Pale September

OK so first things first I still love Fiona Apple. But secondly, and no less importantly, fall, the season with all the best colors, the time of changes, the collection of moments when things are the most perfect that they can be, autumn, is HERE.

Let me preface the rest of this post by stating that when I first came to Portland some of the people that where staying at the hostel with me thought it was funny to deceive me and tell me that the leaves probably wouldn't change color here and if that's what I needed than maybe I had moved too soon! LIES!

Fall is here. Fall is here! I've seen the leaves beginning to change colors, I've seen piles of dried leaves on the ground, I've smelled the smell of bonfires. And while it is an uncommonly warm (almost 80 degree) end of September day I know for sure that the real fall is on it's way. Here are some pictures I took as evidence of the beginning of this fair season.

One of the trees in front of my house beginning to turn.

Tree in front of the library where there were also leaves on the ground.

gainfully employed...or at least getting closer.

Hope springs eternal! Or, at least, hope is renewed.

I have heard back from one of the places at which I applied to work. It would just be a hosting gig and I would need another job seeing as it would probably only be on the weekends but still, there is hope.

I also, applied to be a bank teller which, as my friend Krista reminds me, could be a job that develops into full time+benefits. That would be simply magical. I even had my first phone interview in pursuit of this teller job.

Other than that, I have been settling in to my new abode. I got a library card at my local library which is all of two blocks away. And as a special thing the library was doing for their website I had my picture taken with my new card. Really integrating into the Portland community here.

I am getting used to my new home but still need a dresser or some serious storage space. I may get a real bed in a day or two. We'll see how things go.

Things are on the up and up and all I could ask for now is a little bit of dessert.

Yard Sale! Yard Sale!

The past two days have been days of acquisition.

Yesterday, I bought myself some beautiful sheets from an estate sale ($2 total) and today I bought myself a beautiful print ($1) , some very pretty coasters (.75 total), a useless but whimsical clock ($4), and a very cute desk to do my computing on ($10)

My room still has a ways to go as I'll probably need something to put my coasters on and to hang my print with but I'm still pretty thrilled. Here are a few pics of my new treasures.

My new desk. So cute!

Close up of my clock. You can see why it isn't functional

Coasters with real pressed flowers in them!!

Beautiful print on Indians/Native Americans

My bed with yellow sheets, my desk & computer, and of course the quilt that Mamaw made for me.

Rainbows, Reservoirs and Wrought Iron Fences.

There's a man in camouflage pants sitting in an old lady chair in the entrance way of the lobby and as I sit at my tiny, Nickelodeon green slimed computer there are two others at the table with me, also, on their respective computers.

A Bostonian boy in the corner on a the couch relentlessly questions a French hiker and this is what I am a part of as I finish my night at the hostel. The day has been at some points long and at some points very short.

I spent a painful hour and a half being turned down by restaurant after restaurant at the street on which I've been wanting to work but then I went on a beautiful bike ride and remembered how nice the city can be when the sun comes out.

I ended up at a park known as Mt. Tabor Park and saw a beautiful view, a reservoir, and a rainbow. That was all very scenic. I also came "home" to a very talent filled open mic night and a surprise skype call from the very best of boys, Zachary Ward.

In short, the day ended well although I think that little, if any, footing was gained on the job front.

The Hawthorne District

The Hawthorne District is full of hipsters and good food.

Here is a gingerbread cookie and mango "ice cream" sandwich which was so delicious

I'm staying at a really awesome hostel where everything is sustainable. They compost, they recycle, they use 100% renewable energy sources such as wind. It's pretty nice. Today my game plan is to print resumes and apply for jobs as well as to explore the area which will soon be my home. Maybe I'll even head downtown to go to Powells, the awesome bookstore in town.

A place to hang my hat

I found a place to live! I found a place to live! I'm super excited. I've been corresponding with 6 or so different households over the past few days and they have either had residents that were too old, had too many guys, were not in good locations, or they had too many pets. Until now!

Now! I have found a household, of mostly girls all in their 20s and in a pretty convenient location with only one dog at 808 SE 43rd Ave. It's in the Belmont district which I think is a pretty good place to live. I move in on the 25th. Yay!

Just wanted you all to know things are on their way to being settled.

colorful houses, plants, and intersections without stop signs

For those of you who have never been to this fair city, the city of roses, quick update.

Portland is filled with colorful houses overwhelmingly productive gardens and bunches and bunches of intersections that, as far as I can tell, have not stop signs or traffic signals of any kind.

Here is what I've gathered.

Pink house close to where I'm staying

The tree about town, the Douglas Fur.

Blue house

Intersection with no know traffic guidelines

Somebody's delicious looking green tomato and beautiful garden

orange scooter and house with orange trim

yellow house with beautiful old tree in front

Flowers! Azaleas?