13th Leg: Hollywood to Belmont Library

Date of run: March 30, 2014
Time of run: 12:15 pm
Temp: 52 degrees F (feels like 49)
Conditions: Mostly cloudy, wind 6 mph
Distance: 1.6 miles out, 1.8 miles back (3.4 miles total)

Short 'n' sweet: Almost directly south from the Hollywood Library lies the Belmont branch. After passing the landmark Hollywood Theatre (no comment on current showings...haven't seen any of these yet), I headed a mere 1.6 miles down Cesar Chavez Boulevard (formerly known as the more pedestrian 39th Avenue), a wide and busy, but well maintained by the residents, road:







Halfway down the boulevard lay Coe Circle and its magnificent statue of Joan of Arc. (As I approached from the rear I thought about making a crack about "getting behind in my running" but thought better of it...or did I?) A little 'net research also reveals that this has been there since 1925 (89 years! and I only noticed it a couple of years ago), and that sometimes it's the victim of certain pranks/vandalism. Though I kind of like this unicorn idea.





I then passed by the periphery of Laurelhurst Park and caught a glimpse of the enclosed Firwood Lake, and a little further on appreciated some impressive mosaic art at Lutheran Family Services before approaching the Belmont branch, an impressive old-looking building of some size and elegance, both outside and in.











CDs selected, I headed out, slightly east and then north to take the 41st/42nd streets back, along which I saw some beautiful spring gardens. Clearly these people take pride in their neighborhood. Some interesting houses here, too.











Just a couple blocks east of the Cesar Chavez bridge I had taken to go south, I crossed this pedestrian/bike only overpass back over I-84, again taking in the rush-rush traffic heading in and out of Portland east and west, feeling happy that I completed the run before any of those large clouds decided to drop any moisture (which they positively dumped about 15 minutes later on the drive home). Good timing!





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LAST WEEK'S MUSIC

Cymbals Eat Guitars, Lenses Alien (2011)

Interesting band. Although this is a recent album, from 2011, it seems more at place in the grunge era, mid-90's, due to their loud/soft guitars and emotive playing. They catch you off guard, as a song develops in a melodic way, but then gets smeared and bent into something else. This is my favorite off the album. I like the video too.




Adele, 21 (2011)

I tried, but just couldn't get into this. Maybe it's the way she hits the high notes - kind of strained. Even in the video, I want her to stand up and use proper technique! Use those lungs to sing out! (Maybe I've been spoiled by watching my sister sing opera?)

Well, I hate to be negative, and there's definitely something here. I wish her continued success and good health (I missed all the news about her vocal problems back in 2011 but apparently it was pretty serious.) Take care, Adele!




Rick Wakeman, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1974)

Ah, this is still sooo good! Equal parts epic, masterful, and overblown, the music lives on in CD form, and now on my iPod. This was not only a musical release, but a filmed concert, complete with Spinal Tap style inflatable monsters. Check out this video clip and behold the wonder of it all!

12th Leg: Gregory Heights to Hollywood Library

Date of run: March 21, 2014
Time of run: 2:08 pm
Temp: 54 degrees F (feels like 54)
Conditions: Mostly sunny, wind 7 mph, chance of rain 0%
Distance: 2.8 miles out, 2.7 miles back (5.5 miles total)

How do you make running five and a half miles feel like a vacation? Run 14 miles the week before. Oh and what perfect weather too: Not too hot, not too cold, and almost no wind. Happiness!

And, I was running to HOLLYWOOD!



Well no, not that Hollywood, this one:



So, I set off on my grand adventure, sailing south by foot on 72nd, spotting swales and pirates (no comment) along the way, and being careful not to get sucked in by the vacuum store:









Approaching Tillamook Road, I wondered if this Boy Scouts sign meant "Troop 117" in an ironic way (you never know where Portlandia mentality will strike), and gazed longingly at the green of a spring-in-bloom golf course.





And more green: Rose City Park, including frisbee throwers relaxing in the sun and the sign that states "Open to 12:01 AM" which I like because if a sign says "Open to 12:00 AM" the police may hear "But that's not midnight, that's noon!" in order to try to justify some after-dark in-the-park shenanigans.





And a 90-degree turn, to head westward on Tillamook Road. Love these less urban streets in the middle of the city:



One thing about the Hollywood neighborhood: the sidewalks have ramps. Not only helpful for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, but to prevent tripping by runners with tired legs. And these were the best sidewalk ramps I'd ever come across:



Now at the aforementioned Hollywood Library branch, I turned around at the front doors to see a lovely bakery attached to it, complete with an assortment of sugar-free treats. (I didn't stop there. This time, anyway.)



Stepping in, I saw a mid-sized space with rows and rows of bookshelves. But as always, these by-foot trips aren't for reading, so I headed past those to find the CD racks, tucked away in the back, and made my selections: Adele's 21 (something 'mainstream' - let's find out what all the fuss is about), Cymbals Eat Guitars' Lenses Alien (intruiging band name), and Rick Wakeman's Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (guilty pleasure from my teens, like spending time with an old friend...note the English spelling of 'Centre').





CDs in pockets, I headed back out, first north then east on Wistaria Drive (no, not Wisteria Lane where the murder happened). Lovely stonework and flowers along the way, and a bit of gentle incline for some leg strengthening.



Working my way further east and north, I saw more signs of spring and improving weather, including a deck party, and chalk art in a large intersection. I get happy seeing these things!





Nearing the end of my run, as I started to tire and looking for a boost, I saw...the cavalry! Oops no, that's Calvary, as in church. Never mind...



Almost back to the Gregory Heights branch now, I passed a sign for Addie's You and I Travel, which reminded me of a certain lengthy and beautiful song. Yes indeed!



One last sighting before returning to my car: the biggest one I've ever seen...I'll dub it...Moby Swale:



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LAST WEEK'S MUSIC

Apparat, The Devil's Walk

Judging by the cover art and the album title, I was expecting something quite different, but instead this is contemplative, slow building, and grand. And this video is a nice way to show off some found object art installations:




Swans, Children Of God/World Of Skin

This band has had a long (over 30 years) career, and this re-release of material from the late 80's is pretty interesting stuff, finding sonic and spiritual ground somewhere between Dead Can Dance and the more Goth-like tension of Bauhaus/Peter Murphy. Not something I would spend a lot of time listening to these days but could've had an impact in some of my angst-ridden days of young adulthood.