A Dream

Last night I had a slightly varying repetition of this dream where half of my teeth fell out overnight. Or, more accurately, got loose or mushy and orange, over night and fell out when I got up.
In one of the dreams, I was a character in Gray's Anatomy. I do not even like that show, nor do I watch it.
In another, there was two of Josh.
Every scenario was disgusting and upsetting.
I was pretty happy to wake up for real, brush my teeth, and find them all there. But all day I keep feeling my teeth, just to make sure.

Medieval Portland Projects

2 weeks into my summer session, I finally have both my objects. I am now ready for research. So far, I have not decided what I will be writing on. With bibliographies due next week, and full drafts a week and a half after that, I am feeling the pressure. I think once I have some books to look at I'll be able to dive right in.
My first object, "Leaf from an Italian manuscript: Palm Sunday processional" (Florence, Italy, 15th century), was a bit of a surprise and set me a tad nervous for the class.
My second, "Female Martyred Saint", which I had the pleasure of making a trip to the Portland Art Museum to view, looks much less intimidating.
We'll see what I come up with.

Running and Roses

Running through my neighborhood is so pleasant this time of year. Roses are everywhere. There are two houses in particular that have incredible gardens - I look forward to running past them most.
These roses are not in my neighborhood. They are across the street from the Portland Art Museum. I walked past them on the way from PSU to the Central Library on thursday.
They smell so nice.

Weekend Adventures

Saturday morning Alyssa and I set off to scour the metro area for "treasures" (wedding decorations and household items at estate sales). We shared a pint of frensh, Hood strawberries and sauntered through rows of antique dishes, old clothes and various kitch. Alyssa was drawn to old dictionaries and decanters while I gravitated toward lamps and old prints. It was quite lovely. We laughed at odd junk and wondered at the amount of dishes people accumulate over a lifetime.
Our great finds of the weekend included a small sofa bed, 2 ceramic bowls, a large antique milk container, 3 glass vase-type items, a dictionary from 1950, a large bookshelf, and two vintage chairs that need a little love.
Now all we need is an apartment...

It's Official

Usually the last day of school announces the arrival of summer. The last day of school came early this year for me, and, while I was in South Carolina, it was summer. But then I came back to the North West and it was sort of Spring again; I became confused and wondered how I would know when summer arrived.
I am pleased to announce that summer arrived yesterday.
I realized what it was I had been waiting for - why summer wasn't quite here. Josh and I had a little time to kill downtown yesterday, so we wandered into Central Library. I came out with a stack of books, large enough to make Josh laugh, and heavy enough for me to pass them off to him.
So I have my Summer Reading List, and summer can now really begin. (Note: this list may grow.)

Tar Baby, by Toni Morrison
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
The Pearl, by John Steinbeck
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, by Umberto Eco
When We Were Orphans, by Kazuo Ishiguro

I also know it's summer because I was hot when I ran in shorts at 9:30 this morning.

Summer School

I just got back from my first Summer class. I think it's probably the best Capstone for my major and interests, which makes the whole Summer school less tragic (in the Tom Sawyer sort of way).
But when six weeks of libraries, art collections, in depth research, and two papers with presentations is sounding fun, it does make me start to question my sanity. My professor summed it up when she made a certain disclaimer about the class:. "Some people aren't really sure what to expect when they sign up for this class... it is really geeky. So if this class just isn't for you, please, I won't be offended, just let me know in the next two days." Sometimes I forget how geeky art history actually is. Particularly Medieval art history. Also, when my prof was explaining about how we will need to know terms, styles of text, and how to correctly identify and group styles and regions of manuscripts and so on - to remind us how much research we will need to do - she said, "Most of us don't go around with that kind of knowledge in our heads. I mean, if you do, well then great - welcome home! This is the place for you!" And I realized that I do know a lot of regional styles, contextual matter and a fair amount of terms.
Geek heaven, I'm coming home!

Portland-ness

This has been such a Portland day. The weekend was also quite Portland-y. And I guess since we've returned it's really been a week just oozing with Portland.
We came home and then promptly ran by the Buffalo Exchange on Hawthorn, to be met with a store full of emo hipster wanabes, bad parking, and the need for sweatshirts.
The weekend brought the Rose Festival festivities, a BBQ with Temple friends, and more rain.
Today, a party cloudy Monday, we wandered on a wild goose chase around Portland State including groups of Asians, Chipotle, labyrinths of construction, walking for blocks to canceled appointments, a guy guy singing to himself, and multiple anti-Bush sticker - how more typical a day at Portland State day can you find. It was not bad at all however, as it didn't rain, someone knocked on my window as I was pulling into my (perfectly manouvered parallel) parking spot and gave me their 3 hour parking sticker, and we got a coupon for free Starbucks!
We take that as a welcome home from the North West.

Apartment Browsing

For the Portlanders,
Alli and I have done some apartment browsing and have a few promising locations. Which of these do you like best. Vote!

1. Zachary Taylor
   
2. Powell Heights
3. Creston Park

Graduation

Well, we made it back to Portland! We haven't loaded the pictures we took on the road yet, so here are a few from before we left, at Emily's graduation. Congrats little sister!