Practice computer stuff :)

Growing bacteria!

Are you new here?

Today at seminar (all about the Lake Missoula floods ~12,000 ya) this man sat next to me who I have seen at every seminar I have gone to and all over Hatfield. When he settled into his seat he turned to me said 'hello' then introduced himself and asked me if I was new. Fuck. No man, I've been at Hatfield for a year, I've seen you on almost a weekly basis. Its cool you don't know my name but a little face recognition would be sweet. This just got me to thinking how many more people there are at Hatfield that don't know me. Too bad for them, Im leaving in mere months.

In other news, today was my first sand vball of the season. I didn't do as awful as I expected but I know there is room for improvement. The goal of the season is to never play on a certain persons team. If I can accomplish this, anything is possible...

Book: The Broom of the System, David Foster Wallace
Music: Spring Awakening, OBC
Forecast: Ollala's flat waters are calling

A summer of more geographically extended adventure

I'll assume you're reading this because that really intriguing title caught your eye. This is actually the working title for the book I am going to write over the next few months documenting my second summer on the Oregon Coast. I will of course credit my friend Matt with the title, but he did give full rights (I think). The book serves two purposes: 1) to allow fellow members of Team Newport who have moved on to bigger and better things to know that although they are missed the fun will always await them and 2) to accurately record all my adventure on the rivers and forests of Oregon.
Just this past day I purchased a wetsuit to surf the waves and a canoe to paddle the great rivers. Even though my stomach is currently in knots about the amount of money I just spent, I know it will be worth it.

A special shout out to the most recent member lost from T.N. Jen. I-23!

Book: The Broom of the System, David Foster Wallace
Music: She & Him, Volume Two
Forecast: Shredding and boofing

B-I-N-G-O!

When you finally decide to visit Newport this fall/winter don't bother coming on the weekends, they're dead here.  Instead, get here on Thursday night for Bingo at the Rogue Bayfront.  I'm not kidding people it's ballin.  Jen and I went and my vball friend Aldis joined us just in time.  

As a quick summary, in every game played, either Jen or I or BOTH of us were in the top 4 finishers.  The fist game got a  little ugly.  We both called BINGO at the same time (she insists she was first..) which put us and 2 other gentlemen into the challenge round.  Challenge: fill up 4 frisbees with delicious Rogue Ale then have each contestant drink the beer (no hands!) then FLIP THE FRISBEE (no hands!) to see who wins.  And go!  Jen beat me by a good 5-10sec but neither of us came in first or last!  Anyway, free frisbee!

A few more games happen, Jen keeps winning, I tell a joke and get a prize, Jen wins again and plays Wii bowling...

As for the Bingo caller Chris, well, he is amazing!  Lots of jokes, keeps the games rolling, and gets a lot of participation out of the crowd.  For instance, when calling certain numbers ie G45 there is a sort of 'call and response.'  Here is what I can remember:

Thank Heaven it's B9!

Everyone's favorite vitamin:  B12

I am nailing a girls that's 25. It' I25

G47 GLORYHOLE

I26 Hoo-rah!

It's one short of a good time O68

Everyone's favorite number: O69

Last number on the board: O75

I know there are others but Ive only gone once.   Ill let you know what they are when I'm more experienced:) 

And then for the greatest finale ever I won blackout!  Which, I didnt really know what it was till Aldis and Jen told me.  I won a lovely grey sweatshirt with the Rogue logo on the front.  Classic. 

24 Hours of Cold

We needed larvae and the rocky intertidal had them.  Last night me, my roommate Jen, my boss Dafne, and her friend Asko braved the Oregon Coast night and went to Yachats at 4:00am to collect barnacles.  All was fun and sand until a not so rogue wave came up and almost drowned us!  Not really, but I was wet from waist down for the rest of the night.  Neither Jen nor I have warmed up since and I left my fleece pants at the house Im cat sitting.  Sad bananas.  

In other news, Jen and I journeyed inland to Corvallis this past weekend to see some Husky volleyball.  We met up with some former Hatfield friends (more like current frie

nds formerly of Hatfield).  We left Newport post-Symphony (so fun) on Saturday night and made it just in time to hit up the OSU marching band post-game party.  It was a really hoot, especially the dance party in the garage.  Oh to be 21 again...  Sunday in C-town was uncomfortably hot for me, I was sweating balls.  Seriously.  Brian was limping around in the heat (did you know he hurt his ankle post Keiko statue fall?) but somehow led us to cheap and delicious beer and pizza.  Overall, two enthusiastic Husky thumbs up for the trip east.  It shall happen again. 

In the most important news, Im staying in Newport until at least mid-December now.   Dafne got an extension for her time at Hatfield and I am needed, obviously.  Ill be cutting down on hours but it will be fine.  I can study for the GRE Subject Bio test and write extremely provocative letters of intent to schools...

Music: NPR All Songs Considered podcasts

Book:  White Tiger Aravind Adiga

Forcast:  Tsunami approaching and hopefully chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels. 

Lies.

The most terrible thing about Newport is the coming and going of so many wonderful people whose last thing they ever say to me is, "I'll be back to visit."

Lies.  

People always say they will be back to visit and they never do.  I'm sure I will never see one single student I met this summer in the Hatfield dorms (except my roommate Claudia, she lives in Brazil now and I will go there to visit...not a lie).  The latest perpetrator of this crime is my friend Brian who is moving to Corvallis to start Grad School at OSU.  It's less than an hour drive, which by Newport standards is super close, but really, I don't believe him or anyone any more.  I'll keep you updated if he negates my theory...

In other news I still have no idea what Im going to do on November 1, 2009.  Shoot. 

Also, I'll be house sitting starting at the end of this week.  Woot. 

Music:  Lady Gaga The Fame

Book: Gaile Parkin Baking Cakes in Kigali 

Forecast: There will be goodbyes :(

One Step Closer to Being Martha

Work for me didn't start until 11am today (!)  which meant only one thing, morning baking session.  

Sidenote:  Baking is exponentially better than cooking for many reasons 1) it's easier to share cupcakes with coworkers than a chicken pot pie 2) a kitchen is always more likely to be stocked with flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract (these ingredients can make any number of things) than with all the bizarre spices and meat you need to cook 3) there is a reason it's a 'cake walk' and not a 'lemon grass chicken' walk

For today's cupcakes I followed Martha's vanilla cupcake recipe and her adorable idea of a seastar cupcake.  Instead of marzipan I substituted some purple and orange pre-made gel and I accidentally poured a bit of maple extract in the frosting which actually went nicely with the grahm cracker sand:)  

Music:  Matt Nathanson Unknown

Book:  Gaile Parkin Baking Cakes in Kigali

Forecast:  Alhoa shirts for miles and miles