Oregonian

Well, shoot.  Shout out to Aunt Frankie for calling me out on being a slacker (she said it more nicely, but I write the truth).  I've been in Oregon for a month and a half, and life has changed drastically--though you would have no way of knowing that, would you?

Let me begin by saying that though my days are jam-packed, I am a happy person.  I soaked up my last days at home by playing with my sisters, visiting with my remaining Humboldt friends, and doing a lot of work in Dad's garden.

I'm responsible for the top half of that pile.

I dug up over 100 potatoes, dozens of heads of garlic, did a ton of weeding, pruning, and berry bush-fighting.  It was hard work, but I loved thinking of my late Grandpa Martin while doing it.  Gardening was his love (next to my amazing Gran), and I knew he'd be proud of me making his garden beautiful again.

I got to revisit childhood with Lisa on my last day of work.  She reminisced of the days when we would slide down Dad's giant hill on cardboard and run into the trees at the bottom.  Then I remembered seeing old boxes in the garage.  I think you can imagine where that led us.

We still run into trees:

My days at home ran out quickly, though, and I headed north on the first of September.  I settled into my house, made connections more quickly than I ever imagined I would, and began to fall in love with this town.  My first couple weeks were filled with exploring my new home, finding my amazing church (where one of the pastors is an EHS grad and one of my cousin's dear friends!), beginning my job, bouldering for the first time indoors, and having a very welcomed visitor from college.

I've also been to my first 2 Division I football games (Beavers are 5-0 and ranked 8th in the nation at the moment!) and my first ever tailgate!

I also got to celebrate the birthday of one of my new housemates.

Among these, I've gotten into Corvallis' swing scene (and tried Country Swing as well!), enjoyed the farmer's market, been to Portland, gone hiking, embraced Orange, run a rainy 5k, and spent time with the 3 Humboldt natives I know in Corvallis.

I'm about to begin week 4 of my first quarter of grad school.  It's hard.  And really, really busy (hence the giant gap in my blogging...which won't happen again.  Hopefully.).  I'm still making time to take care of myself--I'm suffering through rocking BodyPump weight classes at the gym--my swing dancing, and Once Upon a Time and Modern Family.  But I know if I didn't, I'd just be going crazy.  And I'm keeping in mind lessons learned, because what's the use of advice if I don't remember it?

This is my life.  I'm becoming Oregonian and loving it.  I'm growing up a little (I bought brussels sprouts and sometimes wear blazers and heels to work), remembering to take care of myself.  Missing Vienna, but living happily where I am now.

Grace and peace,
Hilary