I vote for Portland. I'm not sure why; I just do. Actually, it's the only one of those cities that I've never been to, so my vote probably is entirely based on "I know nothing bad about it," rather than "I know a lot of good about it."

My plan for these few weeks of summer when I had studying but no classes was to try to exercise every day. Lots of days lately, not so much happening. Today, I'm being a dork and counting Dance Dance Revolution as exercise. (Rational: it works up a sweat, and requires a sports bra. Therefore, exercise.)

Los Angeles, sundress, carnitas.

I mean, it's pretty obvious.

Split the difference between Portland and LA, and go for San Francisco. Portland is a longish drive, but Ashland is just about exactly at the midpoint, so you can stop at a nice little inn along the way and hit some bookstores and take in a show.

Lunch tomorrow: takeout pad thai.

Clothing: no opinion to offer, as I saw you just last weekend and it's clear that you are totally capable of dressing yourself with appropriate cuteness or hotness as the occasion requires.

Emily, the where to move decision is a tough one. There are buffistas at each place. Good luck with making up your mind.

I'd vote for Portland, on the basis that I don't know anyone who's ever moved away from there permanently. I knew people in college who planned to move back immediately after graduation, and people who've moved there as adults, but I've never met anyone who grew up there and wanted to leave. So it seems like it must be a pretty nice place.

Lunch tomorrow will I believe be a salami sandwich, and is generally at the gracious whim of vw. Clothing will be black pants and blue shirt, sort of by default.

I'm off to bed, and I hope tomorrow's day 3, but worry that it may be day 5. Oh, the joys of a rotating schedule and not getting the emails that the real teachers get.

Lunch tomorrow will I believe be a salami sandwich

She's so smart!

and is generally at the gracious whim of vw

And I'm very whimmy. I decide if she eats at all! THE POWER!

Clothing will be black pants and blue shirt, sort of by default.

Yup. Did laundry today. There are a good number of blue shirts available.

ION, why is vw up at 11pm when her class starts tomorrow? Well, I'll tell you.

See, vw has a fire escape outside her window (yes, I also have an air conditioner in that window, but we won't go there for now). And apparently, the downstairs neighbors are having a party, and some of them have decided to go to the roof (which is illegal, I might add). To do that, they have to travel along the fire escape, which is literally right by my head.

No matter how many times they do this, I wake up in a panic that I'm about to be raped and murdered. Gonna have to go down and have a little neighborly talk with them tomorrow (maybe before I leave for school, so I wake them up. Yes, I am that evil). I think, at this point, I'll threaten to call the evil landlord if it happens again. I actually think they're pretty damn lucky that that isn't what's gonna happen this time, seeing as this is the third time they've done this to me.

vw, If I lived in Boston, I would SO come put the fear of Erin in them!

(Fear of God -- eh. Maybe effective in Biblical times, but I am much more coporeal and quite scarier. And theology free!)

Sophia -- I am so sad for you and Sunshine the Bitey Cat. I hope your hurts are even better tomorrow (still go to the doc, though!) and that maybe Bitey Cat was just having a 'sode.

kisses

vw, If I lived in Boston, I would SO come put the fear of Erin in them!

I would so love this, 'cause I know that tomorrow I'm gonna be all, "You know? Could you not do this? I know it's asking a lot, but it kind of freaks me out, and I would just really appreciate it. Thanks so much. Bye."

A vote for Portland from a lurker who has lived here for 17 years and would not move anywhere else again. Cozy small-town vibe with cool things to do and see. Friendly people, lots of bookstores. Gorgeous gardens. And it doesn't rain much at all in our beautiful summers--it's the cooler months that are rainy.