These last few months have proven that Summer is by far the greatest time of year in the Northwest. Rainy Winters and Springs sure make you appreciate the Summer and the Sun like never before. It seems that most Oregonians spend as much time outside as possible during this season. Local restaurants bring out tables onto their patios and it's not unusual to see crowded patios next to a completely empty restaurant.
This season, Nick and I have been camping six times (including a backpacking adventure). We've floated down the Mackenzie River, waded in the Willamette on several occasions, picked berries, and had numerous barbecues. We've been to 3 concerts at the Cuthbert Outdoor Amphitheater (for an interesting blend of people: Garrison Keillor, Yanni and the Shins) a minor league baseball game, a concert in the park (with VIP passes and free, unlimited beer!), a couple tailgate parties, and our first Oregon Duck's football game. We also enjoyed several visits from friends and family, hosted a few shotgun tournaments, ran a Dirty Dash race full o'mud and celebrated both our birthdays.
Separate from Nick, I went on a couple additional camping trips to National Parks (Olympic and Crater Lake) with my friend Kristen and introduced her to the art of camping. I've driven to Portland several times, usually taking advantage of the weekends where Nick has Open Houses. I also went on multiple berry-picking quests and have canned two years' worth of jam and preserves. With the kiddos that I've been watching (aka my inherited niece and nephews), I have soaked up sun at the pool and the park, taken trips to the library and watched many a baseball, football & soccer game.
Yes, Pacific Northwest Summers are grand!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
June
Well June sure got away from us... as did these last two weeks of July! We've been on the go for most of it, so that will be our excuse.
Nick has been doing a stellar job in his new career as a Real Estate Broker. The learning curve for the business is so steep, but he's definitely coming out on top--and it seems like Nick has finally found his knack. His Nick-knack, if you will. Ha!
I am still searching for work, both at the local colleges and all non-profits in town. No big bites yet, but I feel like I'm getting warmer. I have been very lucky to work for Nick's cousins part time, watching their kiddos. It has truly helped sustain me during these uncertain times!
Toby is still Toby. His favorite place is still the backyard. Nick and I were laughing today that every time we ask him if he wants to go outside, he still gets excited like it's such a new concept! At least we can say he's not taking his playground for granted.
Over the last several weeks, we have had many visitors and have done many things! I think it's safe to say that this has been the busiest we've been in the 1.5 years we've lived in Oregon. (One and a half years-- can you believe it? It feels like we just moved, and yet we also feel like we've been here forever. Guess that's the conundrum of finding your home :)
Here is a bit of what we have been up to:
We spent the night in Portland (at a posh hotel, might I add) and woke up to a good breakfast the next morning. That day we did more Portland sight-seeing, including hitting up an awesome arcade and enjoying tea at a little shop. We made a detour on our way down to Eugene so that I could show them the magnificent Multnomah Falls.
Once in Eugene, we reverted to college mode... i.e., lots of beer drinking, Ramen, hot tea and hanging out. Daniel and Nick dominated at beer pong most of the night, while I barely got a ball in a single cup. I blame it on the 9% alc. beer I was drinking!
On Saturday, we packed in a few solid hours of good old fashioned shooting. Unfortunately, Eugene showed its ugly side that day and it rained on and off throughout our "tournament." Luckily, Nick and I brought along our BEST purchase yet-- a pop-up tent canopy! We must be true Oregonians now, as not even rain can stop us from having a good time. If you must know who won the tournament, I suppose I'll share. It was me. By a hair. Nick was a close second, though!
On Sunday we had to say goodbye to Nathan, Daniel and Autumn as they started their long drive back to the Bay Area. The rest of us went on a nice bigclimb hike at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum (our venue). We rewarded ourselves afterwards with their first VooDoo donuts experience.
It was so nice to have all of our friends out to our neck of the woods. I'm glad I finally got to show them what this state is all about--and why it's worth sticking around, despite a little rain here and there ;)
A couple days after our buddies left, Nick's parents flew into town for the Fourth of July weekend. Our week was jam-packed with them as well! We spend the 4th at Auntie Linda and Uncle Mike's cabin, where they had an archery contest, horseshoes tournament and a HUGE potluck. I think there were a good 10 dogs there, too! Toby got to see his girlfriend Bessie again, which is always great for both of them. We topped off the night by getting onto our roof from the guest bedroom and watching a 360 degree display of fireworks in the sky. What a great experience that was!
The next few days included house hunting for Rod and Vikki, another shooting tournament and a couple more big family dinners. They brought along their little pup, Lucy, who Toby has now taken a liking to (lookout, Bessie!).
Now that things are settling down a bit, we find ourselves in the middle of Summer! What greater activity to do than to go berry picking, right? I went along with cousins Brandy and Katie for some blueberry and raspberry picking, where they sell "U-pick" berries by the pound. I think this is my new favorite thing about Eugene. Just look at the size of those berries in my hand! (Also, note the freshly harvested herbs from my backyard garden.)
I have been doing a lot of reading on canning and Jams, so that was my next project. The process seemed SO intimidating at first, especially because there are a good 20 steps from start to finish. Once I began my first batch though, it felt easy. Perhaps that's due to my hours of research-- and The Joy of Cooking ;)
I started out by making Raspberry Jam on Friday afternoon. A couple hours later I already wanted to do it again... so I made Blueberry Jam. We had homemade waffles with sliced bananas and blueberry jam that night. On Saturday I still hadn't had enough so I ended with a large batch of Strawberry-Balsamic Jam. I think this means that I am officially hooked on canning. And berry picking. Also, judging by the spoonfuls of Jam that Nick eats at a time, I'm pretty sure he's okay with this new hobby!
Nick has been doing a stellar job in his new career as a Real Estate Broker. The learning curve for the business is so steep, but he's definitely coming out on top--and it seems like Nick has finally found his knack. His Nick-knack, if you will. Ha!
I am still searching for work, both at the local colleges and all non-profits in town. No big bites yet, but I feel like I'm getting warmer. I have been very lucky to work for Nick's cousins part time, watching their kiddos. It has truly helped sustain me during these uncertain times!
Toby is still Toby. His favorite place is still the backyard. Nick and I were laughing today that every time we ask him if he wants to go outside, he still gets excited like it's such a new concept! At least we can say he's not taking his playground for granted.
Over the last several weeks, we have had many visitors and have done many things! I think it's safe to say that this has been the busiest we've been in the 1.5 years we've lived in Oregon. (One and a half years-- can you believe it? It feels like we just moved, and yet we also feel like we've been here forever. Guess that's the conundrum of finding your home :)
Here is a bit of what we have been up to:
In mid-June my dad and Courtney flew up for a visit. We packed the weekend with lots of good stuff, including a Garrison Keillor concert, a visit to our wedding venue, and of course VooDoo donuts. My dad surprised Nick and me with a beautiful barbecue as a gift for our engagement. We christened it with some delicious ribs and corn on the cob. We enjoyed some amazing food (and beer!) that weekend, including gourmet pizza and breadsticks (with a pitcher of Black Butte Porter alongside it), homemade Hawaiian Bread, homemade waffles, homebrewed BEER, and homemade peanut butter ice cream a la Courtney and Nick. I'm glad I was out of the kitchen when they were working on the ice cream-- I think their spoon-lickin' would have driven me crazy! The ice cream was incredible though, so they did a good job ;)
In late June, several of our college buddies came up to visit. We met up in Portland so I could give them the grand tour of the city. During the first day we grabbed lunch at the foodcarts and ate on the waterfront, took the bus & lightrail to the Japanese Gardens and Rose Garden, explored Powell's bookstore, and drank plenty of beer at a couple local breweries.
On Sunday we had to say goodbye to Nathan, Daniel and Autumn as they started their long drive back to the Bay Area. The rest of us went on a nice big
It was so nice to have all of our friends out to our neck of the woods. I'm glad I finally got to show them what this state is all about--and why it's worth sticking around, despite a little rain here and there ;)
The next few days included house hunting for Rod and Vikki, another shooting tournament and a couple more big family dinners. They brought along their little pup, Lucy, who Toby has now taken a liking to (lookout, Bessie!).
Now that things are settling down a bit, we find ourselves in the middle of Summer! What greater activity to do than to go berry picking, right? I went along with cousins Brandy and Katie for some blueberry and raspberry picking, where they sell "U-pick" berries by the pound. I think this is my new favorite thing about Eugene. Just look at the size of those berries in my hand! (Also, note the freshly harvested herbs from my backyard garden.)
I started out by making Raspberry Jam on Friday afternoon. A couple hours later I already wanted to do it again... so I made Blueberry Jam. We had homemade waffles with sliced bananas and blueberry jam that night. On Saturday I still hadn't had enough so I ended with a large batch of Strawberry-Balsamic Jam. I think this means that I am officially hooked on canning. And berry picking. Also, judging by the spoonfuls of Jam that Nick eats at a time, I'm pretty sure he's okay with this new hobby!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Unintended Sabbatical
Wow, it has been a long time since either of us have posted here! A lot has changed in the last 2.5 months, but I'd say much of it was for the better.
The seasons have changed (mostly) and brought with it many experiences and major decisions. Katie has gone from having a surplus of time to being overly busy with nanny work for our cousins, and back. I have relocated my business from O'Connell and Associates to Remax Integrity, and have managed to sell some real estate in the past several weeks, too.
With the weather turning, we've been spending a lot of time outdoors. Katie and I found a great spot east of Sweet Home, OR that's right on the river. It's very private, cheap, and no reservations are required. Best of all, it's just an hour and some change from our front door. When Todd came up for a weekend, we went back to that spot.
We also went to a hotspring along the MacKenzie river with our cousins Scottie and Brandy last weekend, and are actually going back this coming weekend for a 2-night camping trip! There's prime trout fishing right outside our campsite, and lots of beautiful trails. Can't wait to get back there--I think it's a new favorite.
Our professional lives have changed a little, too. Katie has applied to several positions with the University of Oregon and, although she hasn't been interviewed yet, I have a feeling she will soon. She has been incredibly persistent with finding out who the decision makers are, getting in front of the right people, and having her name and face become known around her prospective office. I'm proud of her. She's more than qualified and really just needs to spend a few minutes with the big cheese to win him/her over.
She has also taken the initiative to volunteer her time for an organization that speaks to her. I really admire her selflessness with becoming a volunteer at Big Brother, Big Sister, especially with not having a stable paycheck right now. I'd like to think I have it in me to do that, too, but she went beyond thinking about it to actually doing it. She's got the right attitude.
In my work, I've been trying to play matchmaker between my buyer clients and with what's available in the marketplace. I felt like I was spinning my wheels for a while, but started making some traction around the time I moved my business over to Remax. At O'Connell and Associates, I learned a great deal--Uncle Mike got me started in real estate and walked me through my first few transactions, which really made coming down to Eugene a possibility. Now that I'm at Remax, I have more access to trainings and technology, which is just what I needed after learning the basics from him. By combining this with Mike's sales training, I am well on my way to becoming an UNSTOPPABLE SELLING MACHINE!
Looking forward, our wedding planning is going steady. We've had some creative ideas, such as possibly brewing our own beer for the reception, but there are still more unknowns than knowns... One thing we do know, though, is that it'll be April 27th, 2013!
My parents sent us up an "engagement gift," which was really nice of them. It was a 46" flatscreen TV! We have been using the same 32" TV since we lived in Novato, which was a little hard to see from our couch now that we're in a rental with a larger living room. Video games are now amazing, by the way...
Hmm... what else... Well, we're both going to the gym consistently and taking much better care of ourselves (no junk food!!!). We have some visitors coming up soon (friends and family from CA), and our garden out back is doing great--we have an apple tree, a blueberry bush, squash, broccoli, kale, lavendar, rosemary, tomatoes, lettuce, chives, basil, strawberries, and more. Alright, I'm running out of things to say. I'll find some photos and post them in a day or two. :)
-Nick
The seasons have changed (mostly) and brought with it many experiences and major decisions. Katie has gone from having a surplus of time to being overly busy with nanny work for our cousins, and back. I have relocated my business from O'Connell and Associates to Remax Integrity, and have managed to sell some real estate in the past several weeks, too.
With the weather turning, we've been spending a lot of time outdoors. Katie and I found a great spot east of Sweet Home, OR that's right on the river. It's very private, cheap, and no reservations are required. Best of all, it's just an hour and some change from our front door. When Todd came up for a weekend, we went back to that spot.
We also went to a hotspring along the MacKenzie river with our cousins Scottie and Brandy last weekend, and are actually going back this coming weekend for a 2-night camping trip! There's prime trout fishing right outside our campsite, and lots of beautiful trails. Can't wait to get back there--I think it's a new favorite.
Our professional lives have changed a little, too. Katie has applied to several positions with the University of Oregon and, although she hasn't been interviewed yet, I have a feeling she will soon. She has been incredibly persistent with finding out who the decision makers are, getting in front of the right people, and having her name and face become known around her prospective office. I'm proud of her. She's more than qualified and really just needs to spend a few minutes with the big cheese to win him/her over.
She has also taken the initiative to volunteer her time for an organization that speaks to her. I really admire her selflessness with becoming a volunteer at Big Brother, Big Sister, especially with not having a stable paycheck right now. I'd like to think I have it in me to do that, too, but she went beyond thinking about it to actually doing it. She's got the right attitude.
In my work, I've been trying to play matchmaker between my buyer clients and with what's available in the marketplace. I felt like I was spinning my wheels for a while, but started making some traction around the time I moved my business over to Remax. At O'Connell and Associates, I learned a great deal--Uncle Mike got me started in real estate and walked me through my first few transactions, which really made coming down to Eugene a possibility. Now that I'm at Remax, I have more access to trainings and technology, which is just what I needed after learning the basics from him. By combining this with Mike's sales training, I am well on my way to becoming an UNSTOPPABLE SELLING MACHINE!
Looking forward, our wedding planning is going steady. We've had some creative ideas, such as possibly brewing our own beer for the reception, but there are still more unknowns than knowns... One thing we do know, though, is that it'll be April 27th, 2013!
My parents sent us up an "engagement gift," which was really nice of them. It was a 46" flatscreen TV! We have been using the same 32" TV since we lived in Novato, which was a little hard to see from our couch now that we're in a rental with a larger living room. Video games are now amazing, by the way...
Hmm... what else... Well, we're both going to the gym consistently and taking much better care of ourselves (no junk food!!!). We have some visitors coming up soon (friends and family from CA), and our garden out back is doing great--we have an apple tree, a blueberry bush, squash, broccoli, kale, lavendar, rosemary, tomatoes, lettuce, chives, basil, strawberries, and more. Alright, I'm running out of things to say. I'll find some photos and post them in a day or two. :)
-Nick
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A Girls Weekend
As I mentioned before, I flew down to Orange County last month for a girls weekend with my mom and sisters. It was the first time I got to see them since Nick proposed, and we dedicated the weekend to (five!) dress appointments and wedding talk. It was a short yet very sweet weekend, albeit very tiring! I did not expect dress try-ons to be so draining-- by the end of each day I was in a daze! The adventure was well-worth it, though, as I found THE dress. Of course I can't describe it on here, nor can I post any pictures (boo!) but I will say that it is everything that I wanted in a dress.
We bought the dress and accessories that same weekend (thanks mom!! ;) and had them shipped up to my Eugene address. Free shipping and no sales tax (thanks Oregon!) -- Wahoo!!
I received my dress and accessories last week, and got to try everything on while Nick was at work. A few days later I also received my grandmother's wedding dress in the mail. She was married over 60 years ago and made the dress herself. Unfortunately she was teeny-tiny, so I don't fit into it very well-- I can't exactly zip it up! However, I think it would be very neat to incorporate at least a piece of her dress into our wedding somehow. Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated! I am thinking maybe around the bouquet? The thought of cutting up the dress makes me shudder a bit because of all the history behind it. For now, it is safe next to my wedding dress until I am absolutely sure of what to do with it.
I received my dress and accessories last week, and got to try everything on while Nick was at work. A few days later I also received my grandmother's wedding dress in the mail. She was married over 60 years ago and made the dress herself. Unfortunately she was teeny-tiny, so I don't fit into it very well-- I can't exactly zip it up! However, I think it would be very neat to incorporate at least a piece of her dress into our wedding somehow. Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated! I am thinking maybe around the bouquet? The thought of cutting up the dress makes me shudder a bit because of all the history behind it. For now, it is safe next to my wedding dress until I am absolutely sure of what to do with it.
Catching Up
We've been keeping pretty busy during these last few weeks, if you couldn't tell by our absence of posts ;)
We have lots to catch up on, so I suppose we'll start at the beginning! First up: snow! We woke up to a winter wonderland one day in mid-March. It was a pleasant surprise-- we received at least 4-5 inches overnight, and it kept coming down well into the morning. This was our first real "snow day" in Oregon. It has snowed several times before, but not the the point where we couldn't drive around due to dangerous icy roads.
The snow stuck for a couple days, too, which is also unusual. Normally it sticks for an hour or two and then disappears. Toby loved the snow. I'll put a video of him running around when I get to my computer.
We have lots to catch up on, so I suppose we'll start at the beginning! First up: snow! We woke up to a winter wonderland one day in mid-March. It was a pleasant surprise-- we received at least 4-5 inches overnight, and it kept coming down well into the morning. This was our first real "snow day" in Oregon. It has snowed several times before, but not the the point where we couldn't drive around due to dangerous icy roads.
The snow stuck for a couple days, too, which is also unusual. Normally it sticks for an hour or two and then disappears. Toby loved the snow. I'll put a video of him running around when I get to my computer.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Making Progress
It's been just about a month since Nick put a ring on my finger, and it has been a whirlwind ever since! Granted this whirlwind is a good one. The day after his proposal, Nick whisked me away to Seattle for the weekend. Our hotel was less than a mile away from all of the sights, and despite the freezing winds, we were able to hit everything on the list!
The week after that was the last week that I worked at Insidetrack. Those five days were filled with lots of emotion; while I was excited to be starting a new chapter with Nick, it was so difficult to say goodbye to my beloved students and coworkers. I have formed some strong bonds with some of my students and workmates, and I miss them dearly. Luckily Portland is just a 2 hour road trip away.
The following weekend was spent packing up everything in the Portland condo and fitting it into the truck. Luckily, everything fit perfectly--and we had no casualties in the process.
Over the last couple weeks, we have organized, cleaned, and rearranged the new place to make it our own. I know I speak for both of us when I say that our place is SO great. We have doubled our square footage (if you count our one-car garage), which means that we can spread out our big stuff--no more
wall-to-wall furniture!
I'm starting to plan out our backyard, too. It has been very rainy over the last couple weeks (with frost, snow and hail, too), so there's not a whole lot I can do just yet. I'm hoping to grow some herbs and veggies at the least. Toby LOVES the size of "his" yard. His favorite spot in the house is in front of our slider door that goes out back. He sits there and quietly growls at any cats that dare enter his territory.
Unfortunately the grass does not cover the whole yard, and the heavy rains have created lots of mud puddles for Toby to blast through. Thus, he gets a good wipe-down with a towel every single time he comes back inside. One more reason we can't wait for the sun to come out!
Tonight I am flying down to Orange County for a girls' weekend. Kim is down from Boulder and she, Courtney, my mom and I will be spending the weekend hunting for the perfect wedding dress! I think they are just as excited as I am (if not more ;) to get started with all the planning. My mom has booked five bridal shop appointments for the next couple days--we're gonna be busy!
The following weekend was spent packing up everything in the Portland condo and fitting it into the truck. Luckily, everything fit perfectly--and we had no casualties in the process.
Over the last couple weeks, we have organized, cleaned, and rearranged the new place to make it our own. I know I speak for both of us when I say that our place is SO great. We have doubled our square footage (if you count our one-car garage), which means that we can spread out our big stuff--no more
wall-to-wall furniture!
Tonight I am flying down to Orange County for a girls' weekend. Kim is down from Boulder and she, Courtney, my mom and I will be spending the weekend hunting for the perfect wedding dress! I think they are just as excited as I am (if not more ;) to get started with all the planning. My mom has booked five bridal shop appointments for the next couple days--we're gonna be busy!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Last Several Weeks
This blog entry is long-overdue! So much has happened in the last month, but I'll try to cover it all.
First and foremost, we're engaged! A couple of days ago, I showed up at Katie's work and surprised her with a ring and a question. She was shocked (in a good way)! I couldn't have asked for it to play out better. Several of her coworkers were in on it, including her boss, which made for a great, memorable moment. After that, we spent some time in Seattle to celebrate.
Space Needle
When Katie's ring arrived, I thought back to all of the trying events over the last six months that brought us to this point. Living apart was by far the most difficult. Weekly commutes and living alone tested our patience, independence, and our bank accounts. Second to that was being strung along by my first sale that just wouldn't close. The commission from this deal was earmarked from day one as ring money, which, in my mind, made it the most important sale of my career. What should've taken 45 days and about 10 hours' worth of time ended up taking 5 months. After incessant, full-time babysitting of incompetent lenders and appraisers, the deal finally closed.
The last six months have been an exercise in faith as we each made decisions and sacrifices that put us in vulnerable positions with the only consolation being in each others' ability to make everything work. Now that we've each passed the tests life has thrown at us, we're ready to make our home together again.
"In the end, the Universe tends to unfold exactly as it should." -Anonymous
We rented a duplex in the Santa Clara neighborhood of Eugene (Northwest) and will soon be moving the rest of our stuff into it in less than two weeks. It's 1400 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a yard, and a garage. It fits our criteria to a "T" (and then some), and costs less per month than our <500 square foot single-bedroom in San Anselmo! Oh! I just realized we haven't covered our winter vacation yet. Toward the end of December, Katie and I flew down to Concord for a few nights to visit my parents. There, we had our traditional White Elephant gift exchange and spent some time with my family. We also got to meet my parents' new dog, Lucy:
Later, we reconnected with our friends Todd and Caitlin and saw their new place. Todd bought his home earlier last year in Martinez, so we spent some time there and also did some outdoor recreation (hiking in the Martinez foothills). Shortly thereafter, Katie and I headed down to Southern California for a week with her family. It's great to go down to Garden Grove on Christmas break--the weather is always warm, and there's no agenda other than seeing family and having fun. We had our traditional late-December walk on the beach, got fish-n-chips on the pier, and did some local shopping. As an Oregonian, it is great to feel the sun in the winter!
We also spent some time at our friends Steven and Jodi's new house. They purchased a home last year as well, so we went over for a couple of days. We took a trip to Stone Brewery in Escondido and went on their free tour. Stone beers are incredibly hoppy, but no wise man ever complained about free beer!
It was a lot of fun to see her group of college friends and to spend a couple of days with them. We did some hiking, played poker on New Year's Eve, and drank probably 2 gallons of Good Earth Tea together at their kitchen table.
New Years Eve
In just a couple of weeks, Katie will be making Eugene her home with me. I'm so excited for this next chapter and for being reunited under one roof. It is tough living out of boxes for six months, but it was worth the wait.
First and foremost, we're engaged! A couple of days ago, I showed up at Katie's work and surprised her with a ring and a question. She was shocked (in a good way)! I couldn't have asked for it to play out better. Several of her coworkers were in on it, including her boss, which made for a great, memorable moment. After that, we spent some time in Seattle to celebrate.
The Proposal
Space Needle
Some Brewery Near Pike's Place Market
When Katie's ring arrived, I thought back to all of the trying events over the last six months that brought us to this point. Living apart was by far the most difficult. Weekly commutes and living alone tested our patience, independence, and our bank accounts. Second to that was being strung along by my first sale that just wouldn't close. The commission from this deal was earmarked from day one as ring money, which, in my mind, made it the most important sale of my career. What should've taken 45 days and about 10 hours' worth of time ended up taking 5 months. After incessant, full-time babysitting of incompetent lenders and appraisers, the deal finally closed.
The last six months have been an exercise in faith as we each made decisions and sacrifices that put us in vulnerable positions with the only consolation being in each others' ability to make everything work. Now that we've each passed the tests life has thrown at us, we're ready to make our home together again.
"In the end, the Universe tends to unfold exactly as it should." -Anonymous
We rented a duplex in the Santa Clara neighborhood of Eugene (Northwest) and will soon be moving the rest of our stuff into it in less than two weeks. It's 1400 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a yard, and a garage. It fits our criteria to a "T" (and then some), and costs less per month than our <500 square foot single-bedroom in San Anselmo! Oh! I just realized we haven't covered our winter vacation yet. Toward the end of December, Katie and I flew down to Concord for a few nights to visit my parents. There, we had our traditional White Elephant gift exchange and spent some time with my family. We also got to meet my parents' new dog, Lucy:
Later, we reconnected with our friends Todd and Caitlin and saw their new place. Todd bought his home earlier last year in Martinez, so we spent some time there and also did some outdoor recreation (hiking in the Martinez foothills). Shortly thereafter, Katie and I headed down to Southern California for a week with her family. It's great to go down to Garden Grove on Christmas break--the weather is always warm, and there's no agenda other than seeing family and having fun. We had our traditional late-December walk on the beach, got fish-n-chips on the pier, and did some local shopping. As an Oregonian, it is great to feel the sun in the winter!
We also spent some time at our friends Steven and Jodi's new house. They purchased a home last year as well, so we went over for a couple of days. We took a trip to Stone Brewery in Escondido and went on their free tour. Stone beers are incredibly hoppy, but no wise man ever complained about free beer!
At the Stone Brewery Tour - Serious Beer Afficionados
It was a lot of fun to see her group of college friends and to spend a couple of days with them. We did some hiking, played poker on New Year's Eve, and drank probably 2 gallons of Good Earth Tea together at their kitchen table.
New Years Eve
In just a couple of weeks, Katie will be making Eugene her home with me. I'm so excited for this next chapter and for being reunited under one roof. It is tough living out of boxes for six months, but it was worth the wait.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
We're Ba-ack!
Well this post is obviously long over-due. With the extended holiday break and then a mad rush getting things back in order, we've been a bit busy.
Last weekend I drove down to Eugene to be with Nick and Toby. Nick hosted an open house for a new four-plex on Saturday and we spent the rest of the weekend running errands, doing a puzzle, and looking at guns (yes, Nick is trying to talk me into getting a 20 gauge. Didn't see that one coming, huh? ;)
This weekend started off with a fun-filled game night with three of my coworkers and their significant others. All of the girls work together and it was fun to meet each other's partners--and so great to find out how much we each have in common. Fun fact: all of us have lived up here in Oregon for less than a year and a half! How strange is that? One couple moved from Minnesota, another from Florida, and the third couple is from San Diego. We bonded over beer, wine, a group game called "Things" and a little backyard fire.
We haven't quite figured out what we are going to do for the rest of the weekend. Nick and I have a 3-day weekend because of MLK jr. Day. There's a possibility of snow in the next couple days, so I'm thinking it's going to be a cozy weekend spent indoors. I just received my "Joy of Cooking" cookbook in the mail that I ordered with some Christmas money. It has 4500 recipes! I don't think I'll ever need another cookbook. I'm eying the Chicken Cordon Bleu, while Nick (a very predictable fellow) is drooling over the pesto and Chinese Cuisine recipes!Perhaps we (I?) will do some cooking and baking today. Also, I am thinking lots of tea is in order.
Stay tuned for a recap of our winter vacation in California!
Last weekend I drove down to Eugene to be with Nick and Toby. Nick hosted an open house for a new four-plex on Saturday and we spent the rest of the weekend running errands, doing a puzzle, and looking at guns (yes, Nick is trying to talk me into getting a 20 gauge. Didn't see that one coming, huh? ;)
This weekend started off with a fun-filled game night with three of my coworkers and their significant others. All of the girls work together and it was fun to meet each other's partners--and so great to find out how much we each have in common. Fun fact: all of us have lived up here in Oregon for less than a year and a half! How strange is that? One couple moved from Minnesota, another from Florida, and the third couple is from San Diego. We bonded over beer, wine, a group game called "Things" and a little backyard fire.
We haven't quite figured out what we are going to do for the rest of the weekend. Nick and I have a 3-day weekend because of MLK jr. Day. There's a possibility of snow in the next couple days, so I'm thinking it's going to be a cozy weekend spent indoors. I just received my "Joy of Cooking" cookbook in the mail that I ordered with some Christmas money. It has 4500 recipes! I don't think I'll ever need another cookbook. I'm eying the Chicken Cordon Bleu, while Nick (a very predictable fellow) is drooling over the pesto and Chinese Cuisine recipes!Perhaps we (I?) will do some cooking and baking today. Also, I am thinking lots of tea is in order.
Stay tuned for a recap of our winter vacation in California!
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