You know, it really is. I just scoured the hell out of it today and have to say, I am damn excited to go to bed tonight.
In fact, that's where I'm headed right now.
Night night. :)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Happy Sunday!
Hello!
Today the weather was just gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that I sat for a good 25 minutes staring out the sliding glass door drinking tea this morning. I sat there long enough to take a picture:
Fantastic!
WITNESS THE MAJESTY!
Today the weather was just gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that I sat for a good 25 minutes staring out the sliding glass door drinking tea this morning. I sat there long enough to take a picture:
Fantastic!
After tea and picture, I rode my bike (shown in the picture) to the market nearby with Becka for some produce and other various and sundry. It was awesome! Cars aren't scaring me nearly as much as they did a week ago, and crossing busy streets is becoming easier too - plus there are bike lanes everywhere. Hooray! Biking errands are the best!
Returning home, it was still beautiful outside and I still wanted to be out in the good weather. So, I decided to ride the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) downtown. There is a stop right at my complex and it's only about a 20 minute ride.
GUESS WHAT THAT MEANS?
Yes. Another slideshow. You guessed it.
COME EXPERIENCE THE JOURNEY WITH ME from my apartment to the mall (Pioneer Place Mall, to be exact) downtown through a PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNAL.
You're stoked now, aren't you? You know you are. Stuff written in caps always makes it more enticing.
Returning home, it was still beautiful outside and I still wanted to be out in the good weather. So, I decided to ride the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) downtown. There is a stop right at my complex and it's only about a 20 minute ride.
GUESS WHAT THAT MEANS?
Yes. Another slideshow. You guessed it.
COME EXPERIENCE THE JOURNEY WITH ME from my apartment to the mall (Pioneer Place Mall, to be exact) downtown through a PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNAL.
You're stoked now, aren't you? You know you are. Stuff written in caps always makes it more enticing.
WITNESS THE MAJESTY!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
HAPPY BACON DAY!
What? You've never heard of Bacon Day? Well, let me tell you all about it.
In 1999, my sister found a pig-shaped cookie cutter at the thrift store. We thought it was hilarious, because when would you want to give someone a cookie shaped like a pig? Really? The only way we figured you could give someone that and not have it come across as positively insulting ("Here...I made you a cookie...it's shaped LIKE A PIG.") is if you had a holiday to justify it's odd existence. The lone cookie cutter definitely needed one of those.
Soon after, my sister and I were watching The Simpsons, and Marge surprised Homer for their anniversary - which he had forgotten about. He started running through possible reasons for her unexpected gift in his mind and came up with "Bacon Day". Luckily for him, he realized that was "crazy talk" and she couldn't possibly be surprising him for Bacon Day.
At that moment, watching The Simpsons, right after Homer said those two magical words, we looked at each other and knew what we had to do. Bacon Day was created. The cookie cutter was named "Porky Pigfat" and became the mascot of our new holiday. His likeness has graced many a Bacon Day banner, and there is even a board game created to honor him.
(Really. We drew up a board and everything.)
Every May 15th (or closest Saturday), we have celebrated the World of Pork. Even though my sister and I live in different states, we have made sure to keep the holiday alive.
Each dish must feature some sort of pork or pork-like product in it, and there are a few traditional favorites - much like a Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham (but far, far less widespread or significant). Velveeta shells and cheese with hot dogs, for example, should grace one's table at Bacon Day lunch. Another holiday favorite is pizza topped with Canadian Bacon, and even just a plate of the namesake meat itself. Buying different kinds of bacon and trying them all is another way to enjoy the day. In the early years, we would make sugar cookies WITH THE VERY COOKIE CUTTER ITSELF and have decorating contests. If you can actually find a pig-shaped cookie cutter, I would do that too!
There is a Wikipedia entry stating that a group of Colorado grad students came up with a holiday of the same name in 2004 BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT THE BACON DAY I CHOOSE TO OBSERVE and our Bacon Day was conceived five years prior to that one. Plus we have Porky.
So there.
Anyhow, Happy Bacon Day to you and yours, and I hope you had a great day of porcine indulgence!
Hooray!
P.S. If you click on the photo, you can see notes identifying each item on the table.
P.P.S. I am having a bacon coma now.
In 1999, my sister found a pig-shaped cookie cutter at the thrift store. We thought it was hilarious, because when would you want to give someone a cookie shaped like a pig? Really? The only way we figured you could give someone that and not have it come across as positively insulting ("Here...I made you a cookie...it's shaped LIKE A PIG.") is if you had a holiday to justify it's odd existence. The lone cookie cutter definitely needed one of those.
Soon after, my sister and I were watching The Simpsons, and Marge surprised Homer for their anniversary - which he had forgotten about. He started running through possible reasons for her unexpected gift in his mind and came up with "Bacon Day". Luckily for him, he realized that was "crazy talk" and she couldn't possibly be surprising him for Bacon Day.
At that moment, watching The Simpsons, right after Homer said those two magical words, we looked at each other and knew what we had to do. Bacon Day was created. The cookie cutter was named "Porky Pigfat" and became the mascot of our new holiday. His likeness has graced many a Bacon Day banner, and there is even a board game created to honor him.
(Really. We drew up a board and everything.)
Every May 15th (or closest Saturday), we have celebrated the World of Pork. Even though my sister and I live in different states, we have made sure to keep the holiday alive.
Each dish must feature some sort of pork or pork-like product in it, and there are a few traditional favorites - much like a Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham (but far, far less widespread or significant). Velveeta shells and cheese with hot dogs, for example, should grace one's table at Bacon Day lunch. Another holiday favorite is pizza topped with Canadian Bacon, and even just a plate of the namesake meat itself. Buying different kinds of bacon and trying them all is another way to enjoy the day. In the early years, we would make sugar cookies WITH THE VERY COOKIE CUTTER ITSELF and have decorating contests. If you can actually find a pig-shaped cookie cutter, I would do that too!
There is a Wikipedia entry stating that a group of Colorado grad students came up with a holiday of the same name in 2004 BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT THE BACON DAY I CHOOSE TO OBSERVE and our Bacon Day was conceived five years prior to that one. Plus we have Porky.
So there.
Anyhow, Happy Bacon Day to you and yours, and I hope you had a great day of porcine indulgence!
Hooray!
P.S. If you click on the photo, you can see notes identifying each item on the table.
P.P.S. I am having a bacon coma now.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Hello Spring!
I am going to celebrate you with a new bicycle!
When I moved here, Becka and I started talking about how fabulous it would be to have bicycles, as we are in Biking Capital, U.S.A. Many times we would chat about how lovely it would be to get bikes, ride around, and frolic. Who wouldn't want to do that? Who wouldn't want to frolic?
Well, two days ago, we started looking at them in stores. She could sense my discomfort with purchasing something relatively large, but was persistent with statements like "Bikes are good! You will have so much fun!" and so forth. I'm glad she was. For those of you who don't know, spending more than $20 on anything at all...ANYTHING...holds the risk of breaking me down into a sobby pile of weeping mush. I once bought a $45 DVD set, went home, panicked, started to cry, then rushed back to return it without even opening the package (true story - unfortunately). Perhaps this comes from my days as a "starving student", perhaps it's a reaction to being out here on my own without parental support, or perhaps I am a little crazy. Who knows? Maybe all of the above.
Probably all of the above.
In any case, she gently persuaded me to TAKE the LEAP and BUY A BICYCLE today. She even bought one too! We brought them home today and just got done riding around the neighborhood a little bit and it was SO AWESOME! We were GIDDY! GIDDY and EXCITED like LITTLE CHILDREN!!
Wow. So glad I didn't listen to the voices in my head telling me not to buy it. Do you know why? Because tomorrow it's supposed to be sunny. Riding a bicycle is in order.
WAHOO!
When I moved here, Becka and I started talking about how fabulous it would be to have bicycles, as we are in Biking Capital, U.S.A. Many times we would chat about how lovely it would be to get bikes, ride around, and frolic. Who wouldn't want to do that? Who wouldn't want to frolic?
Well, two days ago, we started looking at them in stores. She could sense my discomfort with purchasing something relatively large, but was persistent with statements like "Bikes are good! You will have so much fun!" and so forth. I'm glad she was. For those of you who don't know, spending more than $20 on anything at all...ANYTHING...holds the risk of breaking me down into a sobby pile of weeping mush. I once bought a $45 DVD set, went home, panicked, started to cry, then rushed back to return it without even opening the package (true story - unfortunately). Perhaps this comes from my days as a "starving student", perhaps it's a reaction to being out here on my own without parental support, or perhaps I am a little crazy. Who knows? Maybe all of the above.
Probably all of the above.
In any case, she gently persuaded me to TAKE the LEAP and BUY A BICYCLE today. She even bought one too! We brought them home today and just got done riding around the neighborhood a little bit and it was SO AWESOME! We were GIDDY! GIDDY and EXCITED like LITTLE CHILDREN!!
Wow. So glad I didn't listen to the voices in my head telling me not to buy it. Do you know why? Because tomorrow it's supposed to be sunny. Riding a bicycle is in order.
WAHOO!
Monday, May 03, 2010
Window candle times (with laptop).
Happiness is placing some tealights on your windowsill and turning off all the lights...but leaving the laptop on by accident.
Aaahhhhh. Relaxing. :)
Aaahhhhh. Relaxing. :)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
City Musings.
I have always wanted to live in a city. As a child, I was raised in the suburbs, which definitely has its benefits, but it was never quite as urban as I wanted it to be. Sure, there were plenty of places to go play, run, scream, imagine, be silly, etc., but it always felt like there was more out there I wasn't experiencing - more sights, sounds, noises and interesting people - and hoped some day to have that life.
In college, I lived in a small city near the downtown area. Though school responsibilities had to take priority over exploration, I still went out and wandered as much as possible (resulting, of course, in leaving school without a degree). Simply going into the central business district and walking around on the street was enough to entertain me for hours. I am addicted.
Now, I live in a much larger city and an extremely beautiful one at that. However, pine tree-covered hills separate me from downtown. Granted, it is only a short drive or train ride away (20-25 mins), the train stops at my complex, and the trees are quite pleasant to gaze upon, but it's not DOWNTOWN. Traffic does not float by my window at night. People aren't outside my front door at shops and cafes, chatting away. Though there are two supermarkets nearby, I have to take my car (or risk getting run over crossing the busy highway).
Honestly, I love this place. My roommate and I got an incredible deal, are still very close to downtown, have our own washer and dryer, huge closets, cathedral ceilings, great shopping nearby (with a car), yadda yadda. I KNOW it's a good deal and I KNOW it's definitely a great place to live - and love it here. But there's a little voice in the back of my head saying "Are you downtown? Where is the traffic noise? You're not getting any younger..." That childhood dream of walking to the corner store to pick up a few things for dinner, then taking an elevator to my home in a tower fades a little bit each passing year.
Damnit, I am not giving up. Some day, even if I'm 800 years old, I will live in a freaking tower and take a freaking elevator to get to my house. It just can't be that hard.
Just wait and see. I'll do it. Then you can come over. But please stop at the corner store first.
I'm out of Fresca.
In college, I lived in a small city near the downtown area. Though school responsibilities had to take priority over exploration, I still went out and wandered as much as possible (resulting, of course, in leaving school without a degree). Simply going into the central business district and walking around on the street was enough to entertain me for hours. I am addicted.
Now, I live in a much larger city and an extremely beautiful one at that. However, pine tree-covered hills separate me from downtown. Granted, it is only a short drive or train ride away (20-25 mins), the train stops at my complex, and the trees are quite pleasant to gaze upon, but it's not DOWNTOWN. Traffic does not float by my window at night. People aren't outside my front door at shops and cafes, chatting away. Though there are two supermarkets nearby, I have to take my car (or risk getting run over crossing the busy highway).
Honestly, I love this place. My roommate and I got an incredible deal, are still very close to downtown, have our own washer and dryer, huge closets, cathedral ceilings, great shopping nearby (with a car), yadda yadda. I KNOW it's a good deal and I KNOW it's definitely a great place to live - and love it here. But there's a little voice in the back of my head saying "Are you downtown? Where is the traffic noise? You're not getting any younger..." That childhood dream of walking to the corner store to pick up a few things for dinner, then taking an elevator to my home in a tower fades a little bit each passing year.
Damnit, I am not giving up. Some day, even if I'm 800 years old, I will live in a freaking tower and take a freaking elevator to get to my house. It just can't be that hard.
Just wait and see. I'll do it. Then you can come over. But please stop at the corner store first.
I'm out of Fresca.
Columbia Renaissance Trail.
This is a photo from the beach along the Columbia Renaissance Trail. It has become one of my most favorite places to go in Portland. Well, technically it's in Vancouver, but it's right across the river and I can see Portland so there you go.
It's nice! There are restaurants and condos and stuff behind me. Also, from time to time, boats and cargo ships go by, making it feel all "harbory" with the horns and salty sea air with seagulls and such and THAT, my friends, is probably one of my most favorite things ever.
Best place!
It's nice! There are restaurants and condos and stuff behind me. Also, from time to time, boats and cargo ships go by, making it feel all "harbory" with the horns and salty sea air with seagulls and such and THAT, my friends, is probably one of my most favorite things ever.
Best place!
Friday, April 16, 2010
There was a free book in my Cheerios!
So, apparently if you buy Cheerios, you get a free book.
A FREE BOOK.
Two questions:
1. This is extremely badass. Why haven't I noticed it before?
2. A FREE BOOK!!!
A FREE BOOK.
Two questions:
1. This is extremely badass. Why haven't I noticed it before?
2. A FREE BOOK!!!
Saturday, March 06, 2010
How about some pictures?
I've been taking a ton of pictures. Why not share those too?
This is Reed College. Everybody say hello. Reed College is a very beautiful place and it's also in Portland, which means I can take pictures of it. The pictures, which were taken less than 4 hours ago, are displayed below.
Groovy.
This is Reed College. Everybody say hello. Reed College is a very beautiful place and it's also in Portland, which means I can take pictures of it. The pictures, which were taken less than 4 hours ago, are displayed below.
Groovy.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Wow.
I have tried to write three different stories on here and they've all come to a dead end. Guess I'm just not feeling it right now. How frustrating.
Tomorrow's another day...
Tomorrow's another day...
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
"Well, what are you going to do?"
He paused.
"What do you mean? Why should I do anything?"
The fact it was obvious didn't phase him. He knew what he needed to do, but was tired of thinking about it. He was tired of thinking about it and tired of worrying about it until he couldn't sleep anymore. It wasn't even his problem.
"The only reason we're even talking about it is because you brought it up. This has been off my radar. I don't think about it anymore. I can't."
"I wish you wouldn't say that." she leaned back toward the wall, away from him. It wasn't going to be easy this time. Usually it was as simple as asking. She reflected on that a moment to plan her next move. How could she convince him? She really needed this.
"Why not? You wish I wouldn't say what is honestly on my mind? I thought that's what you wanted." his eyes narrowed. "It's getting harder and harder for me to figure out what it is you want." He stood up from the sofa and started pacing behind her. Her actions no longer made sense to him.
"It's hard for me to talk to you like that. Please come back to the sofa."
That was her way of gaining control. He hated it.
"Whatever you need to say, you can say now right where I am."
She wasn't going to get that control from him. She wanted it so badly but was too afraid to say it. In her imagination she had so much more strength. In her imagination, she was holding him by the sides and yelling directly into his face, outlining every little thing he was doing wrong and taped his mouth shut so he couldn't interrupt or squirm away. In reality, that would never happen. That would never happen and it made her sick inside. That sickness was followed by intense guilt.
"I...have to go..." she rose from the sofa. The room was spinning.
"You always have to go when it gets hard." he wasn't going to let it slide this time. "You always have to go when it gets hard and I might think something that you don't have the energy to argue with."
He was right. She knew he was, too. He knew there was no way to block her from leaving. She would do something unpredictable if he tried to stop her. It happened before. All he could do was try to summarize the whole issue before she was out the door, like he did every other time. Maybe this time it would sink in.
"You think I am irrational. I am not irrational. There is nothing to prove that I am. Even if I was irrational, there is no room for you to talk. Maybe you don't agree with the way I handled it, but I handled it and since you weren't there, you don't have the right to argue with me. It's done. You didn't have to deal with it. You should have, but you didn't. I did it for you. You're welcome."
"Go to hell." she waited for the door to partially close before saying it. He wouldn't be able to get it open before she was downstairs.
Later that night, she called him. They talked until morning. Nothing was resolved at that point, but they both expected that. The talk was more of a formality. She came by a few days later and picked up her things. She wouldn't be coming back.
It was for the best. They both knew it.
"What do you mean? Why should I do anything?"
The fact it was obvious didn't phase him. He knew what he needed to do, but was tired of thinking about it. He was tired of thinking about it and tired of worrying about it until he couldn't sleep anymore. It wasn't even his problem.
"The only reason we're even talking about it is because you brought it up. This has been off my radar. I don't think about it anymore. I can't."
"I wish you wouldn't say that." she leaned back toward the wall, away from him. It wasn't going to be easy this time. Usually it was as simple as asking. She reflected on that a moment to plan her next move. How could she convince him? She really needed this.
"Why not? You wish I wouldn't say what is honestly on my mind? I thought that's what you wanted." his eyes narrowed. "It's getting harder and harder for me to figure out what it is you want." He stood up from the sofa and started pacing behind her. Her actions no longer made sense to him.
"It's hard for me to talk to you like that. Please come back to the sofa."
That was her way of gaining control. He hated it.
"Whatever you need to say, you can say now right where I am."
She wasn't going to get that control from him. She wanted it so badly but was too afraid to say it. In her imagination she had so much more strength. In her imagination, she was holding him by the sides and yelling directly into his face, outlining every little thing he was doing wrong and taped his mouth shut so he couldn't interrupt or squirm away. In reality, that would never happen. That would never happen and it made her sick inside. That sickness was followed by intense guilt.
"I...have to go..." she rose from the sofa. The room was spinning.
"You always have to go when it gets hard." he wasn't going to let it slide this time. "You always have to go when it gets hard and I might think something that you don't have the energy to argue with."
He was right. She knew he was, too. He knew there was no way to block her from leaving. She would do something unpredictable if he tried to stop her. It happened before. All he could do was try to summarize the whole issue before she was out the door, like he did every other time. Maybe this time it would sink in.
"You think I am irrational. I am not irrational. There is nothing to prove that I am. Even if I was irrational, there is no room for you to talk. Maybe you don't agree with the way I handled it, but I handled it and since you weren't there, you don't have the right to argue with me. It's done. You didn't have to deal with it. You should have, but you didn't. I did it for you. You're welcome."
"Go to hell." she waited for the door to partially close before saying it. He wouldn't be able to get it open before she was downstairs.
Later that night, she called him. They talked until morning. Nothing was resolved at that point, but they both expected that. The talk was more of a formality. She came by a few days later and picked up her things. She wouldn't be coming back.
It was for the best. They both knew it.
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