Orey-gone!
Got back late Monday night from my trip to Oregon. It was fun!
The field across from the house.At the last minute things played out so that Liz could come too, which made it all more fun. We stayed at my old house where Ryan, Danny, Roland and Orlo now live. The house is at the end of this rickety, poorly paved one-lane street maybe 2 or 3 miles off of campus. Across the road from the house is a giant green field, and past the field is a small wooded area. All the green and nature made my poor little Griffith Park seem sort of shabby by comparison. The hill you have to go up to get to the narrow road is steeper than I remembered. No wonder I was in such good shape when I lived there.
Being back in the house evoked a lot of interesting feelings. Its where I was when I started dealing with ... lets say, my issues. The hill especially, and also the deck overlooking the woods are especially fused in my memory as little sanctuaries that helped me through it all. Interesting to be back and to be so changed and to be past all of that.
Our first full day, Thursday, was very relaxed. Took our time getting ready and then Cory arrived in time to go with us down to campus. We went to Maple Garden, then Espresso Roma and then started hitting all the spots on campus. We visited Media Services where Liz used to work and took pictures of the dorm building that Cory and I lived in. Ryan, Roland and my sister gradually showed up to join us. Then we all went out for beers at a new place in town called the Beerstein .. they had an awesome selection. Definitely made me feel like I was back in Oregon. Then I went to my sister's apartment for a barbecue with my parents. I hadn't seen them in a really long time, and it was fun.
Post-grad celebration. Left to right: Emily, Roland, Maverik the Great Dane, my Dad, my Mom, Danny, Me + extra large margarita, Back of coryp 's head. Photo by faekeeper
Friday was graduation. My sister has now officially graduated before me. I am lame.
Saturday we overslept and then went to Saturday Market. Awesome hippy-fest. Man I love Eugene, but I have to say, the drum circle seemed pretty pathetic compared to the one on Venice Beach. Then Danny made a gigantic dinner for everybody and did some firedancing for us.
Sunday was the kick-around day. We capped it off by doing some pen n' paper RPGing. Iron Kingdoms to be specific. It wouldn't be a visit to Oregon without some geekness now would it?
Not only does he cook... Photo by coryp In the end, I did find myself missing LA a little. i love my job, and I feel productive here. I feel like I can make things happen, like the sorts of people that I can meet are ever-changing, like I can grow and discover new things. Eugene feels like home in a way my "home town" never ever will. I love it, and the friends I have there make me feel a little pang of sadness, because the friendships I've made since then have been so superficial in comparison to the deep bonds I forged in Eugene. But it feels like a place whose time has passed for me. I love visiting and will always love visiting ... but I live in LA now.
EDIT -- more photos added. All photos by me
At Saturday Market: Emily, Ryan, Roland, Cory, Liz
The front of coryp as requested by garneyloom
Ryan squinting
Dan smiling, cuz when is he not?
Liz playing with Poi at Saturday Market
The field across from the house.At the last minute things played out so that Liz could come too, which made it all more fun. We stayed at my old house where Ryan, Danny, Roland and Orlo now live. The house is at the end of this rickety, poorly paved one-lane street maybe 2 or 3 miles off of campus. Across the road from the house is a giant green field, and past the field is a small wooded area. All the green and nature made my poor little Griffith Park seem sort of shabby by comparison. The hill you have to go up to get to the narrow road is steeper than I remembered. No wonder I was in such good shape when I lived there.
Being back in the house evoked a lot of interesting feelings. Its where I was when I started dealing with ... lets say, my issues. The hill especially, and also the deck overlooking the woods are especially fused in my memory as little sanctuaries that helped me through it all. Interesting to be back and to be so changed and to be past all of that.
Our first full day, Thursday, was very relaxed. Took our time getting ready and then Cory arrived in time to go with us down to campus. We went to Maple Garden, then Espresso Roma and then started hitting all the spots on campus. We visited Media Services where Liz used to work and took pictures of the dorm building that Cory and I lived in. Ryan, Roland and my sister gradually showed up to join us. Then we all went out for beers at a new place in town called the Beerstein .. they had an awesome selection. Definitely made me feel like I was back in Oregon. Then I went to my sister's apartment for a barbecue with my parents. I hadn't seen them in a really long time, and it was fun.
Post-grad celebration. Left to right: Emily, Roland, Maverik the Great Dane, my Dad, my Mom, Danny, Me + extra large margarita, Back of coryp 's head. Photo by faekeeper
Friday was graduation. My sister has now officially graduated before me. I am lame.
Saturday we overslept and then went to Saturday Market. Awesome hippy-fest. Man I love Eugene, but I have to say, the drum circle seemed pretty pathetic compared to the one on Venice Beach. Then Danny made a gigantic dinner for everybody and did some firedancing for us.
Sunday was the kick-around day. We capped it off by doing some pen n' paper RPGing. Iron Kingdoms to be specific. It wouldn't be a visit to Oregon without some geekness now would it?
Not only does he cook... Photo by coryp In the end, I did find myself missing LA a little. i love my job, and I feel productive here. I feel like I can make things happen, like the sorts of people that I can meet are ever-changing, like I can grow and discover new things. Eugene feels like home in a way my "home town" never ever will. I love it, and the friends I have there make me feel a little pang of sadness, because the friendships I've made since then have been so superficial in comparison to the deep bonds I forged in Eugene. But it feels like a place whose time has passed for me. I love visiting and will always love visiting ... but I live in LA now.
EDIT -- more photos added. All photos by me
At Saturday Market: Emily, Ryan, Roland, Cory, Liz
The front of coryp as requested by garneyloom
Ryan squinting
Dan smiling, cuz when is he not?
Liz playing with Poi at Saturday Market