Star Magnolia

This nice star magnolia tree is at the side of the driveway. Its blooms are so pretty. I just love any type of magnolia.

Luggage Tags

I shall never be confused about which luggage is mine again.

CJ baby!

My chocolate bathroom

The color in the photo is off. The walls used to be wallpapered - they still are underneath. Some lazy slob slathered plaster all over it for a "look" instead of stripping it off. Be proud wallpaper strippers... you are a brave and noble people! I HATE this look. I HATE IT. I have decided to sand the crap out of it, and at least get it to be not so obnoxiously pokee. I started sanding it by hand. Then I broke out the electric sander. I need to get some rougher paper... this stuff is vicious, but victory will be MINE!!!!!!

MUWAAAHHHHAHAHAHA

The Velvet Hammer

I know, I know… don’t tempt fate. I went by the Coffee People on the way home from running my errands this evening. They are a local coffee company that is trying to compete with starbux. They are doing a mighty fine job. I got a Velvet hammer tonight which is a nutmeg, cinnamon, mocha latte. Oh yum…. I never should have done that!

I was driving to work this morning just smiling my head off. I really love it here. I love the neighborhood, I love the house, I love my job. I am so glad I came out here. James better hurry up and get his butt out here – I miss him!

I have been asking around at work getting some recommendations for restaurants for Dad to try while he is here. There are tons of ma and pa hamburger joints – dad loves hamburgers, and I was told about a good one today! People at work know mom and dad are moving out here, and they are giving me some advice for neighborhoods and stuff too.

I am excited about dad coming. He is going to have a blast! I have been scouting out some apartments in our neighborhood for them. There is even a house for rent just about 6 or so houses down from ours. I’m going to call about it just in case. Maybe dad will just stay and move in a house here! Some cute houses have come on the market right around here too.

I heard the funniest thing on the radio this afternoon. The local Kia dealership is having a buy one get one free sale. What?!? If you buy any new Kia, you get a used Rio for free. What?!?

So you would think, if they live in Portland – they should know that it rains. Why would they be shocked if there is a nice sunset when they go into a store and then it is pouring down the rain when they come out. I find it really funny. These ladies were FREAKING out as we came out of Target.

And yes… I went to Target again tonight. Hey, I needed toilet paper okay?

My sweet landlord

My landlord sent me this card the other day thanking me for everything. I thought it was so cute, and I put it on the fridge. She's a dog freak too!

What fascinates me at 5:30 in the morning

I was brushing my teeth in James' bathroom this morning (yes.. I AM excited we each have our own bathroom now!), and I was dazelled by the sparkling knob on the faucet. I at that moment understood why they had been so popular ing the 80's.

My dad is a hoot

As you all know, mom came with me out here to Oregon and spent a few weeks. She left dad on his own. She came home to find dad in one piece - not emaciated from hunger, her plants were alive, and the house was clean. She had noticed that she could not find one of her rings, and she accused him of using the vacuum cleaner instead of the duster to dust everything. I think she even made him open the vacuum bag to look for it.

Her following account is SO my dad. This is her email to me:

I have begun the great clean up on the house. I have caulked the bathroom. Cleaned all the fans and light fixtures. Changed out bulbs - thus brightening the place up. I started with the kitchen fan. It was clean - I was surprised - you were right, my house is sterile - HAH!

Did I tell you that Dad finally admitted using the leaf blower in the house? I kept wondering why, when I came back, everything looked strange to me - couldn't quite put my finger on it - just weird. Things were just slightly shifted. Pictures were all crooked. Plants dislodged from their moorings. Bathroom curtain hanging funny. First he admitted using the vacuum cleaner, then the shop vac to dust, instead of the little swifter thingy - then finally admitted using the leaf blower. I just want to double over with laughter when I think of it. Can you image him using the leaf blower in the house? It is hysterical. He even used it on the blinds. The man is crazy. You know it is their nature to think they can do everything better than we can, so I can just imagine him thinking to himself' "What, waste all this time dusting everything by hand - I'll just blow the hell out of it with the leaf blower." Never have found my ring. It is probably blown across the room somewhere. Can I just say again, the man is crazy. When he comes to visit be sure you hide the leaf blower!!!!

The Baldry Mushroom

The story:

I have know Heather for going on 18 years (ack! how has she stood me so long!). Her parents used to live in a house in Knoxville, and this little (one foot concrete mushroom) was at the end of their driveway in a flowerbed. I think it was left by the original owners of their house. Anyway... I noticed it on one of my early visits to their house. After several years I asked Heather if I could have it someday. She said if they ever moved. I never got final permission to get the mushroom, and many years later, they moved to California. Probably 9 months after they moved, James and I went by one morning and stole it from that flowerbed. We took it to Indiana, where is has been living as a fugative on the lamb for three years.(why are fugatives on a lamb anyway? A lamb would not make a good getaway vehicle, nor would it be very inconspicuous...) Now, much like my stained glass window, it has a home at our house. Maybe someday someone will love it as much as I do and steal it from my flowerbed.

Maybe I need a concrete knome to protect it!

Little People's Park

James made me go and investigate the Little People's Park in Beaverton. He was unnaturally curious if it was a kids park or a midget park. There was no one there, so I was unable to make a determination. I do have a feeling however that it is a kids park. Just a hunch.

Sunshine!

Yesterday was a gorgeous day, much like today. It was in the mid 60’s and sunny. I had gone into work yesterday at 5:45am, which turned out to be a good idea, despite the periods of head bobbing around 11am. I left work at 2pm, and I headed for the park. I took a nice long walk and got to visit with all of the doggies. I went to one near the house, but today is equally as gorgeous, so I think I’ll head over to Sellwood, and go the park by the river when I leave work. It is one of the big free range dog parks. So I thought I’d check it out for future reference. Like the babies will socialize with other dogs! They think they are humans.

I think I am starting to grasp the allergy season situation here. I had forgotten springtime in Tennessee, but this is very much the same. Flowers = stuffy nose. But it IS worth it. I just need to go to the doctor and get some Allegra.

Dad was asking me the other day about the weather here. He asked me how depressing it was. Well I don’t feel it is depressing at all. Of course I love it here, but James and I realized that in Indiana when it is cloudy and overcast the clouds are very low. I have to say - the cloud formations in Indiana can NOT be beat. In New York, yes I was there in the winter, but the sun almost never came out. In Tennessee the clouds hang pretty low too, but here the cloud ceiling is really high. It is like the difference between being in a room with 6 foot ceilings versus a room with 40 foot ceilings. It just feels different, and I feel like it is not oppressive. Plus it is not cloudy and rainy all day. The winters here are rainy versus snowy, but the rest of the time the rain comes and goes. It may rain for an hour or two at a time, but then it will clear up.

Work has been lots of fun the past few weeks, and this week especially. We are getting ready to release a product to production, and there has been a shower of activities making last minute tweaks and such. Everyone is running around like crazy. My part is in essence done, so I get to just sit back and watch the frenzy. I really work with a bunch of interesting personalities! I love the people that I sit around – as usual I got in with a fun group. I sit between the technical writers and marketing, and boy it that a weird mix!

travel, travel, travel

Well I am going to New York this Sunday, and I’m staying until Thursday afternoon. I kind of dread it. It will be nice to see everyone again though. I made all the travel arrangements this morning. Dad will be coming in Tuesday April 11th, and staying until Wednesday April 26th. So he will be here for my birthday. PS – my birthday is the 25th. I’ll be um…. I really don’t remember anymore. I have been lying for so long! Mom?

I also made reservations for James. He is renting an SUV on April 13th and driving the dogs out here. We have decided that the house in Indy will be much easier to keep clean and subsequently sell if they are not there. He should be here by the 17th. I’ll have all my guys here at once – dad, james, muldoone, and sherman. Mattie is an honorary guy too! James will be flying back on Monday the 24th, but he will be here for our 10 year anniversary on the 22nd. He insists that we were really married on the 21st and that I have forged our marriage certificate just to spite him. So he said he is glad he will be here for both our REAL anniversary and my fake anniversary – which is 10 years and a day. Dork!

Waiting in line

My dishes are lined up waiting for their turn in the dish washer.

Sitting Area

Still a work in progress, but it is usable.

Kitchen Table

Yes James, it is centered under the light - it just doesn't look like it in the photo!

My window has a home

I have never lived in a house were I had a place for my stained glass window. I finally do! I think it looks so good here, and it will get plenty of light.

Organizing the house

Today I got up early again and ran out for some errands. Yes I went to Target, but Home Depot was too crowded to deal with.

Dad had asked me to go down and check out some of the towns that were on the way down towards Salem. I decided that this would be a pretty sunny day to do it. Everything looks better in the sun. The first town was just 12 miles south of our house – Wilsonville. It was really nice. I is soon to become a bedroom community of Portland. There is lots of new construction and plenty of nice new apartment for mom and dad. They had great walking trails, parks, and sidewalks. The house prices were not nearly as bad as Portland, and they were set fairly far apart. It also had plenty of one level houses. Most of the houses in Portland are several stories because of the price of land.

The next town was about another 12 miles further – Woodburn. It was pretty yucky. The housing was much cheaper. Much cheaper. It was not so trashy, just kinda gross. In its defense – it had a super Wal-Mart.

When I got back to the house I decided to break down all the empty boxes and bag all the packing materials that I had been dumping in the kitchen. It really compressed down to nothing. I then began to put things in their place. Yes… I just made a dent.

I took down all of the blinds in the Kitchen area. Did you know spiders LOVE to live in the brackets of the mini blinds? There was lots of squealing and screaming going on. I began doing laundry, washing all of the linens. I also began my marathon dish washering of all the kitchen items. The house has the same type of dishwasher we bought for the house in Indy. I love it! It is so quiet, and I was shocked when I saw how sparkly clean the dishes were when they came out. My dishwasher in NY sucked.

I finally worked up the courage to go to Home Depot. It wasn’t too crowded. I however did not know that Sunday nights are gay boy night at the Home Depot. There were scores of well dressed, nice smelling, polite men running around. It was a nice change from standing next to a sweaty smelly guy in the plumbing section.

I hate to admit it, but I was in the plumbing section because I needed to buy a snake. Yes... I am famous for stopping up toilets, and this time I needed something stronger than a plunger. It is amazing that I have lived this long without a snake.

Doggie Safe

I put in a under the counter garbage can. Since the dogs will be in the kitchen during the day - I thought this would keep the garbage safe.

Go Martha!

I started putting in the shelf liners in the kitchen. After doing the first drawer I already felt cleaner. That definitely motivated me to push on, despite how frustrating they are to do. I have been using the striped, and I think I’ll have enough for the whole kitchen. I think I’ll have to do the bathrooms, laundry room, and linen closet in the off white though.

Lunch outside

I had lunch out on the deck. It was sunny and almost 60. It was nice! I had all the windows and doors open to let the fresh air in.

I even got to talk to Jill for a long time and catch up while I was enjoying the weather.

Organic!

One thing I love about this place is you can find tons of organic stuff in the regular grocery stores. They even have primarily organic produce!

Busy Day

Today I got up early. The sun was out even though it poured all night. I got out and went to Target. I can’t seem to let a day go by without going there. Every Target is laid out differently, and this one seems especially backwards to me, but I think I am finally learning my way around. It is pretty cool; they have a small market section. It is not like a super target, but they do have frozen and refrigerated items as well as the necessities. After target I went to Home Depot. Much like Target, each home depot is laid out differently and I seem to go everyday. Although at home depot I found a map and directory of the whole store in the garden section. I still seem to walk the whole thing. I saw 2 black labs and a schnauzer IN home depot while I was there. How cool! I can imagine one of our guys in there – sniffing people, barking, and tasting the merchandise. Sherman would try to carry everything around.

I was in search of shelf liners, and the previous 2 places were a bust. I found a Kmart, and in desperation I went in just in case. I found some cool Martha Stewart (bless her heart!) shelf liners that had stripes on them. I had no idea how much I would need, so I bought the last 2 roles of the striped and I bought 2 rolls of off white. Each one was 1.5’ X 24’. I had no idea.

I then set off on the great adventure to find a car wash. There is one kind I especially like. Kaddy Carwash. It is like the Mike’s in Indy – which is the BEST carwash ever. I am normally not passionate about carwashes, but this one is awesome. I have a hard time finding a carwash that actually cleans around my spoiler. I could not find a Kaddy around the house, so I drove around circling further and further out. Finally I ended up at the one near downtown. But after all that I was very happy with my sparkling car.

On the way back to the house to do my chores, I stopped off at the Dutch store. It was SO cool! They had all sorts of stuff. They had wooden shoes everywhere. Although they would be terribly uncomfortable, I have always wanted a pair. I did not know the Dutch’s passion for Licorice. They had a full isle of licorice products – both candy and regular food stuffs. It was amazing to browse through them. I settled on some salt licorice and some cherry tea and then made my way home.

I continued unpacking everything, and I just spread it all out on the floor. I figured I could organize it and put it away later. James and I decided that since this house is so big we could unpack everything. We haven’t unpacked all our stuff in ages! I am very excited. In Indy we had most everything boxed up to save space. Our kitchen was so small too, and we have a ton of dishes and stuff. They only things I left packed here was the photo albums, some of Granny’s stuff, and my old school things. I got to pull out my favorite pieces since we have the built-ins to put them on.

I went out in the afternoon to retrieve the file box. I drove over to Sellwood, which is one of my favorite areas. It is just on the other side of the river in town, and it is littered with gorgeous old houses. They lived in classic “modern” northwest house. I went in and commented on how beautiful their house was, and she gave me a tour. It was a basement ranch that had been immaculately restored. It had hardwood floors, a new kitchen, and the entire back of the house was glass. The view was awesome. She was a quilter, and she took me down to her studio in the basement. The entire back wall was glass. Her work was amazing. I left with my dirty little file box filled with old, sad credit card statements and vet bills, and I returned to my modest house in Raleigh Hills.

Mossy

We have some pretty cool moss.

Flowering Plum

The plum tree is blooming, and sometimes I look out the window and I think it is snowing! There are pale pint petals floating around in the air.

Nice

There are daffodils everywhere in the yard, and they are out in full. The tuplips have not bloomed yet - I can't wait!

White flower

Here is the white one.

Red flower

Here is one of its flowers up close. I love the green waxy leaves too.

Purty

Wow the flowers are really coming out! This tree is so gorgeous. From our first visit here, I have always associated Portland with these trees. We have a red one and a white one.

James

From this point forward Jim will now be referred as James in my blog. I have decided that I’ll refer to him as such. He goes by that most of the time anyway, and I am turning over a new leaf and trying to call him James as well. I guess he has always been James in my head… well when he is not Bunny. Shhhh… don’t tell!

Jim… err… James got a call this afternoon from this nice lady in Sellwood. She had found our file box in her stuff. Apparently she was on the same moving van as us. I called her to arrange to pick it up. I had not noticed it was gone, and it did not seem to be missing from the moving company’s packing list. Needless to say, when I got home I started unpacking and opening everything to see if I could tell that anything else was missing. Really though, the files were the only thing that would be bad to lose. They had all of our personal info on them, and that could be disastrous. She said she had lost a box of shoes, I looked for them, but we did not have them.

I talked to mom and dad today. Dad and I are making plans for him to come out and visit when I get back from New York. I am glad they are so excited! Dad is coming out for 2 weeks, and I know he will have a blast. He is renting a car so he can explore all day. I wish mom could come back out and explore with him too, but I understand that she would not want to come back out so soon after being here for 5 weeks.

I ran into this guy in the grocery store parking lot. He had a Subaru outback with Oregon plates, but the sticker on his car said Clayton Volvo. I asked him if he was from Knoxville, and he said he was. I told him I was too! We chatted about the mountains and UT, and then we went on our merry ways.

Sunrise at the Sonoco

I took Jim to work Monday, and the sunrise was beautiful from the gas station.

It looks viscious

... but it is not. They just end up with slobber all over them.

Show Offs

The boys like to show off and rassel when I am home. Mattie won't have any part of it. She gets really annoyed with them.

Spring time in Indiana

I made it to Indiana on Saturday, and Tractor Supply had their spring time bunnies for sale.

$10... they are worth so much more. Last year they had a big sale after easter.

It reminds me of my childhood and begging mom and dad for a dyed live chick from Kmart. Ick.

Boxes

The front still partially yellow room is officially the box room. They put everything boxed in there. I have made a dent in them.

Chairs!

Unfortunately this is how it looked after I got back from Indy too.

The kitchen pile

My green chair from NY

Boy I am happy to see it again!

The moving guys came!

Friday was the big day. We decided to keep the loveseat. Since the dogs will spend their days in the kitchen, it will be theirs. I hate to think of them sleeping on the hard tile floor all day.

Bunny Bowls

These are some of the bunny bowls I got at the Asian market when mom and I went. I found some of them at the Natures Fresh Market last night, and they were more than twice the price I paid. Go Asian Market. I really need to learn how to pronounce the name.

I keep finding all these ethnic stores in the neighborhood. I ran across a polish market and 2 european markets last night. Fun!

Spring is here

Everything is blooming in the yard. It is gorgeous. This is the bud on a huge tree in the back. I don't know what type it is.

Master bedroom

It had one wall painted a dark red. The owner had done it, so it was well done, but it had to go. The room will look so much bigger. I can't wait to see the Todd Mahal bed set up in it!

Mom painted the "Help" when she was cutting in the room. Hahahaha. Kinda freaky.

Oh a clean bathroom

New toilet seat, new heat vent, new caulking, and a heavy duty scrub by at least 3 different people... and vuwaaala!

In fact I replaced all of the heat vents in the house after I sucked out the ducts. It just felt and smelled better. I am usually not that anal, but the previous renter was more than dirty. Hence the painting and scrubbing. I even bleached and scrubbed the kitchen floor and treated the grout.

Squatters!

Prior to the delivery of the furniture we lived like squatters. Especially mom. She didn't like the intensity of the down comforters I had - great for me... I used all of them - so she covered up with random pieces of clothing and my fuzzy bathrobe.

Fabric blinds in the front bedroom

These are light and airy. Another housewarming gift from mom from the lovely Cost Plus World Market.

Jim and I have decided to only put blinds on the front bedroom windows. All the other windows are on the back or sides, and the yard is so lush. We thought we would enjoy the big windows instead.

The front bedroom

In progress... but the yellow HAD to go. Again, badly painted yellow.

The owner had painted nicely, but the previous renter had painted half assed - not covering the old paint. She even sponge painted the kitchen. Ick! The owner was bothered by it so much she painted the kitchen while she was in town before I moved in.

The venitian blinds in the far front bedroom

I love Cost Plus World Market. Mom's housewarming gift to us.

After

Mom and I got a good start on the painting while she was here (THANKS MOM!), but I have plans to paint the whole inside of the house. Some of the walls are freaky colors, and none of the ceilings had ever been painted I think. It will make it all fresh and clean feeling too.

Somewhat before...

Let the renovation begin!

This is the far front bedroom with the garrish red walls halfway covered. Badly painted garrish red walls I might add!

"My fridge"

Jim posing by the lovely fridge on the morning of his return back to Indy. Leaving for the airport at 3am would make anyone love their fridge.

Potty Humor

When Jim was in town we went in search of potty seats. The brown potty is a bit harder to find a seat for, but there were tons of white ones for the master bathroom.

This one has "Elegantly Styled Chrome Hinges" and apparently is like sitting on a "Biscuit"!

It was WAY too fancy so we opted for the $9.99 one below it.

Fabulous!

Mom, Jim, and I went down to the Sellwood antique district and poked around. Jim found these great sunglasses. Doesn't he look smashing?

At the bux

Jim and I at coffe while he was in town. Latte madness!

So I am behind

I have neglected the photos on my camera, sorry folks.

This one is from Jim's visit on the 9th of march. We went to Papa Haydens and had some lovely dessert and romantic fun. Poor Jim was travel weary from his flight.

Home Sweet Home

I wrote the previous posts on the plane. I had PLENTY of time to reflect on the previous few days that I had skipped. I definitely did not slack on posting for lack of content.

I was driving home from the airport feeling very sad, tired, and worn down. I was tooling down the interstate in the dregs of rush hour traffic, and dreading going into an empty house that looked as if it had been hit by a tornado inside. As I crested the hill on I-5, I got a full on view of downtown. The buildings were all lit up and twinkling their reflection in the river. I had the same reaction I always do when I see downtown… I smiled really big. All the sudden I felt rejuvenated and happy.

I sure do miss Jim and the dogs, and it was gut wrenching leaving them in Indy, but it sure was good to finally be home.

Wednesday

Wednesday Jim and I moped around, dreading my flight out. We went to coffee and sat in silence with the imminent departure hanging over us. I wish I could have shoved Jim in my suitcase and whisked him off to Portland. It is just not right that he is stuck in Indiana. We both have worked so hard to get to this point.

My flight back went well. I had very little time between flights in Denver, so I hoofed it off one plane, across the airport, and got to the other plane just in time to load.

We flew over the rockies fairly low because of the weather, so I had a good view of them for most of the flight. That is what makes flying so fun… seeing things from that perspective.

I guess I’ll spend the rest of the week recuperating and unwrapping the furniture. I have to check everything for damage, and fill out some status reports for the moving company. Barring any unforeseen damage, the whole mover experience went really smoothly. Jim and I were both terrified that it would be really bad.

Now all I have to do is arrange it. I have been joking with jim that I was going to arrange the furniture so everything is lined up on one wall and side by side. Well he has to have something to do when he gets here! He is the expert arranger – remember my apartment in New York? I need him to do the finishing touches. I am good at organizing all the little things, but he is good at the big ones. He has a flare for decorating that boy does. I do have to be careful and get all my décor items bought before he gets here, so I can get them in!

I will be glad to get back to work tomorrow, and start getting into a schedule.

Tuesday

Tuesday Jim skipped work and we messed around all day. We got a good bit of snow – will I ever get away from it? We got in several trips to coffee and many hours of chatting and laughing with each other. It is always like we have never been apart when we get back together. We always have fun. I miss him so much.

Tuesday night Jim and I went down to Bloomington again to meet my Dean, Marty for dinner. I was giving a talk for the master’s students that night, and we were going out before hand. The three of us had a nice dinner at Yogi’s – one of my old hangouts walking distance from the building. I had a night class with the dean the last year of school, and a group of us always went down to yogi’s before class. We would prepare for class with a pitcher of beer (or two), and since the professors went down there for dinner from time to time, we always risked getting caught. I fessed up to Marty that we would drink before class, and he found it very funny. It probably explained a lot to him!

I went back and talked to the kids for almost an hour and a half, and I told them my story of finding a job, what I went through, and what I do now. It was fun, and I think they got something out of it. It was really great seeing my old friends that are graduating this year. I got lots of hugs! I really miss seeing them everyday. We went through a lot together.

Monday

I took Jim to work Monday morning. I got to drive Jim’s car, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, I got to drive fast. I have to be really careful about speeding in Oregon. They are pretty sneaky. Yeah, keeping us safe and whatever! When I got back to the house I vacuumed, scrubbed the baseboards and scrubbed the walls. It was starting to look really spiffy. We were supposed to meet with the realtor and list the house Monday night, but he cancelled. Jim will do it with him next week.

Monday night we went down to Bloomington and had a nice dinner with my thesis advisor Eli and his girlfriend. We had a good time chatting and laughing. It was great catching up with them. His girlfriend is Chinese and she made some awesome authentic Chinese food. Yum!

Eli and I had written an article together back in the summer that got published, and we had talked about writing a book on design theory together. It all sort of happened as things got hectic in Tennessee and I got the job in New York. It sort of fell through the cracks. So we discussed the book again Monday night, and we are going to do it. I am really excited about it!

Sunday

Jim and I went over and snuck into mom and dad’s hotel for breakfast Sunday morning. We had a nice continental breakfast and bid farewell to mom and dad. Jim and I spent the rest of the day doing our usual Sunday activities. We hit our favorite antique stores, had coffee and chatted, and then we headed downtown for sushi and martinis. I got to talk to my friend Jill for awhile, which was wonderful! I miss you Jill! I also got to talk with Heather for awhile. She was busy packing for her trip to Japan on Tuesday… how fun! She is such an adventurer. She is going by herself to conquer Japan and see all the cool sites. I hope she has a safe and good time.

Well I was so exhausted Sunday night that I forgot I was on pacific time. I easily fell into Jim’s schedule, and happily went to be early.

Saturday

Mom and I left Portland early Saturday morning. We both had trouble sleeping the night before, so we were all bleary eyed driving to the airport. We flew into Denver and then on into Indianapolis. It was thankfully an uneventful flight. We had a good time and found all of our stops just fine. Jim met us at the airport. Dad had already gotten into town, so we all met up for an early dinner/late lunch. It was good to see Dad. Mom was relieved to be closer to home, and she sure was looking forward to seeing her kitty and her own bed. All in all we had a great time. I think we did fabulous for living on top of each other, sick and all, for 5 weeks. I think it was a good test of our relationship. I know we got tired of each other from time to time, but we did good. Mom was so great helping out with the house and stuff. Things are MUCH further along thanks to her.

Things looked different in Indy after being in Portland for awhile. It shocked me again how flat it was, and this time it shocked me at how far apart everything was. I guess I have really become acclimated to houses shoved in on top of each other. The people look really different too.

The dogs were happy to see me and we did much rolling around on the living room floor. That night we all had a big slumber party with both airbeds blown up side by side and dogs sprawled out everywhere. It was just a mass of legs, tails, and wet noses – Jim and mine included!

Friday

The furniture finally came Friday. I left work a little early to come home and help mom supervise. It was amazing just how little there was. We had shared a truck with someone else, and we were the last load off. Because the house is on a flag lot and our driveway is long, it was too narrow for an 18 wheeler to make it. So they unloaded our stuff onto a uhaul truck and brought it over. They were unloading jim’s headboard and one of the guys stepped off of the ramp and fell. He was bruised up and had a good sized knot on his leg. Luckily the bed was unharmed - It had landed on his leg. Poor guy! They did a good job of placing stuff in the rooms we wanted them in. They finished about 4:30 or so, and then the guys came by to install the washer and dryer for us… how nice! Just after the movers left they called me from uhaul. They were pulling the packing blankets out of the uhaul truck and they found my bike frame. I went over and met them to pick it up. I am so glad they found it. Everything had been tagged and numbered, but I guess I counted Jim’s bike twice and I saw the wheels to my bike so I thought it was there. We went to dinner and then headed home to do some MUCH needed laundry. We had gotten to the end of our clean undies, and the situation was about to get critical. I have never been so happy to hear that dryer going.

To catch you guys up!

After I got home from work Thursday, mom and I went out to dinner and ran around a bit. We finally stopped by the asian supermarket to poke around. I LOVED IT! It was HUGE. It was like the size of a Kroger, and it had house wares, food, and stuff. We went down every aisle and looked at all the neat things we had never seen before, cool packaging and all. They had a great produce department. They had an awesome fish department, and they actually had tanks of live fish, lobsters and crabs. One wall was a huge tank of really big fish. A lady had parked her cart in front of it, and her two little boys sat in the cart mesmerized by the fish. It was so cute! There were all sorts of people shopping there, and it was really crowded. I will definitely have to start cooking asian food! It is such a great resource.

Now I have to go check out the dutch market and the Scandinavian market. They are no where as big as the asian market. I think I’ll skip the Korean market. Our neighborhood has so many cool things!

I’ll try to make a little map for you guys. Jim makes fun of me now because I tell him of something cool I have found and he says, “Let me guess… is it 2 miles from our house?” and I of course have to say Yes.

Kenny Rogers made it look so easy...

Mom, Jim, and I had a good weekend. We made Jim do some of the things around the house that needed to be done by a tall guy. Jim was able to investigate the house, and more or less give his seal of approval. We also got in some good hang out time and got to run around town a bit.

Jim’s visit was over way too soon, but my consolation is that I get to go to Indiana Saturday. I can’t wait to see the dogs! And the empty house! Funny, the furniture is slated to turn up Friday before I leave (hopefully), and the next day I am going to the empty house in Indiana. Hopefully I won’t be making any more trips there. I want Jim to get here quick, and I want things to get back to as normal as we get!

Mom and I continued working on the house after Jim left Sunday. Mom got a lot of painting done, and I continued working on the floors and making the house reek of bleach. The kitchen tile is not sealed, and I know the dogs will be really hard on it. It will be easier to keep clean if the grout is sealed. I constantly have to remind myself that we are only renting this house. It is hard to get out of the mindset of doing all the things that I would do if it were mine.

Sunday morning mom and I went in search of a new casino I had heard about (we gotta get them in while she is here – I sure won’t let myself go alone!). We went up to Vancouver WA and messed around for awhile. We really liked it there. It was so pretty. I think Mom and Dad should look at getting a house up there. It took a lot of trekking around to find the casino, but when we did it sure was a hoot. A scary look into yuckiness hoot. Think outlet mall – but substitute mini casinos for stores. It was SAD, no pathetic. There were sad worn looking people hunched over poker tables in small smoky crowded rooms. It just felt wrong, like a sad look at society's wrongness. We poked our heads in, went to the bathroom (we had traveled a long way) and left. That night mom and I went back down to the one we had gone to last weekend. It did not feel so desperate and sad. Something about that place made it all still seem fun and entertaining. Sure, some of those people were there because of unhealthy tendencies, but many were laughing and having a good time – like mom and I. Well, mom did not do so good this time, but I walked out of there with $100 more than I went in with.

Tonight I will do some more cleaning, and do some roller action on the walls. There are two bedrooms that have a dark red wall or two – crazy renters – that have to go. I will just feel better when the whole place is painted, it is a little worse for wear.

Friday, Friday, Friday

Jim made it in just fine last night. I met him downtown for dinner. Mom stayed home to recuperate. I think she was glad to have an evening in. Jim and I went to a nice little sushi place in town, and then we walked over to Papa Haydn’s for desert. Afterwards we went to coffee. Poor Jim was exhausted, but he was a trooper and ran around with me. When we got back to the house I gave him a tour of his new home. He seemed to be agreeable. He too liked the yard.

Jim took me to work this morning so he could have the car. He and mom went to breakfast together, and now they are running around, going to target, and stuff. I am jealous. The day here at work is just dragging on and on. I keep looking at the clock.

Jim is on his way!

Jim will be landing in Portland in a little under an hour! I am so excited he will be here for the next few days. He needs a rest from Indiana life and work, and I am happy to provide it! I just wished he could have dressed sherman in little overalls and bought a ticket for him too! I miss that little booger so much. I walked around the house last night, imagining the babies' reactions to the house.... what they would smell, what they would taste, how they would frolic in the yard.

Bloom Killer

By the time I left for work there was 3 inches on the ground. Apparently the amount varied widely across town. One guy here had a 2 hour trip into work. People really do freak out here.

The tree outside of the kitchen window was blooming with beautiful pink flowers, and this morning they were cut down in their prime.

I just hope the roses weren't hurt!

Am I in New York?

Mom and I woke up a little after midnight to a bright room. It was snowing pretty heavily. The flakes were HUGE - silver dollar sized! It was so weird to see.

We are in!

Mom and I checked out of the hotel this morning, so we are officially in the house. We have 2 air beds, an arsenal of cleaning supplies, and now hi speed internet. We are set!

We had to give up the posh hotel life. The staff said their goodbyes and said they would miss us. The desk clerk asked me to stop in and say hello sometime. Yes... we were there 21 days. But the housekeepers were probably happy to see us go. We let them come in 2 times during our stay. Hey... we had all but moved in. Unfortunately we are not rockstars, and we did not trash the room.... well except all the feathers from my down comforters.

Mom and I pretty well have our sea legs in the neighborhood. So within 2 miles of the house there is: a Target, Home Depot, TJMaxx, Marshalls (which is NEXT door to the TJMaxx - is that legal?), TWO Starbux, a Coffee People, McCormick's (the best local seafood in town), a brewery, a natural grocery store, a regular grocery store, the best bakery in town (according to the guys at work), the police department, the vet my landlord recommended, the infiniti dealership, the subaru dealership, a golf course, the community pool, and last but not least... the Dolphin II Gentlemen's Club. It makes me wonder where the Dolphin I is located.

I am starting to feel pretty comfortable in the house already. Tonight will be the test. I don't think I will be able to get to the bathroom in the dark yet. Mom and I are sleeping in the living room, and there are four nearly floor to ceiling windows at one end that look out onto the backyard and they have no curtains.

Tomorrow I'll let you know how it goes!

Funky Llama

This is for the funky llama in my life! You rock Vickster!

Cheers!

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