michigan winter sunset. pink & icy!

hello again & happy 2011.

living in portland, I talk and am conscious of the weather a lot more than I was in michigan. I think it's because it fluctuates so much - and because I'm constantly around new people and that is the thing upon which all can relate. today, it's almost balmy; it's great for january! even though it's drizzling, it's not a heavy rain and biking is still pleasant. speaking of which, I finally got my bike tension & derailer adjusted (because I sorta messed it up trying to adjust it myself). it's SO nice! I can down shift when I bike up monstrous hills. hurray!

if you are interested, I took my bike to the Bike Repair Collective, which is down the street on Belmont + 45th. I like it because it seems old men work there and thus, there is no pretension or talking down. also, they are genuinely knowledgeable and helpful. it only cost $10 too!

in other news, said goodbye to 2010 in seattle w/ ryan, nate, and elise. it was super nice to visit seattle and see what a cool city it was with such fun people. oh, also, the MOUNTAINS! we saw them all, due to an amazing amount of sunshine and clear skies. I can't wait for the monumental camping that will arrive with summer.

ryan + i with the olympic mts., i think...

on the subject of new years, I suppose I should recap 2010. so, here's a list of tens:

:: 10 things ::

.roadtrip to LA w/ mads & seeing friends :)

.being out of school for a year!

.visited family in CO + good eats + snowbrding

.best job ever, working in the community gardens

.pickled peppers! yes, that is a complete sentence.

.lived with awesome friends in Lansing, to much enjoyment

.moved to portland

.lived in a trailer for a week, haha

.happy snail mail times, keeping in touch

.keeping compost worms! as close to a pet as I can currently afford.

:: 10 books i read + liked ::

.the girl with the dragon tattoo series Larsson

.breaking open the head Pinchbeck

.nausea Sartre

.house of leaves Danielewski

.dali lama's autobio

.hotel iris Yoko Ogawa

.sirens of titan Vonnegut

.valley of the dolls Susann

.pride and prejudice Austen

.atmospheric disturbance Galchen

:: and of course, 10 things to do in 2011 ::

.have a piece of art in a group show/ gallery

.design websites for friends (do you want a site? let me know!)

.a drawing a week or collab. project with cory

.join a csa + possibly one of the food co-ops 01.17.11.

.be involved in the community garden scene + community in general 01.19.11.

.go on a midnight mystery bike ride (midnight just feels so late these days!)

.do a pdx crit mass & possibly the naked bike ride in the summer

.snowboard at mt. hood + summer camping

.whale watching... via a kayak? yes! or learn rock climbing

.obviously, get employed!

and then, I think what I said at the end of 2008 is still relevant for me:

live freely, openly, happily, and without consideration of convention