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"
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
08 March 2010
21 April 2009
#182 - pseudo summer
right now, portland is gorgeous! the sun is shining and it is warm. it's getting a little too warm for me but i know it will go away soon. we are being teased by the weather gods, as usual. i am totally okay with that. i don't even want summer yet. it's still april. i want a few months of nice cool sunny weather, in the 50-60's preferably. i am not ready to break out the tank tops and sunscreen. i got cheated out of a normal winter of endless days of rain. we had all kinds of weird stuff like snow, hail and sun. i don't want to be cheated out of a rainy, cool spring with little breaks of sunny days.
all that being said, i've enjoyed the last couple days of nice weather. i took time off for my sanity. i did nothing. i laid in a hammock. i went on a hike. i sat in the sun. i slept in. these are all things that needed to be done, i was going nuts-o. i have a hard time just relaxing. there always has to be something being done, even if it is as simple as changing my fb status. usually i am doing two things at once (like writing a blog and resume at the same time). i feel like i am using my time better but i know that is not true. doing laundry AND dishes AND listening to music AND preparing lunch. there just does not seem to be enough time to do everything i need/want to. where does all that time go? i have been keeping a time log and i notice much of my time goes to waiting or riding the bus, at least 2 hours a day. it seems like a waste but i use it to read a lot. when i do too much it makes me less present.
thinking about summer, i can tell this will be an awesome one! while i do not look forward to certain things, i know they will turn out ok. i already have two little trips planned and i want to do more. if and when i survive the next 50-odd days i will be free!! i will no longer have school, classes, homework, clinicals, etc. of course there will be the job search, interviews, possibly moving houses, and then work. but with 12-hour shifts at the hospital and only needing to work 3 days a week...that just sounds so sweet! i'm thinking of day trips out to the coast, weekend trips, rivers, lakes, fun, food, friends and being outside. all of what i moved to oregon for. one of the reasons i want a rainy spring is so that i stay on track and not get caught up in the nice weather too much, it makes me want to only do fun things and forget all my responsibilities.
all that being said, i've enjoyed the last couple days of nice weather. i took time off for my sanity. i did nothing. i laid in a hammock. i went on a hike. i sat in the sun. i slept in. these are all things that needed to be done, i was going nuts-o. i have a hard time just relaxing. there always has to be something being done, even if it is as simple as changing my fb status. usually i am doing two things at once (like writing a blog and resume at the same time). i feel like i am using my time better but i know that is not true. doing laundry AND dishes AND listening to music AND preparing lunch. there just does not seem to be enough time to do everything i need/want to. where does all that time go? i have been keeping a time log and i notice much of my time goes to waiting or riding the bus, at least 2 hours a day. it seems like a waste but i use it to read a lot. when i do too much it makes me less present.
thinking about summer, i can tell this will be an awesome one! while i do not look forward to certain things, i know they will turn out ok. i already have two little trips planned and i want to do more. if and when i survive the next 50-odd days i will be free!! i will no longer have school, classes, homework, clinicals, etc. of course there will be the job search, interviews, possibly moving houses, and then work. but with 12-hour shifts at the hospital and only needing to work 3 days a week...that just sounds so sweet! i'm thinking of day trips out to the coast, weekend trips, rivers, lakes, fun, food, friends and being outside. all of what i moved to oregon for. one of the reasons i want a rainy spring is so that i stay on track and not get caught up in the nice weather too much, it makes me want to only do fun things and forget all my responsibilities.
10 June 2008
#112 - so done!
i did it! i became a SUPERSTAR!! i took my final exam this morning and not only passed, but got an A. maybe my teachers were right...or maybe this time it was based on more than just three tests. there were quizzes and extra credit as well. why not last time? so frustrating, but it's over. i studied hard and now don't have to worry about pathophysiology ever again. what a great feeling! i called my parents and they were so relived and happy, my mom said she had tears of joy. so funny. the madness however is not over. first they told me that my summer class would be the second 5-week term of summer, from july 28 till the end of august. so i planned my trip around that time frame, foregoing the wedding that i was supposed to attend in costa rica. now they tell me it's only going to be one day of lab time and four days of clinicals at the hospital. and of course, the timing is horrible. if they had said this in the first place, i would be at a wedding in late august! bastards. um, no hard feelings of course. but why can't they get it together?
anyway, so now school is done for this term. it's gonna be work, play and then the trip. i have so much still to plan and prepare and only 3 weeks to do it. it's getting close! i'm so excited and now i don't have to worry about coming back to the same job forever because i passed my class and will go on with nursing school as planned.
it's june. it's supposed to be summery and sunny. today it's raining and cold. last week i got my bike out and rode it to work. on the way home afterwards i hit an oil slick on a turn and skidded out. luckily it was a little chilly so i was wearing a jacket and pants. if not, my left elbow and leg wouldn't have much skin on it. so it was my first bike wreck. i'm glad it wasn't bad and no one was around to witness the humiliation. i was more upset than anything really. now i am a little nervous as i hit the turns that may or may not have wet/oily spots. my tires are pretty thin and aren't made for crazy maneuvers. i hope that's the last of my accidents. that elbow has had it's share of owies, mostly skateboarding falls. when it's sunny i'll probably start trying to skate again. last summer i learned an ollie, a 180, pop shove it, and kickflip. i want to get better at those tricks and do a heel flip too. also i want to get good enough to ride at the skate park. i tried it when i was back home, but i was by myself and still felt embarrassed. it's hard to commit to dropping into the half pipe. i need to find some balls.
anyway, so now school is done for this term. it's gonna be work, play and then the trip. i have so much still to plan and prepare and only 3 weeks to do it. it's getting close! i'm so excited and now i don't have to worry about coming back to the same job forever because i passed my class and will go on with nursing school as planned.
it's june. it's supposed to be summery and sunny. today it's raining and cold. last week i got my bike out and rode it to work. on the way home afterwards i hit an oil slick on a turn and skidded out. luckily it was a little chilly so i was wearing a jacket and pants. if not, my left elbow and leg wouldn't have much skin on it. so it was my first bike wreck. i'm glad it wasn't bad and no one was around to witness the humiliation. i was more upset than anything really. now i am a little nervous as i hit the turns that may or may not have wet/oily spots. my tires are pretty thin and aren't made for crazy maneuvers. i hope that's the last of my accidents. that elbow has had it's share of owies, mostly skateboarding falls. when it's sunny i'll probably start trying to skate again. last summer i learned an ollie, a 180, pop shove it, and kickflip. i want to get better at those tricks and do a heel flip too. also i want to get good enough to ride at the skate park. i tried it when i was back home, but i was by myself and still felt embarrassed. it's hard to commit to dropping into the half pipe. i need to find some balls.
20 May 2008
#108 - preparations
in exactly six weeks from today i will be on the plane to cancun. i've been keeping busy reading up on places to eat, sleep and play. it's all i can think about, it's probably all i talk about. i feel sorry for the poor people who are my friends and have to listen to me talk about it. i wish i could bring all my friends along, that would be great. unfortunately i've only saved up enough for myself. i still have so much to do...travel insurance, shots, malaria pills, buy a few more things, talk to jose, get an extra camera battery, make copies of things, get traveler's checks, etc.
packing will be interesting. they say to lay out all the things you are planning on taking, cut that in half and take twice as much money! i am a horrible packer. i bring everything i think i may need. i am usually going somewhere that weight doesn't matter though. i will be lugging my pack all around, probably every other day, crammed on "chicken buses" worrying that i'll be robbed/ripped off. so i want to bring as little as possible.
so far i've come up with a rough itinerary:
it will be nice to be in a country where i can get a whole meal for $3 and eat tacos everyday. i just love learning about new countries, cultures and people. i've been taking this spanish conversation class and i've got two more classes left. i don't think i'll be prepared. i still have no idea how to speak spanish. i've got a few important phrases down - "una cerveza por favor" and "donde esta el bano". what else do i need to know?! i am sure i will meet lots of people so i'll have lots of chances to practice my very very limited spanish. i can't wait!!
packing will be interesting. they say to lay out all the things you are planning on taking, cut that in half and take twice as much money! i am a horrible packer. i bring everything i think i may need. i am usually going somewhere that weight doesn't matter though. i will be lugging my pack all around, probably every other day, crammed on "chicken buses" worrying that i'll be robbed/ripped off. so i want to bring as little as possible.
so far i've come up with a rough itinerary:
- july 1 - leave portland, arrive in cancun at midnight get through customs, etc, get bags (this is essential, i hope the airline comes through for me), hang out and head to isla mujeres as early as possible on the 2nd
- july 2-4 - relax on the beaches of isla mujeres
- july 4-6 - head to merida, hang out with jose
- july 6-7 - ruins of chichen itza!
- july 8 - travel day to flores (guatemala), probably 15 hours on a bus or something ridiculous like that
- july 9-11 - lago de peten itza, el remate and tikal (more ruins!)
- july 11-13 - coban, lanquin, semuc champey
- july 13-16 - relax and enjoy the views on lago de atitlan, panajachel and san pedro la laguna
- july 16-19 - hang out in the city of quetzaltenango (xela), hike volcanoes
- july 19-21 - chichicastenango, visit the town and exciting market!
- july 21-24 - antigua - another city and more volcanoes
- july 25 - i leave :(
it will be nice to be in a country where i can get a whole meal for $3 and eat tacos everyday. i just love learning about new countries, cultures and people. i've been taking this spanish conversation class and i've got two more classes left. i don't think i'll be prepared. i still have no idea how to speak spanish. i've got a few important phrases down - "una cerveza por favor" and "donde esta el bano". what else do i need to know?! i am sure i will meet lots of people so i'll have lots of chances to practice my very very limited spanish. i can't wait!!
16 May 2008
#106 - misery
i am miserable right now. it is supposed to hit 97 degrees today! right now it's 4pm and my computer says it's 93. YUCK!! i cannot handle weather like this. you walk outside and feel like you are a pile of wet clothes in a dryer on high heat. no one should have to live like this.
luckily for me and others around me, my room is on the north side of the house and doesn't get absurdly hot. i never appreciated the placement of a room so much. 1st floor and north, without much direct sunlight. i used to think it wasn't ideal because it's sometimes kind of dark but it's all good now. i've lived in the top floor on the east side of the house, i was miserable there during hot days. i lived in a basement too and that was so nice. it makes a huge difference.
i worked today in the air condition which was nice considering the heat outside. i really don't like the air at my work because it's pretty much stifling and i feel like the old people don't get enough fresh air. today i opened the windows up in the morning because it wasn't too gross yet. no one said they enjoyed it but i like to think that i would want fresh air every now and then. i love to open the window for a minute or two, even on the coldest days, just to get fresh air. i also like to sleep with the windows open. during the winter i think this makes me have sore throats and coughs but i still gotta do it.
so maybe this is the unofficial, official start of the summer. it's gonna be a doozy. i am not quite sure how i will handle the heat in mexico and guatemala, especially since i won't be drinking tap water. bottled water or beer, baby. no ice chips either. i've got plans for the summer:
luckily for me and others around me, my room is on the north side of the house and doesn't get absurdly hot. i never appreciated the placement of a room so much. 1st floor and north, without much direct sunlight. i used to think it wasn't ideal because it's sometimes kind of dark but it's all good now. i've lived in the top floor on the east side of the house, i was miserable there during hot days. i lived in a basement too and that was so nice. it makes a huge difference.
i worked today in the air condition which was nice considering the heat outside. i really don't like the air at my work because it's pretty much stifling and i feel like the old people don't get enough fresh air. today i opened the windows up in the morning because it wasn't too gross yet. no one said they enjoyed it but i like to think that i would want fresh air every now and then. i love to open the window for a minute or two, even on the coldest days, just to get fresh air. i also like to sleep with the windows open. during the winter i think this makes me have sore throats and coughs but i still gotta do it.
so maybe this is the unofficial, official start of the summer. it's gonna be a doozy. i am not quite sure how i will handle the heat in mexico and guatemala, especially since i won't be drinking tap water. bottled water or beer, baby. no ice chips either. i've got plans for the summer:
- may 21 - underdog playoffs
- memorial day weekend - herron island with a bunch of friends and a keg
- may 31 - end of season dodgeball tournament and party (to which i might be wearing a fancy dress...)
- june 5 - kickball starts, and continues every week till october!
- june 7 - BBQ/camping out in the boonies
- june 14 - first kickball double header
- june 17-27 - watching 3 crazy dogs at the beach
- july 1-25 - central america!
- some point this summer - move into nw
- july 28-aug 29 - school, one class...boo
- august 14 - birthday!
- also in august - football season starts!!
- sept 13 - parents coming up for OSU vs UH football game
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