Clackamas County Meeting (04-19-12)

I don't claim to know much about politics, but the soon-to-be-coming TriMet ligh trail project sure gets some people riled up. In that light, it's interesting whenever one gets a chance to observe the local political process.

There was a public meeting at the Clackamas County headquarters, and people had a chance to speak their minds regarding the project. Testimony ranged from statements that the light rail would be a positive influence on this part of the woods, to panicked warnings that crime will engulf the whole area,  and ruin Clackamas County forever. The funny thing is, from my experience driving on McLoughlin Blvd./Hwy. 99 on a regular manner, there ins't much to be proud about the succession of strip clubs, car dealerships, empty lots, rundown empty stores, and ratty trailer parks that punctuate it... The light rail might in fact contribute to a cleanup of the area!

On the Milwaukie bus line (03-16-11 and 03-17-11)

I had to go work on a QA localizations downtown for a few days (Yours Truly occasionally uses her left brain to do French translation, interpretation and editing work), and I made the effort of taking TriMet to get home. In this case, it means the # 33 bus, the McLoughlin Blvd. to Oregon City line.

this guy was laughing to himself...

It's pretty clear, from the very few times I have taken this bus, that the passenger are the type that take no s...: working class people, women who look like 50s diner waitresses, hard-core skaters, or sort-of scuzzy types with tattoos and/or those ear things that give me bad shivers just to think of it. In fact, the demographics of the old suburbs are pretty different from the passengers who ride the # 4 bus, in our old neighborhood: sustainably-dressed people getting off at New Seasons on Division, trendy hipsters, and the occasional bum.

When I draw on the bus, I have to be discreet about it. I don't want someone to come up to me and challenge me to show my sketchbook. So I draw a snippet here, take a glance there, and rely on my memory to fill in the blanks. I like this drawings, because it means working around a few core sketches, and adding details that will be meaningful but not detract from the whole.