untethered

Recently, I've been feeling a little un-moored not having my usual friends and family around. It's strange to start over, have to make new friends, find new jobs, make connections with people you're not sure about making connections with.

It seems like this feeling comes and goes but that it is stronger now than usual. I wonder what it is in me that needs to adventure and to test if I can make it on my own. It seems like it would be safer, I'd keep more relationships in tact, and put down roots if I just stayed in the same place. At the same time, the idea of putting down roots is, in itself, terrifying because it seems crazy to root yourself somewhere when you don't know anything about anywhere else and you don't know what you're doing there in the first place.

Do people deal with these issues their whole lives? I sometimes want things to be simple and to know what is a good decision but I guess that wouldn't be very exciting.

Here's hoping that all of you are figuring out the answers to your questions and continuing on your own adventures as best you can.

Bedtime!

Going to sleep is now not a miserable, cold way to spend the night and is, instead a pleasure. Why is this?

It is because I recently purchased a bed to the tune of $55. An air mattress was all right for a while but I soon realized that sleeping on air is like sleeping on a bed of icicles. Not comfy. I discovered this inconvenient truth around the 25th of September and now, almost three weeks later, I have reconciled things.

Here are some pictures of my new bed.

My new bed with the fitted sheet and first two flat sheets on it (the fitted sheet came with the bed)

My bed with the fleeces I order when I felt I might freeze to death on my air mattress

My bed fully made up* with Mamaw's quilt at the bottom.

*the situations illustrated in these photographs are unlikely to be found on a day to day basis.

Hello again

I went to my second of two interviews in two days today.

It was a short interview (as opposed to the hour or longer I've spend at "working interviews" with other potential employers) but I think it went well. Unlike my first interview no inappropriate questions were ask. If you're wondering to yourself, "...hmmm, I wonder what an inappropriate question is?" I've compiled a short list of ones that I was asked at the first job interview.

Questions you shouldn't ask potential employees

1. Do I get sick very often? Am I a relatively healthy person? Would I have to miss work because of illness?

and on a related note.

2. had I been to the hospital frequently in the past?

3. Do I have a history of mental illness?

4. How much do you pay for rent? (In relation to how many hours I was going to need)

There you go. I, actually, believe that it is illegal to ask a future or potential employee all of these questions. Plus, the job is minimum wage plus tips that are shared in between all of the employees of the restaurant. So, not great money. I'm worried that it's the only job I'll get but I still don't want to work there. Am I not desperate enough yet?

Needless to say, I would much prefer the 2nd job since the pay is better ($10/hr plus tip out), the tasks more engaging, and the workspace more professional. Also, they operate off of a set schedule which I love. Of course a barrage of inappropriate questions, not being asked to me was another compelling characteristic.

Outside of the employment chase my life continues to adapt to Portland. My body aches, in a wonderful way, from a running and yoga class I took yesterday (and hope to take every Tuesday if I don't have to work on Tuesdays) and my eyes are dry because I stayed out later than I'm used to hanging out with some new friends (yay!). I explored downtown today as it was beautiful and sunny today and I got down there extra early for my interviews.

That's pretty much all that is new in my life. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what's up with yours.

This just in!!

Rachel Ogburn, recent transplant to Portland, Oregon has just landed two, not just one but two, job interviews in the past 15 minutes.

The story goes like this.

Rachel, was having an unusually slow Monday. Waking up late she had gone to the library and to the grocery store. That's about it for her days accomplishments. Then, her roommate, Rebecca, suggested that she apply to work at Tony Bentos, a small sushi restaurant. Realizing that the window for restaurant applications was almost closed for the day, Rachel hoped on her bike and pedaled, fast as the wind, to Tony Bentos and handed in her resume.

After this she returned home to make no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, which are, as this author types, solidifying into true cookie form. As she was about to pour the cookie mixture onto the wax paper that it requires for the hardening process she heard the alarming sound of her phone ringing. When she looked, what did she see but a 503 area code flashing on the screen. Rachel knew that this was a Portland number and answered promptly. It was Tony Bentos! They liked her so much that they called her back only an hour and a half after she handed in her resume.

Rachel agreed to attend an interview tomorrow at 3pm and to train for the job if they chose her. And in a much better mood she went back to doling out chocolate no bake cookies. When she had just spooned the last cookie onto the wax paper what happened? Why, Rachel was called again by a number beginning in 503. This time it was a restaurant that she had applied to host at last week calling to schedule an interview for tomorrow or Wednesday at 3pm. Seeing as she already had one interview scheduled for tomorrow she chose Wednesday for her interview with the second callers.

And then she sat down to quickly update her blog about the success of her day.

Rachel thanks everyone for checking in and apologizes for her liberal use of corny writing style and referring to herself in the 3rd person all post.

She wishes you all happy adventures and thinks that soon she'll be rolling in the dough.

New friends...hmmee?

OK it's hard to type the sounds that I want to make sometimes but the gist of that title is: I'm potentially making new friends at work and in general!

I am apprehensive though, since having friends can often times mean spending money. Usually, that's OK but right now I'm running a tight ship on the money front and can't really afford to spend money. Does that mean I can't afford to have friends?

I'm looking into joining a group called Hands on Portland which is a very large volunteer program in Portland where I might meet people and make friends for free! That would be nice.

Another, money saving bonus, is that as a host on the weekends I get to eat a meal for free!! Yay! I love getting free food so much :D. Now, if only I got to work the rest of the week and got food for that as well :D.

I haven't heard back from Target yet and feel hopeful that Target would have no reason not to hire me and will hire me shortly. Yeesh... It's getting pathetic when I'm praying that Target will hire me.

Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time.

Friday!

Well, it doesn't really matter because I'm not actually working M-F. Actually, maybe I should be sad because I have to go to work tomorrow (but I'm not because it's $$)!!

Still! Friday brings exciting things as I am about to go to Brides against Breast Cancer and help set up dresses and such for an expo.

Also, I get to take the little dog that lives at my house out for a walk beforehand. Obviously, my life is full of crazy thrills.

I'm about to start on my dog walking duties but just wanted to check in and let everyone know things are moving right along in Portland, OR.

I've made a new friend named Dennis. Yesterday he showed me around a popular bike/walk ride on the river. I've also found a donation based yoga/running class only a few blocks from my house so both of those things are exciting.

On the job front, I've been turned down for the bank teller position that I applied to as well as a position to be a seasonal card sales person :(. I heard back from a guest house that they will be hiring in December and that I should keep in touch. And I have heard nothing back about the parking garage work, event planning internship, or the office assistant position that I have applied to. Still, my hopes remain high. I will get a job!

Thanks for checking in and until I have more adventures of which to tell.

Getting Social (plus crepes)

Look at what I made!! Cheesy Crepes, Sautéed kale, and heirloom tomato slices. Delicious. You can tell by my obsession with food that I am still not totally flourishing on the social front but good news on that note. Things are getting better.

That's right. I'm on my way to no longer lonely. This week I made a serious effort to be proactive about my social situation so.

Monday, I had coffee with a potential friend. A friend of my friend Amber (thanks lady for the connection). It was a good meet up. We talked for hours and I think that he was very sympathetic to my social plight.

Tuesday, tonight, I went to a $3 movie with my friend Cory. He just moved here too and stayed in the Hostel with me. So, we're kind of in the same situation.

Wednesday, tomorrow night, I have no plans.

Thursday night I'm going to go to a track where the Oregon Road Runners Club has people meet to do workouts. It will be good to meet some other runners.

Friday I'm volunteer setting up wedding dresses for a program called Brides against Breast Cancer. It is only a couple hours but it will take me to a totally new part of town and that will be exciting. Plus, I'll get to meet some fellow volunteers and hang up pretty wedding dresses. What could be bad about that?

Saturday and Sunday I work and will be in contact with other employees of the restaurant at which I now work.

This adventure is becoming less lonesome bit by little bit.