B is for bands, of which I have a new favorite one! Macandtuna took me to see Umphrey's Mcgee on friday night. sljkfsd. THEY WERE AMAZING.

B is for bitches, of which I have had relatively few in my life recently, unless you count the fieeeeerce ones, aww yeah, and you know I do.

B is for boat which I'm ON MOTHAFUCKA, but really, I'll stop dicking around and get to the point.

B is for boyfriend!

Yes, you heard right.

I have been preaching the "Dude, just chill out and be whatever you are" philosophy to a number of people who can't seem to be happy with themselves. So really, I decided to do that myself. Consequently, my eye was caught by a wonderful boy with floppy black hair and nice hands.

We have text conversations in haiku. Is that not awesome? Because I thought it was awesome.

Anyway, it's all very sweet and awkward between us right now, and I'm in no rush. Boys are a totally different beast than chikadees.

~Alys

I just had some killa pb&j

Aww yeah.

Word out.

Guys, I have been soooo lax about checking my livejournal.

So, life. I'm having fun. Starting to try and eat properly. Exercising a lot. Reading a lot. I figured out that the Crucible is still my favorite book ever. Playing games.

Yeah.

Day whatever of stuff I love

Matthew Fucking Harris!

Matthew Harris is a composer, best known for his Shakespeare Arrangements. I've sung a few of them in Choir, and they're all beautiful. There's just something...genius there.

I was supposed to do that thirty days or whatever. Oh well.

Day four

I love everquest double experience weekend :D

Day three

I LOVE MY SISTER AND SHE IS LEAVING ME FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.

Day two of thirty days of things I love.

I don't love anything right now.

So, I'm going to take a leaf out of the book of My Favorite Red-haired Goddess and doing this thirty days of stuff I _______. I'm going to start with 'love'.

To start, Day One of Things I Love, I love walking down the hallway at school and being absolutely overwhelmed with saying hi to this person, and giving this person a hug, and giggling at the joke of another person...just that feeling of being totally in the moment in a large group of people reminds me why I am (occasionally) social.

School has been going well for the most part -- I had to drop one of my art periods in favor of Madrigals (the idiots didn't put it on my schedule), so I'm going to have to BUST MY ASS to prepare for the AP test. I'm starting to discover just how much I learned from Lee this summer in Portland, even though, let's be honest, I kind of dicked around for most of it.

Still, I think I'm incredibly lucky to have such a head start. I'm still sort of feeling out what Mrs. J wants from us...I think I sort of failed in that respect in our first assignment: Draw a tree. That represents us. It was this whole "This tree is exactly as old as you, it has been through the same hurts and triumphs, blah blah blah, draw it."

So I did.

I drew a young-ish tree, a sort of bent oak, with thousands and thousands of jagged leaves, all cluttered together. I'm really proud of it, actually -- I have found that my absolute favorite medium is the good old fashioned pencil. I can do a lot with it. But I'm digressing -- the issue was that it turns out, my art teacher was looking for all sorts of symbolism, like oh, this broken swing represents lost childhood, and oh, this heart scratched into the bark represents lost love...and I sort of...drew a tree first, and made it me second.

That said, I really do think it's my tree. I swear, it represents me! Just...in a very different, subtle way!

French is going pretty well; the hilarious thing is, I had no idea I remembered so much german until I started on another language. Every morning I have to stop myself from saying "Gutentag, wie gehts?" and stumble through a "Bonjour". I also feel like whenever I write something down in French, I'm utterly mangling the language with my awful handwriting.

I'm also ridiculously excited about english this year -- we've got a new teacher, this fresh, bouncy woman with all sorts of ideas...we're doing a lot of analytical stuff and essays, which I'm finding that I love. Everyone was bitching about a three paragraph essay on the first day, and I'm on my second page, writing furiously...besides art, I've really learned a ton about the written word this summer, through the Writer's Workshop I've done, and just by trying to write regularly.

Also, I can use semicolons now. I'm sort of ashamed that this is so exciting. But dude, a new grammar tool that I can use correctly and naturally...? That's awesome!

Madrigals is huge this year. We've got a ton of people, which is kind of cool, because twice that tried out. The good thing is, most everyone is good. We have some issues with the boys this year, but we can't really afford to pick and choose. The other exciting thing is, our Concert Choir is ridiculously dedicated. We are going to have to step it up this year.

Also: Disney trip for the music department! I'm absolutely determined to get good enough grades to stay here, so no shirking! For once, this goal actually seems achievable, so...I'm doing pretty well.

Things are still a little weird, just talking about Ben and seeing his friends and...not seeing him. Everyone's doing okay -- I think a lot of people are really throwing themselves into work for the moment. The school is grieving, the students are grieving, the teachers are a little bit shocked and messed up...but we'll all work through it. What happened was awful and sad and sudden, and what it proves is how easy life can be wasted. I'm torn between spending my afternoons in lazy contentment and not stopping to breath for second. Life is short. I'm making the most of it.

Class time!

T-minus twenty minutes before I leave for school...

Summer vacay over...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/20602539/detail.html

We went to school together for years. Hung out in band together. Played fucking Runescape. And lately, just passed each other in the hallways after 5th period.

I'm not sure how to feel.

I have no idea why I was stuck on Thursday. Honest, I don't.

I'm leaving Friday. WOW, SELF. GOOD GOIN'.

Once upon a time, I had a best friend. I mean, I've had a few over the years, all excellent people. But this particular friend, Lauren, I was absolutely devastated when she moved away. We really just got each other. She was really cool.

So we've kind of floated in and out of each other's lives, oh, hey, found you on facebook, let me comment a bit...oh, look, you're on DeviantArt, let me say hello...but just generally not the awesome relationship we had before, and I've thought about her a lot.

Fast forward! A few days ago, at an illustrater's meetup Lee dragged me to, I met the fantastic illustrater Adam Gillespie (*plugs shamelessly*) who was really nice, gave me college tips, the works. We went over to look at a few of his WIPs tonight, and he mentioned "Oh, my girlfriend did this one" and brought up an excellent picture of a redhaired woman screaming at the top of her lungs.

And oh holy fuck. I KNOW that picture. That particular picture was drawn by Lauren's cousin. And it's her -- I went all the way to Oregon to hear about my Maryland best friend who has since moved elsewhere. It was amazing and spectacular, and you KNOW I went straight to facebook to send her a message.

I'm really pleased and excited about that.

In other news, we toured colleges today, after having brunch with a guildmate who lives in the area (really nice guy.) I'm really looking at Lewis and Clark -- not impossible to get into, gorgeous, good programs...we'll see. PSU looked good, too, and Reed was absolutely beautiful -- but I've heard it's a bitch to get in, and apparently incredibly rigorous. I kind of enjoy a looser style of teaching/learning/that jazz.

So we'll see.

We also went back to voodoo to get doughnuts. I finally tried the Maple Bacon Bar; holy fuck, so amazing. Needed just a biiiit more bacon to elevate it into 'ambrosia' status, but what can you do?

Anyway. I'll be heading home tomorrow, unfortunately, but maybe this recent posting jag will have me in the habit. All in all, this has been a completely fantastic trip -- I'm actually going to be homesick for Portland when I'm back in Maryland. I've never been in a city that I just breathe with. I so belong here.

~Alys

I am sitting here, constantly being startled into stopping typing by my left hand, which is covered in the most gorgeous henna I've seen. It's really beautiful, and swirly, and goes from my fingers halfway to my elbow.

Yesterday I went to the beach -- today I stayed home. Tomorrow I get to meet a guildmate and have really good macaroni and cheese.

Life. Is bliss.

No, really, truly. We're going to be touring colleges before I leave. It's only been a few days, but I iam so fucking sold on this city it's astounding.

Today was moderately unremarkable; I worked on art a lot, was kind of groggy and loopy the entire day. We left to go out to the Kennedy School for lunch -- a gorgeous old elementary school which has been converted to a resteraunt and filled with art and arrrrrgh, so beautiful.

After that, we headed off to this awesome little coffee shop which is, and I quote "Home to the casually threatening atmosphere." No, that's not what the locals say. That's what the business owners say. It's just so...fascinating. Things move where you don't expect them, and the wallpapers are sort of all one huge find the hidden picture...and the bathroom. The bathroom depicts a watery grave, and it is soooo creepy. Soooo cool.

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

SO MUCH.

You have no idea, I'm just...I just totally belong here. Portland will spoil me for Maryland.

Anyway. That's all to say for right now, I'll have a beach report tomorrow. Peace out, and all that jazz.

I'm behind a day, aren't I?

Right. So! Yesterday was pretty awesome -- we went back to Oneonta Gorge and waded through with a picnic, which was cool. Australian Mike (who knows Middleman!) tried to climb up the waterfall, but reported that the lack of air got a bit much for him. I elected to freeze my ass off waist deep in fresh spring-water. It was hella fun.

Also: I was mistaken for my mid-twenties twice yesterday, and early twenties today. Do I like, not look 16? I mean, I act it, certainly, but...it's weird. Maybe I just sort of fit in with the Portland college crowd or something.

Portland is still awesome, by the way. Super nifty. I also got to furtively look around the art institute when Lee hauled me off to this awesome illustrater meeting thing. I got to meet some really interesting people, one of whom was a PC user, so I no longer feel so alone in the art world. C'mon, guys. Are you serious, using macs? Tch.

I'm so going to college here, by the way. It's so grungy and laid back and perfect.

So, besides the illustrater extravaganza, and my nice long nap, I have been working all day. You know, taming the beast that is photoshop. I'm doing pretty well -- one hand really just...ended up perfect. I think my talent with realistic hands transfered to the computer or something. Anyway, it's one good thing about the piece. I'll post it...sometime. When it's done, if I like it.

Yeah. So. Aaaaaaalright. Rock on Oregon.

Sorry for the people who are getting like, a stream of emails about my updates. I did promise mom I'd be keeping in touch in elljay fashion.

Anyway, today.

Was.

Amazing.

You know how I said I was half in love with Portland yesterday? Well, I AM now. This place is the coolest city I have ever set foot in, and I've lived my life with awesome Boston memories. Seriously, Kat, YOU WANT TO VISIT THIS CITY. You do. I promise.

So this morning I was shaken awake at 8:00AM and groggily put on some multicolored spandex. Then Lee, me, and the awesome australian Mike went to go pick up the aforementioned Carolyn, and her friend Barb.

But let's take a moment to describe the five minutes before we went to grab the awesome duo.

We got doughnuts. From Voodoo doughnuts. The store was pink. The delivery van was pink. We parked in front of a monster made with leaves who was obviously shot down by flaming arrows. It seemed a little unhappy about it, I have to say. Whoever made the face was really expressive.

We then walked in, and before I could even take in the doughtnut men, the captain crunch covered doughnuts, the sour doughtnuts, and the vegan doughtnuts, Lee says, "So, was that a bucket of doughnuts I spied in the back room?" and the guy at the counter was like, "Ohhh, yeah, no one else noticed them." He then brought out a BUCKET of DOUGHTNUTS. 30 doughnuts and a peach fritter, all dripping with awesome.

We paid five dollars (and no tax) and then went on our way.

It was then that it hit me that I am in love with Portland.

So, that's not even the best part. After that, we headed off Latourell waterfall, which was completely unlike anything I've ever seen before. It was like a waterspout, and it was low enough that we could go right up to it, absolutely drenched with mist...oh my god, it was fantastic. After that we visited Multnomah falls, which was packed and awesome. We'd all eaten as many doughnuts as we could stand, so we started handed them out. Some people were quite creeped out, the rest were totally excited. Anyway, that waterfall was really huge and awesome.

To finish up, we went to Oneonta Gorge and climbed through the log jam to wade up to Oneonta falls -- we didn't actually make it up there, being as it would have gone up to our waist, so we contented ourselves with sloshing back, very satistfied. We're going back with a picnic tomorrow.

Then I slept. From 3 to 7. Goooood times.

Today was awesome. Obviously.

I woke up and we all got straight down to the art -- Lee's having me work almost entirely by reference, which is very different from the style I'm used to. He also gave me a crash course in photomanipulation as we assembled my ref. I got a bit frustrated towards the middle of the day, when I got into the actual sketching, but this is a learning experience. I'm learning.

So then we went to Carolyn Turgeon's reading to promote her new book, Godmother. I'm reading it now, and it's pretty fantastic. I recommend.

Then I went to dinner with Lee, Annaliese, and a lot of people with really cool tattoos. This one girl had stitches everywhere, like a ragdoll.

Oh! I forgot to mention. I went to the best book store in the world. If not for this weather, Portland would be perfect. And honestly, I'm half in love with the city already.

~Alys.

Is where I am right now. Hay guise! I'm in Portland right now.

It's pretty ungodly exciting -- Lee wants me to have 3 finished pieces by the time I leave and while I think that'll cut it close, I'm willing to try.

There are also threats of me being dressed as a mermaid and being shoved in a fish tank. Awesome.

So. Hm.

I've been kind of a stressy mess these last few months or so, because it was getting increasingly more likely that I'd be moving to Chicago come wintertime. Monday, Mom essentially told me that I should start getting my head around the idea, and that we'd have a family meeting about it.

Come thursday and the family meeting, Dad says, "Oh, I don't really have anything on the agenda, I just wanted a family dinner."

Okay, dad. Let's talk about the job you accepted. In Chicago.

So he spends some detailing his work, what it would require...suddenly what looked like certainty is nothing of the sort, and I don't know quite how to feel about it.

Happy: Because I'll probably get to graduate with my friends; this is the prevalent emotion.

Miffed: Because Dad could have saved me a lot of stressing the fuck out if he had just talked to me about "no, we're probably not moving"

Disappointed: Waaaay down deep, because a part of me was excited about maybe living in a new house.

So that's that. It's still a possibility, mind, just a much smaller one.

I suppose I'll save the heavy post for Thursday.

So, I'm home from Origins, and back to working at GS day camp. I'm in the songs unit, so my voice is all but lost...

Origins was cool, though. Met some new-old friends, some new friends, some old friends...I didn't manage to win any Looney Labs tournaments, nor did I get around to playing werewolf, but I had fun.

I got everquest rpgs! They're mostly interesting for the lore, since I don't really plan to play the game, but wahey and whatever.

To throw in my two sense of that whole gender debate, I'd like to take this opportunity to inform everyone that the practice of just chill is a good thing. Seriously, it's really quite a lot more fun in the long run.

And now I'm going to play everquest.