the ever-changing array of exhibits and the IMAX theatre. 

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

 Then back across the Hawthorne Bridge to head down to the South Waterfront and check out the new construction there.  Despite a challenged real estate market, they continue with the development.  The park is almost finished and will add an inviting element for the enclave.  The tram to OHSU still a relative new addition to the Portland skyline.  

The tram on it's way up "Pill Hill" to OHSU

 Biking back to downtown with what seemed like the entire population of the Portland metro area all enjoying the sunshine and warmth, you would occasionally see what “keeps Portland weird”.  

Bagpiper on unicycleStolling musician!

 And, finally a bite to eat at the Saturday Market.  Today market the “Grand Opening” of the 37th annual Portland Saturday Market!  

Tie-dye and flambuoyance at the Portland Saturday Market!

And, a possible Jimi Hendrix sighting???   

Jimi, is that you???

One of my favorite Jimi Hendrix tunes:  “All Along the Watchtower” 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14qTXRkAKr8

Commentary on my New DROID Phone! Take Note Portland!!

Ok, so I have suffered long and hard as I enjoyed both of my two children buying, loving and employing the IPhone with all of it’s technological wonders.  However, when in my downtown condo, they both would have to gravitate to the windows to get coverage (AT&T). I’m sorry, but receiving and returning phone calls, texts, e-mails is an absolute “must” in by real estate business!  At this juncture in the development of communications and technology, I cannot give up my Verizon coverage.  So, my “not-so-closet-tech-geek-son” tells me there is no other choice for me other than the DROID.  I buy it on a Tuesday evening at the downtown Portland Oregon Verizon store, with the promise that despite the fact they apparently don’t have the tech support I was accustomed to with my Blackberry, I would have some support in how to set up the necessary technology to enjoy my DROID.  Not so.  Luckily, I spawned a techno-geek first-born son who was able to save the day.  He utilized “Go To My PC” and virtually helped me complete the transition. However, now that I’ve done the dance, I realize it’s not that complicated but you do have to have the will to survive.  I’m a PC and windows aficionado.  So, give me a set of instructions and I can usually comply.  There was no “how-to” booklet included in the purchase.  I can usually follow directions, but the on-line instructions were not A-B-C.  Okay, enough whining.  Once you realize that all you have to do is set up a g-mail account (and give up Outlook???) (which, BTW, my son reminds me is the “wave of the future”, soon there will be nothing but web-based communication), you also realize this is not that complicated.  In my business, any time spent without my e-mail, text, contacts, etc is time-a-wasting. I’m still not completely weaned off Outlook, but I’m trying to get comfortable with my g-mail account.  I do love the “threads” (once I figured out the “method to the apparent madness”) that only a google account can provide.  I’ve not figured out how to set up e-mail distribution groups on g-mail and the search functions are not as organic (or maybe I’m just not used to them yet).

Now that I can call, receive and send e-mail, get my texts and import my contacts and calendar (from Outlook), I’m a happy camper.  What else do I love?  I can actually download RMLS (the Portland Realtor’s Multiple Listing info) on the DROID and read it!  I can surf the web with much more proficiency, I have multiple apps (much like the IPhone), I have an individual icon for texts, e-mails, voice-mails, more.  I love that you have the choice of the touch-screen PLUS the qwerty keyboard (it makes the transition smoother between the Blackberry and the Droid).  I love the high resolution screen.  I love the 5GB camera.  I love the voice activation feature.  I love the GPS.  It’s so new, I’ll admit I don’t know all the advantages.  As I know more, I’ll share!  Anyway, it’s a Brave New World out there….love it or leave it!??