Monday, July 19, 2010
pictures from today
I started knitting yesterday, and I wish I could take a picture of the muffler that I made for my roommates cat and put it with these. But I'll just let you picture it. It's purple.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
bucket list
How do you tell people "I'm just not making new friends right now" without sounding like an antisocial weirdo? I've been feeling really pressured to hang out with people at work, but really really don't want to, even though everyone is really nice and everything. I feel like some kind of weird hermit-in-training, but I really am at a place in life where I am feeling 0 percent social--I could literally wander around by myself every single day for the foreseeable future and be really happy about it.
So I'm working on crossing off a major item from my bucket list. When I was a lot younger, I think probably 5th or 6th grade, we learned about Crater Lake in Science or Social Studies or one those classes--it's a lake formed from the collapsed caldera of an extinct volcano and is supposed to be one of the most pure water sources on earth (not to mention the most beautiful). It was one of those things that sort of stuck with me as the years passed, but strangely I never remembered where it was or bothered to look it up.
When I was in late middle school my family went on a vacation and my Dad informed me that we would be camping at Crater Lake, which I was so psyched about. Unfortunately it turned out that I had mis-heard him, and we actually were bound to
Claytor Lake, which is actually a reservoir in Virginia and not the same thing at all. This did turn out to be a very cool trip though. My dad had remembered that some of our relatives used to own and live in the house on the lake that now serves as the visitor center (aka the historic Howe House, see left). He visited pretty frequently as a kid, and when we got to that house he took all of the tour guides and rangers out back and showed them a spot near the back of the house where his cousin (one of the original owners) had carved his name in the bricks. None of them had seen the carving before that moment, so from a small historical standpoint it was an exciting moment, and I felt very weirdly proud right then.
But I digress. When I arrived in Oregon my sister and I were camping in the Columbia River Gorge, and in the site next to us was a car with a license plate that read "Oregon, home of the famous Crater Lake."
HOLY SHIT.
So I'm planning a camping trip to Crater Lake State Park, either solo or with a friend, if I meet someone that I want to spend that much time with between now and whenever I go. So yeah, probably solo. I am so jazzed.
Editor's Note: I just read on Wikipedia that Crater Lake is on the Oregon quarter. It also has this, which is the kind of dorky shit that I absolutely live for.
So I'm working on crossing off a major item from my bucket list. When I was a lot younger, I think probably 5th or 6th grade, we learned about Crater Lake in Science or Social Studies or one those classes--it's a lake formed from the collapsed caldera of an extinct volcano and is supposed to be one of the most pure water sources on earth (not to mention the most beautiful). It was one of those things that sort of stuck with me as the years passed, but strangely I never remembered where it was or bothered to look it up.
When I was in late middle school my family went on a vacation and my Dad informed me that we would be camping at Crater Lake, which I was so psyched about. Unfortunately it turned out that I had mis-heard him, and we actually were bound to
Claytor Lake, which is actually a reservoir in Virginia and not the same thing at all. This did turn out to be a very cool trip though. My dad had remembered that some of our relatives used to own and live in the house on the lake that now serves as the visitor center (aka the historic Howe House, see left). He visited pretty frequently as a kid, and when we got to that house he took all of the tour guides and rangers out back and showed them a spot near the back of the house where his cousin (one of the original owners) had carved his name in the bricks. None of them had seen the carving before that moment, so from a small historical standpoint it was an exciting moment, and I felt very weirdly proud right then. But I digress. When I arrived in Oregon my sister and I were camping in the Columbia River Gorge, and in the site next to us was a car with a license plate that read "Oregon, home of the famous Crater Lake."
HOLY SHIT.
So I'm planning a camping trip to Crater Lake State Park, either solo or with a friend, if I meet someone that I want to spend that much time with between now and whenever I go. So yeah, probably solo. I am so jazzed.
Editor's Note: I just read on Wikipedia that Crater Lake is on the Oregon quarter. It also has this, which is the kind of dorky shit that I absolutely live for.
Monday, July 12, 2010
forgive my candor and pessimism, but i have to get this off my chest. a recent discovery (not involving me personally, but close enough) has rocked me to the core about men. and for now, the only conclusion i can draw is this: men are goddamn worthless. im not saying this in any type of feminist rant or giving a list a glib reasons why. it's not something i want to discuss at all--im actually upset that i have been forced believe it so fervently. before it was always "men suck because my feelings are hurt!", but wasn't really a serious thing--i was open to giving them chances. but its different now. sorry for the drama and vagueness, but its a very sad and alien feeling.
p.s. not you Mike Jones, you are awesome.
p.s. not you Mike Jones, you are awesome.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
well well that entire day was certainly unexpected
I was off today and had nothing else to do so agreed to go with a few friends to a beach out on Sauvie Island, a sort of peninsula 15 or so miles outside of Portland. First off, the weather was heavenly--85 degrees, like zero percent humidity, not windy, absolutely perfect beach weather. So I'm already psyched, Gaga is on the radio which has me even more psyched, and as we round the corner I notice a snowcapped mountain off in the distance. I ask Anna "is that Mt Hood, I haven't seen it yet!" and she replies "no, that's Mt. St Helens. Hood is over there." If you don't understand why I freaked out about this it will be hard to explain, but I freaked out. I mean, seeing Mt St Helens was kind of like seeing a famous, dangerous criminal to me. You know, you hear about them your whole life, and all of the horrific stories about what happened after the explosion etc etc--and then suddenly its just THERE. And its all pretty and snowy and calm looking...SO cool.
Anyway, then we get to the beach, spread our shit out and crack open some beers. And I'm looking around, and suddenly notice that everyone on this beach with us is hot. I mean everyone. All of the guys are like 6'2" and tan and ripped and wearing these hilarious speedo-type bathing suits that only hot guys can really wear without looking creepy, and all of the girls are lean and beautiful with long flowing hair. Just when i started to feel really insecure and get creeped out, my friend Ellen adds as an afterthought, "Oh yeah, by the way, the guys that own this beach are friends of mine, and they are four brothers and all of them are Ford models and all of their friends are models and actors and they live half the year in LA working for Gus van Sant." What. The. Fuck. Are fucking kidding me. So I spent the next 30 minutes on my towel trying to look thin and glamorous, and then the remaining 5 hours not really giving a damn because honestly, who was I fooling, and swimming and getting a tan and staring at all of the beautiful people around me.
Did I mention I could see Mt. St Helens from my towel. Because I could. It was awesome.
Anyway, then we get to the beach, spread our shit out and crack open some beers. And I'm looking around, and suddenly notice that everyone on this beach with us is hot. I mean everyone. All of the guys are like 6'2" and tan and ripped and wearing these hilarious speedo-type bathing suits that only hot guys can really wear without looking creepy, and all of the girls are lean and beautiful with long flowing hair. Just when i started to feel really insecure and get creeped out, my friend Ellen adds as an afterthought, "Oh yeah, by the way, the guys that own this beach are friends of mine, and they are four brothers and all of them are Ford models and all of their friends are models and actors and they live half the year in LA working for Gus van Sant." What. The. Fuck. Are fucking kidding me. So I spent the next 30 minutes on my towel trying to look thin and glamorous, and then the remaining 5 hours not really giving a damn because honestly, who was I fooling, and swimming and getting a tan and staring at all of the beautiful people around me.
Did I mention I could see Mt. St Helens from my towel. Because I could. It was awesome.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Oh hey remember that time I had a blog
Ahhhh...sitting here on my front porch on my most gracious and charitable roommate's lappy toppy--I haven't had regular computer access for a very many weeks, and although at first it was kind of nice, I'm basically over it now. Plus I imagine I'll need one for class anyway. I should probably bite the bullet and just buy a damn computer already.
Speaking of class, I went on a campus tour of my new chiropractic school yesterday, and although i'm sure there were many super neat and impressive statistics and facts that they told me about the place along the way...the only thing I can remember is the BONE LIBRARY. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. An entire wall of plastic bags hanging on a multi-tiered rack, each bag containing one neatly bleached and labeled human bone (the skulls are in boxes on the top shelf--they are too awkward and globular to fit in bags I suppose). Umm....seriously? This tells me two things: 1)that is totally awesome and I can't wait to tell everyone that I checked out someone's femur from the library the other day, and 2)i think i have vastly underestimated the details that I will be required to learn during this particular course of study. I mean, when I look at a bone, I see something long, white, and chalky, with no outstanding characteristics to speak of. But evidently there are enough details in each bone that you might need to check one out overnight. Shit.
It was sunny today for the second time in a month. Repeat--second time. In over thirty days. I was expecting it of course, but at the same time I am a little out of my league right now. Upside--it is so damn beautiful when it is sunny that I forget about all those other pesky days in between.
I feel incredibly settled here already, moreso than I ever felt in Charleston. I can tell this because my nesting instinct has kicked in for the first time in my life. I am thinking of purchasing large furniture, like a bed and a desk, which is something I have never felt inclined to do before. I don't feel a constant yearning to bolt to another location, and leave town as often as possible. I don't wander aimlessly here. I'm just sort of content to be. Granted, I'm still in my honeymoon phase. But I don't see it fading any time soon. Its pretty wonderful.
Um, that's it. I guess I just wanted to get on here and gloat for a little bit. My car's being a douche, and I have to get it fixed monday, so there's a little wrench thrown into the works for ya.
Speaking of class, I went on a campus tour of my new chiropractic school yesterday, and although i'm sure there were many super neat and impressive statistics and facts that they told me about the place along the way...the only thing I can remember is the BONE LIBRARY. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. An entire wall of plastic bags hanging on a multi-tiered rack, each bag containing one neatly bleached and labeled human bone (the skulls are in boxes on the top shelf--they are too awkward and globular to fit in bags I suppose). Umm....seriously? This tells me two things: 1)that is totally awesome and I can't wait to tell everyone that I checked out someone's femur from the library the other day, and 2)i think i have vastly underestimated the details that I will be required to learn during this particular course of study. I mean, when I look at a bone, I see something long, white, and chalky, with no outstanding characteristics to speak of. But evidently there are enough details in each bone that you might need to check one out overnight. Shit.
It was sunny today for the second time in a month. Repeat--second time. In over thirty days. I was expecting it of course, but at the same time I am a little out of my league right now. Upside--it is so damn beautiful when it is sunny that I forget about all those other pesky days in between.
I feel incredibly settled here already, moreso than I ever felt in Charleston. I can tell this because my nesting instinct has kicked in for the first time in my life. I am thinking of purchasing large furniture, like a bed and a desk, which is something I have never felt inclined to do before. I don't feel a constant yearning to bolt to another location, and leave town as often as possible. I don't wander aimlessly here. I'm just sort of content to be. Granted, I'm still in my honeymoon phase. But I don't see it fading any time soon. Its pretty wonderful.
Um, that's it. I guess I just wanted to get on here and gloat for a little bit. My car's being a douche, and I have to get it fixed monday, so there's a little wrench thrown into the works for ya.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
life is good, awkward
You know, even though I'm unemployed and living in a basement right now, I find that I am rather enjoying myself. I thought I was going to be really lonely and bummed out when i first got here, but actually its just the opposite--I really am starting to love this city, and every day I'm able to go out and wander the streets and orient myself further with it. It's kind of like when you meet a new guy that you really like and you just want to spend all of your time with just him. Just me and Portland, hangin' out. And I think this one might really go somewhere, tee hee!
Oh, and BEST MORNING EVER--I went to check my bank account with a heavy heart this morning and...SURPRISE BITCH, FINAL PAYCHECK FROM MUSC! I didn't even know it was coming. What a relief, because this buys me a couple of more weeks before I start freaking out about not being able to find a job.
I'm going over to my new house to talk with my landlord, Chap Wu. He's the most stereotypical asian guy I've ever met, he even said on the phone "you come with check fo 600 dollar" when I talked to him about signing the lease. It'll be nice to have my own room again, but the basement here isn't actually too bad--there's a bed with an awesome down comforter, and Ellen's pitbull Betsy comes down and snuggles with me every night so I don't get scared.
Oh, and BEST MORNING EVER--I went to check my bank account with a heavy heart this morning and...SURPRISE BITCH, FINAL PAYCHECK FROM MUSC! I didn't even know it was coming. What a relief, because this buys me a couple of more weeks before I start freaking out about not being able to find a job.
I'm going over to my new house to talk with my landlord, Chap Wu. He's the most stereotypical asian guy I've ever met, he even said on the phone "you come with check fo 600 dollar" when I talked to him about signing the lease. It'll be nice to have my own room again, but the basement here isn't actually too bad--there's a bed with an awesome down comforter, and Ellen's pitbull Betsy comes down and snuggles with me every night so I don't get scared.
Friday, May 14, 2010
I want to go on a walk but its dark and I'm afraid I'll get lost...
Whew sorry its been a little bit. I've been busy. And internet/computer-less.
I'm in Portland. Wow. I'm actually here. I didn't think this would ever actually come. It's been interesting so far, in a much different way than I could have ever anticipated.
For my whole life I've been defined by what a weirdo I am. Not in a cool, trendy way, in an actual weird way. I've harnessed in over the years and brandished it in a way that is socially acceptable, and in recent times have noticed that it has even garnished some admiration from certain people. So I've always been weird but in a nice way. It's how I see myself.
Overnight, I have been left in a place where the only thing weird about me is how ordinary I am. Portland is strange for me, in that its primary culture here was at best a marginalized counter-culture in Charleston (and I suppose in the South in general). But as a result, I am still on the fringe. I'm not a hipster. I'm not a yuppie. I'm not really anything much. Perhaps the time has come to define myself, I don't know.
On a lighter note, everyone here is fucking tiny and beautiful. I am by no means a large person in any sense, but in comparison to the average chick walking down the street I feel akin to Andre the Giant, all large and bumbling.
Um I'm not feeling particularly literary this evening, so I'm just gonna start making lists.
Things I'm Excited About:
Kelly moving to LA
Erin moving to San Fran
Visiting Gaby in San Fran
Going to a Janet Fitch book reading/meet and greet at some point in LA
Going to Powell's tomorrow to buy some more books
Possibly having a spot in a house
Possibly having a job (will find out soon about both of these things)
New fave coffee shop full of beautiful tall guys that I discovered today
Also got a new tat, yay! Also want another one that I have had planned for a while for my back, not sure if I should wait a bit or just get it over with while I'm in tattoo healing mode.
Miss you guys. I mean, I don't see you regularly anyway. But right now I feel farther away than ever.
I'm in Portland. Wow. I'm actually here. I didn't think this would ever actually come. It's been interesting so far, in a much different way than I could have ever anticipated.
For my whole life I've been defined by what a weirdo I am. Not in a cool, trendy way, in an actual weird way. I've harnessed in over the years and brandished it in a way that is socially acceptable, and in recent times have noticed that it has even garnished some admiration from certain people. So I've always been weird but in a nice way. It's how I see myself.
Overnight, I have been left in a place where the only thing weird about me is how ordinary I am. Portland is strange for me, in that its primary culture here was at best a marginalized counter-culture in Charleston (and I suppose in the South in general). But as a result, I am still on the fringe. I'm not a hipster. I'm not a yuppie. I'm not really anything much. Perhaps the time has come to define myself, I don't know.
On a lighter note, everyone here is fucking tiny and beautiful. I am by no means a large person in any sense, but in comparison to the average chick walking down the street I feel akin to Andre the Giant, all large and bumbling.
Um I'm not feeling particularly literary this evening, so I'm just gonna start making lists.
Things I'm Excited About:
Kelly moving to LA
Erin moving to San Fran
Visiting Gaby in San Fran
Going to a Janet Fitch book reading/meet and greet at some point in LA
Going to Powell's tomorrow to buy some more books
Possibly having a spot in a house
Possibly having a job (will find out soon about both of these things)
New fave coffee shop full of beautiful tall guys that I discovered today
Also got a new tat, yay! Also want another one that I have had planned for a while for my back, not sure if I should wait a bit or just get it over with while I'm in tattoo healing mode.
Miss you guys. I mean, I don't see you regularly anyway. But right now I feel farther away than ever.
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