leaving lake oswego

Today, Ashes and I helped Atomic move out of Lake Oswego. I'm not hurting for moving karma but I think that Atomic was my most displaced friend in that he didn't fit in at Lake O, not to mention the fact that he didn't drive so he was pretty much isolated. I'm really hoping this can be a fresh start for him.

What else?
I've decided to give up foursquare. I've been checking into places on foursquare since the first day I got my droid in 2010. It just seems silly at this point. Between twitter and facebook, I think I broadcast enough of my life events. Still, this will mean that it will be difficult for me to remember what I've been doing if I don't keep my blog up to date.

gearhart

I'm on my third annual vacation to the beach for my birthday. This year, I chose Gearhart. Going to California last year was okay but unnecessary. This year, I also chose to bring along Andrew. I normally enjoy just having the time to myself but I have been having a lot of quality alone time at Muffin HQ due to Sophia's work/yoga schedule and I enjoy Andrew's company so I thought it'd be a good idea. So far, it has been.
\
It was a nice drive here from Portland and it was nice to have company for the ride. The beach house is really nice, especially for the price. It has two bedrooms (one for Dean) and a hot tub. It's also in a gated community. It's dark now so I can't see the view but I can tell that there are no houses between us and the beach.

For dinner, we went to El Mariachi, an over-the-top Mexican restaurant in Gearhart. It was nice but I don't think I'll be drawn back to going again.

What else?
This week has been filled with mediocre new things which is why I haven't been posting.

On Monday, my new thing was trying a new BBQ sauce. (See? Weak.)

On Tuesday, I tried the Vikings dog at Zach's Shack which was a mistake.

On Wednesday, I worked with a new person in my class on a in-class group project. I also talked to my teacher about my upcoming policy paper. She seemed to indicate that I could write it on problems with my work. The only problem I can foresee with that assignment is that she wants me to limit it to 10 pages. ;)

On Thursday, I went to the internship fair at PSU and met with two reps from different agencies. I'm looking at possibly interning with the county next year.

it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

 

This neighborhood in which I live feels more like a neighborhood than any other place I've lived in since I was a kid. In western Nebraska, the towns were all too small. In college, I wasn't really comfortable enough with people to be neighborly. In my apartment here, I didn't like my neighbors at all. In my last house, the neighbor were fine but the location didn't lend itself to a neighborhood feel. It was nice being at the end of a dead-end street but it meant a lot of people didn't pass by and, if they did, they were transitory people temporarily living in the apartments next door. Here, there's something lovely and peaceful about the neighborhood but also busy. It's kind of perfect.

Since I got my hammock, I've been all about the back porch of the house. Today, I moved to the front and got some front porch furniture so I could see more of the neighbors and feel more like part of the neigborhood. Jess and I walked around the Hawthorne St Fair after I got helped my hangover via brunch at big Jam. At the street fair, we found Rubber Redone where I saw some furniture made from recycled tires that I kind of love. After riding through the Sunday Parkways and watching a band perform at the neighbors, I took Dean back to the Fair where I bought the furniture. They delivered it later on. Originally, I thought it'd be too big for the front porch so I was going to move it out back but it fits perfect. Yay!

in the neighborhood

Laurelhurst Cafe (which is such a would-be common name that I'm shocked it wasn't taken) is a charming little place near my new house.  It's been several different restaurants in my nine years in Portland but this is probably it's best incarnation and hopefully it's last for quite a while.  Jesse, Sophia and I went there for some drinks and panini sandwiches.  They have a long happy hour so I can definitely see myself going back.  Plus, the sandwiches and fries were really good and I got a free cookie!  Hell yeah.

What else?
I got my office/man-cave/Dean's room set up today.  I really love it and I have a lot of storage space for my crap.  I also moved Dean in so I'm officially here.  While I am sad to leave the Long Haus, I'm excited to be settled.

I lost my wallet last night biking back from my date.  This morning, I couldn't find it and I checked the last place I used it and the place I was after that and nobody has seen it.  It has a lot of pieces of ID in it, an ATM card and a credit card in it (both of which I've canceled).  I haven't lost completely lost a whole wallet ever before so it's a little overwhelming to think of all that I have just lost.  I still hold out hope that someone will find it and drop it in my old house's mailbox or see all my business cards in it and bring it to work.  I doubt it but it would make things a lot easier.

On the lighter side of things, Ashes and I were driving my car back to Long Haus today (since I'm no longer a legal driver without my license) and we saw a young guy walking around shirtless that goes to our gym.  This kid is super-fit.  The definition of his abs was what first caught both of us by surprise.  Then we realized who he was.  Then we were both jealous.  Then we bought some RC sodas and thought about apologizing to everyone who ever had to listen to each of us during our younger days when we complained about not being able to gain weight. :)

day of change

 It's been a busy month for me so my blog is not updated.  Rest assured, I did at least one new thing every day.  However, between school and my internship ending, moving, getting sick and just trying to be social, the blog's taken a backseat.  I'm going to say that I will go back and update the days that I've missed so far but I'm not 100% positive about that.  It shouldn't be a problem though since most of the things that were keeping me from updating it regularly are no longer an issue.

Today was my last day at my internship.  I have to say that I was looking forward to it being over just because I want to be able to narrow my focus to my work instead of being scattered between school, work and internship.  However, I wasn't looking forward to today.  It was hard to say goodbye to everyone.  Turnover at my internship is particularly high right now so me leaving was just another blow to certain people, youth and staff members.  It was particularly difficult to say goodbye to two of the female youth who I have enjoyed talking to and also to Dave.  I hope to maintain contact with him through facebook and his potlucks though.

They bought Voodoo Donuts for me today as a going-away present and also made me a card which was very sweet.  Plus, for the first time, I got Zee.  Zee used to be an Mr Incredible doll but Zee got a makeover and now has a gender neutral pronoun.  Zee is a trophy of sorts for one of the Assertive Engagement Specialists who have made some good accomplishments or who have had a rough time throughout the past week.  Today was the first time I've got to hold Zee and squeeze his tummy so he could say, "I fight for truth and justice!"

Then, as if my last day at my internship wasn't enough, I had to pack up everything at Long Haus for my transition to Muffin HQ.  I slept at Muffin HQ last night in an effort to propel my move forward more quickly.  We're still working on painting the living room (after we got one of the walls fixed) so Dean has to stay behind.  I figured I should be able to bring him there this weekend.  I cleaned my room and bathroom thoroughly tonight because their new roommate is moving in tomorrow.  I was up til 12:30pm, scrubbing the damn toilet.  That's how I roll on a Friday night.

It was sad but I had a great talk with Ashes about what this means and the significance of me moving.  It made me feel a lot better about it.  I love them all dearly and I will miss living with them but I feel that this move will help me grow up some.  We'll see.

following the game

In Oregon, people tend to identify either as a Beaver or a Duck due to the silly civil rivalry between the schools.  I'm a Timber.  I actually really like watching these games.  Tonight, we played our rival, Seattle.  Because it was a big rivalry game, the Bagdad Theater was showing it for free.  Justin, Ashes, Victory, Atomic and I went there, got good seats and enjoyed our tie.  I wish it had been a victory because one of the guys from the place that was putting it on said we would march in the streets if they won.  Maybe we can do that when we defeat them on our home turf later this summer.

What else?
Muffin HQ is starting to feel more like home.  Today, I hung up my pictures and artwork.  I made some exact measurements and got all DaVinci Code precise about it.  I'm not moved in yet but I'm one step closer. 

house hunt

Today I headed out with Ashes and Victory to look at a house.  Since it's spring break, my new things have become harder to come by.  This was my grasping at straws.  They have looked at many houses by now but they all seem to be out there a ways near Montevilla.  Still, that will seem less far away when I've living off Belmont with Sophia.

our trials as muffins

Knowing that I can turn into a pissy pumpkin when the clock strikes late at any given party, I arranged to sleep elsewhere last night so I could escape our house party.  A while ago, I told Tim, Sophia's former roommate, that I would purchase his bed which was pretty new.  Since the bed was already in place and Dean was staying at Sophia's, I headed there when I finished my DJ set.  This morning was my first morning waking up at her house, which is also referred to as Muffin HQ.

It's a different setting.  I can't say that it's better than my room right now but I can't say that it's worse either.  It's just different.  Dean liked the bed better because he could crawl into this one (and occupy over half of it).  I didn't have many of my belongings here last night either so I had to improvise to get to sleep.  I usually sleep with a fan on just for the white noise.  Since I didn't have my fan, I downloaded a white noise application which had a fan noise option and that worked just fine.  I may just use that from now on but I'm not sure of the radioactive aspects of leaving a phone so close to me while I sleep.

The neighborhood was quiet and Dean and I had a nice walk in the morning.  I could see this being comfortable, especially when I get more stuff into the place.  Space will be an issue so I think I will have to get rid of a lot of things.  That will be an adjustment for me but it will be a positive one.  I'm not a pack rat so this will be delightfully cleansing.  I don't know how or why I've accumulated so much crap.

Before we move in though, we will be painting.  I don't think I can hang with walls that orange.