Graduation Day

May 19, 2012

pomp and circumstance

a few audience members

commencement speaker

feeling so small yet accomplished

on to the next big thing

Graduation gift

hottie 

sodas from around the world 

yep. 

shiny buildings 

Pete Rose:  What did God say to the Cubs?

Alec (avid Cubs fan): What?

Mr. Rose:  Don't do anything 'til I get back. 

 drag

winnings, or should I say losings...

 fake blue men

getting ready for the show 

real blue man.  Tobias, where's your mustache? 

Bellagio

bye bye Vegas.

Who's a hippie?

Not me, but I can run with them!  On our way out of Eugene we stopped in Portland so I could compete in the Hippie Chick half marathon.  I signed up for it way back in December before I knew we would be moving at that time.  I was sleep deprived and exhausted from moving the day before, but somehow I managed to finish within my goal of under 2 hours.  And then I almost died.

Pictures!

Eugene ladies, two of whom are pregnant, one of which is due in 2 weeks.  And yes, she ran the whole way. 

Yep, I am that pasty in real life. 

This is me at the end of the race, hunched over with my space blanket and almost dying. 

Proof I finished, and lived.

And that's how I say goodbye to you, Oregon.  A grand goodbye indeed.

Eugene is...

...Track Town USA

...where kids call school teachers by their first name

... a vegetarian's dream

...where spring starts in January

...eco-friendly dual action toilets

...where you don’t think twice when you find a pair of jeans in your gutter

...home of the best doughnut I’ve ever tasted

...great friends

... where styrofoam and plastics bags are the devil

...where you see things like this everyday

...where if you’re different you’re normal, and if you’re normal you’re different

...where U-Haul takes on a whole new meaning

 

...where it’s hip to be poor


...beautiful

...where policemen drive Priuses

...where hacky sack volley ball is an extreme sport

...where any and every man feels obliged to go shirtless

...where you have to have a prescription for Advil cold and sinus

...where two became three

...the smell of pot in the morning

...the Saturday Market

...the worst allergies on the planet

...50 sq mi surrounded by reality

Goodbye Eugene!  We'll miss you?!?!?!