Julian

Arts walk in the Spring. Music, Dance, Art, Food, parties and yes, The Procession of The Species. Once a yea Olympia and the surrounding communities come together for this one of a kind event."The Procession of the Species is a joyous, spontaneous artistic pageant where community members celebrate their relationships with each other and with the natural world. Created by the community for the community, the Procession program facilitates seven weeks of art, music, and dance workshops that inspire personal understanding of and local action for wildlife protection. Then on Procession day, residents don their creative expressions and proceed through the streets of Olympia in masks and costumes. Carrying banners, windsocks, and giant puppets, they participate in a cultural exchange honoring the awe and splendor of the natural world. The Procession seeks to bridge the arts, the environment, and our local community. As a celebration of art, it involves citizens in a creative process affirming art's place in the forum of public expression. As a celebration of species, it awakens public sensibilities to the issues surrounding environmental awareness and protection. As a celebration of community, it enhances the exchange between local schools, local government, businesses, and civic organizations. Designed to create a cultural exchange rather than an entertainment event, the Procession is an open invitation to participate in imagination, creation, and sharing. By fostering inclusiveness and collaboration, the Procession engages area residents regardless of age, background, or ability. Providing schools, social services, businesses, tribes, and fellowships with the same opportunity, the Procession involves a broad cross section of the community." (excerpt from the POSC web page). Please check out pictures from this years events as well as past years. Link- http://www.procession.org/Photos.php
With the weather heading into the weekend looking very ominous, all of us procession goers were pleasantly surprised to have a wonderfully sunny, warm weekend to spend outdoors with the crowds. What a treat! I had a blast running in to new and old friends on the streets, sharing a laugh, a thought, a hug, memories, and of course the vibe of the weekend. If you didn't get a chance to make it out this year, I hope you all make plans to show up in all your glory next year and for years to come.

On a side note, I will be at Olympic College (Bremerton, WA) tomorrow, Tuesday April 29th, from 9:00am-1:00pm for a college visit. So if your in the neighborhood and have any questions or would like to come pick up some information on Evergreen, please feel free to come check me out. As for Wednesday April 30th, I will be at Pierce Fort Steilacoom, from 9:00am-1:00pm, also for a college visit.

Until the next time, stay safe, have fun, and never say never. PEACE-J

Posted by Julian at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I sit here in my office lucky enough to have a window looking out in to the trees overlooking parts of Red Square. It has been many months now of watching them sway with wind as the rain (or snow in some cases) pours through the openings. Every once in awhile when the sun peaks through the cloud cover it seems as if summer is here. The way the sun lights up my office for those few seconds. I sit here and picture the many summer afternoons spent on the field in front of the campus apartments throwing the football or playing a pick-up game of soccer, or just layin in the sun. I cant wait. When the sun finally does make it's way to this part of the Pacific Northwest the campus comes alive. All of the individuals who have been sheltering them selfs from the rain during the grey months find their way outside to take full advantage of the long days of sunlight. I like to think that the summer in the Northwest is second to none. Obviously this is a biased perspective considering I love this state that I was born and raised in. None the less, I have done my share of traveling throughout my young life and have yet to find a better country, state, city, or town, to spend the summer in. The summer days are a picture perfect 80-85 degrees, not humid or muggy, no need for air conditioning, no bugs (compared to the sticky south and many parts of the country), and yes, it is very green. All of the rain we get does serve a very important purpose in the health and beauty of this region and sustaining the very fragile eco-system that has taken shape over countless years.
Hopefully some of you all will experience what it is I am so anticipating. And what a better place to watch it all unfold than Evergreen. Of the thousand acres our campus encompasses, eight-hundred are untouched temperate rain forest, marshlands, organic farm land, and of course the "geo-duck beach" which is located on the southern most tip of Puget Sound. There are endless ways to spend a summer day here, from exploring the forest or beach on campus to walking around downtown Olympia, or planning a trip to Vancouver, or Seattle, or Portland. The list goes on and on. As if that wasn't enough, we are also located within an hour and a half of the Pacific Coast (on historic highway 101), the Hoh Rain Forest and National Park, also within two hours from Mt. Rainer, three from Mt. Baker, and not far from Mt. Hood either. So whether you want to be in the city or out into the wild ,you will be more than satisfied with all of the options a summer day presents you. When it comes around don't forget your sun block and remember to drink hella water so you can stay fresh. I cant wait to be rockin shorts again and bring out my summertime kicks. And as a matter of fact I think I might just play summertime (Will Smith), as we speak to provoke the sun to come out as soon as it possibly can and stay for as long as possible. Lets hope it works. Until we meet again. PEACE- J

Posted by Julian at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What's up with this weather? I remember the the saying, "April showers equals May flowers", but never heard of April snow equaling anything more than goosebumps. Within an hour and a half of Olympia, in Everett, they just set the record for most SNOW in the month of April, with six inches recorded over the weekend. I'm just glad I was done with my college visit in Everett on Thursday. Maybe this is a sign of a wonderful, hot, beach, barbeque's, sun filled summer to come. I sure hope so after the 18 total days of sun we had last summer, if you can even call it that. It seems to me as if Mother Nature just cant make up her mind. She must really love the winter. We are weeks in to the Spring Quarter here at Evergreen and so far it seems like are schedule is off by a few weeks compared to the schedule of Mother Nature. We have had some sneak previews of the months to follow, but have yet to string together any real nice days in a row. It will happen soon enough, and you can bet that when it does it will make everyone enjoy it just that much more because of the wait. Life will fill Red Square once again as Summer is on the horizon. The forest around campus is already starting to fill out, the wild flowers on the parkway are starting to bloom little by little, and you can see and hear the anticipation of sunshine with every passerby. I even plan on doing some of my Evergreen Information Sessions outside if at all possible. I got that idea from all of the seminar groups that find a nice place to sit and discuss out on the square. If you would be interested in this just let me know and I will do my best to get it worked out. Well until next time I bid farewell.

Posted by Julian at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello to all of you out there on the world wide web. Since my last entry way back when a lot has happened. First and foremost, The Evergreen State College's Mens Basketball Team fell in the Cascade Conference Championship to rivals Warner Pacific. WP went on to the National NAIA Div 2 tournament only to lose a first round overtime game. Meanwhile, Oregon Institute of Technology, another Cascade Conference rival, which Evergreen beat by double figures two out of three times in the regular season and in the conference playoffs, went on to win the National NAIA Div 2 Championship game. Not to mention their Senior point guard, Ryan Figi, was named National Player of The Year. On a more positive note, only good things can be said about Evergreens 2007-08 season. After a 20+ loss season in the previous year, Evergreen rebounded with a 21-8 recored, the second best mark in school history. Returning only three players from the previous year and with a new head coach, that is almost unheard of. There is a lot to look forward in the years to come with Evergreen looking to create what could be one of the top tear programs in the conference and for the matter in the entire country. Returning next year will be First Team All-Conference Gaurd, Nate Menefee, Newcomer of The Year, Forward, Nick Moore, and a strong supporting cast of returning players as well as a few new additions from the off season. With the accomplishments of last year under their belts, and the sour taste of defeat in the Championship game, Evergreen looks to improve on their marks and take Evergreen back to the National Tournament for only the second time in school history. For more on the Men's Basketball team or any other athletic program at Evergreen please feel free to check out the Athletics Web Site. Link- http://www.evergreen.edu/athletics/

Posted by Julian at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)