The NASO conference is in Portland this June, so as a public service, I thought I'd give those of you who are planning to attend some info.

Here's what you should bring:

an umbrella
another umbrella
battery powered hair dryer approved for outdoor use
rainglasses
raintan lotion, at least 35 RPF
naval jelly, in case you rust
waterproof map of downtown Portland
Blazer repellent

Since the conference is in June, you do not need to bring a coat, since the rain is quite warm that time of year.

Also - if the line at Starbucks is too long, just go to the Starbucks next door, or the one across the street, or the one on the second floor or the one in your room.

What kind of food you will find:

salmon
salmon
salmon
Baby Harp Seal burgers
microbrews
"gourmet" pizza

You won't find:

a good reuben sandwich

Please bring lots of money, since our exchange rate is really favorable. That's because we have no sales tax. If something is priced at $9.99, you pay $9.99. What a concept. Also - if you are driving or renting a car, you'll enjoy the fact that it is illegal in Oregon to pump your own gas.

When you think about it, those two things are kind of cool.

Also, those who, because of genetics, are born with webs between your toes, can go barefoot without fear of ridicule or ostracism. Anyone born in Western Oregon is officially web-footed by definition, and so we're very accustomed. Aothough now that I think about it, there aren't all that many of us.

"as a public service"???? Is this the "kinder, gentler side of Mark Padgett?

Mark - I found out about the "No Pumping Your Own Gas" rule last summer while heading to Seattle. My wife and I pull into a gas station pass the Cal. Oregon border and an attendant is standing there to pump the gas.

We thought, "Wow, what great service", and tipped the kid for pumping the gas. Then our friend in Portland that we stopped to see told us about the 'No Pump Rule'.

Quite a hoot!

I think New Jersey is the only other state where you can't pump your own gas.

No. I just misspelled "pubic". :p

Maybe I'm just to obtuse for my own good, but why in the world do you have a LAW that says you cannot pump your own gas.

Because it's Oregon for God's sake...they do everything bass-ackwards across the river!!

They use the arguments of safety, but in reality it's a convienient way to create make-work jobs. And to be honest, I don't mind it so much except that you have loafers at some stations and have to wait several minutes at the pump for them to show up and start the pump.

Next thing you know, we'll have to pay someone to mow our yards since lawn mowers are unsafe without special training. ;)

In New Jersey the attendants are usually pretty fast (usually) because the NY'ers only wait 3 seconds before jumping out & doing it themselves. ;) And NJ has a much lower gas tax, so you get the service for about $0.20 less per gallon.

Quote:

Next thing you know, we'll have to pay someone to mow our yards since lawn mowers are unsafe without special training. ;)

sshhhhhhh!!!!! It took me a long time to convince my wife such a law exists. Federal law, just in case we move.

:)

Our state fire marshall keeps fighting against any change in the law. Supporters of a change argue that gas prices would be lower if the law was changed, but there are numerous reasons for gas prices in any individual state.

The only places you can pump your own gas in Oregon are at commercial cardlock stations, where there are no attendants at all.

Personally, I like being waited on. My hands stay clean and I don't feel like a pump jockey.

They do it in New Jersey so the idiot pumping the gas can break your filler door (inside release type) and you don't find out until you stop in the next state.