Prima Donna

YES

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:17:45 -0500

Both the memes I made got posted on Hey Teacher! Always fun :)

Hi sisters! Obviously I’m fooling around with a new blog for my web design class. Aside from...

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:11:17 -0400

Hi sisters! Obviously I’m fooling around with a new blog for my web design class. Aside from being way out of my league, if you want to follow it, it’s ttoawebdesign.tumblr.com and the password is school. Love you!

Second test. Does this now show the photo, and if you click on...

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:10:04 -0400

Second test. Does this now show the photo, and if you click on it, take you to the PDF?

This is a test

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:08:02 -0400

This is a test:

What does this link to my new dropbox PDF look like?

Photo

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:25:45 -0400

Photo

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:04:03 -0400

Leg 1 Done

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:01:51 -0400

Eek! So excited to be home tomorrow and to see all my favorite people. I just loved all the new pictures of Hazel! I’ve had a week of unexpected delights too! These included:

Josh being surprisingly adorable and funny coming out from under his anesthesia for getting his wisdom teeth removed… a super trooper and an ideal patient according to Dr. Abe
Our landlord announcing he’s moving back into our house and Josh and I finding a new house with a bigger garage and an upstairs with a tiny deck big enough for a pool chair! :D
A lot of fun taking my first real American train trip from Portland to Seattle with gorgeous views, a comfy business class seat, and good food
Great stranger help from a nice, huge, tall black guy who was a Seattle native and helped me find my way from the Amtrak station to the train to the airport. Not only was he a gentleman and everything you would hope for at 11 pm on a Friday night with three bags, but he also has Middlebury alumni friends in Portland he said I could meet!
A quiet, comfortable, safe, warm night of sleep in the SeaTac chapel. :)

See you all soon!

The centennial Rose Festival kicked off last night, and our rose...

Sat, 26 May 2012 16:10:09 -0400

The centennial Rose Festival kicked off last night, and our rose bushes are blooming right in time to join in the fun. We have one white bush and one pink and I can’t believe the smell. I’ve never liked rose perfumes, so disgustingly overpowering and musky. Bit our pink bush is light, crisp, and decidedly lemon-y. This is what wild roses smell like?? Who knew it was so delicious? No wonder people stop to smell them!

I really am going to get all of tulip festival pictures uploaded...

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:41:02 -0400

I really am going to get all of tulip festival pictures uploaded to Facebook soon. There are so many more!

Josh and I have found a new favorite Mexican restaurant:...

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:37:00 -0400

Josh and I have found a new favorite Mexican restaurant: delicious, cheap, super close to our house, and open until 2 AM 7 days a week! We ask the waiter what to order and we’re never disappointed—though we are often surprised! We didn’t know quite what to think of their “best drink you can order”—-it comes in a giant bowl and there’s a max of 2 per night. I don’t know what’s in it… our waiter listed off so many things it may be faster to list what’s not in it, but man it’s delicious. Pineapple flavored magic. And on Wednesdays it’s only 5 bucks!

Taken from inside my mentor Joanne’s kitchen. Joanne...

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:25:14 -0400

Taken from inside my mentor Joanne’s kitchen. Joanne states that she enjoys my company, despite the fact that “You’re a lot younger than most of my friends.” I wouldn’t ask her exact age, but her granddaughter is in college.

Even though I’ve been physically up on Mt. Hood and driven...

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:19:31 -0400

Even though I’ve been physically up on Mt. Hood and driven past/through it many a time, this weekend I finally got the purest, best, most complete and unadulterated view of Ms. Volcano herself in my 9 months in Oregon. Wowza!

Some thoughts on style, for Whitney

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:21:18 -0400

When you move to a new place or try a new activity (say, commuting by bus or train), it can be hard to find a new style. It might be immediately apparent that your previous style which worked so well in the past is not right. It may just feel out of place, or it really might not be functional.

When I first arrived in Portland, I felt frustrated because I couldn’t even figure out what good “Portland” style was. The color scheme seemed based on black, which I didn’t want to wear. There was no discernable style I could identify.

But then something changed: I started living like a true Portlandia resident. I gave up my car. For the past three weeks I’ve (mostly) existed car free, and it has been GREAT. I’m early now almost always (a new experience for me), awake, and well read. I’ve made it through 500+ pages in three weeks! Leaving driving to a pro feels like the way to go.

On my commute, working downtown, I’m finally seeing truly stylish people—and it feels a lot like Scotland (another place whose style seemed impossibly difficult to master!). This shouldn’t surprise me since the weather is similarly fickle. So, then, what defines PDX style? Here are the top 10 elements of an uber-stylish Portlander as I’ve gleaned it this past month:

A great coat. Ideally it’s lightweight, waterproof, and well fitted.
A color palette out of the bold box of Crayola markers from childhood—aqua, magenta, olive, goldenrod. This is hard for me since I don’t own or look good in many of these colors! Bonus points for layering without bulk (a Scottish girl’s trick that always felt so elusive to me… where do they purchase these amazing layers?!)
The ability to wear a brimmed hat professionally and without a hint of irony. Added bonus if you can pull this off: you can get away with a coat or sweater without a hood.
Well-heeled, solid shoes. Ideally they have a half an inch platform on the front and 1 1/2-2” heel on the back that begins the width of your heel and taper to about a half dollar to avoid looking clunky. Real leather is best, if possible.
A securely stored but easily accessible attractive bi-fold wallet. Must haves in the wallet? A clear plastic ID holder so you can easily show your bus pass without holding up the line, and cash. Most food carts are still cash only businesses.
For women: mastery of a polished, pulled together wavy hairstyle. It’s going to drizzle, so abandon straight styles. For men: well groomed facial hair. This way no matter how long or unique your actual hair, people can easily tell you care about yourself.
A smartphone, so you can check the status of your bus and be productive on the commute
A good book. Yes, people are looking at what you’re reading in this city! Books seem to be the universally agreed upon way to signal when you definitely don’t want to strike up a conversation, or when you do… oh, what are you reading?
A low profile bag, preferably cross body
Tolerance! Racism and unwillingness to try new things are ugly anywhere, but they’re particularly out of place and unattractive in Portland.

So there you have it, all I’ve learned so far!

Thanks NYT

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:59:48 -0400

Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times column on CTE in veterans made me feel both better and worse. But mostly better, I think, because it is frustrating for anyone to have a nagging feeling that there’s more to the story.

March madness indeed! Here are some photographs from my...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:21:31 -0400

March madness indeed! Here are some photographs from my adventures this past month, starting with basketball fun at the Rose Garden.

I still haven’t found a place to tap dance in Portland,...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:59:18 -0400

I still haven’t found a place to tap dance in Portland, I’ve fallen in love with our neighborhood pool. Why? Mostly because of the endlessly fun two story indoor slide! It is my main motivation to finish my swimming workout. After I go down the slide three times before heading to the hot tub. It’s $2.50 well spent.

A larger view of the pool. I mostly swim in the far lap pool....

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:51:24 -0400

A larger view of the pool. I mostly swim in the far lap pool. I’m working on completing the April Fool’s challenge. If I swim 25 miles by May 31, I get a free t-shirt. This is surprisingly motivational to me.

Mmm the Waffle Window makes a great, gourmet lunch for two for...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:47:11 -0400

Mmm the Waffle Window makes a great, gourmet lunch for two for $8. Buy one savory, one sweet and share! The savory here had spinach, onions, roasted pepper, and chevre, the sweet berries, oranges, and a mousse-y creme.

These hard rolls weren’t at all what I was expecting, but...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:41:13 -0400

These hard rolls weren’t at all what I was expecting, but they make good soft-pretzel-esque snacks dipped in rock salt. I think this dough would also make excellent pizza dough.

Remember me? It’s our croquet set from childhood! I almost...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:55:11 -0400

Remember me? It’s our croquet set from childhood! I almost bought it until I realized all I wanted was to share was to share a picture of it. :)