Aug 10, 2013 | life around portland
During the 35 years I lived in Philadelphia, I don’t think I ever saw the Emergency Alert System (or Emergency Broadcast System) used outside of the standard, regularly-scheduled testing.
You know the one: three crackly electronic beeps (that’s the official term) followed by the 1050Hz sound, and then a robot-esque voice stating whether it’s a test or sharing details on what the the actual emergency is.
I will say this: those alert beeps do make you stop what you are doing and pay attention. I was shocked, however, when I didn’t hear the words, “This is just a test of the Emergency Broadcast System…”. Instead, I heard, “A severe thunderstorm alert has been issued…”
I won’t lie. The Philadelphian in me kind of chucked. They stopped all broadcasts for a thunderstorm! (I know, I know – it’s important to warn people about weather events, especially when the events are out of the norm, so I shouldn’t laugh.)
But seriously, I couldn’t help but think how watching shows start to finish would have been a rarity in Philadelphia between June and September if this was the norm. I feel like we would have gone bananas if shows were interrupted for weather events. Instead of the EAS, we had little warning maps in the corners of the screens. And even THOSE made viewers cranky because they took up about 1/4 of the bottom of the screen. I am feeling too lazy to Google the actual origins of those little maps right now, so I will just assume that, years ago, throngs of angry Philadelphians gave the local stations such a hard time when their programs were interrupted due to approaching thunderstorms that the television execs had to quickly find an alternative to the EAS …and, ta da! The little corner weather warning maps were born. Way to go, Philadelphia. First electricity, then the little corner weather warning maps. You rock. Hahaha.
Thunderstorms aren’t very common in the Portland area (I have only heard thunder twice since we moved here and seen one flash of lighting), so I guess they warrant an Emergency Alert. The warning advised people what to do if a storm struck – things like go indoors and stay away from windows. I never thought about it before, but I guess if thunderstorms aren’t the norm, you really may not know what to do?! Personally, the streaks of lightning and roaring thunder are indicative of proper behavior, but you can never assume…
Jul 25, 2013 | life around portland
I had one of those “Yep, I’m from Philadelphia moments” last weekend when I was walking to the Beaverton Farmers Market from my parking spot.
I was patiently waiting for the light to turn green so I could walk across the street. I stood next to the street lamp and looked around, trying not to grow oh-so-incredibly-bored while waiting the 180 seconds for the light to turn and I could be on my way. 😉
Apparently, I am a Portland loser for waiting.
An older guy rushed past me and jammed the pedestrian button in at least 10 times in about three seconds’ time. He then looked at me and sighed. I can only assume the sigh was for me because a) I was the only other person besides his wife / lady friend within earshot and b) I had arrived about 12 seconds before him and didn’t push the button. So, we had to wait to cross the street for a few more seconds. Together. Me, a non-pedestrian-button-pusher and Grumpy Anxiouspants, who was no doubt that way because he had to wait on the corner due to my ineptitude. To pass the remaining few seconds for the light to change and avoid all eye contact, I mentally thought-bubbled his venom for me:
- Don’t you know all the good peaches sell by 8:15?
- It’s 8:08 for chrissake! We’re going to have to get re-stocked tomatoes! You’ve ruined my dinner!
- I might as well not even go to the market now! We’re eight minutes past opening! It will be at least eight minutes and 46 seconds by the time I get there now!
Here’s the thing, though – in my defense, these buttons are a joke in Philadelphia. So, I typically think nothing of standing at a red light until it turns green on its own, without a little prodding from me or anyone else who feels compelled to push the button.
I don’t think I have ever pushed one that worked. Really. Pushing them in Philadelphia was always merely an exercise in futility for the mild-mannered and one in frustration for the hot-heads. So, over the course of my 35 years in Philadelphia, I just got used to ignoring them. I don’t just ignore them in Philadelphia, I ignore them in all cities. I figure lights aren’t that long anyway, so I can just stand there and wait.
Apparently not this guy. He wanted the right of way right then. And I was holding him back. Had I pushed the button when I first got to the corner, he could have just kept stride. I ruined his Saturday. I could tell by the tone of his sigh. And the thought bubbles I scripted for him.
But really, he clearly knew something I didn’t: the buttons in Portland work. Hahaha. Now that I think about it, I do see people pushing them when we’re driving around town. I guess this was my first opportunity to use one…and I failed. And made a fellow Portlander cranky in doing so. Might as well tattoo “I’m from Philadelphia” on my forearm to warn others that I stink at local stuff everyone else knows. 🙂
So…now you know. Always push the pedestrian button – even if they don’t work in your home town – hahaha.
Jul 22, 2013 | life around portland
In Portland, supporting local businesses (including farms, artists, artisan bakers, artisan anything really…) seems to be a huge part of the culture. In Philadelphia, it was sort of like that – I mean we all had our favorite “corner store” or “corner deli” or barbershop, hair dresser, etc., within very short walking distance from our homes. Plus, those of us in Mayfair had “The Ave.”, and when I was growing up, that was still the hot spot for produce, gift shops, bakeries, candy shops, etc. Maybe we were hip before it was hip to shop local? Yep. Let’s go with that, fellow Mayfairians (? Mayfairers? Mayfairites? Whatevs. You know where I am going there.)
However, in Portland, it’s a bit different – maybe there’s more of an emphasis on not only buying local, but also buying homemade or home-grown? I think that’s it. Here it seems as though every neighborhood or town has its own ‘farmers market’ – chock full of local organic produce, dairy and meats from nearby farms in addition to more specialized goods like home-harvested honey, handmade nut butters, freshly thrown pottery, etc. The whole ‘farmer’s market’ phenomenon was just taking off in Jenkintown before we moved out here, so, in fairness, maybe it is a thing back home now – lol!
I typically like this sort of thing, and especially love fresh produce, so I suckered the whole family into venturing to the Beaverton Farmers Market for an inaugural visit last weekend. It was good. Definitely a ton of fresh produce.
I bought the most delicious tomatoes I’ve had since moving here – I believe they were from Spring Hill Organic Farm. They were called Cosmonauts. Apparently, the are an heirloom tomato that originated in the Ukraine, just like good old Grandmom Riznychok. Their gorgeous deep red color and heavy weight, the fact about the Ukraine origins, and the description that read something along the lines of full, sweet, tangy tomato taste had me sold. They were every bit as amazing as I imagined – so amazing, in fact, that I returned to the market this past Saturday to scoop up some more. They remind me a lot of Jersey tomatoes. Maybe a bit softer. But every bit as tasty and succulent. I prepared them one of our favorite ways – seasoned and topped with breadcrumbs, parmesan and olive oil, then broiled until crispy. We had them with grilled chicken and pasta – awesome summer dish. Kind of like poser chicken parm.
Did the family like the market? Yes. The only point where I thought I’d lose Kenny was when we stumbled upon some performance art which involved a gal climbing up and down some prop stairs…most of the time on her hands and knees while wearing a short dress. He didn’t make us immediately leave, so that’s a win – hahaha. But he also didn’t offer to hop in the car this past Saturday for the return visit – hahaha. 🙂
Jul 17, 2013 | moments & memories
When we were young, the Mister Softee truck was always a welcome after-dinner summer treat for us city kids. We’d fill sweltering summer days playing kick the can, riding Big Wheels or “swimming” in round plastic pools from K-Mart in the shared driveways (or alleys – depending upon your preference 🙂 ) behind the mid-century row houses in Northeast Philadelphia, before grabbing dinner – and hopefully a Mister Softee – before heading back to the driveway to play Manhunt.
I always preferred Mister Softee to the standard popsicle purveyors. I mean, really, it’s no contest, right? Swirls of vanilla and chocolate soft serve so covered with with rainbow or chocolate jimmies that it’s quite possible to forget what flavor you ordered because you cannot see beneath them vs. corn-syrup-y, fake juice-y frozen shapes that mom can buy at the grocery store? Soft serve driving down the street wins hands-down for me. (Potentially controversial side note: “Sprinkles” are “jimmies” for non-Philadelphians, and potentially some Philadelphians, but this is a “jimmies” gal’s blog – haha.)
Honestly, I haven’t had an ice cream truck drive down my street in about 10 years. Once we moved to the Philadelphia suburbs, and then to Portland, the tell-tale jingles touting approaching cool, sweet treats were no longer part of our summer.
In fact, technically, my kids have never really been exposed to the whole ice cream truck concept.
However, funny thing. This truck drove up our street, and Gavin darted toward it.
He knew. Apparently, you needn’t have had the experience before knowing this is definitely a good thing for kids in the hot summer weather. 🙂 Sadly, this was the popsicle kind of truck, but it still made me think about summers on Wellington Street in Mayfair and smile.
Jul 2, 2013 | life around portland
You may remember our road trip to Astoria last November to check out the town, see the sea lions and generally visit the cute little town where Goonies was filmed when my brother and his family were in town. (Click here to read about our visit to the Goondocks in case you missed it the first time!)
Overall, it was a really fun day. Astoria was great.
One of the highlights (as expected) was seeing the sea lions in the Port of Astoria. It seemed everywhere we went in town, we could hear these guys barking. There’s a ton of waterfront space in Astoria, so I was slightly worried we wouldn’t find them. Thankfully, we did. I’ve included some pictures of them hanging out on the dock. (And a few of us hanging out near them 😉 )
