On the blog again

Much has happened since I last wrote.

I drove the Oregon Trail, made some yard sale cash, saw friendly faces, and made some trouble here in K.C.

Before driving out from Poulsbo, my brother, his wife, and I had a yard sale. Lessons were learned and I will have to remember, Saturday is the most lucrative day. My brother took most of my money on Sunday as "dues" so I left early to pack for my trip.

Sunday night my good friend Tami and I met up for some navy bar escapades and in the early morn, my mom and I left for Kansas City.

Monday, August 24th
One month since the day I left Kansas City, I left Poulsbo. Monday I was sick from allergies and so I didn't drive much. The drive was the same one we took in May - Poulsbo to Bozeman. The Motel 8 had Golden Girls and I fell asleep watching them.

Tuesday, August 25
Bozeman, MT to Scott's Bluff, NE. The drive was much shorter. This time instead of crossing into the Dakotas, our trek took us south into Wyoming and from there into Nebraska. We met the Oregon Trail at Fort Laramie near the Nebraska border and followed it to our day's destination at Scott's Bluff.

We weren't purposely tracing the trail, but today's modern-day highway follows it because of the natural ease of the land - the very reason pioneers chose the route. Although coincidental, the historical part of it was the most exciting part about our trip.

In Fort Laramie, the rain was pouring hard enough we were unable look at the site (no umbrellas) although I did strike up enough courage to hike a short distance to Oregon Trail tracks that had been cut into solid rock. A mile or so away was Register Cliff, a cliff face (go figure) that contained the signatures of thousands in its side. There were many from the 1800's (the earliest I saw was from 1820), although sadly I saw one carved as recently as 2005. Near the tracks I found a very faded, but distinguishable signature from JR - 1888 next to a much larger and legible Sam and Peggy - 1979.

"The sandstone rocks near Guernsey .... Here, the trail ruts are not to be missed since they are carved into the stone. Some gouges are more than four feet deep! These deep ruts result from years of wagon wear and from intentional cutting by emigrants attempting to ease the steep passage up from the level river bottom to the High Plains. .... A short drive from the trail ruts back through Guernsey takes visitors to Register Cliff, .... Following a day’s journey from Fort Laramie, emigrants spent the night at Register Cliff and inscribed their names into the rock face. The earliest signatures date to the late 1820s when trappers and fur traders passed through the area, but most of the names visible today were carved during the 1840s and 1850s when the Oregon Trail was at its height. Today, visitors can walk along the cliff base to view the signatures up close."

Wednesday, August 26th
We started the day at Scott's Bluff National Monument. The fog was so thick nothing could be seen until we were upon it. Then the fog cleared to reveal a bright blue sky with the fog cloud hovering inbetween the towering rock formations of the bluff. It was awe inspiring to stand there were at one point a good 150 thousand plus people traveled through to the west. We walked the tracks from a few yards and then were on our way.

The second stop of the day was at Chimney Rock - another monument on the Oregon Trail. We arrived as the museum opened. I was surprised to find out that Chimney Rock is significantly shorter than it was when the pioneers rode by - I'd say maybe even 50 - 60 feet shorter.

We didn't stop at Courthouse Rock, but did at a Pony Express station. After said Station we booked it across the rest of Nebraska to Lincoln and from there to Kansas City. We arrived late in the night and rose again early to take my mom to the airport.

Thursday, August 27th, I slept. Oh, and started Travels with Charley

Friday, August 28th
I met Halliday and we went to a basement show where I oddly enough ran into a new hiree at Hammerpress. Eric, was hired to run the larger automatic platen presses by Brady and it is he who vies for my hours. I crushed him and then laughed at his remains. No not really, we laughed about our meeting and had a good time. He might come to the show on Tuesday at the Pistol.

Speaking of the Pistol. I should be cleaning it right now. Joe has lived here more or less alone for a month and it looks it. I need some air fresheners too. Uriah is moving out with his girlfriend Jenny. Lame.

On the road again...soon.

Back to Washington.

My stay in Portland is hours from being over. I'm ready to go back to Kansas City, but things are looking like they'll be different than I planned.

*** No KCAI. I'm going to be doing an independent study with Martin French instead. I'll be taking the class I was going to be taking originally (Illustration Visual Vocabulary - Wednesdays @ 11) but online, instead of in person. Since I've taken the class before, it is a chance to stretch my wings and see if I can't take the ground running this time around.

*** More working. Two jobs, at least. Hammerpress will be one, but according to an email I received today, it looks as though Brady may not be able to pay me for as many days as I was anticipating. Halliday works at a teashop where the work is easy and when it isn't busy, I would be able to work on my own projects. Only down point is; would they take me from 6 to ten? Halliday goes in at 3.

Option number two is the infamous Lulu's, where I understand the manager stinks to high heaven, but Uriah worked from 6pm to ten or eleven, so I imagine I could too - bonus, it is located about a block away from Hammerpress.

Option three is Grinders, a bar/greasy spoon also not far from Hammerpress.

I'm sure there are more, most of which include food service, but I will have to see what they pay to better ascertain how many I will have to take on. I've wanted to work as a bartender, maybe now is a good time to try it out.

Things I've got to do when I get back:

1. FIX BIKE! No more squeakage. I want to be able to ride it to work and I will annoy the shit out of myself if it squeaks all the way there.

2. Find job - no more than two week time span for this

3. Reestablish myself at Manny's. 

4. Create poster for Pistol show - no more than two week time span for this

5. Check out the arts INKubator and make sure my stuff hasn't been thrown out

6. Eat either Mayan Tostada or North African plate at YJ's 

7. Find local doctor

odds and ends.

More printing today, and appointments. Getting everything settled for going back to KC.

Communication. I have issues with listening, and I have issues with responding. Why? I'm honestly a bit embarrassed to be confronted by them, but confront them I must. I've had this issue since I was 18, or well that was the first time it was pointed out to me. Damn, that's five years and I only feel slightly better than then.

New motto. Sit down and shut up. Mostly shut up. Stop opening your big mouth and hear what it is people have to say. Better to say too little and have your words respected than say too much and have them ignored.

I feel a little lost. I don't feel like I'm home in Portland, and Kansas City seems a little empty. Hammerpress will be great and I know I'll get along fine again, but man, I sure wish I had that person to talk to.

update

Currently I am sitting with Diana, Trillian and Phil, waiting for Tabitha. Everyone has dug through my pile of Hammerpress goodies. I'm pretty confident they liked what they found. I missed hanging out with these folks :) We're talking about Stumptown plans and excellent plans they are.

Earlier today Phil caught me feeding my houseplant addiction. Maybe I need help...

Relaxation and printing meditation

Yesterday was a combination letterpress and reading day.

Also with a dash of homemade dinner thrown in for good measure for Diana and Robin. They have been excellent hosts. Robin made me breakfast this morning - french cinnamon toast!

After dinner we watched Roman Holiday with JP. He mentioned going over to his place to watch it, and since he lives in my old apt, I'm not quite sure I would have liked that. At the start of dinner I felt odd with him there, but I loosened up, since it is silly to harbor feelings against him. JP didn't not rehire me, or stress me out to the point of tears, or boot me from my home. He is just the guy who took my place, and that really isn't his fault.

Today is more printing, and then maybe scratch board? Or illicitly reading a book without buying it in Powell's.

More Portland

Not having a home to distract me has been surprisingly refreshing.

There is nowhere to sleep until noon, nothing to straighten or clean, and no computer to sit endlessly in front of.

The only option I have for computers is Robin or Diana's (whose I don't want to abuse) or the ones at school. I have little to do other than my art all day because I am flat broke. In response, I have been slightly productive.

Yesterday Diana and I walked to breakfast where we met up with Robin. Walking home we explored some interesting hat shops and after we rested in their apartment until 3:30, at which point they had a meeting at school to attend. I busied myself with printing.

I worked on my sister's baby shower invite until the school closed. I wowed some folks with my new letterpress skillz and I think I started a new trend of turning wooden type upside down for the texture. We shall see how it jumps off.

At closing time, seven, Robin and I had some burritos and walked up to 23rd for some cake. We were going to take it to the park but realized we were more tired than we'd previously thought. Instead we sat down to watch Saving Grace.

Post movie, I promptly passed out.

Three things: 1. I got a comment that I looked nicely tan -go figure! 2. Printing raised my mood 100%, I feel very much relaxed when working with the press. 3. It is nice to see one's friends again.

Oh! did I mention Rick Steve's Europe is on Hulu ?!?!

P-town bound

Well, my spirits are recuperating.

Yesterday was spent twiddling my thumbs and passing time until my turn in the print lab came to be. I updated my online projects and caught up on Stephen Colbert, as well as went to see Harry Potter and the Search for More Money. I wasn't impressed and as usual the acting didn't live up to my standards. Maybe I am a Harry Potter snob, but if that is the case I should learn my lesson and have seen Public Enemy instead. Ah well, can't go back.

The movie ended in time for me to get some prep work in the print lab finished before the school closed. I left to wander the hallowed grounds of Powell's for a half an hour, until I realized I didn't have the money to spend on the book I wanted (a guide book to Northern Cali).

I showed up at Diana's and Robins at the pre-agreed ten o'clock and we talked for a few hours until I passed out on the couch.

Pecos Bill

These are some scratchboard images for my Pecos Bill zine.