Thursday, December 18, 2008
Snowed In
Portland is hilarious! It started snowing on Sunday, so I had Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday off work! The traffic crews weren't prepared and couldn't clear the roads. I live at the top of a massive hilltop neighborhood called "Mountain Park," so the only way to go anywhere was to go downhill. My tires are bald and the store was out of chains, so when I tried to go somewhere, I slid through two stop signs. In Nate's car we slid down a hill and had to pull the emergency break but still came within INCHES of hitting two cars. So I was literally snowed in for three days. The first day was fun to be home, the second day I was a little restless, and by the third day, I was anxious to get some fresh air! Nate only had Monday and Wednesday off because he takes the bus to work anyways. Today it is sunny, the roads are slushy, but there are still only about 4 people in my office. Portland has been making me laugh all week. Here are some pics from our snow days (I'm wearing about 3 pairs of pants to make up for my lack of ski pants)!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
November 7, 2008
Someone showed this to me . . . you're supposed to BOLD the things you've done & leave the rest regular. I wonder how it'll change over the years!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does the recorder in middle school count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (and Disneyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (no intention to either)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (multiple time actually . . . no worries, I wouldn't anymore)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (gotta live a litttttle)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (coffee?)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing (I definitely will before we leave Oregon)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (what about having a job in a start-up business?)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (twice!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (and sea urchin. and tentacles. and a whole crab (legs & claws & all). and blow fish. and so many other things I have no idea what they were. I love my job)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (what about at the unknown soldier's tomb?)
77. Broken a bone (fingers & toes are bones too :) )
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (I did the design/layout!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Received a speeding ticket
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (what if you hit the brakes before you hit them . . . )
90. Sat on a jury (no but I'm marrying a lawyer, so technically I get to sit in every day)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Lived in three or more states
I guess you can't win them all. I have much more livin' to do!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does the recorder in middle school count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (and Disneyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (no intention to either)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach?)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (multiple time actually . . . no worries, I wouldn't anymore)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (gotta live a litttttle)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (coffee?)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing (I definitely will before we leave Oregon)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (what about having a job in a start-up business?)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (twice!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (and sea urchin. and tentacles. and a whole crab (legs & claws & all). and blow fish. and so many other things I have no idea what they were. I love my job)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (what about at the unknown soldier's tomb?)
77. Broken a bone (fingers & toes are bones too :) )
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (I did the design/layout!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Received a speeding ticket
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (what if you hit the brakes before you hit them . . . )
90. Sat on a jury (no but I'm marrying a lawyer, so technically I get to sit in every day)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Lived in three or more states
I guess you can't win them all. I have much more livin' to do!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM
What have we been up to lately? Plenty! Mostly procrastinating on wedding plans. After working all day & getting home late at night, the last thing either of us want to do is pick & choose centerpieces or try to wade through a load of cheezy DJs. And the weather has been SO GOOD I can't stand sitting inside instead of playing outside. I added that Wedding Tracker below to help us get motivated. We're under 6 months now! Time to get crackin! We both work best under pressure, so here we go!
Besides that, we've been keeping ourselves busy with FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM and all the stuff we've been wanting to do in Portland since moving here. Nate had law school classes & then 12+ hours per summer day of studying for the bar exam, so this has really been the first full month he (we've) been stress-free from school & studying, which has made such a difference! We entertained a few weekend visitors and got to see a traveling Broadway show - "Phantom of the Opera" which was incredible! It was like watching a David Copperfield show mixed with the best concert EVER. We got all dressed up & enjoyed ourselves as a mini-celebration for having an open, study-free Saturday night! We've also explored Portland a little more, set up our apartment, finally hiked up Multnomah Falls with some friends, and hit up a pumpkin patch (complete with caramel apples & hay rides). We went to a silent auction/award dinner last weekend where I successfully & unknowingly bid against Nate's boss on a weekend at Surftides Inn in Lincoln City - the hotel we stayed at when we got engaged. Opps. But we get to go back & re-live our fun weekend there!!! Can't wait to go back :)
Handsome guy opening my door on our way to Phantom of the Opera
Besides that, we've been keeping ourselves busy with FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM and all the stuff we've been wanting to do in Portland since moving here. Nate had law school classes & then 12+ hours per summer day of studying for the bar exam, so this has really been the first full month he (we've) been stress-free from school & studying, which has made such a difference! We entertained a few weekend visitors and got to see a traveling Broadway show - "Phantom of the Opera" which was incredible! It was like watching a David Copperfield show mixed with the best concert EVER. We got all dressed up & enjoyed ourselves as a mini-celebration for having an open, study-free Saturday night! We've also explored Portland a little more, set up our apartment, finally hiked up Multnomah Falls with some friends, and hit up a pumpkin patch (complete with caramel apples & hay rides). We went to a silent auction/award dinner last weekend where I successfully & unknowingly bid against Nate's boss on a weekend at Surftides Inn in Lincoln City - the hotel we stayed at when we got engaged. Opps. But we get to go back & re-live our fun weekend there!!! Can't wait to go back :)
Handsome guy opening my door on our way to Phantom of the Opera
A fun night out with friends on the "east side."
Pumpkin patch corn!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Big news . . .
NATE PASSED THE OREGON STATE BAR EXAM!
That's his name on the computer screen saying he passed (2nd name down)!
And this is him with some of his office - (he works with all women)
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The firm's partners got yummy icecream cake & everyone sat with us & celebrated for a few hours in the conference room. It was GREAT news!!
That's his name on the computer screen saying he passed (2nd name down)!
And this is him with some of his office - (he works with all women)
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The firm's partners got yummy icecream cake & everyone sat with us & celebrated for a few hours in the conference room. It was GREAT news!!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Newest Addition to Portland
Most exciting news : Laura Atwell is in Portland!! My family drove over to take her to University of Portland last weekend. How exciting is that?
We dropped her off in her triple - yes triple - dorm room. She was the last of the three roommates to show up, so she got the top bunk. And the broken-shelved desk in the opposite corner. And the small, little closet. So, I told her to take the larger closet & show her teeth to anyone who objected. She showed her teeth - but more in a smile sort of way & no one objected. We all helped her unpack really fast while my Dad set up her computer at her desk. By the end of the unpacking, it didn't look too shabby!
The next day, Nate & I took my Mom, Dad, Tim & Ted over to Cannon Beach. We had THE BEST WEATHER I've ever seen at the coast. There were blue skies, no rain, no wind and my Dad is thoroughly convinced that it never rains in Oregon :) The sky opened up into it's typical downpour just hours after they pulled out of town.
Here are some pics from the weekend. I could have sworn we took them to a different beach last time they came - but everyone swears we came here. It just looks so different when the sky is blue!! We made sure we got to the beach before low tide so we could hit up the tide pools. I am so glad we get to live so close that it's just a drive away.
See that sign behind my Dad? The funniest part of the morning was Dad "not seeing the sign" and going far past it to get a look at the big starfish and possibly little burrowing baby turtles. He waved Tim over to see it & just a few minutes later was back on the other side of the sign waving Tim back over as all the rangers started wading into the water to retrieve Tim. Silly Dad :)
We had to have another trip to Mo's for the clam chowder bread bowls :)
There was talk about getting a little beach house to do Thanksgiving here at the coast . . .
We dropped her off in her triple - yes triple - dorm room. She was the last of the three roommates to show up, so she got the top bunk. And the broken-shelved desk in the opposite corner. And the small, little closet. So, I told her to take the larger closet & show her teeth to anyone who objected. She showed her teeth - but more in a smile sort of way & no one objected. We all helped her unpack really fast while my Dad set up her computer at her desk. By the end of the unpacking, it didn't look too shabby!
The next day, Nate & I took my Mom, Dad, Tim & Ted over to Cannon Beach. We had THE BEST WEATHER I've ever seen at the coast. There were blue skies, no rain, no wind and my Dad is thoroughly convinced that it never rains in Oregon :) The sky opened up into it's typical downpour just hours after they pulled out of town.
Here are some pics from the weekend. I could have sworn we took them to a different beach last time they came - but everyone swears we came here. It just looks so different when the sky is blue!! We made sure we got to the beach before low tide so we could hit up the tide pools. I am so glad we get to live so close that it's just a drive away.
See that sign behind my Dad? The funniest part of the morning was Dad "not seeing the sign" and going far past it to get a look at the big starfish and possibly little burrowing baby turtles. He waved Tim over to see it & just a few minutes later was back on the other side of the sign waving Tim back over as all the rangers started wading into the water to retrieve Tim. Silly Dad :)
We had to have another trip to Mo's for the clam chowder bread bowls :)
There was talk about getting a little beach house to do Thanksgiving here at the coast . . .
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sandpoint Wedding
About 2 weeks ago, we went to a wedding in Sandpoint, Idaho. A friend of both of ours from college, Erica, was getting married to her highschool/college sweetheart. The reception was gorgeous. (I LOVE weddings - just not planning them) :) Right before going, I chopped off all my hair - at least 8 inches worth. I went to the salon, and the conversation was short:
Me: "I'm thinking of doing something drastic."
Hairdresser: "Ohhhhh have you ever seen Jenny McCarthy?"
Me: "Yeah that's cute!"
Hairdresser: "You think so?"
Me: "Yeah! Totally! I don't know if -"
Literally, mid-sentence my chair is swung around and 8 inches of my hair fall to the ground.
Me: "Ok! Yep, that's drastic."
Hairdresser: "Yeah . . . well I'm not really someone you have to ask twice!"
Me: thinking: when did I ask? but saying: "I can tell! Wow. Ok. How short is that shortest part going to be . . . ?"
I could have been upset, but there was this guy that got tazered right outside the salon window & I figured there are worse things in life than having all your hair chopped off. City living allows me to see things in perspective . . . :)
Here are some pics!
AFTER
Me: "I'm thinking of doing something drastic."
Hairdresser: "Ohhhhh have you ever seen Jenny McCarthy?"
Me: "Yeah that's cute!"
Hairdresser: "You think so?"
Me: "Yeah! Totally! I don't know if -"
Literally, mid-sentence my chair is swung around and 8 inches of my hair fall to the ground.
Me: "Ok! Yep, that's drastic."
Hairdresser: "Yeah . . . well I'm not really someone you have to ask twice!"
Me: thinking: when did I ask? but saying: "I can tell! Wow. Ok. How short is that shortest part going to be . . . ?"
I could have been upset, but there was this guy that got tazered right outside the salon window & I figured there are worse things in life than having all your hair chopped off. City living allows me to see things in perspective . . . :)
Here are some pics!
BEFORE
AFTER
A toast on married life :)
Our seats on the lake - this was in Erica's parents' back yard.
The next day we were about to face a 7 or 8 hour drive back to Portland, so we decided to stop at the resort in Coeur d'Alene and get sundaes the size of your head. Reeces. SO GOOD.
It's starting to look like a home!
Over the weekend, Nate and I did a MAJOR apartment makeover at his (soon to be our) place. Last year, when Nate packed up & drove from Michigan to Portland, he had to leave almost everything behind – all his furniture but a futon mattress & a tiny TV stand. He crammed all his stuff into his Ford Explorer and sang his way across seven states (only stopping in little motels and a random Midwest German town for some “good cheese”) to eventually land in a downtown Portland studio apartment that wasn’t much bigger than his Ford Explorer. So anyways, now that he’s in a bigger place in Lake Oswego, we finally dragged ourselves out to the very far away lands of IKEA and some more affordable stores on The East Side. If you haven’t been, going to parts of The East Side of Portland is sometimes an adventure in itself. Besides the 2-year old yelling obscenities at us in the checkout line, it wasn’t all that bad!!
IKEA is a madhouse. Whoever designed that place is both a genius & totally insane. The store stretches like a maze, complete with a sneaky instruction manual on how to get out. There has to be at least 20 EXIT signs before you even get to a set of stairs that takes you down to 20 more EXIT signs and more miles of maze-like aisles. It’s claustrophobic, it’s amazing, and I love it. Nate . . . I’m not sure if he loves it, but he comes with me & helps navigate through the hoards of people – all of them have this “deer in headlights” look on their faces & walk very slowly. It’s seriously it’s own odd little country in there.
After wayyyyyy too long, we made it out alive, just in time for a Portland-style torrential downpour. After we got back to his place, we put together all the new furniture & it looks pretty awesome!!! We’ve both been living like vagabonds for the last couple years, packing and moving every 6 months or so, and it’s nice to start getting furniture we really enjoy. My next project is to re-finish 2 tables, which will probably include a bunch of calls to my Dad who is AMAZING with wood.
Laura is starting school out here in a week so all the Atwells will be coming to visit this weekend. SO excited!
Here's a pic when it's still a total mess of boxes - but you get the idea ☺
IKEA is a madhouse. Whoever designed that place is both a genius & totally insane. The store stretches like a maze, complete with a sneaky instruction manual on how to get out. There has to be at least 20 EXIT signs before you even get to a set of stairs that takes you down to 20 more EXIT signs and more miles of maze-like aisles. It’s claustrophobic, it’s amazing, and I love it. Nate . . . I’m not sure if he loves it, but he comes with me & helps navigate through the hoards of people – all of them have this “deer in headlights” look on their faces & walk very slowly. It’s seriously it’s own odd little country in there.
After wayyyyyy too long, we made it out alive, just in time for a Portland-style torrential downpour. After we got back to his place, we put together all the new furniture & it looks pretty awesome!!! We’ve both been living like vagabonds for the last couple years, packing and moving every 6 months or so, and it’s nice to start getting furniture we really enjoy. My next project is to re-finish 2 tables, which will probably include a bunch of calls to my Dad who is AMAZING with wood.
Laura is starting school out here in a week so all the Atwells will be coming to visit this weekend. SO excited!
Here's a pic when it's still a total mess of boxes - but you get the idea ☺
Friday, August 8, 2008
And another one bites the dust
Yep, I have officially arrived . . .finally, in the blogging world. So far, my fiance' has done, well, everything for this blog, because when it comes down to it, I have the "blogging intelligence" of a 2 month old chimp (on a good day . . . seriously though). So here I am world, read my BLOG!
-Nate
-Nate
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