Well, here we are, in October.  Classes just started on Tuesday, and I feel like I’m drowning already.  I’m taking classes about the American West, and World War II (both 400 level history courses), in addition to my history research seminar.  In my seminar, which is about Oregon History, we are asked to choose a topic (a fairly narrow one) and then write a 25 page research paper, from mostly primary sources.  Thankfully, our library has a rather impressive selection of manuscripts and documents.  My topic, you ask? Vice in the Rose City.  That’s Portland for all you non-Oregonians.  So, that is something that I’ll continue to post about.

Meanwhile, if you’ve been following, you’ll have noticed from previous entries that my dad and I have been making life-size Nightmare before Christmas characters for Halloween and Christmas decor.  Just yesterday, we finished up everything and got it all up.

Total cost: $460.03.  My dad thinks about 500 hours was put into this between him, myself, and the couple days that Patrick came to work.  Needless to say, I’m very satisfied with the outcome.  We also created a Santa Jack and the coffin sleigh and skeleton reindeer as well as other Christmas elements which will go up around Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, today some friends and I check out Bring Recycling in Springfield.  The place is a treasure trove for people who are renovating or are crazy artists.  Bring has everything from light fixtures to lockers to toilets to school desks – there was even a boat and the vintage weight-loss machine as demonstrated by moi on the left.  This type of machine was very popular in the 1950s and 60s, and were often depicted in pin-ups.  Whether they worked or not is another question.  I would have purchased it, had it not been $75.00.

But I didn’t leave Bring empty-handed.  I purchased another retro star patterned glass lamp cover for $2.00 and a small copper bullet shaped lamp (which works) for $4.00.

I also found about 40 drawer pulls in two different boomerang shapes, all at $0.25 a piece! I don’t even have drawer pulls in our apartment, but I couldn’t pass ‘em up because I may have a place in the near future that has drawer pulls.

Overall, it was a successful trip.  Tomorrow is the Canby Swapmeet, but I’m missing out because I have work. Oh well.