okay well i guess it was just a matter of time before i (a food lover) wrote a blog about food. it's not great and i don't even know where i'm going with it but i know a few things. i love food. i love to try new things. i love to take pictures and share them with people. so it may be restaurants i've tried or food that i've made but i'm starting it out here:
Brandizzle Eats
Check it out and be jealous of the delicious food I'm eating!
09 August 2010
02 July 2010
#218 - radical apartmemt
well i guess i've been busy cause i haven't been posting lately. sorry to the one or two people who read this! haha at least you can look on facebook and see what i've been eating. i've actually been really busy with work mostly. also i went home for a quick trip to visit my grandpa who is in a nursing facility now. then i moved.
WORK
i'm working primarily as a "medicine nurse" right now...aka "drug dealer". i am passing meds to the forty-plus people in the facility. its getting busier with new admissions and everyone has tons of meds. when i'm old i say no more than five a day! some people take like 50 pills. i'm not even exaggerating. its pretty sad. its not really nursing but its the only position they have open right now. i was able to be the "treatment nurse" one day when they needed someone to cover it. that was awesome cause i felt like a real nurse, but at the same time it was kind of boring because there weren't many treatments. i don't really know what i want to do but it probably is not either one. the other position is the "charge nurse" who basically answers the phone a lot and does tons of paperwork. definitely not my jam. so right now i am just working to pay the bills and thinking about what i really want to do.
MAUI
i went to maui for five days i think, it was pretty short. my grandpa had pneumonia, not sure if its gone now but he is getting weaker and not eating much. he was sleeping a lot and not opening his eyes, even when he was eating! it was really good to see him and spend time with him. we were all kind of realizing that he may not make it to my sister's wedding next year. that's really sad but i guess that's reality. she was able to come over to maui and so were my parents. so all four of us were there, which was really nice. i was there for father's day so we all went to IHOP. basically we'd go see my grandpa at the facility two or three time a day and help him eat or push him around in the wheelchair. he likes to get up and then 5 minutes later want to lay down. so it was pretty challenging to be patient. it was weird to be on the family side of things. having to ask the nurses and CNAs for help with things and being patient. i know how much work they have to do so it was weird to have to be the one to wait.
MOVE
just moved in with my bf, we got this two bedroom apt not too far from where i was. it's pretty awesome, close to the best coffee shop, a theater, whole foods, great food and a beautiful park. it's way closer to his work so that's nice. my work is still about 4 miles away and its an uphill bike ride but thankfully i don't have to do that everyday. the weather is finally getting to be nice. the apartment itself is nothing too fancy. its on the second floor, carpet, pretty spacious and nice windows/light. its got a dishwasher and lots of closets. we are still putting it together and there is crap everywhere but it's great. we put up some of his art on the walls and slowly its starting to feel like home! :) the move itself was pretty grueling. got a u-haul one day and had to move our two places. got a couple friends to help but it was hot and we had to keep going up and down stairs. UGH! but it was all worth it. we have an extra bedroom so everyone is welcome to come visit! pictures to come soon...
WORK
i'm working primarily as a "medicine nurse" right now...aka "drug dealer". i am passing meds to the forty-plus people in the facility. its getting busier with new admissions and everyone has tons of meds. when i'm old i say no more than five a day! some people take like 50 pills. i'm not even exaggerating. its pretty sad. its not really nursing but its the only position they have open right now. i was able to be the "treatment nurse" one day when they needed someone to cover it. that was awesome cause i felt like a real nurse, but at the same time it was kind of boring because there weren't many treatments. i don't really know what i want to do but it probably is not either one. the other position is the "charge nurse" who basically answers the phone a lot and does tons of paperwork. definitely not my jam. so right now i am just working to pay the bills and thinking about what i really want to do.
MAUI
i went to maui for five days i think, it was pretty short. my grandpa had pneumonia, not sure if its gone now but he is getting weaker and not eating much. he was sleeping a lot and not opening his eyes, even when he was eating! it was really good to see him and spend time with him. we were all kind of realizing that he may not make it to my sister's wedding next year. that's really sad but i guess that's reality. she was able to come over to maui and so were my parents. so all four of us were there, which was really nice. i was there for father's day so we all went to IHOP. basically we'd go see my grandpa at the facility two or three time a day and help him eat or push him around in the wheelchair. he likes to get up and then 5 minutes later want to lay down. so it was pretty challenging to be patient. it was weird to be on the family side of things. having to ask the nurses and CNAs for help with things and being patient. i know how much work they have to do so it was weird to have to be the one to wait.
MOVE
just moved in with my bf, we got this two bedroom apt not too far from where i was. it's pretty awesome, close to the best coffee shop, a theater, whole foods, great food and a beautiful park. it's way closer to his work so that's nice. my work is still about 4 miles away and its an uphill bike ride but thankfully i don't have to do that everyday. the weather is finally getting to be nice. the apartment itself is nothing too fancy. its on the second floor, carpet, pretty spacious and nice windows/light. its got a dishwasher and lots of closets. we are still putting it together and there is crap everywhere but it's great. we put up some of his art on the walls and slowly its starting to feel like home! :) the move itself was pretty grueling. got a u-haul one day and had to move our two places. got a couple friends to help but it was hot and we had to keep going up and down stairs. UGH! but it was all worth it. we have an extra bedroom so everyone is welcome to come visit! pictures to come soon...
24 May 2010
#217 - one year
it's been a year since Hector passed away. RIP Hector. to me he was the most amazing lover of a dog. i can't write much because i am crying too much but i just did want to recognize this day. 
he was a lover and a fighter, if that's possible. i feel really empty and broken without him. there is a chihuahua-sized hole in my heart that cannot be filled. one year later and i still think about him everyday. love is like that i guess. in memory of sweet hector i decided to get a tribute tattoo. it is still healing so i haven't a proper picture but this is the one i took from my phone immediately afterwards.
i got it done at imperial tattoo in portland by this guy named mike. he was awesome and did such a perfect job! the tattoo is almost as cute as the real thing! now i carry him with me wherever i go.
he was a lover and a fighter, if that's possible. i feel really empty and broken without him. there is a chihuahua-sized hole in my heart that cannot be filled. one year later and i still think about him everyday. love is like that i guess. in memory of sweet hector i decided to get a tribute tattoo. it is still healing so i haven't a proper picture but this is the one i took from my phone immediately afterwards.
i got it done at imperial tattoo in portland by this guy named mike. he was awesome and did such a perfect job! the tattoo is almost as cute as the real thing! now i carry him with me wherever i go.
27 April 2010
#216 - new job
as you may know, i've been looking for a job for a long time now. although i was working part time and paying the bills, it was not what i wanted. i got my RN last june and have since not had much luck finding a job as one. bummer, right? yes. so i opened up my search to include more than just the hospitals in the portland area. i opened my job search to include CNA work as well, which is what i've been doing for 5 years now. you would think it would be easy to find a job in something i've been doing for that long. so did i. as soon as the potential employer found out i had my RN they dismissed me, knowing i would keep looking for work and eventually quit.
i applied to a CNA position i found on craigslist at Gateway Care & Retirement on 4/10. they called me on 4/12 and i interviewed on 4/13. they were just as baffled to find that i couldn't find a job as a RN but instead of thinking that me having my RN was bad, they were excited. i got the job, signed papers on 4/14 and started working as a CNA on 4/15. i talked to the DNS (director of nursing services) and he was encouraging. the plan/idea was for me to get some experience in the place and get to know the facility, then eventually train me to pass meds, do treatment nurse and eventually charge nurse. it was really exciting and encouraging to know that the DNS was looking out for me and welcomed me aboard "the team". at my previous job the DNS was scary and not encouraging at all. so this was new.
training for the CNA position was great, i just got back right into the dressing, feeding, wiping, cleaning, showering, etc. i trained for four days, then had two days off before i was to start full time on day shift. i showed up on 4/22 when i was scheduled and found out that their CMA (med aide) had just quit the day before. they were wondering what to do and someone was like, "why doesn't Brandi do it?" since i am a RN i can pass the medications on my license. i talked to the DNS again and he said it sounded good, it would be difficult but i would have lots of help if i needed it. so the next day i started training on passing meds. the day shift med position starts at 5am so we are able to pass the 6am meds. unfortunately the bus does not run that early. i live about 4.5 miles from work and so in order to get there on time, i need to ride my bike. i leave around 4:30am. at that time i am not yet awake but there are not many cars on the road. by the time i get to work i am wide awake.
training went quickly and i learned a lot. the person who trained me had been doing it for 9 years so she had a lot of experience. she knew all the residents' meds inside and out. she knew everything i needed to know. it went quickly and there was a lot to learn. after training for three days i had one day off, then started on my own today. although i felt like i was kind of drowning slowly, it also felt like i would get it down eventually and it would become doable. the day goes incredibly fast because there are meds at 0600, 0730, 0800, 0930, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400. there are over 40 residents and they all get lots of meds at different times. i actually like work that keeps me busy the whole time so it suits me.
two more days on my own for day shift then i train on evening shift for two days. eventually my schedule will be two days on, two evenings on, two off then repeat. so i have rotating "weekends" and don't have to get up at 4am every day of the week. i'm looking forward to when that starts on may 6. all in all, i am glad i am working again.
i applied to a CNA position i found on craigslist at Gateway Care & Retirement on 4/10. they called me on 4/12 and i interviewed on 4/13. they were just as baffled to find that i couldn't find a job as a RN but instead of thinking that me having my RN was bad, they were excited. i got the job, signed papers on 4/14 and started working as a CNA on 4/15. i talked to the DNS (director of nursing services) and he was encouraging. the plan/idea was for me to get some experience in the place and get to know the facility, then eventually train me to pass meds, do treatment nurse and eventually charge nurse. it was really exciting and encouraging to know that the DNS was looking out for me and welcomed me aboard "the team". at my previous job the DNS was scary and not encouraging at all. so this was new.
training for the CNA position was great, i just got back right into the dressing, feeding, wiping, cleaning, showering, etc. i trained for four days, then had two days off before i was to start full time on day shift. i showed up on 4/22 when i was scheduled and found out that their CMA (med aide) had just quit the day before. they were wondering what to do and someone was like, "why doesn't Brandi do it?" since i am a RN i can pass the medications on my license. i talked to the DNS again and he said it sounded good, it would be difficult but i would have lots of help if i needed it. so the next day i started training on passing meds. the day shift med position starts at 5am so we are able to pass the 6am meds. unfortunately the bus does not run that early. i live about 4.5 miles from work and so in order to get there on time, i need to ride my bike. i leave around 4:30am. at that time i am not yet awake but there are not many cars on the road. by the time i get to work i am wide awake.
training went quickly and i learned a lot. the person who trained me had been doing it for 9 years so she had a lot of experience. she knew all the residents' meds inside and out. she knew everything i needed to know. it went quickly and there was a lot to learn. after training for three days i had one day off, then started on my own today. although i felt like i was kind of drowning slowly, it also felt like i would get it down eventually and it would become doable. the day goes incredibly fast because there are meds at 0600, 0730, 0800, 0930, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400. there are over 40 residents and they all get lots of meds at different times. i actually like work that keeps me busy the whole time so it suits me.
two more days on my own for day shift then i train on evening shift for two days. eventually my schedule will be two days on, two evenings on, two off then repeat. so i have rotating "weekends" and don't have to get up at 4am every day of the week. i'm looking forward to when that starts on may 6. all in all, i am glad i am working again.
08 March 2010
#215 - bicycle!
i just got my bike out for the first time in probably close to a year. both tires were really flat so i had to put air in them and be sure i was good to go. i was worried i would forget how to bike and i was definitely a little afraid of biking in traffic. of course i still remember HOW to ride but it was a little awkward.
the day that i took my first ride of 2010 was so gorgeous, almost knocking on summer's door. summers in oregon are so amazing and i am really excited for it to come. i thought for sure the sun and warmth would last.. unfortunately today it got really COLD! i had heard rumors about snow in the next couple days and did not believe it because i swear it was in the upper 60's the other day. so imagine my surprise when i looked out the window today and saw snow falling down! granted, it is probably in the low 40s right now but hey it's MARCH for crying out loud! the cherry blossoms are in bloom and flowers are popping out everywhere so dammit, snow, stay away! i am ready to go out in t-shirts and maybe a light sweatshirt. no more winter clothes...grrr... i do enjoy the winter and this one was quite short with not enough rain (yes, i said it!) or snow. the sun is such a tease! i was dreaming of summer days and nights, staying out till nine and it still being light out. oh yeah! picnics, hikes, bikes, parties, swimming, the coast, etc. summer is going to rock!
so my bike is out and ready to ride. i will ride in the cold but not rain or snow. i am so fair weather. but i have a bus pass so its all good and i don't care what you bike people think.. its for fun and not my main mode of transport. maybe someday that will change but for now it's just fun to ride. i can get some exercise while also getting fresh air and going from point A to B faster, not having to wait for the bus. OOH CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!! i should change the title to "summer"
the day that i took my first ride of 2010 was so gorgeous, almost knocking on summer's door. summers in oregon are so amazing and i am really excited for it to come. i thought for sure the sun and warmth would last.. unfortunately today it got really COLD! i had heard rumors about snow in the next couple days and did not believe it because i swear it was in the upper 60's the other day. so imagine my surprise when i looked out the window today and saw snow falling down! granted, it is probably in the low 40s right now but hey it's MARCH for crying out loud! the cherry blossoms are in bloom and flowers are popping out everywhere so dammit, snow, stay away! i am ready to go out in t-shirts and maybe a light sweatshirt. no more winter clothes...grrr... i do enjoy the winter and this one was quite short with not enough rain (yes, i said it!) or snow. the sun is such a tease! i was dreaming of summer days and nights, staying out till nine and it still being light out. oh yeah! picnics, hikes, bikes, parties, swimming, the coast, etc. summer is going to rock!
so my bike is out and ready to ride. i will ride in the cold but not rain or snow. i am so fair weather. but i have a bus pass so its all good and i don't care what you bike people think.. its for fun and not my main mode of transport. maybe someday that will change but for now it's just fun to ride. i can get some exercise while also getting fresh air and going from point A to B faster, not having to wait for the bus. OOH CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!! i should change the title to "summer"
16 February 2010
#214 - wedding dress
i arrived in hawaii yesterday for my aunty's funeral (thursday). it feels like i was just here so i don't really have a long list of things to do, plus there are a lot of funeral-related family events going on while i'm here. the only thing i really want/need to do is go to the beach and surf.
so i arrived about 2:30pm and the first thing we did was pick up my sister and go to three bridal shops. this was my first time to ever step into one of these places. whoa, it was weird. i've never been one of those gals who dream of their wedding and the perfect dress, etc. i don't think i'm going to become one either. luckily for me, she had already done some homework as to what she wanted. she took us to the three stores and had a few dresses picked out at each.
when she put on the first dress and walked out, it was like another person. this can't be my little sister!! it was a beautiful woman about to be married! oh my, it was weird. she looked awesome in all the dresses she tried on, even if they were samples and not the right size for her. the dresses ranged in price all the way up to $1400. i was like, omg that is way too much for a dress you are only gonna wear once!! but i guess it's your special day and if you can afford it, why not splurge?
the dresses she liked all had varying amounts of bead work and shiny stuff on it. totally not my style. i had to keep reminding myself, "this is not your wedding/dress/day!" it is kind of easy to get caught up in the glamour and idea of weddings and for me to fantasize about my own future wedding and what i want and don't want. i am so not there yet but i doubt i'll be throwing down anything in four figures for a silly dress.
so back to the dress. the one she finally chose (but had to sleep on) was a pretty, simple, a-line strapless dress with a corset looking tie in the back. it has a little "bling" but not over the top. it also has a chiffon layer and not too big a train. i think it's gonna be my job as maid of honor to fix that thing when it gets all messed up so i'm glad it's not too big/bulky. the worker who was helping her was a bit pushy for a bigger more poofy dress but none of us liked that style. she was a nice gal but i think she had her own conception of what the perfect wedding dress was and was trying to force it on us. i don't want my sister to have a bubble butt on her wedding day!
her wedding isn't even till june 2011 so i'm like, wow this is early. but i guess you have to get these things in order ahead of time. knowing me i'll end up in vegas getting married by an elvis impersonator! i am excited for her though, and she is excited too. i hope she doesn't become a bridezilla...
so i arrived about 2:30pm and the first thing we did was pick up my sister and go to three bridal shops. this was my first time to ever step into one of these places. whoa, it was weird. i've never been one of those gals who dream of their wedding and the perfect dress, etc. i don't think i'm going to become one either. luckily for me, she had already done some homework as to what she wanted. she took us to the three stores and had a few dresses picked out at each.
when she put on the first dress and walked out, it was like another person. this can't be my little sister!! it was a beautiful woman about to be married! oh my, it was weird. she looked awesome in all the dresses she tried on, even if they were samples and not the right size for her. the dresses ranged in price all the way up to $1400. i was like, omg that is way too much for a dress you are only gonna wear once!! but i guess it's your special day and if you can afford it, why not splurge?
the dresses she liked all had varying amounts of bead work and shiny stuff on it. totally not my style. i had to keep reminding myself, "this is not your wedding/dress/day!" it is kind of easy to get caught up in the glamour and idea of weddings and for me to fantasize about my own future wedding and what i want and don't want. i am so not there yet but i doubt i'll be throwing down anything in four figures for a silly dress.
so back to the dress. the one she finally chose (but had to sleep on) was a pretty, simple, a-line strapless dress with a corset looking tie in the back. it has a little "bling" but not over the top. it also has a chiffon layer and not too big a train. i think it's gonna be my job as maid of honor to fix that thing when it gets all messed up so i'm glad it's not too big/bulky. the worker who was helping her was a bit pushy for a bigger more poofy dress but none of us liked that style. she was a nice gal but i think she had her own conception of what the perfect wedding dress was and was trying to force it on us. i don't want my sister to have a bubble butt on her wedding day!
her wedding isn't even till june 2011 so i'm like, wow this is early. but i guess you have to get these things in order ahead of time. knowing me i'll end up in vegas getting married by an elvis impersonator! i am excited for her though, and she is excited too. i hope she doesn't become a bridezilla...
10 February 2010
#213 - sick
Sucks to be sick. I'm in bed right now, trying to blog and rest. I have a raging sore throat and overall malaise. Luckily I don't work till friday but I have tickets to see Elton John and Billy Joel tonight! It's in ten hours so hopefully laying in bed for that time will help me feel better. I don't wanna miss it! My whole house is sick in one form or another. One has a sinus thing and the other kind of similar. I'm trying everything to get rid of this thing, lots of water, tea, salt water gargle, soup, vitamins, oj, superfood, and rest. Oh and hot showers.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
02 February 2010
#212 - bodybuilding
i decided it's time to become serious about getting the body i want by weight lifting and good nutrition. i've been thinking about for a long time. i have been weight lifting since 1996 when i had knee surgery in high school. i was forced into the gym at school to rehabilitate my knee back to basketball form. that knee got stronger and i realized that one of the reasons i got hurt in the first place was because my muscles were weak and i was a weakling. our high school basketball team training did not include weight training, which is a real shame. although i resisted a little at first, i came to really enjoy lifting weights. i've been a gym rat ever since and it even led to my degree in exercise and sports science. i've taken lots of classes on exercise and related topics like exercise physiology, motor skills, and even weight lifting. i learned the different techniques, about reps/sets/volume, and about periodization. it was all geared towards training an injured athlete but the same principles apply. i still like to read and learn about exercise.
in college we had all-access to a really nice gym and i really hit it hard. i remember the first time i went to the gym. i was so excited, worked out hard for two hours and puked my guts out. it was great! after that i controlled my workouts and learned to create plans. i experimented with different variables and even got pretty strong by doing heavy lifting sessions with my buddy ALQ. we worked out a lot and were pretty active. if there wasn't so much partying going on i probably would've had a pretty nice physique. HA! beer and unlimited cheap food at my disposal led to weight gain. since graduating in 2003 i have lost about 20 pounds. i think i have lost some muscle as well because although i've been "going to the gym" i haven't really been serious about following a plan. or about my nutrition.
i have never been one to "diet" but if i am not conscious of what i am eating then i overdo it. the dictionary says it is "the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group". well i am an organism and i am keeping track of all the food i consume. what it consists of is 5-6 meals a day. lots of veggies, egg whites, lean chicken breast, protein powder, cottage cheese and water. i have been reading up on nutrition, especially in the bodybuilding community, and it is all pretty similar. it is a pretty healthy way to eat. the biggest problem is time. it's hard enough to fit three meals in a day. imagine trying to do 6. so there is a lot of prep going on. yesterday i spent 2 hours in the kitchen preparing my foods for the week. look up "clean eating" and this is essentially what i am doing. avoiding processed crap and going for stuff with lots of nutrients. i have about ten different veggies in my fridge right now. it's great!
nutrition and exercise go together. i've got my nutrition all planned out and have a few different workouts that i planned as well. i'm trying to workout 5-6 days a week, with three of those being weights. i just wanted to blog a little about it to be accountable. i'm keeping track of everything in this little notebook and i'm pretty excited to see what will happen!
in college we had all-access to a really nice gym and i really hit it hard. i remember the first time i went to the gym. i was so excited, worked out hard for two hours and puked my guts out. it was great! after that i controlled my workouts and learned to create plans. i experimented with different variables and even got pretty strong by doing heavy lifting sessions with my buddy ALQ. we worked out a lot and were pretty active. if there wasn't so much partying going on i probably would've had a pretty nice physique. HA! beer and unlimited cheap food at my disposal led to weight gain. since graduating in 2003 i have lost about 20 pounds. i think i have lost some muscle as well because although i've been "going to the gym" i haven't really been serious about following a plan. or about my nutrition.
i have never been one to "diet" but if i am not conscious of what i am eating then i overdo it. the dictionary says it is "the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group". well i am an organism and i am keeping track of all the food i consume. what it consists of is 5-6 meals a day. lots of veggies, egg whites, lean chicken breast, protein powder, cottage cheese and water. i have been reading up on nutrition, especially in the bodybuilding community, and it is all pretty similar. it is a pretty healthy way to eat. the biggest problem is time. it's hard enough to fit three meals in a day. imagine trying to do 6. so there is a lot of prep going on. yesterday i spent 2 hours in the kitchen preparing my foods for the week. look up "clean eating" and this is essentially what i am doing. avoiding processed crap and going for stuff with lots of nutrients. i have about ten different veggies in my fridge right now. it's great!
nutrition and exercise go together. i've got my nutrition all planned out and have a few different workouts that i planned as well. i'm trying to workout 5-6 days a week, with three of those being weights. i just wanted to blog a little about it to be accountable. i'm keeping track of everything in this little notebook and i'm pretty excited to see what will happen!
17 January 2010
#211 - time flies
half of january is already gone. how the heck did that happen?! i have been working a bit but other than that nothing has really pushed this month to go fast. life in general seems to be going faster all the time. maybe i am enjoying myself more ("time flies when you're having fun"). i didn't even have much time to think about the non-resolutions that i made (twenty ten). i did not want to make new years resolutions because they never really seem to work. it's more about making lifestyle changes and being accountable to them everyday. in the first couple months of the year the gym is always packed and i hate it. i want people to fall off their resolution wagons already so i can do supersets and not have to worry about waiting for equipment.
one of my excuses for not going to the gym is that it is so busy all the time but honestly i haven't been feeling it. i have been lazy. also i haven't been conscious about what i've been eating so it's kind of a waste of time. what is it going to take for me to actually be serious about becoming the best that i can be? no, i am not joining the army. i just feel like i only get one shot at this thing called life. each day comes and goes and then it is gone, you only have one chance to really grab life by the balls. everyday is a new day, a new game. it's like golf where each hole is an individual one but at the end you have a total score. string together a bunch of good days and you'll get a good week. string together weeks and you can see some progress in a weight lifting program or even on the scale if that is your goal.
regardless of it being daily thing though, i do have a goal now. june 4, 2011 my little sister is getting married and i have the honor of being her maid of honor. it is freaking me out just a little bit but i figured out that i have 502 days until the wedding. i have lots of time! i don't have to freak out. i want to look good for her wedding (not better than her of course!) and i'll have to wear a dress. i get to have input on the kind of dress which is cool. i don't think i even put on a dress in 2009 because i didn't have reason to do so. i own one but it is deep in storage somewhere and doesn't even fit because i bought it in 2005. the point to this whole post is that i want to work on myself for this wedding. 502 days is a lot but i know it will go by quickly with preparations and so forth. if it were my wedding i'd go to vegas or voodoo donuts and just be done with it but that wouldn't make my mom very happy. luckily i don't have to think about that yet.
i bought a notebook for $1 at fred meyer and i plan on keeping track of everything, food and exercise. this is the only way to do it. i have the knowledge and education to put together workouts and meal plans. i even have the time right now to do it. i have just been lazy. STOP BEING LAZY! it is just so much more fun to sit and play resident evil 4 on the wii rather than hit the gym. so today i went to the gym first and now i'm gonna go play RE4. hahaha
one of my excuses for not going to the gym is that it is so busy all the time but honestly i haven't been feeling it. i have been lazy. also i haven't been conscious about what i've been eating so it's kind of a waste of time. what is it going to take for me to actually be serious about becoming the best that i can be? no, i am not joining the army. i just feel like i only get one shot at this thing called life. each day comes and goes and then it is gone, you only have one chance to really grab life by the balls. everyday is a new day, a new game. it's like golf where each hole is an individual one but at the end you have a total score. string together a bunch of good days and you'll get a good week. string together weeks and you can see some progress in a weight lifting program or even on the scale if that is your goal.
regardless of it being daily thing though, i do have a goal now. june 4, 2011 my little sister is getting married and i have the honor of being her maid of honor. it is freaking me out just a little bit but i figured out that i have 502 days until the wedding. i have lots of time! i don't have to freak out. i want to look good for her wedding (not better than her of course!) and i'll have to wear a dress. i get to have input on the kind of dress which is cool. i don't think i even put on a dress in 2009 because i didn't have reason to do so. i own one but it is deep in storage somewhere and doesn't even fit because i bought it in 2005. the point to this whole post is that i want to work on myself for this wedding. 502 days is a lot but i know it will go by quickly with preparations and so forth. if it were my wedding i'd go to vegas or voodoo donuts and just be done with it but that wouldn't make my mom very happy. luckily i don't have to think about that yet.
i bought a notebook for $1 at fred meyer and i plan on keeping track of everything, food and exercise. this is the only way to do it. i have the knowledge and education to put together workouts and meal plans. i even have the time right now to do it. i have just been lazy. STOP BEING LAZY! it is just so much more fun to sit and play resident evil 4 on the wii rather than hit the gym. so today i went to the gym first and now i'm gonna go play RE4. hahaha
11 January 2010
#210 - part time
i've been doing some part time home care work. yes, work. wow. it's been awhile since i've had to get up at a certain time. it is not even 9pm and i am ready for bed. while starting at 9am shouldn't be too difficult, it is kind of annoying. i like to sleep in. i don't like to set my alarm. for awhile there i was waking up consistently at about 10. i will miss those days but it is kind of nice to get into a sort-of schedule. i say sort-of because this is just temporary. the couple i am doing home care for just needs someone till they are over a hump of sorts. then it's onto the next client, and the next, and the next. they all live in different areas of portland and it will take different amounts of time to get there. also the times of their care will vary. right now it's four hours a day (9a-1p), five days a week, ten blocks from my house. i can handle that. plus they are cute and nice. if this at all sounds like complaining or whining, it is not. i like it. i just like sleep better. why can't i be paid to eat, sleep, workout, listen to music, and play Wii?
02 January 2010
#209 - twenty ten
i started the year forcing myself to stay awake till midnight. i must be getting old because that has never been hard before. also i am sick so that doesn't help things much. unfortunately i have been under the weather since christmas eve. i am so done with not being able to breathe properly and coughing up gross stuff. hopefully it is not a sign of things to come.
new years day was pretty great though, slept in and ate lots of good food, including good luck ozoni. we went to see the movie AVATAR that everyone is talking about. i had all these expectations because of everything people were saying and thought i would be disappointed. thankfully i was not. the movie was cool and the effects were amazing. it really made me want to visit their planet and of course take care of our own. someone wants what you have so you start a war to take it away. hmm sounds familiar.
what do i want for 2010? i guess this would be new years wishes.
1. health
2. happiness
3. money (a job)
i think that just about sums it up. everything that i want for this year would go under those three categories somehow. i think that is the order of importance for me because if i don't have my health then i cannot have the other two. 2009 will be hard to beat but i have a feeling that this year will be better!
HEALTH
of greatest importance is my health. included in this category would be eating right and exercising. thankfully these are things that i enjoy doing. the last couple months have been pretty gluttonous. i have a hard time not filling myself with delicious foods when it is in front of me. i have to eat until i am uncomfortably full...but i am working on this. okinawans have a phrase, "hara hachi bu" which means 80% full. i want to practice this. i love my veggies and health food in general. thank goodness the holidays are over!
my gym membership is still good and they are in the middle of a renovation so it will be bigger and better. i need to be more consistent with this. it got really cold and so i am wearing long underwear everywhere. it just seems like such a hassle to change out of them and into gym clothes and then back into them afterwards. pain in the ass. so i haven't gone in awhile because of that.
HAPPINESS
koko ni sachi ari. my life is wonderful and i am thankful to have all the people in my life today. i am really happy. could it be my relationship of the last 11 months? could it be all the free time and no stress of work? could it be ___? i am not sure but i am glad i am feeling this way. i have hope for this upcoming year that it will only get better. there will be trials and tribulations. there will be hardships. there will be fighting and unhappiness. there will also be my support system all around me to carry me through. awesome!
MONEY
that's what i want. it has been about 6 months with my RN license and still no job despite looking and applying all the time. it is a little frustrating but i believe there is a reason for it so i am going with it. i am doing the work and waiting for results. not much else i can do. so while i am waiting for that first nursing job to come, i still need to make money so i am looking all over the place for work. we'll see what happens.
happy new year!
new years day was pretty great though, slept in and ate lots of good food, including good luck ozoni. we went to see the movie AVATAR that everyone is talking about. i had all these expectations because of everything people were saying and thought i would be disappointed. thankfully i was not. the movie was cool and the effects were amazing. it really made me want to visit their planet and of course take care of our own. someone wants what you have so you start a war to take it away. hmm sounds familiar.
what do i want for 2010? i guess this would be new years wishes.
1. health
2. happiness
3. money (a job)
i think that just about sums it up. everything that i want for this year would go under those three categories somehow. i think that is the order of importance for me because if i don't have my health then i cannot have the other two. 2009 will be hard to beat but i have a feeling that this year will be better!
HEALTH
of greatest importance is my health. included in this category would be eating right and exercising. thankfully these are things that i enjoy doing. the last couple months have been pretty gluttonous. i have a hard time not filling myself with delicious foods when it is in front of me. i have to eat until i am uncomfortably full...but i am working on this. okinawans have a phrase, "hara hachi bu" which means 80% full. i want to practice this. i love my veggies and health food in general. thank goodness the holidays are over!
my gym membership is still good and they are in the middle of a renovation so it will be bigger and better. i need to be more consistent with this. it got really cold and so i am wearing long underwear everywhere. it just seems like such a hassle to change out of them and into gym clothes and then back into them afterwards. pain in the ass. so i haven't gone in awhile because of that.
HAPPINESS
koko ni sachi ari. my life is wonderful and i am thankful to have all the people in my life today. i am really happy. could it be my relationship of the last 11 months? could it be all the free time and no stress of work? could it be ___? i am not sure but i am glad i am feeling this way. i have hope for this upcoming year that it will only get better. there will be trials and tribulations. there will be hardships. there will be fighting and unhappiness. there will also be my support system all around me to carry me through. awesome!
MONEY
that's what i want. it has been about 6 months with my RN license and still no job despite looking and applying all the time. it is a little frustrating but i believe there is a reason for it so i am going with it. i am doing the work and waiting for results. not much else i can do. so while i am waiting for that first nursing job to come, i still need to make money so i am looking all over the place for work. we'll see what happens.
happy new year!
30 December 2009
#208 - review 2009
back on the first of january i wrote a blog about the upcoming year, 2009. it was kind of interesting to see what i was looking forward to at the beginning of this year. some things happened and others were way off. overall it was a very great year, one of the best so far. despite being unemployed at the moment, i am officially a registered nurse and am done with school (for now). while that was one of the things i was looking forward to, so was getting a job. who knew that the recession and economy would be so bad? the hospitals can basically pick and choose who they want to hire and be really specific, like wanting you to have 3 years of experience. i am not sure where i can get that but i am still trying. back in july i took and passed my NCLEX to get my RN, so i have been seeking work since then. wow, six months and still nothing. while at times it is frustrating and embarrassing, i know that it will happen when the time is right.
my whole family came up to see me graduate from nursing school, which was pretty cool. my sister had the honors of "pinning" me and everything was awesome. finally graduating was a good feeling. after graduation we went on a trip to alaska on a cruise! we drove up to seattle and then took a ship out from there. it was about a week of eating tons of food everyday. we got off the ship in several ports and saw lots of cool stuff. we went to check out glaciers and do shopping in gold rush towns. it was all pretty neat and we were up there for the longest day of the year, june 21, so it was pretty much light out all day and night.
the last awesome thing this year was meeting jeremy, my sweet boyfriend. he has been a great friend and i really can't ask for more in a relationship at this point. things are wonderful and we are having a great time together. i even went to his family's house for christmas which was nice and not awkward at all. we've been together since january and it has flown by really quick. he is the best!
my whole family came up to see me graduate from nursing school, which was pretty cool. my sister had the honors of "pinning" me and everything was awesome. finally graduating was a good feeling. after graduation we went on a trip to alaska on a cruise! we drove up to seattle and then took a ship out from there. it was about a week of eating tons of food everyday. we got off the ship in several ports and saw lots of cool stuff. we went to check out glaciers and do shopping in gold rush towns. it was all pretty neat and we were up there for the longest day of the year, june 21, so it was pretty much light out all day and night.
the last awesome thing this year was meeting jeremy, my sweet boyfriend. he has been a great friend and i really can't ask for more in a relationship at this point. things are wonderful and we are having a great time together. i even went to his family's house for christmas which was nice and not awkward at all. we've been together since january and it has flown by really quick. he is the best!
28 December 2009
#207 - christmas and stuff
this was a new kind of christmas because i am not really sure when i last missed christmas in hawaii. since i am job searching and wanted to be available during the holidays i went home for thanksgiving. that went great and i had a good time. i did everything i wanted to but it was pretty short. two weeks goes by quickly, especially when you are filling it with surfing, manapuas, fried rice, football games, costco, loco mocos, and shave ice.
i never really felt like it was christmas in the weeks leading up to it. i really didn't do well on christmas gifts and i kind of didn't care. i have something in mind that i am working on but i never got around to it in time. my family knows i don't have much money so i am sure they understand my giftlessness but someday i just want to get it together enough to be on time with good, thoughtful, loving gifts for the fam. maybe next year.
my plans for christmas ended up being driving down to coos bay to spend time with jeremy and his family. the drive on christmas eve was long (4 hours) and we left after he got off work around 7. i met his whole family previously, but on separate occasions. i was excited because they all seemed really fun. we got there late and hung out for a little while but were pretty worn out. christmas morning was spent sleeping in then having a leisurely brunch. we went out to the beach and the weather was so perfect. they said i was lucky because it was one out of maybe five days of sun all year. supposedly its really cold, windy and rainy all the time. not for me, it was gorgeous and even warmer than portland. after that we opened presents and had dinner. we watched some old family videos which were really precious! to end the night we went to shore acres, which is a botanical garden with an awesome light display. there were millions of lights covering plants there but since we went so late it closed shortly after we arrived. the whole day was really nice and relaxed. the fam was really entertaining and fun.
so up next is new years eve i guess. blog recap of 2009 to come shortly and perhaps what i am looking forward to in 2010. the days are winding down for this year. it's been good.
i never really felt like it was christmas in the weeks leading up to it. i really didn't do well on christmas gifts and i kind of didn't care. i have something in mind that i am working on but i never got around to it in time. my family knows i don't have much money so i am sure they understand my giftlessness but someday i just want to get it together enough to be on time with good, thoughtful, loving gifts for the fam. maybe next year.
my plans for christmas ended up being driving down to coos bay to spend time with jeremy and his family. the drive on christmas eve was long (4 hours) and we left after he got off work around 7. i met his whole family previously, but on separate occasions. i was excited because they all seemed really fun. we got there late and hung out for a little while but were pretty worn out. christmas morning was spent sleeping in then having a leisurely brunch. we went out to the beach and the weather was so perfect. they said i was lucky because it was one out of maybe five days of sun all year. supposedly its really cold, windy and rainy all the time. not for me, it was gorgeous and even warmer than portland. after that we opened presents and had dinner. we watched some old family videos which were really precious! to end the night we went to shore acres, which is a botanical garden with an awesome light display. there were millions of lights covering plants there but since we went so late it closed shortly after we arrived. the whole day was really nice and relaxed. the fam was really entertaining and fun.
so up next is new years eve i guess. blog recap of 2009 to come shortly and perhaps what i am looking forward to in 2010. the days are winding down for this year. it's been good.
27 November 2009
#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.
23 November 2009
#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.
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.
18 November 2009
#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!
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!
08 November 2009
#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!
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
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!
- 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!
01 November 2009
#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.
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.
26 October 2009
#200 - all moved in!
after days and days of packing, cleaning, moving, unpacking and organizing i can say i am pretty much done. my room is finished. clean and arranged how i want it, for now. i can see the whole floor and things are in their places. i doubt it will stay this way for long but i will try. i have a little pride now. i like this place! here is a little shot of what my room looks like.
i haven't done much in terms of decorating but that will come later. i had to cover the window because there are other apartments right next to ours and i am paranoid. so the red fabric is one i got in singapore. i got some new furniture from IKEA, that bookshelf in the corner and a dresser that i badly needed. it was a pain to put together but luckily my friend helped me and i think she enjoyed it.
i spent a lot of time today organizing the kitchen. my roommate jen is not really a cook so i have maybe 90% of the kitchen stuff and food. it's awesome cause i get to decide where things go. i'll probably change it later but for now i think it'll work out well. one of the new things i have to adapt to is having two cats. yes, i said cats. they are pretty cute but it is hard to keep them out of my room. i had the unfortunate chance to have my ex-roommate's cat pee on my bed once so naturally i worry. cat pee is the worst. anyway, PJ is a pretty frisky little one who likes to explore and get into everything (like plastic bags). june is quiet and hides a lot so i don't see much of her. they are cool though. less work than dogs but not as smart/cute/cuddly/fun, if you know what i mean..
i haven't done much in terms of decorating but that will come later. i had to cover the window because there are other apartments right next to ours and i am paranoid. so the red fabric is one i got in singapore. i got some new furniture from IKEA, that bookshelf in the corner and a dresser that i badly needed. it was a pain to put together but luckily my friend helped me and i think she enjoyed it.
i spent a lot of time today organizing the kitchen. my roommate jen is not really a cook so i have maybe 90% of the kitchen stuff and food. it's awesome cause i get to decide where things go. i'll probably change it later but for now i think it'll work out well. one of the new things i have to adapt to is having two cats. yes, i said cats. they are pretty cute but it is hard to keep them out of my room. i had the unfortunate chance to have my ex-roommate's cat pee on my bed once so naturally i worry. cat pee is the worst. anyway, PJ is a pretty frisky little one who likes to explore and get into everything (like plastic bags). june is quiet and hides a lot so i don't see much of her. they are cool though. less work than dogs but not as smart/cute/cuddly/fun, if you know what i mean..
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