Portland: The Land of No Sales Tax and Gluten Free

" Can we drink port at a port in Portland?"
Aug 24, 2016
Self Growth

Portland is a unique mix of hippie and hipster and the lines often blur as to what is what. The roadways are not the friendliest often with one-ways and bicyclist and bus only lanes at every turn. My driving experience in Portland was terrible but Portland does have some redeeming qualities. The food is good, the landscape is scenic, and the Saturday and Sunday market is huge.

Food is huge in Portland. You can find just about every cuisine you would care to enjoy and you will likely be able to find it gluten free. You can find gluten free pasta, bread, and even cake. I seriously have not seen so many gluten free options in my life. I took the opportunity to check out as many happy hours as I could. I typically favor food happy hours over drinks.  RingSide Fish House had one of my favorite happy hours which has mussels, chicken wings, and fish cakes; all of which were delicious. The service was top notch as well. Portland City Grill had a really nice view of the city just overlooking the river. The food here is subpar so I would only go here for the view and a couple drinks. Also, get here early as the good seating by the window fills up quickly. Finally Portland Seafood Company was a quaint little spot, the food and drinks were typical of bar food. It was not bad, but not exceptional either. And if you are interested in that gluten free cake, you can swing by Petunia's, a 50's style baker shop, that has a whole host of gluten free products.



Portland has some of the nicest scenery and you can really stop to smell the roses. The rose garden here was in full bloom  with nearly 10,000 roses of every variety. The entry is free and you just have to pay for parking which at the time I went was $1.60 an hour. If you pay by phone, you are able to add time, so you can pay for 1 hour, then add if you end up spending more time in the area. The zoo and the Japanese Garden are also within walking distance and you can enter for a fee. Beyond the rose garden is The Grotto, a religious park of sorts. It is dedicated to the Catholic faith and the Virgin Mary. I am not religious myself, but I still found The Grotto to be tranquil and relaxing. On my 3rd day in Portland, I attempted to visit Multnomah Falls. Unfortunately, everyone else in Portland must have had the same idea because the traffic going to the falls was terrible. As such, I was only able to drive past the falls and admire it through the windows of the car. However, the day was not lost because just a little beyond Multnomah Falls was Horsetails Falls. You are able to park right next to Horsetails and walk underneath the falls, giving you the best picture and experience for the time and energy invested. And going even further beyond Horsetails Falls, we reached The Hatchery located off the Columbia River. The Hatchery is in a secluded area, a complete contrast to what was happening at Multnomah falls.













 You cannot visit Portland without visiting their weekend markets. There are several throughout the week but the biggest ones are on Saturday and Sunday located near the water. You will find fun trinkets, wood workings, glass sculpting, and food truck. The event is so big, that it actually forms 2 separate market events, spanning roughly 4 blocks.

Unfortunately I was not able to make very good use of the no-sales tax benefit of shopping in Portland. I did pick up some much needed socks, but that was about it. For me I really did not need anything, and spending money just because there was no sales taxes did not make financial sense.

Self Reflection Sunday

Aug 21, 2016

I have spent the last week on vacation in Washington state and Oregon. I loved my time spent away, savoring the food and taking in the scene. I have some great pictures and memories of the sites we visited. But most of all I really had a great time catching up with friends. I met up with 2 friends in Seattle, one I have known since middle school and the other from grad school. It was great to be involved in each others lives again after it felt as we drifted apart with the passing days and months. We talked about our careers and plans. We talked money and mortgages and scared ourselves about how much like "adults" we were trying to be. It truly is the people in your life that makes life special and I am very grateful to my wife for helping make my dream of traveling come true. I have also found out that after being away for a week, that I am starting to miss home. I miss my bed and even my good old 2005 Honda, these rental cars just aren't the same.

I have been slacking on putting up new blog posts. I have started writing them to talk about my travels but they started running long. Also since my phone is too old to take proper pictures, I will have to wait until I get home to pull the pictures of the point and shoot camera before I can share them.

Sleepless in Seattle

"Oh the places you'll go..."
Aug 23, 2016
Self Growth

Seattle is such an amazing city, with a vibrant culture and a great mix of technology and nature. I was fortunate enough to spend a few unforgettable days in Seattle (and a few nearby locales) and this was what I discovered. 

Seattle is fully immersed in nature. As we traveled along the highway and trekked from point A to B, it is impossible to miss the number of trees and flowers all around. Just looking around it feels as if this city sprang from a dense forest of evergreen pine trees. Even within the heart of the city you will find parks scattered throughout and flowers graced on the sides of buildings. 

(The great wheel, 2 coliseums, and Mount Rainier spotted off the pier)

Seattle is full of art everywhere. According to a fun fact that was obtain during a Duck Boat tour around the city, 1% of all property tax is used towards public art. As a result there are fun random art pieces scattered about the city. There is the metallic tree at Olympic sculpture park, the Fremont Troll that lives under the bridge waiting for the three Billy goats gruff, and the glass workings in Chihuly Gardens. Of course these are big sites but you will see quite a few interesting pieces all throughout the city with unfamiliar names. 

Seattle is full of interesting architecture. I had the chance to check out the 10 stories that formed the Seattle Public Library. Each floor had its own function, whether it was the cafe or reading room or job resource center. The entire building is covered in windows allowing in the maximum amount of natural light without being overwhelming. The interior often showcased the art that the city is known for. Located in the heart of the city is the iconic Space Needle which overlooks both the Chihuly Garden and EMP. Chihuly Garden features a number of glass sculptures big and small. They range from the size of a small hand basket to a 12 foot tower. All the pieces are full of vibrant colors and interesting shapes. It offers some great photo opportunities like having glass sculptures and the space needle all in one shot. The EMP building showcases a number of rock legends. The building is easily recognizable and not recognizable. You know you are there because you will be standing at a bright red building with a number of twists and turns. If you are not familiar with it, you may not be able to recognized it was designed based on Jimmy Hendrix's broken guitar. These are a few of the architectural styles you can see while in Seattle but there is more to come. Amazon for example has a new building under construction, which looks like a golf ball. It's unique design will definitely help their creative team think different. 

Seattle is full of great food. Located by the water, the city offers some of the best seafood around. You can swing by Taylor's to have one of their succulent oysters, my wife loved it and we just happened to get in right at happy hour. We were also taken by a friend to enjoy cioppino and fish & chips at Steelhead Diner. This was possibly the largest bowl of seafood I have ever had. After dinner, we walked next door to grab some of Rachel's Ginger Beer, which is a definitely not what you find in the grocery aisle. The come in a number of flavors including guava, pineapple, and mango mate. If you so wish, they have spirits available to liven things up even more.

(Oysters on the Half Shell at Taylor's)
Seattle was an amazing experience which we were fortunate enough experience. It is so full of great art and food and we cannot get enough. We also benefited from not having rain while we were there which from my understanding is unheard of.

Self Reflection Sunday

Aug 14, 2016
Self Reflection

This past week I was able to write 6 of 7 days, with 2 financial articles, 1 on personal safety, 1 about Pokemon (which should be a category all on it's own), and updates on the website design. This week was also one where I had multiple friends and family visit from out of town which was wonderful to for catching up and going out, but also took time away from working this blog. I have no regrets on spending that time with them, but it does challenge me on how I can be productive when there are other priorities available. I have learned to blog from my phone, which is great for when I have a few spare minutes when I am on the go. This means I can keep working even when I am not home. This coming week will be full of meeting up with friends and exploring out of state. I have always wanted to travel, so I am taking advantage of this time while I am still young to make it happen. I will take a hit on my budget but time lost is time I will never get back. I am saving a little on hotel costs by staying with friends for half the time and Airbnb for the other half. Goal for this coming week is plenty of pictures for the photo album and a handful of blog posts.

A Fate Worst Than Death

"Steven Hawkins without the genius brain" 

Aug 13, 2016

Accident Prevention

It may be hard to believe there is a punishment worst than death, since avoiding death has been hard wired into our DNA since the beginning of time. It is the reason we get up in the morning, it is why we eat, drink, and even breathe. And while many of us while fear death and perhaps the afterlife, there are things in this life that may be even more scary. For some people, it is public speaking; for me, it is a debilitating injury. A debilitating injury is one what will leave you alive but severely handicapped. It would be more than an arm or a leg, it would be perhaps 2 arms and 2 legs or brain damage. Imagine being Steven Hawkins without the genius brain, that is my fear. I will explain why debilitating injuries are so scary, and a way we can minimize the impact.

To me, death is simple, living is much harder. For the individual, death is the end of everything. It is when you no longer have to worry about eating, drinking, looking good, being smart, getting along with other, or going to work. A sudden death may be heartbreaking for loved ones, but for the individual they really could not care any longer. Your friends and family will go through a period of mourning but eventually everything will get back on track and life will continue for them. Living is much tougher. You have to worry about your next meal, your next paycheck, and your friends and family. You are constantly working to adapt to a changing world, a changing environment, and changing times. You need and want to care for them in whatever way you can. If you are dead, there is no nothing you can do, there is no choice. If you are alive, then you can choose, and your decisions will ultimately affect you and others around you. But I do not envy death, and I am learning along the way what it takes to not just be alive but to also live well.

Debilitating injuries are worst than death, because it is seeing something, and wanting to do something, but not being able to do it no matter how much you wish it so. If I suddenly become injured, I have no idea who would take care of my family. Who would put food on the table or shelter to live under. It is unlikely that we would be able to continue paying the mortgage which will likely mean having to sell the house. If the injury was less severe, perhaps I can do a desk job or something that has less pay, but a a truly debilitating injury can prevent even that from coming true. I would go from someone who is active and able to care for others, to someone who is left to depend on others. That would be the worst part for me, that I could not care for those around me. Even worst, others would be obligated to care for me.I may not be able to feed or clothes myself, never mind trying to use the restroom. And though your spouse or family member may be able to care for you for a period of time, chances are they will get worn out with the passing months and years. Your spouse may have to start picking up extra shifts at work to pay for the additional medical expenses, but at the same time worry about having someone to care for you at home. That feeling of helplessness is likely the scariest part of disability. 

The uncertainty of when injuries can occur is the second part that makes it scary. Injuries can literally come from anywhere. A few years back, there was a leak in a septic tank aboard an airplane. the leak opened up in mid air and as all that septic water came falling down from thousands of miles in the sky, it froze over before crashing down to the earth. There is no way we could plan to prevent these events from happening. It would not have matter if you are a vegetarian who did yoga 5 days a week, if that septic ice block hit you, you are sure going to feel it. 

Although no one can predict when an injury will occur, you can minimize the impact an injury can cause. The first part of minimizing injury is actually to be active. While it would be unwise to play around on the freeway, staying active with regular exercise will minimize injuries from falls and bumps. Regular exercise is important for stemming of many of the diseases that affect modern man.  For bigger injuries, health insurance will be vital. America's broken health system means that you are really only okay if you are really poor and covered by Medicaid or really wealthy and can absorb the brunt of an illness. Otherwise health insurance is going to be necessity for medium level injuries. The insurance will cover your standard broken leg or course of therapy for pneumonia which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. 

For debilitating injuries, you need disability insurance. Disability insurance for most people when they are young is relatively inexpensive. Most disability insurances will cover you for about 60% of what you make, but because disability benefits are not taxed, your take home is about the same. So if your monthly income is $1000 and you get injured, then your insurance kicks in and pays you $600 a month tax free or until you turn a certain age such as 65. That $600 is likely close to what you would have taken home after federal, state, and social security is taken out.  Disability insurance is important for anyone without enough income to retire. The idea is to generate enough income while you are young that can support yourself for years to come without working. Once you have enough saved up then you will no longer need disability insurance. 

Death is scary but disabilities are frightening. They can make you feel helpless and are unpredictable. The good news is there are ways to minimize the impact of disabilities including exercise, health insurance, and disability insurance. 

Site Layout Updates

"Leave it to the professionals....wait that's me..."

Aug 11, 2016

Self Growth

The internet as a whole is pretty impressive, lots of design and interactivity. So far this blog has maintained a simple template which is fine to start but I will need to work on it for it to become a professional looking site. I plan on incorporating more pictures and videos in my posts to make them more interesting. Also posts will have tags which will allow the reader to quickly sort through any given topic. Soon you will be able to sort through all the financial literature simply by clicking Financial Safety.

This process will take some time since learning HTML will be necessary to have the site look the way I want it to. In the mean time some links may not work 100% correctly and the layout will be a work in progress as I figure what would look the best. With that said, I feel I may end up learning a bit about how to code web pages when all this is said and done and I will be looking to contribute a few hours each day to that task.

Locked doors

"A lock is only good if you use it"
Aug 10, 2016
 Personal Safety / Health and Well Being

(garage door side lock:source)

Just the other day, my neighbor's car was stolen. What made this particular incident especially worrying is that the car was parked inside a closed garage, the neighbors were home, and they had no idea until morning came. This meant that the thieves were able to get inside the house and get out with a very valuable item without anyone knowing for hours. It was fortunate that the thieves only wanted the car, because much worst could have happened.

Many of us leave our homes for hours throughout the day. During these times, our homes are vulnerable for invasion. Thieves may enter and take our jewelry and electronics, they may steal our passports and identities, and can damage what we have worked so hard to create. Our home is supposed to be our safe place, the place where we can lay our heads and be at ease. After a home invasion, the sense of security may be the biggest thing lost.

There are some steps that can be taken to improve home security.
1. Make sure everyone in the house is aware of home security. All it takes is one careless person leaving a door or window unlocked to make your home more vulnerable.
2. Lock all your doors and windows, do not open them for unknown people, and make sure you get the latch in the garage. Many garage doors will have a manual latch available to prevent it from being raised.
3. Remove hidden keys and ladders from the outside of the house. These items are accessible to the world, which means the world will be accessible to your home.
4. Add intimidating signs  such as any spare ADT or other home security system signs or Beware of Dog
5. Get a security system to monitor your home 24/7 but it does have a recurring cost
6. For sliding window and doors lay a pieces of 2x4 or pvc pipe in the railing of sliding windows and doors to act as a secondary security device to prevent opening
7. Keep valuables well hidden with special care to hide jewelry and personal documents (passports, social security cards, etc)
8. Keep valuables out of sight from the world, the general assumption is if you have nice things on the outside, you have nice things on the inside

It will be easy to get lost in your day to day life that you may forget to guard your home. It will only take 1 time before you will feel violated, and there is only a small chance that you will get your things back and the perpetrator gets caught. You will not be able to prevent every robbery or break-in but if your place looks tougher to get into, then burglars will pick an easier target. Protect yourself and protect what's yours.