Time Alone

My time line is so crazy right now, but I need to race through some posts to get caught up. If I was only more disciplined...anyhow Mark let me loose for a night on my own to Portland. I chose to take the train, which I've loved since my first serious train ride to North Dakota when I was 14. One of my New Years resolutions was to complete my husband's manuscript of his first novel, by January 29th! Because of the train, I finished his novel and had time to daze off into space thinking of how awesome it will be too see it published! It is truly amazing, and increased my thirst for the next novel! I arrived in Portland, walked to my hotel, The Crystal Ballroom. My room was even upgraded to a suite free of charge. I had everything all planned out. I ate where I wanted, walked where I wanted, and stopped when I wanted. Time alone was just what I needed. I spent the evening at The Living Room Theater watching a romantic foreign film and drinking a wonderfully warm alcohol spiked coffee and eating hummus! The next day I visited the food carts on Alder, after reviewing the carts Food Carts Portlandon a blog. I read them all and picked four that I wanted to visit. Only two were open so I got a sushi roll and potato croquette curry! I talked to the owners and workers while I waited. It was a wonderful time focusing on someone else and their interesting lives! Come to find out that one of Charlie's favorite animated Japanese directors visited the same food cart I did two years ago! He even drew a picture of Totoro for the owners. Fascinating... All in all, I had a wonderful time, met some fun people, and relaxed thoroughly!