Life In Oregon

The populace here is so entirely open to having conversations and being friendly, I don't really understand how A) anyone here can be lonely or how B) anyone here is single. Not only are they willing to start up conversations, they're willing to let you start up a conversation and then actually continue it instead of just letting it drop after the initial topic is satisfied. In the last two days, I've talked with strangers about : Orchids re:cultivation/beauty/fungi of, Hummus, Burritos, Half-Dreaded Pretty Hair, Homicide - tv show, Homicide - crime, Selling Pickup Trucks, Realism in Televsion, Names/Name Origins, Grocery Stores, Horchata, Cheeses. And a non-senile late-middle-aged/early-elderly man offered to let me try his mexican cinnamon-milk-rice drink (before he had a sip of his own) if I used my own straw.

It's one of those more subtle differences, like the weird street layout, that's just enough of a change to register, but not enough to be in another world. Which is what leads me to believe I'm in a coma and this is my own poorly-recreated simulation of the world. Little things being a bit "off" are the keys to knowing you're in a synthetic landscape. I may also be dead and, having lived my life the way I have, found myself in the pleasanter side of purgatory.

And the women! The general selection superficially seems about the same, physical attractiveness-wise, but I've had more positive met-out-of-nowheres in one week than I typically have in months. I think I have a crush on the check-out girl at Trader Joe's.

I got my library card today. The place was jumping. It was a popular place to be. I was really surprised both at their surprisingly good selection of graphic-novels, not just comic books, and at the strangely high number of cute opposite genders there. I don't like they don't separate the Sci-Fi/Fantasy from the rest of fiction, less for my own use than out of remembering how irritating it was as a kid. Decent collection, though, and a visually appealing building inside and out, though I don't really understand why the first-floor outer-lobby bathroom is the "Throne of the S.L.U.G. Queen". Something to learn.

Orientation events have been mostly useless or are a good year early given when I'd apply what they're trying to teach. I have skipped out a quarter-way through two of them, though I'm stuck all day in one tomorrow. I am unimpressed.

Hopefully, I will start sleeping well soon. Damn new mattress. Without sleep, I can only be inane and mundane. Thank god I'm good-looking too or I'd never make any new friends.

I need a bike. And full rain-gear ensemble. Not until the ominous "dystopian future of a clouded sky" look is done will I feel I'm living up to my potential.

The Psych. Dept. beaurocracy are actually helpful, warm, welcoming. Most of my interactions with beaurocrats has shown me that they're necessary, but not really helpful. These, though? They facilitate everything. Get things done, well and quickly. They gave us gifts, organized the crap out of things in a helpful way, and overall friendly and not worn-down horrible old people whose job has killed them inside. I was disappointed that the head of the department, Lou Moses, wasn't an ancient wizened old man, though. I mean, when you hear that name you want balding with pure white beard, walking stick, canny beady little twinkly eyes, and tweed. A friendly hybrid academic-mountain-hippy just doesn't fit, but it'll do.

My office is huge, I get along well with my office-mate which doesn't matter too much because she does her gene-modded brain-cloning neuro-mapping research on the other side of campus and doesn't have any use for an office so far away. Yet. I'm planning on repainting the walls. Giant desk. 4th floor. Nice view. Hell, it's enough to have a window that opens. An alarm-free fire-escape three doors down to have lunch on. Ladder to roof immediately outside my office (with what looks like an entirely pick-able lock). There's some jealousy of my lab-mate, whose office has five big windows, great natural light, and more panoramic view (though of the inner-courtyard and roof), even if she does share it with two other people. I also have a rollodex now. And shelves. Bought some full-spectrum lamps for the office to give it the feeling of better lighting. Intend to buy a nice rug to cover up the puce carpet, but then, I like the puce carpet. It reminds me of my grampa and his warm, musty, underground office beneath an apartment complex and drug-store he owned.

The new apartment-house is coming along pretty well. Three more shelves, a love-seat/couch, and a coffee-table and the basics are done until I've saved up enough to buy unnecessary electronics. I'm even keeping it clean.

I'm optimistic.