I celebrated my Thirtieth birthday on Hawthorne, alone for most of the day. I took myself to lunch, bought an avocado boba smoothie at a bubble tea place, purchased some whiskey and gin at a liquor store, browsed in a cute little shop, had a delicious cappuccino, then arrived at Sapphire Hotel and waited for my guests to arrive. I had a bit of time (over an hour) to sit and think about the day and all the changes that have happened lately. I felt alone and a little sad and missed my social life in Salt Lake. Then, Nicole showed up followed soon by Katie, then everyone else. It was a nice evening and I went home later than I'd planned but was in bed well before midnight.
The days since then have been full of events. I went to Dallas the next week to visit Nicki and had a nice time. I got to see Tracy from high school and catch up with Emily. Having time with close friends like that made it difficult to come back home to Portland where I just haven't established those connections yet. I'm working on it, however, and have some news...
Dating is pretty fun. I've met some interesting people and one in particular that I'm quite fond of. ;) I've been able to go to museums and parks and the coast. I've had cheap beer and $3 movies and walked all over. I've been enjoying myself and that's all that matters. I'm diving in and getting my hands dirty (and maybe my mind on occasion) but I'm having fun and this start to this next chapter is definitely a page turner.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
29 & 364/365ths
It's approaching midnight the night before my 30th birthday. Today, I slept in until 10:30. Had butternut squash Ginger soup for breakfast, ate lunch at Pepino's then got a Pumpkin Latte at Peet's with Kate before going to work and more than tripling the day's sales in my four hour shift. I came home to the smell of dinner already made: pesto pasta with spicy turkey sausage and steamed broccoli & a glass of red wine which was followed with a cookie for dessert, earl grey shortbread from a local shop. It's been a good day.
As good as the day has been, I've felt a little overwhelmed. I miss my family. I wish my siblings and mother would call. I feel like my grandparents are the only ones I talk to on a regular basis except for my dad and he's only 2 hours away from me. I miss my friends in Salt Lake. Everyone seems so busy and caught up in their own lives, I wonder if I'm even missed.
I'm emotional.
I leave for Texas in 7 days and as excited as I am, I've got so much going on I can hardly keep it all organized. Tomorrow: birthday happy hour with whomever shows up. Wednesday: date at Museum of Contemporary Craft to see Nikki McClure exhibit & cleaning shift. Thursday: pack for Texas and get stuff here organized, and possibly another date TBD. Friday: work & anticipate Jerry's arrival for the weekend. Then S&S: work/explore with Jerry/clean up at home. And then it's Monday and go time. For someone who regularly feels like her schedule isn't eventful enough, I sure have packed it this week.
And now... It's midnight. Happy birthday to me.
Wow. Thirty.
As good as the day has been, I've felt a little overwhelmed. I miss my family. I wish my siblings and mother would call. I feel like my grandparents are the only ones I talk to on a regular basis except for my dad and he's only 2 hours away from me. I miss my friends in Salt Lake. Everyone seems so busy and caught up in their own lives, I wonder if I'm even missed.
I'm emotional.
I leave for Texas in 7 days and as excited as I am, I've got so much going on I can hardly keep it all organized. Tomorrow: birthday happy hour with whomever shows up. Wednesday: date at Museum of Contemporary Craft to see Nikki McClure exhibit & cleaning shift. Thursday: pack for Texas and get stuff here organized, and possibly another date TBD. Friday: work & anticipate Jerry's arrival for the weekend. Then S&S: work/explore with Jerry/clean up at home. And then it's Monday and go time. For someone who regularly feels like her schedule isn't eventful enough, I sure have packed it this week.
And now... It's midnight. Happy birthday to me.
Wow. Thirty.
Friday, October 7, 2011
I received great news in the mail last week.
I was accepted at PSU to start winter quarter. Yesterday, I received my financial aid award and now I get to figure out how to afford school. Unfortunately, I'll be paying out-of-state tuition so even the maximum stafford loans won't fully cover it. Since I was accepted for co-admission to PSU & PCC, I believe I'll be able to take six credits at each school and I might be able to break even. I just need to confirm the minimum required PSU credits first and decide how to pay for books. Otherwise, I'll be about 3 grand short.
I am on a real schedule with the kids across the river. I get to spend time with them on the first Saturday of each month. For October, we decorated cupcakes and made shrinky dinks and had a blast.
Mouse and I are fully moved in with Kate and her pets in a cute house in Southeast. Mouse has taken over a dog bed that Dixie, Kate's dog had little interest in using. He seems happy. I know I am.
With my 30th birthday days away I am happy to report that life is great! I've started dating again. I had a lunch date yesterday and a tea date tomorrow with someone else, as well as plans for future dates with a couple other women. It's really exciting and fun and something I've never really done before. I'm getting out there and meeting people and making friends!
I was accepted at PSU to start winter quarter. Yesterday, I received my financial aid award and now I get to figure out how to afford school. Unfortunately, I'll be paying out-of-state tuition so even the maximum stafford loans won't fully cover it. Since I was accepted for co-admission to PSU & PCC, I believe I'll be able to take six credits at each school and I might be able to break even. I just need to confirm the minimum required PSU credits first and decide how to pay for books. Otherwise, I'll be about 3 grand short.
I am on a real schedule with the kids across the river. I get to spend time with them on the first Saturday of each month. For October, we decorated cupcakes and made shrinky dinks and had a blast.
Mouse and I are fully moved in with Kate and her pets in a cute house in Southeast. Mouse has taken over a dog bed that Dixie, Kate's dog had little interest in using. He seems happy. I know I am.
With my 30th birthday days away I am happy to report that life is great! I've started dating again. I had a lunch date yesterday and a tea date tomorrow with someone else, as well as plans for future dates with a couple other women. It's really exciting and fun and something I've never really done before. I'm getting out there and meeting people and making friends!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Fall-ing into place
The air is crisp and clean and it's rained the past two days. Yesterday, I moved in with my new friend & coworker Kate. I randomly crashed at her house on Thursday and then decided it was silly to really wait until October 1st to move the rest of my things since I'd already moved all my packed boxes on Monday so after talking with Trevor, I recruited some help and went and got the rest of my stuff and slept on my bed last night for the first time in over 7 months. It was amazing and Mouse is so very happy!
This morning, I woke up slowly and cuddled with my little dog, responded to a couple text messages and finally got ready for work. My back, though sore from all the moving yesterday, felt better than it has in a long time. Sleeping on a cot isn't an ideal situation for a body turning thirty. Kate and I walked tow to Bipartisan Cafe for coffee this morning and I walked to work. Walked. As in with my feet and no car. The money I will save in gas alone will be more than enough to cover the cost of new shoes as needed. I am so excited!
All of my books and movies are unpacked, as well as most of my kitchen items. I loved living with the girls in St. Johns and will miss seeing them all the time, but I feel like my social circle just got so much bigger and I'm happy to think that a regular exercise routine just found its way into my daily commute.
In better news, I received an email today from PSU and it looks like I've most likely been accepted. The letter was from the pre-teaching list so I assume it's just days before I get the official letter from the school.
This afternoon holds wonderful things: off work at 2pm then off to bake ginger snap cookies and roast some Brussels Sprouts with pasta for dinner. I am still in love with Portland and the tiny neighborhood named Montavilla that I now call home.
This morning, I woke up slowly and cuddled with my little dog, responded to a couple text messages and finally got ready for work. My back, though sore from all the moving yesterday, felt better than it has in a long time. Sleeping on a cot isn't an ideal situation for a body turning thirty. Kate and I walked tow to Bipartisan Cafe for coffee this morning and I walked to work. Walked. As in with my feet and no car. The money I will save in gas alone will be more than enough to cover the cost of new shoes as needed. I am so excited!
All of my books and movies are unpacked, as well as most of my kitchen items. I loved living with the girls in St. Johns and will miss seeing them all the time, but I feel like my social circle just got so much bigger and I'm happy to think that a regular exercise routine just found its way into my daily commute.
In better news, I received an email today from PSU and it looks like I've most likely been accepted. The letter was from the pre-teaching list so I assume it's just days before I get the official letter from the school.
This afternoon holds wonderful things: off work at 2pm then off to bake ginger snap cookies and roast some Brussels Sprouts with pasta for dinner. I am still in love with Portland and the tiny neighborhood named Montavilla that I now call home.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Good things are heading my way
I have been social and productive this past week. After a possibly hormonal minor melt down in which I discussed with Trevor my lack of activities and expressed that I'm turning 30 and work 21 hours a week, I managed to come to an acceptable solution: I need to go back to school. So... Last Thursday I met up with Kate from work at the PSU campus and she showed me around. I collected some materials and spoke with someone in financial aid and someone else in admissions. I returned home and filled out my fafsa and Friday morning applied for co-admission to PSU and PCC for winter term. I ordered official transcripts from SLCC and AHS. I received an email on Friday that the gov had processed my fafsa application so now it's just waiting for the school. Tomorrow I have an appointment with someone in the Liberal Arts department to review my unofficial transcript and plot out a path to become a Special Ed Teacher. Yay for progress!!
In other news, I have the opportunity to pick up some extra hours at work for a little bit and am also corresponding with someone about a short term nanny stint that could put over two grand in my pocket.
Last Saturday after work, Trevor, Trish, and I traveled north to Olympia to attend Erin's birthday/house warming party and I got to meet new people and had a great time. Then Sunday, Kate invited me over for dinner. I may be meeting Katie for coffee/tea/ice cream/drinks tonight and have plans with Nicole tentatively set for tomorrow.
It rained yesterday for only the second time since I've been here and it was lovely. Today the sky is a combination of blue and grey mostly in patches like it can't decide what to do. The air is cool and fall is on its way. So excited!!!
The silly library doesn't open until noon so I get to waste a little time at Anna Banana's before I can pick up the book I have on hold. There are few things greater in life than a great cup of coffee and a little old time music. Ahhh
In other news, I have the opportunity to pick up some extra hours at work for a little bit and am also corresponding with someone about a short term nanny stint that could put over two grand in my pocket.
Last Saturday after work, Trevor, Trish, and I traveled north to Olympia to attend Erin's birthday/house warming party and I got to meet new people and had a great time. Then Sunday, Kate invited me over for dinner. I may be meeting Katie for coffee/tea/ice cream/drinks tonight and have plans with Nicole tentatively set for tomorrow.
It rained yesterday for only the second time since I've been here and it was lovely. Today the sky is a combination of blue and grey mostly in patches like it can't decide what to do. The air is cool and fall is on its way. So excited!!!
The silly library doesn't open until noon so I get to waste a little time at Anna Banana's before I can pick up the book I have on hold. There are few things greater in life than a great cup of coffee and a little old time music. Ahhh
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tuesday Trouble
Oh was it ever an eventful day. Mouse and I went adventuring here in Saint Johns at Pier Park. It looked like it might rain so I dressed for cold and was stripping off my sweatshirt before noon. The park was nice and peaceful with its giant trees reaching a hundred plus feet toward the sky. Mouse almost didn't know what to do with himself and made it quite clear that he didn't appreciate walking on the fallen pine needles in one part of the park. The disc golfers were out and seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.
I'd planned to take him out longer but he seemed tired a d disinterested in drinking the water I'd brought so we headed home for a bit before I went out alone. I've been wanting to see The Help since before it was out so I checked on fandango and it was playing at 3:30 in Vancouver, WA about 6 miles away. I left just before 2:30 thinking it would take a while to get there since I'd have to take I-5 to get there. I was wrong; there was hardly any traffic at all so I decided to get coffee at Starbucks. Finding parking was a greater challenge than I was up for at the time and I almost gave up the coffee quest when I spotted a space at the park across the street.
The staff was slightly less than friendly and I managed to spill part of my drink in my cream colored shirt which was about par for the day I was having. It may have been best to just go home but I returned to my car to find myself blocked in by a traffic attendant. She apologized for being in my way and said she'd be moving shortly. I took the opportunity to ask if the movie theater had parking as I hadn't seen it when I pulled into town. She gave clear directions and informed me that the theater had validation for the garage across the street. Maybe it's validation I was seeking all along. I thought of Ellen DeGeneres' stand up and proceeded to the theater only to find that they had changed their showings and The Help was no longer featured at that theater. Determined to see something before returning home and thinking a movie would brighten my day, I examined the list of showtimes and selected One Day. This was a mistake. I sat through the movie and teared up at the end, returned to my car a d called Jerry and cried.
Today, I miss my friends. I miss making money and doing things. I actually miss working full time. I feel like meeting people here is difficult to do alone and possibly more difficult when everyone you know that lives in town is in a relationship. Today, I decided I don't want to be single forever and I need to get to know more people.
I got home quickly, fortunately driving against the rush hour traffic. Trevor & Trish were sitting on the back porch having drinks and enjoying the cooler temperature so I joined them. Robert came over a little bit later and we discussed sailing and Portland and backstories and future documentaries. It was nice to socialize.
The night ended with Trevor and I trying to coax a possum out from under the porch. It eventually disappeared but we aren't quite sure how. Despite the late night excitement, I'm very much ready for bed. It's been a long day and I'm far too emotional to stay awake any longer. Here's to sweet dreams and a brighter day that's not wrought with PMS emotional sensitivity.
I'd planned to take him out longer but he seemed tired a d disinterested in drinking the water I'd brought so we headed home for a bit before I went out alone. I've been wanting to see The Help since before it was out so I checked on fandango and it was playing at 3:30 in Vancouver, WA about 6 miles away. I left just before 2:30 thinking it would take a while to get there since I'd have to take I-5 to get there. I was wrong; there was hardly any traffic at all so I decided to get coffee at Starbucks. Finding parking was a greater challenge than I was up for at the time and I almost gave up the coffee quest when I spotted a space at the park across the street.
The staff was slightly less than friendly and I managed to spill part of my drink in my cream colored shirt which was about par for the day I was having. It may have been best to just go home but I returned to my car to find myself blocked in by a traffic attendant. She apologized for being in my way and said she'd be moving shortly. I took the opportunity to ask if the movie theater had parking as I hadn't seen it when I pulled into town. She gave clear directions and informed me that the theater had validation for the garage across the street. Maybe it's validation I was seeking all along. I thought of Ellen DeGeneres' stand up and proceeded to the theater only to find that they had changed their showings and The Help was no longer featured at that theater. Determined to see something before returning home and thinking a movie would brighten my day, I examined the list of showtimes and selected One Day. This was a mistake. I sat through the movie and teared up at the end, returned to my car a d called Jerry and cried.
Today, I miss my friends. I miss making money and doing things. I actually miss working full time. I feel like meeting people here is difficult to do alone and possibly more difficult when everyone you know that lives in town is in a relationship. Today, I decided I don't want to be single forever and I need to get to know more people.
I got home quickly, fortunately driving against the rush hour traffic. Trevor & Trish were sitting on the back porch having drinks and enjoying the cooler temperature so I joined them. Robert came over a little bit later and we discussed sailing and Portland and backstories and future documentaries. It was nice to socialize.
The night ended with Trevor and I trying to coax a possum out from under the porch. It eventually disappeared but we aren't quite sure how. Despite the late night excitement, I'm very much ready for bed. It's been a long day and I'm far too emotional to stay awake any longer. Here's to sweet dreams and a brighter day that's not wrought with PMS emotional sensitivity.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Fluffy chick seeks playmate
I received a text message this morning from the family I used to nanny for back in Salt Lake. Today is their adoption hearing and their son gets his new name. It was requested that I send him an email to his new address and let me know what was the final decision for his surname change. This is exciting news, as it was something I'd been part of since the beginning. Naturally, I sent an email and included a picture of Mouse and myself on the St. John's Bridge near home. I'm so excited for them and that everything is going as planned despite Utah's crazy adoptive laws.
This made me think a bit about all the changes around me. M gets to be a legal child of his parents and get a new last name. Mom & Patrick moved into an apartment and he started at a new school. Jerry planted himself north of Seattle and I'm here in Portland. Each of us has the opportunity to reinvent ourselves as we meet new people and truly become the person we all wish to be. Trevor had suggested this a while back and said for example if I wanted to be a person who knits at the local bookstore on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons then that's what I should do. Put myself in a place where I see others like me and eventually natural friends will appear. Forcing yourself to go places you wouldn't normally go, to be surrounded by people you'd only associate with on surface topics and occasions will only draw people you'll find displeasing over time. So what am I doing? Sitting at home on a Monday morning wishing for more coffee to appear, having one-sided conversations with panting dogs and writing.
I wish to be a person seen for my charm, wit, and intellect who enjoys excellent coffee, a fine wine, and a great beer, a person who is surrounded by others who can hold a conversation that runs deeper than the weather.
Wednesday will mark one month since I've moved. That seems an appropriate enough incubation period. I suppose now might be the time to start cracking this shell so I can emerge all cute and fluffy like a baby chicken. Next, I'll just need to figure out where this fluffy chick needs to play.
This made me think a bit about all the changes around me. M gets to be a legal child of his parents and get a new last name. Mom & Patrick moved into an apartment and he started at a new school. Jerry planted himself north of Seattle and I'm here in Portland. Each of us has the opportunity to reinvent ourselves as we meet new people and truly become the person we all wish to be. Trevor had suggested this a while back and said for example if I wanted to be a person who knits at the local bookstore on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons then that's what I should do. Put myself in a place where I see others like me and eventually natural friends will appear. Forcing yourself to go places you wouldn't normally go, to be surrounded by people you'd only associate with on surface topics and occasions will only draw people you'll find displeasing over time. So what am I doing? Sitting at home on a Monday morning wishing for more coffee to appear, having one-sided conversations with panting dogs and writing.
I wish to be a person seen for my charm, wit, and intellect who enjoys excellent coffee, a fine wine, and a great beer, a person who is surrounded by others who can hold a conversation that runs deeper than the weather.
Wednesday will mark one month since I've moved. That seems an appropriate enough incubation period. I suppose now might be the time to start cracking this shell so I can emerge all cute and fluffy like a baby chicken. Next, I'll just need to figure out where this fluffy chick needs to play.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
New Blog for a New Life
And here we are again...
Thanks to my friend Jerry, I was reminded that it had been suggested I blog about my experience in this "great move" from Salt Lake City to Portland. I landed four weeks ago and have been loving it. To my great fortune, I secured a part time job at a local pet supply shop in Southeast Portland and with it, I'm beginning to make new friends. I'll unfold a few stories here as I see them fit to share but for now, I'm off to take care of some things.
Thanks to my friend Jerry, I was reminded that it had been suggested I blog about my experience in this "great move" from Salt Lake City to Portland. I landed four weeks ago and have been loving it. To my great fortune, I secured a part time job at a local pet supply shop in Southeast Portland and with it, I'm beginning to make new friends. I'll unfold a few stories here as I see them fit to share but for now, I'm off to take care of some things.
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