The long awaited band trip began at 6:30 one Sunday morning with my first cup of coffee ever. I was in for a long morning. When we arrived in Portland, our first stop would be the food court for lunch, and then off to the Portland Museum of Art. It was pretty much non-eventful. I was actually afraid to take pictures of anything after watching everyone else get tweaked on. Next we were headed to Lyric Theater for a performance of ‘Cabaret.’ Here’s where I wished I had done a bit of research. Maybe some Googling ahead of time would have warned me. As the lights dimmed and the music began, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. Little did I know that two men were about to kiss right in front of my eyes! Not that I’m, uh, complaining, I just definitely hadn’t seen it coming. Guys in dresses. Girls and poles. Now this was my kind of show! As a much smaller group of us headed to Ruby Tuesday’s for dinner, I started to feel the effects of a long day. I must have looked as exhausted as I felt because at one point, Vigue looked back at me and said, “Taylor Lane, smile. You look like your aunt died.” Once we were settled into our hotel, my roommates and I were all feeling a little crazy. After changing into our pajamas, we roamed the halls talking in our best British accents. Soon I felt myself ready to crash and ended up sleeping on the floor between the two beds.
The next day I woke early to get a decent amount of bathroom time. Everyone else got up and hour later and after grabbing some breakfast in the hotel, we went on to a tour of USM’s music, theater, and art departments. There was just one minor problem. We were minus one bus. After the tour, we grabbed a quick lunch at the food court (which I was already sick of) and headed to Portland City Hall for a tour of the Kotzchmar Pipe Organ. This thing was huge! We were able to venture inside of it although space was limited. It was one of those time where being short is an advantage! At some point we were reunited with our bus and made a quick stop at the hotel before heading for Two Light’s State Park. Here’s where I got myself confused. Come to find out, it was not the same place Short Bus and I had been with Carla and Adam about a year earlier. Not only did I confuse myself, but my friends as well. When I was asked, “Where are the light houses?” I gave directions without checking them out myself. It turned out that I wasn’t exactly where I thought I was. With about two hours to go before we departed for dinner at yet again the dreaded food court, I climbed down onto the rocks and enjoyed some much needed alone time in the sun. After dinner, we were free for the rest of the night to shop and hang out. Having passed up the food court, I waited for my friends to finish up and then dragged them to Starbucks where I ordered an orange, mango, banana Vivanno with hope that it would provide me with a bit of energy to carry out the night. For the second time that day I was wrong. My friends dragged me from store to store. $100 in spending money remained in my wallet, dying to be spent. While my friends were blowing cash, I found myself pacing and completely zoning out, not really looking at anything I might want. I survived until 7:15 when I slipped in with a group of kids who were walking across the street to return early to the hotel. I settled in to watch Dancing With The Stars as everyone shopped until 9. After they returned, I was informed that a small surprise birthday party was going to be held down in the lobby. A small warning: when you tell your friends that you’re not feeling well, they just might overreact and reply, “OMG! It’s your diabetes! You’re going to die!” They just might. And you just might find yourself on the floor almost suffocating under a blanket and crying yourself to sleep because your roommates won’t leave you the hell alone.
In complete silence the next day we returned to Portland City Hall to see a youth concert. Stearns was clearly the group. Since I wasn’t able to get much sleep the night before, I dozed off throughout the performance. Although I did manage to stay awake at near the end as they played ‘Harry’s Wonderous World’ from the Harry Potter movies. I had yet to speak to my roommates after boarding the bus for lunch at the, can you guess it? Marvelous food court! I couldn’t have been any less interested in eating, so I headed off to try and spend a little money. After killing almost $50 in Icing, and finding myself a styling new pair of shades, it was time to head for the bus and being the journey home. But not before realizing something very important. As I passed Panda Express for the millionth time, I remember something Paula Abdul once taught me. “Between a Panda Express and a Starbucks, you can figure out a whole well balanced meal.” And now I sit here and think, “You idiot! That was your chance!” If only I wasn’t afraid of Japanese people. :(
With my own seat on the bus, I uncomfortably attempt to fall asleep. The trip could not have come to a better conclusion with the tragic accident of Connor’s phone flying out the window and my Ipod battery almost dead. And even though I wanted to hang my roommates out the hotel window, I can proudly say I’m very glad I went. It will always be something I remember. Honestly, how could you not? It was good to come home though. After all the crap, there was no better way to relax then get lost in the Idol world of voting lines, dissing Kara, and waiting on the edge of my seat for Saula’s next move. Welcome…home! :)
