just so typically me

Oops I missed my flight again.

Damnit, I wonder what the record is for missing flights because, percentage wise, I probably rank up there.  I could have sworn the flight info said I leave around noon.  However, while in line at 10:47 am, I checked the info on my phone and found out the plane departs at 10:56 am.  D'oh.  I should've probably guessed that when I saw that the Southwest Airlines line was 200 people deep (and that's a conservative estimate) while there was only one person in line ahead of me at Frontier.  She had missed the flight too.

I've done this a number of times before.  Usually one of my siblings has to be getting married though.  At least this time, I'm just going for a general visit and Christmas isn't for another five days.

So my new thing obviously wasn't missing my flight.  Instead I went to the Beaverton Bakery Stop place at the airport where I slowly worked on a vanilla latte and enjoyed an episode of Dexter.  I may have missed my flight but it's still my vacation and I will enjoy it to the fullest extent.

What else?
Before checking in, I went to Pizzacato and got a veggie slice.  A couple was fighting there.  The guy stormed off and left the girl calling his name while his pizza got cold.  She waited for about five minutes then left.  She came back with him and he tried to talk to her.  She wouldn't respond to him so he left again but he took his Coke this time and the Pizzacato people quickly offered a To-Go box.  I may have missed my flight but my troubles seem so minimal.  These people are going to board a plane together, presumably next to each other.  Akwaaaard.  I hope they don't end up sitting next to me!

if it wasn't for the last minute, nobody would get presents.

Every year, I think about buying gifts in August or September.  Just once, I want to be able to coast through a December without the needing to go get gifts gripping me constantly.  Each weekend, I've been intending to head down to Saturday Market.  Today was absolutely the last day I could go before I head out of town so I finally made it.

I ended up going to a vendor that I haven't bought anything from before.  I'm counting that as my new thing.  It was a lovely ride though with mild rainfall.  If it hadn't been for the commerce, I think I would have really enjoyed it.  I don't mind giving people gifts but, the truth is, if I want something, I buy it.  I don't have a large abundance of wealth but I'm thrifty enough that I can save for something if I really need or want it.

December has become about the gifts.  I'm not trying to advocate that people remember "the reason for the season" but it sucks to have it all revolve around gifts.  I'm also not a scrooge.  I can enjoy the company of my loved ones just as well as the next person.  To me, it seems like gifting has gotten in the way.

What else?
I talked it over with one of my housemates and we agreed that it would just be best if we didn't buy each other gifts but the adults of the house just went in together to get some appliance for the house that we all want.  That makes the most sense to me.  However, we're also looking at a house on 85th & Alder that rents for the same as our house now and have a lot more room.  Maybe we'll just spend our Christmas money on it instead?

lining em up

Today was all about getting my ducks in a row before I leave for Nebraska.  I didn't have a good current pictures of a duck tho so I thought I'd use this seagull instead.  Since school started, I realize that I haven't done any filing at all which is supposed to be a monthly duty.  I got caught up today, held an individual service plan meeting and sat through two holiday gift exchanges.  I'm ready to get out of here.

I love leaving Portland just so I can come back and love it all over again, rain and all.  Plus now that I'm caught up at work, there won't be this dread hanging over me.  I can truly relax.  I bought a book I need for next quarter yesterday and I plan on reading it on my vacation.  Hot cocoa, snow, a book, family...I need this right now.

What else?
Part of my going away preparations meant touching base with friends.  Sophia and I went to have dinner at Dots and I tried the Garden Burger Border Melt (which was new for me).  It was spicy but I've been in a spicy mood as of late.

i dream of jolie

If you know me, you know I love Fight Club and would sooner swear by it than I would the bible.  You also probably have picked up on the fact that I don't have a whole lot of confidence in myself either.  However, you might not know that I was kissing Brad Pitt last night.

My subconscious is never ever this nice to me.  My dreams usually revolve around some source of stress, like forgetting I have a class or not being able to complete a work assignment.  However, my dreams last night were absolutely wonderful.  Again, I'll repeat that this never happens.

I dreamt that a friend and I were at a lavish indoor pool and Brad and Angelina Jolie were there.  I don't buy into celebrity worship as I feel that worship always leads to disappointment.  However, there they were so I was going to go with it.  I'll leave out a whole lot of the details but Angelina and my friend quickly disappeared once I asserted that this was my dream. ;)

I ended up hanging out with Bradgelina the whole weekend (no kids were there).  Brad wasn't a great kisser but he was a truly lovely guy.  And Angelina was very...open minded.  I'm just amazed that my subconscious said, "Sure, it's completely plausible that Brad Pitt would make out with you."  The only point of stress in the dream came from when I realized nobody was going to believe this and the only camera I could find was my old one which wouldn't take the best photos.

Still, I woke up after the weekend was over and felt completely at peace.  Yesterday at work SUCKED bad so this was a complete karma dream.  I was due.  Hell, if my nights get to be like this, I will suffer through all of the bad days I can get my hands on.

What else?
Work was great.  Compared to yesterday, I had it easy.  I did a lot of running around too, treated myself to my favorite burrito place and got a considerable amount of my Christmas shopping done.

Also, since I was on cloud nine, I headed to the gym.  I put in a great workout, primarily due to the fact that a hottie wanted me to spot for him.  In all of the time I've been going to the gym, a stranger has never asked me to spot for them.  This is a wonderous day.

let live

Tonight, I attended the Let Live Conference at the Matt Dishman Community Center (for the first time) and got to watch a chef from Portobello Vegan Trattoria do a cooking demo.  Compared to everyone there, my cooking skills are WAAAAYY sub-par but it was really cool and inspiring to watch him go.  Plus I learned out a cool and easy way to dice onions.

I'm conflicted about this 'new thing' though.  I've been slacking off on doing new things.  This means I've been counting a new soda or window-shopping in a new store as my new things.  That's why I haven't really been writing a lot.  It just hasn't been that interesting.  I think it's the weather too.  It's been dull, cold and sometimes rainy.

Today, I was determined to do something new that scared me.  I'm not talking about actually piss-myself scared but something that would make me uncomfortable.  I'm actually uncomfortable with being too comfortable.  However, in the end, I wasn't creative or invigorating at all and settled for this event my housemates were going to.  I'm glad I went but I just wish I could have done something more jarring this weekend.  Eh, there's always tomorrow.

What else?
My throat is sore from belting out several songs on Rock Band.  I scared all of the animals out of the room when I sang "Hey Man, Nice Shot," and I was actually bizarrely humbled when Jimi Hendrix came to the stage and I got to sing as him.  Weird.

the zip truck

We got a new couch today.  Our old couches are old, falling apart and smelly so we're due for something new to us.  There was a free futon on craigslist so I checked out my first zip truck and we ran out and picked it up.  Total cost to us: $11.50 and one hour.  Pretty damn sweet.  The truck also had a little screen that popped up on the rear view mirror when I was backing up.  It was kind of surprising and made me want to back up a lot.  Actually, it wasn't just neat but also very functional when I parked it at the end of our trip.

What else?

I went to a training on memory for work.  The problem was, I think the teacher forgot what it was supposed to be on.  That's not just a funny contradiction, it's the truth.  The class was advertised at dealing with memory loss, specifically due to Alzheimers in seniors with DD.  However, it ended up being a quick little class on memory tricks for us.  At the end, someone asked if there are specific stages of Alzheimers and the teacher said, "Oh yes, definitely, that'd be a good training."  Yes, it would have been.  

sweet dancing time

It was time for our annual client dance party again.  It was actually my company's 22nd annual party.  I'm proud to be a part of it and to turn it into what it is.  Ashes and I have really taken control of the party and I think that it's been for the better.  Everybody really seems to have a good time anyway.

Over the past few years, we've developed traditions.  We do the YMCA, I lead everyone in the macarena, we do Christmas carols and this one little lady sings Happy Birthday to her roommate.  It may be repetitious but it saves me from having to download more music.  Also this year we added hopefully a new tradition.  The guy that's not in the picture on my right is singing Sweet Caroline.  It's his turn around song and I will forever love Neil Diamond for it.  This guy can start off grumpy as all hell and I'll put on this song.  By the time he gets to the chorus, he's yelling, "I feel FINE!" and he does feel fine.  Today, we played Sweet Caroline and he agreed to come up on stage and it was wonderful.

What else?
The party ended with a bang...literally.  A co-worker's car was hit.  Another co-worker grabbed me and we ran out the door to go meet up with her.  A drunk driver (at 2 pm!) ran a stop sign and smashed up her front end.  Fortunately, everyone had insurance and she's not in trouble or anything.

believe it or not it's chili

There's vegan chili below that salad.

I've been bored and boring lately. That's why there hasn't been posts for the past week. It's odd not to have the need to study looming over me. I actually have free time. Besides work stuff, I haven't done much with that time. Plus it's been cold & I haven't wanted to leave the house.

However, we have a video showing tonight (Where's Molly?) & a lot of people showed up just for it. I can feel the onset of sickness so I'm combating it with Red & Black's deluxe vegan chili & an orange juice (mixed with champagne). Next step is a steam room if I'm not feeling better by tomorrow.
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it's easy as a.e.d.

CLEAR!

I took my first A.E.D. class today.  This stands for something Electrical Difibulator.  I could easily look it up and find out what the A stands for but I'm not that interested.  Plus, the machine does it all for you so why do I need to know the acronym?  All you have to do is make sure the skin is dry, follow the diagram on the back of the paddles to show where to stick them and turn on the on button.  The machine will decide, based upon the person's heart palpatations if they need to be shocked or not.  If they do, it says, "Push the shock button."  That's relying on technology a bit much but it's good if it can help save lives.

Apparently it's going to be a state-wide and then federal policy, similar to having first aid kits in every business.  They'll have to have these machines there too.  I've taken so many CPR classes in my life.  Now, with my job, I have to have it every year.  I hope I never need to use these skills but you never know.  One of my favorite managers whom I have worked with in a number of different capacities throughout the years saved a small child (who incidentally had swine flu) a few weeks ago.  The kid was in the parent's shopping cart and just stopped breathing so the manager put her up on the counter and started giving her mouth to mouth.  Pretty damn amazing day at work at your thrift store retail job when you can save a toddler's life.

only as straight as the A's

Since when did I start to care about grades so much?  In undergraduate school, the point was just to make it through with a passing grade.  I really didn't care if it was an A or a C.  Now, I need an A.

Actually, I need an A or a B but I want an A.  I got my final back from my policy class and it was a B+.  I'm not arguing that it was wrong or I deserved better because upon looking at it from my teacher's POV, it was indeed a B paper.  However, that means that I am either getting an A- or a B+ in the class based upon attendance (I've been there every class), the midterm (A-) and the final.  I know in my other class I'm getting an A because it's all self-evaluation.  Now, I just want to get through my first semester of grad school with straight A's.

I wasn't too sad to see my policy class end.  However, my culture class, which I think I may have written about almost every Monday for the past nine Mondays will be missed.  I'll miss talking about cultural considerations in such depth and with such guaranteed sensitivity but I will mostly miss my classmates.  I went out for Hot Lips pizza with some of them and tried the Waldorf (blue cheese, apples and walnuts on an olive base) for the first time.  It was outstanding and had blackberry soda on tap.  Mmmmm.

What else?
I had to take another stab at the tech problem from Saturday because apparently it wasn't working right.  However, it didn't take a lot for me to see what was wrong and get it fixed.  Go me!


Portland had an outbreak of e-coli over the weekend in the water on the westside.  Fortunately, I live and work on the eastside.  Unfortunately, school is on the westside.  While over there, I was cautious of washing my hands and drinking the water even though they said it was all better by Sunday evening.

I found out that the guy I sat by in each culture class is also going to be in one of my classes next quarter.  Hooray!

reconnection's made

It appears that a lot of friends are in a transitionary stage right now.  I feel that I'm there too so it's good that we all have each other.

This afternoon, I went on a long walk with a friend that I have not seen in a while and have not had the chance to really talk with for a while.  Dean and I then walked home from Mt Tabor (not new but still significant).  Then later on in the evening, I went and had a few drinks at the pub with another friend that I have lost touch with over the past few weeks.  While at the pub, I sampled "Hemp Ale" which tasted like PBR.  Still, it was my new thing.  More importantly though, I got to experience some not-so-new but recently forgotten moments with friends.  With as busy as we all are, I think that it's important to really dialogue with valued friends from time to time, if for no other reason than it helps you connect the dots and see what your life is looking like at the time being.

tech skillz

Today, I explored a little new realm as far as tech work goes.  I have learned html by going through other's work before me and applying it to what I am doing.  In other words, I copy.  Today, I worked on the imc radio archive.  It may not seem like much but it's been completely foreign territory to me so it definetely counts as my new thing.  It's also something that I've been meaning to do for some time and, since I've finished the last of my papers last night, I figured it was time to start on my out-of-school-to-do list.  Next, I think I'll work on my loft.

What else?
I watched the movie, "The Music Within."  It stars the star of Office Space and it's about people with disabilities so it's been on a co-worker's radar for a while now.  After seeing it, I'm disappointed with myself for not having watched it sooner.  It's a funny, heart-warming and honest true story.  Plus it's set at PSU.

harvest dinner 09

I took the easy route this year with Harvest Dinner.  Last year, I made a (s)ham log and cheesecakes the four years before that.  But I've noticed that we're always missing staples of a typical harvest dinner: Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.  Sounds difficult but I went all instant (while still vegan) and made it all within 15 minutes. :)

It was a good turnout.  I'm estimating that we had between 35-40 people here and it wasn't the same people that come every year.  I was a little disappointed that I didn't see everyone I usually do but the point is that everyone has somewhere to go. 

prep work

Throwing a harvest dinner together may seem easy but, man, is it stressful...usually.

This year, I'm not feeling the stress.  I headed out tonight, at the next-to-last minute to get something to make both for dinner tonight and as my part of the harvest dinner.  Normally, the grocery stores on this night would be enough for me to curse humanity but it was all easy this year.  I was completely sober but also completely patient.  I really didn't care if I had to wait in long lines.  I guess that's the joy of buying instant food to make for tomorrow.  There's no worry about prep work.

Anyway, for tonight, I bought some new fake chicken patties at New Seasons.  It's not a great new thing but the name of the blog isn't just one great new thing, now is it? :)