Back to School; To Prove to My Dad That I'm Not A Fool

I have my backpack, my books and Adam Sandler stuck in my head. I get to join all the other night school babies for number lessons and functions every Tuesday and Thursday night. Is it nerdy that I'm actually excited about going back to school? Or that I've spent the majority of my morning flipping pages in my pre-cal book? Of course this gung-ho-ness (did you know gung-ho is actually a word and not bumpkin vernacular?) and the glamour of lectures is going to wane about thirty minutes into my three and a half hour class.

My allergies have been killing me lately. Most mornings I wake up with swolen eyes, congested nostrils and half of my windpipe closed off. It's awful and I've found that eating peanut butter can be deadly when you can't breathe through your nose and smacking is inappropriate. The remedy to this allergy nuissance is to overdose on antihistimes and then sleep for fourteen hours like you're Sleeping Beauty. I feel great today! And even better after Oatmeal Cookie Ben & Jerrys!

My landlord is kicking us out by August 1. His wife is pregnant and they want to reclaim the downstairs. They're going to be in for a big surprise since it's going to take a lot of hacking and gutting and money to clean the place up. Needless to say, I'm ready for adios Garfield Ave! I've found a house on craigslist that sounds charming and perfect:

"This NE Portland 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath home is a few blocks off of MLK and conveniently located between Alberta and Killingsworth. There will be three of us in the home, the other housemate has lived here for about a year, and I've been here for about a month. We're looking for a fun fresh start with you in this wonderful house, so here's a little bit about it: The house is stucco, older (1930's) with minimal yard of its own but additional semi-communal space shared among the friendly neighbors (their houses are owned by the same folks as ours). There's also compost in the back and a garden plot if you're so inclined. Overall it's in fairly good condition with wood floors through-out, living room, dining and kitchen nook. There is a full basement with W/D, tons of storage space for boxes, bikes, surf boards or whatever. There is space for some additional furniture, wall hangings, etc. There are also two kitties that lives in the house, Bean and Squeak. Both pretty independent. Bean is into the play and Squeak is into the love. The room for rent is upstairs and rather beautifully large with a window nook plus two more windows for plenty of light. It's the master bedroom and has lots of room for a sitting area, art station, yoga corner, whatever you like, in addition to the usual bedroom things. There is a 1/2 bath upstairs (perfect for those late night bathroom runs) and another bedroom currently occupied across the hall."

What do you think? Perfect, right-- hardwood floors and some little kitty pals for Tinga! I'm doing a meet and greet with the housemates on Thursday to see if we'll be a good match. Keep those fingers crossed!

NxNW

Have I mentioned yet that MY PARENTS ARE COMING TO VISIT!!! About time, don't you guys think?? I'm so excited. I get princess treatment and fun padre time for almost two weeks! I have lists and lists of things that I want to do with them. And they have lists and lists of things they want to do. Really, my mom bought a guide book to Portland. The list is long and is definitely going to take more than one trip (fine by me). I'm really hoping that the sun will cooperate. Make a shining appearance.

Lately all I've been doing is eating at the food carts (Brown Cow, Brown Chicken!!) and playing Red Dead Redemption with Ben. Work wears me out. I just want to eat unhealthy food, take naps and go to bed early. I've aged due to this job. It's alright though. I compensate for my lazy dinners by bringing my lunch (imagine a middle schooler's sack lunch) to work and hiking on the weekends. Last weekend Dane, Ben, Perry and I hiked up to Wahclella Falls. It was beautiful and I got blisters on my heels. After our hike we went and payed a visit to ole Herman the Sturgeon at the sturgeon and trout breeding plant. Ben and I made a game out of feeding the trout. Although it was a wash, Ben bought me a pair of cat and mouse food chain earrings. Pretty adorable (both Ben and the earrings :)

Ben is slowly learning to cook. His first successful meal: the omlette. And as the guinea pig, I can definitely give it a two-thumbs up review!

Bryan's birthday was yesterday and Bob's is on Saturday. It looks to be a birthday bash weekend. Hopefully there will be party hats and streamers. By the way, have I mentioned lately that I'm happy?

I Gave Tourists Directions

Portland is weird without Ben, Bryan and Lizzy. They are in Dallas sweating it out for a wedding. I'm in Portland where the weather is soggy and I carry my umbrella with me daily. I also have a strong desire to watch Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds sing and dance. I've decided I don't enjoy riding the bus when it's raining. Everyone is grouchy and snappy and with the extra layers of clothing and rain protection devices the bus is more dense and dripping. The other day I got booted out of my seat by this pugnacious middle-aged woman. My prince defended me though. The two of them had this quarrelsome battle about the necessity of her usurping my seat. "Are you disabled? Are you a senior citizen? Hmm? Do you get the senior discount when you go to IHOP?? Are you pregnant?" "MM, nahhh! But I'm older than her." I stood awkwardly and tried to act like the argument had nothing to do with me. I also did not win back my seat.

I got a key to the office. Does this mean it's official? That I'm wearing the big girl pants, aka dress slacks, and working the full time job? I hope so! I'm starting to get into the swing of things at work. I've been sitting in the conference room during my lunch hour with all the other frugals who don't want to buy food. It's fleet week in Portland and my coworkers spent an hour discussing the suggestive details of the navy staying at lonely ladies' homes in euphemisms. By the end of the conversation I was completely confused. Maybe I should start going out for lunch.

I've spent the majority of the weekend slumming around with Dane. I taught him how to play Mah Jongg over wine and Bob Dylan. The boy has a knack for the game and pretty soon he's going to be unbeatable. We went on a mini-road trip to Yelm, Washington to look at a Toyota Tacoma he found on Craigslist. The guy selling the truck had a shaved head and the two of them bonded over their hairlessness and now Dane is the proud owner of a vehicle! He goes back next week to pick it up. We took back roads on the way back that were windy and offered a great view of Mt. Rainier. We packed a lunch and I had my first PB&J---dislike. When we got back to Portland we celebrated with Lebanese food. Anyone who comes to visit me will now be taken to Nicholas Restaurant! I hope you like kabobs and hummus.