#206 - thanks

it's almost the end of thanksgiving day. i am feeling a lot of thankfulness and this will be a rambling rant. i am thankful for being alive. there is fresh air (though a bit humid) and i have a roof over my head. i have been eating non-stop for days and don't think i will stop anytime soon. my family and friends are always here for me when i come home and its like i never left. tomorrow i am going surfing (hopefully) while other people run around like chickens without heads, trying to find deals on stuff at stores. all i want to do is sit on my board out in the ocean and be one with it. catching waves is great and an amazing thing on its own but just being out there is so perfect. when i am out there, that is all there is. there is nothing else. i am thankful for being able to have that peace once a year. i could have it more by coming more often, moving here, or even surfing in oregon but maybe having it just once a year makes it that much more special. i am thankful for the oregon state football season and having the civil war be so incredibly EPIC this year! i have a chance to go to the rose bowl. although i'm not living what others may see as a successful life, i am amazingly happy. i have a great relationship with a wonderful person who i am missing a lot right now. although i don't really have a job, i never go hungry. i am in great health. i have a pass to the gym which i want to use more often. back in portland life goes on but i will jump back into that life soon. i will have a fun visitor and it's gonna be great! the only thing i need/want right now is a full time job but if i had that i wouldn't be here, wouldn't be able to spend as much time with friends and won't be able to go to rose bowl. the right job will pop up at the right time and i will welcome it with open arms. i am ready to work! but i am enjoying right now. i am thankful for the ability to appreciate the moment.

#205 - thanksgiving trip

i'm not sure when the last time was that i was home for thanksgiving. maybe 2003 after i graduated from college? it's been awhile. in less than 24 hours i will be on a plane to hawaii, my boarding pass is printed and i am (not) packed. with the new baggage policy i will be just bringing a carryon. i don't need much anyway, swimsuit, some t-shirts and shorts, and slippers. what else would i need? i am gonna try to workout everyday since a lot of people will be busy during the day with things like work. other than that i have a few plans.

tuesday
arrive around noon
lunch with mom

wednesday
beach?
dinner with friends

thursday
thanksgiving!
brunch with family

friday
surfing?
mom's b-day dinner @ ige's

saturday
sister time?
UH football tailgate and game - go warriors!

sunday
golfing maybe?
tennis at night?

monday
beach?

tuesday
golfing with dad?
flight to maui

so i am trying to get in a lot of sun while i am there, store up some vitamin D. haven't been in strong sun in awhile. i have my oregon tan right now. all my plans with ?s are up in the air but strong possibilities. i haven't been working too hard on making plans because i know they will come together without me. things always workout in the end. i am looking forward to lots of things like seeing friends/family, surfing, golfing and eating. some foods on my list are big city diner, mililani golf course, loco mocos and ramen. also tokyo tei in maui! i am getting hungry just thinking about all this. so because of all this eating i need to be hitting the gym or beach everyday. if not, the plane won't be able to take off because of too much weight. hahaha

i always fill up my time in hawaii with lots of things so it goes by really fast. in no time i will be back here so i want to just make the best of it. i have been posting a lot about oregon state football but it is real now. we are playing the civil war on december 3 at autzen stadium. it's the biggest one of them all, and i am not just saying that. whoever wins goes to the rose bowl! the granddaddy of them all! it has been quite the season and we are just getting better. we have a little over a week to prepare and it is on!! i am so excited but unfortunately i'll be away from the state of oregon. not to worry though, i am bringing a lot of OSU paraphanelia and t-shirts. i will be representing and watching it wherever i can. hopefully with oregon state fans present.

see you all soon.

#204 - more football

okay there are only a couple weeks left in this season. this weekend will be big! oregon state has to take care of things at washington state, the worst team in the pac-10. we are favored by more than 30 points so it would be nice if we can demolish them like that. a bigger game going on would be oregon traveling to arizona. arizona just lost to california, so they dropped in the standings.

this is what the top of the pac-10 looks like:
oregon 6-1, 8-2 (will play 12/3)
stanford 6-2, 7-3 (OSU beat stanford)
oregon state 5-2, 7-3
arizona 4-2, 6-3 (arizona beat OSU)
USC 4-3, 7-3 (USC beat OSU)
california 4-3, 7-3 (OSU beat cal)

this week oregon plays @arizona, california @stanford (stanford losing would be interesting), oregon state @ WSU, and USC has a bye. oregon state got the key help/upsets last weekend that i predicted. this weekend, oregon should beat arizona, which will lead up to a crazy civil war where we would be #1 and #2 and play for the rose bowl. should the ducks lose to arizona, USC has a chance to beat them on 12/5. either way, we need to win the civil war! but we also can't look past WSU as an upset would be very embarrassing there.

GO BEAVERS!!

i want to go to pasadena for new years. please!

#203 - pac 10 football

this is always the most exciting month in football, november. october is a baseball month and while important in the football world, doesn't seem as huge. the beavers are sitting in a tie for second in the pac-10 with 2 losses. there are no undefeated teams in this conference, no real dominance and different players stepping up in each game. here is a look at the top half of the pac-10:

oregon (5-1,7-2) lost to stanford and boise state. they should beat arizona state easily but have arizona as an away game on 11/21. and of course end the season with the civil war, which of course the beavers will win. they could end up pac-10 champs or end with 3 conference losses. 6-3 or 7-2.

arizona (4-1,6-2) lost to washington and iowa. they have a tough four weeks ahead of them, with games @california, oregon, @arizona state and @USC. cal will have something to prove, having just lost at home to the beavers. arizona state should be a W. it is difficult to go into trojan stadium and get a win. 6-3 or 5-4.

USC (4-2,7-2) lost to washington and oregon. USC is usually the team to beat but with two losses they are not in total control of their bowl destiny. they have perhaps two challenging games - stanford and arizona but an easy one against UCLA, all three at home. they will most likely close out the season with all wins, 7-2.

stanford (5-2,6-3) lost to oregon state, arizona and wake forest. they have a strong running game but two tough games ahead with a road game @USC and home against cal. while cal has a few losses they are a tough team. their last game is a non-conference one against notre dame which should not matter. i see them ending up at 6-3.

oregon state (4-2,6-3) lost to USC, arizona and cincinatti. as is traditional, the beavers will close out the season with solid wins. UW at home, washington state away and the ducks at autzen. we are just beginning to peak and will trample the ducks as appropriate with the rodgers brothers leading the way. 7-2.

we will be pac-10 champs and play in the rose bowl if:
#1. we win the rest of our games. (UW, WSU, oregon)
#2. arizona loses two of their four games. (cal, oregon, arizona state, USC)
#3. USC loses one of their three games. (stanford, UCLA, arizona)

i think there is a good chance of that happening, especially with the way this season has been. our best chances are oregon and USC beating arizona and stanford beating USC. otherwise, cal and stanford will have to step it up. maybe cal will be angry next weekend after the beavs killed them and tear a new one into arizona. all i know is the next few saturdays should be fun and i will be cheering for many teams in addition to the beavers!

#202 - portland!

this one is for matt.
i have been thinking of all the cool things that we can do when you come next month. there is just so much, i had to blog about it. i have probably written about my love for portland before but i just want to highlight some of the things that are in store for you and anyone else who decides to come visit me.

restaurants

• saburos is one of my parent's favorite things to do when they come here. it is this rad sushi restaurant that serves up some of the biggest, cheapest and tastiest sushi in town. if you like unagi you won't be disappointed.
• nicholas restaurant is a lebanese food place and if you've never had it before, this is the best place to go. i used to drive up to portland from corvallis in college with my friends, just to go eat here. hummus, falafel, kabobs, flat bread and baba ganouj. it is an essential stop.
• le bistro montage is a fun, eclectic late night portland hang out. the food is great, kind of southern style with yummy mac & cheese. they have late hours and it's a fun atmosphere.
• voodoo donuts is a must-see/do place. they make the most amazing and fun donuts. names like grape ape, dirt, and cock & balls (yes, i said it). you can also get married there!
• mcmenamins pubs are a chain of local pubs and restaurants. they brew their own delicious beer, show movies for cheap and have over 50 of them in the area. you are never far away from a mcmenamins. for $3 you can see a movie AND have beer and pizza while watching. rad!
• stumptown brews strong coffee for the coffee lovers. i am having one right now!

things to do

• japanese garden is really pretty and colorful, especially in the fall. i think maybe by mid-december most of the fall colors are fading but i think it would still be nice to check out. also there is the rose test gardens which i hear are amazing but i've never been.
• the oregon coast is a totally different experience than hawaiian beaches but is beautiful in its own way. it can get quite cold and stormy in the winter but it is fun anyway. there is also shopping and casinos if it is too rainy.
• OMSI is a fun museum for kids and adults alike. they hosted the bodyworlds exhibit awhile back and the last time i went it was a CSI exhibit. now, until january, is all about the science of fear! sounds rad. they also have the regular museum section and of course, OMNIMAX (IMAX) which always shows awesome movies. what can i say, i'm just a big kid.
• i'd say we could hit a Blazer game but it looks like they will be out of town that weekend.
• ground kontrol arcade is fun for kids and adults. it's an arcade that serves adult bevs. they have bands play there sometimes but mostly its about getting your nerd on and playing video games!
• saturday market is a good place to spend a weekend day. local artists and creatives sell things here. there is good food, music and lots of people. its a great place to get handmade gifts for the holidays or just how people create things. get inspired here!
• powells is not just a bookstore. the main one downtown is called the "city of books" and it takes up a whole city block. they have every book you could imagine and others that you can't. you can buy, sell or just read while you are there.
• portland art museum i've never actually been but here it is pretty cool. they had an exhibit on tattoos this summer but i missed it.
• shopping. yes we have no sales tax. there is a lot you can buy here and plenty of places to do it. there are your big chains and malls of course, ikea, and factory outlets but there are also many, many boutiques and small local businesses that are awesome. each neighborhood has its shopping districts and its pretty fun to just window shop at least.
• dodgeball pickup happens on friday nights. basically a ton of people go and throw balls at each other. it's not organized but it's wicked fun and you can see what all the dodgeball fun is about!
• oh, and it will probably be raining.
• music! although we are going to see a show on sunday, there are always tons of bands playing every night. big names and local artists playing in big and small venues. some of the bands that will be playing that weekend - the thermals, dandy warhols, and zero 7.
• portland underground tours - there are some walking tours of portland that are pretty interesting but they might not be happening in december. there are stories of secret tunnels, ghosts and other things that make portland weird. maybe they don't do them during the winter cause you'll basically be walking in the rain for hours.
• snowboarding might be an option, if we can get a ride up the mountain and if the conditions are good. not a guarantee but it is a possibility!

there is just so much to do, see and eat here that you will always have more to come back for. it will be a fun filled weekend for sure, no matter what we decide to do. we can't do it all but we can certainly try. or if you just wanna chill and hang out portland-style, we can do that too!

#201 - halloween

this was one of the most fun halloweens i've participated in. i don't even remember what i did last year or in the years recent past. for the first time in over ten years i went trick or treating. no, i didn't just take a kid trick or treating. i actually went door to door with a little bag, hoping for candy. yes, i know i am 28 but that didn't stop me. the "adults" at the doors didn't seem to notice i was older than average, they still gave me candy. i was with a couple of 8 year olds and a middle schooler dressed as a milk carton. i was dressed as a hippie. you can't really say no to a hippie, right?! it was cool because we went out for less than an hour so it didn't get boring. i kind of remember being out for hours when i was a kid, getting pounds and pounds of candy. although i didn't get the quantity this time, i sure did get some quality. lots of reese's cups, some twizzlers, a full sized crunch bar, and lots of snickers. yay sugar high!
the most fun part of this was making halloween theme foods. we made bloody eyeballs, a brain, swamp juice, finger foods and severed toes. it was all delicious! here are some cool pics.

having 8 year old friends is awesome! perhaps i am still 8 at heart, it was pretty darn fun! maybe i didn't get enough of that when i was little. who knows. it's kind of cool to do stuff with other peoples kids and hope that someday i'll be able to do it again with my own. maybe by then i will grow up a little more and not feel the need to actually trick or treat. maybe not.