I don't really have anything to say. I've been busy with school and work lately. I'm getting sick of Portland's weather already but at the same time I'm excited for the rain. Sometimes I think I just need to start over.

Some Things

Yesterday I had a conversation that made me realize a lot of things about myself that I usually try to ignore. It was a really good thing and I'm grateful that I had it, even if it wasn't the happiest. Sometimes you just need someone else to say the right things before you really see the whole thing.


The weather here is awful; it's freezing and wet out. Well, it isn't wet here in Portland, but it was quite rainy the entire drive from Bend back to Portland. Last weekend though we got some really nice, warm weather and I went up to my dad's for the day, that's where these pictures are from. I'm going to pick up a couple of rolls of film tomorrow. I don't know what's on them, I have a pretty big pile of film to get developed so it could be anything. I am pretty sure that one of them might have some pictures from my trip to the coast a while ago (as in February-ish), but I might be wrong. It's an exciting surprise.

Spring

First off, some nerdy camera stuff, if you don't want to hear about it I suggest you go to the next paragraph... Anyone notice how much less noise these have than other pictures I've taken recently? I do... mostly because I know why that is. I realized tonight that my camera was set on the highest iso possible... oops! This just shows that I should really pay attention to ALL the settings when I take a photo. Anyway, that's that.

Ok, not nerdy camera stuff: I know that this year is El Nino, I can even explain what causes it (thanks to a not-so-great class presentation earlier this week), but I just can't stand that spring is here. I feel like winter never happened. I think it's mostly because I wanted tons and tons of snow this year for winter and I never really got it. It's too bad I haven't been on the east coast lately, I would have been ecstatic with all that snow. Nonetheless, I still like flowers and if I get to see flowers more this year than usual, I guess that's ok. I picked these ones tonight on the way back from the pool.

Yearning

Autumn has officially arrived, but I'm still yearning for winter snows. I want some big cosy scarves and warm hats and wool jackets, but I don't want to be too warm with all of these things. Right now that is where it is.

I talk about the weather entirely too often.

Finished

Well, time is ticking and autumn is finally coming. Or so I thought for a little while there, the last few days the weather has been hot, hot, hot. And then today, there were thunderstorms and rain all day. Not that I wasn't happy to see some rain (wait and see if I'll be saying that in a few months). I worked for the last time this summer tonight, it was fun, and I'll definately miss the free candy. But, I need to eat less candy anyway. This week I am going to spend my time doing laundry, packing up the last of my stuff for Portland, painting an old dresser (no more bright pink or flowers everywhere, hooray!) and spending time just having fun. Hopefully the weather will cool off a bit, I like those perfect in-between days where you don't need a jacket but you aren't frying like an egg on a hot sidewalk (you can actually do that, I tried it once. I didn't eat the egg though, and I wouldn't recommend it if you decide to fry one, it just isn't sanitary).

Toast

I am itching to get into some autumn-worthy clothes. I think that because autumn is my favorite of all seasons I have, unwittingly based most of my wardrobe on autumn weather. It is frustrating that the weather has been cooler lately but not cool enough to pull out some boots, a light scarf, and a sweater. That is what I am dreaming of. And this post on Unruly Things today has got me itching to go and buy most of the Early Fall collection from Toast. Don't they just have lovely things? It's all full of patterns and stripes and boots and oxfords and trousers and cozy sweaters and buttons and jackets and trousers and leather bags and nice belts and yumminess. Or at least that all says yumminess to me, just add a few ruffles and I would be in heaven. Oh dear, I really need the weather to turn just a little bit colder in a couple of weeks, but not for this weekend, cold weather and camping would be disasterous, or just lots of fun minus some possible swimming. Probably the second one. And now I need to stop looking at yummy clothing and go to sleep, before the idea of toast starves me anymore. ( I actually have become literally hungry)

Macarons

This is my version of what I was talking about yesterday... they are amazingly delicious, and some don't look all that bad... perhaps, with some training, I could become a French pastry chef after all.... Not that I have any desire to do that right now, but it is good to know I have that option.

I don't think anything else I say is going to have anything to do with macarons, do I ever really stay on subject on here? This is sad, I'm asking myself questions and answering them. I think I need to sleep... there are lots of signs right now that I need to, like that my eyes can't completely focus on my computer screen or that anything I try to read does not remain in my mind.

There are a few things that I wanted to talk about, but I don't remember them right now... Can you tell I'm tired? I'm afraid this is going to be a very stupid sounding post... oh well. Earlier tonight, probably because it was 80 out still when I was riding my bike home from work at 10:30, I had a strange desire to go swimming (or really, skinny dipping, oh so scandalous, I know). Unfortunately this isn't really an option right now. I also really want to go camping, darn it! I am also really glad that I am currently spending my time in what is technically a desert (so there is no humidity to make the heat even worse) and also missing the horrible heat wave hitting Portland right now.

I think the final thing I have to say is: Who calls someone Moose? That is so random. I am so horribly random when I'm tired. I'm going to sleep.

Film

I apologize for the large number of pictures today (in case you haven't noticed, I have a problem with over-apologizing). I finally got some film that I shot over the winter and spring in Portland, developed. However, I took them somewhere that I do not normally go to and a lot of them turned out with really strange colors, I am planning on getting those ones re-printed so they are what they should actually look like. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them, they definately give off a wintery-cold vibe, to me, I think it's the lighting, so they aren't something that really show anything about today, but I went without my camera today and I must say, I did enjoy it a little bit, but that was because I was busy floating down the river. Ok, that is enough for tonight, I should be heading to bed.

Storms

Portland has decided that summer is not yet to come to us. I am all right with that though, the heat that we've had the past few weeks has worn me out, and it is strange to me that the nights are so warm, I miss having to wear a coat if you go out at night, but that is just because I am used to it.

As I was sitting here looking at the grey weather today and thinking about how to celebrate being finished with my classes for the year (hooray!), I decided to do some sewing. Because I don't have my sewing machine here in Portland, I have been making handkerchiefs and, even a pillow, by hand this year. I decided that I would share my sewing box with you. I know it isn't all that interesting, but it makes me happy to see the things that I've collected over the years being put to good use.

All the boxes and buttons, fabric pieces and threads in this box have a story of some sort behind them.

As for the photo of the city... I like the idea of the city being all mapped out in such a careful way.

Have a good Friday!