The Purpose of Trendy Streets

I dug up an old post that I meant to post about three months ago.

I have been on a sabbatical from my social life. I just need a moment to sit and stare at the wall whilst I think about what it would be like to live in an avocado tree in Maui, or what the difference between clams and oysters are. So, I'm taking it easy and declining most social invitations.

This resulted in spending much time at home relaxing, writing, doing homework, reading, unloading the dishwasher and studying. I began to feel restless so I thought I would drive somewhere in my car.

I found myself on what was unquestionably one of the trendier streets in this town. A street with an buffet of vintage stores, coffee shops, book stores and micro-breweries.

The people there are trendy and don clothing that hasn't quite caught on to the masses (as they are too weird and can only be found in vintage clothing stores in three sizes too big). Some of the people there I would like to politely ask "Um excuse me, but what gender are you?"

And of course, it wouldn't be a truly eclectic street without the environmental activist approaching people saying: "Can I teach you about clean energy?" to which I reply "No thanks, I prefer fossil fuels." (Okay, that isn't true, I don't prefer fossil fuels, but I secretly imagine myself saying that to the those people who accost me just to ruffle some feathers and give them an answer not to be expected).

I wandered into a vintage store selling all manner of doodads, knick knacks, lamp shades, vinyl records, telephones (Who uses those anymore? With the affordability of cellular phones), rocking horses, and various relics of the past. I also bought a foofy coffee with whipped cream whilst I wandered around a used bookstore (I didn't buy anything as I am a fan of the library).

This brings me to the whole point of this discourse. The purpose of trendy streets is to cure to boredom for both individuals and groups. They are to be utilized and enjoyed by everyone. Note that I said "used," this means, go there and wander around.

I know it exists where you live. A trendy neighborhood that all the guidebooks mention. It's one of the places all the tourists go, but since you live there,well you've never bothered visiting this place. Well, go there and enjoy it!

A Water Bottle Manifesto

We Portlanders know the importance one's water bottle has on one's image. If we carry around re-used Snapple bottles, what would people think? They would think we're the recycling and reusing types bent on conservation. And, we would be quite content with such a characterization. Water bottles are yet another way which set us apart as individuals.

I remember my first official water bottle. I happily forked out $10 back in 2002 for a plastic Nalgene water bottle with the Tullys Coffee logo on it. I toted this 18 ounce water bottle around my high school and regularly filled it up with tap water. I felt quite cool. As I looked around my classroom, my desk was one of the few adorned with a giant Nalgene bottle. Indeed, I felt ahead of the game. But soon, everyone else started buying these over-priced water bottles. And then, I became like everyone else. Just another person with a Nalgene water bottle. Ho hum.

So, whilst we hydrate ourselves, we also want to celebrate our individuality with out water bottles. Hence, stickers have come into play. Some people slap a sticker of their favorite bands logo on their water bottle. Others display political slogans. But in any case, we make an attempt to spice up our water bottles and make them uniquely our own.

Although Nalgene water bottles were nothing but a fleeting fad, water bottles are still a popular accessory. But they have morphed in style, shape, color and now material.

To keep up with the ever-changing times, I have purchased a stainless-steel water bottle. With a flowery design set against the royal blue stainless steel, it truly is a beauty. However, once again, I have noticed that I am not the only one with the bright idea to have a stainless steel water bottle; everyone else has one too. So, I might make mine more distinct by ornamenting it.

Perhaps I will utilize that sticker I was given that says, "I only drink tap water." But then again, everyone else might start to do that also. Sigh.