Last night on the way home from school, I took a slightly different route that took me under the West River Parkway side of the newly reconstructed 35W Bridge.
I was struck by the beauty of the white concrete and light against the peacefull nighttime snowy sky. The picture doesn't do it justice...
Since we returned from Tacoma things have been moving at an increasingly rapid pace. I should be hitting the books pretty hard right now but I thought it would be fun to just take a moment and reflect on the past few weeks... and also to start downloading the images I've been taking with my google phone (woohoo!)... There will be time for more studying tonight. Plus, I'm proud of everything we've done in the past few weeks at the gallery and want to post a few pics! So here goes: Friday October 24th, we had a closing reception for the Tales from the Black Lodge show featuring Mouth Babies. (yes, that's their name.)
Sometimes the gallery is definitely more play than work. :)
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I juggled a few meetings around so we could attend a Wild game with Nick's cousins. I like spending time with family, but I'm starting to think hockey just isn't my game. (This was my second hockey game, ever...)
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At work on Halloween we took the afternoon off to carve pumpkins together. We also watched Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and Shaun of the Dead. Guess which pumpkin is mine?
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Halloween at home was pretty mellow. Nick had a guitar he wanted to try and I had a paper to write, so we stayed home, watched another movie (Wallace and Gromit) and carved pumpkins.
Now there's really no guessing which one is mine!
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In between working at Bicycle Theory and writing papers, things have been very busy at Ae. We were getting ready for the fastest turnaround in our wee history. Saturday morning Nov 1st, we took down the Black Lodge show (one of our largest shows ever) and hung the Día De Los Muertos exhibit and celebration. The festivities took place on Sunday, culminating with a candlelight procession around Logan Park.
We took down the show on Sunday night, and on Monday we began hanging the 3rd installment of our biennial video game art show, Level_13.
--- Tuesday was of course the election. After voting, work, and class - we got to see Bob Dylan play at the University!
The show was incredible and it made for a pretty incredible election night experience as well. Many folks were on their various cell phones/iPhones/etc throughout the night, and about halfway through the set a murmur started to filter through the crowd "they're calling it for Obama, they're calling it for Obama." Dylan and the band stepped off stage before the encore and when the returned, Bob Dylan said "looks like things are gonna be changing" and the crowd pretty much freaked out. After he was done, everybody gave him a standing ovation... and shortly afterward the crowd was chanting "Obama! Obama!" As we were seated on the balcony, we chatted waited for the masses to disperse rather than struggle with the crowds. Once we finally emerged, we saw a scene outside the auditorium... A drum circle surrounded by hundreds of people, girls running around shrieking "OBAMA! OBAMA!" like it was a greco-roman festival.
Somebody got a pretty good video from the center of the crowd: YouTube.
We went to Stub and Herb's to get some food and watch the election speech, returning home after that.
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Last but not least: on Wednesday, a bat flew into the office. He was super cute and wanted to stay, but the boys moved him outside. (and were able to do so thanks to Jeremy's awesome ninja bat catching skillz.)
This is the best picture I could get:
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Friday night was the Level_13 opening... and I'll post some pictures of that later. Meanwhile, time to study... I just got scolded.
I woke up early today, proofed my paper for class one last time and printed out a final copy. Nick woke up early too, so he could vote before work. As I was getting ready to leave, Nick offered to give me a ride to work so could go and wait in line together before voting. Nick put my bike in his car and I printed out our voter guides from http://theballot.org/.
We got to the polls before 8:30, and the lines were surprisingly shorter than they were in the primaries (then again, I did my primary voting in the evening.) As we got out of the car I couldn't stop beaming.
As I walked through the door to East Side Neighborhood services I have to admit I teared up just a little. The first East Side Neighborhood services building opened in 1915 to serve immigrant, refugee and low income individuals and families. Our neighborhood has always been diverse, and the new building is another amazing resource for the community. My mother came to this country from Poland and my Father came from Sri Lanka... and I couldn't help but think about them and their path to America years before they met, years before I was born...
I was a bit wary after reading the news and was pleasantly surprised after I arrived. East Side Neighborhood services was extremely well organized. The volunteers were efficient, friendly and helpful. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole time I was there.
I saw a young Somali couple and the husband translating the volunteer's instructions for her so she could understand where to go and what to do.
I saw a kid's voting booth set up and a bunch of little kids, excited to cast their "vote" too.
I saw a bunch of wonderful volunteers that gave up their day to help people like me have a chance to vote.
I sat down at a table and filled out my ballot. As the volunteers collected unused pens, they respectfully did so without looking at what we were doing. I was so excited I wanted to take a picture of my ballot, but didn't think that would be appropriate as I had chosen to sit at one of the open, non-private tables. Nick finished before I did and waited for me outside. I wrapped up my ballot in the privacy-folder and walked over to the machine. After waiting in another small line, I submitted my votes. Voter #547 for the day.
Taking a picture of myself with my new phone is tricky... but the point comes across.
WOOHOO!
We arrived in Tacoma late Thursday night, and headed over to Peter and Carmen's. It was too late to go out, so we sat out on the porch of "Plum Cottage" and caught up. It was nighttime when we arrived, but here's a view from Plum Cottage for your reference. View of Puget Sound=awesome.
The next morning, after an awesome breakfast of Pumpkin Pancakes (thanks Carmen!) we picked Peter up from PLU and headed to Olympia for the evening. (After a brief stop for coffee and food). After a failed attempt to investigate the old Olympia brewery, we headed into town for drinks and a show. We discovered my camera was broken but Carmen was kind enough to share her camera with me so I could be touristy and take lots of pics.
After wandering around Olympia for awhile, we headed to McMenamins. (mmm.) The leaves were turning and most of the streets looked like this: Colorful, beautiful, and kind of fuzzy. Maybe that was the beer. ;)
We had dinner at a yummy fish place and then we went to a place called Le Voyuer. The band we went to see failed to show up, but instead we were treated to an awesome performance by Quinn Deveaux.
The night was magical.
Awww.
The next morning we woke up relatively early, enjoyed a continental breakfast (with an awesome waffle maker), got some coffee and wandered down to the Farmer's Market and walked along the water.
Nick is really mastering the "hold the camera out and take a picture of us both" trick."
I think this is the only picture we have of all four of us from the weekend. Aww... BFF.
Carmen thought these were interesting and took a pic. I'm not sure what kind of berries they are...
Otters are cute. Even Denis Leary thinks so.
After our day in Olympia we headed to Seattle. Mmmmm more coffee. We went to the EMP and checked out the art galleries and book stores in the area. Notice how it is hardly raining in any of the pics? The weather was incredible while we were there.
Sunday was all about me and my dorkdom;)
We drove up to Snoqualmie, where they filmed a good deal of the "Twin Peaks" series. Before our tour of Snoqualmie, we stopped for coffee. No kidding!
Our first stop was to Snoqualmie Falls.
I got nice shot of the falls before we hiked down to the bottom. breathtaking!
here's a pic from the show for your reference:
After viewing the falls from the platform we hiked down to the water.
As we hiked through the woods we encountered.. A FUZZY CATERPILLAR!!!
A FUZZY TREE BRANCH!
...and a Tree on a Tree! among other things.
We hiked down to the water and I scrambled out on to the rocks. The scenery was awesome. "Ahhhhhh!"
Don't ask me how I got back to the shore.
More scrambling to an awesome (but slippery) rock at the bottom of the falls.
Nick did not join me on the slippery rock, but he captured the moment. Thanks!
Nick=awesome.
Perfecting that shot again. you can even see the lodge in this one!
Much has changed about the town since the show was filmed, unfortunately some for the worse. Much of the woods were torn down to make way for condos. Ronette's bridge, however, was turned into a bike path. This change isn't as bad as some of the other changes (IMO.)
Bike path:
The R&R Diner (Twede's Cafe) was damaged by arsonists a few years ago. When they rebuilt the diner unfortunately they decided to go for a "newer" theme... so instead of the awesome retro classic diner inside, you have a generic diner with walls covered in Tweety Birds. (I'm not kidding. COVERED.) The pie is still awesome, however the coffee is "damn fine," and the back area has lots of memorabilia and pictures. They are definitely cashing in on the link to the series... as you can see from the sign.
On Monday we spent the day actually in Tacoma, where they are living now.
We checked out the Dale Chihuly works downtown - fantastic!
We got some coffee and went to the bookstore. More coffee, seriously? Ya! Srsly!
We drove around Tacoma and drove through the national park. It was absolutely gorgeous - quite bog-like in fact and not a huge amount different than some of the areas in upstate Minnesota. While driving through the woods, we saw some racoons. OH HOW CUTE! - so I rolled down the window to take a picture. Two racoons quickly turned into four as more approached... 5... 6... 7...
We started rolling up the windows and by the time we drove quickly and carefully away, we counted over 15 raccoons following us. This is the only clearish picture I got, of the first two we saw.
We went to the Hub for dinner (and Peter's Birthday) after getting more coffee and stopped at the Harmon Pub after dinner. I guess that was kind of the running theme for the weekend: food, coffee, beer, coffee, pictures, more food, pictures, beer.
One, two, three - Aww.
All in all it was an awesome vacation... productive (sights-wise) and relaxing all at the same time. I was able to turn my brain off for a little while, so to speak. We got to see lots of places and spend a lot of time with Peter and Carmen. We saw the new place they will be moving to and toured Peter's office at PLU as well. I was a little weepy on the way back to the airport and now I'm I've got a little bit of the post-vacation blues... fortunately I've got a lot to keep myself busy over the next few weeks. (surprise surprise.)
I'm keeping my chin up though.... we're already planning our next trip.
I biked to school straight from work, and had a little bit of time to read outside before going in to class. It was PERFECT outside and lying on the grass felt just like heaven.
The building in the middle is Blegen Hall, where my class is.
The middle green bike is my awesome long haul trucker. I love that I can bike to school - I can park right in front of our building! My commute to Fullerton was 40 miles round trip. (Uphill both ways!)
Altered Esthetics held our first Volunteer Recognition Event - Oktoberfest Style! My mom, Noelle and I cooked over 30 lbs of mashed potatoes, 70 awesome bratwurst and played polka music throughout the night. It was a blast! Having my parents in town was awesome, our awesome volunteers were there, I got to wear my lederhosen, it really just doesn't get any better than that you know? Liz, Curatorial Superstar and Toneski, Board Secretary Extraordinaire.
Tony and Mindy - having a "really good time!!!"
Noelle, our Board Treasurer and Natalie, one of our volunteers who is super awesome (and might I add - the ONLY OTHER PERSON besides myself that dressed for the event!)
Nick and Jamie. Awwwww
My parents and I took a day-trip to Stillwater, Minnesota. Now I can say that I've been. :) The awesome lift-bridge:
Limestone brewery...
Downtown Stillwater...
Sealed in its purity package, the flavor lasts!!!
I love these buildings...
Lowell park, by the water...
The Hudson River:
My parents :)
While my parents were in town we also went up north to the Cabin.
You can see Molly in the picture too, she snuck in.
Awwww.
If you're looking for a compelling history or reams of archives, you won't find it here. Many years ago I had a livejournal, and what you read below was my very first blog post. Blogging was a great help for me as I began to carve out my path in life and figure out who I wanted to be. I received a tremendous amount of guidance and support from my friends on livejournal and in the general blogosphere as I crafted and revised a lot of life decisions. Though I value the time I spent having those online dialogues, I've decided to spare the general public from the earlier conversations. (You're welcome!)
I'm starting a "fresh" blog as I embark on the next stage in my life and career. Thank you for checking out my blog, and happy reading!
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As I was sorting through elements from a finished relationship - bits and pieces of things - memories - I felt as though I was sorting through clusters of egg shells - shards and shards- casings of something that isn’t there- I don’t like the little things.
the anniversaries. the trinkets. the cards.
They are all shells.
Shells that are supposed to remind us of something good that was there.
Boxes full of eggshells can’t hide the hollowness inside. Boxes full of casings can’t create something to hold them up.
Either it is there, or it is not.
We create shells all the time. We create shells to feign importance where there really is nothing. We create shells to hide the people that we really are. We create shells to protect ourselves from other people. We create shells to dull reality because for some reason, we often think it is the shell that matters most. We are fooled by shells because we think it is an accurate representation of what’s inside … but it isn’t. I want to remove all the shells from my life, and have only the things that matter. I want to remove all my shells and be myself, whoever that is.
This live journal is either a really bad idea, or a really good idea.
Here is me as I try to be without my shells.