Those silly Presidents...

I simply could not resist posting this video...

And another candle goes out...

This post has been removed at this time. I am sorry to any who were affected by my words I wished only to pay tribute to a dear friend.
~Stephan

27 Dresses...

Ok so I did my own thing last night here in the 'Burg and took a cab out to New Town, for those of you in Bend just think Old Mill...yes, New Town and Old Mill...SAME THING save for the lack of an REI at New Town. ANYWAY...went to the Virginia version of Regal Cinemas (they call it Consolidated Cinemas same logo though), and I went to go see 27 Dresses. So the first showing of this movie was sold out, so I bought a ticket for the next one and tooled around the New Town shops. Then I go back a little bit early to get a seat in the theater, turns out though that my early wasn't so early...I knew I was going to a chick flick and that I would most likely be the only guy there (actually I think I counted 5), but man that place was already filling up. They had sold out the theater and I do believe that every sorority member of from the local University was in attendance...to me a fairly hilarious situation. I am not going to lie, I enjoy watching a good chick flick, as un-manly as that may sound and I really don't care. I was particularly interested in this movie as I am preparing to be a bridesman in my best friend's wedding this spring. A wedding that I for one cannot wait to attend by the way...and for those of you who know me well yes I do plan on playing up the fact that I will be one of the single bridesmaids for all those folks who go to weddings for that sort of thing!! HAHA!! But seriously, back to the movie...go see it ladies, but please remember to go see it with your female friends. DO NOT take your boyfriend or a guy you may just be casually seeing, and wives--leave the husbands at home...the lady behind me tortured her husband the entire movie with lines like "See that's how it's supposed to be" and "Gosh, I wish that was true" oh and don't forget "I wish you were like that"...I felt bad for that guy. I went cause I wanted to see the movie...it was good...typical chick flick, but fun to watch. So, unless the guy volunteers leave him at home, but get some girlfriends and go watch this movie you will be glad you did!

Virginia so far...

So I made it to Virginia. It has been an adventure thus far and everyday seems to be an adventure of its own. After arriving last Friday night and being taken in by a wonderful young couple who agreed to allow me to house-sit for them as they departed Saturday morning for two weeks in Pennsylvania...I immediately set out to discover the layout of the town and since I arrived by train, transportation was limited for me so I chose to walk...thinking: "Gee a town of 12,000 people can't be that big of a place right?" Boy was I wrong. Saturday I put in 24 miles round trip...most by foot, some by cab. I did not succeed in any of my objectives to find specific shops that would allow me to purchase some much needed day-to-day items that I am currently lacking. All that did was instill in me the importance of finding a living space that is close to the main portion of town...you see there are several portions of town as I have come to find out. The other interesting fact that has succeeded in making my life hard is the fact that I now live on a peninsula, for all my land locked folks, basically what that means is that everything, every sign, direction, road, etc, runs East to West...North-South does not exist here...truly I can't explain it, that is just the way it is! And there are absolutely no major visible landmarks that can aide in navigation or orientation to this community...oh and let me say I know some people out West who hate our military influenced, gridded road systems...trust me on this one, come and try and get around this town and you will be begging for your grid in about 5 minutes or less. It snowed today, didn't stick, but it did have all these folks in a panic...I think out in Central Oregon we would have viewed today's snow shower here as a really bad case of dandruff! Work is going well so to speak, I am a week behind schedule due to my start date, but I made it through the final two days of new hire orientation. No, I do not know the role or roles I have been cast in, they are still keeping very secretive about all that, but once I know I will be sure to pass it along. Rehearsals start in February and then we get sent out before the public in March, so be sure to plan a trip after March to get a chance to see the shows...they have hired some amazing talent and I think you will be in for a treat regardless of what shows you attend! On another note, I hope to find a place to live soon where I can bring Portia out, I am really, really starting to miss her! Shelby, Dad, and Mom have helped out in caring for her, Shelby even taught Poe how to take Portia for her walks!

An Awfully Big Adventure

On Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 I will be departing on possibly the biggest adventure of my life. I am leaving Oregon. Yes, that's right, Stephan is leaving Oregon behind and taking a historic journey across the country and through time. As some of you know I accepted an acting position at Revolutionary City in Colonial Williamsburg. I will start training on Monday, Jan. 14th. Next Tuesday, I will depart Portland, Oregon by way of Amtrak. I will be taking the historic Empire Builder Route, made famous by James J. "Empire Builder" Hill. Hill was the creator of the Great Northern Railway that was completed in 1893 which linked forever the Upper Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. I will be traveling from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL passing through some of the country's most exciting and colorful sights: the Cascade Mountains or the Columbia River Gorge; ancient Indian burial grounds; Glacier National Park; the Mississippi River; ranches, towns and forts right out of history. There will be several short station stops but for a little more than two days I will be on the train. And following a short 3 hour stop in Chicago, IL I will then board the Capitol Limited for Washington, DC and I will have about another 3 hours in DC before boarding the final train to Williamsburg, VA. While I realize to anyone else this just seems like a completely bizarre way of traveling across this country to me this feels like time travel. This journey I am about to embark on is a historic one, I will travel our nation in reverse...going from the tamed wilds of the Pacific Northwest to essentially the birthplace of our nation. In a little over three days of travel I will unwind our nation's history and arrive at a place where a little over 200 years ago there was no such thing as the United States of America. I will admit I am scared out of my mind...I am heading to a completely foreign territory for me, I have no friends, have not found a place to live, nor have I as of yet secured any transportation. But I am also excited at all the possibilities that await me...this will be an awfully big adventure!