leo2510

For me, the decision was made for me last year, when my mother decided to move from Portland to Coeur d'Alene ID- an EV would require a recharge for the 450-mile trip, while a hybrid could do that in just one tank of fuel. So, my next car is gonna be, instead of a Ford Mustang Mach-e, a Maverick hybrid pickup. Sure, not nearly as much fun, but the 43MPG is a compelling argument- even with the low electricity prices here in the Northwest.

Two that have become stuck in mind - one of riding in the front seat of the Chevy wagon, towing Dad's Porsche 356 over the Snoqualmie Pass to the Seattle Raceway. Dad's long passed, but Mom said this has to be from 1965 because that was the only time that we all went along with Dad on racing trips - so that had to be when I was 2 1/2 years old. The other memory is of being in the front seat of the same 59 Chevy, rolling down the hill in the back yard toward the line of trees separating the yard from the house behind. i somehow managed to release the parking brake while playing in the car while ir was parked in the carport - Mom confirms this was also the fall of '65, as the car was never the same after that, and got traded in on a Buick wagon with the glass roof panels which is featured in a lot of family photos from that period.

Canyon Club had rooms for the weekend, but the pricing is about 25% higher than years past- that seems to be case for everything in today's life.

An update on the goings on here in the Northwest: The new kid on the block, Fuzzy Navels, is going to be shut over the summer. The operator has busy plans for his website for the next few months, and is unable to make enough space in his schedule to operate the club, along with the website ops, on-location film shoots, and a personal life in the meantime. Let's hope that they can reopen in the fall - the business model may not be the most lucrative, but it was cool to have some new choices. Stag has new management. The old manager, Ali, has had a little bit of legal trouble and has stepped away, so the overseas owner has got some younger fresh blood in to keeps things going. The new regime seems to be in a feeling-out period, making slow changes designed to bring in more customers and talent. We've seen some out-of-town performers making "guest appearances" from Seattle and California. I hope they have a productive and profitable Pride season - Portland is moving its Pride weekend to mid-July (too many other celebrations in June this year, the calendar is too full.) Silverado is still going strong, seems to be as popular as ever- I'll be stopping in soon, and will let you all know if there are any noteworthy changes. The building that is supposed to house the new Badlands club is still a construction site, at minimum several months away from operation. All in all, the drama continues, just as one would expect in this business- it's all you would expect!

Tho the whole of the city center is rougher that its been in years gone by, anyone used to the general personal safety rules of today's American urban life should be able to navigate the Rose City safely. Using Uber or Lyft to get around the city center could make sense for a gent traversing the spots of interest for us - the south and east sections of downtown are the roughest right now, and the clubs we frequent are along the northwest reaches of the center. The city leaders have been shamed into taking a more robust outlook towards homeless camping and panhandling, and this summer should tell the tale, whether the civil discourse can be maintained. Just avoid the young ruffian groups - there is no prospect of suitable company to be found there - and don't be walking around tipsy after a night o debauchery. Use a cab, stay safe!

A cross-country drive is something every one should do at least once in their life. So much of "fly-over" country needs to be experienced in person.

Woke to snow this morning, I'm sure that 75 degrees will be just fine!

Welcome back to the West, looking forward to seeing folks in April!

Hello there friend, pdxleo is alive and well, now posting under a new name. leo2510 ( two minutes for roughing, five for fighting, and a ten-minute misconduct). Between changing phones computers and the site relaunch, it proved impossible to maintain the old moniker, so I established a new name. Was just down in your neck of the woods, getting Mom's snowbird place ready for one last Phoenix winter- wish I had gotten in touch, bur I promise to do better in future. I'm hoping Oliver will still be able to host all of us in the spring, would be a shame if it proves too much for him to carry out without his partner in crime (Godspeed, Epigonos!) Keep in touch, I've already booked at Canyon Club for April, so if we are both there, don't be a stranger!

I mask when out shopping. This coming week, we've got a manager's meeting about resuming masking at work - about ten new diagnoses of COVID on our staff in the last few days, getting low on available staff, and we gotta keep the healthy ones working.

Not a scratch-off, but...... back when I worked up in Washington State, I would get a Lotto ticket on Fridays after work on my way home, at the Quik Stop station across the road. One of the cashiers there was the twin sister of a high school buddy, who became a former buddy after a misinterpretation on my part of a camping invitation one weekend- nothing ventured nothing gained, but "S", I would have rocked your seventeen-year-old world! In any case, female "S" managed to be friendly enough to me at the store, so maybe male "S" kept the indiscretion to himself, who knows. One Friday, I gassed up and bought my ticket. Got up on Sunday morning, made brekky and read the paper- pulled out that ticket and checked it. #1 match, #2 match, # 3 match, # 4 match, # 5 match, aaaaannnnnddd #6 is one number off! I think that it's as close as you can get to the win- but instead of 8 million, the ticket was worth $1200. Not a bad prize, but so close to the big money- Still don't know if that was the fates telling me that was as close as I'd get to winning, or to keep trying! In any case, I cashed out the ticket at the lottery office the next day - $950, after taxes. When I deposited the check, I took $100 back in cash. A few days later, I stopped at the Quik Stop, and she was working- I grabbed a cup of coffee and a KitKat and went up to the counter to get rung up. Opened my wallet to grab a fiver, slipped the hundred into my palm, and as we chatted after she cashed me out, I said, "By the way, S, you sold me a winner last week, and this is for you" and handed her the $100 bill. She gasped, turned away and started quietly sobbing. Turns out, she needed $75 dollars for the next day, to pay for her kid's school pictures, and she was ready to go without them this year, as her ex-husband was behind on support payments. So, at least the fates made it clear that day, ya gotta share the wealth!

Oliver, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your dear friend, and sorry for the loss that we all have now, an admired friend taken far too soon. It's getting to be a constant, learning of yet another life ending- far too many being taken from us, and the pain of knowing that there are no new memories forthcoming. The memory we have will have to carry us through this - Godspeed to a good, generous man who lived life to the fullest, an admirable soul and a true gentleman.

Best wishes to you on your birthday!

Currently two nights a week, and definitely full nude once the tip levels are reached, so......