The week of voluntary service

This week, I believe, I have done the most consecutive volunteer work that I've done since high school. This is what happens when you work very little. I have learned how to open and operate the Mt. Tabor Visitor Center run by The Friends of Mt Tabor. I learned how to and did, clear ground and plant trees with Portland's Friends of Trees. That was really fun and I'm trying to do it again in the future. And then, I also, am going to do my time at the Habitat for Humanity Restore this afternoon. I feel like such a productive (and underemployed) member of society!

Next week, I work 4 days and the week after I work 5 so it'll get back to normal soon. But for now, watch out, because I might just sneak into your neighborhood and do
 some good. Mwahahahaha. ok I'm bored.

Here are a couple of pictures I stole off of a friend that went with me to the Friends of Trees planting

Out in the middle of the 'burbs planting & relocating trees

This is Maryalice (my newest friend) and showing off our muddiness after planting. 

On the up side, it looks like it's starting to get back to regular 40's and low 50's temps for early winter. Hip, Hip, Hurray! Shout out: Maryalice for coming out and volunteering with me (and unknowingly letting me steal her pictures). 

Mail

Sweet, sweet, snail mail. USPS why would you ever, even think about closing? Yesterday, I got these bad boys in the mail. If these aren't going to make me mad tips at work, I don't know what is...

Tiny Blackberry Earrings

So cute

Shout out Chrissy for thinking of me when you saw these. Firstly, I love them and secondly, another girl with a cool earring collection just started working with me and these will totally best her! Nehehehe. I win. Thanks to you.

Races to Run

This morning I ran a 5k. It was nice because I got a number of free things. First I got a) Free hoody for being one of the first to sign up for the race. b) 1 free bell to ring while caroling in the future c) free beer d) some free soup & cornbread e) free energy drink. All in all, a good morning.

I also placed 11th overall in the female finishers (which kind of bothers me because the top 10 girls get put on a special list of top 10 female finishers) If I'd only run the race 20 seconds faster. I got 36th overall which leads me to think that Portland is a slow town. I don't think I've ever done so well in Richmond and I'm pretty sure I've run most of my 5K's faster than this one. Still, I can't complain as I didn't really train for speed and am really just using this race as an excuse to stay in shape.

Next up either The First Run & Walk 5K at midnight on New Years day or the Heart Breaker Half 10K on February. If I feel like spending the big bucks I will probably do both. No mater what I'm doing the Heart Breaker 10K. I own so much pink running gear that will be perfect for that race! Shout out to my Mom for all of that.

Later kids.

Road Running: a recycling of topics

Recently, I've had a lot of time on my hands so I've really been stepping up my exercise game. I'm on my third day running this week and I've already gotten a yoga class out of the way too. It's so invigorating to be getting in shape and exercising on a regular basis. I got so caught up in all the daily exercise, I almost forgot that I have an actual, planned 5k on Sunday. Luckily, they send out reminder emails or I might have missed it. Actually, it's on my google calendar so I would have gotten a reminder email from google about 15 minutes before the race was set to start (maybe I should update my alert preferences).

Besides that I've also been updating/practicing some basic math which I've mostly forgotten. I'm starting with the really basic stuff but, hopefully once I've got things solidly remembered I can move up into slightly harder stuff. If you are looking to learn something for free online I have to recommend the Khan Academy. You can learn all kinds of subjects there. I'm also looking into re-upping on my Spanish knowledge and have signed up for an account on livemocha.com but I so far am a little intimidated by trying to remember and learn another language so I'm sticking with the math.

I've got another week of near freedom coming up in which I will be volunteering with at least 2 maybe 3 different organizations (That would be a personal high for me). With one of them I think I'm even going to get free breakfast and lunch. Who said being underemployed is a bad thing?

After these 2 weeks it'll be back to the grind for a while which will be good for the money situation but, maybe, bad for my math and Spanish skills.

Later kids

Dad

So, I've been doing some things with my free time that remind me of things my dad did while I was growing up. Besides being in charge of the all the grocery shopping on a regular basis- welcome to the world of being a single adult-, today I put the lights on our "Christmas tree". Saturday I spent hours doing yard work. I raked the yard, and cut back briers for hours people. Despite the fact that our "Christmas tree" is really just a bush in our front yard and the briers that I cut back should have been cut back months ago, I still felt really on top of things like my dad always seemed to be when I was growing up.

I mean, even now, I am constantly surprised at how much my dad knows about dealing with tricky things like doctors offices and insurance companies. Shout out to you Dad for being awesome. I love and appreciate you.

Winter Preparedness

So, it's soon to be winter time and I am getting all set.

If you don't know, I've already procured an awesome, waterproof, and very adjustable hat in which to bike and generally live. And now, I have received my final birthday jacket in the mail! I did send two other potential birthday jackets back before getting this one. So, I am super excited! This coat is so much warmer than my old jacket, of which I am soon to be rid. Side note: trying not to end sentences in prepositions is a small challenge for me.

My old jacket

My new jacket which has a removable fleece and collar that zips up to my chin. If it's really cold out I can zip it on up. If it warms up I can take the fleece out. I can also just wear the fleece but that option probably never going to happen while I live in Portland.

The Big City

This past week I visited San Francisco. I spent some good time with the little sis, and some sweet but fleeting moments with the elder of us kids too. I went on an impromptu date, ate so much delicious food, checked out downtown Oakland, and spent a few nights with a good friend from back in school. I also got to see a bunch of cool things and experience what a beautiful city San Francisco was.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

The sisters in front of the "golden" gate bridge

Delicious pastry I couldn't resist eating a bit of before photographing.

The view from Buena Vista park (you can kinda see the bridge in the distance)

A buena vista park bench

Coit Tower, where I met my impromptu date

A mural of naked people I stumbled upon

A "yellow tree" with yellow leaves walking away from the famous part of Lombard St.

Don't park here, I guess

The Tenderloin area had awesome murals

Mural in the Tenderloin

Same mural

The kind of close together housing that I miss about Richmond

A shop sign on Haight Ashbury

A carousel in The Golden Gate Park

Store in Haight Ashbury

I think this is a eucalyptis log

Plant in Golden Gate Park (everything grows there)

One kind of San Francisco architecture.

The view from some famous pier where there are sea lions

Giant Yoda statue made out of Legos

I'm about to turn in for the night. Trying to wake up and go to a morning Yoga class tomorrow. We'll see if that happens. Trying to be productive with my free time these days.