size doesn't matter

Today my goal is to relax further. I don't really feel like going out by myself again so once I get to know some more people I'll wander with them.

Sean returned last night, so thats one wanderer. We hung out and watched Venus, tonights movie is Zodiac. He promised to make burgers with this buffalo meat he brought back from his travels so that should be...interesting. Don't know if I've ever had buffalo.

I went downstairs to see if the girl on floor one was there, was but she wasn't. Walking back to the stairs, there was an open door and a movie was playing so I popped my head in and met two new PNCA people; Matt and Chris. I hung about and watched the tail end of The Big Lebowski. They seem nice and friendly.

Matt, Chris and Sean. They ALL have the big rooms they showed me when mum and I visited a month or so ago. The big, separate vanity table room, bike hook, room with a semi-alcove by the window rooms. I have the feeling the more I see of other peoples rooms, the more it will become evident I have the smallest room. But hey, whatever! The dorms are still MASSIVE compared to dorms should be. My room is really cozy and has heart and character.

trill ♥'s tea zone

I'm setting goals(or just general things to do) to revolve my days around. Today's was to eat lunch at Tea Zone. The Tea Zone is on 11th and Glisan and I decided to walk it which is about 19 blocks, but when you are strolling with no time limit it ain't not no big deal. Tea was just my end goal and seeing as how I planned to walk along 10th and 11th I had the opportunity to go into the stores I pass when I am on the streetcar. Which I did!

The first detour was the Multnomah County Library, which was very beautiful. I looked at a book of Victorian art while cooling down. There was a queue of people waiting to use the Internet, I wonder how long they had been waiting. The library had awesome marble (I think they were marble, they were really shiney and massive) stairs that go up and split in both directions up, left and right. Really majestic. All the library people were sweet, as Portland peoples typically are.

I stopped in at Big & Little Finnegan's. Big Finnegan's had lots of cool kids toys, some soft plush animals, and an awesome Playmobil collection. I loved this one the most, I really wish they had this one though. Little Finnegan's just had the same stuff you would find at Archie McPhee, boxed novelties.

Circling the block it was on, thinking I missed it, it became apparent that the Red Light that was near Powell's closed down, so I just went into Buffalo Exchange instead. Not much there, but what I did find was really cute: a stripey tee and a short sleeved bright yellow hoodie. Yay for second hand, discount style.

The Tea Zone was lovely, everyone was keen to ask if I was being served as soon as they saw me. Had a turkey panini with this berry jelly that is sweet and tasty, and this honey lemon iced tea that has a wonderful aftertaste. The panini from there has always been the perfect amount of food for me.

Then I began the trek home. I didn't stop in anywhere, just took in the sights. Sights such as the quartet of young male shirtless bicyclists who whizzed by me on the side walk. My iced tea took me all the way home. I did my first load of laundry, met another PNCA person, and read The Last Call.

My day started slow, I was feeling under the weather as I woke up tired (yet again) but it really perked up as I started walking about.

like a big girl!

First day on my own. Went pretty well. Ate mush, eggs, and orange juice for breakfast. Lounged about and then decided on my venture for the day. Decided on: comics, Lloyd Center, and groceries.

I caught the max that is a few block from where I am, in the fareless square. I waited a long time for the crosswalk to change and it never did, so I said to the lady I was waiting with "I'm just going to break the law!" and walked to the other side of the road. I'm such a badass. Got on the max without a ticket (didn't have time to get one) but I wasn't caught so whew! Rode it to Skidmore Fountain, where I got off and walked down Couch (pronounced "cooch") street towards 5th. Between 3rd and 4th some construction workers whistled at me.

Arrived at Floating World Comics and was delighted by it. The store owner, Jason, was darling, the selection was great, and I'm getting a discount! Picked up Black Summer #2, Doktor Sleepless #1, and Vasilis Lolos' Last Call v.1. Also bought this. I'm glad this is my new comic haunt, Bridge City Comics is massive and may have a more rounded selection, but this place has more charm. Also a nice selection of indie and local comics. Some day, I hope to have my work on its shelves.

Done with reestablishing my comic issues subscriptions (I don't have that many, don't worry mom I won't go broke buying them) I headed back to max to go to Lloyd Center. The construction workers were gone this time around. The mall is so big, three stories! Walking around nothing really sparked my interest so I just headed up to the food court for lunch. Grabbed that Subway cheapo sandwich of the day deal, ate it, and headed back to the max. Had to wait about 15 minutes for it to show up, and when I got on some guy was fighting with what sounded like his babymamma on the phone. Stuff about her "laying on her back" "not taking care of my son" and the like, he was sort of loud and all the people around him were so forcibly trying not to stare (or laugh). I got off on the last stop in fareless square, which was still a distance to walk in my sandals. I opted to go home and relax instead of getting groceries on the way back.

Relaxing was good. Very good. Watched Doctor Who with Ibanez.

Grocery shopping was fun, got some munchins. Rather exciting to be doing things out on my own. All ready I am all about the savings and deals. Next stop: coupon city! I have veggies and meat and protein and eggs and tasty liquids. I met another PNCA chicka as I entered the dorms, shes two floors below for some reason (they really should stick us all together, make things easier). Didn't catch her name, but we'll know each other soon enough.

Put away groceries, put away dishes, and now I'm relaxing again. Ahhh!

my view

The view from my balcony. Another amazing Portland day.

cookie brick

My cookies have melted together a little. Now I have to eat them in a three cookie thick cookie block.

The parents have returned home, I'm on my own now. We went to the Lloyd Center for some last minute shopping before they departed. Got some towels, a cable for my TV, some a-brays, and an employment application. I don't really want to get a job just yet but it is best to start early. I will be bored in a few days anyway, I don't know anyone around here and the roomie is gone working often. Well, should take this time to relax because in 13 days it will be CRAZY.

Put away all my clothes, all so neat and tidy and well organised.

Took a walk to Powell's, all by foot going there (if the wait is longer than three minutes for the streetcar, don't bother) and the streetcar back. Got Betty Crocker for cheap, $4.95, hopefully it wasn't priced down that much because there are typos rampant through the ingredient lists. 11 2 cups of butter to make cookies? All right, if Betty says so. Picked up The Sandman: The Dream Hunters from the slightly improved graphic novel section. Still the alphabetical by author, all genres and publishers mashed together mess it was last time, but it has moved to the wall and has grown in size so it is a larger mess. Not good for browsing, really crammed together. Buying comics at Powell's, you have to know what you want and who wrote it. Oh well, not like I will be going there for my comic needs anyway. For such an amazing store, I wonder why their comic section sort of fails? Well sometimes you can find a gem or two. Just have to have the patience to browse through a rather unbrowseable section (the floor is uncomfortable, not good to sit and read on).

I have a table cloth over my book shelve, to prevent the top books from getting faded due to being in front of the window. I would move some of them, but most of the top shelve is over sized and won't fit below. Plus having pretentious 1930's and 1940's editions of classics is only faux-impressive if people notice them, and they won't be noticed if they are on the bottom shelve.

one channel and nothing on

My TV has a built-in VHS player and bunny ears. My laptop has a larger screen than it does. It is bulky, dusty, and pretty much crap.

And I forgot the remote.

So the only channels it has programmed are the ones left over from Washington and only one comes through as a station here, The CW.

Oww My Butt

All my shelving units are constructed and arranged just so. Book shelves mostly full, will be completely full once I get a copy of Betty Crocker. All that is left to put away are my gew-gaws, clothes, and the two boxes of manga. Pretty good considering I arrived about 24 hours ago. It really did look like more stuff than it was.

Ibanez, my roomies cat, is so loveable. Gets up in my lap and rolls about, even slept with me for a part of last night. Good to have company, Basil would just freak out.

I didn't get into bed till about 1 am, and even though I am extremely tired, it still took me a while to get to sleep. I woke up at about 5:30 am to the garbage truck, and dozed off for a few more hours.

My parents showed up right as I was getting out of bed at 8:30. They helped with the rest of my shelves and some of my odds and ends. They were hot-to-trot so I skipped breakfast and went bike riding with them. We drove the RV over to OMSI and headed off on this bike trail that follows the Willamette River and crosses it at the Sellwood Bridge. By the time we got to the bridge my tookus was hurting. The path was nice until it disappeared in the city and we just made our way around untill we got to the Waterfront Park. We took a break and ate some ice cream and decided to visit PNCA. Going through the city was difficult, but we got their eventually. I was really tired, hungry, and frustrated by this point and after PNCA I split from my parents to go back to Goose Hollow. I got a little lost around 18th and Burnside, but I found my way to the bike lane on 13th, crossed Jefferson and made it back in one sweaty, tired, bum-hurting mess. I took a second shower and felt much better after. For lunch I had a glass of orange juice, an apple, and a serving of rice from my cute little ricer cooker (thank you Auntie Celia!). Not much, but I'm sure I will nosh as the day goes on.

Now to finish unpacking! Or maybe think about finishing unpacking while I eat cookies and massage my rear.

M-m-m-moving in!

I am in Portland safe and sound.

Due to the rain we (mom, dad and Nathan) decided to take the RV instead of the truck. We didn't leave until about 1pm, I had more to pack that I thought. The trip down was nice, I watched Spaced and about an hour of Scary Movie 4. We didn't have horrible traffic for most of the the drive, only the last mile was when it came to a standstill and even then it only lasted a few minutes. It was also a few minutes just 50 feet away from where we needed to turn, but the light would only stay green long enough for one car to get through. We got a sweet parking spot right in front of Goose Hollow and I signed myself in and got my key.

My dorm room turned out to be ever so slightly different from the one they showed me before. My roommate took the larger room, but now that I have arranged things my room is rather cozy. Also she has to share her room with a cat so I'm fine with her taking the larger. The vanity table is in the bathroom, instead of being out of it like in the show room. Oh well, I don't spend much time in front of the mirror anyway. I have a nice view of the power plant.

After four trips with all four of us carrying/carting boxes from the RV to my room on the third floor we finally got all my things into the room. It looks like more stuff than I (hope) it really is.

Dad stubbed his toe nail on the metal carty-thingy and it bled quite profusely.

After bringing it all to my room and tending to daddum's toe we decided to go out for dinner. Lindsay recommended Ole Ole and the West Cafe. So we reparked the RV and walked across the bridge in search of food. Ole Ole was a little pubish so we walked on and ate at West Cafe. I had this Granny Smith Apple and Grilled Chicken salad that was delicious! So crunchy and flavourful. We all were quite pleased with the quality and quantity of the food (considerably more tasty than some of the self-absorbed gourmet places I've been, and about $5 cheaper). For me, a good restaurant will give you just the right amount of food. Sure a take home box is good but half the time I neglect it and end up having to throw out the left-overs.

Next was Safeway, to get me started on meals. Portland is so walkable. The only hill is by my dorm, after that it is no problem.

We returned and started unpacking. Nate got my Internet up and running. Right now I have my nicer shelving units under my window, my bed is all made up, my TV is on my desk, my kitchenware is mostly unpacked, and my food is put away.

Need to start on my books, clothes and the rest of my dishes.

Trillian has forgotten/left behind:

TV Remote

Her Super-Scientific Calender
Hair Straightener

Hair Dryer

and the rest of her a-brays.