PORTLAND ON POWELL'S

An editor who shall remain nameless once described herself, on national television no less, as part bookworm, part gadfly. I could so relate. This trip would satisfy both strains: four days in Portland on Powell's, the bookstore, with three nights at the Heathman Hotel. The package also includes a $250 gift certificate to Powell's (I would hope so) and dinner at a Saucebox, which is supposed to be a swell restaurant.

To enter, go to www.powells.com/trip/.

The deadline is August 31.

This sweeps wins the Easiest to Enter Award hands down. All you have to do is provide your email. For that, you will get a subscription to Powell's newsletter and the chance to win the trip to Portland.

I probably will not post again until next Monday evening. My laptop is on the fritz. That tends to happen when a nine-year-old accidently spills the detritus of a bag of pretzels onto a keyboard. I can still feel a few oversize salt grains wedged betwixt select consonants when I type.