So, logged on to check DP today and found a message from one of the members about a game shop in SE on 3rd - Guardian Games apparently just opened up shop, and it is actually really cool! SE 3rd is on the cusp of the industrial district, a small little street tucked neatly away from the busy traffic of nearby Broadway. Seriously, the whole area seems to exist in its own little microcosm of geekery: all is super quiet with the exception of the steady rhythm of an unseen bass while cute gamer girls gathered in small groups in front of the store, gothy sirens poised in such a way as to lure in unsuspecting gamers into a financial money pit of rare games and obscure manuals. Without, a random mural of Jhonen-esque inspiration sits...I wish I could transfer pics from my phone to the PC! :/

I definitely have to go back - the staff was really laid back and didn't seem to mind my manic fanboi outbursts or ecstatic cries of joy over their surprising inventory. :D What makes me even MORE intrigued, however, was the small, unassuming (bar? club? human organ harvesting front?) called Rotture next door. (Torture?) They advertised music, booze, and fine food, so I will definitely have to give it a try...when I am not driving, that is! ^^

So yeah, it was time well spent, and fun to get out with Clinton and Anne to do something non-SCA related. :) (I got away with spending $5.00 on a copy of Septerra Core and two packs of gum. ^_^)

So being back has been surprisingly relaxing - driving through downtown PDX is no longer the exercise in terror that it used to be, and I find myself enjoying the experience...even in heavy traffic. :) As much as I would like to relate the past month or so to you in an exciting prose format, I find that it would take more time than I have at present. (Roomie Anne is making an awesome dinner for Roomie Clin-tron and myself, so I don't want to keep that waiting!)

Instead, I will only say that working at the company's Portland office is very nice (if not slightly frantic!) and it seems I will even have some overtime opportunities already! This is a good thing, as I am currently only +$50 on my first paycheck of the month, and +$150 on the second once all bills and super-necessities are taken care of! The gradient level necessities are, at this time, relegated to the "optional" list.

As far as everything else goes...it has been a rollercoaster. I'm coming to grips with certain things and trying to open up like I failed to do on my first time around in PDX - I really want to experience Portland completely and stop worrying about other people as regards their perceptions of me.

Oh, and I decided to go back to school for philosophy. There are plenty of things that I could make a career out of, but none that interest me as much! I'm even willing to give Kant a try this time... ;)

Oh, and I passed out today while giving blood at work - apparently you should EAT something before volunteering.

Whoops. :S

Anyway, I hope that you are all well. Take care until we meet again! :D

Pretty much what the title said. Not in Amarillo, back in Portland.

More on that later, maybe.

4. itchy. tasty.

k

I made Pro rank in Wii Sports Bowling! Finally, all the power of the universe UNDER MY CONTROL!!


Hahahahaha!!

Not much to say...got a whole lot more written today...after all, it IS Saturday... ;)

What does your drawing say about YOU?

You tend to pursue many different activities simultaneously. When misfortune does happen, it doesn't actually dishearten you all that much.
You are a thoughtful and cautious person. You like to think about your method, seeking to pursue your goal in the most effective way.
You like following the rules and being objective. You are precise and meticulous, and like to evaluate decisions before making them.
You have a sunny, cheerful disposition.

It makes me so sad...the guys at Penny Arcade used to be so awesome. Why is it now that they have started to, well, suck?

God of War > Metal Gear Solid?

I have a hard time taking this seriously, especially since it comes from the same self-proclaimed word warrior that believed Mega Man X to be Mega Man 10.

Heh. Hah. Yeah.

So, I am 99.9% certain that a move to Oregon will be possible within the later of the coming months. In the interest of intelligent planning, however, I have expanded my search parameters to include other viable possibilities, as well. Freedom is actually pretty sweet! ^_^

1. Portland, Oregon

Not only do I already (still, whoops!) have the plates for my car, but I know it better than I do most other places. Some of my best friends live there, making it the primary candidate. That and the fact that it is the most beautiful state I have lived in, bar none.

2. Chicago, Illinois

It would be nice to see my family again, obviously, and rooming with my cousin could be friggin awesome. Shed's Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Chicago Museum of Art, the Chicago Symphony, PLUS hang time with my Uncle Michael, the "tortured" artist! Tempting in many ways, just not very realistic. Still, I do love me some Connie's Pizza and Vincenzo's Italian Ices...and the view from the Sears Tower is amazing...if not also terrifying! (But my shell...that's what needs to be broken, methinks!)

3. Muskegon, Michigan

Who could forget the time-honored option of running back home with your tail between your legs? Financially, this would be a toss-up: no rent for awhile, but also no jobs. It would also be a great home-point for traveling, but I can't imagine I would enjoy heading back to Ski-Town when returning from an awesome journey to Elswyr...

4. Anywhere, Maine

I only have two reasons for the inclusion of this option, and the other one is that I have always wanted to go there even since I learned that I lived there from ages 2 to 4. The first reason knows why. ^_^

5. New York, New York

Terrifying, but a TRUE trial by fire. If you can make it in New York, you can make it ANYWHERE. Thing is, I would most likely be chewed-up and spit out as a shell of a human being when all was said and done.

6. Anchorage, Alaska

More of a childhood fantasy of escapism...back in the days when I wanted to run away from people and live in a place that was cold and lonely. This is not really a serious consideration at present, but it's nice to know that I have the option, should I so choose!

7. Amarillo, Texas

Cheap, friendly, a decent amount of things to do and you can actually feel like you're doing something right by putting on the Gustaberg music whilst you drive! :) Also, Meli and Lorelei are here, and they've really been my best friends through all of this, even through some of the most intense relationship craziness I have known in such a short amount of time.

I am sure there are more, and I will end up in Portland regardless.

Still, it's kind of nice, you know? I have OPTIONS!