Oregon Country Fair
Thats right, country fair, not county fair. There is a difference. This weekend is the Hippie Meca event of all events. The Oregon Country Fair was started in 1969 by the large commune of hippies here. They had their own community, a "free" college and trade schools for their system of self sustainability, grew their own crops and considered themselves the counter culture of America. I read an article about this community of people and they made some bold and strange statements.

One thing which struck me was that they came to Oregon because they were free of the persecution they faced in other parts of the country and came here because they had more of an ability to be free here. Which to me means no one here stopped them from smoking lots of pot, doing other drugs of choice in the 60s, not sending their kids to "regular" school, not paying taxes (Oregon has no sales tax either), and got to walk around shirtless (as mentioned before it is legal for anyone to be shirtless here).

They compared their pilgrimage to Oregon to the Oregon Trail, and even to the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Hello... what? The men and women on the Oregon Trail went on a long journey, many died along the way, and they were poor people looking for a place to settle and raise families, to survive and make a life for themselves. Not to run from the government rules and hide their drug behavior and anti-American protests. The trail of tears... now this is just absurd! The native Americans were forced to leave THEIR lands... they were killed, hunted, poisoned, lied to, signed false contracts, and in many ways enslaved by the USA. How can hippies, who don't want to wear bras, think we should be communists, live in VW Vans, disagree with the government no matter what (I disagree as well at times, but not just for the sake of disagreeing with the "man") compare themselves to that? Are they seriously so disillusioned in their views or see themselves as such outcasts?

I really don't have a huge problem with hippie ideals. I know my comments don't sound like that, but I have no problem with people who don't bother me. Bother me... and we got a problem. So maybe I don't think Bush is the devil, that is my view. Yelling at me about it, or being mean to me for not thinking he is the devil pisses me off. Have your views, I have no trouble with that. Just let me have mine. Here is their hypocrisy...

They claim America is brainwashes and does what their leaders tell them (duly elected by the people leaders mind you). So they want me to believe what they tell me? So they want to brainwash me... so where is my choice here? So I should brainwashed by them cause they smell bad and are living a "herbal" holistic life? They want to FORCE their views on me, and call me ignorant for believing something else, and not believing what they tell me.

Next point. I also noticed on the information for the Oregon Country Fair that they are a 501(c)3 organization. Which means they have a certain government allowance from the IRS that they are a non-profit company (like any educational foundation for example). So they can take tax deductible donations and don't pay the taxes I am. Well now... self sustainability... anti-government... seems to me that they sustain themselves off of donations that people write off on their taxes, and that the government has granted them special privileges. Wow... the government does suck, and man if you really try to can live without them. Its like complaining about what McDonalds and corporate fast food giants have done to American culture while sitting in the drive threw lane talking on my cell phone asking my family what happy meal they want. Makes no sense. Hypocrisy.

I do not claim to be an idealist. I really don't care. But just don't make yourself out to be better because you believe certain things... just cause someone else told you to believe them. Here is one of the main hippie comments that makes me mad.

No War. War never solves anything. Alright now... I am not saying I believe war is the only solution. But sometimes force is what it takes. I mean anyone who says war never solved anything obviously never read a history book. Seems to me that the revolutionary war worked out pretty well for the USA... I mean the UK still occupies lands in other countries to this day. Civil war... I think there is a whole cultural portion of America's population that seems pretty happy we went to war on that one. Lets see... what's next... I think Jewish people are pretty happy about one of those World Wars... I mean that seemed to solve something for them. No war my butt... sometimes force is needed. (This is not a debate on the Iraq War, maybe in a later blog).

Please feel free to share your views, it is a free country (we fought for the right to free speech).

Trip to the Midwest
So Bradley University called today... I am one of their top three candidates and they want me to come to campus. Four applications out... four times I make the campus visit list. That feels pretty good. Guess what day they wanted me to interview? The same day at Albion College. I got them to move it to a few days afterwards.

I am trying to figure out travel between the two interviews and find some time to see Novalí. It looks like I will fly into Chicago on Wednesday July 14th, then drive to Albion, MI for my interview there on the 15th. After that interview head to Chicago to spend time with Novali (who I just got off the phone with... she is too funny). Then I drive on Sunday the 18th to Peoria, IL for my interview with Bradley. On the morning of Tuesday the 20th I drive back to Chicago and then fly over to Oregon. I love short jam-packed trips, and this one will be more packed then ever!

Fireworks and Bands
This weekend was a great time to get away, some time to relax, see a new city and good ol' fireworks. Friday work ended at noon and then the adventure began.

The first destination was Florence. This coastal city is west of Eugene and has beautiful dunes, water is too cold for swimming but awesome sand. It was a slow drive because of the holiday traffic but worth it for the ocean view. Turning and heading north provided even more views and some cool stops. The Sea Lion Caves were great and learned some interesting things about those large fin footed animals. The next stop was a small sea side restaurant for great fresh sea food. After more time following the ocean the road turned toward Portland.

The winding Highway 101 which hugged the coast was a fun drive.

Florence had sweet sand dunes and cold water.

The buildings were beautiful and lots of cliff side lighthouses.

The views of the ocean stretched for miles and miles.

Portland was fun. It's the biggest city in Oregon, but still not much larger then Grand Rapids. The first night was a trip to WallBangers a dueling piano bar. The music was great and a lively crowd of birthday and bachelorette parties kept the place entertained. The next stop was a club called Lotus... old school to say the least and not the scene I prefer. A stop around some properties and a 7-11 for some late night snacks and the night was over.

Saturday was prefect weather again and it was a great day to walk all over the city and see what was going on. Lunch was at a place called Rock Bottom, which like all Oregon bar and grills had their own beer. There was a Jazz festival going on near the water and in Oregon style a saturday outdoor market. This market was not nearly as hippie as the Eugene one and had some fun booths and so many food vendors. Some more shopping and getting deals (anyone who knows me knows I love sale shopping) it was off to dinner at this great spanish placed called OBA. It had tappas, an ample selection of wine and a soft atmosphere.

The city was very clean and easy to get around on foot.

Rock Bottom makes a great IPA and good chicken salad.

The Jazz festival included dance lessons and of course food.

The Portland Saturday market was huge!

It looks live bands are a staple product in Oregon during the summer.

OBA is well known Spanish stop in the Posh Portland District.

Sunday tried to stop in Salem (Oregon's capital) to see the capital building and get some lunch. Lunch was hard to find, once I remembered it was a holiday the only place open in Salem was the stop. A herbal tea, veggie sandwich, and political paper type place. You know, my favorite type place. One of the magazines advertised "holistic" dental care? What is that? It said... "We treat the entire individual, not just the teeth." On top of legalize marijuana adds, petitions against Walmart, and one add with a picture of MLK saying "Got Milk?"... which was for a peace organization. What does Milk have to do with Peace?

Lots of rose gardens and not so famous houses.

Capital Manor... not what we were looking for.

After the fun herbal experience trying to find the capital was just as hard. One sign pointing to "Capital Manor" turned out to be a retirement village... and the Historic Salem tour signs took me to nothing Rose Gardens and famous homes which I did not consider so famous. So back to Eugene it was.

Sunday night in Eugene was Art and the Vineyard and of course fireworks. The city of Eugene puts on a great show for the fireworks. They had art displays, bands, and lots of food booths (including one from Peru which was awesome!). I am not usually a fireworks fan, but with some fried plantains and fresh lemonade it turned out pretty well.

What else but live bands... and old people dancing.

Compost, Garbage and Recycling... some one stood by and watched to be sure you put it in the right place.

These kids had balloon swords and holsters, they get creative these days on what they make out of balloons. What happened to balloon dogs?

It was great watching the father and son teams lighting and watching their fireworks.

Once if got fully dark.. the show started.

The finale was great, everyone cheered.

Monday went shopping with Shelley and her daughter that is in town visiting. Jennifer (Shelley's daughter) brought with her Shelley's newest purchase... two little dogs. A mini Dashound and mini Fox Terrier. These little dogs are a riot and will be fun around the house. We will see what adventures they get into as the start to interact with the old cats.

I am looking for more adventures with friends out here. It was fun tooling around Portland, and for anyone who wants to make a weekend trip to the Northwest let me know. Shelley and Herb are great hosts (right Heather?) and there is a lot to do. I got Brothers in Seattle that I want to visit and maybe even a trip into Canada to see Vancouver.