The Arrival of Angles

Ok, watch this video and tell me, how could you not love them? I can't hold back from briefly plugging The Strokes new album, which you can now listen to on their website. I know, I already did a whole big blah-blah post about them. But now you can HEAR it, the album we've been waiting for for five years! That first song, Machu Picchu, gave me goose bumps (partly because I'm just so happy they're still making music together.) What they've created is a unique and new sound for themselves and their fans.

It's different, but it's still them. I'll admit, these songs are kind of the current soundtrack of my life, whether I'm in my room, at the gym, walking to school, or riding the bus. Obsessed? No. Dedicated fan? Yes. The official album can be purchased on the 22nd, which I will buy (and so should you), but its current availability on their website makes me so thankful for technology.

Thrift City

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

Alright folks, it's time to shake things up. Instead of going into some über-personal description of something in my room, I'm going to give you a list of my three favorite thrift/vintage stores in Portland. I may not be the most qualified or experienced "thrifter" to be giving this advice, but I've had a few successful adventures that I want to share:

1: Name: Cargo Location: 380 NW 13th Ave.
This place is insane. It also feels somewhat out of place in the high-price, clean-cut atmosphere of the Pearl District. But me oh my, I am so happy it exists. Upon arrival, the first thing you'll notice are the balloons and vintage furniture decorating the outside. It's quirky and strange and draws a lot of people in. The inside, however, is completely overwhelming (in such a good way). Everywhere you look, there are hundreds of obscure trinkets, most of which are Chinese-inspired. They truly fill ever empty space with as many items as possible. For those with legitimate incomes, they also sell some pretty wonderful and quality furniture.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

My favorite items I've purchased here are my matches and vintage maps of Europe. Each box of matches has a different design, my favorite being the New York subway system, and they're completely re-usable. As a bonus, the bags they give you when you purchase something are like a gift in themselves. They're essentially old newspapers turned into shopping bags, which is clever, eco-friendly, and very Portland. Overall, this place is a gem. When I have a career, steady income, and my own home to decorate, a good portion of my things will hopefully come from Cargo.

Vintage Photobooth

2: Name: House of Vintage Location: 3315 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
This store and I have a history. Even before I moved to Portland, I'd been here with my boyfriend. They have a vintage photobooth in their entryway, so of coarse we documented our impending adventure. House of Vintage is Portland's largest "vintage superstore." They host over fifty-five independent dealers in a space of about 13,000 square feet. Needless to say, it's huge. With rooms connected to other hidden rooms, every corner hosts a new discovery. Walking around, you feel like the space will never run out. From furniture to clothing to any other decorative piece you could imagine (or never would have thought to imagine), this place has it all. You really have no idea what you may stumble upon. The fact that it's on Hawthorne makes it even better, since that entire street has dozens of quirky vintage shops.

Unfortunately, no items in my room are from here, but I have gone here to buy gifts for others. I bought my best friend Georgia a Napoleon Dynamite-esque wolf sweater that she (thankfully) loved. And I plan to go back in the near future, when I have a few extra dollars to spend and a desire for adventure.

3: Name: Goodwill Location: 3134 N. Lombard St.

Photograph by Allison O' Connor

This store is classic, and really doesn't require my attempt at a description. Going to a themed 70's, 80's, or 90's party and need an outfit? Goodwill to the rescue! I must admit, I have gone there for that very purpose. But they don't exist solely for the hipsters of the world. What I really love is that you can donate to Goodwill. That's probably what I use it for the most. I am a fickle young girl, and I change my mind about clothing more than I should. Goodwill has been very kind to me when it comes to cleaning out my closet.

I also admire the work they do for the disabled community. They make a difference by purposely hiring people with disabilities, people who have in many ways been shunned by society at large. It's a wonderful organization and I'm happy to support them. I also love their never-ending collection of warm winter sweaters and broken Polaroid cameras. From my experience, the Goodwill on Lombard is definitely worth checking out.

I highly recommend all of these places, but because it's Portland, I know there are a lot more stores I've yet to discover. And that's one of the things I love the most about our charming little city!
So what about you? Do you have any favorite thrift/vintage stores?

Falling close to the tree

Photograph by Tara Whitney

It's difficult to choose where to begin when discussing my relationship with my mom. But if you really look around my room, her influence is everywhere. As I sit here on my bed, with sheets and pillows that she helped me pick out, the truth of it is actually a little insane. From little items she's given me, to the color of my walls, the majority of my things are connected to her. So the entire concept of this blog would be lost if I didn't discuss our relationship, right? And it's going to be difficult to put it into words, to narrow it down to a blog post. But everyone at one point had a mother, so I might as well attempt to talk about mine.

I really believe that the bond between a mother and daughter can be the most supportive, soul-enriching relationship a person has. On the same hand, it can be the most volatile and destructive. They are powerful, even when they don't exist. My relationship with my mom has many, many layers. She has seen me at my absolute weakest (even meanest), most awful state. I have fought with her more than any other person. I have cried with her more than any other person. (Admittedly, we are both quite the emotional creatures.) Often, it's like we are each other's therapists. At this point, I should probably submit a co-pay when I walk through the front door.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

She made these picture frame art-things quite a few years ago. I remember when I first saw them, I wasn't the biggest fan. When I was moving into my house last summer, she offered to let me have them. For whatever reason, my aesthetic taste had changed, so I said yes. And not only is our design taste starting to mimic the others, but I've recently started to notice that we share quite a few mannerisms and behaviors. For example, when I go into a restaurant, I cannot help but make dorky-food-related jokes to the waiter or waitress. Who did I learn this from? Take a wild guess. Occasionally, we also dress the same. When I donate clothes, she always looks through them first to see if she wants them, whether I like it or not.

So I have to wonder...is this nature or nurture? Am I genetically programmed to have this awkward humor? Or is it simply due to my upbringing? Most likely the true answer is both. But personally, I'm a much bigger believer that socialization and relationships shape personal identity. And I must also mention, my mom and I are not twins. We have some very different and important values, behaviors, and beliefs. But I know that I am similar to her, as she is similar to her mother, and so on and so on. In that way, it's kind of like we are all just modified versions of our ancestors.

So what do you think? Is it possible to be nothing like your parents? Can a person be their own, 100% unique individual? I want some real opinions here. I love my mother beyond words (especially written words), and I'm well aware that not everyone shares the same connection with their parents. I'm only twenty-years-old (for two more months!), I have a lot of growing up to do. I imagine I will continue to change. But at the core of myself, that is where my similarities with her exist. So am I a rare case of the apple not falling far from the tree, or is it normal to land near your roots?

Never ending to-do lists

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

For the last two years, I've started almost every day by writing a to-do list. I'm regularly so scatterbrained that if I don't, I tend to forget what I need to do. This semester, more than any other, my to-do lists seem to be never-ending. With mostly upper-division classes, an internship, and an attempt at a "social life", my schedule has turned into a constant balancing act. These lists fill my notebooks, keeping me sane and focused. They give me much needed organization in my currently chaotic life.

However, there was a time when to-do lists and organization had no place in my mind. Transferring to UP my sophomore year brought quite the change in my study habits. When I was in high school, I really didn't care about my education. My grades were...passable, but uninspiring. Frankly, I just didn't believe that I was smart enough to do well, so I didn't try. I got into a cycle of skipping classes and not doing my homework. The worse I did, the more overwhelmed I felt. The more overwhelmed I felt, the more I avoided my problems.

Photograph of Wenatchee High School by Curtis Cronn

Now that I care about my education and feel the support of a small school environment, I've started to succeed. I took UP as a chance to start over and actually make the most of my education. Often I think back and wish I'd taken school seriously when I was younger. However, I'm well aware of the opportunities I still have that are due to my education.

Something we've been discussing in my Social Class and Inequality course is the American school system. The effect an education has on a person's income and future is a pretty clear correlation: the more educated you are, the more opportunities you have. In fact, the desire for a student to attend a prestigious University is so great, many families start preparing as early as pre-school. I'm lucky that I attended a quality public high school, but many kids, particularly in urban areas, are not as fortunate.

According to the documentary Waiting for Superman, "In America right now, a kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. These drop-outs are 8 times more likely to go to prison, 50% less likely to vote, more likely to need social welfare assistance, not eligible for 90% of jobs, are being paid 40 cents to the dollar of earned by a college graduate, and continuing the cycle of poverty.” It's very clear that the gaps and inequalities in America's public education system need to be fixed. In fact, according to an article by The Cornell Daily Sun, "In 2020, there will be 123 million high-skilled, high-paying jobs in America, but only a projected 50 million citizens will have the technical skills to fill the positions." So what can be done to fix this? Shouldn't we want, no, require, more for our youth? I don't have the answers, but I truly believe that education is power, and this inequality in our country needs to be a priority for our government. 

There are so many factors that attribute to how hard I work in school today. The cost of UP (yikes) + previous academic struggles + a heightened awareness of how fortunate I am results in me feeling an intense drive to make the best of my education. As stressed out as I get, as much as my to-do lists keep piling up, I have a lot to be thankful for. 

Sap-Attack

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

A lot of the things in my room were given to me by someone. That someone is my boyfriend. This post is going to be much more personal than any of my previous. Personal things in my life + personal writing = über-extra-dextra-personal post. That's what people like, right? So here it goes: I have been dating my boyfriend for two and a half years now (awww). And I must admit, I have Facebook to thank for it. There! I admitted it! Facebook gave me my relationship! Does that make me an online dater...? 

8th grade Hannah

Let's not answer that question. I have known Alex since I was about twelve-years-old. We grew up in different towns in Washington, and he was one of my brothers tennis rivals from our summer tournaments. We are, undoubtedly, the Romeo and Juliet of our generation. I must be honest, our interaction during those younger years was...limited. You see, Alex is about three and a half years older than me. So when I was twelve, he was fifteen going on sixteen. That age gap, at that time, was significant. While I pined after him, he saw me as a little girl. But do not fret. There is clearly a happy ending to this, since I somehow managed to woo him. 


Alex was a senior in college by the time I was a freshman. The summer before I went to Western Washington University, we started casually chatting on Facebook. I'd followed his life throughout the years, see him have girlfriends and see it not work out. This is somewhat embarrassing to admit, but I knew we had a lot in common based on what I noticed on his profile. The summer before I started college, our communication started to rapidly develop. Messages became the length of novels, and then we switched over completely to phone conversations. We would talk all throughout the day about every aspect of our lives, our beliefs, our goals, past present and future. Everything. 

October 11th, 2008

This new found connection + my previous crush quickly became fully developed "feelings". In October of 2008, he invited me to a concert in Portland. It was clear that the age gap no longer mattered. So really, this is me, giving hope to all young girls in the world crushing on their sibling's friends.


I guess I want to relate this experience to the whole idea of dating in college. I've had a few people express the opinion that it's bad to become tied down too young. But in my life, I don't find these arguments applicable. I am dating my best friend. Is that not something to hold on to? Even more, when I look at the drama and uncertainty my single friends face, the hooking up, the awkward dates, I'm even happier that I'm in a stable and healthy relationship. 

Photograph by Hannah Schultz (clearly)

Now, I'm not saying that everything in my life and relationship is perfect. It shouldn't be. Alex and I have had our fair share of trouble that we have needed to work through. I am also aware that there are positive aspects of being single in college, like gaining a greater sense of independence. I just believe that when you find someone you love, you don't let go of it because of how old or young you may be. You love who you love when you love them, and that's that. 


I hope this post hasn't been too unbearably mushy-gushy. But I really want to know something, since everyone's lives and experiences are different. Have you ever loved anyone? And what has your college dating OR single experience been like? 

The Angles of The Strokes

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

As much as I enjoy new bands, the one that I consistently fall back on is The Strokes. They are, and I imagine always will be, my favorite. No matter what mood I'm in, their songs put me in a good place. Their sound reminds me of home and my best friends. Maybe I've idealized them too much, but I've also convinced myself that the band members and I would be really good pals if we knew each other. I was only eleven when their first album came out in 2001, and now, after a five-year hiatus, they are finally about to release a new album called "Angles". As an avid, die-hard, fully committed fan, I'm counting the days to March 22nd (24!). During the last five years, most members of The Strokes have completed their own side projects. Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond Jr. recorded solo albums, while Fabrizio Morretti joined the band Little Joy. For a long time, people didn't know if they'd ever record together again. And as much as their reunion sounds positive and wonderful, there has...unfortunately...been quite the controversy that I can't help but discuss.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

A recent article by Spin magazine fully dissected the issues surrounding the new album. First, the band changed who wrote the songs. Before, lead singer Julian would write most, if not all, of their songs. This time, they each had a voice in the writing process. Bassist Nikolai Fraiture said, "We listened to everyone's ideas with open ears and came to collective decisions. Everyone had an opinion." With songs written by five minds instead of one, the sound is bound to be different. Only until the album is released will fans know if this was a good change in the process.


More rumors have been circulating that there is unresolved tension between Julian and the rest of the band. This news hurts my heart the most. In the Spin article, Fraiture went on to explain, "We wrote and rehearsed together as the four of us. Then we'd send the track over to Julian. There was a lot of back and forth. I don't know if Julian had trouble being with us -- I don't know what was going through his mind. There were tensions. But it worked." So from that statement, it would seem that they didn't even record the album together. I think this is disconcerting for any fan who loves them as a group. They're a unit. You hear and see the friendship whenever they're together. If that's gone, what's the point?


Lastly, another problem surfaced with their producer. Initially, they were working with Joe Chiccarelli, a well known producer for Avatar Studios. Due to a lack of chemistry and conflicting interests, they ended up scrapping all the work they had done with him and starting completely over without him. After parting ways, they wound up in Albert Hammond's personal studio, where it seems they happily re-did the entire album.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

For now, it seems their problems have been resolved. But for a fan who loves them so much, it's upsetting to hear that there even were such significant issues. On a positive note, Fraiture mentioned at the end of the Spin article that things are getting better, "Everything is great between us now that the album is done," Fraiture says. "That's the hardest part -- seeing beyond the daily quibbles to focus on the main goal."


I guess I can view their problems the same way I view my personal growth over the last five years. You can't expect a band to remain perfectly in sync. People change. Friends go through negative cycles. I only hope that after their five-year hiatus and recent drama, The Strokes will continue to make the music that I love. 

Holga Mania

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

About three years ago, I bought a cheap 120 mm film camera for myself: the Holga. Made out of plastic, the Holga is known for producing light-leaks, vignette blurring, and inspiring creativity in its users. Basically, it's so low quality, you can never tell how your pictures will actually turn out. Growing up in a digital age, I used to think film cameras were as outdated as cassette players. I didn't have the slightest idea how they worked. I bought my Holga because I was curious. I wanted to see what I could create. But because I didn't even know how to load film, it mostly sat in my room as a decoration piece. Thankfully, one of the first friends I made at Western Washington University was a photography major, and an extremely patient teacher. I took my first film photograph in her dorm room of our friend Maddy. I double-exposed it so that she'd be in the picture twice, while a poster of John Lennon lingers in the background. That picture remains one of my favorites.

To this day, my Holga photography has been pretty experimental. Sometimes I ruin entire rolls of film by over-exposing them or continuing to load the film incorrectly. As much as I'd like to say that I've become photo-savvy, I know that I still have a lot to learn. The slideshow below contains my nine favorite photographs that I've taken the last three years. I display about twenty-five on a wall in my room, but in my opinion, these nine are the best quality. One of my favorite things about film photography is the risk and patience involved. It feels more like art. Every roll of film is, essentially, a mystery until it's developed. For that reason, I feel a lot more connected to my film photographs than my digital. I invest a lot in them, and when they're developed, I love that I can hold them in my hand. These photos on my wall remind of memories, but they also remind me that as technology progresses, old-fashioned techniques will disappear unless people, like me, hold on.