It’s strange. I’m as busy as ever and I’m traveling more than ever, but I’m feeling better than ever (though some say my new beard makes me look like the Monopoly man, the Planter’s Peanut man, Fidel Castro and the Penguin from Batman).

I always love visiting this beautiful city, which recently elected the first openly gay mayor of a major American city. Sam Adams, a dedicated public servant, won the election in a field of 13 candidates, and received almost 60 percent of the vote! I had a great time with Mayor-elect Adams at the Portland Art Museum, and let me tell you, Sam Adams is definitely future governor or U.S. Senator material – period. When in Oregon, pick up its No. 1 GLBT publication Just Out. Maybe you’ll even run into hardworking publisher Marty Davis, who is a fabulous lesbian!

My hosts put me up in the luxurious Hotel Lucia and rolled out the community’s red carpet (I even got a key to the city of Portland). Among my many meetings, the most successful ones concerned the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s “Turn Out the Vote” campaign (now in nearly 50 cities!); a very informative report from the Matthew Shepard Foundation; an update on GLBT student scholarships in 25 cities including San Diego; and the upcoming 2009 Creating Change Conference.

When in Portland, I recommend the world famous Roxy Restaurant open 24/7 in downtown’s glamour district. The most exciting nightclub is Silverado, which features go-go boys and strippers and … well, let’s just say the city’s entertainment laws are very liberal, and sometimes you get a full view!

Looks like Kate Brown, a candidate for the Secretary of State, may become this state’s first openly bisexual official.

Yes, you read it here first. The very renowned Patchwork Productions, which has won numerous film awards (the two filmmakers are in Paris now accepting another award), have announced next year a new full-fledged documentary film; a biography on me, titled Nicole: From the Streets to the Suites of Power.

The project will take nearly all of 2009 to produce and everything about my life will be covered – and I mean everything! The two women producers plan to spend much of next year in San Diego. Yes, I’m very excited about this film project. My book is just about finished, my new blog is up and running, and, I’m sorry to disappoint some out there, but I plan to stick around long enough to see all these projects finished!

This past week, State Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, chair of the Higher Education Committee and brother of the infamous Gay & Lesbian Times publisher, was in San Diego for a Marty Block fund-raiser, and he brought along the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

Talk in our state capital is Anthony Portantino could be the next speaker of the Assembly (probably the most powerful office, next to the governor). Many of us have always liked this former mayor and strong family man. I had a nice talk with the Assemblymember from Los Angeles and he represents true family values. He still makes his children’s sports games and continues to emcee the local children’s Halloween contests, which he’s done for years. While the speaker’s office has been held by men who seem to love political junkets and thousand-dollar suits, Portantino is the real “Joe the plumber” of politics. He’s down to earth and a man of the people, who lives in an average size house. He’s a true public servant, not a typical politician.

Our next City Councilmember Todd Gloria will have his final fund-raiser Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the world-famous Baja Betty’s from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Gloria has raised more money from community activists and concerned citizens, while his opponent, Stephen Whitburn, has put more than $150,000 (yes, $150,000) of his own money into his campaign. Gloria, like most voters in District 3, cannot afford to buy his own election. You are all invited to attend this final campaign fund-raiser and show your support for a public servant who was born and raised in the district, unlike his opponent, who moved here more than six years ago in order to run for city office. As the progressive weekly CityBeat said last week, “Stephen Whitburn possesses a somewhat more shallow understanding of city issues than does Gloria.”

One of San Diego’s most beautiful and popular personalities, Empress LaLa Too (a.k.a. Michael Zarbo) will be the birthday girl Tuesday Oct. 28 at The Caliph. From 6-8:30 p.m. there will be a fabulous buffet with many surprises. In lieu of gifts, LaLa Too asks donations be made to the Children’s Easter Egg Hunt or the Ben F. Dillingham Grant. You are all invited. Your hosts will be Delores Jacobs, Todd Gloria, Chris Horton and little ol’ me. It’s going to be a really fun night!

Thanks for all of your interest and support last week during the launch of my new blog on Mo’s Universe.

My “Worst Dressed List” has gotten many more hits than my “Best Dressed List.” Thank you for your continued patience as we continue to build and change the Web site. There are new comments and articles posted by me daily. Check out my personal election endorsements. Also, coming soon: San Diego’s Most Influential GLBT Activists list, the Top 10 Drag Queens list, the Top 10 Hottest Bartenders list, the Best and Worst San Diego Restrooms … and more! You’ll find it all on the Mo’s Universe Web site under Nicole’s World.

Are you getting ready for Halloween? Are your costumes all ready? The event of Halloween night will be the annual Nightmare on Normal Street (Friday, Oct. 31). There will be $1,000 in cash awarded to the winner, and 10, $100 F Street Bookstore gift certificates given out by our emcee (little ol’ me). Other winners will receive cash and prizes! For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1087. The Nightmare on Normal Street costume contest will begin at 8:30 p.m. sharp. Later than night, I will be emceeing Bourbon Street’s wild Halloween contest, and then I’ll head over to Universal’s blowout contest!

In last week’s column, Conversations with Nicole, we misidentified Nicole Murray-Ramirez as a current member of the board of directors of Equality California. Murray-Ramirez is not a current board member. However, he is the past state chair of Equality California, who served two consecutive terms, and is the only San Diegan ever elected to the position. We apologize for the error.