In the Greatest City in America to be an underemployed vagabond, circa Summer 2009. Sometimes a whole lotta nothin' is a real cool thing. Cheap quality beer, cheap taco trucks, easy biking, a well-stocked library, and a 1:2 rock band to inhabitant ratio: what more do you want?
Scene 1: Tropical Smoothie Cafe, downtown. Bright cheerful scenes of a Southeast Asian paradise that doesn't really exist. Bored teenagers behind the counter, bored businessmen in front of it. In front of me: a Paul Theroux essay on his visit to the real Phnom Penh and the killing fields/torture chambers right outside of town. Doubtful the prison guards enjoyed Berry Blast smoothies and Sesame Chicken Wraps on their lunch breaks, but I could be wrong.
Scene 2: Some guy's basement. A DJ spins wax whilst we attempt to play foosball with a couple of dozen nursing school graduates. Unemployed IT professionals 0, highly employable health care providers 7.
Scene 3: Crotch deep in the Columbia Gorge. A scenic place to take the kids to cool off. Local Search and Rescue out recruiting. Not very comforting that the only prerequisite for joining is attaining 14 years of age.
Scene 4: Midas waiting room. Listened patiently while someone's grandmother gave a dissertation on the rewards and challenges of owning a luxury vehicle (in this case a 1992 DeVille with stuffed animals in the back window). As a bonus, I was informed the tavern across the street has above average fish and chips, even though her doctor doesn't endorse such extravagances. For my head nodding I was given a free voucher courtesy of the clerk who didn't have to listen to her spiel yet again.
Scene 5: On the porch, Simple Times Lager in hand. Watching the traffic blow through the inconvenient stop signs while someone inside strums a few folk tunes on an acoustic. Sitting around waiting for tomorrow.
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