Out Camping This Week

A photo of mine from Arches National Park in Utah, which I visited in the summer of 2007.
Hello all,

I wanted to give everyone a heads up: I will be away from all forms of electronic contact this week (it will be a good change of pace for me!) because I will be out at Camp Tillikum, near Newberg, with the rest of the Step Up crew and students from Marshall. It is our big week to get to know each other and develop some great working relationships for when we get back to school and start the year. So, I will not be able to respond or post any comments, or reply to e-mails (I love that I still get some from time to time from some of you - it always brightens my day) until Friday around 6:00 PM.

In other news, here's the deal with the JetBlue pass: Steven, my old roommate, had to drop out of getting one, but Ryan, with literally 5 minutes left, did end up buying it. Hurrah!

I just booked the last weekend of flights today: I will be heading to Bogota, Colombia from Oct. 2nd through the 4th! Even though he isn't going, Steve was able to get in touch with his Uncle down there, who was willing to host us for a couple of nights! So sweet.

I also booked the first weekend of flights, again. Get this: Portland to New York City on 9/10, getting in at 6:30 AM on 9/11. Day in NYC and Ground Zero in Manhattan, then 6:00 PM flight to Boston, followed by a 8:30 PM flight to Washington DC, where I will sleep in the airport for the night. On 9/12, fly from Washington DC (IAD) to Long Beach, California, departing at 7:40 AM and arriving at 10:00 AM PST. Then, Long Beach to Portland at 11:15, getting in at 1:35, in time to get home, shower up, then head down to the Ducks game at 7:15 PM in Eugene against Purdue!

The next day, I will get up super early again, and fly from Portland to Long Beach to San Jose, CA back to Long Beach, then back to Portland, all in one day, getting back home around 7:30.

So far, the total cost of all of these flights (two out the the available four weekends) would have been $2495.10. Because I have the pass, it is all for $600. Seriously, so sweet. Here's a map of where I have flights to booked so far:

Great Circle Mapper: Weekends #1 and #4.

Anyway, I hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of summer! I have seen an increase in the blog traffic around here, so I know people are beginning to check back in!

Until Friday... :-)

I have a job! And, I'm flying all over the place!

The best tuna melt I have ever had, and some delicious watermelon. Photo by Ryan Bowen.
Dear students,

Wow, that came together fast. As you may know by looking at my last post, I was up in Washington with Ryan for a while, until August 12th, when I drove back to Portland (because my birthday was August 13th). Now, once I got home, I saw this deal that JetBlue Airways is offering:

http://www.jetblue.com/deals/all-you-can-jet/?intcmp=HPHero1Eng_All-You-Can-JetPass

Basically, for $600, you can fly to anywhere they fly, and unlimited amount of times between September 8th and October 8th. You don't even have to pay taxes in the United States (though you do if you choose to fly internationally). 56 destinations, including many places that I would LOVE to go. Also, I know all of you know how much I love flying. So I figured that would be the perfect graduation/birthday present from my parents. I was jumping up and down excited, and still can't really believe it! Can you imagine all the possibilities? Here's everywhere that JetBlue flies (from Portland, they have non-stops to Long Beach, CA and New York City):

http://www.jetblue.com/wherewejet/

I am currently trying to get other people to come with me too. I talked with Ryan, who might be able to, but understandably has some finance issues with it. I also met with Mrs. DeFrance for lunch on Friday (so good to see her!), who was beyond excited about it as well - though I haven't heard back from her yet. Finally, one of my old college roommates, Steven, is pretty much committed to coming. He has family in Bogota, Columbia, who we could stay with. Isn't that just amazing?

Anyway, that is cool. However, this is cooler: on my birthday (the day after we bought the JetBlue pass), my friend Alexis from Lewis and Clark called me because she really wanted me to apply for a job that she was doing. Do any of you remember Mrs. Woicke, who came to supervise me? Basically, she is helping run this really awesome after-school program called Step Up for some Portland Public High Schools. Here's some more information:

http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/schools/C11/

The job is part time, from 1:45 to 5:30, Monday through Thursday. I had an interview today with one of the guys that runs it, and he hired me on the spot! Woo hoo! I will be working with Alexis at Marshall High School this next year - I have other Lewis and Clark friends that are working at other high schools too!

Basically, I will be an after school mentor/tutor for at-risk youth. I'll have 10 students total - 5 on Monday/Wednesday, and 5 on Tuesday/Thursday. I'm still not sure about the specifics, but I think I will be basically teaching and helping them with whatever they are given in their classes at Marshall. I'll also be meeting with their parents frequently and making sure they know what is going on - since the population is about 65% white and 35% latino, it should be a good opportunity for me to brush up on my Spanish!

So, put the two together, and that means that from Sept. 8 to Oct. 8, I will be working part time during the week (getting to sleep in, woo hoo!) and then flying off to all sorts of exotic destinations on the weekend. Could it get any better?

I've already booked the first trip: I will be flying out to New York City on a red eye after work on Thursday, getting in at 6:30 AM on September 11. I'm hoping to go to Ground Zero and take in all of the rememberances and then jet back to Portland later that night - because I really cannot miss the opening Oregon Duck home football game of the season on Saturday 9/12 vs. Purdue - if any of you are going, let me know! :-)

The next day, Sunday, I'm thinking about using the pass to fly down to Long Beach, CA for the day and then come back. Oh wow. This is going to be SO awesome!

Anyway, where do you think I should go? Take a look at the route map and suggest places! For right now, I am thinking that 2 of the other 3 weekends will be Bogota (with Steve) and Cancun, Mexico, where I can go check out the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza and Coba.

Seriously, it all came together that fast! It really was an incredible birthday and last few days. I am so excited for school!

Finally, here are some aforementioned photos of what I have been up to lately:


Cliff face off of Cape Kiwanda

Check out what the wind and waves did to this rock over time!


Standing on Canadian ground, at the Peace Arch, where Interstate 5 meets the border.


Gorgeous sunset over Birch Bay, Washington. Ryan's parents get this view every night!

Ryan playing pool in Bellingham, Washington. He beat me, two games to one.

LOVE this picture. It is of an alley in Bellingham. The light was just incredible.

The view of beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. As seen from Stanley Park, to the north of the city.


Ryan and I went to a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Vancouver BC. This was his fortune...

... and this was mine. I love it - it is on the inside of my wallet to remind me, haha.

Finally, here's me looking out over the bay towards Canada. Taken by Ryan. Good times. It has been a fantastic summer. Looking forward to getting back to work!
There you have it! Please let me know what you all are up to, and where I should fly to! Have a great day! :-)

Hey There, Everyone!

Hi guys, this is Lauren. Just wanted to share with all of you that I have a job interview tomorrow at the Bliss Bake Shop over in Bethany Village. I'll let you all know if I get the job!

How is everyone's summer going?

Mine sure has been eventful. I've been to at least fifty barbecues and parties, I went to the County Fair with some family, and am doing some volunteer work in portland this weekend. My cousin just recently got in an ATV accident and broke some bones in her lower back and behind her pelvis. Luckily, it won't affect her walking. She's doing okay, although I haven't spoken to her yet.

Home again Home again!

This was taken by my great Aunt Rindy at Rosevelt Lake and that's the canyon I was looking out on.

Hello again!
Just yesterday I got home from a 3 week vacation to Gisela, Az and Young, Az. Two very small towns. I was in Gisela to visit my cousin and his wife. That is my summer vacation usually to go and visit them!

Things I did:
-In Gisela:

Horseback riding (of course)
Swimming in the creek (FUUUUNN)
Went to a 13 year old's birthday party and wrestled three 13/14 year olds and beat them all (used some judo!!!)
Got to see new born baby pups (catahoula/ hound dogs)
Wrestled around with my cousin ( we always beat up on eachother)
Got to have some really good wine!
and lots more!

In Young:
Went on a 70 mile quad ride to Rosevelt Lake and a look out tower (for fires)
Ate the BEST PIZZA EVER(it was sour dough pizza)
Spent a week there.
Mostly rode quads all day
That was really fun time though
we made lots of food!

This was the quad I rode.

and that river is the salt river.
It flows into rosevelt lake!

On the Road Again

Cape Kiwanda, taken on Saturday, August 8th. Currently my desktop background!
Hey everyone,

It has been a long time, I know! I have actually been very much enjoying the first real summer that I have had for a few years. This morning, I was at Cape Kiwanda, Oregon with my family on a weekend beach trip, and now I am currently typing from Birch Bay, Washington, where I am staying for the next few days with Ryan Bowen and his parents. We will probably make a trip up to Vancouver, B.C. as well! Just wanted to check in and let you all know that I am in fact still around - pictures will be coming soon, once this all calms down. No news on the job front yet - there simply aren't any to apply for! We will see what happens down the stretch! Let me know how you are doing - ready for school to start back up? :-)

Have a great day, thanks for visiting!