Uggly Oregonian trends

Listen up, ladies. I'm breaking my self-imposed hiatus to make an important request.

If it is warm enough outside for you to wear shorts or a mini skirt, please, please leave the Uggs at home. First of all, they were the height of fashion several years ago very briefly. But they were not then and are not now warm weather apparel.

(I know, this is hardly of earth-shattering importance, but a couple days ago I saw a gaggle of college-aged girls walking down the street wearing mini skirts and these hideous boots. It was wrong!)

Corvallisness

Due to recent events, our way of life in Corvallis is going to shift. The changes may be virtually imperceptible or it may rock the town's essential nature. Either way, some of these changes are inevitable, some are deplorable, some likely won't matter to the majority of those who live here.

I personally will mourn two losses that our town is facing. The first is the demise of the Avalon Cinema, best li'l theater that ever was. It didn't even really get a chance to be a theater pub; it was sort of like turning 21 and finding out you already have liver cirrhosis.

I will admit my own culpability; I work evenings, and haven't made it to the Avalon (or Darkside) in quite a long while. But the cause is multifactorial. The town went from five movie screens to 21 in a rather short time and, sadly, people seem to actually prefer checking out the latest Adam Sandler movie in stadium seats with overpriced, chemically-flavored popcorn than watching Pan's Labyrinth with takeout.

The Avalon will have one last great fling with the public by showing Rocky Horror Picture Show on June 30th. I have to work, again. But I do plan on making more of an effort to patronize the Darkside, because I don't want it to suffer the same fate.

The other great loss will be the beautiful stretch of land between Witham Hill Drive and Harrison Boulevard. This popular hiking area will be developed in typical ugly fashion by Legend Homes. Just what Corvallis needs... 220 more overpriced McMansions on teeny lots, just as the vacancy rate starts climbing, yet affordable housing. Two acres of wetlands will be destroyed and the oak savannah warped into postage stamp sod lawns. What a shame.

Some good things are happening, as well. There has been a spate of new restaurants opening up. New ventures in existing buildings are always good. Food variety is also good. I haven't had the opportunity to try Cloud 9 yet, and the new Tokyo Grill won't be open for a while, but Baguettes Vietnamese Sandwiches is amazing. Two shrimp salad rolls for $3.95 with a delicious mint peanut sauce. *drool*

The flower baskets are up downtown and I've just learned that Pink Martini will be playing at Da Vinci Days this year. We've been waiting for them to come back and play a local venue in Portland or Eugene for under $50 per person, only to find out that we can see them for the $15 it costs for a weekend pass at the festival. Awesome! Of course, I'm also supposed to move that weekend, but I'll probably need the break from packing and cleaning by the time the show starts.

The farmers' market still kicks serious fanny. We're all hooked on cherries and snap peas at the moment.

And finally, for now, if you missed Crime Watch this week, it's rather priceless. That suspicious philospher? I live with him. He just graduated from OSU with an actual degree in philosophy and he really is working on a book. He finds it peaceful and relaxing to write in the woods. I find it absurd that the police felt it necessary to question him in a public area at 2:30 in the afternoon, simply for sitting in his car, but that's just one more thing about Corvallis that doesn't really change -- there's not enough for the poor police officers to do. But hey, suspicious philosopher is a fantastic designation for business cards and such.

Hi?

It's been a crazy couple of months. I made it through my first year back at school with a better GPA than I expected. I was awarded a research apprenticeship that I am still trying to wrap up. I even won an award. And Corvallist kid somehow passed me in height and beat the odds to bring home a communicable disease to which she theoretically should have had immunity.

I thought I'd be back to regular posts by now, but my schedule won't allow it for another month or so. I somehow have to sort, sell, donate and pack all the STUFF that has been collecting dust in my garage and closets within the next couple of weeks in order to downsize from house to apartment. I loved this idea at first. I need to simplify. I need to purge. I didn't bother unpacking some of this STUFF since the last move, which means it's time to go. Plus, I decided I'd rather move to a smaller, cheaper place so grad school will be more affordable. The pool will also be nice, as will the location, which will enable both Corvallist kid and I to rely less on our vehicle for basic errands.

Of course, now I actually have to do all those things. In the interim, I'm trying to work overtime, deliver the kid to Grandma's house and squeeze in a visit myself, and finish this research project. Then I start summer classes.

Glutton for punishment? Oh yeah! But I do want to comment on a couple of things that have happened, so another post will be forthcoming before I sink back into hibernation.