When I first moved to Oregon I thought it was weird having someone pump my gas. But after being here for a few years I like it. I know everybody down in California has forgotten what rain is but we have it up here. It's nice to be able to fill up the tank without getting out in the rain. Remember the reason self serve gas became popular in CA was because it was cheaper. Well, Oregon doesn't have as high of taxes on our gas so even tough we have someone pumping it for us it is still cheaper than the cheapest gas in CA.

There was also a complaint about the distance to a major airport. I don't know if anyone has noticed but Stockton airport is not a major hub. Neither is Sacramento. The closest major airport to Stockton with cheap fares and direct flights is Oakland roughly 1 hour away. I have to admit that PDX is almost 2 hours from Corvalis but the scenery is nicer up here than between Oakland and Stockton so the drive goes by fast.

The Portland and Western has been running a freight with ex-SP SD45's between Salem and Portland through my town of Tualatin. I don't have a schedule but they seem to run one on Saturdays about 10:00am. You've got to love the sound of 645's in the morning.

Voodoo donuts are overrated. My family likes Donutland here in Tualatin better. Nothing fancy or exotic - just good donuts.

Whistlestop Trains is ok. But don't get too excited about the non-tax savings. Their prices are some of the highest I've seen. Tammies Hobbies in Beaverton has better deals - an example is the MTH SP double articulated chair car, it was $10.00 cheaper. The Train Shop in San Jose still beats all the shops I've been to here in Oregon for price and selection. It is one of the only things I miss about living in CA.