Why yes, yes, I am still here, just incredibly lazy about blogging. I'm in Portland as you can see from the schedule, and getting ready to have a furious month of travel. Alaska to work for a week, then a trip to central Oregon, then off on a European vacation. I would like to take a minute to let those of you who tell me you like to live vicariously through my blog that I really, really appreciate the traveling I get to do because I have a flexible career and no kids. It's pretty great.

At work I have variations on the same conversation most of the time (with great breaks sometimes thanks to those customers willing to discuss comics, music, and mental illness). It starts with "Where are you from?" and generally proceeds to "Why are you here?" Most people move because of family or job requirements; I am in Portland because I like it here. I was in Cincinnati for a year because when Mr. Wayward was patiently waiting for me to complete my eight-year tour through college I promised him I'd leave Texas and go wherever he wanted. Fortunately we blew through Ohio rapidly and are here, a city that suits me to a T.

But, you know, we really didn't have a reason to come here aside from liking it, and I'm finding out how unusual that is. I live in a fantasy land where all of my friends either live in a pretty cool city (Austin) or where they move to places that are interesting because they can (Mexico, New York, Vancouver Island). But guys at the club are simply baffled by this most of the time until I explain, "Well, you see, I'm a stripper and I can live wherever I want. Portland is where I wanted to live."

And then they generally agree about what an awesome city it is and how the Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful part of America. Or sometimes they complain about the winters, which is when I know they're big pussies because, please, rain isn't bad. You don't have to shovel rain.

I am a lucky woman indeed.