It's the latest, it's the greatest, it's the library!

I finish my article on The victory of "you did good" over "you did well" in American English. My thesis is that its prevalence is the fault of Rocky III and reality television, but that it has the redeeming concept of "good vs evil" figuring in.

I feel better than I have all this week. Perhaps writing is the secret to moving on emotionally and I didn't need to join Match.com, but I already did. I did a free search, saw there were men in Portland without beards, and in a desperate attempt at exorcism joined. Because Leif is in my heart and I need to get him out.

There's nothing I can do about missing Spike, my 15 year old pound Maltese that I left in LA with Leif. His vision isn't great and he loves Leif and hates rain, so bringing him felt unkind. Still, I feel like I've given a child up for adoption.

In this minute of renewed life force, I take Isabel for a walk. It's super sunny out though 2 minutes ago it was raining. Walking around Portland is fun, for reasons other than you'd think. It's ridiculously pedestrian friendly, the polar opposite of LA. On every corner I have right of way. If I so much as stick my foot off the curb, cars come to a screeching halt. I feel powerful.

I go on a mission I've planned since my third day in Portland, to contribute to the local library. It's not a Portland municipal library, it's a pop up street library. They're spread throughout Portland, including one a block away from me. It took me a couple days to find it again; I was afraid it might be like Brigadoon. It's a little stand that looks like a cross between a traditional help-yourself newspaper stand and a bird feeder. On it is hand painted, "Please take a book if you see one you like, and leave a book when you have one to share".

I don't actually read much, except off a screen (not just surfing but actual novels), but this is too appealing. The first time I was here I took Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home -  and other unexplained powers of animals. I of course haven't read it and will eventually bring it back here unread, but regardless I want to leave a book in exchange. Something to hold up my end of this honorary deal.

I pull out from my purse/knapsack, Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard,  Based on the Book. That's right, I'm not even leaving a book, I'm leaving a DVD. I bought it at the Scientology Celebrity Center in Pasadena, just so I could see the inside. It's still in its plastic. I stack the actual paper books around it on top of each other, so I can display Dianetics the DVD prominently. Take that, Portland.

Score 1 for LA.