Portland road running

Marathon tomorrow.
I am super excited to eat donuts after this son of a gun is over. I bought new shoes but am wearing my old.
Wish me luck or at least a speedy enough recovery that I can run the Columbia Gorge Marathon in 3 weeks too.

Best of the best to ya,
Rachel

Back in

I'm back in it here at home in Portland. Back to work, back to my garden, back to cleaning the house, back to a sweet boy and unkempt crushes, back to roomies, and cooler weather.

Today, I made a salad from herbs in my garden plus lettuces from my farmshare, I went for a run with my regular running buddy and didn't sweat out all of the fluids in my body. Yesterday, I drank tea with a sweet fellow and walked amongst the eternal springtime of Portland. There are flowers everywhere.

While I was away my garden exploded. My tomato plant doubled in size and my squash isn't too far behind all of that. It is nice to remember how sweet the summer is. Bouquets have been picked and made in houses all over Portland from the sweet bounty of early summer. The next few months is going to be wondrous.

Of course, I miss the east. But finally, the winter here is paying off it's dues.

Richmond: The final hours

I haven't updated you! You know nothing about what is going on in my life! How will you live yet another moment without finding out all the sweet deets?!

I know. Life is a constant challenge. I am tired but here I am plugging away at the ol' blog. Trying to make you people happy.

I miss Portland. There I said it. It's almost true. I am excited for the last day and a half of Richmond before Portland becomes a reality for me again but I miss my roomies, my friends, my plants, the boy I'm super excited about. I miss having a regular bowel movement and my regular running partners too.

Wanting everything is hard. I want 100+ degree weather and crazy humidity and I want the beautiful serene of 80 degree Portland and biking everywhere. I want my friends to all live in the same place and I never want to have to leave my family... BUT I want my space. Quiero hablar espanol but I don't want to have to learn. I am lazy in wanting and filled with desire. What to do, what to do? Enjoy what I've got and work towards obtaining these wants? Deny what I've got and all earthly pleasures? Expand my garden, go for runs, and be a regular, employed member of society (boring but probable).

Since I've been in town, I've spent time with the Grams (shout out Mamaw- I love you dearly), spent time with friends, cooked out, watched fireworks, went on 7 mile runs in near 100 degree weather, ate huge breakfasts, gossiped viciously (well not viciously but with great enthusiasm). Eaten frozen greek yogurt, slept fitfully and attended a wedding.

Still to go are walks along the riverside, a huge brunch as part of a lady date, eating out at a crappy restaurant in the airport with my friends who are flying in as I get ready to fly out. Getting more frozen greek yogurt in my belly, visiting with friends not yet visited with, getting a ride from a cousin I haven't had a chance to speak with and little morning time with my parents. This is an ideal world.

Adios Chiquitos.

So much, so much

So much to do so little time.
Why do we need to sleep?
Life is full of excitement from starting to train (really pretrain this week, start next week), to getting back to collaging. Shut up blogger, collaging is a word.

I can't sleep at night.

I meet new people. Potentially romantic people, I like my job. I might run a marathon. I, I, I. What about you?

There are new friends to be had and new perspectives to see. There are places to visit for the first time or as a homecoming. I miss you east coast. I miss you bad. But... Portland, might finally be claiming me.

This is the year of eternal spring. Summer starts next week but spring isn't giving up so easily. Spring from the beginning of March to at least the end of June. What happened to winter? Where is the summer going to fit in to all of this? What about tomatoes? Trying to keep the aphids off of my tomato plants. Don't know what will work. The cold of spring killed my ladybugs. Any ideas?

I can't roll this all up neatly. There is no wrapping. I'll see you when I see you and until that time there will be blog updates.

Ride Home

Here's a quick documentation of my ride home. Pretty scenery, and an eclipse upon arriving home.

The weird deserted hotel from across the street  of my bus stop

Hills 

 Water 

Bridge

 getting into Portland

Reflection of the eclipse

Friend Dinner

I am so excited to make this recipe (in approximation, I'm not getting crazy and buying $7 gluten free granola) that I've planned a friend dinner so that I can make it happen without eating them all myself.
Now, I've just got to make the rest of the dinner plans and things can happen.

I love summer time, friend dinners, and planning events so that you can make one dish.

What're your favorite dishes to make with friends?

P.S. I might make this dish too.

Shout outs today to Sprout Health for hooking it up on the recipes.

Flower season!

Things aren't going perfectly over here but when do things ever go perfectly? 

Here are some pictures of a vase full of flowers that I picked in my yard. Enjoy.

 

 

Held up

It's been a while since a blog update. I've been hanging out with that boy, Nick, some, starting my first day of work, and hanging out in parks.

Ups
1. I really enjoy dating this one and we flew a remote control airplane on a date the other day.
2. It seems like the people I'm going to be working with are really cool and I can wear whatever jewelry I want (good because I have a nose ring in right now).
3. The weather's getting nice!

Downs
1. That boy is leaving Portland in October anyways (there's no one out here for me).
2. Work is a pretty long commute from my house. About a 40 minute bus or bike ride.
3. There's no downside to nice weather.

What to do? Enjoy things while they last? Take some chances? Get really strong from biking at least one leg of my work journey every day? I don't know. Those all sound like decent options actually. Sorry, I've been held up from posting by life. I actually don't know what to write about to y'all right now. Hope this will tide you over.

Home, sweet, spring, home Again

I arrived in Portland yesterday afternoon. Starving and dirty, I was whisked away by my generous and driving friend, Dan to visit the good people of the Habitat for Humanity Restore-which made me feel like I belonged somewhere for sure.

I'll back up a minute and say the moment that I walked into the train station in Portland I was greeted by my friend, and former coworker, Nick, which really, really, made me feel loved and welcome back. I am lucky to have amassed a few people that are willing to go out of their way simply to greet me or who will take time out of their busy schedules, when I come back into town, to grab a drink and be a little silly with me.

Yesterday, I fixed up my bike and bought some potting soil.

Today, I planted the tomato plant that was gifted to me by my friend, Rachael and some baby basil seeds(because everyone knows that basil is meant to be had with tomatoes). I bought my first batch of groceries and went to my first prepaid, yoga class of the month. I walked around and explored the spring with friend Natalie reaffirming the realization that Portland is, truly, a beautiful city.

I'm about to miss the East Coast and all of the good people of the East but I am determined to take advantage of all the freedom  and opportunities that Portland (and current unemployment) allot me. Next up: Bagby Hot Springs.

Restless

I am mad uneasy right now about getting up and going. I can feel the need to move pulling at me but I am torn up by the changes in my life that are about to happen.

I don't know how to give up the lead role in the day to day activities of my Mamaw's life but I am so excited to have freedom for my own day to day activities. I really don't know how I'm going to get over seeing her every day and being such a central part of her existence.

I am really, really hyped about seeing my friends back west but I almost can't bear the idea of leaving my Richmond friends behind.

I love the sights and sounds of a Richmond spring but I am so, so, so, excited to see spring in Portland. To watch my tulips come up, and plant a small garden, is such an exciting prospect. My heart quickens at the idea.

Lately, I've been craving the kind of trust that only people who don't really really need you can put into you.  I want my grandmom to trust that I'll clean up a mess or cook something right or fold something and put it away correctly.

If it's really important that those things happen because you can't do it yourself, it's very hard to trust that someone else will do them to your specifications. It's even harder (if not impossible) to let go of those specifications and let someone do things their way.

And I understand that, because I love to be in control. One of the things that I'm looking forward to upon my return to Portland is having complete control of my diet again. I might go temporarily vegan as a response to all of the meat that I've eaten since I was here. I can't wait to make beans and rice and curry! I haven't taken full advantage of the goodness of east coast beers since I've been here (I just don't have the right kind of free time to get some good beers in me as a general rule). So, I'm even excited to be able to drink beer when I'd like to drink it.

I'm excited for yoga and running regularly. I'm bummed that I have to leave the runner friendly city (and my great runner friends) of Richmond.

I'm saddened to leave any prospects of love that I feel like Richmond offers me and Portland doesn't. Why is that? Why would one city not want me so badly when another does? It's all in my head. Probably.

Restless. Yep, that about sums it up.

Ipanema & Head Shaving

It's been a pretty good couple of days. Mamaw, is super energetic today because she's getting some high quality, pharmacy grade, steroids to help her with the first few days of treatment side effects (also, she was healthy enough to get treatment which is very good).

She is undertaking all kinds of projects today i.e. income tax prep, laundry (so many kinds of laundry), bathroom scrubbing, birthday card and assorted items buying, head shaving. She's so jazzed it has been hard to get her to sit still for breakfast. Doesn't look like naps are in the picture for today, alas.

She seems unfazed by the fact that she has to wake up 2 hours earlier than normal to take pills (maybe because the pills make her feel like Wonder Woman). Today, my grandma is a woman of action. She's making decisions and we're doing them. It's nice to see her so empowered. It is also exhausting.

The biggest thing we did this morning was shave her head. My sweater is now powdered with little bits of silver hair. She looks good bald- every bit as hip as any Portlander could ever wish to be. I'm a little bit jealous and just want to give up my quest to grow my hair long again. We could be bald together. I would love it.

Yesterday, whilst the treatment was in session, I went on a short run with Dan to one of the restaurants on the list. Jackfruit BBQ sammie that came sweet potato fries & house salad. Then we split a Mexican chocolate pie and ginger pear pie (with delicious short bready crust) for dessert. I could have died happy after that meal. Ipanema. Check it out, if only for their brilliant dessert selection. But really, delicious vegetarian fare, good drink deals, and awesome pies.

Speaking of pies, I need to run more. Maybe before we head out on our errands I can go for a quickie. I feel like I'm always squeezing in short runs and never going on long ones. But, any run is better than no run. Hope you guys are eating well, staying in shape, and generally enjoying life as much as I am.

Slipped Through Your Fingers

Suck it up Portland boys. You should have acted sooner. No worries, I'll be back in a couple of months. 

When I heard that you were leaving town

Zoobie doobie doooooo

Today was sadly enough Katelyn's last day in town. It was a wondrously, not too rainy day here in Portland. But, even better than the outstanding weather, it was free zoo day! So, we went to the zoo. 

We saw plenty of animals, most of them bipeds in small herds, wearing rain jackets, and pushing strollers. We did see more unusual species too. Some of our favorites were these bronze lions but we also spotted some tiny bronze elephants too. 

It's been nice having family around. We spent Christmas together, went hiking. She saw one of my favorite parks and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry while I worked. We got donuts, and made cookies, had many a quiet breakfast together and kept up a pretty good running regiment. We volunteered together, drank a beer together (or part of a beer depending on which one of us you were watching), tried some Portland specific foods, went to see a whole gaggle of cheap movies at second run theaters. We had a Harry Potter movie marathon to welcome in the new year and of course went to the zoo.

Of course, I'll be glad to have more space in my room as I'm sure Katelyn will be glad to sleep on a regular bed. But, mostly, I will miss hanging out.

Freak Bike Fall

Portland, is awesome. Tonight is the beginning of Freak Bike Fall and I mean to take part. I'm

especially psyched because I don't have to work this weekend so, I can stay out as late as I can

handle. Hopefully, I can make it pretty deep into the festivities. Wish me luck and I hope you

weekends are looking as good as mine.

City of Roses

They don't call this town the city of roses for nothing. And that's what I learned upon returning to Portland*. My yard, which is generally a little unkempt, was filled with beautiful blooming roses! I shot some pictures and meant to have them up for you yesterday but got distracted as my buddy, Jamie, arrived in Portland yesterday.

Bunch of roses on the side of our house

A couple of roses in the front of our house

Rose from the back yard

Huge rose (like 4 or 5 inches in Diameter) next to our back gate

*The city of Portland is actually, called the rose city because of the existence of it's famous rose testing gardens where a variety of roses found no were else may be growing at any given time.

Now, I'm off to get ready to work. I'll see you on the flip side.

Oh, the air, the air is full of spring.

That's right. Spring is in the air.

I went on a trip to the grocery store today (funnily enough not to buy groceries but a gaggle of other necessary household items) and as it turned out the sun was out and the flowers were blooming. So I grabbed my camera.

A beautiful tree with peeling bark

tiny purple flowers

The trees are just beginning to bloom

I hope that everyone else is feeling the sweet sunshine of spring as they go about their day. More updaty updates in the future. For now I just want to share with you the joy of new beginnings.

Road running

I've got the racing bug. I've just spent the last hour and a half looking up races in the Portland area.

Specifically, I'd love to be able to train for a marathon. I don't know if that's something I could do without a team of supporters but I don't know, the idea is bouncing around my head quite a bit. The race that has me really interested is the Columbia Gorge Marathon. It sounds like a beautiful event. Still, there are a few obstacles for me. One is that there aren't a lot of spectators to lend emotional support and another is I know I should shoot for a half before I try and run the whole. It's hard not to get ahead of myself. Ah!

Who wants to fly out here and help me whip myself into shape? Any volunteers?! Oh boy.... I can't stop looking up races. I've got to get myself back into running!!

Silly emails and guacamole

I applied to a job today. How is that different than any other day you might ask?! And I will say, "That in itself is not so absurd

but what comes next you haven't yet heard".

OK. OK. I know. That was awful.

And that's the thing. I just applied to a job using lines like that. It was an email only application with my cover letter and resume attached. I didn't want it to go unnoticed so I titled it "dynamic and diligent FOH delight" and then I went on to use an acrostic! That's right as in:

Aren't I
Crying a little on the inside?
Reason being:
Oh that I've begun to try
Stupid

Toddleresque
Intelligence insulting

Crap to get a job.

Like that. But hopefully more job winning and less negative. It might reduce my chances of getting the job but I never feel like my chances start off that high and who knows?! It might up my chances too. It is only a restaurant job.

Other than that, I went on a hike with my exercise buddy Marika the other day. It took 2 hours! I'm not that outdoorsy and usually after 2 hours in the beautiful wilderness I would have a headache and a runny nose but luckily good health and fun time prevailed! Here's to being outside. Tomorrow's a run and also a friend dinner and tonight's a friend's show.

This week is shaping up quite nicely (besides the weird antics to get a job).

A day in

Today, most of my goals were goals that kept me inside. Except my first goal which was to get groceries. I walked to the grocery store.

I might add that it's super nice to be able to walk to a nice grocery store again.

I applied to jobs online. I made a collage (I'm trying to make more of those again). I started my book. I did some yoga. I made lunch. I made cookies. I talked to Stephanie on the phone. I made dinner and that's about it. When you spend all of your time at home it sure is easy to make food. Good thing I've got food stamps!

Hope all of you are having as easy a time of achieving your goals as I am having of achieving mine :D.

I'm off to set some more goals for myself now.

shmoving

So, The place that I was thinking that I would move into is not such a certain thing anymore so I am currently on the market for a new place to live.

My 1st option right now is a pet sitting gig for most of Feb where I would take care of a cat and stay for a pretty affordable price in a really nice neighborhood. It is right across the street from a park, really close to a 2nd run movie theater, about half the distance from work. I would love to stay there. The only thing is that it would be temporary which is a bit sad since it's such a nice location.

I've emailed some more conventional living situations that are also pretty affordable but only one other has returned my email and I had a weird feeling about it so am not going to go with that one.

Any of those would be nice because I wouldn't have to move again in a month.

Oh why, oh why, did I buy a bed? It makes being in a transient state so much harder.

In other news: I'm going to have my friend Jon's car at my disposal for 6 months while he's gone so moving in that time won't be oh so bad.