The Chronicles of Rental Carnia

I was reduced to writing on paper. With a pen. What you're reading here was first written BY HAND. OMG. I was in Seattle for a few days visiting the University of Washington and here are some of my musings/observations/mishaps.

Thursday

I rented a Chrysler Sebring for the journey which aged me about 30 years, but I'm still hot, don't worry. Like Glenn Close or Meryl Streep maybe.

I found my friend's kick-ass house that looks like an IKEA ad and kind of creepily reminds me of one of those new-age homes that rich housewives get murdered in.

I took the bus to campus and in an attempt to look confident I got off the bus and started walking even though I had no idea where I was going. Evidently I was following my heart because I actually headed away from campus and to the cool street every campus has that is lined with shops, cafes, pubs, etc. I righted my course and headed to the building I was supposed to be in. My fear of being either over or under-dressed was assuaged when the woman to my right looked like an un-showered REI ad and some guy across the table was wearing cuff links.

I talked to my future advisor who likened a PhD program to an endurance event, which is great, except hopefully without the crapping/peeing myself part.

Friday

I am now in what I assume is a very typical Seattle coffee shop where the baristas are prolly the coolest people on earth which I know because they mumble and play songs like "Put your Ass into it" which is only an acceptable song when it is NOT played for irony's sake . Like when you actually want someone to put their ass into it.

Also, it wouldn't be a trip to Seattle without drenching rain. The rain doesn't seem to slow folks down and the main affect on fashion seems to be that the undergrads wear their RIDICULOUS leggings with rain boots instead of Ugh boots.

Also, for those that compare Portland and Seattle: a glimpse into your meaningfully yet casually tattooed future: the weekly paper in Seattle advertises shops that REMOVE and LIGHTEN tattoos, featuring a photo of a delightfully dismayed looking hipster. Ha.