"Yeahp," Penny grinned, "they gave me the Tzigane—just brought the old tub in here from Eugene, got her berthed down past that little grove of trees there, nobody worse for wear."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Yeahp"
I guess this is how we're supposed to say "Yep!" in Oregon? Like how all the Maine residents in Stephen King books say, "Ayuh." The only problem is I'll have to figure out exactly how to say it so people know I'm not just saying "Yep!"
"the Tzigane"
A "tzigane" is an Eastern European Romani person, particularly from Hungary. I already pointed out how the name of their club, "Bindlestiffs," could possibly be an offensive term and now they're basically calling their wandering ship the Gypsy. It's possible the crew are all Romani in which case the name is fine. The earliest documented mention of Roma in Oregon is from papers in 1893! The story, you might not be surprised to hear, is about a missing girl who was presumed kidnapped by a passing group of Romani. With no evidence, of course! But my guess, since they're ascensionaries, is that they're probably just a bunch of white protestants who think it's cute to play as traveling bindlestiffs and wandering Romani. Or, as we would have said in the 70s because they were two of the most popular Halloween costumes (because they were so easy to pull off), hobos and gypsies. But we wouldn't say that anymore! I mean, I wouldn't. I won't pretend Conservatives don't exist. They're not going to give up their casually racist and offensive terms unless we pull them from their cold dead hands! Hint, hint!
"Eugene"
This is where all the hippies live in Oregon. It's where the University of Oregon is located. Their mascot is the duck. That's pretty lame even when you consider the other big Oregon University's mascot is a beaver. Portland State's mascot is the Viking which seems more like a football mascot (probably because it's also a professional one!) although it feels a bit racist in the 21st century. Not racist like calling your football team the Redskins! But racist like celebrating European white heritage!
A truck I was driving on a road trip with my cousin once broke down in Eugene and I was lucky that my step-grandfather lived there so he could pick us up until help came to get us back to Portland. He was the father of an ex-mayor of Portland who totally cheats at Scattergories. I don't want to name him because knowing he cheats at that game could hurt his reputation. But you might also know him as the Portlandia mayor's assistant!
"that little grove of trees"
That's where the man with the camera and the naked lady ran off to! I wonder if Penny saw them doing it!
"nobody worse for the wear"
I think she saw the Inconvenience's terrible landing and is breaking Darby's balls here.
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