If you think literally, this blog is named after Portland’s airport. I can’t think of another city that identifies with its airport code like we do. DFW sounds like a traffic infraction. SFO sounds like an abbreviated apartment listing. PHO Live? That sounds like a Dirty Dining segment. And yet, everybody refers to Portland as PDX. I’m not here to raise issue with that, I think it’s fine. But, after six months or so, I believe it’s time to address the 250 lb gorilla in the room:

Our PDX, Portland’s airport.

After a series of emotionally draining personal incidents, I felt the need to get away. As the city grows, there are fewer places to find solitude. After the Airport MAX opened, I discovered the wide open spaces at the Mt Hood stop. Its a MAX stop in the middle of nowhere, rarely does anyone get off or catch the train there. I can sit there as long as my bladder will allow, watching planes come and go, flocks of birds, the occasional coyote wandering through the wetlands.

I have a friend who works at PDX. I used to visit her a lot, we’d play Scrabble on her breaks between flights. A few years back, you could find me haunting the airport any given weekend. I was fascinated with its dynamic, and loved the people-watching. Throw in conversation with a pretty girl, what’s not to love?

Time marches on, and we don’t see each other like we used to. (She got married and had a kid, sorta squelched the pursuit.) But we are still close, so I called her and told her I was coming for a visit.

The airport hadn’t changed much. When I was visiting regularly, construction was wrapping up on the big expansion/remodel. There was a new spot to plane-watch. It was the things that hadn’t changed that pleased me.

Hark! There’s still a Coffee People at the airport! My friend used to know all the baristas, and we got lots of deals on caffeine. I resisted spending $5 on coffee for nostalgia’s sake. I know Starbucks owns them now, so I knew it was more marketing gimmick than anything. (Especially when I saw the backward Coffee People sign at the Starbucks by the escalators.) If I were to drop any money, it would be at the Powell’s store. They always have something cheap that catches my eye.

I sat at the northern security entrance for a while. I used to wait there for my friend. People disembark from planes, and this is where the family meets them. It’s touching to watch the young lovers rushing to each other. The soldiers returning home to a hero’s welcome. The embarrassed teenager awkwardly dodging his mother’s kiss because “People are watching, Mom!”

I’m not wearing sunglasses because I’m trying to look cool. If I’ve had a couple of adult beverages, it’s impossible not to get misty.

What shocked me most were all the stores at Cascade Station. Um, hello? Pardon my questioning demeanor, I acknowledge I’m no fookin’ genius, but wasn’t the original idea of putting an airport way the hell “out there” so if an airplane falls out of the sky it won’t hit anything bigger than a couple trees and a cow or two? I must question the logic of putting a huge strip mall at the end of an airport runway.

Do we really need a Mattress World there? “Ooh, honey! I *knew* I forgot to pack something.” I look forward to someday seeing someone hauling a box springs onto the MAX…

Of course, if the terrorists want to ‘kill whitey’, all they have to do is take out the IKEA. What in the hell are all those people doing buying furniture on a Sunday night? Must be some mighty fine meatballs…

The Mt Hood stop will not be a quiet spot much longer. Either offices or condos are being built a stone’s throw away. I saw less wildlife than before, and the fog was such that I couldn’t watch planes for more than a few seconds. I had a brief but wonderful visit with my friend, revisited memories of days past, and witnessed progress in action.

Maybe next weekend I’ll go back, get a mocha at the Coffee People and get my ass kicked at Scrabble.

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Did you notice a peculiar locomotive today? Wondering WTF was up with a locomotive painted with the name of our 41st president? As a railfan and a photographer, I’m always on the looking to point my camera in the direction of interesting railroad subjects. While out and about yesterday morning I heard through the grapevine that this locomotive was in town and if I got on the road, I might be able to catch it for a photo before it headed south.

This is Union Pacific locomotive 4141, painted in 2005 into a special color scheme (inspired by the colors of Air Force One) for the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. It’s one of a kind, and it’s a rare catch in this part of the country since this unit is typically in service in the southern part of the country.

No, our rails haven’t been taken over by ex-presidents. Despite the fact that the elder George Bush wasn’t a big fan of Portland, I found this to be a refreshing treat from the usual motive power seen on northwest rails. I shot this photo at Willsburg Junction, between Brooklyn and Milwaukie.

My contractor got his truck towed yesterday. Turns out the vehicle had outstanding parking tickets and it is going to cost him $800 to get it out of impound.

Thing is, he just bought this vehicle used and has never received any parking tickets.

Apparently, the fact that you didn’t own the vehicle at the time of the ticket doesn’t matter. He says some new law is leaving him on the hook.

Has anyone else run into this? It sounds completely insane to me. The cost of compounded tickets could easily surpass the value of many vehicles you see out there. Has our city made it more practical to just park wherever you want and then just sell your junker to get out of paying? WTF?

And how is this fair to an unsuspecting new owner?

With last weekend marking the end of daylight saving time, looking out the office window at 4PM and knowing it will be dark when you head home once again rears its head.

However, what should also rear its head is being safe when you’re out walking around town. Last night, as I waited for the bus, I noticed way too many people crossing at an unlit crosswalk wearing dark clothing. Buckets of rain + dark + cars/buses + not seen until it’s almost too late cyclists/pedestrians = an accident waiting to happen.

While I understand not everyone wants to sport a bright yellow rainjacket — and I include myself in that population — when it’s dark out, carry some sort of light-reflecting device so drivers and cyclists can see you. For example, I carry a small flashlight. It allows people to see me while allowing me to light the path and avoid huge puddles. (Wearing wet jeans is not fun.)

Also, for you cyclists…please, for the love of Tony Danza, don’t try commuting on a road like N. Williams without any reflector devices in place like I saw last night. Seriously, just take the bus home and be safe.

Since OurPDX doesn’t have an official traffic reporter, I’ll do it this time… geez!

The Steel Bridge is having electrical difficulties; buses that normally cross it are being detoured over the Broadway Bridge. MAX commuters are being shuttled by bus. No expected fix time was available, according to TriMet e-mail alerts.

Also, there’s a house fire near 46th and SE Hawthorne. Traffic must be buckets of fun around there.

The freeways are slow, but they are moving. Slooow…

So, there ya go. Tony Martinez, eat your heart out!