Snow Day Photos

As promised, here are some photos from our snowy Portland days. It's been a week since the snow has started, and the flurries keep on coming. It's still a beautiful sight, but it's been a bit troublesome getting around town. Oh well, I will keep on enjoying this freakishly cold weather, because it doesn't come around very often. Enjoy the pics.

This last one was taken when my eyes were attacked by stinging snowflakes. The bastards.

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

That's the sound of my boots stomping through freshly fallen snow. Snow Day in Portland!

I woke up this morning to a world of white. This is not a common occurance for the people of Portland. After bundling myself up, I walked out to my car, scraped off the ice and snow and headed to work, which turned out to be more of an adventure than I bargained for. The freeway was pretty clear until I headed into the city where I work (Beaverton...woo.), which is at a higher elevation than P-land. The lines dividing the lanes were wiped out by a sheet of snow, and no one knew what to do. It was fun. Having made this trip a thousand times over, I knew where I was on the road, and my tires felt true to the ground. I can't say the same for other drivers.

I realized that the day was only going to get colder and more snow-filled, so I made the decision to leave my car at work, and hitch a ride with my friend, who was more prepared than I was for such a snow fall. This is when I realized how much I love my new car- I didn't mind driving in the snow, I was just worried that an inexperienced snow-driver would hit my car. I felt safer leaving it at work. Chains on Brook's truck tires, we headed back to the North side.

I spent the remainder of my morning walking around my neighborhood, taking pictures and just enjoying my surroundings- my neighborhood had a winter make-over ::snaps fingers in a "z" shape:: fab-u-lous! Since I can't find my USB cable, I cannot post pictures just yet, but I will eventually.

I ended the evening with a nice bowl of homemade stew. I will now sit by the fire and enjoy the rarity that is snow in Portland!

PS: The word "snow" was written ten times in this blog.

PPS: For anyone who read my last posting- I did get my hair cut, and I did buy my crafting materials. Who's the ninny now, huh?! Not me!

Productive, Yet Not

Greg went on a cleaning rampage yesterday, which was AWESOME (we can be quite the messy duo), and I continued it this morning. I love having a clean house, so why don't I keep it clean more often??? I did an overhaul on the bathroom, tidied up my vanity in the dining room and cleaned the rats' cage. It was a productive morning. I then baked four batches of gingerbread men and gingersnap cookies for Greg (I think ginger stuff is gross). We had a few causalties- a broken gingerbread man leg, a couple decapitations- but overall, quite a success. I felt full of energy...

...and then I sat down.

I was planning on going out to buy materials for Christmas gifts (happy handmade-I-don't-have-money-holiday!), but the sofa was calling to my butt, and who am I to get in the way of true happiness? I sat....and sat....and sat some more. Energy gone. Projects left undone. Boo.

It's been quite a blustery day today, and I'm sure that influenced my decision to stay put. I had plans to go out tonight, but they've been cancelled, and I'm okay with that. It's a great night to stay in. Greg's home now, and he's be working crazy hours at the hotel for the past few weeks, and next week he's going to be even busier, so it'll be nice to spend the evening in with him so I can remember what he looks like.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will continue on with my chores. I WILL go out and buy the tools I need to get my craft on. I'm even thinking of getting my hair cut. Now that I've written it into cyber-eternity, I must get it done, lest I look like a ninny who's all talk and no action. I don't want to be a ninny.

Sister Cities

Oregon

Mexico

From the home page of PGSA:

"The Portland Guadalajara Sister City Association (PGSCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and strengthening partnerships and fostering goodwill between the City of Portland and the City of Guadalajara. PGSCA achieves this endeavor through on-going cultural, educational, and economic development initiatives.

Additionally, PGSCA's Community Giving Program supports creditable Causes in Oregon through social, cultural and educational projects. PGSCA's four-day Cinco de Mayo Fiesta held at Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park provides the primary source of funding for the organization's charitable and cultural activities. The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta celebrates the richness and diversity of family, culture and community with authentic Latino art, music, dance, cuisine, and hand made crafts.

PGSCA’s mission is to foster intercultural exchange, promote goodwill with the citizens of Guadalajara, and to stimulate the development of cultural diversity between Mexico and the United States."

In late 2006, the government of Guadalajara awarded Portland with one acre of park land in Bosque Colomos, Guadalajara’s largest central-city park. Within this park space, Jardin Portland was created. Jardin Portland is a global model for landscape design, environmental sustainability, and cultural tourism and exchange.

In February of 2008, two rose gardens were created. These gardens line the entrance to the park. Currently in the works are a replica of Multnomah Falls and it's famous footbridge.

For more info, check out:

http://www.pgsca.com/jardinportland/index.html or http://www.pgsca.com/

It's funny, but knowing that the city where half of my heritage comes from, and the city which I now (and hopefully will forever) call my home are connected, it makes me feel like I'm right where I need to be....like I belong here.

...and so it begins...

Greg and I made an appointment for this Wednesday with a housing lender. I'm very excited to get the ball rolling on this whole house buying process. The steps towards buying a house are so foreign to me that I have no idea what to expect in this meeting. Who knows? We may find out that we're not ready to buy a house, but at least by knowing that, we'll know what steps need to be taken to become ready.

It really means a lot to me that Greg took this first step to contact a housing lender. I've been in a pretty big funk lately- what with my dad, my work stressing me out, and just a few other forces in the universe challenging me lately. I got to talk with Greg, and express how important it is for me to take this next step in life and try to own some property, and he really listened, understood and responded. I love it. I love him so much. He really knows what it takes to make me happy now. When I cry about my dad, he shows me videos of animals wearing hats, or helps me learn how to say "I am a pineapple" in four more languages (I'm up to eight, it's really going to get me somewhere in life). So simple, but he knows exactly what it takes to put a smile on my face. I only hope I am always returning the favor for him.

I Hate This

It's been two weeks since my dad had heart surgery and he's STILL in the hospital. He wants to leave, we want him to leave, but they are making him stay. Had everything gone smoothly, he would have been home a week ago. First, he has a troublesome post-op experience where his lungs weren't working, making him stay in ICU for a day and a half longer than he had to. Now he's got a kidney infection, and we don't know when he can go home.

I hate it. I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it.

I just want him home, where he can feel comfortable and safe. Where he can get the rest he so desperately needs, and where I believe he'll be able to recover more quickly. I've been trying so hard to be patient, to be strong, but I'm breaking. It's all I think about. I do nothing but worry about him, and I feel so guilty for being up here and not still down there with him. I feel guilty for not having a house big enough for him to stay in- if I had an extra room, I'd find a way to work it out with his doctors and fly him up here to recover, where I can keep an eye on him and take care of him.

I hate this.

I've never felt so useless to someone I love.