My friend said you shred the cello, and I'm jello baby!

I was listen to my Ipod .01 (whatever brand it is with its tiny flash drive) and I heard my favorite Weezer song, El Scorcho, for the first time in about a year. I was just thinking about how nice it is to hear a random long neglected song, like finding a $5 in a jacket pocket. Then, in a roudabout way, it made me think about my poor neglected blog........overgrown with weeds and assorted verbal shrubbery at this point. But I am back, and will hopefully prove a more dedicated blogger again.

Waht has the new year brought thus far..........well, lots of work.......and running........and sleep. Somewhat all tangentally related. Work has been steady busy this new year and, with one co-worker with small children, one out on maternity, and one having her share of familial tragedies, I have been uncommonly harried. All to the good though because the days pass that much quicker. Plus, in the midst of all this work, I have managed to begin my allergy shots.

I have given, at this point, roughly a thousand injections by my estimation between shot clinic and working with Dr. Price, but have until recently not fully understood what it is like to go through the process myself. Let me say emphatically, it is NOT FUN! It isn't terrible by any stretch, but I am thoroughly exhausted on days that I get my RUSH therapy. One evening, I was fast asleep before 8pm. Most evenings, I kind of wish that were the case. Evidently this will pass in time. Otherwise I have no idea how anyone could tolerate it. Additionally my right tricep has been red and itchy for the past 4 days. On the upside, the swelling makes me look totally buff!

Ah yes, the running. First, I should say that I am not one to make resolutions. On the rare occassions I have made them, I have either aimed too high or had to vague a goal in mind and, subsequently, failed miserably (if I remembered making the resolution in the first place that is). This year, I am trying to actually stick with one. I am going to try to accumulate 400 miles of cardio work this year. I expect to, hopefully, surpass that number....but it is my goal. I am only counting actual cardio work, not my walks to and from my car or the wandering I do on the job. It is a modest goal yes, but considering my limited lung capacity, I am sure it will not be as easily achievable as it seems at the moment. That said, I am off to a good start. Updates periodically.

In other news, I have seen another batch of ho-hum movies, none of which are particularly memorable in a good or bad way. I also re-watched the latest Batman movie, and sadly it didn't hold up as well as I had hoped. All I could see the second time around were the gaping plot holes.........though the acting and action sequences were still top notch. I am already pre-geeking out for Coraline and the Watchmen.

I read a really interesting book........perhaps it was Crichton's last: State of Fear. I am not saying it was a great book, but it brought up some interesting counter-points to the global warming theory. I don't know if i agree with all those counter points either, but it was rather intriguing and it did make me think about the things that we take for fact that often don't have a lot of supporting evidence or, at the very least, have no conclusive evidence.

Some possibly interesting news on the job front. Tune in next time with your Ovaltine decoder rings!

Rachel getting my $8........and married

Tia and I like different kinds of movies. On occasion we reach an accord, but just as often we do not. I cannot justifiably say that I have better taste than she, just different. I like movies that require me to suspend disbelief and often are in no way based in reality (or only tangentially so). With comedy as well as action, I tend towards that direction. Tia tends to like more 'real' films, though she, like I, generally stipulates that something must happen to make the movie worth seeing (not just a slice of daily life). What we tend to agree upon with near unanimity however, is that most oscar nominated films (or films that at least create a 'buzz' akin to that for fine acting performances and the like) are dead boring. Such is the case with Rachel getting married.

Yes, something did happen at this film, the titular character did indeed get married, but other than that it was like watching a home movie of someone else's wedding........someone that you know nothing about. Unless you have wedding fever, it is as dull as it sounds. Its a bummer because Tia really wanted to see it, and was equally disappointed. Just makes me thankful that we only paid $8 instead of $18 to see it. Then i might have had to demand my money back.

On a scale of 1-5, this film fell soundly in the 1 column.
1 = Bah! (wish I had those hours of my life back)
2 = Meh! (It was a diversion, but nothing I would care to see again)
3 = So-so (if it were on TV in the future, I might sit for it again)
4 = Yah! (would watch again)
5 = Yippee! (one of those films that you could watch over and over and never really tire of)

Other films we have seen recently:

Happy Endings - Some sort of interesting storylines that, too neatly and unrealistically, tie together at the end. = 2.5

21 = very glitzy and decently paced with a nice twist at the end. Nothing spectacular, but good fun. = 3

Step Brothers = Will Ferrell usually brings the funny.........not this time. With the exception of the music video, an almost complete loss. = 2

Burn after reading = for me, Coen brothers movies are either home runs (Fargo, O Brother Where art thou, The Big Lebowski) or complete an utter misses (No Country, Intolerable Cruelty) and this definitely falls in the latter category. Disapointing. = 1.5

Zach and Miri make a porno = in Kevin Smith's usual way, the dialogue is quick and profanity laden. The film is uneven, but overall solid and there are some big laughs along the way. It isn't great, but it definitely falls into my solid 3 category.

Crazy Love = An slow paced, but interesting doc about a couple that met, and subsequently broke up, in the 1950s. oh, and the gentlemen in the film paid some hoodlums to throw lye in the woman's eyes blinding her and going to prison for 15 years for it.........and yet they end up together. = 3

Off to watch another movie. Hopefully something at least happens in it.

Pudding on the rice

I love food, but I am not a foodie. I don't harbor the desire nor do i have the inclination to wax poetic about each french fry that passes my lips..........but every once in awhile a place catches my attention and i feel compelled to say something about it. Frequently, it is a particular menu item like bulgogi, the tomato soup at Elephants, or my most recent palate delight of chocolate braised rabbit. But, Tia and I were in Bridgeport Village returning clothing (and doing so unsuccessfully, exchanging the one item for other items worth more), and we happened up a place called Pudding on the Rice. They serve only a few things and I cannot speak to most of them, but the rice pudding is sublime and comes in enough flavors to make Baskin Robbins jealous. I urge anyone who reads this with a remote predilection for the desert to seek this place out and try it. Let me know if you try their tart yogurt or crepes as well. I certainly hope to.

http://www.puddingontherice.com/

A look back

Since newspapers, magazines, and umpteen shows are all making their end of the year lists, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on all the things that happened in this incredibly eventful year, a year in which Tia and I moved three times and called four different addresses our own.

The year began in Rochester, NY amid a background of cold and snow. I spent the first month plus wandering around the maternity ward of the hospital and saw my first birth, changed my first diaper (on a child anyway), and watched enough circumcisions to qualify myself as an expert. I followed that up with 5 weeks with children/adolescents which was both rewarding and somewhat sad. By April, clinical time was done and I was 90% to graduation. Of course, then I had to pass an exit exam, finish up group projects, and then begin to study for the most difficult test I have ever taken, the NCLEX.

May finally arrived and with that came our wedding and honeymoon, smack between the end of classes and 'official' graduation (which I did not attend). It was a whirlwind time and one that was both an amazing life change and a welcome respite from the rigors of the program. We returned to Rochester briefly, long enough to sell off the majority of our belongings, pack, and get a trailer hitch installed on Tia's car (along with selling my own). Tia's mom flew out to help us drive across the country yet again (I have had my fill of cross country moves now). Along the way, my body started to betray me.

With much studying to do, my health continued to deteriorate as did I. Within a month, I had lost 20lbs and was not improving. Turns out it was my gall bladder (Not Colonel Mustard in the study with a wrench). Thanks to Tia's persistence and Diane's aid, medication finally patched me up enough to function and I have stayed fairly solid since (my gall bladder still holds a tenuous lease with my body).

Despite the ailments, I did manage to locate my first job, pending my passing the national boards. I ended up accepting a job in Salem............and then one nearer in Oregon City. I decided against working in Salem (long commute and nagging suspicions related to some issues Tia had with them). Took the NCLEX (passed it miraculously) and began working in Oregon City. The job fit like a square peg in a round hole. Code Browns seemed to dominate most days and I often saw far too much resemblance betwixt this job and my brief but memorable time in long term care. I was miserable and felt wholly unprepared for the realities of the weeks and months that were to lie ahead. Less than 3 weeks (and two lost lunches) later, I found myself interviewing with Dr. Price and her team. A job offer accompanied the interview and, after a brief meeting with the head of the nursing team in Oregon City, I took another leap of faith.

Thankfully, the job has worked out about as well as I could have hoped. No, it isn't perfect (the benefits are porous and there remains too much time off sans pay for my liking), but I adore my co-workers and my boss and I genuinely like the job itself 98% of the time. Plus, as a fringe benefit, I will be able to hopefully conquer my own allergy demons along the way. On the whole, I feel very fortunate.

As for Tia, her job continues to treat her well. Like me, she has a good relationship with her boss and co-workers and, also like me, there are some things she would perhaps alter could she do so, but the sum is a positive one and that is a far greater thing than most jobs can profess to offer.

Now, as the year closes, we are finally free of Wilsonville and back within the confines of the Portland we had hoped to return to. I am sure the new year will offer many challenges (as they always do), but hopefully it will also come with many rewards as well. For now, I will be pleased to have some stability and possibly find myself in the same home and same employ at this point in the coming year.

PS: thank you to both sides of my family and my wife for the wonderful Christmas gifts and memories. Both are gratefully received.

Memories courtesy of Facebook

I admit, I was a reluctant adopter of the whole social networking phenomenon. I was tardy in my adoption of Myspace (though quick to abandon it once people began pimping their 'space' out and it starting loading like dial up) and behind the times with Facebook (and admittedly only then because of the now defunct Scrabulous application). But, what I have found it to be, more than anything, is a weird meeting place for the forgetten members of our individual pasts as much as it is a way to stay connected with people in the present.

Memories are an odd thing. There are things you can't forget, and things you can only remember when prodded by a certain scent or a song and otherwise never cross your mind. My old friend Michelle, who is the impetus of this post, is like a song that defined a particular place and time in my life. In this case, freshman year of college.

Michelle was an acquantance in high school and little more. One of those people you could pick out of a lineup, but remain otherwise indistinct in our lives. As is the case with most people who leave for college and are away from home for the first time, the graduates of our high school that attended UF (perhaps a baker's dozen) found one another and clung together until we felt secure enough to venture out on our own. It is in this way that Michelle and I became close friends, skipping classes together and hanging out in my dorm room for the usual weekend drinking binges that occurred on my lightly patrolled dorm floor. Nothing ever happened between us, she was like a sister, but I have so many memories of us shuffling through used CDs at one or another of the many music stores near campus, attending numerous free concerts put on by the school, and late night cram study sessions. She is an indelible, and until recently, forgotten part of my college experience. She stands out all the more because, after freshman year, we drifted apart rather quickly. I began a serious relationship and closed my social circle and she joined a sorority that I, at the time, thought was quite ridiculous. So, just like that, the door opened and then abruptly closed A friendship with a distinct beginning and ending is a rare thing and leaves an indelible print the way romantic relationships often do.

On an utter and complete sidebar, thinking of her, I can't help but recall how insanely self-righteous I was at that time and place in my life.......and utterly hypocritical. I was militantly anti-smoking, but had a far more liberal policy about underage drinking (no stance whatsoever really). I thought religion was just a crutch for the weak minded and was willing to argue the point ad naseum (I still don't find any personal value in it, but understand that some people find it imensely important and I decline to concern myself with it as long as it does not infringe on my rights). I had never met an open homosexual and had a poor understanding that they were not some strange societal niche group, but rather part of every niche group and none at all. In other words, exactly like everyone in the greater majority save sexual preference. In short, I never was more certain (and likely egregiously wrongheaded) about the black and white nature of all things than I was in my late teens. I can't help but want to look back and laugh, though I know that much like the awkward physical growth spurts that define the earlier teen years, mental and emotional growth spurts are just part of life (only far more awkward in retrospect).

So, I am grateful to Facebook for this surprise trip down memory lane. I wonder who else will find me in the future and spark a similar journey. All i know is that I will look forward to it when it happens.

Happy Holidays to everyone.......remembered and (temporarily) forgotten.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it...............ok stop already!

It is kind of hard to blog when the sum our your experiences are encompassed within the walls of a 900 square foot condo over the past few days. Forays the week prior were dominated exclusively by trips to and from work (gripping the wheel with white-knuckled ferocity). Mostly I have spent countless hours perusing websites far and wide, reading novels until my eyes blur, and watching television indiscriminately (with the only qualifying factor being that they are not The View and don't revolve around couples with an inordinate amount of children........I'm looking at you Jon and Kate and your like-minded television brethren). Ah, snow in Portland. Pretty on day 1, but by day #5, you are beginning to view cabin fever as a physical malady.

Here is hoping that everyone out there is keeping themselves sane cloistered as we all must be in our respective homes. Happy Holidays!

Dexter

Well, we finally did it. We moved into our new place and what a clusterf*#k it has been! First, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly (and privately) denounce BB Management as possibly the worst property management company to ever operate such a business. If not the worst, certainly the worst I have had the displeasure of dealing with. We are learning how to be the squeakiest wheel possible thanks to them.

It all began on the first when we attempted to move some of our belongings in. Tia and Diane packed up their respective cars and we headed over only to find that, despite the condo being 'ours' as of that morning, there was much left to be desired. The switch plate covers were half missing, the linen closet had no shelves in it (later to be deemed cosmetic.........as in, an 'us' problem, not a 'them' problem and we have thus had to procure our own shelves), the A/C unit was missing (which resulted in a vented hole in the wall going to the outside), and the place clearly had not been cleaned. Additionally, the backsplashes in the kitchen were (and remain) just leaning up against the wall, the sink in the kitchen had, at best, the kind of weak stream that would require medication in people, and the drains throughout were sluggish. And, our key did not work and the mailbox key was MIA as was the garage door opener. After much back and forth, a threats of litigiousness, most of our problems were resolved, though it was made painfully evident that they were doing it 'out of the goodness in their hearts' not out of necessity on their part (which is horseshit of the highest order). They have been prompt thus far in repairing most of our other claims, though I have a feeling we will never have properly secured backsplashes or a vent cover in our bathroom. And to think, you could purchase this place for your own for the princely sum of $185K (or about 30-50% above its actual value in my estimation). Start saving your pennies for when our lease expires! :)

In other rather rotten news, my work benefits are being cropped back in the new year.......a real shame since I just got them a week ago. Evidently due to budgetary constraints, the basic package will no longer be gratis. Additionally, not only will we be paying some out of pocket for it, but the benefits will be degraded, with higher deductables and a lower percentage of services covered. All in all, not good. Plus, dental coverages will now have an out of pocket expense as well. Oh yeah, as the final kick to the nether regions, they are also dropping long-term disability and death and dismemberment. Go USA and our altogether ridiuculous health care system! Pleae help us Obama!

Like the local news, I try to end 30 minutes of bleakness with some whimsical positivity that makes the preceding stories of murder, drugs, and other crime a little more digestable. Unlike the local news, I do not have access to a video of a squirrel waterskiing (okay I do....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXcaFC1vF0Q). Anyway, the positive news is that we finally have a pet to call our own. An all white (read: no more black clothing and lots of money invested into lint rollers) adult from the CAT shelter named Dexter (the titular character in our current favorite show). Unlike his namesake, Dexter the cat is neither sociopath nor particularly motivated in any way. He is the lazy lapcat I always wanted (though he drools enough that you would think him canine or at least be concerned about dehydration).

A last bit of interesting news, I made an appointment for a dentist today, which wouldnt be noteworthy except that said dentist is evidently part of some new, and hopefully enjoyable, business venture. It is part dentist, part spa. With each cleaning, you get a foot or hand massage and they have a full service spa as well. Makes going to the dentist something to savor instead of dread. A review to follow after my service on the 17th ( http://www.dentspa.net/). Interesting to say the least.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Each time I wait to post, I think about (and then promptly forget) so many things that I wish to say. Here goes nothing:

Work is mercifully not a concern this week. It has been incredibly busy, especially with Dr. Price closing up shop this week. Everyone was clamoring to get in like there was an exclusive dance party going on. Next week looks much the same. Gulp and yikes. In the meantime however.....

There is packing to do. Lots and lots of packing. Miserable task that it is. I don't know what I find more unpleasant about it, the packing for the move, the unpacking on the other side, or living with most everything packed in between. Hopefully using professional movers will make this easier (though painfully more expensive). We are looking forward to the new place.......er, for the most part anyway. The place is run by an organization that has been, well, not entirely forthcoming, either through accidental oversight or just lack of knowledge. Despite the one month's rent we have given for a deposit, they now want a non-refundable cleaning fee of $250 (since reduced to at least $150 because we bitched enough about it). Tia was not told about this until she picked up the lease, though they contend otherwise. The thing is, they are saying that, if we don't pay it, we will forfeit our deposit. Though we would willingly tell them to stick the condo somewhere unpleasant because of the cleaning fee, we are ina very difficult position. Legally, I dont think that they can keep it because they did not disclose certain fees.......but it is hard to know. Plus, quite frankly, they have the advantageous since they have the money already. I HATE paying pointless fees........be they a few hundred or just a few dollars.

We had a chance to get away for a few days to Bend. Since there wasn't any snow and it is too cold to go rafting, there isn't a whole lot going on in Bend that isn't going on in Portland honestly......but it was a spectacular getaway just the same, solely because of where we stayed. We spent two night at the Cricketwood Country Bed & Breakfast (http://www.cricketwood.com/). To say that I am now spoiled for all other hotels/b&b's is an understatement. The room was appointed with an overlarge satellite TV, a king sized bed, a jetted bathtub, a massage table and DVD, a DVD player (and at least 100 DVDs to choose from downstairs) and his and hers robes and slippers. The main part of the house had, gratis with your stay, a beverage refridgerator with 3 kinds of Deschutes bottled beer, 6 types of wines, and a variety of canned soda and bottled waters. There was also a tea garden with, at minimum, 40 types of tea and free popcorn and assorted snacks. The downstairs also includes a gas fireplace and fountain. Outside there is a disc golf course and a hottub that can be used 24 hours a day. But, none of that was the best part of the stay. The thing that really pushed this place over the top was the food.

Every day you start with a beverage service including most anything you could possibly want delivered to your door at a time you designate. Following that, also at a time you designate, was breakfast. You make your selections the day prior so that it will be ready for you when you come down. Homemade sweet rolls, fresh baked bread pudding with rum sauce, omeletes made to order, juice, coffee, etc. You can select as much or as little as you want. Additionally, every evening at 7, there is a cookie and beverage service........and you select how many and what type of cookies! I wish I could adequately describe how good the food was, but words honestly fail me. Go there if you need a getaway........completely and totally worth it.

In addition to the B&B we hit up a spa with some wedding gift cards and had the kind of deep tissue massage that is painful and pleasant at the same time and then relaxed with wine and a light salad and cheese plate. All in all, a much needed escape.

Good luck to those shoppers amongst my readers. Tomorrow will be a test of your fortitude.

On how I became a pill head

Those of you that know me, know that I am a fairly staunch advocate for Western Medicine. It stems from the great benefit I have received from it. In the right combination, under the right care, miraculous effects can be achieved. I was never able to do nearly the cardio I can do now......and I owe it all to medications that have, in essence, freed me to do things that someone without my impaired lung function would take for granted. But, despite my seeming dependence, I have never thought of myself as someone who NEEDED medications long term. I guess I always beleived that they were just a temporary fix.........a crutch until I learned some way to walk on my own.

Now, there is this whole cholesterol mess. No paragon of gustational virtue am I, but I am not emulating Morgan Spurlock's quest to live on fast food either. With Tia, in large part, controlling our diets, I eat a lot more fresh fruits and veggies than I have before, I eat less red meat, and I consume better fats. I also have lost weight and do cardio excercise fairly regularly. Yet, this has had only a marginal impact on my cholesterol. Like trying to empty a bathtub with a thimble. Suddenly I am faced with the decision to really commit to a lifetime of pills.....or face whatever repercussions elevated lipid levels yield (heart attack being the most severe). It makes me feel old in a way that I never truly did before.

Think I will head out for some fast food or a big can of lard...........a last meal of sorts. Bah!

Bacon chocolate

I spent the past few weeks predominantly bottled up inside of 'the clinic' and/or commuting too and from. I don't say that negatively since the hours are needed, but rather to explain my lack of blogging of late. It is hard to write when all you want to do is sleep. I have probably given better than 100 injections over the two days at the shot clinic though, so if I havent achieved proficiency at this point, it isn't going to happen.

In the past few weeks, noteworthy events were not entirely absent, though they were not abundant either. It looks like we will be moving again. This time to a place nearer to our respective jobs and far north of Wilsonville. We will be losing a little bit of space, but gaining a lot less time (and money) spent commuting. Plus, while we both like the layout of our apartment, it isn't exactly the most phenomenol place we have ever seen. Like most apartments, it has its plusses and minuses. Will miss the community gym though. Laziness is harder to achieve when you have a gym literally yards away from your residence (though still entirely possible).

New place is interesting in that they are converted apartments that they tried, unsuccessfully, to sell and then opted to rent out 50% of them. They seem to have haphazardly spent money upgrading them however. New carpet in the bedroom and hardwood and/or pergo in the remainder of the home. New granite countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. New stainless steel appliances. Conversely, you have older refaced cabinets, poor craftsmanship on the tile work (not square or grouted properly) and they left the old bathtub (complete with chip and bad caulkwork) and the old bi-fold closet doors on all closets. Plus, no disposal. Odd oversights when you are trying to sell less than 1000 square feet for nearly $190K I think. But, as a rental, nothing to really complain about too vociferously.

I got to try something that I have long wanted to: chocolate bacon. It was a candybar from Vosges that my boss brought in for us to try (http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/bacon_exotic_candy_bar/exotic_candy_bars). Hard to describe really. Not unappealing, but at the same time, quite a disorientating taste combination. It tastes exactly like it sounds......chocolate and smoked bacon. bizarre.

Tia and I also got another kitten to befriend our current little one who is working hard at overcoming her fear of, well, just about everything except for paperballs which she attacks with vehemenance. The new little guy is an orange tabby that is just about the firendliest kitten we have yet had. Will be a shame that we wont be able to foster at the new place. I really like having pets (especially kittens which are almost always upbeat).

One more week until vacation. So looking forward to it!

Weekend

I forget sometimes how much fun weekends can be. Most are fairly unremarkable and pass rapidly (in approximately the same amount of time as my morning commute on Monday by my rough accounting). Since I have been working a lot of Saturdays lately, I haven't really had a weekend in the traditional sense for what seems like forever (but has really only been a few weeks now). The Saturday working schedule makes the weekends seem infinitely shorter even though it is only a half day, by in large because the work day starts in the early afternoon and ends at the cusp of the evening. Oftentimes I find it hard to motivate myself to accomplish much other than feeding myself and, if I have the gumption, exercising, before dragging myself downtown.

Additionally, my Friday evenings tend to be less than robust affairs. I am usually a complete and utter wreck on Friday nights because we start early on Friday.......6:45am. Those of you that know me well, know that I am scarcely a sentient being at that hour and, at the very least, should not be entrusted with sharp needles and assorted serums. It is a combination that I am fairly certain will lead to legal action at some point in the future. So, suffice to say, without a languid nap and then some liquid amphetamines ala Starbucks, I can reliably be found in or near the bed doing my best impression of a beached sea mammal around the time the evening news is wrapping up.

This weekend started off no different than any other. I got home, passed out on the couch petting our foster Wynn, and woke up groggy but rested some 60 minutes or so later. It was one of those delightful instances where instead of planning to curl up and slumber, sleep just overtakes you and you wake up disoriented and not at all cognizant of the passing of time. Somewhat refreshed, i determined to prod my endorphins into action by exercising which, in turn, woke me up. Then Tia decided that we should do all of our weekend cleaning that night (my life is a riotous party and this proves it! :), which at least did get it off the slate for the remainder of the weekend.

I began Saturday by revisiting with some old friends at the Pho restaurant that I ate at the week prior. This time I steered away from innards, but can't say I unequivacably succeeded in that regard (I will save the description for those weak of stomach, but suffice to say it wasn't run of the mill Americana though it was delicious!) It was so nice to see Josh and Jen and catch up, though we were cut a bit short because of the aforementioned work thing. Still, it was great to finally see them after my gall bladder, work, and life have prevented it from happening since my return. Plus, sometimes I think living in Wilsonville is almost as remote as living back in Rochester, as far away as we often seem to be from everyone and everything in the city proper. 20 miles seems almost like 200 when you are trying to plan something.......especially since having people come to Wilsonville does not allow for nearly as many activities, restaurants, etc as heading into Portland. It is like going to a friends house to play Nintendo vs going to an arcade. But, I digress.

After a pleasant lunch, I was off to work which was intensely hectic. Luckily Kelly and I remained sane during our first day sans Erica (I was on the brink at times I admit) and managed to plow through it. Afterwards I convinced her to join Tia, myself, Tia's parents and their neighbors at Hubers for happy hour. I am not a huge drinker, but I am not opposed to it in the slightest if given even the least provocation. And, I am helpless to resist when anyone deigns to offer up cheeseburgers, shrimp cocktails, and various other culinary delights for less than $2 to accompany said intoxicants. Add that to good company and you have a pretty good evening by all accounts.

After filling up on cheap food and expensive liquor, we headed up to Cacao (http://www.cacaodrinkchocolate.com/) which "celebrates chocolate in all its forms" according to its website. How can you argue against that? It was spectacular and crazily indulgant for just a few dollars. Its one of the reason why I love Portland......so many niche eatieries, and all of them so intriguing.

Tia and I finished out the weekend by heading out to Sushiland for some conveyor built raw eatables. I know they don't offer the highest quality, but the value and their delcious spicy but not too spicy orange hot sauce that tops their tempura asparagus and spicy tuna rolls is crazily addictive. And, for less than one Andrew Jackson, two can eat to their hearts content (proved you don't have a hankering for the $5 special plates that is). All in all, I am sure I put away some 10,000 calories, but I did so happily in highly enjoyable company. I am, of course as always, chagrined to see the fun end and the work week begin again..........but at least I know that another weekend is just around the bend.

Bizarre

I have to admit, much to my wife's chagrin, that I have been idolizing Andrew Zimmerman the host of Bizarre Foods(for a smattering of what he has eaten, check out the episode lists on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarre_Foods_with_Andrew_Zimmern). It isn't him per se, but his cavalier attitude towards the most seemingly repulsive foods that I find so captivating. How can he eat, with such equanimity, the things that repulsed so many people on shows like Fear Factor? I have watched him rave about the flavors and textures of animal parts that we would be reluctant to put into pet food. And yet, I find it all weirdly inspiring.

I have eaten my fair share of the less common culinary delicacies. I enjoy buffalo. I adore escargot. I like the taste of rabbit, though not the tiny bones. I am ambivalent about frog legs. I have eaten fried salted ants and chocolate ensconced grasshopper. I have consumed copious amounts of jellyfish. I have even eaten Spam. I have, however, barely grazed the surface. So, in an effort to broaden my horizons, we headed out to Vietnamese food the other evening.

I have eaten Vietnamese food on a number of occassions, but have largely shied away from the few less commonly eatn fare. This time I dove right in and ordered the following: Tái, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách -Eye of round steak, well-done flank, fat brisket, soft tendon and honeycomb tripe with meatballs. I have to say that I have not had tendon or tripe before and the review is honestly mixed. While I enjoyed the tendon, it had an interesting texture that is difficult to explain and excellent flavor, the tripe (beef stomach) was less satisfactory. It had nothing to do with the flavor or the appearance (though is looks nothing like anything you would find in an American eatery), the texture was just too tough and chewy for my liking. Not sure if it was not cooked properly or if that is just how it is supposed to be. Either way, another check mark next to a few new foods. I am very interested to try even more. Now, if I can just get my wife to come along with.

Winter doldrums in the fall?

When is it acceptable to start feeling officially bummed out about the overall lack of sun? Is it too early to do so now?

I am already feeling the beginnings of the winter doldrums. It manifests with such rapidity and in such a manner as to be physically affecting as a flu. I dont know when (if) I will ever acclimate to the lack of sunshine. Even a few days without it seems to drive my energy and spirits down.

My job continues to go fairly well. Of course, nothing is perfect and you take the good parts with the bad ones. If I had my druthers (and an obscene amount of money) I wouldn't work at all except for whatever pursuits availed themselves to me on my tropical island paradise. However, since that seems highly unlikely to happen, I try to deal with the realities that I actually face. On one hand, I thoroughly enjoy my workmates and my boss and, for the most part, I like the job itself. On the other hand, the benefits are mediocre (even if I pony up the dough for the premium benefits) and sometimes I get frustrated by the lack of hours and, considering that we will be closed the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas, it isn't likely the hours are going to be getting much better in the very near future either. It is a minor complaint of course......as those are times that I would prefer to have off anyway. However, I would much rather that time be paid instead of unpaid. Hopefully it levels out once the holiday season runs its course and the hours will be a bit more consistent.

Time for a drink.

Allergic to everything

Allergy testing is conducted in two parts, prick level and ID level. Prick level testing (aka scratch testing) involves plastic applicators with pointed edges that have been dipped in varying allergens. I tested positive to three things at that level: dogs, cockroaches, and dust. The second level of testing is intra-dermal (ID) and involves a small amount of each allergen that you did not test positive to injected under the surface of the skin. It feels and looks like a bug bite. I tested positive to most everything at this level, potentially even the needles themselves.

The next step is to get the serums made and start shots. Because of my testing, I would get all the allergens in my serum meaning a total of three bottles and a multitude of injections. Big fun! The good part is that it is covered while I work there. The bad part is that they take about 5 years. A long commitment. Should be an interesting ride. Might even get some epi when I anaphylax :)

Looks like the condo is a non-starter. The HOAs are ridiculously high and yet they manage to not have any money in reserve. What it means is that they raise the fees annually. Selling a place with fees over $400 monthly would severly limit our ability to turn it over in a few years. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Thankfully for us, the market continues to offer up opportunities. Something will be a good fit evenetually.

I had to write about a new show I am enamored with: Fringe. It is like a melding of the X-Files and CSI. I can totally geek out watching it. Check it out if you haven't yet. Also on Hulu (where I watch mostly).

Worth it?

Well, we are heading off to see another condo..........this one the cheapest place so far: $110K. The HOA fees are frighteningly high ($333/month), but at least they include cable, water, sewer, and garbage as well as the usual array of exterior maintenance. I am interested to see what, exactly, a house in this price range looks like though. My guess is that the pictures will not do it justice. I guess I will be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't include a hobo with a trash fire and all the copper stripped down for scrap.

I will post more after I see it. If you are interested here is the listing: http://www.johnlscott.com/propertydetail.aspx?GroupID=75182442&ListingID=32364741&Sort=0

Why cell phones are better

Sure, cell phones are kind of expensive, they force you to sign prohibitively long contracts with exorbitant cancellation fees, and the phones themselves may cause some sort of brain tumor, but all in all they are better than digital home phones by my estimation. We are now free of Verizon Fios with their god-awful service which included inconsistent internet connections, cable that seemed inclined to work inversely to our desire to watch something, and phone service akin to using a walkie-talkie in a cavern. After much fighting back and forth, buying a new phone, and doing everything short of prayer circles to make it work, we moved on to Comcast. Our service has been stellar............um, for about two weeks anyway. Now we have internet and cable, but they can't seem to get our phone to work. We were advised, again, to purchase another phone because they are certain that it is our equipment that isn't working. Of course, the phone works fine (even has 6.0 DECT technology.........which means about as much to me as the 'techroline' that comes in Shell gas). People can call us (though it is not a good connection), but we can't make outgoing calls as all of them go straight to Comcast (though never to a real person). Suffice to say, at this point a cell phone and a brain tumor seems preferrable.

Financial Advice

As a wedding gift, Tia and I have been receiving professional financial consultation. It has proven to be quite enlightening (due largely to the fact that we have proven to have less than a sophisticated knowledge of finances). Just today I learned the difference between types A, B, and C shares related to retirement accounts whereas, prior to the meeting, I didn't even realize that such a delineation existed at all. In fact, I only vaguely know what stocks are because of movies like Wall Street and high school economics projects involving fake money and stock purchases such as No Fear clothing and Harley Davidson motorcycles because that is all we were familiar with.

I also learned there are something like 15,000 funds you can choose from and they all perform differently, sometimes significantly so. On top of that, you have to decide how risk averse you are in your investments and evaluate your retirement goals in order to differentiate between conservative, moderate and high risk investing (has to do with the percentage of your money in equity vs. bonds), which only slightly reduces the number of choices. Kind of like going to the cereal aisle in the grocery store and not having a brand or even a type that you have a preference for beforehand.

It would be easier to pick out investments of course if you had, say, a lump sum of cash that you were just seeking a means of utilizing. Most of us (Tia and I included) don't have that luxury. Investment monies are monies not used for other things like paying down long term debt. In my youth (um, a few months ago before I started thinking about things like finances), I thought of finances simply: 'x' dollars come in, 'y' dollars are owed, 'z' equals the remainder of said dollars to be used or put into savings. Now I think about 'z' a lot more. How much should be allocated towards car loans vs. student loans (after all, student loan interest is deductible)? Should lump sums be paid? How much should be saved? Where should it be saved? What about retirement? Insurance? Rent vs. Buy? Roth IRA vs. 401K vs. wads of bills stuffed into couch cushions? How much cash reserve should be maintained in liquidity (3-6 months evidently)? Having someone to hold our hands through the process has been an enormous help.

What does all this mean............who knows as yet. We are finished putting our pieces in, now we await the final suggestions at our next meeting. One thing we were advised to do was refrain from purchasing a house. In order to do so safely (meaning having sufficient cash reserves in case the sky falls) and have sufficient down payment to secure a loan (a minimum of 10%, though ideally 20%) we would need to have roughly the accrued cash that Scrooge McDuck swims through at the beginning of every episode of Duck Tales. So, theoretically, if we found a $200K home, we would need a minimum of $20K plus closing costs ($5-6K) and enough to float us for 3-6 months should anything happen to one of our jobs (Lets say $15K for 6 months). Theoretically we would need a minimum of $40K and ideally $60K saved up before making a purchase. AS you might imagine, the whole rent vs. buy issue has been resolved.

In other news: We got another new kitten and our last one was just adopted. The new one is named Wynn and is a rabunctuous grey polydactyl (many toes).

Feeling sick this weekend. Both Tia and I have some sort of dry scratchy throat and I have acquired an annoying cough. I feel not great, but at the same time it seemingly refuses to take me down entirely. I would prefer to just have 24 hours of discomfort than this nagging nonsense.

My workmate Gena had her baby. Healthy and 9lbs plus. Work is going well, but it quite hectic since only Erica fully understands everything. I am less than 2 months in and Kelly is less than 3 weeks in, so there are a LOT of questions to be answered. Proves difficult on some of our busier days.

I need to grab something to eat and then lie slothfully about the house the remainder of this rainy Saturday. Hope everyone else is feeling much better than I.

rent vs. buy

Tia and I have been house hunting of late, though hunting seems to focused a word for what we are doing. House browsing perhaps? House window shopping? Maybe house wish listing is most accurate.

Deciding where and how to live is an interesting new phenomena in my life. I have pretty low standards honestly, or have until recently. Heat, roof, kitchen, and preferably quiet when it is supposed to be. Ideally situated somewhere not too far from my place of employment. On my own, I have little enough to fill most spaces, so a one bedroom domicile would have been sufficient (2 would have seemed opulent). Of course, that has changed as I have gotten older and gotten married. Part of getting married is acquiring things, something I have not heretofore been exceedingly proficient in on my own. I don't mean to shine a bad light on it, I just have never owned much more than could fit in my car.......and driving a Rabbit doesn't allow for much.

When seeking a new place to live, nothing about combining the likes and dislikes of two people with moderate means and, therefore, a moderate budget, is simple. 1-2 bedrooms becomes 3. 1 bath becomes 2. Kitchens need to be expansive enough to house gadgets used for specific purposes instead of the catch-all utilitarian pieces I am most acclimated to, room for myriad glassware designed to accomodate a diverse range of beverages must be arranged, and wire baskets of some aesthetic value need to be procured to house something called 'fresh fruit' (which is frequently displayed prominently on the counter). Closets must be capacious enough to accomodate more than my own meager accumulation of clothing (made more robust with Tia doing a majority of my shopping) as well as her own abundant (though not necessarily by the standards of her peer group) array of apparel. Plus, one room with a TV (formerly known as the living room) creates a difficult compromise during football season. Oh yeah, and finding a place that isn't either: A. a dump, B. out in BFE, or C. wildly overpriced seems about as likely as Mensa extending an invite to Jessica Simpson. On top of all of this Tia has critters that require a space that meets their specific environmental requirements while being far enough away from the living space to drown out their nocturnal play and allow me to sleep.

Suffice to say, we aren't having extensive amounts of fortune locating places that we would feel comfortable owning. So, for the time being, Wilsonville apartment dwellers we remain. With the thought of moving from one apartment to another fairly unpalatable, it remains unlikely that renting nearer to Portland seems a possibility either. Maybe next summer, once the rain dries up and the sun peaks out again, it will seem like an alternative worth pursuing. Or maybe by then the house of our dreams, and means, will finally be available.

It has been awhile

I have been having the most difficult time writing lately. Is writer's constipation coined as yet? If not I would like to do so now. I find myself often sitting down to start writing and then drift off to something else. Or, worse yet, I stare at the blank screen straining to think of anything to write and then quickly stumble off into incoherence. Its tough when life is just life, and not some interesting set of new adventures. Common travails don't often make the best blog fodder.

Speaking of life, I am maintaining my equilibrium. Work continues well, though I remain just on the cusp of the long learning curve. Every time I think I master some skill or idea, another one pops up. But, the positivity of the workplace makes it easy to digest. Plus, now my former classmate and current friend Kelly is joining me amongst the ranks of the allergy and asthma employed. It will be fun learning alongside of her.

Tia and I still hem and haw about our living situation, vacillating between remaining renters and owning our own place. Of course, it isn't that we can afford to make that big a change in our situations (and aren't willing to put ourselves in that position when the housing market is less stable than a two-legged chair), so we are talking condo/townhome not stand alone home. So, we won't necessarily escape the very things that make apartment living less than desirable necessarily such as hearing your neighbors television/footsteps/conversations. However, there is something to be said for ownership, even if it is only a tax write-off. Tough call.

The most difficult thing about deciding on a place is that we cannot afford to live in the location that we would ideally like to live. Wilsonville has been nothing if not pleasant, but it isn't exactly near to anything except Wilsonville. The idea of moving into another apartment, even though it may be approximately nearer to our respective jobs isn't appealing either. Whats the point unless we are patently unhappy and we aren't. Just kind of unsatisfied.

I am proud to annouce that I ran my first 5K today. The Race for the Cure Portland. A history of asthma has frequently made the idea of 500 yards daunting, so I was not exactly optomistic about my ability to run it. I cannot say that I was an unabashed success, but I did run the first 2 miles and then the last half or better and finished well under the time limit that I had mentally established pre-race. Now I will need to soak my legs for the next few nights and get a lung transplant, but other than that I feel great!

Have been watching the show Weeds lately.......catching up on it really. Not sure what to think of it. It has definitely changed wildly in tone through the first 2+ seasons. It is entertaining for sure........but in a scattershot sort of manner.

I should really sketch out some ideas before I start typing......I swear I had a grander vision for the post, but if I don't publish it now, god knows when I will. I hope everyone out there is well.

Alexander is gone

Tia seems perpetually involved in charitable causes ever since I have known her. By extension now, I too am involved (albeit to a lesser degree). It is really a nice feeling, and sadly one I would not get to experience without her. I don't consider myself an uncaring or unkind person, but I seemingly lack the ability to turn the concept into anything tangible because I remain largely incapable of committing myself to the obligations necessary to be a good volunteer. Hence, I do things like help with Meals on Wheels during the holidays, took part in painting the cat shelter, helped clean the children's museum, and adopted a family during last year's holidays. The warm fuzzies without the commitment.

The only commitment I have been able to muster in a charitable regard is helping Tia with foster cats/kittens. It is nice to see the animals get adopted off into, hopefully, loving families. Generally they consist of litters of kittens, but this last one was an adult foster named Alexander (though we often just called him Bubba.......no idea why, it just seemed to fit him). He is a hefty cat with diabetes who had lived at the shelter in a small cage for about a year. He doesn't much like other cats, which limited his options for play outside of the cage. He also requires a twice daily dose of insulin and is middle-aged for a cat which, for all intents and purposes, makes him nigh unadoptable. So, we took him in for the foreseeable future to save him from being in the cage (while allowing us the benefit of a pet). Today, he was adopted. It is both a happy day (the new owners seem like a wonderful couple who really want to make the situation work) and sad (he was kind of like one of the family at this point and, despite his limitations, is extremely personable and playful). We will definitely miss having him around, but hopefully another cat will come along that we can also take in. In the interim, I have to get used to being pet free for awhile. Kind of a bummer really.

I went to the volunteer appreciation event for the shelter today with Tia and I am consistently amazed by the wonderful things people have the capacity to do. The gentleman who started the shelter was there (it was his place after all) and talked a bit about starting the shelter some 10 years ago. It has evolved to a point where, not that long ago, they adopted out their 10,000th cat. Truly amazing. Some people donate hundreds of hours a year to their cause. If you are ever out here in Oregon, you should check them out: http://www.catadoptionteam.org/

Time to get my curmudgeonly self to bed. I loathe the idea of Monday morning, but am feeling good about today.