Mt. Hood

Yes, I grew up in Oregon and yes, I know I was only a few hours away from a handful of amazing ski locations but no, up until this past December I had never been to a mountain and certainly had never been skiing/snowboarding.

In case you were wondering, no, I have also never been camping. Actually, I take that back. My first camping experience was this past summer…in Israel…in a Bedouin tent. Go figure.

Yes, now that I live in Texas I have a much greater appreciation for Oregon and all of its beauty but no, even with this newfound appreciation, I really don’t think I’ll ever be much more of an “outdoorsy” person.

All this to say, I went to Mt. Hood for the first time this past December.

Well, David went to snowboard. I guess you could say I went along for moral support. I did contemplate skiing/snowboarding for about 10 seconds, weighing the pros and cons:

Pro: It could be fun, I can say I’ve tried it, it’s good exercise

Con: I hate being cold, I have no athletic ability, my hand-eye coordination is alarmingly low in the world of athletics (minus salsa dancing), I have the upper and lower body strength of a 9 year old, I’m not the best at making split second decisions in life or death situations (scary), and my luck isn’t all that great….

Wondering which option I chose?

Well…let’s just say, I took the photo you see above from within the lodge. I was mad at myself for about 3.5 seconds for not trying, but then I reminded myself: A. Different strokes for different folks, B. You have an awesome book in your bag that you’ve been wanting to read for about 6 months now and C. If you go out there, there’s a high probability the only way you will return is via stretcher.

While at Mt. Hood, I did alot of two things: reading & people watching. I read one of Chuck Klosterman’s book. Found the content on this page to be particularly smart:

Uhhh. I think someone is tired:

On the way back, we passed a snow bank where there were people sledding and snowshoeing, so we pulled over to check it out. I don’t like dogs (I’m wildly allergic), but I thoroughly enjoyed watching dogs go down snow embankments via snow tubes. It was a challenge to decipher if the dogs really really liked or really really hated the experience. I actually think they weren’t sure themselves.

The hotel where we stayed had quite the happy hour menu. We ate well and I’m sure my galbladder hated me the entire time:

So, here’s a fun story. The quickest way to get back to our room from the restaurant was through a side entrance that went directly outside. Usually we took this exit, but on the 2nd and final night, we decided to go out the main entrance to poke around the lobby. Prior to this route change, I already had put on my 25 sweatshirts, hat, hoods and coats. As it would have taken forever (10 seconds) to disrobe, I said “forget it” and walked out the entrance toward the hotel lobby, complete with all my sweatshirts, scarves, hat, and 2 hoods. Basically, all you could see was my nose & eyes…my arms could absolutely not even come close to touching the sides of my body.

As we exited the restaurant, we passed a group of 50 something year old ladies. One took one glance at me and said to her friend, “Wow! It must really be cold in that restaurant!”. I just kept walking and after about 4 seconds of holding it in, burst out laughing. I knew I looked ridiculous, especially as a 24 year old. With this said, I’ve learned that innocent tomfoolery here and there never hurt anyone, right?

It’s COLAB Time!

To those of you looking for an internship in the advertising world, guess what? COLAB time is here again…

I participated in the inaugural 2008 group – wasn’t sure what to think going in, but it was the best six weeks I’ve spent during a summer – collaborating with some of the most forward thinking, techno-savvy, inspiring people.

Oh and plus you get to spend the summer in Portland. Which, I would have to say, it perhaps the best places in the States to spend a summer.

Anyway, COLAB asked us to create a video talking about our COLAB experience…check it out, then go apply. Now. Do it!

Some Hometown Inspiration

Like I’ve said many times before, I do love where I’m from. There’s something pretty special about Salem, Oregon, although it might not be obvious to the masses. I wouldn’t say it’s a good place for young adults, but it’s a great place to be raised. In Salem, we are lucky enough to have a huge arts community – comprising both participants and patrons.

Anyway, I had a great experience in high school, full of music and arts-related activities and peers. Some of these peers happen to be on ‘American’s Got Talent’ at the moment…so freaking neat, right? I’m so proud of and excited for them. Check out the Masseys:

Stereotyping Texans + Oregonians

Before you read on…please read the title of this post…and the following definition of stereotype…then read on and enjoy! (=

Stereotype: an exaggerated belief that can be positive or negative but generalizes without allowing for differences

So…I went out in downtown Austin / W. 6^th street for the first time last night in a long time last night. …and I realized some things. One of them…I am now able to stereo-type Texans. When I first came here a year ago, I couldn’t have done that…much less have told you which part of the state each major city was in. However…after living in this state for a year…I’ve put together some stereotypes…love this stuff. Love trying to figure out people / cultures. Check out what I’ve pieced together:

Sorority / Fraternity / Greek life person: Way different looking that Oregon Greek life people.

Girls: (anywhere other than at a bar) Nike running shorts and a Tyler’s t-shirt…if not a Tyler’s t-shirt, then some other HUGE baggy v-neck tshirt

At a bar: Generally these girls are with a large group of other similar looking girls. They are all usually wearing a ton of makeup and little dresses (I think a requirement is that they must be shorter in length than the Tyler’s tshirt they wear the other 80% of their existence). They will all generally look similar (same hair style, clutch purse, heels, etc.) You can generally find these groups of girls either crowding the dance floor or crowding the bar. You usually don’t see them in the sitting parts of bars. There are usually not guys with this group…well…guys that came with them, anyway. (;

Texas Greek life guys: Light colored jeans or kakhi shorts that fall slightly above the knee. Boat Shoes. A button up shirt or polo. Generally a pastel color. They are usually in the standing area of bars. They go out in groups, but not as large of groups as the sorority girls. They generally hit on the sorority girls who are at the bar…not so much the dancing ones (these girls are usually in the “F. guys…I just want to dance in my shoes w my girlfriends” mood and the frat. Guys know better). Fraternity guys generally don’t try to pick up girls at bars who do not fit the stereotypical sorority girl mode. Basically, what I’m saying is in the last year I’ve been here, I haven’t seen a fraternity guy try to make a move on a girl not wearing: heels, a pound of makeup, or a little dress.

Aside from Greek life, I’ve been pretty good about geographically stereotyping Texans as well. Please know that I say stereotyping. Meaning it doesn’t apply to everyone.

Dallas: Corporate. Sterile looking. Fancy. I don’t necessarily want to say closed minded…but maybe sheltered. It seems like the only people in Texas who like Dallas are people from Dallas. But these people seem to LOVE Dallas. Maybe it’s kinda like how Salem people love being from Salem, but everyone else in Oregon hates Salem. I can honestly say I haven’t met a single non-Dallas Texan who has anything good to say about Dallas…but the Dallas-ites…Dallasonians? Dallasans? Umm yeah…people from Dallas…they really like being from there. I’ve been there once…didn’t get a great vibe at all, but I’d have to spend more time up there to actually judge.

Houston: Very eclectic…but for the 4^th or so largest city in the states,there’s going to be a a lot going on. When I frst think of Houston, I think: oil money and nice museums. There are some extremely insanely wealthy areas of Houston that are literally just dripping money, probably a lot of oil money…and it’s just insane, I’ve never seen anything like it. However, there are also areas of Houston that are extremely poor and on the exact opposite spectrum of the rich Houstonians. There’s also a TON of diversity in Houston…between the oil industry and all of the hospitals, medical things there…there are a TON of people working there from all over the globe. While Dallas is corporate / stark, I’d describe Houston as perhaps business casual. Not so hoity toity like Dallas, but definitely professional looking. Black and white perhaps. Lots of khakis. Button ups. Black dresses. Heels.

Katy, Texas: The only way I can describe Katy is: ALL AMERICAN. Stereotypical suburbia. McMansions neighborhoods. I’ve made a few friends who come from Katy and are great people whom I really get along with. But man…Katy, Texas seems ALLLLL AMERICAN. Katy is a suburb of Houston and basically the way I see it…the all-American white people got freaked out by too much diversity / non white people in Houston and moved out to All-American Katy.

Austin: Ah, Austin. (= So I’ll start by saying something my friend from Katy told me. He was asking me / we were talking about what the culture / people are like from where I’m from, Portland / Oregon / Pacific Northwest. The thing he said which I never really thought of but agree with is that people from up there are very…creative / bohemian / artsy / laid back / whatever / go with the flow type people. That is kinda how people are in Austin, which I think is why I have seemed to find myself compatible with this city. However I was thinking about what Rollie had said…and never really realized that people were brought up differently. Before moving to Texas, I just kinda assumed that all people were brought up in a creative / laid back / whatever / bohemian type community, however, after moving here and understanding the lifestyle of places such as Dallas and Houston, I realized that this isn’t the case at all. He was saying that a lot of people not from Austin come to Austin and try to adapt to / adopt this type of bohemian / free spirited lifestyle, but people who are ACTUALLY from Austin, or from the NW are just kinda innately like this. (one way to tell the difference us in dress. Innately bohemian / indie people get their indie / bohemian clothes from local stores, goodwill, buffalo, make it themselves, etc. Transplant bohemian / indie ppl get the same style clothes from super expensive stores / boutiques / etc.)

ANYWAY… neither the NW / Austin way nor Dallas / Houston way is better or worse, just a different way to living. Interesting to think about as I never thought my way of being raise could be seen as different. However, after coming here and befriending people with a totally different upbringing, I’ve learned that what I consider normal and standard is anything but…and really quite subjective.

I’ve also learned that I love Oregon people. I really don’t feel like I am menat to be there right now – I am feeling like I need / want to be in Austin right now. I really really really do miss my friends and family a lot (especially now that my sister is home from London for a few months!) I miss the people and the memories…but I don’t miss / want to be there…if that makes sense. Anyway, the point is, if I had to be away from there, Austin is the place for me to be. I love the liveliness of this city…the beautiful sunshine and HUGE sky that seems to go on forever. I love the festivals and the AMAZING music scene. I love how active the city is and how people are always OUT doing things…almost reminds me of Europe / Mexico / Latin America. Oh and p.s. I of course must say I feel super lucky to be a huge fan of my job. I get to work for an amazing company and put my time and effort toward helping students study abroad. I couldn’t ask for a more rewarding job, really. However…Oregonians. We’re all just on the same page. And like I said before, perhaps it’s because it’s how we’re raised. And perhaps because we all have shared experiences and similarities that cannot be shard with anyone else around here.

Yesterday a friend I’ve gone to school with since elementary school – college was randomly in Austin for a visit…and it was great. Actually it’s funny, she is one of my sister’s best friends and a few years older than me…but something about us Oregonians…and perhaps specifically us in the South Salem / Sprague community…we’re all super close. I think we can all agree that we have this amazing community…people in my class, both plus and minus probably 3, 4 years…even if we weren’t friends in high school…we all somehow seem to find each other in totally random places and hang out…and befriend each other. I don’t know what it is but there is something special about our Sprague community that I love. Anyway, Vanessa lives in Houston but was in Austin for the weekend to meet up with some family friends from…you guessed it…Salem/Sprague! She and I went to Barton Springs for the day and caught up which was wonderful. I went out with Kaylyn + Julia that evening which hasn’t happened for MONTHS. I really do appreciate these girls though…they are from Oregon too (of course! (= haha slightly differently though as I didn’t meet them until I moved here!) However…to be honest…out of all the people I have met since I moved here one year ago, they are the only ones who I have really remained friends with. That whole revolving friends thing…I think we’re just at a point in our lives where this is the time that people are moving and doing new things…jobs, work, relationships, etc. Heck, I am right there too – I left my home / family / friends / life in Oregon one year ago to pursue my career so I’m just as much part of the nomadic stage…it’s just strange to have such nomadic acquaintances / friends when for the previous 22 years is has been just the opposite…

Anyway, this is a novel, it’s Sunday, it’s sunny, and I have a swimming pool and good book calling my name. (=

GEOCACHING!!!

So, I had some friends from Salem visiting this past week. (p.s. quick tangent…I think it’s funny how depending on where I am geographically, or who I am talking to, I’ll change the location of where I am from or where I know people from. Like…if I was talking to a Texan and just said that, I would have said my friends from Oregon or my friends from Portland. If I was in Salem, I’d say my friends from Sprague. If I was in Eugene, I’d say my friends from high school, if I was in Portland I’d say my friends from Salem…if I was in a different country…well, I’d prob. say my American friends…)

Anyway, back to my original thought…

GEOCACHING!!! Yep, that sure happened this weekend. So I spent the weekend showing Kyle + Kristin the things that make Austin so great. We went down to the trail on Town Lake and headed over toward Barton Springs. Then all of a sudden, we thought: hey, let’s find a geocache! So, I ashamed to say I didn’t go the hardcore route…i.e. I used the geocaching app. on my phone…but that’s ok, it was still a treasure hunt!

So, we ended up near the botanical garden and our clue was that is hidden near the gate.

Beautiful gate, no? So, we’re searching all around the gate for a minute or two and…DUN DUN DUN DUN!!!! I found it!!

The cache was hidden inside the bottom of a rock!

Kristin was pretty stoked:

Here’s the log that was within the cache. Looks like a ton of people have found it prior to us.

And now we are forever a part of this log. Please note the wonderful use of product placement, aka my API pen.

That night, we went to the hey cupcake! trailer. As I was waiting, I looked to see if there were any caches around. Low and behold, there was one .14 miles away! So off Kyle and I went…

Our clue was that it was in a busy location and it was in a 2 lb. peanut butter jar. We walked up and down a 1 block area at least 4 or 5 times…where could it be….where could it be?!

…then, Kyle stuck his hand down this hole (!!!). IT WAS THERE!

This was by far the better cache I think – and thank god KS was there, as there’s no way in hell I would have put my hand in there! (or thought to do so either!)

This cache had a log AND treasures! We each took a treasure and put one in for the next cachers.

Here’s what I took. So freaking awesome. And look at the guy in the middle with the creeper ‘stache.

“JEWbacca”?? excellent. (;