We have two searches going on right now, and the results of both are less than satisfactory.
1. Buying a house or finding a reasonable rental. Our budget appears to be just slightly too low, but its our limit, so there's little we can do about it. We had an unfortunately lengthy offering/counteroffering/rejection process with a house in foreclosure. And now we don't know when our next trip to Tulsa will be to look at more options. I'm still hopeful. I secretly (well, not so secretly) want one of those supercute 1930's houses downtown.
2. Securing employment. I have sent out close to 20 resumes and letters with little to no response. Granted, I am asking people to commit to hire me and then to wait 12 weeks until I move to Tulsa. So, I'm expecting the search to pick up as we get closer to relocating. I'm sure a better timeline will make me more appealing.
This has been kind of a downer week as we remain busy, deal with people showing up at our place to fix up the condo for the new owners, and still try to figure out all of the above. We need something to work out right so that our spirits are lifted. Either that or we'll need to take a break from being adults sometime next week.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Friday?
This precious little old woman came by the office today. She had an appointment at the salon next door, but when she knocked, no one answered. So, we let her wait with us. I got her coffee and a cookie and we chatted about teaching and about being 90. She was here for maybe 10 minutes before she mentioned that today was Friday the 7th. It took some convincing, I had to repeat myself a few times, but she now knows it's Thursday.
She said, "Well, at least it was a nice morning. I made some new friends," and went back home. I guess I'll see her tomorrow morning, too.
She said, "Well, at least it was a nice morning. I made some new friends," and went back home. I guess I'll see her tomorrow morning, too.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Buster
I was thinking about my Granpa today and thought everyone should hear about him because he was awesome.
Awesome thing Number One: His name was Buster.
Awesome thing Number Two: He was 5'3" and my grandma was 5'9" (6' with the heels she always wore).
Awesome thing Number Three: He was in a street gang in the late 1920s in Portland. Their name? The Albina Toughs (they lived on Albina Street). Their activities? Singing on street corners.
Awesome thing Number Four: He was a lifelong fisherman and had a fish rival, a huge bass in the Willamette he called "Washtub Charlie" and almost caught a few times, but never reeled all the way in. This story was written up in the Oregonian as one of Portland's old timey treasures.
When he was a baby, his mother got sick and couldn't take care of her children. They didn't think she would make it, so his older brothers were sent to a boys home and he was given to a neighbor family that didn't have any children. They agreed to take him under the condition that he never be told he wasn't their biological son. He grew up playing with his brothers, but not knowing who they were. When he was in his twenties, an elderly lady he was driving home asked him how his brothers were - and when he responded that he was an only child, she said "Oh, you never found out?" She took him to meet his mother (from whom I derive my red hair), sister, and brothers that night.
He lived for 90 years in the Portland-metro area and had tons of pictures of the city through most of the 20th century. He had stories of everything from seeing silent movies downtown to hunting in Central Oregon to being in the Coast Guard during WWII (he was too short to be let in any other branch). He was pretty much fantastic and I'm kind of sad my kids won't be able to hear the story we heard every Christmas about the big Italian family that took him in for dinner one night during the war. Their table was so long, they threw the loaf bread down it like a football instead of passing it from hand to hand apparently.
I know this was long, but I love these stories, thanks for reminiscing with me!
Awesome thing Number One: His name was Buster.
Awesome thing Number Two: He was 5'3" and my grandma was 5'9" (6' with the heels she always wore).
Awesome thing Number Three: He was in a street gang in the late 1920s in Portland. Their name? The Albina Toughs (they lived on Albina Street). Their activities? Singing on street corners.
Awesome thing Number Four: He was a lifelong fisherman and had a fish rival, a huge bass in the Willamette he called "Washtub Charlie" and almost caught a few times, but never reeled all the way in. This story was written up in the Oregonian as one of Portland's old timey treasures.
When he was a baby, his mother got sick and couldn't take care of her children. They didn't think she would make it, so his older brothers were sent to a boys home and he was given to a neighbor family that didn't have any children. They agreed to take him under the condition that he never be told he wasn't their biological son. He grew up playing with his brothers, but not knowing who they were. When he was in his twenties, an elderly lady he was driving home asked him how his brothers were - and when he responded that he was an only child, she said "Oh, you never found out?" She took him to meet his mother (from whom I derive my red hair), sister, and brothers that night.
He lived for 90 years in the Portland-metro area and had tons of pictures of the city through most of the 20th century. He had stories of everything from seeing silent movies downtown to hunting in Central Oregon to being in the Coast Guard during WWII (he was too short to be let in any other branch). He was pretty much fantastic and I'm kind of sad my kids won't be able to hear the story we heard every Christmas about the big Italian family that took him in for dinner one night during the war. Their table was so long, they threw the loaf bread down it like a football instead of passing it from hand to hand apparently.
I know this was long, but I love these stories, thanks for reminiscing with me!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Talking to Strangers
Nothing makes you miss Oregon like pulling up to a gas station on a cold, windy day knowing you have to get out of your warm car, brave the elements, and fill up your gas tank yourself. However, this experience was redeemed yesterday by a snippet of conversation with the man filling up on the other side of the pump.
I was minding my own business, watching my money be sucked away, when I hear, "You are a lot braver than I am."
Although I had been singing probably louder than is acceptable in public when there is no music playing, I wasn't sure what he was referring to. So I said, "Pardon?"
"You're wearing a dress out here. It's really cold." He informed me.
"Oh," I said. And knowing perfectly well what he meant, I countered, "Well, sir, you would have to be really brave to wear a dress, that's true."
He didn't look as amused as I was, got in his car, and drove away leaving me to resume my singing.
I was minding my own business, watching my money be sucked away, when I hear, "You are a lot braver than I am."
Although I had been singing probably louder than is acceptable in public when there is no music playing, I wasn't sure what he was referring to. So I said, "Pardon?"
"You're wearing a dress out here. It's really cold." He informed me.
"Oh," I said. And knowing perfectly well what he meant, I countered, "Well, sir, you would have to be really brave to wear a dress, that's true."
He didn't look as amused as I was, got in his car, and drove away leaving me to resume my singing.
Monday, February 4, 2008
It's Official
We got the word this morning - Josh is accepted into the Tulsa program for school! We're moving in four months! We're going to be close to Josh's family, we're going to buy a little house, we're going to get to live where there are parks and trees and well planned streets and good restaurants and less wind. It will be beautiful.
I have the tiniest of mixed feelings when it comes to work though. My job pretty much rocks the planet. I am very happy here. I have a great boss. I am not looking forward to telling him I'm leaving. I'm not looking forward to circulating another resume and going to interviews either. I know it'll be okay, it's more than worth it. I just wish it were over and everything were decided already. Maybe I'll find a sweet non-profit to work for. Tulsa is magical, I'm sure she'll have something perfect for me.
Anyway - back to the 99.5% of me that is ecstatic. I love moving! I love packing things up and reorganizing and getting rid of stuff we don't need anymore.
As excited as I am, I'm extra-happy for Josh. He loves his Tulsa. And he gets to be part of the free clinic program, which is fantastic.
I like change. It's exciting. You can make it whatever you want. And I choose awesome.
I have the tiniest of mixed feelings when it comes to work though. My job pretty much rocks the planet. I am very happy here. I have a great boss. I am not looking forward to telling him I'm leaving. I'm not looking forward to circulating another resume and going to interviews either. I know it'll be okay, it's more than worth it. I just wish it were over and everything were decided already. Maybe I'll find a sweet non-profit to work for. Tulsa is magical, I'm sure she'll have something perfect for me.
Anyway - back to the 99.5% of me that is ecstatic. I love moving! I love packing things up and reorganizing and getting rid of stuff we don't need anymore.
As excited as I am, I'm extra-happy for Josh. He loves his Tulsa. And he gets to be part of the free clinic program, which is fantastic.
I like change. It's exciting. You can make it whatever you want. And I choose awesome.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Delayed Heat Loss
A lot of people lost heat a month ago in the ice storm. Ours is a little behind - we lost heat Monday night. It's all right, though. We built a roaring fire to stay warm while we played cribbage in the living room. The oven kept the kitchen warm while I made dinner, and a lot of blankets made sleeping warm. The worst part has been getting up in the morning! Getting out of bed is usually hard enough, but when the house is freezing, it's oh so much worse.
Oh well, we're making it, and I hope to get a hold of the landlady today so we can get it fixed. It's another little adventure, I guess.
Other highlights from the week: I shredded my body weight in paper. No lies.
Oh well, we're making it, and I hope to get a hold of the landlady today so we can get it fixed. It's another little adventure, I guess.
Other highlights from the week: I shredded my body weight in paper. No lies.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Christmas Miracles Abound in Oregon
One of my favorite things about Oregon is heading into Portland and going through the tunnel on 26. Before you go in, you're surrounded by trees and it looks like you're driving through the forest. Then, when you come out of the tunnel, suddenly you can see the city - the skyline where there used to be trees. It's like Dorothy leaving black-and-white Kansas, going in her house, and coming out in colorful Oz. I love Oregon.
Here are some other highlights:
A lot of snow came down on Christmas - for the first time in Portland since 1937.
Bryce (my cousin's baby) likes me and dances when I beatbox.
Powell's downtown is always a highlight, but fitting 15 new books into a suitcase without going over the weight limit was a little challenging.
There was a night when we were walking in my neighborhood and the ground was frozen. There was enough of a frozen layer for us to slip on. But even though it was cold enough to freeze, we could walk without hats and scarves, with coats unbuttoned because there was no wind. It was still and pleasant and not too cold to be outside although it was in the 30s. Oregon is miraculous.
I always get jealous when my friends talk about seeing, eating with, and shopping with my parents. I can't wait to be in Oregon so I can do those things with my mom and dad and my good friends and not have to hear about it from a thousand miles away. That's what I liked best about being home for Christmas.
Here are some other highlights:
A lot of snow came down on Christmas - for the first time in Portland since 1937.
Bryce (my cousin's baby) likes me and dances when I beatbox.
Powell's downtown is always a highlight, but fitting 15 new books into a suitcase without going over the weight limit was a little challenging.
There was a night when we were walking in my neighborhood and the ground was frozen. There was enough of a frozen layer for us to slip on. But even though it was cold enough to freeze, we could walk without hats and scarves, with coats unbuttoned because there was no wind. It was still and pleasant and not too cold to be outside although it was in the 30s. Oregon is miraculous.
I always get jealous when my friends talk about seeing, eating with, and shopping with my parents. I can't wait to be in Oregon so I can do those things with my mom and dad and my good friends and not have to hear about it from a thousand miles away. That's what I liked best about being home for Christmas.
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