Photo day

I had to learn how to edit photos and change them to black and white today. I've done this before. Today I had to do it for class. I got a little help. However, I think my friend that helped me was a little annoyed by my stubbornness.

This photo is of KLCC Morning Edition Host Rachael McDonald. She's rad!

Wedding Whistles

Okay, so I'm not engaged. I'm not even seeing anybody. I did, however, attend my first ever wedding show today. My friend, Brenda, is a wedding coordinator. She let me have a pass to the show to take pictures for her website. I had fun with it. It was actually pretty rad.

The show aside, I got to thinking. Weddings are fun. The party itself is awesome. I can hardly wait for it. The thing is, I'm not so sure about the marriage part. That's not good. If I'm more excited about a party and a diamond ring, that's proof that I haven't met the right person, correct?

Here's a quick list of things I've said recently regarding marriage...

"If I could marry a restaurant, I'd marry the Glenwood."

"If I were to spend the rest of my life with only one food, it'd be cheese."

"If I were to fall for a coffee drink, it'd be an 8 ounce mocha."

You see, my ideas of marriage and love don't extend far enough to really get to the heart of the wedding phenomenon.

Post Grad Trip

I've decided to take a trip when I'm all done with grad school. I'm talking like... a REAL trip! To start the brainstorming... I'm listing some ideas here... Comment if like... I love outside help.

1. Mexico - roadtrip in crappy car I have yet to purchase... even better would be on a Vespa... that might be a long trip.
2. Mexico - via airplane and then take a bus around to crazy little towns.
3. British Columbia - never been before. Hear it's gorgeous.
4. Africa - such a huge continent... but there are so many places to go here... could volunteer at an orphanage... would be good to help others after being so selfish in grad school
5. Ukraine - need to go back to visit
6. London - miss this gorgeous city
7. Ireland - I'm 1/16th Irish. Gotta love the heritage.
8. New Orleans - need to see it some day.
9. Russia - close to Ukraine... could try to see both.
10. New York City - only visited once before.

Ideas???

The Lights of Christmas

This Christmas break, I discovered a very important place in Portland. It's called Peacock Lane. They've been a touristy spot in Portland since 1929, when the Christmas lights of wonder began.
When I left Eugene, I took the bus to Portland. I met my parents at the train station and we headed to the lane. There were tons of people there. But it was still pretty cool.

One of my favorites was the Grinch lawn. When I'd been on the bus earlier that day, I had seen a blow-up Grinch lawn ornament in a Salem yard. This Grinch display on Peacock Lane has such a higher level of sophistication. It's awesome.

I have to say, spending time on the Lane de la peacock really helped me catch a little bit of the Christmas spirit back. I had lost a bit of it, unfortunately. I think anyone who starts to lose the Christmas spirit needs to find their own inspiring Peacock Lane.

New Quarter

Today is the beginning of my first winter quarter as a grad student. Cool, yes?

Well, I figure it'd be good to think about what I want this quarter. Here's a list...

1. One million dollars (goodbye school loans!)
2. a photo assistant to help me through my photoj class
3. a golf umbrella (bigger umbrella= more coverage)
4. recipes for tuna (bought a pack of tuna cans. Need to use them.)
5. friend in laundry service who LIKES doing friends' laundry for free
6. more time
7. orange juice on test days
8. an occasional weekend getaway

Okay, so I'm sorry the list is somewhat lame. But honestly, my schedule is already too full and it just started!