When life gives you Spuds, make Spudade.

Went to Eugene on Wed/Thurs for a quick visit. I have never been so exhausted by a road trip. Especially one where I wasn't even driving! Duck drove the whole way, 8 hours there, 8 hours back. I walked all over campus and spent hours upon hours in the art museum, trying to soak it all in. I feel like I brought a lot back with me in regards to my specific program (had a meeting with 3 current students and one alumna). As far as the question everyone is asking, "How do you like Eugene?" It is very difficult to say. I really didn't see much of it. But from what I did manage, I suppose I can say it feels very cramped. Tiny streets, old buildings, older houses. It was blazing sunshine both days, but it is typically one of the more rainy cities in the Northwest. About 10% of the city is made up of the UO campus. Everyone is in love with UO sports, there are few cars without giant yellow and green UO stickers across the rear window. Duck themed everything! I got paperwork in the mail from my department...brace yourself...it was my "IntroDUCKtion" to the campus/Eugene.

The Pros: It smells nice. Green things are growing on the green things. People are generally friendly. Plenty of vegetarian/vegan restaurants. Superb art museum. Pioneer cemetery in the middle of campus. City tries to be as eco-friendly as possible, signs hanging over every trash can, "Can You Recycle That?" Drive home through Portland is long but not horrific. Well respected Arts Admin program.

The Cons: Old mildewy housing with no garages but somehow more expensive to rent than a similar house in Boise. Insanely high property crime rate. Highest bike theft rate in the nation on campus. Campus jobs pay minimum wage only. Itty bitty city. Nearly zero parking available on campus. Quarter system (10 weeks per term). Air quality -- Highest grass pollen count in the WORLD from April to July. I quote from the Oregon Daily Emerald: "Cities around the country rarely see more than 100 particles per cubic meter, which is a high pollen count. Eugene had a pollen count of 1,531 particles per cubic meter on June 6, 2006." Can you say UGH?

Before I work myself into a panic attack, I'm going back to work.

All work and no play make Spuddie something something.