<p>Enjoying, Yes, I should have mentioned that they had kind of a dorm monitor at the front desk who signed in even the tour guides. I liked that personal approach. Does your son live in the dorm that stages the male auction? LOL! </p>
<p>It is fun to hear about your kids because my two are very much like yours - My son would LOVE U of Portland and, while he might like the campus at LC, the student body would be an immediate turn off. But, for my daughter it was like "These are my people! Finally! Where have they been???"</p>
<p>Which reminds me of one other thing that my daughter did NOT like about UP - the student newspaper had a lead story about how several students in the school's feminist organization had been participating in promoting an off campus production of the vaginia monologues. The administration insisted that the students could not participate in promoting this, even though it was an off-campus activity. A little heavy-handed.</p>
<p>And, Emerald, I did think of you when the LC student made the crack about Reed students being out there. It made me laugh to think that even among these schools there are these stereotypes about the other schools. I wanted to tell the LC student all about your daughter!</p>
<p>Carolyn-- so you liked Lake Oswego, huh? Are you aware it is probably THE zip code in the state? If you don't count certain resort pockets, that is. Yes, the houses are just amazing in there, tucked as they are among the old growth trees. I remember passing some anti-war petition in that neighborhood during Vietnam and being very confused when a uniformed maid answered the door! I mean, what was THAT about? I think I said, "Is your mother home?"</p>
<p>UP isn't ALL Bush. Not my kiddo, anyway, although his roommate was. From reading their newspaper it seemed kind of fifty-fifty.</p>
<p>The L & C mansion is something else. I remember walking in there with MY mother all those years ago and just that made me want to go there. I actually had a lit class in that building my very first term. Great class. Lord, I still remember what we read. And then, discussing it around the big wood table.... hey, you are bringing back a lot of memories for me!</p>
<p>Enjoyingthis, Here's the sad part. We could sell our house in San Diego and buy a lake front house in Lake Oswego and still have a pocketful of money to play with! I loved the whole feel of that area - it reminded me of the town I grew up in back in NY. </p>
<p>And, yes, that mansion is something else. I could live happily live in the women's bathroom. LOL! They had the fireplaces all roaring and did the adcom presentation in front of one of them. I didn't want to leave. They don't need to mail out brochures - just invite kids and their parents to sit in that mansion! I just read your comments to my daughter and she laughed. Apparently she was also thinking that the gardens offered romantic possibilities on our visit. At least when they're not muddy! :)</p>
<p>By the way, she had also read your description of the sword fights and made sure to ask several people about it - there's an actual "historical fencing" club on campus. Would be just her style.</p>
<p>Carolyn-- about the newspaper story. Yes, that happened, and it is the reason why security is so tight. But I don't personally feel worried for the kids. It happened in the summer when all the kids weren't there and they did recently get the guy. Don't know if it's gone to trial yet or not, but it was a middle-eastern guy who wasn't a student but hung out there. I think they thought he may have been responsible for those burglaries. Somehow he left the country and then when he was coming back, they met him at the airport. None of this lessens the loss for the girl's family, of course. I wouldn't want to suggest that. But one of my best friend's daughters had just completed her first year there when this happened, and they weren't overly frightened or suddenly negative about the school. And a recent article in the Oregonian talked about the neighborhood around U of P improving and becoming more popular all the time.</p>
<p>Carolyn-- right above that roaring fireplace is the most beautiful painting of Mt Hood, right? Did you notice that? It's by Parrot, I believe, and we never look at it without coveting big time.</p>
<p>Hey, what's so sad about the fact that you could sell your SD house and have plenty leftover after buying a LO house? Californians have been doing that up here for years. Our town went through a big buy up like that when Hewlett-Packard came here. People just couldn't believe how far their money went. Hey, we noticed that our money would go further in Nebraska. It's all about whether people want to live there or not, jobs etc. etc.</p>
<p>Also, Californians take a look at the coast on a sunny day and freak out at what they could buy. Then they buy it and sit in the fog and get gloomy. I'm an Oregonian and willing to put up with it, but the grayness is hard on some people and it really should be factored in.</p>
<p>Your daughter sounds cool. Maybe U of P would be too restrictive for her. Big controversy lately is something about the feminist discussion group being censored and they won't be allowed to put on the Vagina Monologues. My H was annoyed enough to think of writing to the powers that be, but I don't know if he will. But maybe your daughter would enjoy being the campus hot-head? My S seems to be taking on and enjoying the role of the not terribly religious guy in various class debates.</p>
<p>Yep, that's what I was talking about above. Daughter was happy that there was a feminist group but p*ssed that the school's admin. would restrict off-campus activities. Sounds like your son and her would be a good match. My main worry is that she is the "rebel" at her Catholic high school --- but how will she feel when she is the "conservative" at a place like L&C?</p>
<p>Yes, that same painting is over the mantle - quite impressive, as were the portraits of past presidents.</p>
<p>By the way, once we got to Salem, I was tempted to keep driving and go check out Corvalis. After all these years of hearing my best friend, a Corvalis native, complain about Southern California, I was dying to see what Corvalis was really like. The one thing that did stick out for both myself and the girls was how darn friendly and nice everyone in Oregon was - people in San Diego are nice enough in a kind of superficial way but in Oregon, people really listened to your answer after they asked you were you were from and what you were doing in the neighborhood. That's why I think my daughter will end up in Oregon at some point, one way or another. If she does, I'm going there for the grandkids!</p>
<p>Carolyn, Like Enjoyingthis, I have been enjoying this! This thread, that is, and your impressions. I too live in the neighborhood. A few times a month, I meet a friend early in the morning, to walk in Tryon Creek Park and through the L & C campus. I'm a transplanted New Yorker, and I still can't get over how lucky I am to be here. And I am here almost 18 years!</p>
<p>Now you understand why Oregon has been referred to by various writers as our little corner of Eden, although I am not quoting exactly - but you get the idea!</p>
<p>wish it was april-- I didn't know you were an Oregonian! Hey, do I know you? And Carolyn-- aren't you a writer or an editor or something? I'm a writer. Wonder if your d has read anything of mine as one book has been popular down your way and I talked in schools in SD a number of years ago.</p>
<p>Would she like to meet my son? they could be the "rebels" at UP! He is my hope for grandkids and they could be Oregonians! I've tried to arrange a marriage for my older son with the charming poster who wrote about her parents marriage and her father being peasant from China. She said my post made her laugh but that's as far as I got!</p>
<p>I'll have to ask UP son about the male auction thing. He's in Kenna.</p>
<p>Hi enjoyingthis - I too am a writer. I can't think of anyone I know who is the mother of twin college frosh... I tried to send you a private message or email but you aren't set up for that. So send one to me!</p>
<p>Wish-it-was-april, I'm also a transplanted New Yorker (now in San Diego). The area around L&C reminded me of upstate New York so much that I actually became homesick. And, I also am a writer! I write mainly for business publications and have ghostwritten several college-level business textbooks. I didn't realize you both were too! What type of writing do you both do? We should talk via email some time.</p>
<p>And, enjoying, my daughter would probably love to meet your son....I read your comments about him to her and it reassured her that she could find UP compatible as a possible safety.</p>
<p>Carolyn,
Great reviews. Even though Son will not be looking on the left coast, I enjoyed reading about your visits. We visited Portland a few years ago and had a great time. My husband had a cousin from Portland come work at the family ice cream parlor during the summer (years ago) and whenever there was a clear blue sky, cousin would declare it was an "Oregon" day.</p>
<p>Carolyn, as an escaped San Digian ( and a former planned community inmate -- does RB mean anything to you?), before you fall totally in love with Lake Oswego, check out the other neighborhoods in Portland. IMHO, the are way more "vibrant" areas of town then the "Stepford" feel I get from Lake Oswego. </p>
<p>Speaking as a former Oregonian and current San Diegan, another thing besides dismal, wet, gray winters to make sure you can tolerate before you sell everything and move to Lake Oswego is allergies. </p>
<p>In Oregon in the spring I get hayfever attacks so overwhelming that sometimes I cannot safely drive the car. In San Diego I'm allergy free. Your mileage may vary. You may not be allergic in the first place, but you need to know that the Willamette Valley has a mondo pollen count in the spring.</p>
<p>Coureur, Allergies are an issue for me. I am relatively allergy free here in San Diego (except when the Santa Ana's blow or my dogs are in shedding mode) but I do remember growing up in NY with lots of mold allergies, not to mention ragweed. I will have to be careful about that!</p>
<p>I must admit it was nice to come home to sunshine and sit out on our back porch yesterday afternoon. My main problem with San Diego weather is that the summers are so hot where we live (East County). Maybe a summer house in Oregon and winters in San Diego would be ideal. :)</p>
<p>Concerneddad - I feel as if San Diego is Stepford Central sometimes. I get so sick of red tiled roofs and white stucco (And as you know RB is notorious for that!) and those ubiquitious"town centre" shopping malls that are really the center of no town. I do miss trees too. Only a few places in San Diego have any sense of community, in my opinion, and I miss feeling like I can walk everywhere and anywhere. In any case, I seriously doubt my husband will ever be sandblasted from our house here in San Diego (he's a native Californian).</p>
<p>In any case, it would be hard to leave what we have here - three acres surrounded by mountains, an easy 25 minute drive to downtown San Diego.</p>
<p>Well Carolyn, I never thought I could get my wife out of San Diego, but I did. And, although she really misses the good weather, she REALLY likes the more relaxed lifestyle here in Eugene. Perhaps we should discuss a house swap for several months at a time? LOL</p>