Oh it's been a while, hasn't it?

I start my fourth week of school tomorrow meaning I've been in Portland for, nearly 6 weeks now? That is nuts. School is great! I've been getting in the swing of things, getting all my assignments done and genuinely enjoying my classes.

Where to begin otherwise?

July 14th, 2006
Hanging out with Jesse Luscious was awesome. Another Portlander, Scott from the Anxieties came out and we just kicked back, told jokes and drank. It was a lot of fun. Jesse, his wife and the people they brought up are some of the most down to earth funny people I've ever met.

July 20th, 2006
I managed to catch the Eugene Mirman/Michael Showalter show, it was fucking great. I went with Nate Schmoe's wife Kristen. We hung out afterwards and watched Eugene get totally smashed and go home with some good looking blonde.

July 24th, 2006
Missed the Ergs and Hunchback at a house in SW Portland because of class. I was devastated, although I was shocked at how I stuck to my guns and refused to skip class for it. I'm a grown up! Nate and Kristen said it ruled. I was sad.

July 28th, 2006
Nate, Kristen and I decided to drive to Seattle to see a house show with This is My Fist! and The Trashies. I had never been to Seattle, which was part of the draw, but I also wanted to see The Trashies again since it had been a while. Those guys are fucking hilarious. I missed them. This is My Fist! were pretty good, but the only wrong move they made was allowing The Ergs! to play an impromptu 4 song set before them. The Ergs! slayed. They even played Bikeage and the place went nuts. Hunchback dudes and lady were there and I talked them up about Tom Sharpling, they were great. (The Ergs are in Seattle recording their next album with Conrad Uno at the legendary Egg Studios. Their touring partners, the band Hunchback are up there with them). The most shocking piece of the show was probably the fact that Tony Archer, ex-bandmate, ex-roommate, ex-friend was there too. I immediately saw Tony, who has been living up in Tacoma for a while now, and tried to stay away from him at all costs. My old friend beer and I got reaquainted and Tony totally took advantage of that. I was walking back to the backyard and I hear someone say "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" thinking it was some stranger, a Trashie or another friend, I obliged. It turned out to be Tony. We talked for a second or two and I thankfully saw Nate in the distance near his car and told him I had to leave.

We go back to The Trashies Manor, or the 24/7 House to bed down for the night. Like you would expect from a band named The Trashies, this was possibly the grossest punk house I've ever experienced, and I was face down in it, literally. Regardless of their poor housekeeping tactics (or lack thereof), they were excellent hosts, even warning me that I had to take off my shoes before I pass out or I would get drawn on. Oh, those guys!

July 29th, 2006
I wake up early with Hunchback and Jeff Ergs and sit with them until they left to go to Egg and then I sat in a frigid house until Nate, Kristen, Max and Ian get up. We then left and ate at a Thai place called Thai Tom. It was probably the best Thai food I've ever experienced, although I think Thai Noon in PDX wins the challenge overall.

A long drive back to Portland, and a sick Kristen later and I'm back home (after waiting an additional hour for a bus), where I sit around the house, shower and then quickly head to another house show in NE Portland. One Reason was playing with Hot New Mexicans. I skipped out on the free Briefs show because I knew this would be more subdued and Nate kept insisting I check out Hot New Mexicans. I'm glad I did, they were excellent and One Reason was really great too. I'm not sure how they will translate on record, but the show was a lot of fun.

July 30th, 2006
I slept until 11:30 today, which I didn't want to do, but I had some major sleep debt to pay off. Luckily I got up and realized I have very little homework to do since I was a good student and got my English Composition essay written already! So I have to draw a plant (which means I have to buy a plant since I gave all of mine away before I left), which should be interesting. I actually have to draw the negative space, which will be a challenge. I'm not a super great nor a super bad drawer, but I'm enjoying this class regardless. I sit around and think about how to draw things and it's really teaching me a lot. It's the greatest feeling when I nail something.

So anyway, that's the last 15 days in a nutshell. Lots of shows, lots of homework. Nate is back, so I've seen him a bunch. Nathan comes in a week or so which will be great. I'm getting really excited for a familiar face and someone to take around and the Lichtenstein showing in Eugene!

I need some coffee.

m