a little red hen

PDX Bands @$5 Fund-raiser: NO-people running scared?

Our daughter Rachel truly has been knocking herself out this month.  She's sprained an ankle, has the flu, but says it will be worth it when (not "if") YES wins the day.  In this photo she's phone banking from home with ice on her foot.  The hat is one I made in those halcyon days of big deal knitting--it matched a zip-front pullover.  For figure skating when she was 13, few years ago.  Another YES patch--blue yarn, scratchy wool/hemp from China that's found its best use.

Her young staff at her business, FULL LIFE, wanted to pitch in some way.  Why not use their Coffee House space on a Saturday night for a low-cost event that would attract and raise consciousness of twenty and thirty-somethings.

Music, of course, is the way in Portland, Oregon.  On yesterday's post here, the card created by clients at Full Life features "YES, PLEASE!" an evening of music in support of Measures 66 & 67.  Speaking to Portlanders of all ages, last week's editorial in Williamette Week, came out for YES.  Under the title,"Class Warfare,"  all the issues plus charts were carefully laid out.  What rock are "undecideds" living under?

Back to the bands.  "Quiet Countries," here's the cover of their latest CD.  And "bazillionaire"--from Jesse, seen here playing guitar, works at Full Life, runs all kinds of activities for clients--a radio show for one.  (Yes, I lifted this photo from Jason Quigley's blog; he is a real PDX photographer.  I think the idea for tonight's event started with Jesse.  Two more bands, "St. Frankie Lee" and--you have to wonder how their high school English teachers would react to some of these titles--"Swim Swam Swum."

The latest development in the struggle over the lifeblood of schools and social services in Oregon, which is what this is all about, happened where Ron and I live.  Every Saturday morning there's a Men's Breakfast with a speaker.  Oh, I hear you, Hattie as you demand, what's with that?  From my perspective, it's a good thing:  older guys are so (how do I say this nicely?) less-able  than women around socializing outside of work and sports.  When we came to look over Terwilliger Plaza last winter, we were surprised how many of them lived here.  (That would make an intriguing research project.)

Anyway, a few weeks ago, the Breakfast speaker was a Vote Yes proponent, a CEO named John Calhoun, who returned a couple of weeks later for an afternoon debate with Bob Wiggins, a venture capitalist from the other side.  Meanwhile, in this very active retirement community, a Vote No proponent was invited as the solo speaker for this morning's Saturday breakfast.  In the interest of niceness, I will not give his name because he did not show up!  As they say, what's with that?

Both sides have been pouring many dollars into this struggle but I'm sure the Noes feel confident with the number of big corporations behind them--Nike (Phil Knight is the real-life bazillionaire), Columbia Sportswear (real loss to us because we've had to boycott their clothes which havve been favorites), Whole Foods (well, John Macky their CEO is opposed to universal health care, so that's no surprise;).  Great sadness when THE paper in town, The Oregonian, came out for the No side.  Many cancelled subscriptions--including Rachel Bloom's.

Could it be that the heavy-hitters are over-confident?  Let me end with this link to the Flashmob singing and dancing to the tune of "Hey, Mackey" at the Oakland, Whole Foods.  Yes to 66 & 67 and to more music by more bands in PDX!  If you go tonight, the "Portland Mercury" wants you to write a review HERE.

 

We Broke the Code at PSU!

Yes, we found our way to the pot at the end of the rainbow:  free classes at Portland State University.

In the rain!  It took two cellphone calls with Susan, the very patient administrator for the Senior Adult Learning Center.  "Explain again where you are because nothing looks like the 'hi-rise' you mentioned; I'm from New York."  While Ron parked the car a few blocks away, it was my job to find it first--the building with a number on the website but unmarked in real life.

"Maybe it's under 'Aging,' or ,  'Senior' on the directory," I told Ron on another cell call as we worked to reach the same place.  "You have to walk up three flights, then find your way to another stairway to get to the fourth floor."  Suddenly an elevator door opens behind me and there he is--arriving from an entrance on the opposite side of the building.

In our search for lifelong learning opportunities in PDX,* everyone mentioned this good deal at PSU--undergraduate classes at no charge.  Old-fashioned, educated American that we are, first effort we looked for  a catalog of courses.  No.  It's all on their website.  Even in this SALC office there was no hard copy; we have to go to the library for that--and now that we've been sanctioned as participants, we hope to gain entrance to it.

Since much of the semester has gone by, we decided to do a flip through the available classes roster that Susan offered, take our chances on selecting a class by title only.  Ron found Medieval History, mine is Women and Politics.  A half-sheet of yellow paper certifies us.  On the back are instructions for auditing-- wave the paper toward the instructor be "...considerate of students taking the class for credit by not dominating class discussions." Useful advice for old people, always garrulous as we are.

I just realized there are only a few sheets of yellow in our colorful collection brought from NYC.  Enough to make copies in case we lose one--or it falls apart from folding and waving, or gets wet.  Now have back-up in a plastic sleeve.  Going to school offers many challenges in the 21st century.

Over my three years of blogging, I've been curious that other Elderbloggers have not written about their experiences with what is known as "lifelong learning."  It's something that has interested me since before I retired when I designed a program titled, "Creativity in the Third Age."  Described the idea on my Cityworm website.   So, Lifelong Learning lengthens the list of categories here as Ron and I explore what's offered to seniors in Portland.   And what about your experiences?

On Saturdays from March to December the center of the PSU campus hosts the Portland Farmers' Market, both are walking distance from Terwilliger Plaza, our new home.  Surprising unknown, locally grown vegetables appear to challenge the adventurous.

This week we noticed  Ficoide Glacial, slightly tangy French green.  Always free samples to try and consider for next time.

*Department of Clarification:  In this post I'm referring to  programs designed specifically to meet circumstances and schedules of those over 55.  Sometimes they're free like PSU, or have fees like the IRP at the New School in New York City and ones supported by the Osher Foundation.