shapely

I just finished the shapely tank and I'm blocking it righ now. As soon as it is dry I will model it and provide a pic, assuming that it doesn't look too terrible. It really wasn't very difficult but I find that the final 20 percent of a project is the hardest for me, I get bored and want to start something new. I still don't have the accordion but I picked up some things at the Stitch DC sale, I went to the Georgetown location.

Portland part 2

After the lovely time with the Wagner ladies I went back to my parents and attended a car wash for Natalie's dance team and just spend some time with my family. I was supposed to go back to the Wagners on Thursday but Wendy thought she had step throat and I decided to wait a day. Instead I help assemble all the stuuf we got when Mom, Nat, Ang and I went to Ikea. We drove the 3 hours each way up to Renton, Washington. I had a good time and I think everyone else did too.

So I went to grab Wendy and Fiona on Friday morning and we drove the 5 hours to Gardiner to visit Linda, Wendy's mom. We had to pass the house and go to the Sugar Shack for a big foot doughnut but I already posted about the wonderful food. While Linda was at work Wendy, Jak, Fiona and I went to the beach at Winchester Bay. Jak is Wendy's little brother, he just graduated from high school and is shipping off to the Navy in April. That night after tacos we had a great game of pictionary. Wendy and Jak beat Linda and I by just a couple of spaces, but I had a fantastic picture of and ejector seat.

The next morning after a leisurely breakfast we went back to my parents to grab my sisters. They are in the process of cleaning the basement, a scary job if I do say so myself. We got them and went to Tin Tin's, an asian buffet, in Tigard for dinner. After we got to Heidi's and unloaded I had some issues to deal with with my sisters and I think we got it worked out. They took the van back to Mom and Dad's and I stayed in Portland.

The next day Wendy, Fiona, Jak and I went to El Grillo for lunch after walking on the Eastbank promenade and across the Steel Bridge. After lunch Wendy and Fiona went to the north park blocks to play and Jak and I went to Just Be Toys where they carry all kinds of Japanese toys and clothing, Jak was in heaven. We went to see the girls and they decided to go home for nap time and Jak and I went to Powell's City of Books where I picked up a few things. We did stop at Mio Gelato for a little treat then went back to the house.

John came over for dinner and Heidi had some of her Buddist's over to chant. After dinner we watched Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and wonderful film by Hayao Miyazaki. Then we went to John's and John and Jak played with computers and I played Final Fantasy 10 2. This game is so fun, I wish I had a PS2. Then we played Pictionary, the boys made the mistake of letting Wendy and I play together. Now you might wonder why we never have, well since we had lived together for nearly 7 years and Wendy is something that Jak calls a brain leach. We won by the time the boys were on the 4th square. Afterwards we had the most fun, we went to Voodoo Doughnuts. They don't open until 10 pm. I had a cruller with white icing and mini marshmallows and what I think was citric acid on top, I'm not sure but my toung did go numb and that was fun.

The next day was very low key and that was fine by me. I did go to SMS to see if I still know anyone there. I was suprised, there was Michael, Don, Miklos, Kevin and Stu on the floor then all of these people I didn't recognise.

On Wednesday morning Wendy, Fiona, Jak and I went went to Diane's Restaurant for breakfast and they have really good biscuts and gravy. Jak went back to bed and Wendy and I played oopsie ball with Fiona. It is a game that they made up, where you throw a partialy deflated ball at Fiona and try to hit her. She loved it and Wendy and I did too, I haven't laughed so much in a long time. Eventually my sisters came over and we went to lunch at Laughing Planet. Then they took me to the MAX stop so I could go to the airport.

After I got to the airport I realized that I left my new knitting project at Wendy's. I'm working on the Accordion sweater from Knitty for Fiona for Christmas. Wendy is going to send it to me.

travels in Oregon part 1

There is so much to share about my vacation I will break it up into chunks. Let's start at the bery beginning (a very good place to start). I arrived in Portland August 9th with tears of joy, I forgot how beautiful the mountains are. From PDX I rode the MAX to Hillsboro where I met my fantastic grandma and her brand new car so we could drive to Eagle Crest and spend some lesiure time with Mom, Dad, Nat and her friend Tiffany. I didn't take any people pics there but I got some lovely nature shots.

Nat, Tif, Dad and I did a little rafting we had a ton of fun despite the sore backsides. We went into Bend one day and I found the most adorable dress and later found a fab-o green hat to match.

On Friday Mom and Dad went home and the girls and I took Grandma home and picked up my car. It was pretty exciting.

Then Sunday I went to Portland and grabed up the two most beautiful people in town, Wog and the dear Fiona. We went up to The ampitheatre at Washinton Park to see the best show of the summer. This year did not let me down. We saw the incredible band 3 Leg Torso play with the Portland Festival Orchestra. This a free show that I've caught 3 of the past 4 years. I'm listing to 3 Leg Torso's CD Astor in Paris right now and I admit that I'm a complete sucker for a band with an accordian. Fi gor restless halfway through and the Wagner ladies went to play at the park and I ilstened and took some pics. After the show I treated the girls to the world's best ice cream at Ice Cream Renaissance across the river in Vancouver (that's Washington state, not Canada).

Ok I think this is enought to start with but get ready for tales from Gardiner!

yummy

Being in Oregon means one thing; lots of yummy things to eat. I'll go into more detail about eating with my parents later but right now I'm in Gardiner with the Wagner clan and before we stopped at the house we had to get doughnuts at the Sugar Shack then Linda made a fab-o blackberry cobbler. Today I will have what is purportedly the best pie ever but I will have to make that decision for myself.

the summertime blues

So, the car is gone now, and the classes are over. I hope my grades are ok.

I leave for Oregon on Tuesday. It is going to be so nice to see all of the familiar things. At times it is overwhelming how much I miss things there. I’m glad I’m here going to school so I can have the career I want but there are times that I would kill just to be able to have a rib-crushing hug from Wog.

1 year!!!!

I can't believe it, yesterday was my one year bolg-iversary. It has been a year full of change. Moving across the country, leaving everything that I knew; a variety of dating experiences; making new friends and learning that I can be just as close to those so far away; finding that grad school is both harder and easier than undergrad; and mostly finding that I can thrive regardless of my location.

I also want to thank all who read my rantings, ravings and everything in between.

bye-bye Marvin!

This is my dear Marvin and I want to give him a good farewell. He has been good and reliable and such a friend. I had a call tonight that ended the horror that has been selling him. The trade will be on Friday and it will be a bittersweet parting. I know he is going to a good place and will be loved as he should be.

On the other hand I'm very excited to get the new car and the events that surround getting it. My wonderful parents are braving the country and driving here. I bought them plane tickets to return to Oregon. I am going to meet them in Pennsylvania and do a little sightseeing with them. The best part is that my dad will finally get to see where I'm going to school. The rest of my family has been here. But dad hates travelling, especially by plane, he likes to be in charge.

So this is my farewell to the car that brought me here from Oregon.

not much

not much has happened lately. I've had some theory tutoring with Tim and Dr. Cook. LISL has been busy as long as there are boxes otherwise it's just hte same old putting slips in books.

I made a fantastic Japanese dinner last night and xander joined me then we watched Dawn of the Dead it was icky, and it reinforced that fact that I don;t really like horror movies.

I'm in the process of selling my dear little car, Marvin. Because of Grandma's hip replacement she can't drive her Neon so she bought a new Kia and gave me the Neon. Mom and Dad don't want to take Marvin back to Oregon so they are driving the Neon out here and flying back. I will reallly miss having power windows. But the Neon has less miles and the body is in better condition. So I guess it's a good trade.