(no subject)
I started my first job in Olympia on Friday. I am a temp preparing medical documents and legal paperwork for scanning. Analog to digital, the end of mountains of ancient records, the beginning of an electronic digital idea. I wonder what happens to all the paper after it's been rid of stickynotes, staples and paperclips and then scanned? I will have to ask if it's being recycled.
I am happy to be working now, even though my job is extremely boring and tedious. If Rob can find a job quickly then we will be able to save up and move into our own place (or, more likely, sublet a room or basement). What a relief that things seem to be working out on this end. I was feeling pretty depressed for a few days, scared that things were going wrong and that despite me working hard and being active in my own life, nothing was happening. I've been here for three weeks now and am pretty happy with the pace, now that I'm working again. I'm going to be looking for employment elsewhere while I continue to work at this temp place.
I love downtown Olympia. The shops are wonderful: quirky cafes, a yarn shop, a sewing studio, Radiance Herbs and Massage (which happens to be the best herb shop I've ever found), multiple tattoo and body piercing places, great restaurants, independent and used bookstores, and friendly people everywhere. There are of course the requisite crackheads too: our first day in downtown we witnessed a noisy but slow-motion fistfight between two men. The attacker was upset because the slower gentleman had just tried to sell him a jar of rock salt as crack. This caused much amusement and catcalling among the shopkeepers across the street, who had come outside just to witness the confrontation. No one was hurt; I think these guys were too wasted to even connect most punches, let alone hit hard.
The bus system here rocks my world. It's only $0.75 one way or $1.50 for a day pass, and students ride free. The buses are powered by BioDiesel and the drivers are super-friendly and helpful. There's a customer service center at the Olympia Transit Center downtown where you can go inside and warm up in the office, make use of their change machine or restroom and have one of the friendly customer service agents help you plan out your route to wherever you need to go.
We meet people everywhere we go. Last night we were riding back home and met with a girl carrying a plate of vegan sushi. She was going to an art opening at Evergreen's library: "The Printed Word". We followed her and enjoyed ourselves immensely, looking at art at all talent levels, all meanings and mediums. My favorite piece was a tapestry of hand-dyed cotton that had been quilted into an incredibly intricate portrait of a nude woman. Around her was quilted a beautiful poem, and inside her body were intricate swirls and paisley designs. It was amazing. We met many wonderful people, including a woman who makes her own clothing, is a former teacher at the school beginning her own school for disadvantaged children including art therapy and old skills like spinning, weaving, etc. We exchanged numbers with her; she seemed excited to meet us too with our interests and skills. Rob was hoping to find a teaching position where he could use his art and his experience with teaching art to children.
Then, walking home across the Evergreen campus, there was some hanky-panky in a foggy soccer field out in the moonlight. Yay.
I'm increasingly glad that we came here. I still have much to accomplish, but I think I am doing pretty well.
Love,
Rowan
I am happy to be working now, even though my job is extremely boring and tedious. If Rob can find a job quickly then we will be able to save up and move into our own place (or, more likely, sublet a room or basement). What a relief that things seem to be working out on this end. I was feeling pretty depressed for a few days, scared that things were going wrong and that despite me working hard and being active in my own life, nothing was happening. I've been here for three weeks now and am pretty happy with the pace, now that I'm working again. I'm going to be looking for employment elsewhere while I continue to work at this temp place.
I love downtown Olympia. The shops are wonderful: quirky cafes, a yarn shop, a sewing studio, Radiance Herbs and Massage (which happens to be the best herb shop I've ever found), multiple tattoo and body piercing places, great restaurants, independent and used bookstores, and friendly people everywhere. There are of course the requisite crackheads too: our first day in downtown we witnessed a noisy but slow-motion fistfight between two men. The attacker was upset because the slower gentleman had just tried to sell him a jar of rock salt as crack. This caused much amusement and catcalling among the shopkeepers across the street, who had come outside just to witness the confrontation. No one was hurt; I think these guys were too wasted to even connect most punches, let alone hit hard.
The bus system here rocks my world. It's only $0.75 one way or $1.50 for a day pass, and students ride free. The buses are powered by BioDiesel and the drivers are super-friendly and helpful. There's a customer service center at the Olympia Transit Center downtown where you can go inside and warm up in the office, make use of their change machine or restroom and have one of the friendly customer service agents help you plan out your route to wherever you need to go.
We meet people everywhere we go. Last night we were riding back home and met with a girl carrying a plate of vegan sushi. She was going to an art opening at Evergreen's library: "The Printed Word". We followed her and enjoyed ourselves immensely, looking at art at all talent levels, all meanings and mediums. My favorite piece was a tapestry of hand-dyed cotton that had been quilted into an incredibly intricate portrait of a nude woman. Around her was quilted a beautiful poem, and inside her body were intricate swirls and paisley designs. It was amazing. We met many wonderful people, including a woman who makes her own clothing, is a former teacher at the school beginning her own school for disadvantaged children including art therapy and old skills like spinning, weaving, etc. We exchanged numbers with her; she seemed excited to meet us too with our interests and skills. Rob was hoping to find a teaching position where he could use his art and his experience with teaching art to children.
Then, walking home across the Evergreen campus, there was some hanky-panky in a foggy soccer field out in the moonlight. Yay.
I'm increasingly glad that we came here. I still have much to accomplish, but I think I am doing pretty well.
Love,
Rowan