Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Grab Winter by the Balls

** fore note: a little beagle is laying her little head on my laptop, and it's adorable.

I have, up to this point, remained fairly optimistic about this rainy Winter. Everyone warned me. Everyone skeptically smirked as I gabbed about moving to Oregon. My response was always "I lived in Houston for six months. I can deal with near-hurricane rainstorms, so I'm *sure* I can handle some drizzle."

ha.

My good friend Candice told me (this summer, when it was beyond gorgeous everyday) just to stay positive. I'm finding that more and more difficult to do. I have been wired to expect a few sunny, warm days come February. Yes, it might snow a week after being 80 degrees, but by damn, there will be heat and sun. I have patiently waited, and I am now impatiently despairing. Oftentimes this despair strikes me in the form of Restless Leg Syndrome (a farce of a medical condition as far as I'm concerned -- go outside and play) as I gaze out my gray window and envision myself frolicking through allergen-free fields. I stopped putting mousse in my hair 4 months ago. And I'm beyond tired of wiping the dogs' muddy paws. and then mopping anyway.

Terrifyingly, this year we've gotten 70% less rain than other years. Seriously? But I have never liked Winter. It has nothing to offer me. Well that has to change. I'm not gonna go have a talk with God and ask God to change the course of seasons, so I can go lake swimming in January. I'm going to take up Winter hobbies -- other than reading the Twilight series in less than two weeks.

So far snowboarding is all I can think of. And that's gonna have to require some serious mind bending to get over my fear of sliding down a mountain.

** Having typed all of this out, I feel much better and have regained some optimism.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Small Town Woes

In Texas I often saw people I knew. Whether it was at a huge event, such as Austin City Limits Music Festival, or a smaller venue like the Granada Theatre, it seemed as if there was someone I knew personally, or at the very least recognized from the circus of characters in my life.

Sometimes this was good, other times this was bad. When I'd be out on the town feeling social and bubbly with perfect hair and charm, it was a good thing. When I was forced to the grocery store to pick up something really quick, and my hair was disheveled, and I was cranky, this was a bad thing. But it was something I learned to expect.

I don't know why I thought Eugene would be different. I don't know why I thought I could maintain a level anonymity here for longer than a year. The town is half the size of Arlington, and it hasn't fallen victim to the urban crawl yet, so really all of the places to go are IN Eugene.

It has started to happen. At concerts, at Trader Joe's, at bars, at events at the Fairgrounds. I'm constantly seeing people I know, have met, or have dealt with in some capacity, whether they helped me at the post office or sold me a 6 pack of black butte. In one night I saw a guy at the Bier Stein and then again at McMenamins. He naturally asked if I was following him. I said yes.

Despite all of my complaints, I do like this familiarity. This sense of community created when constantly seeing people you know. It makes me feel safe, as though I've become part of their daily pattern of people as well.

In other news, my plans for a walk to the dog park are foibled by the rain. I guess I'll do some pilates and read my upcoming book club selections, which are Island by Aldous Huxley and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Money "Cents"

Even with my dyscalculia, I got it.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Don't Divorce Us

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/divorce

We, the undersigned, share President Barack Obama's view that "for too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect."
Yet, on December 19, 2008, Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and seeking to nullify the 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted between May and November of 2008.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. We, the undersigned, ask that the Court invalidate Prop 8 and recognize the marriage rights of these 18,000 couples -- and all loving, committed couples in California -- under our state's constitution.
As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund's shameful attempt to nullify these unions will not be vindicated in the eyes of history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter how hard they try to fight it.


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Busy.

I hope you enjoy the new music on my blog. Last night I got the weirdest and strongest urge to play piano again. Maybe I'll get a used keyboard off of Craigslist.

I slept in today. I have far too much to do. Here's a breakdown:

1. Go to Old Navy and get a pair of pants.
2. Purchase a few Valentine's gifts.
3. Go to the post office to send out Valentine's Day stuff.
4. Go to the Springfield library to read as much of A Year of Living Biblically as I can in a couple of hours for my ladies book club. I also need to swing by Smith Family Bookstore to buy The Plague for my OTHER book club, also meeting this week.
5. Make vegetable/beef soup.
6. exercise at some point....then shower again.
7. Head to Kendra's for girl/craft night. I'm not especially crafty (except in the Beastie Boys sense, of course), so I'm getting a head start on making the music playlists for Jasmine's wedding. She's getting married in August and asked me to do the music!

Perhaps that's not a lot. But either way I need to get off the computer and start my day!

Friday, February 6, 2009

regret.

I have very few regrets in life. None of them are sins of commission. Rather, they are experiences and chances I avoided.

One of them in particular is hanging over my head like a movie reel, flashing to scenes of what "could have been" had I waited it out... Visions of a more perfect life flash before my eyes, teasing me in the idealistic way all daydreams do. And now, with deep sorrow, I feel like it's too late.

But then, I suppose that in that very moment when I resigned myself to inaction, I chose the other path.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Dear Mrs. SUV,

You and I have a lot more in common than I'd like to admit. We both drive SUVs, although mine gets considerably better gas mileage. We both like to park in the "compact cars only" spots in parking garages, but my SUV actually is more compact than most cars. Your Escalade sticks out. We both probably enjoy peering down through the windows of smaller cars beside us at stoplights. It is evident that both of our BMIs are a bit higher than either of us would probably like. You apply makeup while driving, I've seen you. That's ok. I do it too. Although I try to leave the eyeliner job at home. That can get a little messy.

But, Mrs. SUV, there is one glaring difference between us. I know how to cut corners. No, I'm not talking about using a cup less flour when making pie crust, or adding water to my gasoline. I'm talking about staying within my turning lane at an intersection. In the past two days, I have witnessed you and four of your clones cutting people off as you absentmindedly veer into their turning lane. That not-so-faint white line isn't there for you to straddle like you're back in college. You're supposed to stay on your side of it. I have seen the looks of despair, anger and exasperation sweep across your victims' faces as you veer your Monstrosity of Metal all over the damn road. Do your fake nails make it hard for you to accurately turn your steering wheel? Do you think you're in some suburban version of Grand Theft Auto? Well cut your nails and snap back to reality.

I thought I had escaped the likes of you when I left the Metroplex. I was wrong. I guess I can find comfort knowing that, like teenyboppers, SUV Matrons are the same everywhere.

Sincerely,

A Self-Aware SUV Driver

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Weekend Update

Mid-week update really.

I owe the library sixty bucks. Luna munched on the bottom edge of a book cover, tearing the front cover about 2.5 inches, and evidently my sly taping job did not make it past Library Security. But really...$40 bucks? I wish I hadn't even returned the book.

I'm reading a book called "Cabin Fever: Notes From a Part-Time Pioneer," which is written by William Sullivan. He has written dozens of hiking books about Oregon (he's hiked every trail in OR), a couple of fiction novels, and some non-fiction. I saw him speak at the Eugene Home Show about Oregon's natural disasters, or lack thereof. I like the book; it's about the adventures he and his wife endured/enjoyed while building a cabin by hand out in by the Sahalie river.

I'm going to the Ducks basketball game tomorrow. I'm still looking forward to the match up of the Blazers and Mavs. If I think about it too much, I may keel over from anticipation.

My trip to California has been finalized. I'm heading down on the 15th, staying in LA with my buddy Parker on the 16th to help him celebrate his 25th and attend the AC GOLD he's hosting. Then I'll spend a couple of days in sunny San Diego with another good friend before I meander back to Oregon. It should be epic.

It's been sunny lately, and for that I am eternally grateful.

I've already planned the itinerary for when Sarah comes to visit.....in August.

I had a marvelous weekend. I attended the Last Friday Art Walk, which is an alternative to the First Friday Art Walk held downtown in galleries. This art show was spread throughout the Whiteaker neighborhood in artists' homes, bookstores, galleries, coffee shops, a lingerie store and a "flower shop," although to call it such is certainly an injustice. I look forward to making this monthly event a regular thing. I have added this to the itinerary for Sarah's visit. Apparently in the summer it's a giant, wondrous block party with Pabst, music and...art.

I'm very tired tonight after cleaning out my car (I found tons of tupperware!), vacuuming, mopping, doing dishes, 3 loads of laundry, watching the Nightly Business Report and eating Ramen. I should've just gone to hecklers night at the Wandering Goat to enjoy the showing of Top Gun....

Here's a little eye candy for all you ladies and fabulous guys.