Happy 62nd birthday to the man whose song "Lately, I've Let Things Slide" inspired this blog.
His list of writing credit is impressive:
What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? (most famously covered by Elvis Costello) Cruel To Be Kind (written with the oft overlooked Ian Gomm of Brinsley Schwartz fame) The Beast In Me (written for his former father-in-law, Johnny Cash, and used over the end credits of the very first episode of "The Sopranos")
His 1979 album, Labour of Lust, has just been reissued by YepRoc Records. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
attempting to fix my Karcher power washer all by my lil lonesome!
In My Previous Life (I gotta figure out how to get a trademark on that phrase), I would either (A) have the now-ex SO fix it, or (B) not even be aware it was broken because I wouldn't have to worry about fixing it.
From pedicures to power washers - all in less than 3 years!
According to an Express Times article, Portland invited the Guardian Angels to give an information session and possibly organize a chapter in the area:
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/slate-belt/index.ssf/2011/03/guardian_angels_could_be_comin.html#comments I am not naive; Portland is not Pixley or Hooterville or Bugtussle. It's proximity (as I mentioned in my last post) to Routes 46/94/80 in NJ and 611/512 in PA makes it easily accessible.
And as much as I hate to be found agreeing with Ron Angle, I think at first blush the idea of bringing the Guardian Angels to Portland is unnecessary. Anyone with links to Portland's crime rate (possibly broken down by category) care to comment?
It just seems like overkill to me, and not for nothin' - I've seen the Guardian Angels in Easton and they do not inspire any sort of comfort or reassurance.
When my Former Life went to Hades in a smartly crafted Longaberger basket, part of my downsizing involved moving slightly over the NJ border near a small Pennsylvania town called Portland.
There *are* some pluses to Portland. It's an end (beginning?) destination for canoeists on the Delaware River. The lovely Duckloe Brothers Furniture Store (I believe they manufacture there, too). The fabulous Kelly's Ice Cream place. But other than that, Portland doesn't have much to offer. I'm not sure why.
It sits at the intersection of Routes 46 (NJ) and 611 (PA). It's near Route 94 in NJ, as well as Route 80. The location itself is beautiful; lots of acreage and lovely old homes. But the downtown is really a sad sight. I've lived here just over a year, and the Cramer's Lumber/Hardware, the Portland Market (small grocery store) and the diner have closed down. There is a post office, and a branch of PNC Bank. A small gas station and a newly opened news/lottery/tobacco place.
Recently, there was a push by the local powers-that-be to bring a Federal detention center for illegal immigrants to a large commercial parcel in the area. For (what I consider to be) good reasons, it was shot down in flames by the local residents.
The other day, it occurred to me that Portland reminded me of a old, constantly-repeated movie from the early 80s when Cinemax showed movies with people who wore clothes. "Honky Tonk Freeway" was directed by John Schlesinger of "Midnight Cowboy" fame and concerned the fictional Florida town of Ticlaw, whose claim to fame is a water-skiing elephant named Bubbles. When the state highway commission builds a freeway adjacent to the town, the mayor slips an official $10,000 to assure an offramp. However, when the freeway is built, the off-ramp doesn't materialize so the townsfolk literally paint the town pink to attract visitors. The non-fictional town of Mt Dora, FL was actually painted pink during the filming:
Perhaps Portland should give this some thought. On second thought - maybe not. It's quiet here, and people are friendly. And Bubbles would hate the winters.
