Russ Walker thinks he's funny...

Taking my cue from Jen and Jeremy's adventure in life, I've decided to keep a journal of my own similar interviewing adventure and hardships in Portland Oregon. It is going to be rough time traveling to Oregon, practically a foreign country. Known for it's rugged, yet beautiful landscape, Oregon will offer challenges in travel, lodging, and working. But, I know, that similar to the Peace Corps, it will be the "Toughest Job I'll Ever Love".

DAY ONE, Sunday, August 27, 2000

The journey begins just as any rugged adventure: not smooth. Arriving at the airport, I find my flight has been cancelled. Unfortunately, I'm already on my own, being that my dad has already left the DFW airport. As feelings of loneliness and isolation begin to overcome me, I am able reach deep inside myself and come to grips with the long term purpose of my journey. With this new strength within found, I am able to find another flight to Phoenix that will get there in time to catch my connecting flight. With my first hurdle successfully passed, my internal ooommph is back to normal. My confidence strong again, I am ready to face the rest of the journey.

As I fly into Portland, I find myself mesmerized by the rugged and untamed landscape that unfolds itself before me. Life here will not be easy. Will I adapt and become able to communicate with the natives? Will I find a support structure strong enough to support all the weight I've gained this year?? Will I be able to find adequate living quarters?? I close my eyes and concentrate on the strength of the day's earlier success. I know deep inside I can do it.

As I walk through the primitive airport facility, I begin to access my transportation situation. What will I do if my rental arrangements are as reliable as my air transportation?? I can feel my anxiety rise as I work my through the strange local people. I am lucky. My 2000 Ford Ranger is waiting for me. I can only hope that it will be reliable.

I begin to drive through these strange, foreign surrounding. My first stop is a rental house that I made arrangements to look at. It is in a well kept older neighborhood. I am shown the property by the owner, Kelly Walker. I could rent the first floor and have plenty of room. It does have a yard that I think Sam would like (mainly because there is the presence of this strange look green stuff the locals refer to as "grass".

The area is great, it reminds of a small town within the city of Portland. An old business area that is redone, it has all you need in terms of grocery, movies, and such. It actually reminds of Highland Park in Dallas. It is five minutes from downtown, and near both major freeways in Portland.

Encouraged by this success, I continue the journey to find my local lodgings where I will stay all week. Unfortunately, I am not able find this as easily. My normally fine-tuned sense of direction is not able tosteer me in the correct direction. I think it is the strangely beautiful primitive landscape of big hills and really huge plants the locals call "trees". There are so many, that I believe they are interfering with my internal radar.

After two house of driving in a two mile square area, I finally weaken to the point that I pull my cell phone out to call for directions. I am pleasantly surprised that my cellular phone technology worksin such a foreign place. After checking in at the Homestead Village Suites, I am disappointed that I will have to live in such primitive conditions for the week. My room(s) are actually corporate housing designed for extended stays. I have a bedroom and a full kitchen. It looks like it was built at least a yearago. But, I know conditions would be tough when I got here. What do you expect for $30.00 per night?? At least it is conveniently located to where I'll be interviewing this week.

I spend the rest of the day driving around the area, trying to become familiar with my peculiar surroundings. I am trying to interact with the local natives as much as possible to acclimate myself so I will be better prepared for my interviews this week. All in all, things have gone as well as can be expected when traveling abroad. I'll continue to update this as long as the dataport in my room is still working. I need to go now to get my shirts downstairs if I want them drycleaned by tomorrow morning (since the full ironing board and iron in my room looks to complicated).

Missing you all,
Russ "Grizzly Adams" Walker

DAY THREE (end of day)

I ventured to the outskirts of what little "civilization" I've been in. The US Embassy in Portland doesn't recommend traveling outside of Portland because the natives can sometimes be unpredictable. The trip was worth it. I got to drive through some great mountains and forests on the way there. It only took around an hour. I haven't seen the ocean is forever (if you don't count my fishing trip to the Bahamas this summer). It was actually much more impressive due to the mountains and great cliffs around the beach. I ate fresh halibut for dinner (I'm sure it wasn't as big as the 80 or 180 pound halibut Jim Raines caught this summer, depending on which version you get from him).

Not missing you all as much as before,
Russ "Lewis and Clark" Walker

DAY FIVE

I arrived at the airport at 11:29 for my 11:59 flight back to Texas. Of course, the nice waitress at the counter informed me nicely that my plane left at 11:29, not 11:59. She put me on another flight that left an hour later, but would arrive an hour earlier than my original flight (some strange Oregon time phenomenon due to some type of black, voodoo magic still practiced by the natives instead of using watches). I thoughtI was looking forward to going back to Texas until I stepped off the plane into the 140 degree tunnel to theterminal. I tried to get back on but security kept dragging me off. Oh well, now to wait and see if anything comes of my excursion into wild, untamed Pacific Northwest. And to decide if I'll return even if the natives don't want me.

Emotionally torn,
Russ "The Duck" Walker

Sittin' in the bed
     eatin' bacon and bread
Both'll make you fat
     one'll make you dead

And yeah, I'm drinkin' coffee
     the kind with caffeine
Some folks are thinkin'
     is she the suicidal queen

For what we ate in our youth
     and our elders thought was wise
We are now being blamed
     for hastening our own demise

I try to be vigilant
     and knowledge has expanded
But, you know, there are times
     when I can no longer stand it

Life without cheeseburgers
     just ain't worth livin'
Is something I have joked
     but please, let me be forgiven

How we go we don't know
     and that is pretty true
The choices are tough
     bacon or tofu

And the Winner Is? by Brent Dunn

So are you keeping up with the election? It's wild. Renee' and I went to the state capitol Tuesday evening. Originally, I did not want to go downtown, but as election night continued I realized that I may never be so close to a presidential candidate on the decision day. Carpe diem.

Since Bush was going to speak win or lose, Renee' and I decided to brave the cold weather. At 9:00 PM we were standing at the corner between the governor's mansion and the capitol. This is where the general public was allowed to stand. There were some picketers there chanting something about the death penalty. By 10:30 PM we moved to an area, which was supposedly only accessible by individuals with tickets; occasionally a security guard allowed a few people past the barricade as those with tickets left.

He allowed Renee' and I through, and we went through the metal detectors and moved through the crowd towards the platform where Bush would have addressed the crowd. The City of Austin had CNN showing on several very large screens. Each time a state's electoral votes were projected the crowd would boo or cheer, as obviously the majority supported Bush. At 12:00 AM the rain poured!!! We crowded under an umbrella with another man. Bo Derek and Wayne Newton came out to entertain the crowd, and Jeb Bush's son led the crowd in some cheers. Little Bush Jr. looked like a dweeb up there leading the chants.

A little after 1:15 AM CNN announced that Florida's electoral votes would go to Bush and the celebration began. Flags were waving, CNN's cameras were all around us, secret security agents seemed to pop up everywhere (on buildings, on top of the tall stage, etc.). Then a good-looking girl walked out and sang "America the Beautiful." At the end of her song she said "I want to hear you yelling," and then begged the crowd to cheer out to her, "we want Bush!" Of course the University of Texas crowd, filled with many young guys, went crazy and started some chants of their own --letting her know that they wanted Bush. It was immaturely humorous, probably because of the slow pace of the evening.

At 2:00 AM, CNN announced that Gore called Bush and conceded. CNN also announced that Gore would speak to the Nashville crowd and that Bush would arrive to speak to us immediately after that. The hard rain had stopped, but it drizzled all evening. Renee' and I kept swaying back and forth regarding the decision to stay or leave. Both of us had to work at 8:00 AM the next morning. Like sitting at a nasty slot machine, we found ourselves becoming emotionally attached. By 2:30 AM we had invested about six hours and had been standing the entire time in the cold and precipitation. A little after 3:00 AM, CNN announced that Gore would not address the crowd in Nashville. We left. Thank goodness we did not wait another 45 minutes to hear from Bush's campaign chairman.

We were in bed by 3:30 AM. Now that I have my sleep back, I am glad that we went to the capital. This election will be one talked about for many years. Additionally, it was fun to be spontaneous again.

Well I hope you are happy
About what you have done
You've given away
All the battles we'd won

Well I hope you are happy
You didn't even win the prize
All those millions of dollars
We were supposed to despise

You gave all the power
We tried hard to keep
To those worst among us
How can you sleep

Well I hope you'll be happy
When the forests are bare
And there's no more wildlife
Can you really say you care

Well I hope you are happy
Yes the choices were bland
But the stakes were too high
For a sacrificial lamb

If you thought you'd defeat
All the things that you hate
If you might have been able
It will now be too late

We all want a future
That would be ideal
But now we've gone backwards
And it may never be real

Well I hope you are happy
I've loved Nader too
And for all that he stands
Much longer than you

I think he's a hero
But not in this case
He should have known better
Than to give W the race

Yes maybe we'll recover
And all won't be lost
But it will be a long time
Til we know the true cost

Letter from Grammy

November 1, 2000

Dear Jeremy,

Don't like you being so far away. Besides, you are missing out on so many exciting things! Did you know we are selecting a new U.S. president?...I think about how far along you could have been in a career had you gone to graduate school....You asked me what I thought about your journey. Do you really want to know? The first report I got from your dad was that you were starving and for me to send you some food. I thought you would be out of there any time after that; but you stayed. What do you feel you have accomplished so far? I only hope you are worshipping God as you should.

There's so much going on in the world today. I'll be looking forward to when your adventure is over and you return to the good ole U.S.A. Aren't we lucky and thankful we were born over here?

Love u two,
Grammy