hopped off the plane at PDX

Just kidding, we drove. But that song definitely needs to be remembered, imho. WOW SO IMPORTANT BUT LETS START THIS POST NOW

It took 29 hours to go across Iowa and Nebraska, in and out of Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho, and most majestically...upwards into the bountiful state of Oregon to reach Portland.

"so how long-"
"1 day and 5 hours."
"..."
"..."
"fuck"

Driving across the country is generally a pretty crazy thing because of those long stretches of highway. If you're on a certain part of the highway, it's sort of assumed you have plans to go a really far distance in that direction, so according to whoever decides the location of interesting things, there's no need for anything very cool in your near vicinity. With both of us going to Oregon able to drive while the other rested up, we made it without having to stop for any longer than was needed for things like gas, bathroom breaks, and meals. This was the longest distance I was able to assist with driving and it was really chill. Nope, think even chiller. Like...really, really chill. The first shift I took started at 9pm not too long after Omaha, Nebraska and went until about 2 in the morning somewhere farther through Nebraska (which, by the way, continues to be devastatingly empty of anything with even the mere potential to be exciting). That was the longest I drove without switching (five hours), and the whole vibe of being the only one awake in the car with the black night sky was great.

YO ADD ME ON SNAPCHAT AT MICKEYF19 AND BE FULFILLED

So road trip things (It sucks that I have to gloss over hours of my life, hours that seemed to go on forever, but bruuhhhh if I didn't this post would be just a bad time. I crossed through states I'd never been to, bought snacks from people in gas stations whose sole purpose in the entirety of my life was done once the moment was, took some hella naps, and I drove. That's truly as savory as I can tell the story from here on out.) happened, etc etc. T'was towards the evening hours when we got into Oregon, which was an overall lovely entrance. The sky was sorta lavender, a very nice contrast to the particular pacific-northwest-type ecosystem it spanned over.

We spent time walking around the city, walking around a forest (and behind one of this forest's waterfalls), and walking around on Canon Beach of Seaside, Oregon, a brilliant little town I plan on returning to for surfing-related activities. Like surfing. HHAHAHA MICKEY IS JUST TOO MYSTERIOUS. Also, I took some time from four of the five weekdays I was there to visit/tour/shadow at schools I was considering going to. That's a very weird thing, walking into something so ridiculous and intriguing as another high school with zero knowledge of their hierarchies or fashion sense or lunchtime rituals...their things, what makes that school that school. It was even a little stressful at times, I never knew if I was accidentally giving a weird first impression, or if I was giving a first impression at all if it turned out I wasn't going to that school, because there wouldn't really ever be a second impression. Maybe you're seeing a little of how weird it can be sometimes? Eh. Well. I decided on a really nice place in the heart of Portland after all the kids kept telling me that the vibes were wonderful at their school. That stuck out to me and seemed to be a good sign. 

So hey, honestly the trip was great and there's kinda too much to go into for me to go into any of it. Wouldn't wanna be unfair in my approach to the comp. of a blog post, amirite? Right-o. The rest of this is as simple as clicking on a link to a flickr album I put together of my favorite pictures I took if you'd like to see those. 

This is the link. Please for daluvofgawd.. just don't miss this link. I swear on the most beautiful phenomenon of nature imaginable if you miss this fuckin link.

Have a fun time doing something that matches your definition of fun, and doing it to the best of your capabilities! Or just, a good day? Because like, that's probably the least you could manage. There's a holiday bonus waiting for you if you just, at the very least, have a good day. Ugh I DUNNO, BYEE

The planet's most "see you later, alligator" alligator ever