Making friends

Michael and I have been busy this week, so no updates the last couple days. We’ve both been working and meeting new people and sleeping. I promise, Michael will charm you with an update soon. For now, it’s all me. Here’s what’s going on:

I met an Eugenian poet who teaches letterpress printing at the university. We shared some tea and talked for a few hours about writing, life in Eugene, hiking, letterpress, and WS Merlin ambivalence. She told me about local readings and writing groups, how this is a great town to meet writers and get connected with workshops and readings. I am secretly, though publically, hoping she will invite me over to see her letterpress printing studio. Michael and I also had an authentic Mexican dinner with a couple of new friends, one of whom is also a recent MFA grad.

So, look Moms! We’re making friends!

I’ve also had a few job interviews, but nothing that can compete with barista-ing. Seriously. When Michael and I moved here we came not only for a different landscape; we came to create different lives for ourselves, ones we didn’t think possible in Grand Rapids. The coffee shop I’m working at is a micro-community, one I’m happy to be a part of. It’s wonderful—most of the people coming in are regulars and SUPER nice. My fellow co-workers are cool (we’ll probably try to make them be our friends too) and I get to look at mountains all day.

In other news: Michael and I have had to get creative when it comes to our budget. So when my hairs started to get long, especially in the back, I had him cut it. Why pay 40 bucks when you have a husband? It was a SLOW, incremental process, but he did a great job. We also go to this bar down the street that gives us free popcorn in a humungous bowl. The beer fills in the gaps, obviously. Staying healthy in Eugene!

This weekend we’re headed to Iron Mountain for some excellent hiking. The wildflowers bloom in July, but because of the unseasonal rain we think they may still be around. The plant life in the area is supposed to be spectacular—17 kinds of trees!

I don’t have any new pictures from the week, so instead I give you this:

Love from the west,

Katie (and M)