In an effort to work today, I've found myself leaning more to procrastination. As a result my mind has wandered and has invariably landed in memory and nostalgia.
My birthday was this Thanksgiving which also happened to be my parents' 32nd wedding anniversary. I was born exactly three years after they were married. This year marks that final year of my twenties. I was slouched on the floor the other night talking to Scott about how big of a year 2010 has been. We made big decisions, made a big move, said goodbye to friends, and made new friends. This has been one of the most exciting years and one of the saddest years. My twenties were good and I'm happy with many of the decisions that have led me to this age.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
All who wander are not lost
We took a fall foliage drive out to Multnomah Falls last week. It's a beautiful sight, no matter the season, but the colors absolutely popped with the autumnal glow. Here are some of the photos I was able to take with my phone (we had a digital camera but it died shortly after our trip).
Isn't it lovely? I am completely enamored of Oregon.
Isn't it lovely? I am completely enamored of Oregon.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Strangers with candy
Today I used a gift certificate to Peet's Coffee on SE Hawthorne. While that may not seem interesting, what is interesting is that the gift certificate was from a total stranger. A friendly stranger, but a stranger nonetheless.
When Scott and I made it up to Portland finally we already knew that we wanted to live on the southeast side of town. We'd been research for several months just in case we did in fact move here. We got to Portland, snuck the lizard into a hotel, and began to cruise craigslist for apartments. Finding housing in a city you are unfamiliar with is tough.
The next day we decided to do a cold run and see what we could find. We drove all day around Hawthorne, Belmont, and Division and found nothing in our price range. Finally we needed a caffeine pick-me-up and wandered into Peet's. Being friendly, the barrista asked how the day was going and I admitted that it wasn't going as well as we hoped and explained our problem. He immediately shook his head and told us that we weren't looking in the right areas. The trendier areas where we were looking tend to be more expensive for really terrible holes of apartments. He gave us several suggestions of areas to look in and then handed us the coffees. We retreated to the window with a newspaper to apartment hunt on paper (which is a weird thing to do in this day and age...it's like looking in the actual yellow pages for something).
The guy at the table behind us wrapped up what seemed to be some kind of business meeting and, obviously not having talked enough with his client, struck up a conversation with us.
Man: How's your day going? Are you in the market for housing?
Me: We are looking for an apartment. We are just moving to town.
Man: I'm Jack. Where are you guys moving from?
Scott: I'm Scott; this is Anna. We were living in Chicago but we've been on the road for a lot of the summer.
Jack: Oh yeah? Where all have you been?
Scott: All over really. Chicago, Kansas City, Oklahoma, New Orleans, Arizona, California.
Jack: Did you go to Meteor Crater? I did that when I was younger. Bought a bus, me and a buddy, loaded it up with food, weed and other edibles and just drove across the country. We went down into the crater but I don't think we were supposed to be there. So, now you're moving here? What do you all do?
Me: I teach online and Scott's in school. We're just looking for something a little smaller than Chicago.
Jack: (checking his watch) Well, I'm in the housing business; here's my card. I'm not trying to sell you on using me but if you need help figuring this out here or need restaurant recommendations or anything, just give me a shout.
Us: Thanks, Jack. It was good to meet you.
Jack: You too. Best of luck with the move!
As Jack left, Scott and I mused on how friendly and helpful everyone was. A minute later, Jack came back over to the table.
Jack: Here's a little something to welcome you guys to Portland. It has $5 on there to buy yourselves some coffees while you get settled. Take it easy.
Scott and I sat there, stunned.
I turned to him, grinned and said, "Welcome to Portland."
We found our apartment the next day. Welcome to Portland, indeed.
When Scott and I made it up to Portland finally we already knew that we wanted to live on the southeast side of town. We'd been research for several months just in case we did in fact move here. We got to Portland, snuck the lizard into a hotel, and began to cruise craigslist for apartments. Finding housing in a city you are unfamiliar with is tough.
The next day we decided to do a cold run and see what we could find. We drove all day around Hawthorne, Belmont, and Division and found nothing in our price range. Finally we needed a caffeine pick-me-up and wandered into Peet's. Being friendly, the barrista asked how the day was going and I admitted that it wasn't going as well as we hoped and explained our problem. He immediately shook his head and told us that we weren't looking in the right areas. The trendier areas where we were looking tend to be more expensive for really terrible holes of apartments. He gave us several suggestions of areas to look in and then handed us the coffees. We retreated to the window with a newspaper to apartment hunt on paper (which is a weird thing to do in this day and age...it's like looking in the actual yellow pages for something).
The guy at the table behind us wrapped up what seemed to be some kind of business meeting and, obviously not having talked enough with his client, struck up a conversation with us.
Man: How's your day going? Are you in the market for housing?
Me: We are looking for an apartment. We are just moving to town.
Man: I'm Jack. Where are you guys moving from?
Scott: I'm Scott; this is Anna. We were living in Chicago but we've been on the road for a lot of the summer.
Jack: Oh yeah? Where all have you been?
Scott: All over really. Chicago, Kansas City, Oklahoma, New Orleans, Arizona, California.
Jack: Did you go to Meteor Crater? I did that when I was younger. Bought a bus, me and a buddy, loaded it up with food, weed and other edibles and just drove across the country. We went down into the crater but I don't think we were supposed to be there. So, now you're moving here? What do you all do?
Me: I teach online and Scott's in school. We're just looking for something a little smaller than Chicago.
Jack: (checking his watch) Well, I'm in the housing business; here's my card. I'm not trying to sell you on using me but if you need help figuring this out here or need restaurant recommendations or anything, just give me a shout.
Us: Thanks, Jack. It was good to meet you.
Jack: You too. Best of luck with the move!
As Jack left, Scott and I mused on how friendly and helpful everyone was. A minute later, Jack came back over to the table.
Jack: Here's a little something to welcome you guys to Portland. It has $5 on there to buy yourselves some coffees while you get settled. Take it easy.
Scott and I sat there, stunned.
I turned to him, grinned and said, "Welcome to Portland."
We found our apartment the next day. Welcome to Portland, indeed.
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