Summer

SUMMER—it's finally here. The question is, what am I doing with my time now? I've compiled a list of TODOs. 

• listen to more music

• clean and organize everything I didn't during school

• compile and finish my unfinished projects from last term (the constructivist in particular)

• fix my bike's flat (blew a tube before a notable ride the other day)

• start cooking/eating better food again (been living off taco bell, etc.)

• get a platform bed

• communicate better with family/people I care about

• find my paints/brushes

• stop smoking the occasional american spirit

• meet more friends in the 'hood

• wake up early and start my days right

• read more of what I want to read/obtain practical knowledge 

• convert to cash—it doesn't go as fast as card

• contain my feelings when upset by injustice towards females in a male dominant workplace

• present a 'truer' representation of who I really am to those I meet.

• go to a dentist for fun

• plant things in the garden

• keep a child-like innocence about things in life, a curiosity perhaps.

• ride to work (there's a huge hill... it's daunting)

• practice my lettering

• wait for someone special to come along.

• be self disciplined in my art

• rediscover/solidify my spirituality/belief system

• get out of bed everyday—sometimes I just want to be so lazy!

• plan a weekend with my little sister who is all grown up.

• do my best at everything I do

• get my OLCC

• find a new job serving.

• move on.

There is a sort of accountability that comes with stating such personal things in a list on a blog. I'm hoping that putting it out there will make me more committed to the completion of such a list of goals. We'll see.

Listening to 'pale blue eyes' by The Velvet Underground and 'don't kiss me goodbye' by Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle. 

I had a reminiscent morning, I walked coffee cup and a spirit in hand to the park as the sun was coming up. I played on the merry-go-round and it reminded me so much of a film I watched last year about this time. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

My contacts weren't in yet so as the sun shining through all of the trees' leaves and I gently spun round and round, coffee in hand, it all came together in a beautiful blur of light and greens that reminded me so much of that film. Beautiful. I had to come home and listen to the soundtrack. Great start to my "Friday."

Portland Art Museum/Carlyle Benefit

I've been working on a student project for my typography class featuring Carlyle restaurant and a donor benefit for Portland Art Museum. Here's what I came up with.

No More Luscious

I'm in Walla Walla this weekend, and it's been six months since I've been here. So much has changed. I realized when I left that it would never be the same people-wise, but I expected the rest of it to remain untouched. I was wrong. Some of my best memories here include great food with good friends at many of the this town's fine restaurants. 

I drove around early this morning and was surprised that so many restaurants had closed. So many good places gone, they will be missed. Grapefields, Luscious by Nature and The Verve, just to name a few. I'm very disappointed about Luscious by Nature closing. Whether I was getting cocktails with friends, having Sunday brunch,  or the occasional dinner out, I loved that place. The atmosphere was always so fresh and I enjoyed the outdoor seating. Everything was so light, airy and white. It will be missed. It is good to see a few familiar businesses around. I'm glad to see Colville Street Patisserie is still in business.

Living in Portland, I take for granted that everything I usually buy is from a local business or farms. I accidentally got Starbucks this morning and then realized that some local businesses here had closed. Somewhat ironic. For the rest of my stay here, I will be sure to buy local. It is so important to support businesses that you care about, and not the huge corporations. I usually don't rant about this stuff, but it is so relevant. Be careful where your money goes, especially now that there seems to be less of it to go around!

Ps. I got a new haircut. It is exciting!

Yay Asparagus!

I went grocery shopping and ended up at Powells bookstore on Hawthorne. I was looking for a seasonal cookbook so that I can just eat well and cheap at the same time. I found an amazing book from the San Francisco Farmer's Market. It has a lot of really fresh recipes and they are very easy. I am really excited!

I made the asparagus salad. It consists of thinly sliced asparagus, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and freshly ground pepper. Delicious! I almost forgot, there is Parmesan/Romano cheese on top... :)

Helvetica Bold

I'm taking typography. Again. I love it. I've been working on an expressive type project using only Helvetica Bold, 90 pt, and within an 8" square format. I was using 3" square pieces of tracing paper in early stages and my kitchen was littered with them. In a stack they look pretty sweet.

CinCity!

Okay. That was pretty bad. Cincity=Cincinnati, just in case you didn't get it the first time. I went on a fast and fun packed trip during spring break to visit a good friend in Cincinnatti and had a great time. I had to recover for a few days after I got back but all in all, a great experience! :D Thank you D for such a great time!

A Gift

A wise friend once gave me a book (The Scripture of the Golden Eternity by Jack Kerouac) that I had until now set aside. Feeling blue from winter weather and pathetic, self-pitying life circumstances, I picked it up and really read it for the first time. This friend of mine penned a note in the cover, it reads:

08-14-2006

Heather,
As part of the obligatory process of growing older/you're an adult now, I give to you the sage advice and wisdom of Jack Kerouac. This is your roadmap to the future. "Roaring dreams take place in a perfectly silent mind." Lie down, rest. I <3 you forever.

After reading this, I immediately felt more at peace. Life has been pretty eventful for me in the past few months and I'm just trying to settle down. I read part of the book today and felt more at peace than I have in ages. I think this is a good path.

Thanks Nan.

I've been listening to Band of Horses again, and really enjoying an array of older Modest Mouse. Broken Social Scene is coming to Portland... anyone want to go???