Oh, Canada!

Well folks, this is it. I'm currently sitting on my bed in a hostel in Victoria, BC. It is weird to think I am in a different country than my beloved U.S. of A., because quite frankly, I glance out my window and it looks, sounds, smells, and acts like any other part of a clean, major city. But I do have three Canadian quarters now, so ... I guess this is legit. :) And I have to admit, while going through customs, I was really tempted to ask the guy if he knew the one and only Robert Michael Jack, but I figured it wouldn't be the best interaction to start out our tour of the country. :) (AKA: Canadian Border Patrol.)

It was fun to ride the ferry again; I have very little recall from the last time I rode one (To Vashon Island for a family reunion), but being on the boat brought back a lot of clear memories. The San Juan Islands were beautiful to ... drive through? float through? eh. whatever. they were pretty with the fog and such.

Priscilla and I enjoying the wind and wet of the ferry. woo.

I can't believe this is day 18 already. Time fluctuates like no other on this trip. Sometimes it feels like I've been on the road for a year, and others like we only gotten to take a breath and then moved on (like in Seattle. How sad to only spend 1.5 days in Seattle.)

The famous gum wall. Disgustingly fascinating.



This little man makes all the sweets inside. He was sweet.



Unfortunately, my tripod decided to live up to its $15 standard, and fell apart a little bit. It'll last me the rest of this trip, and with a little super glue, it will last me as long as I would like to keep money in my pocket. But it was creating some camera shake, and this is the best one I got. :( Next time, I guess.

What have I learned thus far? A lot about perceptions. It has been eye opening to realize just how many people live a different lifestyle than my own. I still get a kick out of the lady that worked in that dinky little restaurant for 30 years in Gerlach. I wish I had felt safe enough to talk to the homeless people on the streets of Seattle. I hope to remember the impressions of the souls of the people who are wandering through their lives, whether they think they have a direction or not. The world really is made up of all sorts of people.

On a more artistic level, I've learned about nature photography. I finally get things like shutter speed, f-stop, iso, etc. That part of this trip has been soooo fun.

I've learned exactly what I need to do to get into the BFA graphic design program. Which is this: if I want it, I've got to sacrifice and work my fingers to the bone, because in all honesty, it is the integrity of the work put in along with the design presented that acquires approval. So the next year of my life is going to be very intense, but I'm okay with that. Let's get it on.

I have to say, this being now my second experience in a hostel (my first being just two days ago), I like the adventure associated with hostels. It is crazy. Tons of strangers living together from unique walks of life with an uncertain amount of trust given or taken from each one. And for good reason. Seattle had some shady faces.

But I love this idea of strangers just hanging out! It is really great. People are generally kind and like to smile, because we're all in this together.

Victoria is a neat place; I haven't had a chance to really explore it yet, but the China town was interesting. The hardest part about this trip has been the rule of sticking in groups. If anyone knows me, they know how much I looooooove to be dependent on other people. ;) But I'm following all the rules, so no worries mom.

I have to say, I'm missing my friends and family and bed a lot today. Probably because it was a really stressful experience getting parked (sometimes I drive the van. I didn't today, but I was still really stressed out) and I don't like tense situations. But after a nap and some peace time things are great.

And, in the last three days, I was able to see three old friends! Daniele Vickers and a friend roadtripped up to Portland for the long weekend, and she surprised me, Stephanie (also a former roommate) and others that she knew on our study abroad. I remember hearing someone come into the room where I was trying to sleep, and being so annoyed at whoever the stranger was, because it was obviously a stranger with how she was whispering to someone, and then I heard her say "Where's Carrie Carlson?" I ripped off my blanket and sat straight up, and stared right at Daniele. It was awesome. :) Thank you for coming to visit me Daniele, what perfect timing. We even got to stay up and chat like olden days.

And Jennifer Brookes and Nicole Lopez are current Seattle-ites, after living there for almost a year. I was able to meet up with them one night and then Nikki and I toured the SAM (Seattle Art Museum) together, as well as parts of Seattle. It was great to see people I knew.

Word of the day: threnody \THREN-uh-dee\, noun; 1. A poem, speech, or song of lamentation, especially for the dead; dirge; funeral song.

Sandy Toes. All the Time.

Being a landlocked lady all my life, I'm not used to the feeling of sand constantly in between my tosies. That has been a feeling I've enjoyed time and time again the last few days. :)

We had a specTACuLAR (As John Telford described it) sunset we had an opportunity to photograph the other night out at Haystack Rock. I'm not used to shooting on the beach, so that was a challenge. Good thing we're on the beach for almost the rest of the trip. woo

Today we visited some waterfalls, and while we were up there getting ready to photograph we got harangued into helping someone propose to his girlfriend on the bridge. That was interesting.

A visit to the beach was in order, so my friend Stephanie and I walked along Cannon Beach (it goes for 7 miles) until we felt like we should go back, and then I walked out into the waves a little bit.

This house that we're staying in makes me laugh, because right now it is 1:27 AM, and I'm sitting at the dining room table. There are 9 other students up right now, with the majority of them editing their photos. I can count 4 different art projects just in my eyesight, and I can think of two more upstairs, not counting everyone's personal space. There are tripods, macs, and powercords at every junction, and the fridge is packed full with various foods tucked away in every nook and cranny. We're definitely college students.

The following are the photos I chose for my second nature critique tomorrow; I wasn't as satisfied with this section as I was the last, but I guess that is what learning is for.

I also bought a graphic design book today. I've got some things in the works for that, so as soon as I finish them I'll post those as well. Keep your fingers crossed!

We went out and did light painting on the beach. It was really fun, I plan on doing it again. This took a lot of practice ... one of my favorite bloopers is "I love Team Carl".

Word of the Day: waxing \WAK-sing\, verb; 1. To increase in extent, quantity, or power. 2. (Of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. 3. To grow or become.

Pigs, Cheese, and Candles in Cannon Beach, Oregon

Happy Birthday to me ...

This morning I treated myself to a hot shower at 7 AM before we left Coos Bay at 8 AM. I guess some presents to yourself are a little more practical than others.

Wow has this week flown, and taken forever! I can’t believe how much we’ve done since the last time I had an adequate connection. Today, day 11, is the first time I’ve had REAL internet, fully functioning with access to everything. It is great. Although I have to admit, not having regular internet connection has also been a beautiful experience. Life is so much BETTER without a continuous connection to the digital world. Says the graphic design major.

Where do I even start?

After Reno we drove to a little rainy town in Orick, California. Our motel was the flashiest building in the city, with murals all over the back of the building. Oh man. Little towns have a whole new meaning for me.

During our stay in Orick we visited a beach, the Redwoods, Fern Canyon, and a city called Trinidad. I think. Things are starting to blur together, but I’m doing my best.

After Orick, we drove to Coos Bay, Oregon, and stayed in this cute camp ground with yurts. Yurts are like the happy medium for people who like to be in nature, but not in tents. And they like their electricity and heater, and bed. We had bunk beds and a futon in our yurts. :) Happy campers, indeed.

In Coos Bay we spent time at various beaches, dunes, gardens, and little fishing towns. I had fish and chips for the first time in my recollection, and it wasn’t too shabby. I’m still not a fish person, but to my credit, I’ve eaten a lot more stuff than I normally allow myself to eat. ( I, Carrie Carlson, ORDERED tomatoes on my subway sandwich outside Eureka, California. I’m a changed person.)

Today I got a lovely rendition of “Happy Birthday” and we drove to Cannon Beach, northern Oregon. We’re staying in this MASSIVE house. It is awesome. There are 18 beds, even though we have 28 people. But there’s plenty of room for all of us. I love it!

So this is just the dining table. (Obviously.) You get the point about the size of the house, yes?

On the art respect, we had our first nature photography critique, which turned out to be an informative experience. I really like that class, I feel like I learned a lot, and I’m really excited to learn more. Here’s some of the photos I’ve taken:

(Keep in mind ... I am just under 2000 pictures taken thus far. And it takes a million years for me to upload them because I haven't changed their format yet. Once I get around to doing that, a lot more pictures will be going up. I admire your patience. ;)

And for my 480 class, Joe Ostraff helped me redirect my ideas and now I’m really pumped to getting ready for the BFA application next August. So those updates will come as I get them.

Interesting things of note:

Tillamook Cheese Factory has much more interesting ice cream than actual factory. Just go straight to the ice cream, is my recommendation.

I saw a pig today. In a stroller. Similar to how we like to walk with our babies, except, it was a pig.

Rain happens. Just deal with it.

I haven't blow-dried my hair all week long. And I think I lost my brush in Reno. So I'm getting more and more pocahontaseque every day.

Man I feel like my literary abilities are FRIED, for whatever reason. Probably because I’m trying to summarize an entire week of intense, visual, aesthetic, and mind-probing experiences into one post. That’s a difficult thing to accomplish.

Let’s be honest. You were all dying to see the pictures rather than read the words anyway. :) So I don’t feel as bad not talking as much.

But!

My "Vancouver Family", as they've been dubbed, threw me an excellent, spur of the moment, 30 minute party. I loved it. Somehow they figured out that my favorite cake is red velvet cake and my favorite ice cream is the alaskan moose tracks chocolate whatever the delicious that is. (You know you're an adult when you have ice cream THREE SEPARATE TIMES in one day ... and you're fully aware of those decisions. :)

They forced me to go to the store so that I could get my own groceries and help gather the groceries for our dinner group, and they made a red cake out of a white cake mix, box of chocolate pudding mix, and some other few things. When we drove back up, they lit the candles. But the candles were stuck into a very hot cake, and the wax melted, leaving just the wicks, and so the candles burned up really fast and started to burn the cake before I could get inside and be surprised, so they were hurrying me inside and it was obvious what was going on, and I laughed my head off. It was all very hilarious, and I loved it. My lovely friend Dawn made me a beautiful paper crown to wear, and they sang a brilliant Happy Birthday, and I just felt a lot of love. And I got my red cake! I can only remember one birthday where I didn't have a red cake.

Look carefully and notice the different-colored wax holes ... that's all the wax that melted into the cake. Oh man. What a way to celebrate.

And they made me this card. Truly, it has been a great birthday with people that I might not have known all my life, but I can call very special in my heart.

Word of my birthday: adumbrate \a-DUHM-breyt\, verb; 1. To foreshadow; prefigure. 2. To produce a faint image or resemblance of; to outline or sketch. 3. To darken or conceal partially; overshadow.

Word of the day I post: shivaree \SHIV-uh-ree\, noun; 2. an elaborate, noisy celebration.

(P.S. did I mention how WEIRD it is to be officially out of the teens? I’m thrilled. :)

P.P.S. I will upload a lot more pictures this week, when I get a chance. Just FYI.