07/28/10

The majority of this week I've spent eating baked potatoes and watching Wildlife Specials or playing Clockwords in my pjs. After feeling disgustingly lazy, I will roll over and nap or bike to a coffee shop to read/do pre-calculus homework. Don't judge me, I'm embracing unemployment.

I had a phone interview yesterday. After a sweaty fifteen minutes, I made it to the next stage. An interview for tomorrow morning with Springbrook Software has been locked down! Around 10 am pacific time, think of me. Esp Bonbon! I'm hoping since it's her birthday, her good thoughts will bring me luck. When you blow out those 29 candles, mind using that wish on me?! Happy Birthday Bonbon!

I currently have a shade darker than pale tan...that's splotchy and uneven. Last weekend, I went to Sauvie Island and laid out on the beach with Bryan, Lizzy and Morgan. Everyone playing at the beach seemed to bring water toys, umbrellas and coolers. I packed a bath towel, short shorts and a book. Somewhat ill-prepared. Morgan lent me some SPF 30 that I, unfortunately, applied haphazardly which resulted in me looking slightly like a candy cane. The beach had a mountainous view (that seems like it should be an oxymoron. And I'll admit, it was only one mountain) and a relaxing breeze. Decidedly more pleasant than Florida sun beaches. After sunning, we went back to grill chicken-dogs and drink cocktails.

07/21/10

I think I'm becoming somewhat of a pre-cal wizard! I aced my first exam (sigh of relief) and am counting down the days to the final. My study buddy, Glen, asked me yesterday, "How is it you get this stuff?!" HEY now! This fall I'm thinking about stepping up to the big leagues...Calculus.

Last week, I met up with Amy at the Kennedy School, which is this quirky abandoned scholastic gem house that has been converted into a pub/bowling alley/movie theater/soaking pool/restaurant. We had a beer at the Cypress Room Bar and Amy was great. She reminded me of Tina Fey a bit, but her house was sort of a dud. It was just a little tiny and lacking for the inconvenient location and month-to-month rent. Friends instead of roommates? Yes! I was feeling a little glum on my bike ride back that night...and a little butt blistered (I think my bike seat needs a few adjustments), but the following day I finally found home. I officially have a roof! And my new house is perfect. Mary Poppins even thinks so! I move in at the end of this month to a two-story, brown house with a large front porch and lavender growing in the yard. I'll be living with two other females and a "tiny" kitty. Oh, and did I mention I'll be living on Prescott Street? Bonbon and Popeye, we're neighbors!...just a few thousand doors down. I'll post more pictures after I move in and unpack a few boxes.

I have an interview next Monday at a non-profit organization and a couple of other job possibilities are in the mix as well. Hopefully, by the end of next week I'll have employment figured out! And a new dress to boot?!!

Bryan and Lizzy took Ben and I out to Miss Delta for dinner last Friday as a thank you for watching the little brutes. While there I gorged on hushpuppies, fried okra, red beans and rice, and a sandwich! That's right, for the very first time (outside of Subway/Quiznos) I ordered a sandwich. I ordered a BBQ Pulled Pork Sammich over Meatloaf! Shocking, right! Was I possessed? We ended the night with date cake (mmmm, date cake--picture Homer Simpson's drooling love-affair with, well all food) and rhyming brain teasers.

Saturday night, the handsome foursome (I'm not sure this needs clarification--Bryan, Ben, Lizzy and I) had double feature, double-date night at St. Johns Theater. We started the night with popcorn and Inception and ended with Hot Lips pizza-by-the-slice and Twilight. Both amazing choices, just sign on facebook for validation. After numbing our brains with glittering, hyper-dramatic wolfvamp teenagers, we joined Sara at the Alibi for her goodbye party. The Alibi is this kitschy, gussied up tiki karaoke bar. And it's amazing. The cocktails come with little umbrellas and everyone is wearing a lei. This place is pricelessly absurd. Unfortunately, they don't have mine and Ben's duet (Summer Wine, a Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood song) so the patrons of the Alibi missed out on our angelic voices. Drats!

Ben had Monday off due to his new wonky work schedule. We finished our puzzle and watched too many episodes of Buffy.

07/13/10

Have I mentioned lately that the real world is tough? I'm too soft for it. I have blubber around the mid-section and scrawny arms. I want to be a baby bird! I don't need soaring wings; just a little nesting. So basically, yours truly experienced the cruel cruel ways of the corporate microcosm. I was swallowed up and spit out by the big, bad bugs (aka, valley girl with blonde hair). Tired of me talking in an anology? Let's get to the dirt. I am no longer employed with Income Property Management. According to my manager, it's good and bad news! Except, I'm still unsure what the good news is. Last week, I was informed that a replacement had been found for my position. Yay!!???? Basically, a girlfriend of someone at the company came in looking for a job and left with mine. The receptionist position was only unofficially mine, and now it's hers. I've been kicked to the curb. After my unsavory reaction, my manager offered me a few hours this week to help bring in a little income while I job search. Since the shock has worn off, I'm actually kind of excited! I've applied for some really cool jobs, and honestly, who wants to do mail for six hours a day? Really, that's all IPM had to offer me: repitious mail sorting and dirty dishes. Not for me!

I finally decided to part ways with my current roommates. I just hate Bentley (the Beagle). He urinated on my new books! I can take destroying my boots and eating my cat's food, but desecrating my books is too far! Those are sacred. So, I am still on the quest for the perfect house to move to. The last few I've check out have been duds. For example: In one of the houses, my bedroom had slanted ceilings, no closet and my favorite part, had "f*** the pigs" punk rock, paint job. Uh, not so much. I didn't even complete the tour of the rest of the home. But, I'm hoping tonight my living situation will get squared away. Details if it pans out! A little spoiler: 33 year old Amy, two fat cats, and NO BOYS (sorry guys, I just miss tabloids and chick flicks). Keep your fingers crossed!

While visiting the Tillamook Chese Factory, Ben and I picked up a country musicians puzzle! Basically, every day we age. Are we somewhere around 65 and retired? In any case, we are puzzle machines!

07/11/10

As promised, here is a link to some pictures from my parent's visit to Portland.

http://picasaweb.google.com/103925975217911764309/PortlandParents2010#

07/06/10

My enthusiasm with pre-calculus has dropped. Instead, I spend each lecture, twice a week, punching numbers into my calculator and sobbing. I guess my math brain is a little rusty. I will admit, the left side has been pretty lazy post-high school. Seriously, do you remember what a function is? Luckily, I have Squid to get me through! Yes, yes, her name is Squid. She has dancing toast tattoos, wild hair, heavy industrial nose and ear piercings,cat eye glasses, and a knack for pre-cal! And when she isn't available, I have Glen, the high school, mowhawking rower! He keeps talking about "when he goes to college" and I silently wonder where he thinks he is. Also, I find it slightly odd to be studying with someone who isn't 21. He's a 90s baby!

My parents visit to Portland started out slightly Odd Couple-esque, minus the bickering. I couldn't tell you played the part of Felix or Oscar. Due to bad weather on Thursday, their Dallas flight was delayed causing them to miss their connecting flight in Denver. Denver sleep over! They arrived Friday around brunch. The three of us stood around and watched the luggage go round and round on the conveyer belt. All sorts of suitcases, but none of them my mom's.
Felix Ungar: Where's my suitcase? Oscar Madison: Your suitcase? In the trunk. Felix Ungar: No. Oscar Madison: No? Felix Ungar: No. Oscar Madison: Did you look good? Felix Ungar: [holds his arms apart] The trunk is this big. It takes about a second and a half to look in there. Your 1927 piece of cardboard is in there, but my suitcase isn't.
Papa bear had a bad reaction to Portland and spent the first weekend sleeping with NCIS on in the background and a sinus infection. Mom and I took advantage of having no y-chromosome and spent a day shopping at the Portland Farmer's Market and the Tigard mall. Saturday evening I tried taking mom out for a nice dinner. That nice dinner ended up being: walking out of a restaurant and taking her to a restaurant that no longer exists to a restaurant that was closed to finally making it to pizza. Good ole pizza, the perfect back up of a back up!

Luckily, the string-of-bad-luck curse wore off by the Cooooolinary (Culinary) Tour of Portland. A tour guide took us to some hot eating/drinking spots in the Pearl district. Any Portland visitors, definitely get tickets to this! You will get to sample lavender chocolates and wine, truffle salt, orange tomato soup, Hot Lips pizza, IPAs and Pearl Bakery croissants!! We finished the night with Peter Sellers cracking the Shot in the Dark case at the Laurelhurst Theater.

We spent the 4th of July weekend hiking and touring the Hood River, Mt. Hood and the coastal areas. My legs are sore and my parents completely wore me out. Apparently, hiking vertically up for 3 miles can make you a tad winded. Pop got dressed for the hikes like he belonged in the outback; garbed in airy khaki, a hat and his walking stick. I kept getting him confused with Wally.

For the past two weeks I have been pretty, pretty princess and eaten majestically. No joke, my stomach has never been happier. We decided that Double Mountain in Hood River, the food carts, Timberline Lodge at Mt Hood, Cup and Saucer, Lebanese dinner with Bryan and Lizzy, Voodoo Donuts, Gravy...oh it was all the best! Really, the Ackers know how to eat.

Highlights: The Lavender Farm, OMSI @ night where the only kids present were adults drinking beer, touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory & Cheese mail, game after game of Mah Jongg (Ben even got a win in!), the Brie factory petting zoo, Farmer's Market berries and cherries, MY BIKE!, the "30-more minutes" hike and basically it was the most jam-fun-packed couple of weeks. There are tons of pictures, I promise I'll post a link soon.

Also, for those curious: BEN IS STILL ALIVE! Papa bear didn't growl nor eat him. And believe me, there were plenty of opportunities and remote hikes. In fact, the parents meeting my boy went great! The whole trip was fantastic. So good that we're already planning NW adventure #2!