About three years ago, my plane landed down in California with an origin of Athens, Greece. When I first came home from my six-month adventure, I was mailed a stack of papers on reverse culture shock. I quickly tossed them in the recycling bin. After all, it’s not like I was coming back from somewhere … More On Courage and Chaos
I have a favorite coffee shop now. It is just my second time returning here, but I know that we belong together. It is one of those simple matches like peanut butter and jelly. Its walls are each a different bright color and are then layered with vibrant oil paintings from local artists. The menu … More Metro Face: The Beginning of a Case Study
Yesterday, I felt like Elle Woods after Congresswoman Rudd pulled her support for Bruiser’s Bill. For those of you who don’t get the reference, I highly recommend you stop reading my blog and go watch the critically acclaimed masterpiece that is Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde. You have to watch it about five times … More “Legally Blonde” Real-Life Metaphors 101
I get honked at out here. A lot. They’re not those passive toots, timidly letting you know that you’ve been stopped at a green light for about a minute already, that you can count on getting in Oregon. They’re not those slightly agitated, but certainly in the right ones you get in California when you’re … More You Bring the Appetizers and I’ll Bring the Natural Disasters
Not only did I find a place to get laptop mellow, but the same place also happens to have a black and white cookie that is done right. On top of this, they have chai — good chai. Goodbye, suburbs. You are convenient when I need Tupperware and assorted garden items from your dizzying array … More Metaphorical Hot Springs
Everyone I meet tries to peg my accent. Personally, I’m not sure what accent they’re talking about. I don’t really think of northern Californians as having accents. If, however, these accent accusers are correct, then where did this voice of mine come from? I think my soul is a vagabond writing songs in all the … More Picking Up Scraps of Accent & the Allegory of the Badlands
I’m not religious, but I have quite an affinity for religious iconography and songs. There is just some sort of strength, some sort of connection that comes out of spirituality that tickles me. There is a song I enjoy where one verse describes a girl on a subway who takes out a toothbrush and starts … More Here’s a Map and Here’s a Bible
Change is a pretty odd thing. It stirs up all sorts of dust and allergens from the very crevices of your life. Slowly, it dissipates and settles on things you can tuck away again and opens other boxes begging to be explored. My present is overwhelmed by change and I’m knee-deep in the midst of … More I Gave Away My Change to the Ukulele Player
I had my first ever chai tea in Eugene, Oregon. I knew from the first sip that it was the beginning of a very long and meaningful relationship. I began to learn the true power that being “coffee shop mellow” had over the next few years. I hopped from café to café in hopes of … More Tears in My Chai
I’d heard the hype for a while. I even had a guest speaker come into one of my college major’s classes to talk about the event’s yearlong planning efforts. I always thought it would be neat to go to, but I never thought it would be anything too out of the ordinary. I love festivals, … More The Oregonian’s Disneyland
ROUGH OUTLINES 