Notes from a Genius

So, I went to Sheryl Crow last night, and I know what everyone is thinking "lame!" but as a music fan I consider her to be extremely influential to female singer-songwriters and I'd encourage anyone to find a better songwriter these days. I mean, "Strong Enough" is one of the greatest songs of ALL TIME. Yup! It's one of those songs I consider to be too short, like, when it's over, you are begging for one more verse-chorus. Something more. Setlist: Our Love Is Fading A Change Would Do You Good Eye To Eye 100 Miles From Memphis Can’t Cry Anymore Say What You Want Strong Enough Long Road Home My Favorite Mistake Summer Day Sign Your Name (Terence Trent D’Arby cover) Everyday Is A Winding Road Sideways (Citzen Cope cover) Stop Roses and Moonlight If It Makes You Happy Soak Up The Sun All I Wanna Do I Want You Back (Jackson 5 cover) Peaceful Feeling

I don't think I've gone out with as many different girls as I have since recently moving to Portland. It's been about a month and the tally's at 3. And hey that's a lot for me! I've been talking to quite a few, building what I call a foundation, I suppose, to see where each one could possibly lead. It's nice to see the differences and see the instant connection, perhaps, if not, they sometimes I lose interest pretty quickly. I have a short attention span I guess. I don't know what it is. Maybe I know exactly what I'm looking for and haven't found it yet. Or maybe I just have really, really high fucking standards. I'm still trying to figure it out. Well, so I went out to Empire Thursday night with the aforementioned girl from my previous post- the one I met at a bar. We really hit it off, I think. We went to see the Fog Cutters, swing dancing band, of which my buddy Brian happens to play in. This girl and I ended up hanging out in the bar down...

I want to hold. And be held in return. I moved from Lewiston after 10 years of living on my own, in my own apartment, feeling like that well had run dry in so many metaphorical aspects. Not to belittle Lewiston, I mean, it is my hometown, and I know there are great people there-- but in terms of finding "someone" to be with and share the aforementioned statement...No thank you. Not much for choices. Portland on the other hand. It seems everywhere I look-- and I look around A LOT-- there are beautiful girls/women/ladies. I was out last night, again. I know I know, people that know me are thinking "what a complete 360 this dude has done in the past 2 weeks!" Well, perhaps it's true. Or perhaps it's the fact that there are so many more options in Portland and I just want to get the fuck out. I don't want to be hanging out in my apartment all the time. This is a conscience change for me, alhtough I do still enjoy "me" time. I want to explore. I wan...

I've had to explain my tattoos twice this weekend. Not that I mind. Friday night it was amongst girls and they found my explanation/story behind both sleeves interesting/intriguing/insightful and wondered aloud why more guys couldn't/wouldn't think like I do. I thought that was interesting. And then today, while working at the gym (Planet Fitness), an old man came up to the desk after working out and said the following: "Do you mind if I ask you something? And I hope you don't get offended." "Sure." "I saw your tattoos and I was just wondering why? What would compel you to do that? Is it some kind of macho-thing? I'm just wondering." (Yeah, why would I get offended? Right? I suppose it's all in the delivery. But, again, me being me, it takes a lot more to offend me. In fact I don't think it's possible to offend me.) My reply. "It's certainly not a macho-thing. Everyone who knows me can certify that I am the least ma...

Oh yeah, also, I have a tendency to hang out at Panera Bread to use their WIFI, it's free and I'm cheap. I've yet to purchase internet or cable at my apartment and I really don't want to. Plus, I love people watching, so going there is great. I sit in the corner and watch the people come and go (and I must say, attractive women/girls tend to frequent this place often). Well, I was hanging out there today again and Brian Yocono from Channel 6 came in. We have a "history" that goes back from last year. I was featured in the Sun Journal last year for a project I did with my 1st grade class and he had recognized me at the gym (we both went to Planet Fitness) from being in the newspaper. At the time, I honestly was not sure if he really was the guy from the News, so I didn't say anything, and honestly I was too busy deflated my head from being "recognized"-- when really I should be used to it by now. I mean, I carry LEGENDARY status around Lewiston/Au...

Here's my synopsis of my first First Friday LIVING in Portland (yes, I've done it before, but it was more of a hit-and-run kind of thing). So, I've been talking to a girl I met online (sure, I'll admit it. I'm not ashamed, because I'm just not the kind of person to go out to bars or what-have-you social-scene places and just randomly talk to people---- but if they talk to me first, sure, I'll engage in conversation). The same girl I went to Local Sprouts with the other night, so I'm doing well, 2nd date-ish, sort of. We met up an hour into First Friday outside of MECA and the night officially began. So, I met quite a few of her friends throughout the night as our group started as a threesome and quickly grew to 3-4-5. All really cool people. I was in a good element, frame-of-mind, telling a few one-line jokes, attempting to sound intelligent interpreting art pieces, conversing, listening, etc. We were at SPACE, discussing a few of the drawings and this w...

The Unbearable Being of a Sweaty Mess, Disorganized Mess in the Classroom. Unbelievably hot, exhaustive, uncomfortable (insert adjective here), that's the only way to describe the first week of school. I decided to just keep the lights off in the classroom all day, every day, unless a kid asked for them. Having an active class of students doesn't help with dealing with the heat, either. I tell you. I'm hoping their talkative-ness and fidget-ing is just a by-product of being hot and uncomfortable. Then again, they are 6. It could be a long year, but it will definitely be fun and interesting. I can already tell. So, here's where I stand as I've been comparing the past two years of my professional career to this new position. As a brand new teacher a couple of years ago, I was given full reign of the reigns and/or leashes, which left me wondering what exactly needed to be done, if I was in fact doing things right and without much of a backbone of support. Then I was to...