we can face it together, the way old friends do

I found something at PostSecret today. It reminded me of britta and Jessi.

For my two best friends.

"somebody up there likes me . . . "

For the past week or so, I've been trying to remember something I wanted to write about. I made a mental note to myself to remember as I left Oregon, but of course, promptly forgot.

Tonight, I remembered what it was.

One evening while dad and I were home alone, we sat on the couch together, watching an action flick of some sort, although I cannot recall which. He went downstairs and I didn't think much of it until I heard some pounding. I was curious as to what he was up to downstairs, but didn't care enough to go see. When he returned to the room and the pounding continued, I asked him what the noise was.

"Uh, the Regatta fireworks, I think."

Regatta fireworks?? I shot to the window to see them . . . I have a thing for fireworks. I had completely forgotten that the Regatta included a firework show since it'd been years since I'd been in town on the proper weekend.

I grabbed my camera and went outside on the corner to get a better view. I was still significantly far away and there were some ill-placed powerlines in my way, so I didn't get any good shots. But, the fireworks were glorious nonetheless. I was elated to be able to see my fireworks over the Columbia even though I missed the ones on the 4th. Complete with the blaring of the boat horns after the finale.

Amazing, surprising, and throughly beautiful.

and thus, it approaches.

Well, I have returned to Provo. School starts in 19 days. I'm going in to paint tomorrow morning and say goodbye to Doug. I still can't believe he's leaving. And, I can't believe that Liz isn't coming back. There are many changes this time around.

My time in Oregon was paradise. I loved it. All of it.

And, I'm thinking about redesigning my blog. I like the concept of the paint, but the colors are awkward.

An Equal Music

Today I finished a book. This book was the first fiction book I have read for my own enjoyment (thus excluding books for classes) in many years. I can't remember the last one I read. That's not to say I don't read for myself, I just generally tend to stick to the non-fiction variety, especially biographies. I don't have anything against fiction stories (I happen to adore many fictional films) but I just find biographies particularly fascinating, ergo I tend to devote my free time to them.

britta convinced me to buy An Equal Music at a bookstore in Ashland. She said I would like it. I did. I very much enjoyed becoming a part of that world and being privy the thoughts of the main character, Michael. He interested me and I surprised even myself when I became "involved". I began to desperately wish for his happiness. Now, I miss being able to escape with that book. Fiction provides a certain manipulation that non-fiction typically lacks. I don't mean that this manipulation is specifically negative, I just mean fiction purposefully toys with emotions. It was rad.

I thusly resolve to read more fiction books. Maybe not many more this summer (as I shall be going back to school soon), but in general. I have rediscovered a love for fiction.

ashland + flickr = sharing

We're back from Ashland! It was a grand time.

THURSDAY: Drove all day, had Subway, drove some more, ate the other half of Subway, watched the Green Show, left the Green Show to go to the Tudor Guild, saw Two Gentlemen of Verona, slept in a tent.

FRIDAY: Slept in, shopped/walked around downtown, bought books, ate at Lithia Fountain and Grill, shopped/walked some more, drank Lithia Water, bought food, made a fire, roasted food, tried to light the lamp, slept in a tent.

SATURDAY: Slept in, walked around downtown, another stop at the Tudor Guild, trip to the OREGON VORTEX, read our books by a stream, dinner at a hippie place, hanging around by the bricks and the Tudor Guild, saw Cyrano de Bergerac, slept in a tent.

SUNDAY: Went to respective churches, packed up camp, drove all day, snacked on Poptarts, gummy worms, chocolate-covered pretzels, and Special K Granola Bars.

How's that for the Reader's Digest version, eh?

And now I'm back in Astoria. It's good to be home and I'm sad that I won't be here for much longer. I am excited to get back to school, though. I'm hoping for a stellar year.

In other news, I finally got a flickr account. I have seen the light and am now converted. I love it. Better than Photobucket. You can see photos of Ashland that I posted just today:



And, I'm sure britta will be posting hers here when she gets around to it. She's got lots of good ones, including the gems from the Oregon Vortex. Don't miss 'em.

being home

I was going to blog last week about going to Portland to surprise my friend Jessi (whom I had not seen since Christmas) at the airport. She spent several weeks in North Carolina for a stage combat program. But, I couldn't blog about it because it was a surprise. So, there ya go. I met Tim, we surprised her, she was surprised, we went back to the Hotcake House, and good times were had by all.

britta posted some pictures of the event on her blog.