A Shop of 'Wants'...and other scenes of Astoria.

I recently visited Astoria, Oregon for a business meeting.  As luck would have it, the day turned into one of the best in many weeks with the northern Oregon coast basking in clear blue skies and a warm sun…the sort of day that cause the photographer in us to call it a vacation day after the meeting was over, since these are rare in late Fall.   Good thing I seldom leave home without my camera.

In my wanderings I happened to stop in a little shop. (For those of you who don’t know me well, I’ve been known to frequent antique stores in my quest for vintage cameras or other oddities in general). I also enjoy visiting with store owners when things are slow…and Astoria is one of those towns where things can indeed get slow.  The Recession has not bypassed this town at all. 

Farmhouse Funk is a cute little shop near the waterfront that sells cute merchandise with which one could decorate or equip a kitchen. Alas, no cameras, but I did meet Denise the proprietor, and we talked about the ills of the economy and how we have all had to learn to make do with less. She waved her hand around the store and commented “This is a store of wants. There isn’t anything here that people ‘need’”. I suppose it is true, and many shops like hers struggle to stay afloat.  The number of vacant stores and boarded-up windows bear a stark testimony to those who don't make it.

As one of the oldest communities on the West Coast (celebrating its 200^th anniversary in 2011), Astoria has seen the rise and fall of the lumber and fishing industries and is now searching for its next renaissance.   Although the location at the mouth of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean beaches practically a stone’s throw away make this one of the most scenic spots in the state, one is never far from the reminders of Astoria’s glorious past that rivaled San Francisco to the south and Seattle and Vancouver to the north.  

Flavel House was once the home of Captain George Flavel, a river bar pilot and successful business man, and is a fine example of Victorian architecture.

Remnants of old fishing piers that tended ships and supported canneries, and logs that used to go to local mills are now destined for places across the ocean.  The city is rich with history, yet it cannot escape the realities of our current economic malaise with people struggling to make ends meet…and to perhaps survive. 

A decrepit pier, remnants of piling...and a steel structure of some sort are all that remain of a once-flourishing fishing industry (and no, I'm not sure what the devil that structure is!).  The Astoria - Megler bridge in the background connects Oregon with Washington as it spans the Columbia River.

Just a little to the south of Astoria is the town of Cannon Beach, with Haystack Rock in the distance.  This is taken from Ecola State Park.  Despite the melancholy one gets from the demise of industry and the remnants of a past glory, one can always get a lift from the spectacular scenery...that will never fall prey to the vagaries of economies. 

Also, if you happen to visit Astoria and need (or should I say "want) any funky items for your decorating tastes, be sure to visit Farmhouse Funk (http://farmhousefunk.com/), and say hello to Denise.

The Child Within Us

Last week I spent a few days in Chicago attending a Professional Services Management conference. As is my custom, I spent an extra day checking out some of the sights of the Windy City, especially since the weather was spectacularly beautiful…much better than the rain in Portland, apparently. In my wanderings I happened across a park with a fountain near the Navy Pier.

Fountains are an interesting thing…they attract kids, and kids become these giddy little balls of squealing energy as the water plays tricks with them. Have you also noticed how unaware children are of people watching them? How unself-conscious they are?

This little girl was enjoying playing in the water…so much so that she didn’t care how wet she became, or how cold the water might be.  It didn’t take much persuasion to have her go back into the fountain for some photos.

How often do we let the child within us out?  When was the last time you cavorted in a fountain, without a care in the world and not worrying about how wet we are?  I suppose that can be figurative as well as literal, and with a media that continuously reminds us of how serious this world is we need to find ways to play.

One of the discussions in my conference was how to involve those of the Millennial Generation in our work places and in our strategic planning. Who are they? “Millennial” is a term apparently preferred by those born after 1980 from a survey conducted by ABC’s Peter Jennings, and are mostly the children of us Baby Boomers. Millennials saw their parents work long hours, and thought "we don't want that". We (collectively) filled their time with sports, dance, and all manner of activity so they didn’t have the free play time us Boomers had when we were growing up. Yes, it’s a different world, but…

One of the characteristics of a Millennial is a desire for balance in work and play, and this is something us Boomers need to take into consideration as we move into management…and towards retirement. We need to recognize this different approach to life if we are to hand over the reins of our companies (and our world) to those following us.

There are a number of differences in perspective between the Millennials and the Boomers discussed in the seminar, and I came away with some good lessons. Not the least of those lessons is a need to not take ourselves seriously. That doesn’t mean we don’t work hard…we do, but we need to play as well.

 We need to let the child within us out…often!

September 11...Thoughts on New York

Yes...I know.  There is a plethora of articles, recollection of memories and gatherings to commemorate this tenth anniversary of that fateful day.  I hadn't planned to write anything myself, but an article in our local newspaper caught my attention.  It was tucked away in the business section and probably missed by all but the most diehard reader (which I am every Saturday morning, with a steaming cup of coffee next to me)...and yes, this is the paper version of the paper and not the on-line version...though I thought the article important enough to include the link: http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/cantor-fitzgerald-surviving-911-and-thriving/0d0f1c907c7c47118ecd9d83593c7299

The article is about Cantor Fitzgerald, a trading company that occupied the 101st to 105th floors of the north tower of the World Trade center.  Perhaps no other company suffered as great a loss as they had, with 658 of the 960 NYC employees perishing that day...all who happened to be in the office at the time.   One cannot imagine such decimation of a company's workforce.  The only reason Cantor Fitzgerald's CEO Howard Lutnick is alive is because he was bringing his son to his first day of kindergarten.  He was walking to the office when the plane struck the north tower.

What I find especially compelling about this story is what Cantor Fitzgerald did in the following weeks and years.  As a commitment to the employees who were lost, the company dedicated 25% of its profits for five years following that event to supporting the families of those employees...to the tune of $180 million!  The company also paid for the health care for those families for 10 years.  On top of all that, the profits for the day on each September 11th each year were given to good causes.

Wow!

It is in the midst of tragedy that people reveal what they are made of.  Mr. Lutnick's comment couldn't sum it up any better:  "I didn't think there was a choice. Either we take care of our friends' families or I'm not a human being."

Having visited NYC on a couple of occasions and our son David now living and working there, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the uniqueness of that city.  This story reinforces that appreciation.  Below are a couple of photos taken in 2010 during one of those visits.

This is taken in Battery Park.  It is a scupture that was in the plaza between the World Trade Center towers and was salvaged while sifting through the wreckage.  The holes and dents are stark reminders of the destruction that day.

This is Ground Zero in June, 2010. 

The experience of September 11, 2001 and the years following have taught us much...of ourselves as individuals, as a nation...and also as corporations.   The examples of those who survived inspire me to be a better person and to not take family and friendships lightly.

(For more about our visit to NYC, visit my blog: http://musingsonanewyorkminute.blogspot.com/)

"There's Gold in Them Thar Hills!"

"Gold in them thar hills"...despite the crude language, that phrase has sparked many a rush into the wilderness in the quest for the most precious of metals.  Gold has always kept its allure, which is especially evident in the recent days of record prices...almost $1,900 for an ounce!  Is it no wonder gold production is booming? 

Last week I had the privilege of visiting an operating gold mine near Elko, Nevada.  I say privilege, because the hoops through which I had to jump in order to be allowed to enter were nothing short of tortuous...though for good reason, which I found out after spending time there.  The other reason I would say privilege is that I actually got paid to be there, which is always a cool thing. 

I won't bore you with the details of what I did, but let it suffice that it involved checking out almost every building and structure in the mill area...lots of walking and climbing many, many stairs. 

Yes, that's me in front of a 350-ton truck...and that's not even the biggest one!  Those can carry 440 tons.  These babies haul the ore out of the pit and to the processing mill...which is where I spent most of my time. 

A view from the autoclave mill (the object of this week's trip) towards the roaster mill (in the middle distance) and the head of the underground shaft (towards the right, in the distance).  The roaster and the autoclave are two methods of processing the ore and separating the gold from the surrounding rock.  The mountain on the right, with the dark area at the top is a pile of the stuff removed to get to the gold-bearing ore and forms a dam behind which the tailings are deposited.  Tailings are the materials left over after the gold has been removed...and yes it contains some nasty stuff.  A rubber lining is used to prevent it from entering the ground.

It starts here, at the crusher where the ore is mechanically crushed into smaller pieces that are then carried by a conveyor belt to the mill.

Samples of the ore that fell off the conveyor belt.  Was I tempted to take a souvenir?  Sure, but security was understandably strict and one wouldn't even want to appear as if trying to put one in one's pocket...so a photo will suffice. 

 View from the Crusher towards the Autoclave building (on the left in the background)...

 ...and the mill building.  Everything from the Crusher goes to the mill building where the ore is rolled in large mills, and the powder is mixed with water and other chemicals to form a slurry.

Imagine a giant drum filled with rocks and in some cases steel balls, and then rotate.  Does your imagination give you an idea of the noise? 

 Imagine a room...no, a building full of rotating drums with rocks.  Yes, hearing protection was required.

After the slurry is formed, it goes to the Autoclave Building,  An autoclave is simply a pressure cooker where the slurry is mixed with steam and oxygen (and sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide and later with sodium cyanide), and exposed to heat and pressure.  With all those nasty chemicals, it is no surprise that one is required to take more than 16 hours of safety classes before one is allowed onto a mine site.

Image of one of the six autoclaves in this building  

One cannot imagine the sheer size of these buildings, even from these photos.  We climbed stairs equivalent of 5 stories, 6 times...once for each autoclave.

As impressive as these machines are, perhaps what is more impressive are the steps the mining companies take in environmental protection and restoration of the land.  I have to confess to a crisis of conscience when the offer to bid came into our office.  Having recently read articles about mining and recent accidents where many miners were killed, I wasn't so sure I wanted to be involved in this industry.  However, a little research showed me how modern mining techniques significantly reduce the adverse impacts and a shift in the attitudes of the mining companies showed a strong commitment to the protection of workers.  This was made very apparent in the mine safety classes I was required to take, which were followed by additional classes on-site to become familiar with the site's specific hazards.  Having met and worked with a number of people directly involved in the extraction of the minerals out of the ground, as well as those most involved with the protection of archeological and cultural resources, I felt much better about the process...though I have a very healthy respect for the nasty things some of those chemicals can do!

By the way, did you know that Nevada is the largest gold producing state?  Did you also know that Nevada has the largest open-pit gold mine in North America?  Yes...both are true.

Singing in the Rain - The First Montavilla Street Fair

July...the middle of July, and one would think that Portland would finally be ensconced into summer.  One would think that the middle of July would be a wonderful time to have the first Montavilla Street Fair, and that we would saunter down the streets, enjoying various food booths, savoring the visual arts of our local artists and craftspeople, and that we could mingle with our neighbors and listen to good music under sunny skies. 

One would think so....but, this is Portland...and it rained.  Hard.  Yet in true Portland fashion, we enjoyed it anyway.  We closed a couple of streets, set up the tents, wore our boots and slickers, pulled out our umbrellas...and had a great time.

Live music abounded (Stargazie is featured in the photo above, at the 79th Avenue stage)

At left is Schmidt's Body Care Products, one of the many vendors with tents on the street.

Did I mention that it rained? 

Occasionally a tent needed to release some of the rainwater that pooled  in the edges and folds, resulting in a cascade of proportions that would be at home in the mountains or the Columbia River Gorge.  Here Arnon of Bridgetown Forge clears his tent.  Bridgetown Forge makes the best knives, utensils and fabulous artwork, among other things.

Music here is provided by an assortment of artists, again at the 79th Avenue Stage (though the rain forced them to move into the space offered by Portland Garment Factory.  If anyone knows the name of this group, please let me know.)

The lovely and ebullent Nicole of Union Rose, one of the many unique and wonderful shops on SE Stark, where one can find the latest in fashions and accessories.The parking space behind Bipartison Cafe and beside Portland Garment Factory became another space for vendors as well as a beer and wine garden.

 Dancing Earth Massage provided free 5-minute massages.

 Face-painting for kids (and adults too, I suppose) was available.

 Of course, there is an election around the corner, and here we have Mayor Sam Adams on the left speaking with local residents, while Eileen Brady, a candidate for Mayor visits with prospective voters on the right (and no, that is NOT a reflection of their political leanings.  After all, Portland's mayoral race is non-partison.)

Mayor Adams paid a visit to the Montavilla Farmers Market, which formed the western end of the street fair.  Here he is pictured with the Market staff, board members and volunteers.  Yes...he is indeed wearing one of the Market shirts.  Way to go, Sam!

 Mayor Adams having a serious discussion with Gretchen, the Market manager.

 At the 78th Avenue portion of the Street Fair, one could learn all about Zipcar from these lovely ladies.  (If anyone knows their names, please let me know.)

Mayoral candidate Eileen Brady with Chris and Kate Harback.  Kate is the Board Chair for the Montavilla Farmers Market.  Here is a link for Eileen's campaign web site: http://www.eileenformayor.com/

Eileen Brady pictured with Beth Kluvers, who is the Board Treasurer for the Montavilla Farmers Market and also sits on the Board of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA), who put on the Street Fair.  (Yes, Beth does look a little wet.  We really do have umbrellas at home, and yes, they don't do any good there.)

Salon 419, which is located on SE 81st Avenue, weaves feathers into one's hair.  I thought about it, but I was told I didn't have enough hair to have it done.  I was disappointed. 

 The end result of the feather weave is really quite attractive, as these three lovely young women show.

"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!"  We also had Shakespeare in the street.  A troupe of actors from Milepost 5 presented a 15-minute dramatization from Romeo and Juliet.  Here Juliet is in the garden, while Romeo watches from a distance.

"Oh swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon that monthly changes in her circled orb..." as Juliet speaks to Romeo.

 Mia sports an ear piece fashioned by her daughter Lilith

METBA Board treasurer Beth Kluvers and Board Chair Dokken Ramsey (who owns Montavilla Wellness Center on SE Stark and 78th Avenue).  Many thanks to them and all of the people who made this first Street Fair so much fun.  

For more information about METBA and the Fair, here is a link:

http://metba.org/montavilla-street-fair.html

Faeries, Hobbits and Gnomes...Oh My! A Day at the Oregon Country Fair

One of the items on my bucket list was to experience the Oregon Country Fair.  Lest ye think that I am speaking about farm animals, carnival rides and baking contests...think again.  This is a slice of Oregon culture that occurs every year on the second weekend in July, near the town of Veneta, about 15 miles west of Eugene.  Started in 1969 by Ken Kesey and the Grateful Dead at a location in Eugene, it has grown to an event that plays host to more than 40,000 people over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday it is held.  I could wax on about this, but I will let you read for yourself at a couple of websites: http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Country_Fair.

Remember what I said about Oregon's "culture"?  Perhaps counter-culture is a more accurate term, and so it was as we entered through the gate...and into another world.

At the original fair held 42 years ago, fairgoers were asked to wear costumes (remember, this was the tail end of the "Sixties", the era of Woodstock, Oregon's own Vortex...and of course, the Vietnam War and associated protests).  The costume tradition has continued, and perhaps even blossomed into something truly wondrous...as you will see in the following images. 

Upon walking into this new world, our first encounter was with this...tall wolf. Apparently a friendly one who seemed unthreatening to the youngsters.

Children are very much a part of this fair experience and there was no shortage of things to do for them.  Everything from crafts to games and even strategically placed sanctuaries where one can nap. 

Of course, what little girl doesn't secretly want to be a fairy? 

...and don't many of us have a child within, wanting to express that same desire we had when we were little?

Perhaps the idea that one can become something different than what one is during the rest of the year is one of the appealing aspects of the fair?  When one considers what the "real world" seems to offer at times, why not?

Man has always been fascinated by fantasies and mythical creatures.  Look at the popularity of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings...and yes, we saw a few Frodos.

Aside from the visual treats one enjoys just watching other people, there were many venues offering entertainment.  Here is a juggling act (with knives) over four men forming a table by interlocking themselves in a square. 

The visual treats never ceased.  Butterflys and fairies were the most popular for women (like the one on the right, in black), and men seemed to favor leather kilts (on the left, walking behind the butterfly)

Hairstyles was yet another form of expression.  Green hair (or hairpiece) as is on the right seemed the norm for the weekend, but I did find the stacked "do's" like the one on the right pretty amazing.

Another venue offered pirate skits...and yes, somehow pirates did not seem incongruent at all.  We sat in on various speakers, some serious and some comical, and I especially enjoyed some of the poetry readings.

This couple would dance to music, only to suddenly stop in a frozen pose, until...yep, you guessed it.  Someone put some money in the basket and the music magically started again.  I thought these two were pretty cute.

Here is a hula dancer accompanied by a banjo...sort of the antithesis of dueling banjos.

This fair maiden somewhat epitomized so much of the fair...the flowers, the dress, the cape or robe..a carefree attitude.

This one fascinated us...and I'm not sure why??  (wink)  Perhaps it was the leather chaps missing the seat, or the sequined panties?  Maybe it was the purple hair topped with a sailor's cap.  We stood for a long time trying to decide if she was really a he (yes, there was definitely some gender bending going on)



What fair isn't complete without some body paint?  While most went with designs on their faces, there were some who chose paint as a covering rather than those pesky fabrics...clothes can be so confining!  Joking aside, it was pure delight at the lengths people went to express themselves.  I think the freedom to decorate, to dress and to "be" to their heart's desire is both exhilerating and refreshing.

 ne of the biggest draws are the hundreds of craft booths throughout the fair, with everything from pottery to jewelry to musical instruments, such as the hand-carved guitar above.  The artwork was amazing.

A recurring theme is to dress as one wants, limited only by one's imagination.  Even some of the men that guided us to our parking spot when we arrived were dressed in...dresses. 

Yet underneath this playfulness is a deep commitment to being green, which was a hallmark of the fair from the very beginning 42 years ago.  Preparations for the fair begin a week before with cleanup from the previous winter's floods of the nearby Long Tom River (as it does every year), and much of the work is done by volunteers.  Much of the food is local and organic (and yes, meat was available...I was happy!), and the plates, cups and silverware are all washed and reused.  There is very little waste that enters the landfill.

Scattered throughout the fair are signs, with quotes or sayings...some pithy, some funny, and then some that seem at first to be somewhat non-sensical...until one ponders it a little more.  The one above took a little bit to sink in for me, especially in light of what seems like general wackiness and play...and much of that certainly is, but there is a touch of truth as well.  Despite what we look like, or how we try to portray ourselves and make each of us distinct from one another, we are basically related. 

We went into this experience without any pre-conceived notions and certainly without prejudices (or as much as we possibly can, given our human nature).  I came away with a new appreciation for not taking ourselves very seriously.  This was indeed pure delight...and a little magical.