REI Return Sale

REI Portland

Every single REI accepts returned items that didn't live up to their reputation or had some kind of flaw. So what happens to all of these returned items...

Well, they get thrown in the basement, and then they sit there... for a few months. At which point REI will open up it's basement (in which every single item has been checked and discounted) to any REI member who is willing to wait in a long line to see what kind of unwanted products are piled up in this cavernous place.

A friend from George Fox, her sister and myself headed over to REI around 11:00pm to find that the tent line (yes people camp out for this thing) surrounded a whole two sides of the building. We set up our own tent (I myself just slept in the open), chatted for a bit and then hit the sack.

6:00am rolled around and I was awakened by some more members arriving to await in line with a coffee in hand. I went back to sleep...

7:15am rolled around and I began packing up, following the example of the other "tenters."

8:00am rolled around and I was now scrunched up closer to the Garage doors awaiting for the store clerks to let us in.

10:00am rolled around and I was waddling back to the car with an armful of random gear...

The Haul:

Montrail running shoes: $19.83 Reg: $110 Used once, did not like fit

Stainless 27oz. Water Bottle: $4.83 Reg: $18.95 Used, bought too many.

REI Minimalist Bivy Sack: $29.83 Reg: $81.20 Used once, no return excuse

REI Traverse Day Pack: $39.83 Reg: $79.50 Used outside, no excuse

REI Ultralight Rain Pants: $29.83 Reg: $79.50 Used once, wrong size

Total Savings: $245

Backpacking on Mt. Hood

So last weekend, here at Fox it was a three day weekend. So myself and some other peeps went backpacking up on Mt. Hood.

Friday: Hiked in about 5 miles and set up camp

Saturday: Day hiked about 10 miles (round trip) to Ramona Falls

Sunday: Hiked back out around 5 miles

We started out Timberline lodge

It was a little cold but we warmed up quickly when we hit the trailWe stayed on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) for almost the entire weekend

This is where we ended up camping (we stayed here both nights)

Here are some cool views of the trail on the way to Ramona Falls

...and here we are at the falls (From left to right Nick, Debra, Crystal, Gretchen and myself)

What do you do during your study breaks?

As for me, I've been using my available supplies (post-it notes & tape) to express myself artistically... Sweet, sweet boredom.

Photography Fun

So I'm in Photography 1 at George Fox, in which we shoot and develop our own black and white film.

I'm finding the actual developing process to be quite entertaining. It's amazing how much you can change the picture just by using filters and exposure time while printing. I thought I would share a few examples from my first roll of film.

(Larger Size)

(Larger Size)

Brain Sex

Austin, one of the Penn 1 guys is doing a survey for a psychology class. The title is somewhat hilarious (as seen above.) It takes six steps to complete the survey with sections ranging from spotting differences in pictures to the size of your fingers to the attractiveness of different facial characteristics.

The results give you a glimpse at the basic differences in male-female brains and what areas of your own brain are more masculine and which are more feminine.

For example I am able to spot differences in the arrangments of objects similar to that of a women's brain (therefore I'm supposed to be able to find the remote better than most men). Also, I am able to sympathize with people more than most males but less so than most females. I also prefer feminine looking faces (thank goodness.) Finally, I scored extremely high (perfect) in my ability to mentally rotate 3-d objects...

If you have a half an hour, and a ruler. You should take this test it is extremely entertaining.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/

Honoring Alexander Spycher (1987-2009)

Here is an article of memory towards Alex

When someone is suddenly taken from the world, emotions run high and questions are asked. Why now? Why him? For what reason?

These questions will not be answered immediately, and sometimes won't be answered in our lifetime. This does not mean that you should give up searching for these answers.

If you have deep (hard) questions that are on your mind. I suggest trying to look at them from a different perspective. Look at how it caused other people to live their lives. Usually a majority of people that had a personal relationship with someone that passed away, will find they strive to live for the best qualities in that person or appreciate the smaller things in life.

Death also reminds us of the small section of time we live in, compared to the history of our universe. It causes us to strive for the things we appreciate and live for the things we believe in.

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"If I have any words of advice, I would tell you to trust yourself and your dreams, never let any person take your dreams away, for at points in your life, dreams are the only thing you will have left."

- Alexander Spycher

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Even though I was never aware of Alex's existence my comfort and love goes out to those affected by Alex's death.

Peace

"At one time a famous artists' association announced a contest. All pictures entered in the competition were to depict "peace." The winner would be awarded a large sum of money.

Paintings of all sorts were submitted. There were serene pastoral scenes; placid lakes; an intimate cottage scene, cheerful and snug before a cozy fireplace; untrammeled vistas of freshly fallen snow; a painting of tranquil, windless dawn in opalescent colors.

But the painting selected by the judges for the first prize was very different from all the others. It depicted the height of a raging storm. Trees ben low under lashing wind and driving rain. Lightning zigzagged across a lowering, threatening sky. In the center of the fury the artist had painted a bird's nest in the crotch of a gigantic tree. There a mother bird spread her wings over her little brood, waiting serene and unruffled until the storm would pass. The painting was entitled very simply, peace." -Catherine Marshall, The Helper (pg. 185)