I woke up at 7:45 yesterday morning. I took my first shower in 4 or 5 days, put on my work clothes, poured coffee, sat at the table... and my phone rang. It was my boss, asking if maybe I would like to enjoy the snow from my bedroom window instead of coming in. What? I'm already having my coffee. Fine, I won't come work, but I'll be by soon to pick up my tips. I walk through the snow and ice to work, pick up my tips, and bs with my boss for a little bit (actually my boss's son). When I tell him we're planning on driving to Port Townsend the next day, he tells me about the huge storm coming through - everyone's being advised to get in their houses at noon and stay there. He says that if it were him, he would just leave as soon as possible.
I go to Fred's for some breakfast stuff and call Rob on the way to tell him what Todd said. Freddy's is packed and it's only 9:30 on a Saturday morning. When I get home, we talk seriously about the feasibility of leaving in just a couple of hours. After seeking advice from both of our mamas, we decide it's the smartest thing to do if we don't want to be stuck in Portland. I've got chains for my car, Rob's driven on ice before, and we'll have Micheal and Sam in the backseat for extra weight. We're packed and ready at 11, have the chains on by 11:30 and are out of the parking lot just after that. It's snowing like a bitch, and obviously not letting up any time soon.
It takes us 45 minutes to drive to Micheal and Sam's. There's at least an inch on the roads, and four or so in their parking lot. Once we get on the freeway there's less accumulation, and we can hear and feel the complaints from the chains. Around the north end of Vancouver on 205 one of our chains broke. We stopped by the side of the road and took them off the car, deciding to get chains when we stop for lunch soon. We go to Burgerville in Woodland, and find chains at a Tire Factory. They're the light duty kind (strings of beads on cables instead of actual chains), but the last ones in our size. I pay for those and tensioners, then go back and we try to get them on my car. The first set was a pain to put on in the parking lot of our apartment, before the storm started in earnest. Now it's snowing buckets, the wind has picked up, and there's at least three inches on the ground. We just can't do it. We're too inexperienced, we're too cold, it's too hard to see. Some good Samaritans help us get the chains on, but advise us to keep under 30, and drive only on snow, but that no matter what, we're going to have trouble getting to our destination.
Once those chains were on the car is when the trip began for real for me. Driving 25-30 mph the whole way, it took us 13 hours from when we left our parking lot in Beaverton to when we rolled up at Rob's parent's. This included time for lunch and dinner, one gas stop, and several breaks to chip ice off the windshield wipers. The second set of chains broke in three places, but by the time we realized the severity of the chain situation, it was too late to fix it. So we drove through it. We had lots of trouble with the passenger side wiper collecting ice and not wiping properly. The 5th or 6th time we stopped to chip ice off, the entire wiping mechanism fell off the arm. After a couple unsuccessful tries to get it reattached, we just stuck it on the floor next to the first broken set of chains, and left the arm popped away from the windshield to wave with every swipe.
We saw a worse storm than any of us had ever seen, saw people driving like idiots, saw cars abandoned in ditches along the way. But Rob drove the whole way, probably the safest driver on the road, and got us there all in one piece. My car, maybe not so much..
We felt pretty stupid in the end, but at least we got here, at least we're stuck on this side instead of the other.
An adventure to embelish for the grandkids. Sunday, December 21, 2008
Obligatory "it's almost Christmas!" post Monday, December 15, 2008
We've been getting ready for Christmas! On December 1st we went on a pilgrimage to every store we could think of to get a chocolate advent calendar and there were NONE TO BE FOUND. So we made our own! Out of 156 sheets of origami paper! And it's reusable!! It only took us a week to finish, so whatever. Each box has two Dove chocolates in it, but could definitely hold more.
This last Saturday night we went on a hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. We didn't want something big, and we didn't really want something cut that would require a water bowl Cubby might mistake for his own. We found potted trees at Trader Joe's and Freddie's (and incidentally found 50 cent chocolate advent calendar's at Trader Joe's, as well) but the trees at TJ's were about $5 cheaper. So we bought a bunch of tiny ornaments on clearance at Freddie's (including a very tiny glass angel for the top) and used those, with a strand of lights from my old dorm room and a couple mardi gras beads Rob got in Mississippi last year, to decorate our very own 'little tree'. 
See? We even took a Christmas card picture! Too bad Cubby kind of looks like basement cat...
And then it got really cold Saturday night, snowed a bunch, then froze. So here we are Monday afternoon with my work cancelled and Rob's flights cancelled, frozen into our apartment that's too expensive to keep heated all the time.
Sunday evening
Sunday evening
Monday afternoon
We decided that since our apartment is expensive to heat, maybe just being fat, happy and drunk is, if not smarter, at least more fun.
Your name just got a whole lot cooler. Friday, December 12, 2008
I found this picture on the internet and I can't stop looking at it. 
There are two recipes I've found in the last 2 days on the internet that have turned out very successfully.
1) Mexican Marinade: I marinated some chicken for chicken enchiladas. The whole situation was delicious.
2) Eggnog: I will trust anything that Alton Brown says. If he told me his favorite flavor combination was kiwi-strawberry-cappuccino, I would try it. That's how much I trust him. But instead of using bourbon like he suggested, I used Sailor Jerry's like Jeffrey Morgenthaler suggests. It turned out deliciously. I am pleased.
Thanks to the eggnog and some wine I poured while I was making the eggnog, I am now drunk. I'm not sure whether or not you can tell.
Art, Pain and Television. Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I have now officially listed something for sale on my 7printciples site. Several somethings, in fact. Please go check them out?
My back/hip pain has flared up with a vengeance. After telling Amber about it, she told me she has the same thing, that it's probably my sciatic nerve being pinched. Ow. She recommended a couple of stretches, so hopefully they will help.
Rob and I discovered 30 Rock this week. It is, to be honest, one of the most hilarious, intelligent shows I've ever seen. I would put it up there with Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks. AND it wasn't canceled prematurely, as the aforementioned were. Really what it comes down to is that I have a giant girl-crush on Tina Fey (doesn't everyone?).
Also, I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've been following Paris Hilton's My New BFF. We finally watched the finale (a week late). I'm glad Brittany won, fer sher.
Dear Babs. You are hot. Love, Stephen Colbert. Friday, December 5, 2008
Whoa, it's Friday already?
We watched Stephen Colbert interview Barbara Walters on a rerun of Wednesday's Colbert report. Then we watched Barbara Walter's 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008. I have to say, I'm a little in love with Barbara Walters. She is absolutely poised, absolutely unflappable, hilariously funny, and not afraid to ask difficult questions or call her interviewees out on their shit.
She got in a full on argument with Rush Limbaugh, and asked Miley Cyrus if she's afraid it'll all be over by the time she's 20. She asked Tina Fey the secret to impersonating Sarah Palin, and had her finish her interview as Sarah Palin.
I know she's been around for several hundred years and I don't know how I didn't really ever see her before, but I just feel like I need to let the world know:
I <3 Barbara Walters.
Good ideas and terrible puns. Tuesday, December 2, 2008
So I know I've been pretty mute about my craftings for several months now, but let it be known that I haven't been just... not crafting.
I have gotten myself into this arty/crafty subculture known as 'linocutting' or 'linoblock printing'. Pictures are drawn on a block of linoleum (or Staedler plastic, which is softer and easier to carve, but less forgiving when you make mistakes). The negative space is carved out with sharp tools, and then the stamp is used with ink to make copies on paper or other substances. Right now just paper. This craft has led me to two sideprojects:
The Good Idea
Myself, with Rob, Micheal and Sam, have been carving cute wintry things and making winter season cards. These are for sale over the internet here, at our etsy site. Please at least go look! I'm very proud of this!
7printciples (get it? get it?)
I am better at designing chalices than pretty much... anything else. I counted up the years my designs have been on PNWD youth and young adult shirts, etc, and realized it was something like five years. FIVE YEARS. That's some experience, right there. Anyways, when I started practicing lino-cutting, I started with designs of my own - chalice designs. And then last week I started experimenting with printing techniques (mostly because the tray and roller are at Micheal and Sam's)
This was my second chalice design, carved on a linoleum block and printed with black ink.
This is the first carving I did. It was carved into Staedler plastic. I printed this the same night as the hand chalice, with the same method.
I just set up the etsy site for this project last night. Rob came up with the name, which I absolutely adore. Hopefully I will have some prints for sale there by the end of the week. Hopefully.
I am going to put links to both etsy sites on the sidebar, so you can track their progress there.
Electricity will scribble out your family name. Wednesday, November 26, 2008
I am going home today! Rob and I are going to celebrate my Thanksgiving and his Christmas. I'm excited. Very excited.
Last night I listened to the following albums:
XO - Elliott Smith
Emerald City - John Vanderslice
When I Pretend to Fall - The Long Winters
Blame it on Gravity - Old 97s
PJ and I made pepper jelly salmon and jasmine rice. I made tea for myself and Rob and ate cookies and did butt-loads of dishes. Rob waltzed with me to Waltz #2 (XO). I folded laundry, cleaned up after myself, and did my weekly chores. I found out that John Vanderslice played at LC while I went there (maybe Freshman or Sophomore year) and I didn't go see him because I had no idea who he was until this last August. I imbibed and made prints of a special carving. I finally called myself an artist. We bundled up at 10 pm and went to Fred Meyers to buy a frame and came back with Q-tips instead. I did more chores, broke the wall, made more prints, and finally went to bed at 1 am.
It was a good night, indeed.
Hell yes! Wednesday, November 5, 2008
O.
BA.
MA.
Victory for the Democrats - Democratic president, democratic congress! Nothing can stop us now!
(...except the national deficit, the federal budget, the economic crisis, global climate change, and a legacy of bad decisions from the last administration)
Whatever... baby-steps, right?
Hail Satan! (I haven't had a Mountain Goats post in ages!) Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I don't know what started the Mountain Goat's fixation with satanism, (first their album, Heretic Pride, then their new EP, The Satanic Messiah), but it's hilarious and they need to keep it up. If it's not a joke, then more power to them. I am a proud heretic, myself!
So this week totally snuck up on me. This is an events week. On Monday Rob and I went to see Ralph Nader speak at the Baghdad on Hawthorn. I have to say, I wasn't really that impressed. I totally dig his politics, but his attitude leaves a lot to be desired. He could take a cue or two from Dennis Kucinich, who shares a majority of his ideals, but knows how to play the game. Nader is running on this platform of "both candidates will do terrible, terrible things for our country and only I and the green party know what we really need. And yes, I actually have a chance of winning, although my policies are miles to the left of the democratic candidate". Don't you understand? If Obama endorsed gay marraige, or actively said "no more war in the middle east. PERIOD." He would have no chance of winning? Kucinich recognizes that his politics are more liberal than most of the country and uses the Democratic primaries to get his face, his message, and his platform out there. He is an amazing man with amazing ideals and I admire him.
Nader has popularity in Portland, I can't deny that. Nader has done a lot of amazing things for our country, and there's no way I can deny that either. But he is bitter and jaded and wants to fix a flawed system without participating in the system at all. I agree that our political system is fucked up. Obama's policies HAVE become more conservative has the race has gone on, and I'm disappointed in him for that. But when he and McCain are the only two plausible choices we've got, what do you really want me to do, Nader?
Whatever. I'm not a political analyst and that whole tirade just came out of my butt. Nader will continue doing what he's done for the past 20 years and who am I to take away an honest man's hope?
Moving on. Last night (Tuesday) was what really snuck up on me. THE MOUNTAIN GOATS. What? How did it become late October already? I don't even know. I blame the muffins. This was an all-ages show at the Wonder, and since the show in Eugene last year was so awful, I was a little wary about another all-ages show. Not to say that I wasn't excited, because I'm excited for any chance to see the Goats, just wary.
Their tour-mate(?) and opener was the singer-guitar-virtuoso Kaki King. Tiny. Amazing. Adorable. Those are three good adjectives to describe her. Her set was really good, a little more instrumental than I usually like. I was annoyed at the audience, especially those in the bar, who were loud and talky, even during her quiet songs. I would like to hear more Kaki, I think.
Next up came the Mountain Goats portion. A-Fucking-Mazing. Someone on the Mountain Goats forums put it this way: "After all we've been through, you're this happy to have me back? Fuck it! Here's every barn burner you want and we're turning it up to 11." Just about every hit that gets yelled out at their concerts was played. Some just on the setlist, some in response to yelled out requests. Some I'd expect to hear: Palmcorder Yajna, Dance Music, This Year; some I was surprised that he played: No Children, Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton, Going to Georgia. The set was nicely broken up by a solo set in the middle (including some not-to-be-named songs I didn't know JD was capable of singing when not slobbering drunk), and a few songs by JD and Kaki, including a Morrissey cover. Five song encore to end the night.
JD was happy, engaging, hilarious, Peter Hughes was spot-on, dapper, a handsome devil, and Wurster was energetic and happy, as always. Such a perfect show.
And that's not even the end of it. As we left the venue, right by the tour bus, was JD himself, giving hugs and signing autographs. We got hugs! From JD! And he signed Rob's copy of the Satanic Messiah (the second to last copy EVAR).
This week isn't even over yet. Saturday we're going to see Conor Oberst (Lead singer/etc of Bright Eyes) at the Crystal Ballroom. Wheee!
Today I'm taking a sick day, partially because we didn't get home until 1:30 am, when I thought we'd be home before midnight, partially because I'm feeling a little under the weather and Rob's feeling way under the weather and needs taking care of. So here we are at 1:30 pm, watching Four Wedding and a Funeral on On Demand. I'm going to make soup a little later and enjoy this lazy day. Mmm.
edit: I think I really need to mention how the Mountain Goats took the stage after Kaki King, as it was priceless. After's Kaki's set was over and the stage had been re-set, the lights went down, the disco ball started glimmering, and "December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)" could be heard softly from the speakers. As the music crescendoed, from behind the curtains came first Peter Hughes, strutting his well-dressed, pin-stripe-suited self. Next was John Wurster, also be-suited, carrying a beer and smiling jauntily. Last was John Darnielle, smiling his usual Portland smile, wearing a suit jacket plastered with death metal band patches.
The Mama Skill Saturday, October 18, 2008
I don't understand the way life slips out from under me so easily. I'll get all on top of my shit. I mean, ALL on top of it. I'll clean the room, clean the kitchen, play with the cat, cook a huge meal, AND have a date with my sweetie, and those are the days I feel the best about life, the most fulfilled. And then a couple of days will go by and the clothes will pile up in the hamper, Rob's and my dishes will pile up on the kitchen counter, and turds will pile up in Cubby's litter box. And then I'll have a day off and fix it all again. Don't even ask how long it's been since I really, truly crafted.
I have learned so many important skills in the past year: I can now cook several very delicious dishes that contain sauces, spices, fresh vegetables, and nothing from a can (I don't think it matters that they're mostly one pot meals, do you?), I can sew curtains, I can make a home with people I love, I can be a responsible pet owner. But on the days that I work 8 hours in a khaki, polyester encasing, all I want to do when I get home is strip and attach myself to the laptop or TV. I usually have the energy to come up with a good dinner, usually not consisting of leftovers, but not much else. On the days that I have lunch at 10 or 10:30, I barely have energy even for that. We'll get to 7 o'clock, I'll realize that I haven't eaten anything of substance besides mini muffins and Triscuits in over 8 hours, and my brain will shut off. Those are the nights we have spaghetti, or just go to McMenamins. After dinner we usually watch TV until I can't stay awake any more (usually about 45 minutes to an hour - I can't easily stay up past 10 or 10:30 these days).
I need to learn a new skill. A mama skill, though I am not really a mama (besides to my cat and roommates). The skill to get off work, and still find energy to make myself feel fulfilled and make my house livable. I need more planning ahead. To decide in the morning what will be for dinner so I can stop at Freddies when I get off work, and not take a second trip later in the evening. To find a nutritious snack to eat when I get off work so my blood sugar doesn't whither up and die right around the time I should be cooking dinner. To do dishes before I'm too tired to keep my eyes open, and to reward myself with TV once everything I wanted to accomplish is done.
Last night Rob opened a bottle of Drop Top and found this prost under the cap: "A prost to doing nothing on your day off." He showed it to me and scowled, a mock annoyance at all of my days off he's had to sit through where I feel like I have to catch up on everything. If I can master this skill, maybe I really can do that with my days off. Nothing.
And you blew it. Friday, October 3, 2008
Wow dudes, I'm so sorry I've been such a wang about keeping you informed.
Life is good and grown up and stuff. We have framed artwork in our bathroom, which means we are officially grown up and that this is officially a home, not just an apartment where our stuff lives. Really. There's framed stuff all over the walls (and not just in the bathroom!), house plants, a planter box on the patio full of pansies Rob's brought me back from the farmer's market I have to work through every week, curtains (!!!), and a new member of the family, Cubby.
My job at the muffin shop is sort of balls. I enjoy the work, enjoy making stuff for people and having them smile and tell me about their day... My bosses just aren't that nice. I think brusque might be the best adjective to describe them. I'm sort of half-heartedly looking for other work, but I'm starting to get used to this job so it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't get hired somewhere else.
Also, I'm sort of humoring the idea of going to grad school for teaching again. I've been tutoring and it's made me realize how absolutely awesome high school math is and... I really need health insurance. So, who knows, really. Don't bug me about it, the registration deadline for PSU's teaching program isn't until December 1st (which I'm well aware is less than 2 months away).
Tonight Rob and I are going to go to Norm's Garden (inappropriate nickname censored), and then to LC to see SLiD. And be jealous that I'm not singing a capella any more... I should arrange. Then I could still be involved.
Hm. Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Working at a muffin shop may prove detrimental to my girlish figure.
Bumbershoot Reflections Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Bumbershoot was this weekend. My first ever music festival, in fact (I don't count the Z100 Last Chance Summer Dance featuring Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson and Savage Garden in 2000. No.) It was exhausting, but so, so amazing and rewarding and wonderful. I came away with new bands to get into, and new respect for bands I already loved. I will now try to break it down into small, delicious bite sized pieces for your perusing pleasure.
Saturday
The first morning of the festival was Saturday. We (Rob, PJ and I) had gotten up to Seattle the night before and had crashed at Mark and Nicole's. Thanks to an alarm that didn't get set correctly (my bad) we woke up at 10:30am. When we'd wanted to be out the door before then. Our tickets were waiting at will call and the first band we wanted to see was at noon. We also didn't have our ticket confirmations printed and couldn't make the printer do so. So there was a fair amount of running around and breakfast eating and sandwich making for the day and the first band, New Faces, definitely did not get seen. They're a Port Townsend band, so I have a feeling we'll see them sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Grynch
The first act we ended up seeing. Very solid, energetic hip-hop out of Seattle. I'm not known to be the biggest hip-hop fan, so I was pleasantly surprised. I can really get behind rhymes about the value of going to college without sounding like a PSA.
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
I feel bad because I was kind of zoning out for this act. The music was good and energetic and Thao was adorable, but I was tired and had a nice spot on the grass and a sandwich to eat.
Sherman Alexie and the Stranger present Words and Music
Ok I don't even know what the hell this show was on. We thought it was going to be Sherman Alexie doing some readings, maybe talking about how music and stories intersect. Instead it was a weird band that dissected each of their songs before they played it, explaining every phrase, down to the last "ooh," so their songs were more like in-jokes than artistic expressions. And then there was this half hour tribute to Hall and Oates that I just couldn't get behind (although the love story told exclusively through Hall and Oates song titles was effing hilarious). We ended up having to leave a little early from this act to get into Band of Horses (although we probably would have left early anyways. It really was bizarre and not in the good way). I guess Sherman Alexie did some readings after we left. Whatever.
Band of Horses
I'm don't really know much of Band of Horses, but they put on a good rock show and their songs are tight. And the lead singer was wearing a costume bear head as a hat. Most of the audience (including me) only knew their singles, and since they've only been in the spotlight for a year or two, that's only a couple songs. It didn't matter, a good time was had by all.
Beck
I have this theory that it's never uncool to like Beck. Maybe I'm wrong. I don't really know anything from him besides his singles, but I really enjoyed the show. I danced my butt off and so did the rest of the audience. The highlight of the show for me was when Beck and his bandmates got up at the front of the stage, all wearing headsets and holding old techno devices to play a couple of songs.
Sunday
We wanted to see Francesca Lia Block speaking on a panel, but missed it because we got another late-ish start and had to bus in from Dev's in Shoreline.
Saul Williams with Canary Sing
PJ saw Saul Williams' music act the night before and loved it, so she talked Rob, Kate and I into coming to this. Canary Sing was absolutely amazing. Three Seattle girls rapping about their lives and generally being awesome. A little weird to see on the literary stage, but whatever. Rob bought their EP and I'm so glad. Saul Williams was really inspiring and wonderful. I was a little put off by the note he ended things on (just randomly started talking about how we shouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving?) But besides that, very awesome.
The Blakes
Well loved Seattle indie band. I wasn't sure how I felt about them. They were in a bad venue and all their songs sounded alike. I guess they were solid? We only stayed for about half of their show, before we retreated in search of lunch.
Ravens and Chimes
This band got really good reviews. Rob was drawn to their description on the Bumbershoot page, "... [an] array of sounds and instruments, including the glockenspiel and harmonium, creating ear-grabbing pop melodies that are sure to please." Whatever. Their guitar was way, way too loud and we were right in front of the amp so all we could hear was guitar. The band didn't have very good chemistry, and kind of made me feel like I was at a high school talent show. They probably would have won the talent show, but I'm not sure they were up to the standards of almost everything else I saw this weekend. Also, I kept accidentally calling them "Ravens and Windchimes."
The Weakerthans
Okay now holy crap, here was a show worth seeing. An ex boyfriend gave me a couple of their songs on a mix cd several hundred years ago, and inspired by that I bought their album, Left and Leaving. Knowing only that album, and Rob knowing less than that, we had a rockin time. These men know how to put on a good show. They're a little older than I would have expected, but I kind of saw it as giving hope to every 40 year old dude in a jam band. High energy and still obviously caring about their lyrics and messages, even after all these years. 
Monday
School of Rock: Northwest Allstars
Remember that movie School of Rock? With Jack Black? This was just like that, except without Jack Black and with more talented youth musicians. These kids are going places. The best part of the show was when they brought in the bassist from Death Cab to play Different Names for the Same Thing and Long Division as a special surprise. He looked so thrilled the entire time, to be playing his band's songs with such talented young people.
John Vanderslice (KEXP secret show)
On our way to Bumbershoot on the bus on Sunday (on on on) we ran into some guys who told us about these secret shows for radio broadcast that were going on during the festival. You had to show up to the KEXP booth about 15 minutes before the unadvertised show was set to start, and if they had extra tickets you could pick one up for free. So we went to the KEXP booth and discovered that both John Vanderslice and Old 97's were playing secret shows on Monday. And somehow we scored tickets to both. Holy crap. John Vanderslice is loosely affiliated with the Mountain Goats (he produced one or two of their albums) so I thought I'd check him out. I didn't really know what to expect, but the show was amazing. It was in a tiny venue, with Rob and I in the front row, watching John Vanderslice sing pretty songs with his guitar and lots of harmonies from his violinist. Beautiful.
Old 97s (KEXP secret show)
I was really looking forward to seeing Old 97s anyway, and when I scored tickets to see them in an itty bitty venue, I nearly crapped myself. Possibly the most high energy performance I saw the entire weekend. Really. Rhett Miller was visibly sweaty by the second song. And it was obvious that he had studied videos of Elvis as a child, the way he moved with his guitar. They're promoting their new album, which happens to be the only album of theirs I own, so I knew almost every song they played at this performance. We left the show completely awe-struck.
Also, check out the KEXP blog for this show (Find me! I'm in the last photograph on the bottom of the page!)
John Vanderslice
Vanderslice was great the second time. Two more members of the band, one on drums and one on keyboard, and the pace was a little picked up. John was really, really excited that we were so close to the Space Needle. I liked being around so many of his fans who knew his lyrics. It made me want to get to know more of his music.
Old 97s
We only saw about half of Old 97s main set. I want to see them again and again, because as much as I love them recorded, they're even more amazing live. 
Superchunk
Hooray for another band loosely affiliated with the Mountain Goats! Superchunk and Mountain Goats share a drummer, John Wurster. And he's good. Very, very good. As is the rest of Superchunk. Hella, hella high energy and so tight. I was mad that they basically opened for Death Cab, since the audience didn't really care who opened as long as they got to see Death Cab. Also, Superchunk was so damn high energy that it hyped the audience up TOO much, to the point where they were crowd surfing to inappropriate songs during Death Cab's set.
Death Cab for Cutie
Oh my god I have never been to a concert this crowded and I never want to do it again. Death Cab got so popular, so fast. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but Ben Gibbard's gotten way too big for his britches and it's becoming obvious. Yes, you are a musical prodigy. Yes, we all know it. Yes, your songs are catchy as hell and insightful and awesome. No, you should never play stadiums and let Superchunk open for you. We were packed so tightly against the mainstage and we were fairly close up. After about 4 songs of not being able to see and being squished against preppy high school girls I gave Rob the signal that meant "we need to move right now" and we did. And then there was fresh air and room to move and stretch, which I needed to do every two minutes because I'd been standing all weekend. I wish I hadn't seen Death Cab just a few months ago in a small venue on the second stop of their tour. Comparatively, this show at Bumbershoot might as well have been me packed tightly in a group of people I didn't know and blaring Death Cab over the loud speakers. But then, Rob enjoyed himself, so maybe I just was grumpy because I'd been standing all weekend, grumpy because I had to work at 6:30 the next morning, or just really not in the mood for Death Cab at that point. The world may never knoooow....
And that was my weekend at my first Bumbershoot. It was amazing and I'm so glad it happened. I was not so glad about getting home at 2:30 in the morning, falling asleep at 3:30, and waking up at 5:15, then working a six hour shift, virtually dead on my feet.
Hot damn! Monday, August 25, 2008
We moved on Saturday. We shuttled three people's worth of crap from Vancouver to Beaverton, with the help of 5 others and a U-Haul. Now Rob, Rachelle and I are official residents of a brand new apartment complex, along with our new roommate, Teresa. HOORAY!
So we moved Saturday, Sunday morning I went out in search of coffee and found a help wanted sign, this morning I inquired about said help wanted sign, filled out an application, was granted an immediate interview, and was hired on the spot. I start Thursday at My Favorite Muffin. More details on the job as they come. HOORAY!
Now Rob and I are at McMenamins for the third day in a row, using their internet and eating a happy hour hummus plate. Life is very, very good.
Where'd my towel go? Friday, August 22, 2008
Willamette Weekly reports that Portland sci-fi nerds are petitioning to rename 42nd Ave on the east side of the river, Douglas Adams Blvd. I am in full support.
Also, xkcd today is eerily appropriate, seeing that it's moving weekend for us:
Announcements. Thursday, August 21, 2008
I have a nephew! My first! Joaquin Flores, born tonight, August 21st, at 6:30pm.
I quit my job! My last day is tomorrow. I am pleased. Now I need to find another one in Beaverton.
Life is exciting. We're gearing up for moving on Saturday. We haven't packed much. You know how it goes.
I'm not very good at blogging lately, I don't think. Maybe once I'm not working all day, I'll have energy to craft and blog and bake and... everything else I don't do right now.
Whatever, here are some pictures of my nieces and my sweetie, taken last weekend in Nevada. (There for Dave's birthday)
