I'm sitting here trying to write down my new years resloutions and I'm about half way through but my mind keeps wondering. I keep asking myself in my head about the research I have been doing for my trip to the Pacific Northwest. The question that keeps entering my mind is What makes Portland Weird?

It is unofficially the weirdest city in the U.S. and if you don't agree you can aleast agree that it is extremely quirky. I get a long with weird, perhaps because I myself have been described as weird, and I also attract a lot of weirdos. In short I'm a weirdo magnent and it keeps things interesting.

True weirdness is like residue. It's a sludgy pot of  people, culture, ideas, and inspiration that get mixed together and thrown on a wall, the residue from that it was sticks, it's the weird. It is also a state of being, you can be in the weird for a while, being in the weird is where I come up with my best ideas, okay well not all my best ideas come from being in the weird, sometimes they just sound good at the time.

Anyway what makes Portland weird, and more importantly how does it continue to stay weird? It's a lot of effort to stay weird, okay well if you are truely odd its not as difficult as it sounds its just that you have to get those who are not weird to catch on to the idea of weirdness and that can be a task.

I suppose a velevet painting museum, naked hippy cyclists, and a weird mystery hole are the kind of things that one could consider odd but they are more like seeds that have been carried a bit by the wind from the large tree of weird.

I guess it would really have to be the locals that keep the weirdness alive. Inspiring others to create and advance weirdness. Now I know about crazy locals, Key West has some really loopy ones, I was explained that it has to do with the alcohol and the sun. Something about the combination kinda fries their head a bit and twists reality like taffy. I mean where else would you see this in July in 90 plus degree weather but Duval Street in Key West or naked Kevin who is an awesome dancer but has to hide his money in an undisclosed potted plant because he birthday suits don't have pockets and he want to enjoy a few drinks.

Elvis Werewolf

I'm hoping to really enter the weird when I hit Portland.  Is it possible to succeed in getting weird? Is this a goal that can be achieved and if it is, does anyone besides me want to?

I want to come back from Portland with a renewed sense of weirdness. Something to put a halt to my daytime 9-5 corporate zombie walk I do each week. Some thing that is really going to kick off some inspiration and creativiness.

I am half way through watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations - Pacific Northwest Episode, but I don't want to retrace his steps, I just want to use it as  a guide to give me ideas advance or enhance my trip. I want my own unique experience.

The other thing I do is write list that I never abide by. I love doing this, the list are for research purpose only, its no fun to get wrapped up in a list you feel you must do in numberical order and finish. It's more of a guide to say, "hey see that place, I wrote it on my list and I know what it's about and since we are here you wanna check it out?"

I'm a feeler, I feel things, I don't do things because I feel I have to or because somebody else thinks it's the "right way" to do things. If I'm leaving for 7 days I pack atleast 12 changes of clothes because I really don't know what I'm going to feel like wearing that day, and what I think I may feel like and what I do, usually don't match up. I don't like to tie myself down, fun to me is about doing things naturally as they come and not forcing them to happen so why would I write an itenirary and stick to it? I noticed sometimes it stresses people out when time is not on their side. "We must do this and in this exact order!" Ummmm why can't you just go with the flow and enjoy and not get your panties in a wad.

I also write travel list iteniraries differently than most, mine sound more like a scavenger hunt than a travel itenerary and everything is open ended because I also like to give some wiggle room.

... but there is one thing I know for certain, I fully intend on helping Portland stay weird.

I've been posting and reading a lot on the chow site this year and have become a regular florida chowhound on the chowhound florida boards. There are some very knowledgable Foodies on the site. One such helpful and knowledgable person is Bob Mervine. I have used a lot of his reviews, advice and comments to guide my way around the florida food scene. He seems pretty elusive and I always wished he would reply to my post, but he never did.

I read a post today and in the post was something that shocked me. It read:

"A few years ago, Bob Mervine was kind enough to answer my post and gave some great suggestions. His lost is deeply felt, I know, by all foodies."

What?! I didn't know he had passed away so I dug around a bit and realized he passed away in 2007. I had been reading old post that are still relevent from back in 2007. Often times old post get dug up when others have new information or just to agree or disagree with the information provided so while it may be at the top of the list, his post were all from 2007 and past. No wonder he never replied to my post, and here I was thinking that perhaps my post were not interesting enough for him to comment on. lol.

It just made me realize that in this age everything we do here in social communities still exist after we pass on. Certainly interesting that I have been taking food advice from a dead man all year.

and no one said anything when I would rely to bob on the boards, they must have just thought I was putting in my two cents but I was actually replying to him. hah.

Rest in Peace Bob, I'll still continue to read you and take your advice