A-LISTS it’s a girl thing by henrietta henry There was one excellent week however when my
partner had a stretch of time off from her school during my vacation, and together we got to visit one of my favorite places: San Diego. For those of you not aware, I’m finishing up my higher education in Portland, Oregon, home of queers, beers and gears—bicycle gears that is, and a whole lot of dreary, overcast, drizzly days. Whether or not the “progressive” social culture makes up for the wretched weather is a debate that my partner and I have frequently and San Diego usually becomes a point of compari- son. My partner was born there, grew up there, got the t-shirt and was starving for change two years ago when she decided to get her Master’s Degree in Portland. I ended up in PDX for school, and well, because I was totally in love with my girl and followed her northward like a moth to a streetlight. So, we enter these debates from two completely different places. In order to settle it once and for all, we decided to venture back down to San Diego together to see what it felt like, and in between couch potato-
ing my way to earn the “World’s Laziest” title, we actually
made it down. Ironically, the stretch through Carlsbad southbound was overcast, and
my partner got to give me a good ribbing when I woke up from a nap to see the clouds blocking out the sunshine. Fortunately though, they burned off after a short while and I got the last laugh. Coming down the 5 freeway I got a strange feeling that was both foreign and familiar if that can be true—I felt like I was at home. I realized that it felt strange because being in Portland feels so temporary for me, so feeling the sense of comfort and permanence that “home” offers is fairly non-existent for me up here. Our time was split between family and friends doing things that
As I peer bleary-eyed at my computer screen at nearly 4:00 a.m., I’m struck by the reality that I haven’t written more than a few words since June. After nearly four years of year-round school, I finally decided to take a summer off this year. Let me tell you, it’s been blissful, but has certainly not done much for me in terms of motivation. My habits of sleeping into the after- noon, lounging around on the internet and watching movies and finding happy hours at any hour are finally coming to a close. Now, I have returned to the educational salt mine and put my nose to the grindstone once more. I can’t say that I’m completely thrilled, but I do think it will be good to have some structure at least. And my girlfriend is certainly chomping at the bit for me to get back into gear. Coming home from school to find your partner with messy hair and PJs on at 4:00 p.m. isn’t very appealing and these past months have been as full of those days as a politician is full of crap, that’s for sure.
30 RAGE monthly | NOVEMBER 2010
probably most people in San Diego take for granted. And I know they do because I did when I lived there and it took moving to one of the dreariest cities in the country to realize it. Being able to go outside and BBQ for one thing is a total luxury though it may not seem like it. Portland gets about four sunny weeks per year, but I generally want BBQ more often than that, (duh) so being able to leisurely plan a BBQ with friends without having to worry about rain or uncomfortably cool weather was great. Getting together with friends regularly was also nice. Granted, we were in town as visitors so it was a bit more special, but Portland has a knack for attracting flakey people and it’s been tough to make reliable friends up here. In San Diego we didn’t have that trouble though; the movie nights, karaoke and game competitions were totally on without a doubt. And of course being able to swim in the Pacific with sea lions and Girabaldi outside of a corporate theme park is always an excellent experience—and one my partner had never had before even though she lived there her whole life. I could go on and on about all the great things San Diego has to offer, but hopefully most of you out there already know. Anyone who doesn’t should just take this as a friendly reminder. San Diego is truly awesome, and for me it offers that priceless feeling of home that I just don’t have anywhere else. And as for that debate between me and the miss? Let’s just say, I rest my case.
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Summer
Reflections of This Past
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