The Beyond

I am in the Mark O. Hatfied Library(Narc O. Hatfield if you may), a place that really needs no introduction at all, procrastinating, an activity that really needs no introduction at all, my creative writing paper for archaeology.  I haven't typed a sentence of it actually.  I do however have some ideas floating around my head and I thought that an easier assignment would jog the brain.  The work load this year has been relatively balanced and I don't feel the need to walk to my dorm room and hug my manatees in a grief stricken panic anymore.  It may not be the professors tenderness more than the fact that I have learned how to manage my time better.  It is easier to be on top of assignments when all ya'll are spread across the continents.  I am quite proud of my scholarly zeal this semester but I would no doubt rather be living in a state of constant chaos with each and every one of you.  It says "chaos" as my middle name on my birth certificate ya know.

I feel as if the black hole is swallowing my creativity.  That is the name that I have given my house.  Many have you alluded to me, on skype etc., that you have heard reports on my unhappiness with my living situation.  It is not that I am unhappy per-say but my housemates and I have very different definitions on having a good time.  There is only so much herb I can smoke and so many commercials I can watch before I call it quits and live the one and only life I've gots.   It reads a bit dramatic I know, but I never realized that when mixed together these two ingredients create zombies.  I love my house for enabling me to cook and clean and have people over whenever I want for small gatherings or ragers.  I love my house minus the zombies.  So this leads me to ask, what are your plans for living arrangements next semester?

Momma Gail came to Oregon for Parent Family Weekend in early October.  I was determined to show her a good time because she had to share the trip with my father last year and ended up leaving early. We spent the first night of her trip in the Portland area with my brother and his girlfriend Caitlin.  We went to the pumpkin patch on Sauvee Island and then ate dinner in a small town 30 minutes outside of Portland that was on the Columbia.  It was a quaint night for the family to reconnect.  The following morning we stopped at the Saturday Market and quickly left to roll into Salem in time for the Rugby game mid afternoon.  I tried to convince my mom to come to the drink up afterwards but she politely declined.  We spent the rest of the day looking around campus and doing activities that are important to me but too menial to describe here. 

 The highlights of the weekend were having a dessert party with Morgan's and Monbo's families at The Ram and a wine tour in the Salem hills.  While at the Ram, we ordered way too much food even with each dessert split between two people.  We ended up swapping food around the table which was a great way to get everyone out of their seats and into a conversation.  They all got along great and the moment made me feel truly happy.  It is always heart warming to see people together with no other agenda than enjoying the moment.  My mom has rediscovered her passion for wine in the past two years.  Grapes of any good quality do not grow in Oklahoma because of the harsh seasons so her amazement at the sprawling vineyard in the Willamette Valley made her really happy.  Willamette Valley Vineyards is perched high in the valley.  We could see trees for miles, the city of Salem, and small patches carved out for agriculture.  It was a beautiful day.  The grapes were being harvested and put into fermentation tanks.  Other grapes were being removed from the tanks and mooshed with poles before their final journey to the glass bottle.  After our little tour that highlighted this and that, the drinking commenced.  We tried sip after sip of wine accompanied by strawberries and cheese.  I just stood by her and said, "Yes momma, I like that one too." 

In other news, Obama is the new president.  I refuse to write him a "get out of office free" card but I am very happy to be alive for this momentous occasion in the history of The United States. Hopefully he can restore hope in a country that lost it for so many years.  I am sure the study-abroaders can breath a sigh of relief and have another reason to say but but but.....when teased for the failures of our ruling class. 

Halloween was a spooooky rager.  I was the Queen of Hearts chopping off the heads of all those who deserved it with my flamingo bat.  I handed out candy to all the darling children that came to the door.  All of the kids had such great manners.  I would tell them to take as much as they wanted and their eyes would get really big for about a second and then they would check themselves and grab two pieces.  Good job mommies and and daddies of the Salem area for teaching self discipline to the tiny people of America.  Jenna Baker and crew had a party complete with beer and sppookkkkkkky decorations.  Pictures hopefully soon!  I used Emily's camera to capture the madness throughout the night but most of the turned out crappy becuase I was a wastedass.  

I have been thinking about you all so much lately.  I can barely believe that some of you will be returning in a few months.  We are going to have so so so much fun when you get back!  We have to capitalize on it now because in little more than a year we will all be graduating.  I know it seems like forever but it really hits me now that no one lives in the dorms.  For those of you who are not returning, I love you more than words can describe and I hope you do come back to the Willamette community sometime before 2010!

To Infinity and Beyond,

Mary "Chaos" Lugg