Me, me and Ben Lee, it's all about gigs supreme ...

It may be past 1am in Portland, but I'm compelled to write about what was probably the best concert experience I have, well, experienced after just returning from the Ben Lee/Rufus Wainwright/Ben Folds gig held at the beautiful Roseland Theater last night. I went along with Soule Sista's sister, kT, and one of her friends from high school. I felt like their chaperone. I'm that old or maybe they're just young.

I was skeptical going to the concert as I did not own one piece of music produced by these three amazing dudes. I can now say I'm poorer, but wiser, for admitting that fact.

First up was Australia's own Lee. He must have began before the doors were meant to open at 8pm and consequently we only saw two songs from a very short six-song set (again, say that three times quickly). But we were fortunate to hear his latest single, "Catch My Disease" and to meet with him afterwards. He signed my ticket stub and agreed to pose with yours truly and my Aussie passport for this here blog, although he told me he doesn't live down under anymore. In fact, he doesn't live anywhere as he's always on tour. Even the t-shirts sold at the concession stand said so.

Next was Wainwright. I've read he's a gay Canadian singer-songwriter and I've slept on him for far too long. Geez, that sounded bad. What I meant to say was that I never bothered to check how great this versatile artist is. He reminded me of Jeff Buckley and even performed "Hallelujah" during an inspirational set that went over an hour. He said that Portland was one of the few American cities with its soul intact, or words to that effect. I just nodded my head. I'll have to get some of his albums. Like Folds, he's on the I Am Sam soundtrack, singing "Across The Universe", which would be my favourite Beatles song and he does it justice.

He even came back and joined Folds for an awesome cover of Wham!'s "Careless Whisper". The best cover was Folds and his band performing a Dr Dre track, which was so good and funny that I forgot the original. He capped off the night by throwing his stool on the piano, ending a successful North American tour. We then caught the MAX home.

Take me out to the ballgame (again) ...

The guy has got to be getting sick of going to baseball games, right? No way! Last night's game at PGE Park in downtown Portland was a throwback to the halcyon days of going to a game with a group of mates, old and new, and not having to justify spending your whole week's paycheck on entry, washing down some multi-million dollar crybaby's poor performance with overpriced beer and manufactured food.

Cost of entry? $7.
A beer? $2.
A delicious hot dog? Well, to quote The Man Show's Jimmy Kimmel, the hot dog may have cost $5, but the condiments were free!
An awesome night at a minor league game? Priceless.

Thirsty Thursday doesn't harm attendance either. I was joined by 9,156 others - most of them standing in the beer garden adjacent to the field - which was more than double the number of punters on the previous night. The girls dressed up as if the place was a night club/meat market and the fellas, like yours truly, scrubbed up pretty good too.

Just don't ask me who won the match between the Portland Beavers and the Las Vegas 51s as we left shortly after the sixth inning when they stopped serving the amber fluid to find some other watering holes. One was called Marathon and the bouncer had a mullet worse than Billy Ray Cyrus. Then it was off to Scooter's. I walked in and the place looked all too familiar. It occurred to me that I went there before the Everclear concert at the neighbouring Crystal Ballroom during my last trip here. We had Jello shots and heaps of fun before Single Forever and I missed the last tram and luckily caught a cab with some dude who was going the same place we were. Single Forever described him on her blog as a "socially inept idiot" who wore a shirt with rude website address on it. She added: "Annoyed the hell out of me, but (we) also scored us a cheap cab. On the ride home, he kept adding "dot-com" to everything he said." I wholeheartedly agree with those comments.

He was as weird as the guy I met in the beer line at the baseball game claiming to be a star college quarterback who was a complete bust in the NFL. If you're going to pretend to be someone your not, why would you paint yourself as a pathetic loser? Apologies to the real Cade McNown, who hails from Portland but doesn't resemble the "failure" I was trying to reassure last night. It was entertaining though (looking at Cousin Slugg who said the blog was lacking quality). It seems I am still as gullible as ever. What was even more coincidental was that G.I. Vic and I were talking about dud NFL quarterbacks on our drive home from Seattle on Monday and his name temporarily eluded us.

It was a devil's haircut, in my mind ...

You know you're in Portland when an Elliott Smith song is playing at a hotel. My fellow blogger, Single Forever, took me and a couple of her friends to Goodfoot, but we hardly hot-footed it there. What should have been a pretty quick trip took longer than an hour. Luckily, the pool, music and PDX's best French fries were worth the wait. I even had Pittsburgh's own Iron City Lager, for the princely sum of $US2.50.

We had hoped to go to Wet Wednesday at an establishment by the name of Who-Song & Larry's. It seems that Thirsty Thursday's with $US2 pints watching the Portland Beavers minor league baseball team at PGE Park will be the go tomorrow, or is that today? The venue is downtown and looks nice and intimate.

Earlier, G.I. Vic took me on a tour around Salem. We went to the State Capitol building, my old school and Silver Creek Falls. I have included some photos for the trusty blog, which has been criticised (in broken English) by Cousin Slugg: "Where are the funny stories about odd things happening????" Sorry mate, it's been a casual and uneventful time. I'll endeavour to make more of a ruckus.

He liked football too ...

JB's Sporting Tour of America continued yesterday. I joined G.I. Vic and his wife on a whirlwind trip to Seattle to watch the hometown Seahawks play "America's team", the Dallas Cowboys, in an NFL preseason game. The venue was Qwest Field, a new state-of-the-art venue close to downtown and the ocean. Awesome. Almost as good as Pittsburgh's Heinz Field but maybe I'm biased.

Dallas won 18-10 (geez, I hate them) but the good news was G.I. Vic's mate, Jose Cortez, kicked three field goals for the Cowboys, which could earn him a spot on the team when the season proper begins next month. I wished him well after the match. The Dallas punter, Mat McBriar, ironically, is Australian. From Melbourne, no less.

Believe me, he is alive ...

Proof positive that The King is still with us. I saw him with my own eyes, at Rivjuando's parents house, no less. We're pictured with the great man.

This here blog struck a chord with my mate, K-Lenko, back home. In an e-mail he said: "Have been keeping up to date with the blog mate and find it thoroughly enjoyable, reading your trials and tribulations of your extended vacation ... feel as though I am shoulder to shoulder with you, riding every bump along the way across the world." Thanks bro.

In other news, it was a case of another week, another wedding - this time for Rivjuando's cousin. When asked whether I knew the bride or groom, my general response was neither. On one occasion, I said I was auditioning for Wedding Crashers II. Not sure who bought that one. As photos show (just not on this here blog), I still managed to find the keg to pour myself a few cold ones. Well deserved too, I must add.

Today, I was treated to some of Oregon's natural beauty. I joined Niki Nikon and some of her friends on a trip up to Multnomah Falls. I seem to fade into the foreground on this picture of Crown Point, but that's how it should be. The sunset, as you can see, was absolutely majestic. Just like Nathan Ablett in front of goal.

Don't worry, his crown jewels were spared ...

All I needed to do was drive a pick-up truck. That was G.I. Vic's belief as I thoroughly enjoyed an All-American day in and around this fine city of Portland.

The day officially started with a drive up to Hooters in Beaverton. These restaurants feature friendly and fabulous females (say that three times fast) who serve great food with a smile. Did I mention the waitresses are scantily clad? Unfortunately, I don't have photos, but I reckon I'll return serve there soon enough and the blog will be forever thankful. I had the chicken parmesan, which apparently is a chicken parmagiana. I disagree. When asked this evening what foods I miss the most, the pub parma would be at the top of the list.

Then we hit up the Nike outlet in Northeast Portland. The credit card is battered and bruised after taking several hits today. I lucked onto some nice old-school kicks for just under $US30 as I shopped until I dropped. Found an old school Michael Jordan Bulls jersey circa '84, also for just under $US30 at Foot Locker. It looks very similar to the retro Blazer jersey I bought at the NBA Store in New York. There would be more bargains to be had with Rivjuando and Soule Sista at Washington Square later in the day. It was like giving a slab of beer to an alcoholic. Indeed, I was thirsty for bargains.

And what would an American experience be without shooting a gun? After shop-hopping, G.I. Vic took me to the shooting range to unload on some unsuspecting silhouettes. The poor souls, pictured with yours truly, didn't stand a chance.

But first, I had orientation and a test. After achieving a perfect score, I shot G.I. Vic's 9mm and Dirty Harry's weapon of choice. Many thanks to the good souls at the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and G.I. Vic for making the experience enjoyable after my initial hesitance. I'll add the disclaimer: guns are to be treated with the ultimate respect and this blog does not, in any way, condone their misuse.

'Nuff said.

Finally, I have met my match ...

Greetings from Salem, OR. Currently sitting on the couch doing, well, not doing much. I have been drinking - on this very couch - with my old school mate, G.I. Vic (pictured). He and his wife have been good enough to let me sleep on the couch at their creekside apartment. It's been swell.

We're about to go out for lunch with another former Viking. It's been interesting to hear of the time G.I. Vic spent in Iraq. He's as fit as ever (not in the affectionate English way, as in "geez, that girl is fit") and he has even been giving me some helpful tips in the gym. Surprisingly, I have only put on a couple of kegs since I left Australia more than six weeks ago. Hard to believe it's been that long.

What's more surprising is that the credit card is paid off and there's still money to spare. It could be the result of not blowing the budget on clothes. G.I. Vic likes hitting up the sports stores more than me! And he hates sports. Go figure. But he says that fighting in a war is the ultimate contest and it's impossible to disagree with that. We're both pictured at the Portland City Grill last Saturday night with G.I. Ryan and our mutual friend, Mr Jäger Meister.

Wedding of the year, the world (wide web) exclusive ...

It was so beautiful and so true. I'm still marvelling at yesterday's marriage of my two good friends, Rivjuando and Soule Sista (not Rivjuando's sister, of course). I may write at length later, but I just wanted to post some photos and my initial thoughts.

We're all pictured after the intimate service, held at the college where they met in 1998. Around 70 of their closest family and friends simply watched and admired. I was privileged enough to be a groomsmen for Rivjuando - both of us were exchange students a decade ago. But as much as it was happy occasion, the reception was also tinged with sadness as Rivjuando's best man, Clintor, was about to drive cross-country to Wisconsin where he begins medical school. I wish him all the best. We're all pictured here before the tearful goodbye.

Memo to K-Beezer (my sister): I have plenty of good ideas for your wedding with Cameroon early next year. Just contact me!

This week on the OR ...

I should be partaking in some much-needed sleep at the moment, but the blog doesn't stop! Just returned from Rivjuando's buck's party (it's just after 2am here on the West Coast) and a good time was had by all.

Rivjuando and I were joined by his old school mates, T-Balls and Clintor - Captain Morgan's long-lost nephew - for a delicious meal at Ringside, a popular haunt for many Blazer basketballers and other Portland identities. They're not lying when they boast of cooking "the best steaks in town since 1944". In one of the many testimonials posted on the walls, Clyde Drexler said: "The food was fantastic". If it's good enough for The Glide, then it's good enough for me, The JB. Everclear also once visited, but given that frontman Art Alexakis has recently filed for bankruptcy, he couldn't afford to eat there. It was pricey, but if you pay peanuts then you get monkeys and the 10 ounce prime rib was the best meal so far on the trip. Period.

We then played some pool and darts and saw some mice running around in an English-style pub. While I took some pictures of the part-drunken shenanigans, the mice were simply too fast and, unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence of their patronage but they may be on a tabloid-style current affairs show real soon. Rivjuando and myself in the backseat here, while Clintor is in the front seat and is, fortunately, not driving.

Apparently he was a real captain after all...

Two blog postings in a single day, again? Ridiculous!

Remember one of my earlier posts about that esteemed drink made by Captain Morgan? Here's me pictured with Premier Brax on the left and Sparky who wholeheardly endorse my beliefs about the drink that should be taking over the world but is still unavailable in Australia.

Make a petition, organise a rally, do anything to bring Captain Morgan's spiced rum down under. The world would be a better place.

Farewell to the 'Burgh ...

Just getting ready to go to the airport after a memorable week here in Pittsburgh, PA - the Steel City. This is one of my favourite pictures while I have been here. It is of me and LD at one of Mount Washington's many lookouts. The PPG building is in the background. Can you believe that I tried to take a close-up picture of the same building days earlier and a security guard told me off? Apparently I look like a terrorist.

Had heaps - yes, LD, heaps is a word Australians use to say there was a lot - of good times here. It will be sad to go.

Tonight, I will arrive in Portland, OR for the wedding of the century. Many women's lifestyle magazines have been clamouring to get access to the blessed union of Rivjuando and his dearly beloved this Friday night but hopefully I will have exclusive pictures and post them on this here blog. As long as I appear in them!

Just reminicising ...

Two blog postings in one day? All I can say is: "Don't get used to it."

The Yankees are beating the Blue Jays 6-1 in Toronto at the moment, so I thought it would be a good time to post a picture of me taken this time last week outside Yankee Stadium.

Premier Brax and Penn State Pete are avid fans of the Bronx Bombers and PSP quirked that he was going to put my Red Sox T-shirt in the garbage after I left it hanging out to dry in their house. To even things up, you'll see I've included a picture of me wearing it at the game last Friday night.

I try to update old blog postings with pictures when they come in, so feel free to scroll through the archives and you may just witness something new.

Skills to pay the bills ...

And who said I (or someone with a name similar to me) couldn't play the guitar?

I saw this sign posted on many shops in the Upper East Side of New York, close to our "hotel" and thought it was pretty funny as I'm sure you'll agree. Many bystanders didn't. Rock on!

Being strong in the Steel City ...

Greetings from Pittsburgh, where the weather is hot and humid - these conditions seem to be consistent right across North America at the moment.

Fans of the blog have lamented the lack of updates. Poppa Blog, all the way from Australia, said via telephone that I was getting slack. Now there! Rivjuando also e-mailed me and said: "I've been watching the blog spot, but no updates since NY. Hope the city didn't devour you or something." No such luck.

I could apologise for not updating the blog, but quite frankly, I have been having way too much fun to be stuck in front of a computer. And truthfully (not that I'm ever not truthful - a double negative), this has been my first opportunity to post a few comments.

So where to begin? I'll start in New York, the city that never sleeps, although the subway stops after midnight, leaving a lonely traveller like me to catch a cab. On Monday I caught up with a couple of friends, LG (Life's Good) and MO (Modus Operandi). I really appeciated having the opportunity to catch up with them and for LG showing me around the office where he works. I tried to see some of the sights that I missed on my last tour and went to the Brooklyn Bridge (above) and the top of the Empire State Building (below) at night, despite a long wait. Sadly, I missed Central Park (again), even though my hotel was only 10 blocks away.

Ah, the hotel! Now there's a story. Arrived via train with the District Attorney from Boston to New York on Saturday afternoon and thought it would be easy to stay in a hostel. Wrong! More than 20 calls to hostels and cheap hotels were greeted with the phrase: "Sorry, we're booked out." Then we found one on 120-something Street and Lenox Avenue and caught the subway there. Little did we know that Lenox Avenue had been renamed Malcolm X Boulevard and that we were the only two white guys in Harlem. I personally wasn't worried, but I have been pretty carefree most of this trip. Yet it was agreed that we would go back to the drawing board (the Internet cafe) and find somewhere else. Five hours later, we found one that matched previous hostels for cleanliness but was twice as expensive.

While in New York at the NBA Store, I saw a basketball legend - Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who was launching his new apparel and footwear company. This has been my second celebrity sighting, after catching a glimpse of Red Sox slugger David Ortiz aka Big Papi near his car at Fenway Park. I hope I'm not stalking.

The 'Burgh has been awesome. I have been staying with my friends Premier Brax and Penn State Pete, although I haven't actually seen either of them as they're both away with work and are very busy. I'm hoping to see them both tomorrow at the Steelers training camp before flying to Oregon for Rivjuando's wedding next Friday.

A huge shoutout to my friend LD aka Lozza Dizzle and her family for showing me the 'Burgh hospitality. LD has been awesome, picking me up from the train station on Tuesday night and taking me everywhere, including to the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game on Wednesday evening. The home team is now 4-0 when I go to a game. I expect calls from other Major League managers very soon to help them in the W column. Maybe the Geelong Football Club also need my and KL's services after losing to St Kilda. To every Cat fan over in Australia - what is going on?

Pittsburgh's ballpark was beautiful and so was the night, the Pirates coming from behind to beat the San Diego Padres. Pictures hopefully to follow but the memories will always remain.