The Happy Couple and Their Dog

My brother is getting married. No, not Colin. I hope not Colin. Eli (or Elijah as he likes to be called in his mature age) is getting married and he’s put up a website. It’s got all of the pertinent info. Where it’s going down, places to stay, how Camille and Elijah met and so on. It also has a few pictures. It’s a nice little site and I think everyone should check it out. I also think that Elijah and Camille should make their dog look a little more badass (below is the actual picture that's on the site). Maybe give him a 40oz or an eye patch or a Def Leppard haircut.

Evan and Suzy Live in the Tundra

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

So we finally made the journey north, into the frozen tundra that is upper New York state. We stayed with Suzy and Evan in Syracuse. It snowed, we plowed through it and ended up at there house around 12:30 am Friday night/Saturday morning. Suzy was out and Evan was just chill'in. It was great to see them both. Suzy soon woke up and we talked until about 2:30 in the morning. Ouch. My system can't take that anymore.

Next morning we got up, had breakfast and then went to Ithaca. Cornell University is there, so it's kinda permeated with Ivy Leagueness (I just made that word up). I was told that the town is often compared to Eugene and I'd have to agree. It's got that hippie/smart/outdoorsy/I just smoked a brick of weed thing going for it.

We enventually left town and found ourselves checking out some of the many waterfall filled canyons. Beautiful. For a moment I thought I was in the Columbia George... for a moment. Then we headed out to do some wine tasting.

Ithica is NY's wine country. After some tasting, I can again say, Ithaca is NY's wine country. It is not, however, America's wine country. The wine was a fun experience. The wineries were nice and the company was superb.

We finished our trip by eating at the Moosewood Cafe of the famed vegitarian Moosewood cookbook. The food was... decent. But we left with our tummies full. That's what matters.

Next day we went cross country skiing with Suzy and Evan. My bruised ass tells me that I need a little practice. I fell down more in that one day than I have downhill skiing all year long. And then we meandered home.

It was a nice weekend. I can't wait to do it again.

A While Ago

About four months ago Michelle purchased a long, rectangular, terracotta flowerpot. All she wanted was something that she could fill with birdseed and then stick on the outside of our third-story windowsill. The pot was a perfect solution. It was broken, so she got it for a great price and, with super glue, it was quick and easy to fix. She brought it home, glued it together, filled it with birdseed and set it out. No birds. It’s still completely full. No birds. It’s been about four, maybe five months, and not one bird has dipped its head into the seed. So I took a look at it the other day. It’s still full of seed, yet something has changed. Grass is starting to grow in it. And it’s beautiful. Maybe we’ll get some flowers too.

It Finally Found New York

Snow Day 2006-02-12 009
Originally uploaded by JT Gibney.

It, being a foot of delightfully light and fluffy snow. Utah powder has made its way to New York where Michelle and I… are not. Yes, we’ve left for the weekend, driving up the interstate, through Connecticut and into Massachusetts all the way to Boston. There haven’t been many snowstorms in NYC this winter and Michelle and I have managed to miss almost every single one. So we leave you with this picture of New York in a snowstorm, which means your experiencing a New York blizzard the very same way that we are, through this picture. But, I’m also happy to report, we’re experiencing our first Boston blizzard. And it’s awesome. Love that snow.

UPDATE--Central Park recieved a record breaking amount of snow, 27 inches. Here a few pictures from our nieghborhood.

The Snow of Gods

Snow drifts into the east coast, threatening to cover the beltway in a layer of vanilla frosting 12 to 15 inches thick. I can’t wait. Michelle and I are hungry for a covering from the gods. We’ve been waiting all year. And it just keeps falling and falling and falling… on the west coast. It’s like a freight train, steamrolling the Cascade Mountains, pounding British Columbia and leaving New England to fend for itself. Tonight, they tell us, that it is all over. “They” are the weathermen and woman who predict such things. And I’m counting on them. We need snow. We want snow. And we, hopefully, will have it. At least for a day. Then it can go back to touching the bottom of all our friends’ boards and skis in the Northwest. But tonight, it’s ours. Here’s to tonight.

California's Canada

Steven Colbert said that Washington was periliously in between two Canada's. Canada and Oregon. Perfect.

Ski'in and Shoot'in

Prone Shooting - First Lap
Originally uploaded by geisthaus.

Ok, what if you like to rock climb and bike and hike and run marathons and pound beers at brewpubs and wear your Solomon gear and go to the soaking pool at the Kennedy School and generally live the life of a well drenched and active Oregonian… and then you move to Syracuse NY? You start shooting things on your skis of course! Evan’s taken up a new hobby and here are the pictures to prove it. Check out his blog when you get a chance.

Our Last night in Portland Jan 2006

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Thanks for a great time in Oregon!

When I got home I took my GRE again and scored well enough to get into Graduate School. I also learned that I got an A in Physics! Stay tuned to find out where I'll be going to grad school next year! (better come visit New York soon, we won't be here forever!)

(Click on picture to go to Flickr to see other pictures. Scroll right for pics at McMennamins, etc., Scroll left for skiing on Bachelor)

See you again soon! Love, Michelle

Christmas/New Years Album Track List

So here's the track list to the CD we gave out (alternatively named Notes from 2005 and Noises from 2005, depending on if Michelle or I wrote the title on your CD). The tracks "should" self populate if you put them in your iTunes. Unfortunately, "should" doesn't always turn into "will" self populate. Because of that little problem I'm putting up the song list on helloportland. Each song links to more info on that song and album. So, click away. Hello Portland, here are the CD tracks.

1. Song: Like Eating Glass--Artist: Bloc Party--Album: Silent Alarm
2. Song: Perfect Speed--Artist: 13 & God--Album: 13 & God
3. Song: She's Half--Artist: The American Analog Set--Album: Set Free
4. Song: Souvenirs--Artist: Architecture in Helsinki--Album: Fingers Crossed
5. Song: Little Fists--Artist: David Berkeley--Album: After The Wrecking Ships
6. Song: Consequence--Artist: The Notwist--Album: Neon Golden
7. Song: Bokkie--Artist: Elefant--Album: Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid
8. Song: Too Drunk To Fuck--Artist: Nouvelle Vague--Album: Nouvelle Vague
9. Song: Hands--Artist: Four Tet--Album: Rounds
10. Song: Jezebel--Artist: Iron & Wine--Album: Woman Kin
11. Song: Heartbeats--Artist: José González--Album: Veneer
12. Song: Will You Please Be There for Me--Artist: The Reindeer Section--Album: Y'all Get Scared Now, Ya Hear!
13. Song: The Comeback--Artist: Shout Out Louds--Album: Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
14. Song: Chicago--Artist: Sufjan Stevens--Album: Illinois
15. Song: Skeleton Jar--Artist: Youth Group--Album: Skeleton Jar
16. Song: Secret Heart--Artist: Feist--Album: Let It Die
17. Song: I Will Follow You into the Dark--Artist: Death Cab For Cutie--Album: Plans
18. Song: Your Ex-Lover Is Dead--Artist: Stars--Album: Set Yourself On Fire
19. Song: Hints--Artist: José González--Album: Veneer
20. Song: Sunworshipper--Artist: Mylo--Album: Destroy Rock & Roll

Let it Snow

The whole gang

Ryan shows the old school moves

All aboard

Michelle in the glades

Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

What a great way to bring in 2006. Let's do it again... soon. No waiting until the beginning of 2007.