A few weeks back, my previous career at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) collided with my current line of work as Portland's Green Building Policy Coordinator. A string of hand-me-down emails from the Mayor's office led to an ecocharette invite for PNCA's green renovation of their historic 511 Building.
In 2007, as I was wrapping up 7 years of teaching Natural Science, PNCA purchased this stately building for the grand total of $1. A sweet US Department of Education deal once the building becomes vacated by it's only tenant, Dubya's Department of Homeland Security. Fast forward to 2011, and PNCA's dream building is finally becoming a reality.
The charette was filled with PNCA faculty, students & staff from my past mixed with green building colleagues from the present. I was pleasantly surprised to find PNCA's commitment to establishing the 511 Building as the cultural center of an EcoDistrict - the next generation of green building at a neighborhood scale AND the primary focus of my current work. From that point forward, a constant string of professional and personal connections have been intertwining with PNCA folks.
At times the coincidences have been exceptionally bizarre. Earlier in the year, I bought online electronic tickets to a Thermals explosion for Bunny & I. On the day of the show, she couldn't make it. Lilly pleaded to fly backup. Too loud, and too late for 'Lil, so I flew solo. Contemplating all the latest cosmic PNCA connections, I rode down to the show wondering whether our stars would align. Sure enough, I arrived to a loooooonnng line, and at the very end there stood a former PNCA maintenance dude + date.
We joked around as the line crept forward. Then he entered the SOLD OUT show while I was stopped by the doorman. Unfortunately, my online order had not registered with the electronic WILL CALL. If I could only access my email on a smart phone, I would pull up the ticket confirmation. But alas, I am dumber than a doornail when it comes to cell phones.
Disillusioned by the night, I unlocked my bike and started heading back home when my intuition wisely reminded me that this PNCA connection was no coincidence. Being a good listener, I turned around and locked back up again. Within minutes I was given entry as one stranger pulled up my email confirmation and another one bought Bunny's ticket. And, The Thermals delivered a non-stop-slam-dance-sweat-fest. What a RELIEF!?!
Last Monday, The Thermals rocked out again with a surprise show at the century-old Oaks Park roller rink. Lilly learned to rollerskate the week before, and we scored a couple of free tickets.
On the last visit to Oaks Park in 2006, I busted my ankle horribly. When the music is booming, I can't help but fly around the rink with little regard for safety. Fortunately, no injuries this time, and we ran into Lilly's former babysitter for a few rounds.
