surfing biker gangs

Yaay! Chris was down in Portland today. Very awesome. He was visiting some friends in Vancouver so they all drove down to Portland for the day. Karen loaned me her key and I was able to let them into the garage for free parking.

Lots of bright, fresh faced people were moving in. Some may have been PNCA, but I wasn't paying much attention.

With Chris were his Seattle University buddies Joe and Zoe. They were an adorable and very friendly couple. We loitered about at my place. I offered them Popsicles to combat the heat. It was hot. Very very hot. I am fine in my spot in front of the computer because I right where the air gets circulated, but everywhere else in the apartment is not fun.

We left to go see Tropic Thunder. We barely missed the max and waited in the shade for a new one. Joe and Zoe talked apart from us and Chris and I caught up a little.

The max was crowded and air conditioned. Probably crowded because it WAS air conditioned. The downside of the Pacific Northwest; sure it doesn't get as bad as other places but we have little relief from it.

Chris asked me if I had encountered any crazy people on the Max or bus, but because I don't take public transit that much I did not have any stories to share.

Jen was working behind the concession stand and I was all, "Hey Jen! Hi!" Earlier it was revealed that Zoe and Joe went to high school with SohKuhn, a classmate of ours. Crazy small world.

I enjoyed Tropic Thunder very much the second time around. I can understand why it is getting mixed reviews, but I still very much like it.

After we took a walk to Chinatown. So hot. Not muggy though. I stopped in at Floating World Comics. Jason wasn't around and it had been renovated so there was much more space. That store, once it gets all arranged, will look amazing. It will be a notable comic shop for sure. It has already risen in the ranks in the two years it has been up and running.

Joe and Zoe, having been to Portland on many occasions, knew of a little sushi place hidden away. Takahashi had a little train set up that scooted around with sushi on it. It was a "pay by the plate" type joint. Very cheap. I loved it. Chris and I each ate about seven bucks worth of the good stuff, while Zoe and Joe shared about 11 bucks worth. I was a sucked for some of the flower plate variety, but Chris fell for a blue flower plate. We went to the place at just the right time. It wasn't crowded and new sushi was just making the rounds. So that was great, someone comes into town you haven't met and you end up doing something new!

The ultimate tourist show off for Portland is Powells, so that is where we took Chris next. He couldn't find the biography that he wanted, but he did get a book on minimalist sculpture. I made two great finds. Both were Taschen publications. The first is Men's Adventure Magazines. It is an art collection of post war men's pulp illustrations. Basically women pirates lashing men, busty ladies escaping commies, busty ladies fighting commies, men fighting octopuses, etc. I love that kind of illustration. The second is a book on Symbolism in paintings. It has excellent references. Both books made for a nice little pair. Chris and I caught up with Joe and Zoe in the Red Room and made our purchases.

The streetcar was a little ways in coming, so some gelato was bought. I nibbled on Chris' and Joe had some of Zoe's. Before the streetcar arrived, a man came asking for donations because he was deaf. Joe knew some sign language and was trying to communicate with him but it was clear that the guy was faking it.

Another packed A/C public transit ride brought us to Jefferson street. There was some more hanging out but they didn't hang around too late as they had to get back to Washington. Before they left SOMEONE clogged my toilet (I know who, and I'll just say it wasn't Zoe).

I called Karen and Robin, to see if they had a plunger. I Googled some solutions if they couldn't provide. It isn't totally unstopped but it is mostly clear. Robin came by with a plunger but it didn't do much.

Three times tonight I heard Ibanez meow and he dropped a ball in my room. It is out last night together. Lindsay is taking him to her new place tommorow. Cecine moves in.

the best TV I never watched

Watched the first five episodes of The Wire today. Damn that is a good show. The characters are developing perfectly, the set ups are great, and it doesn't show bias towards one side. The cops are good and bad, the criminals are good and bad. CSI, Law and Order, DaVinci's Inquest, they just wish they had the freedom to be The Wire.

I couldn't bear to go outside. It was over 100 in Portland. 101 according to my desktop, 107 according to Karen.

Robin stopped by for MORE RA duty. She put little name tags up on my door. The doors in the apartment, not the outside. Just in case Cecine and I mixed up which room we were in.

Lindsay stopped by for Ibanez visitation and Project Runway. So excited for the next episode, Chris is coming back!

Speaking of Chris, my buddy Chris from back home is in Vancouver this weekend and I'm going to see him tomorrow. Coming all the way down to Portland. Probably going to see Tropic Thunder again. Booyah.

Holly Update:


Karen's mum was in town and so she was going to spend the majority of the day out of her sweltering apartment so I took care of Holly. Ibanez wasn't content to see her.

Ibanez gained some weight from eating her kitten food. She loves his food. Apparently the Trader Joe's cat food is the tofu of cat food; bland. Chelsey, you will have to buy her tasty food or else she won't be content with the tasteless junk that is convenient.

just kidding about the shaving part

Robin came a knocking at my door with goodies. Little move-in baggies for Cecine and myself. They are getting the RA's really active this time around.

A little later Karen, Diana, and Robert came by for a RA furniture audit. Basically to make sure I had not broken or thrown out any chairs. Gotta keep tabs on me, I'm wild. Also there are only four people moving in that are over the age of 21 and I think I heard that about 80% of the people are 17-18. Yikes!

I needed a laugh after yesterday so I went to a matinee showing of Tropic Thunder. LOVED IT! I didn't know how much I was missing good comedy until this came around. All the characters were great and had even screen time and development. They were all wonderful parodies but still real enough. It was wonderfully not politically correct. Oh wow, I can't wait to see it AGAIN. The theatre wasn't really packed(or even half full) so I want to see it with a large, high energy crowd. I really enjoyed it but I am sure it isn't for everyone. It is a step in the right direction. Slow down Apatow, stop being in movies Will Ferrell.

I ran into Jen in the bathroom after the film. She works at the theatre. She was there to catch a free film and as I am really lazy and had no plans, I joined her. She got me in, free, to see The Mummy 3:Something about a Dragon Emperor. It was bad. Way too cheesy, even for a Mummy franchise film. Rachel Weisz couldn't have even saved it and having Maria Bello replace her was really ehh. It really made me like Tropic Thunder even more. The effects were horrid, they were even worse than the first Mummy movie and that came out about a decade ago.

So all in all, that double feature took me from 5:00pm to almost 10:00pm. Which was fine by me, it was a hot day and I needed to be around some A/C. As I was ascending the escalator, a guy in a rude shirt tried chatting me up. I was having none of that.

I hung out with Karen and Adam after. I read aloud from ladies magazines and Adam became quite distressed with how truly horrific they are. He gave me a glass brooch! Perfect for one of my many jackets. Need to just figure out which one.

Holly Update:

Holly has moved up a floor and is with Karen now. She was meowing constantly as she scoped out her place. It was very warm and she panted a little. So we shaved her.

I caught her and Ibanez sleeping just a few inches apart. But I could tell he was still generally displeased by her being around. When I came back from dropping her off at Karen's, he clambered into my lap and purred.

Holly will hopefully like being at Karen's for the rest of Chelsey's absence. Hopefully the heat doesn't get to her that much. It might be good to be with a stranger right now so that she will adjust to being with Chelsey better. Not like she got some idea in her tiny little head that I am her new caretaker.

Spike Jonze makes me smile

In my blog, I try to give as many details as I can remember but today was just not fun and I really don't want to talk about it.

Jen slept in so I went to the zoo by myself. The line was long but it went quick. The other group of people I was going to hang out with at the zoo were late so I wandered around the exhibits. It was $2 day at the zoo so it was crowded with some really unpleasant people and their horrible children. I drew some of the depressed animals but it was hard as kids kept crowding me. I was there for almost two hours when I got word that the group I was going to meet up with decided not to go because the line was too long. I hoped to catch up with them but they had already caught the max out of there. I was really hurt that they just ditched me like that when I had gone mostly because of their invitation.

I had lunch with Jen. Walked with her to Utrecht and she bought some scratch board to practice on.

Holly Update:



She doesn't like me. She doesn't like Ibanez. Sure they sometimes sleep near each other but they are not really buddies. I woke up to find that my new and never used shower curtain had some holes in it right at the height of Holly claws. I can take cleaning Ibanez's puke but damnit I just put that curtain up! Ibanez was right next to me when I woke up, Holly couldn't be bothered to cuddle. She just attacks me if I move so it is probably for the best. Holly takes no interest in visitors or laps.

curtains bought to not match

People knocked on my door at 8:30 and 9:30 just to confirm that there was going to be a cleaning at 10:00. The lady did a really great job. My old room smells awesome and she even did the bathroom! I put up my Ikea shower curtains so now it is all bright orange and warm in there, instead of sterile glaring white.

Finished Deadwood. It had an open ending but it wasn't so open that I was mad it was the series finale. It really tugged at my heartstrings those that few episodes. Overall the characters and setting were great but it had way too many deus ex machina character types. Most of the tertiary people came in only to do their part to move the plot ahead and that was annoying.

Didn't put much of a dent on the sorting of my room. I still have the rest of the week though.

Tomorrow I am going to the zoo with Jen, Matt, and some other people. Whee! Fun! It is $2 every second Tuesday.

Had a nice chat with mom. When she said a gallery of bad art reminded her of me, I was almost insulted but she made a nice save when she explained that she meant that she wished someone else was there to appreciate how bad it was.

Lindsay stopped by to cuddle her Ibanez. He was mad and barely cuddled. She managed to get her marriage certificate. The system almost works!

I've been neglecting my painting. I can't get in the habit of leaving work unfinished. Need to develop a portfolio in case I do decide to go to Brussels for a semester.

Holly Update:



Holly and Ibanez sometimes share my bed and appear to be friendly but most of the time they chase each other. All is well. She will go back to Chelsey in a week. And Karen should be able to divide up that time.

dust demons

Those of you that know me would probably believe the dust accumulation that presented itself when I cleaned out my room today. Those of you that don't know me would be shocked. In all fairness it was the dust trapped behind my shelves and desk, none of which have been moved since they were first put there. I got wicked snuffles after emptying my room. Even though it will be cleaned tomorrow, I still wanted to give it a quick once over.

I was surprised that it took pretty much all day (which wasn't that much time, I slept in) to empty everything out and to organize it in this room. I still have piles of things not yet put away. I need to rig up some plank and brick shelves.

Finished Dogville. I liked the ending. It all came around, but it took a long time in doing so. A LONG LONG TIME. Also watched One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Good classic, a long time to get around to seeing it. I finally get some jokes that were in The Simpsons.

All my clothes are neatly piled away. Lets see how long that lasts.

Holly Update:



A few days ago, in a team effort, Ibanez and Holly knocked a cup of water onto Lindsay while she was sleeping.

Right now she is resting on my bed. She is really sweet when she is dozing. Once she wakes up she is all over the place. Zoom zoom zip pounce roll dive swat.

I'm not giving her over to Karen just yet. I find that if she is being a pest, she just needs a time out in the bathroom. Ibanez riles her up. Or she riles Ibanez up. I don't quite know.

where shall I hang my Baticelli?

I got a lovely invite to breakfast from Karen. But really it was Adam's breakfast. Anyway, it was delicious. Cut up apple and sausage and potato. MMmm. We rehashed the craziness of last night.

The workout was minimal, but we still sweated.

I went to Trader Joe's to get provisions. Just Emergen-C, sweets, bread, juice, and a splurge. When the guy rang me up he asked if I found everything alright. I said, "Well I found everything alright and then I found the cheesecake and then things were GREAT!" I got a nice smile out of him for that. He told me to enjoy my cheesecake, which I did.

As I was leaving the Goose for my TJ run, I ran into Lindsay, Keesee and Gavin. When I got back I found the Baticelli in my room. I gave Lindsay a huge huge hug for that. I love that painting of hers. It is brilliant. With the four of us helping, we moved her boxes from her place, to the elevator, out of the lift, and to Gavin's van. I gave her a big hug.

Before the dust had settled, I started to move into her room. I scrubbed the walls and Karen lent me a vacuum. I am redoing how I sort things so maybe for the next year I will have a cleaner lifestyle. HA HA, good one Trillian.

I have a night stand now. Floor space to roll about on. Shelves in a better pattern. Karen helped me decide where to place some things. I still need to bring in all my clothes and most of my knick-knacks. I should be done tomorrow. They will be cleaning on Monday. It was supposed to be Lindsay's room, but mine is the worse off (filth wise, lots of dust and sunflower seeds).

I'll have a week by myself. Well, I'll have Holly and Ibanez, but mostly Ibanez because Holly will be going to Karen soon. Lindsay won't have her apartment till September so I am watching the big kitty till then.

After Karen helped me with some heavy lifting, we enjoyed some of the cheesecake. It was a great splurge.

Holly Update:

I had to put Holly in the bathroom for a while because she was being really mean towards Ibanez. It was overly aggressive playing and he wasn't in the mood for it. They are both behaving better now. The plan is set to give her to Karen tomorrow night.