I believe this speaks for itself.
211. Let, therefore, no man love anything; loss of the beloved is evil. Those who love nothing and hate nothing, have no fetters.
I am really needing a hug today.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
DONE!!
With this semester... :)
I offically finished up everything I had again left for the last minute today and I am proud to say that I did it with a whole 3 hours to spare.
That's right.
Ok, next semester...
I really am going to try and get things done early so I don't have to deal with the stress.
Just like I am going to try and be early for work tomorrow...
ha ha ha ha
We all know how that goes. :)
I offically finished up everything I had again left for the last minute today and I am proud to say that I did it with a whole 3 hours to spare.
That's right.
Ok, next semester...
I really am going to try and get things done early so I don't have to deal with the stress.
Just like I am going to try and be early for work tomorrow...
ha ha ha ha
We all know how that goes. :)
oBa Please
Last night K, J and I tried to make it another night on the town…… but by the time I got there (keep in mind it was only 830ish when I did arrive) they were both sipping water and looked as if they could fall over due to pure exhaustion at any moment…
I ended up having an Impromptu date with someone I have been trying to get time with for a while now so I figured that they would understand (and it wasn’t as if I was going to blow them off all together.. just a couple of hours..). The date was wonderful and I really hope that I get a chance to see him more and more.. but that is a whole ‘nother topic all together.
Anyways, I met up with them where we always meet up now, where we now have the “vip” service (lol). They had already eaten but I was starving and bouncing off of the walls with giddiness.. so we left there and headed down to one of my potentially new favorite bars/restaurants:
oBa.
They boast a Cuban theme but really it was more just Latin American which was nice. The walls were a vivid orange, there were pillars and fountains and just a genuinely cozy motif. We sat at a table in the bar and I (I stress the I because they didn’t order anything) proceeded to order a Key Lime Pie Martini (which came fully equipped with a graham cracker crust around the rim of the glass) and some coconut shrimp. Both of these were Excellent. We then ordered the Baked Argentina which boasted chocolate cake, bananas, vanilla bean ice cream covered in a toasted meringue and surrounded by mangos and pineapple… The ice cream was good… as were the two pieces of banana I ate which apparently was the only two on the whole thing… I wouldn’t order that again, next time I am definitely going to go for the Molten Volcano Cinnamon Chocolate Cake… with a molten chocolate center.. yummy…
I cannot wait til next time.. hehe
I ended up having an Impromptu date with someone I have been trying to get time with for a while now so I figured that they would understand (and it wasn’t as if I was going to blow them off all together.. just a couple of hours..). The date was wonderful and I really hope that I get a chance to see him more and more.. but that is a whole ‘nother topic all together.
Anyways, I met up with them where we always meet up now, where we now have the “vip” service (lol). They had already eaten but I was starving and bouncing off of the walls with giddiness.. so we left there and headed down to one of my potentially new favorite bars/restaurants:
oBa.
They boast a Cuban theme but really it was more just Latin American which was nice. The walls were a vivid orange, there were pillars and fountains and just a genuinely cozy motif. We sat at a table in the bar and I (I stress the I because they didn’t order anything) proceeded to order a Key Lime Pie Martini (which came fully equipped with a graham cracker crust around the rim of the glass) and some coconut shrimp. Both of these were Excellent. We then ordered the Baked Argentina which boasted chocolate cake, bananas, vanilla bean ice cream covered in a toasted meringue and surrounded by mangos and pineapple… The ice cream was good… as were the two pieces of banana I ate which apparently was the only two on the whole thing… I wouldn’t order that again, next time I am definitely going to go for the Molten Volcano Cinnamon Chocolate Cake… with a molten chocolate center.. yummy…
I cannot wait til next time.. hehe
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Shh....
Why do something if you cannot tell anyone about it?
If you cannot tell anyone would that then imply that you shouldn’t be doing it?
Is the fact that it is so taboo what makes it all the more attractive?
But then again, not all secrets are bad…
Sometimes it’s beneficial to withhold information from people to keep from hurting them, but then if they were to ask you and you were to lie wouldn’t that hurt worse when that person finds out that you were lying? Now, not only do they have to deal with the pain of the secret but the pain of the fact that you thought they were foolish enough to believe your lie in the first place..
(and please don't ask me what I am talking about... its a secret... LOL)
If you cannot tell anyone would that then imply that you shouldn’t be doing it?
Is the fact that it is so taboo what makes it all the more attractive?
But then again, not all secrets are bad…
Sometimes it’s beneficial to withhold information from people to keep from hurting them, but then if they were to ask you and you were to lie wouldn’t that hurt worse when that person finds out that you were lying? Now, not only do they have to deal with the pain of the secret but the pain of the fact that you thought they were foolish enough to believe your lie in the first place..
(and please don't ask me what I am talking about... its a secret... LOL)
More words of Wisdom. Dhammapadically speaking.
Yet another quote from the Dhammapada:
If one man conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, and if another only conquers himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.
Makes you really stop and think for a minute, doesn’t it?
If one man conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, and if another only conquers himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.
Makes you really stop and think for a minute, doesn’t it?
Friday, April 25, 2008
Something for nothing. A helpful Coupon.
It was pointed out to me today that if you go here you can find a rather tempting deal... pay $3 and get a $25 gift certificate to many, many restaurants and bars in the Portland/Vancouver area.
I'm pretty excited because for $12 I received $100 worth of free food! hehe
Oba, Oliver Twist, Thirst Wine Bar and Bistro and Wild Abandon Restaurant and Velvet Lounge here I come :)
I'm pretty excited because for $12 I received $100 worth of free food! hehe
Oba, Oliver Twist, Thirst Wine Bar and Bistro and Wild Abandon Restaurant and Velvet Lounge here I come :)
Bowling. Offically.
So.
Last night I had yet another date with Bachelor number 3 (pretty soon I will stop numbering them, but I find it humorous that I have had more dates and more options in the past couple of months then I did in the past couple of years). I'm done with the numbers... Lets call him Officer. So Officer and I met at his place and soon after left to go get something to eat and then go bowling. I am not a good bowler by any means and I told him to expect to beat me. I don't like it when people go easy on me so I told him to play to his hearts content. My goal was to beat my best score from the last time I went, which was 80, and I was very upfront and honest about this. I just wanted to have fun..... So he's up first... average run. Then I go.... Strike.... haha. "its a fluke, its a fluke! Really!"... I ended up getting a couple more strikes and spares... and the last set came up. The scores were close. Lets just say that he wasted the ability to have an extra set. Now its my turn.... I knock down 9 of the pins... there is one left.... I look at that pin with determination and I let that pin know who was going to win this game. He looks at me questionably... I laugh and get my ball for my additional set. I get ready to let go of the ball when I stopped and decided that I needed to start over... too much pressure... I sigh.... turn around and throw the ball down the lane... its right down the middle... that's right.. I hit it. So we sit down in front of the score table as it's tallying my final score... his was 115.... mine..... 116. hehe. Lets just say that I was proud. And now, since I said that he was going to get it if he let me win, I had to come up with a form of punishment. I didnt think I was actually going to have to come up with one, thus I had nothing in mind. Plus, since I really am not at that point with him I couldnt have him do the devious things that would be typical of this situation (not to the point, nor am I sure if I am ever going to be at the point.. but that is beside the point lol) I really don't know what to have him do..
Ack. Anyways, why is it that when I get to this point with men I always back away? I always find something wrong with them, something that I don't like and decide that it would be best to just not ever answer their calls again? Because that is where I am right now......
Last night I had yet another date with Bachelor number 3 (pretty soon I will stop numbering them, but I find it humorous that I have had more dates and more options in the past couple of months then I did in the past couple of years). I'm done with the numbers... Lets call him Officer. So Officer and I met at his place and soon after left to go get something to eat and then go bowling. I am not a good bowler by any means and I told him to expect to beat me. I don't like it when people go easy on me so I told him to play to his hearts content. My goal was to beat my best score from the last time I went, which was 80, and I was very upfront and honest about this. I just wanted to have fun..... So he's up first... average run. Then I go.... Strike.... haha. "its a fluke, its a fluke! Really!"... I ended up getting a couple more strikes and spares... and the last set came up. The scores were close. Lets just say that he wasted the ability to have an extra set. Now its my turn.... I knock down 9 of the pins... there is one left.... I look at that pin with determination and I let that pin know who was going to win this game. He looks at me questionably... I laugh and get my ball for my additional set. I get ready to let go of the ball when I stopped and decided that I needed to start over... too much pressure... I sigh.... turn around and throw the ball down the lane... its right down the middle... that's right.. I hit it. So we sit down in front of the score table as it's tallying my final score... his was 115.... mine..... 116. hehe. Lets just say that I was proud. And now, since I said that he was going to get it if he let me win, I had to come up with a form of punishment. I didnt think I was actually going to have to come up with one, thus I had nothing in mind. Plus, since I really am not at that point with him I couldnt have him do the devious things that would be typical of this situation (not to the point, nor am I sure if I am ever going to be at the point.. but that is beside the point lol) I really don't know what to have him do..
Ack. Anyways, why is it that when I get to this point with men I always back away? I always find something wrong with them, something that I don't like and decide that it would be best to just not ever answer their calls again? Because that is where I am right now......
Thursday, April 24, 2008
You People
I was asked to define what it was I meant when I said “you people”.
Here is the definition according to Rebecca's Dictionary (Abridged Edition)
“you people” – lying, cheating, bastards perfectly capable of not only living a double life without remorse, guilt or shame but justifying it at the same time.
Thought I would clear up any confusion. Next time you are talking to me and I use that term now you know what I am referring to.
Here is the definition according to Rebecca's Dictionary (Abridged Edition)
“you people” – lying, cheating, bastards perfectly capable of not only living a double life without remorse, guilt or shame but justifying it at the same time.
Thought I would clear up any confusion. Next time you are talking to me and I use that term now you know what I am referring to.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Decadent Dessert
Talk about putting your money where your mouth is...
The next time you think the dessert of the menu at your local restaurant is a little too pricy for your taste think about this...
$25,000 for a frozen hot chocolate.
The dessert is made with a blend of 28 rare and exotic cocoas from around the world, whipped cream, black truffle shavings, and 23 karat edible gold... not only that but you get to keep the spoon! (such a steal..)
Now if you are looking for something a bit lighter, and if its not really the right time of day for such a decadent dessert you can always go down the street a little bit and indulge in the $1,000 bagel topped with white truffle cream cheese and goji berry infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves...
Put my name on the waiting list please... its spelt... Rebecca Do-People-Really-Have-Nothing-Else-To-Spend-Their-Money-On??
The next time you think the dessert of the menu at your local restaurant is a little too pricy for your taste think about this...
$25,000 for a frozen hot chocolate.
The dessert is made with a blend of 28 rare and exotic cocoas from around the world, whipped cream, black truffle shavings, and 23 karat edible gold... not only that but you get to keep the spoon! (such a steal..)
Now if you are looking for something a bit lighter, and if its not really the right time of day for such a decadent dessert you can always go down the street a little bit and indulge in the $1,000 bagel topped with white truffle cream cheese and goji berry infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves...
Put my name on the waiting list please... its spelt... Rebecca Do-People-Really-Have-Nothing-Else-To-Spend-Their-Money-On??
The [right] Thing
When you know what you are doing is the right thing yet it makes you sick to your stomach with grief and apprehension, how do you know that that truly is the Right thing? Who defines what is right? Why do I have to keep reminding myself why? Indicative facts should make the decisions, not an ill-informed, all forgiving heart.
Friday, April 18, 2008
WrapUP
I am in a very... different... mood. It has been a busy week, and I have a moment to spare so let me share it with you. This weekend J, K and I went out in Portland and had a pretty good time. I did some things that maybe I shouldnt have, including but not limited to giving out my phone number to a few people that I shouldnt have.. (I guess this guy thought that I was Perfect for his friend, and then changed his mind and thought I was Perfect for him. Um, no, I'm not perfect for either of you thank you..)
So after the night of drinking, dancing and partaking of tater tots concluded I went home and crashed in my bed...
The next day.. nothing great happened...
Monday... Uh.. since I am not remembering monday I am going to say that nothing happened.
TUESDAY.
Tuesday I wanted to meet with a friend but that ended up not happening because they went up to the mountain to snowboard so I went downtown to look at study guides for the MCATs.. When you compare the MCAT with the GRE there is no comparison! But for some reason I always take the hardest path... So I forsee myself at least trying to get into Med school.. then I can at least say that I tried, that I gave it my best shot and then if I truly don't make it in THEN I will go for the graduate school option.
So anyways, I was walking down in the pearl, coming back from the gym at this point and who do I see walking to a resturant on 13th? None other than the man that I had been ignoring the calls/text messages of for the past couple of days... That's right, A. I was completely turned off to him after date number two and decided that I wasnt going to waste my time anymore but didnt feel like I should necessarily TELL him because we only went on two dates, that does not warrent a face to face talk. Sure, if he attempts to contact me again then I will have to say Something, but at this point I am good with the way things are. Anyways, I see him walking towards the restaurant and I stop in my tracks... he doesnt see me (and he's wearing the same green sweater he wore to date one.. hmm.. lol) so I start to walk backwards towards the cars very slowly so I don't have to have an awkward encounter which forces me to explain myself to his face. So I went down 14th Ave to get to my car and actually find a bar that looks quite interesting and is a place that I want to try... I don't remember the name but it is on 14th and Flanders and looks like a low key version of Henry's...
WEDNESDAY
I was invited to go up the mountain myself and I must say, I was rather impressed with how my skiing level has progressed! Not only was I going down the hill with some actual speed this time but my confidence was where it needs to be to be able to ski effectively.. I went down a black diamond run intentionally this time and actually ended up getting quite bored with the runs at Timberline. Next time I will want to try Meadows or someplace new. That's right, there will be a next time! :)
So after the night of drinking, dancing and partaking of tater tots concluded I went home and crashed in my bed...
The next day.. nothing great happened...
Monday... Uh.. since I am not remembering monday I am going to say that nothing happened.
TUESDAY.
Tuesday I wanted to meet with a friend but that ended up not happening because they went up to the mountain to snowboard so I went downtown to look at study guides for the MCATs.. When you compare the MCAT with the GRE there is no comparison! But for some reason I always take the hardest path... So I forsee myself at least trying to get into Med school.. then I can at least say that I tried, that I gave it my best shot and then if I truly don't make it in THEN I will go for the graduate school option.
So anyways, I was walking down in the pearl, coming back from the gym at this point and who do I see walking to a resturant on 13th? None other than the man that I had been ignoring the calls/text messages of for the past couple of days... That's right, A. I was completely turned off to him after date number two and decided that I wasnt going to waste my time anymore but didnt feel like I should necessarily TELL him because we only went on two dates, that does not warrent a face to face talk. Sure, if he attempts to contact me again then I will have to say Something, but at this point I am good with the way things are. Anyways, I see him walking towards the restaurant and I stop in my tracks... he doesnt see me (and he's wearing the same green sweater he wore to date one.. hmm.. lol) so I start to walk backwards towards the cars very slowly so I don't have to have an awkward encounter which forces me to explain myself to his face. So I went down 14th Ave to get to my car and actually find a bar that looks quite interesting and is a place that I want to try... I don't remember the name but it is on 14th and Flanders and looks like a low key version of Henry's...
WEDNESDAY
I was invited to go up the mountain myself and I must say, I was rather impressed with how my skiing level has progressed! Not only was I going down the hill with some actual speed this time but my confidence was where it needs to be to be able to ski effectively.. I went down a black diamond run intentionally this time and actually ended up getting quite bored with the runs at Timberline. Next time I will want to try Meadows or someplace new. That's right, there will be a next time! :)
Monday, April 14, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Split Intentions.
An Overview of Date Two.
I started the day off with the intention to be there EARLY. Since I was a little late for the last date I wanted to start this one off on the right foot. Lets just say that didn’t happen. First off, I don’t see how it is that I always seem to be running behind but at this point in my life I think its safe to say that its inevitably ME. You want me there at 7? Better tell me its at 6:45 (and you had better be damn well convincing because if I figure out its really at 7 i'll prob not be there until 7:10 lol).
Well in this instance I would have been fine, I would have been pretty much on time had it been downtown but it was changed to Bridgeport Village out in Tigard at the last minute which is considerably further for me to drive. Then, when I stopped to get gas I noticed as I took my debit card out of my wallet that my ID was not in its proper place. It was still in my gym bag which I so conveniently just put in my apartment. We were starting off at a bar! I am going to get carded! So I had to go home and get it. I called him, said “You are not going to believe what happened…” and he took it quite well. At least he is not one of those people that cannot stand it when someone is incessantly late. But this is the first time that I was ever THAT late to anything. It didn’t help that because of the beautiful day everyone and their grandmother was out driving, and driving quite slow at that.
We started at the bar Split. I walk in and he was sitting up at the bar drinking a Hefeweizen, I ordered a Black Butte Porter (because that was the only dark beer they had there, and it was from a bottle mind you). I did like the ambiance of the place, it was clean, crisp and classy. I wouldn’t mind going there again but next time I would like to sit at a table so that way I could be in a more comfortable chair. We were there for a couple hours, left around 9:30 to go find food and after getting up and walking, a bathroom. We stopped in The Pizza Kitchen to use the bathroom and that was it.
So we walked…
Want to eat here?
Nah..
How about here?
Hmm.. lets look at the menu.. yeah no thanks.
Here?
Oww.. yeah lets try it!
We ended up at a Mediterranean place where it was difficult to decipher the menu, even for me. He ordered a flat bread pizza (which did NOT come with marinara sauce but a roasted red pepper sauce lol), and after much deliberating on my part I was told that I wanted the one thing on the menu that they were out of for the day (that is always how it goes for me). The waiter couldn’t really explain to me what was in the Persian Meza so I settled for a Greek Meza. Well, I should have just gotten a damn hummus plate if you ask me because I really didn’t like anything on my plate. The pita bread was excellent however lol
From there we had to go, it was after 11 and I had to be at work in the early AM.
He walked me to my car...
....
Ha.
Quick Synopsis: I do like the guy, but I don’t know if there is true chemistry between us. There was no passion, no spark. He kept calling me innocent but I don’t believe that that was what he was truly seeing. I think he was misinterpreting my hesitancy and why I was holding myself back; innocence had nothing to do with it. And I do not find the fact that he has lost his ambition particularly attractive. I went into the date thinking that it was going to be the last one but I don’t know. I don’t want to lead the guy on… And I don’t want to waste my already sparse time.
I started the day off with the intention to be there EARLY. Since I was a little late for the last date I wanted to start this one off on the right foot. Lets just say that didn’t happen. First off, I don’t see how it is that I always seem to be running behind but at this point in my life I think its safe to say that its inevitably ME. You want me there at 7? Better tell me its at 6:45 (and you had better be damn well convincing because if I figure out its really at 7 i'll prob not be there until 7:10 lol).
Well in this instance I would have been fine, I would have been pretty much on time had it been downtown but it was changed to Bridgeport Village out in Tigard at the last minute which is considerably further for me to drive. Then, when I stopped to get gas I noticed as I took my debit card out of my wallet that my ID was not in its proper place. It was still in my gym bag which I so conveniently just put in my apartment. We were starting off at a bar! I am going to get carded! So I had to go home and get it. I called him, said “You are not going to believe what happened…” and he took it quite well. At least he is not one of those people that cannot stand it when someone is incessantly late. But this is the first time that I was ever THAT late to anything. It didn’t help that because of the beautiful day everyone and their grandmother was out driving, and driving quite slow at that.
We started at the bar Split. I walk in and he was sitting up at the bar drinking a Hefeweizen, I ordered a Black Butte Porter (because that was the only dark beer they had there, and it was from a bottle mind you). I did like the ambiance of the place, it was clean, crisp and classy. I wouldn’t mind going there again but next time I would like to sit at a table so that way I could be in a more comfortable chair. We were there for a couple hours, left around 9:30 to go find food and after getting up and walking, a bathroom. We stopped in The Pizza Kitchen to use the bathroom and that was it.
So we walked…
Want to eat here?
Nah..
How about here?
Hmm.. lets look at the menu.. yeah no thanks.
Here?
Oww.. yeah lets try it!
We ended up at a Mediterranean place where it was difficult to decipher the menu, even for me. He ordered a flat bread pizza (which did NOT come with marinara sauce but a roasted red pepper sauce lol), and after much deliberating on my part I was told that I wanted the one thing on the menu that they were out of for the day (that is always how it goes for me). The waiter couldn’t really explain to me what was in the Persian Meza so I settled for a Greek Meza. Well, I should have just gotten a damn hummus plate if you ask me because I really didn’t like anything on my plate. The pita bread was excellent however lol
From there we had to go, it was after 11 and I had to be at work in the early AM.
He walked me to my car...
....
Ha.
Quick Synopsis: I do like the guy, but I don’t know if there is true chemistry between us. There was no passion, no spark. He kept calling me innocent but I don’t believe that that was what he was truly seeing. I think he was misinterpreting my hesitancy and why I was holding myself back; innocence had nothing to do with it. And I do not find the fact that he has lost his ambition particularly attractive. I went into the date thinking that it was going to be the last one but I don’t know. I don’t want to lead the guy on… And I don’t want to waste my already sparse time.
Friday, April 11, 2008
[Weeks]END
Its here.
Its Friday and the start to another marvelous sounding weekend.
Tonight I have date #2 planned with A. It should prove to be interesting being that he wants to go for drinks at this bar that I do not think I will want to step foot in. Ok, I do not consider myself a high maintenance girl by any means (K thinks the opposite, so does W.. hmm.. ) but I do not want to go to a skank bar where my clothing will end up being permeated with smoke and I have to wonder what is happening to my food and drinks in the back... I believe that the cleanliness of the outside of the bar speaks to the cleanliness of the kitchen! Besides, today is day 26 sans cigarettes so I wouldn’t want to have to subject myself to that horrid torture. So we will see where we end up, I can be rather convincing when I really want something ;)
Saturday night is a planned excursion with the girls. I have been wanting to divulge in another girls night out in a while so this is something that I am really looking forward to. All I know is that we will start out at Blitz (free drinks are free drinks) and see where we end up later on… hehe…
Currently I have a research paper that is due on Sunday that I need to finish up (really, I need to write the damn thing) so that is what is going to take up the bulk of my afternoon, and any other free time I may have!
So much for enjoying the sun, but at least I can enjoy the starlight…
Its Friday and the start to another marvelous sounding weekend.
Tonight I have date #2 planned with A. It should prove to be interesting being that he wants to go for drinks at this bar that I do not think I will want to step foot in. Ok, I do not consider myself a high maintenance girl by any means (K thinks the opposite, so does W.. hmm.. ) but I do not want to go to a skank bar where my clothing will end up being permeated with smoke and I have to wonder what is happening to my food and drinks in the back... I believe that the cleanliness of the outside of the bar speaks to the cleanliness of the kitchen! Besides, today is day 26 sans cigarettes so I wouldn’t want to have to subject myself to that horrid torture. So we will see where we end up, I can be rather convincing when I really want something ;)
Saturday night is a planned excursion with the girls. I have been wanting to divulge in another girls night out in a while so this is something that I am really looking forward to. All I know is that we will start out at Blitz (free drinks are free drinks) and see where we end up later on… hehe…
Currently I have a research paper that is due on Sunday that I need to finish up (really, I need to write the damn thing) so that is what is going to take up the bulk of my afternoon, and any other free time I may have!
So much for enjoying the sun, but at least I can enjoy the starlight…
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Set in Stone.
My last two semesters at WSU Vancouver have been set! And I am so excited to be GRADUATING (that’s right, finally graduating!) in December. I can see the light at the end of this tunnel (not to say I'm not excited to jump right back into another one).
Now this is only my BS, but it has been such a work in progress. From one school to another to yet another, from Chemical Engineering to Graphic Design to Apparel Design to Psychology (alright I am notorious for changing my mind if you cannot tell).. I am finally going to be able to close this chapter in my life.
Is it too early to start planning my graduation party?? hehe
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Bachelor #2
Come on down…
To the local Starbucks in front of PGE park.
It was a busy day which consisted of a meeting with a good friend at the bottom of the hill at WSU, to spending way too much money at the Woodburn Outlet Mall with K to rushing back to get E from school. After throwing on a different shirt and a new pair of shoes, and making a mad attempt to straighten my hair I was out the door and on my way.
I get there, I park down the street and I make the call. I see him sitting in the window and can feel his gaze as I walk down to the crosswalk to legally cross the street and head inside. He stands up, smiles and shakes my hand. I sit down, nervously, yet with a smile. We started chit chatting for a little bit when I decided that I should probably get something to drink so I get up and get myself an iced chai latte (I don’t really mind paying, in fact if he would have offered I would have declined, but I don’t know if I like the fact that he didn’t offer..). After about 7 or 8 minutes I go back and sit down and the conversation continues.
We were there for about an hour and a half, and thanks to him there wasn’t a lull in conversation at all (he kept asking all these non-open ended questions). Now, the conversation with #1 was much, much better, much less forced or probed per se. It just flowed. This, well, I felt like I was talking about ME the whole time and I didn’t like it, but if he wanted to talk about something else then he shouldn’t have kept asking me all these questions that the only answer could be about me.
Around 5pm we both had to go, I had to get up to WSU to get a paper signed for my writing portfolio before 6pm and he had to get back to work. Since it was raining he offered to give me a ride back to my car. Ok, that would be nice. We get to my car and there was no awkwardness, but maybe that was because he didn’t even try to get a hug.
Hmm...
He meets all my requirements for what I want in a guy: educated, comical, attentive, tall, fit, etc. But I just don’t know.
He’s called me quite a few times since then, and sure, we do seem to talk just fine, but there is just something… missing…
Date #2 is scheduled for Friday at 7pm, that will be the breaker.
To the local Starbucks in front of PGE park.
It was a busy day which consisted of a meeting with a good friend at the bottom of the hill at WSU, to spending way too much money at the Woodburn Outlet Mall with K to rushing back to get E from school. After throwing on a different shirt and a new pair of shoes, and making a mad attempt to straighten my hair I was out the door and on my way.
I get there, I park down the street and I make the call. I see him sitting in the window and can feel his gaze as I walk down to the crosswalk to legally cross the street and head inside. He stands up, smiles and shakes my hand. I sit down, nervously, yet with a smile. We started chit chatting for a little bit when I decided that I should probably get something to drink so I get up and get myself an iced chai latte (I don’t really mind paying, in fact if he would have offered I would have declined, but I don’t know if I like the fact that he didn’t offer..). After about 7 or 8 minutes I go back and sit down and the conversation continues.
We were there for about an hour and a half, and thanks to him there wasn’t a lull in conversation at all (he kept asking all these non-open ended questions). Now, the conversation with #1 was much, much better, much less forced or probed per se. It just flowed. This, well, I felt like I was talking about ME the whole time and I didn’t like it, but if he wanted to talk about something else then he shouldn’t have kept asking me all these questions that the only answer could be about me.
Around 5pm we both had to go, I had to get up to WSU to get a paper signed for my writing portfolio before 6pm and he had to get back to work. Since it was raining he offered to give me a ride back to my car. Ok, that would be nice. We get to my car and there was no awkwardness, but maybe that was because he didn’t even try to get a hug.
Hmm...
He meets all my requirements for what I want in a guy: educated, comical, attentive, tall, fit, etc. But I just don’t know.
He’s called me quite a few times since then, and sure, we do seem to talk just fine, but there is just something… missing…
Date #2 is scheduled for Friday at 7pm, that will be the breaker.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Medical School?
What I am thinking about right now is….
Graduate School!!
Or more specifically, how I am going to pay for it.
I am finding out that there is a misconception that college students have a lot of money. Or have access to a lot of money. The test to get into Graduate school itself (GREs) is $140 and the test to get into Medical school (MCATs) is $210.
The first thing I have to do is decide whether I want to become a Neuroscientist (PhD) or a Psychiatrist (MD) or whether its really worth paying $25k/year to become either of those. After doing salary comparisons and seeing that a job that pays $72k/year really only pays $49k/year after taxes or that a job that pays $170k/year really only pays $113k/year it makes me really second guess things and makes my decision even more difficult (it doesn't make my decision to NOT work in Oregon very difficult however). Altho, I must say that the $113 sounds much much better than the $49. The $49 would not be worth it in any way shape or form.
Does that make my decision for me?
Should it be all about the money?
Or what I want to do?
The neuroscience program does sound very interesting, especially since my dream since childhood has been to be a medical researcher… but I could be a medical researcher with the other program too, it will just be more difficult. There is a reason it pays more… now the question would really be: Can I get into Med school? I think I can, but I had better start studying. Those MCATs do not look easy!
Graduate School!!
Or more specifically, how I am going to pay for it.
I am finding out that there is a misconception that college students have a lot of money. Or have access to a lot of money. The test to get into Graduate school itself (GREs) is $140 and the test to get into Medical school (MCATs) is $210.
The first thing I have to do is decide whether I want to become a Neuroscientist (PhD) or a Psychiatrist (MD) or whether its really worth paying $25k/year to become either of those. After doing salary comparisons and seeing that a job that pays $72k/year really only pays $49k/year after taxes or that a job that pays $170k/year really only pays $113k/year it makes me really second guess things and makes my decision even more difficult (it doesn't make my decision to NOT work in Oregon very difficult however). Altho, I must say that the $113 sounds much much better than the $49. The $49 would not be worth it in any way shape or form.
Does that make my decision for me?
Should it be all about the money?
Or what I want to do?
The neuroscience program does sound very interesting, especially since my dream since childhood has been to be a medical researcher… but I could be a medical researcher with the other program too, it will just be more difficult. There is a reason it pays more… now the question would really be: Can I get into Med school? I think I can, but I had better start studying. Those MCATs do not look easy!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Perspectivly Speaking.
Sometimes I wonder what I am doing. If I am doing the right thing. Is the right thing always the thing that feels the best? If something is so wrong then why, WHY, would it feel so good? Flirting with the devil is not always dangerous as long as you are in control of the situation, my problem is that I do not feel in control. I feel like I am going down the freeway at 120mph without brakes…
I should be happy; I have quite the weekend planned:
Tues: Shopping in Woodburn with K (I have to replace the contents of my lost/stolen gym bag and I do love the Puma store out there....), then coffee with A (bachelor no 2... we'll see how that goes) then dinner with K since I will be in her debt! hehe...
Wed: Beach hopping in LA with E and M
Thurs: Breakfast with W and Lunch with A (different one) and L (and maybe even a little one mo old H)
The busier the better right? My problem is that it doesn’t matter how busy my mind is it still has time to think.. and I cannot ever control its wanderings.
I should be happy; I have quite the weekend planned:
Tues: Shopping in Woodburn with K (I have to replace the contents of my lost/stolen gym bag and I do love the Puma store out there....), then coffee with A (bachelor no 2... we'll see how that goes) then dinner with K since I will be in her debt! hehe...
Wed: Beach hopping in LA with E and M
Thurs: Breakfast with W and Lunch with A (different one) and L (and maybe even a little one mo old H)
The busier the better right? My problem is that it doesn’t matter how busy my mind is it still has time to think.. and I cannot ever control its wanderings.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Friday Night Drinks
One benefit of working the AM shift is the fact that I am free on Thursday and Friday nights to do whatever I please past the hours of 9pm. Most of the time I do what I am supposed to and go to bed, tonight, however, I needed a drink.
I met up with S (yup, the same one that stood me up last week; proof that I always seem to give people second chances) at Old Chicago in SE and took advantage of their ever-so-extravagant happy hour menu. You see, he always asks me where I want to go and me, not knowing any good bars in areas aside from Down Town Portland have no idea where to go. I didn't particularily feel like going to McMenamins again so Old Chicago it is. He orders a Black Butte Porter and I order a Hefeweizen (I have been taking a break from the darker brews…… for some reason) and we decide on fries and some buffalo wings (really it was more like just chicken because we swear that they forgot to add the sauce). The waitress is less than attentive, I ask for some ketchup to go with the fries which never seemed to materialize and she came back and asked us if we wanted more drinks maybe twice. My second round beer was so bad (an IPA with a bitter aftertaste reminiscent of the bitter beer commercials I remember seeing when I was younger) that I only ended up drinking maybe a quarter of it.
So we are sitting there, chit chatting away when we realize that the time is past 1am and being that I do have to be up at 5am I had to be getting home. Around 1:30am-ish I am driving in Vancouver and get over to the lane that I need to be in to exit when the car in front of me slows way down. “What the hell?” was the only thing that came to mind. So I go around him. The next thing I know this guy gets up on my tail, swerves to my right, passes me, cuts me off and flicks a cigarette at my car in the process. Um.. again, what the hell??? I’m thinking that he must be drunk and I really didn’t want to piss him off so I just get over and pass him doing the speed limit. This apparently didn’t sit well with him because he again speeds past me then slows down then speeds past me and slows down yet again. Its one thing if I knew who he was but I don’t know anyone that drives a car like that. I take the exit to get onto SR500 and he follows continuing his crazy tactics. “Where is a cop when I need one??” I’m thinking. At this point I am starting to get worried so I decide that I should probably not let the guy follow me home so as he speeds past the Van Mall exit I hit the breaks, cross both lanes of the highway and take the exit. I see him brake almost to a complete stop on the overpass above, obviously noticing that I was gone. I got back on SR500 going the opposite direction and took the back way home.
What the hell?? I have never had anyone do anything like that before, but it was quite fun loosing him on the highway. Hehehe. Hey, if I don’t want to be caught, I won’t be caught!
I was home, in my own bed by 2am (yes, that’s right!) and was cursing the day when my alarm woke me 3 hours later….
Triple Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte Anyone??
(*hint* *hint*)
I met up with S (yup, the same one that stood me up last week; proof that I always seem to give people second chances) at Old Chicago in SE and took advantage of their ever-so-extravagant happy hour menu. You see, he always asks me where I want to go and me, not knowing any good bars in areas aside from Down Town Portland have no idea where to go. I didn't particularily feel like going to McMenamins again so Old Chicago it is. He orders a Black Butte Porter and I order a Hefeweizen (I have been taking a break from the darker brews…… for some reason) and we decide on fries and some buffalo wings (really it was more like just chicken because we swear that they forgot to add the sauce). The waitress is less than attentive, I ask for some ketchup to go with the fries which never seemed to materialize and she came back and asked us if we wanted more drinks maybe twice. My second round beer was so bad (an IPA with a bitter aftertaste reminiscent of the bitter beer commercials I remember seeing when I was younger) that I only ended up drinking maybe a quarter of it.
So we are sitting there, chit chatting away when we realize that the time is past 1am and being that I do have to be up at 5am I had to be getting home. Around 1:30am-ish I am driving in Vancouver and get over to the lane that I need to be in to exit when the car in front of me slows way down. “What the hell?” was the only thing that came to mind. So I go around him. The next thing I know this guy gets up on my tail, swerves to my right, passes me, cuts me off and flicks a cigarette at my car in the process. Um.. again, what the hell??? I’m thinking that he must be drunk and I really didn’t want to piss him off so I just get over and pass him doing the speed limit. This apparently didn’t sit well with him because he again speeds past me then slows down then speeds past me and slows down yet again. Its one thing if I knew who he was but I don’t know anyone that drives a car like that. I take the exit to get onto SR500 and he follows continuing his crazy tactics. “Where is a cop when I need one??” I’m thinking. At this point I am starting to get worried so I decide that I should probably not let the guy follow me home so as he speeds past the Van Mall exit I hit the breaks, cross both lanes of the highway and take the exit. I see him brake almost to a complete stop on the overpass above, obviously noticing that I was gone. I got back on SR500 going the opposite direction and took the back way home.
What the hell?? I have never had anyone do anything like that before, but it was quite fun loosing him on the highway. Hehehe. Hey, if I don’t want to be caught, I won’t be caught!
I was home, in my own bed by 2am (yes, that’s right!) and was cursing the day when my alarm woke me 3 hours later….
Triple Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte Anyone??
(*hint* *hint*)
Friday, April 4, 2008
Mountain Fun
This last Wednesday I was finally able to make the trek up the Mountain to test my skiing abilities… and I would have to say that I had a great time.
We got there around 9:30am, just in time to check in, rent skies (for me) and get out on the slope for my lesson. This was the second time in my life that I had ever even tried skiing, and the first time (about 4 years ago) I actually started the day off by running into a crowd of people waiting to get on the ski lift on the bunny slope…… so you can say that I was a bit apprehensive.
I was in a group of three people; the other two people were a couple on holiday from England one of which had the goal of going skiing before they turned 40 (it was great talking to them). The instructor was great; she was very helpful, at one point even held my skies for me and skied down the hill backwards to give me a feel of what skiing correctly feels like. I didn’t fall once! Until 10 minutes before the end of the 2 hour lesson when I was talking on the ski lift and didn’t realize we were so close to getting off of it…. Yeah… Quite embarrassing……. Haha. At this point I meet D and R and the instructor specifically tells D that although I have excellent balance to not take me on any steep slopes until I get my form down… “Ok!” he says and off we go.
The first run we made was called “West Leg Road” which, as R pointed out, is because you pretty much ski the entire thing on your western leg. This run is very easy.. although I did end up almost doing the splits one time… and after some…. not so nice… words emitted out of my mouth I made it back up and was good to go. We get to the bottom and take the express lift back up to the top.
In order to not have to go back to the lodge and start all over again D decides to take a “short cut” to a different green slope. This “short cut” is not a trail, and I couldn’t get on it with my skies on so I ended up having to take them off. Now I am walking in ski boots, carrying my skies and my poles (which I was calling my sticks), the snow was up past my knees and my body is so tired I was literally shaking. But on I must go! With each step I would inadvertently fall down and would have to strain to get back up again. This went on for about 15 minutes when we finally found the trail! But wait, this was no green trail!! This was a BLACK trail (Black = Expert) with the specific name “The Bone Zone”. Not only was it steep but it was nothing but zig-zag 90 degree turns! Suffice to say, I was screaming the whole way down, but I didn’t fall once! Hehe (I have to admit that going down this run was actually quite fun, and is something that I am sure I would enjoy had my experience level been past my first real time skiing…
.)
After we finally made it to the bottom (we never found the green run mind you) we rode the lift back up and I took R, sent D off to do his difficult runs on his own, and had no problem finding a nice and easy green run to go down.
The time is now 3 o’clock, the lift closes at 4 so down we go. We make it to the bottom maybe 10 minutes later, get on the lift, and are enjoying the quiet ride back up. The lift stops. That is typical… 5 minutes later it is still stopped so I get out my phone and start communicating with all those I left at the bottom of the mountain (and took some the only pictures I could being that I left my real camera on my desk at home).
10 minutes later we are still sitting there, suspended in the air! Ok, this is fine, but now it is almost 3:30 and any hopes of a final run are quickly fading. The guys in the chair behind us were even more upset than us… spewing things that I cannot really repeat. Finally, five more minutes later, and we start moving again and are let off at the top at around 3:45 pm. Way too late to try anything real, because there isn’t any run that would be worth me having to trek it all the way to the top of the mountain by foot.
So it was a disappointing end to quite the fun day.
I guarantee you will be seeing me up there more often! I want to take E up and teach him how to ski…. He will be one of those little boys doing crazy jumps off the mountain in no time.
Now I just need to recover………
We got there around 9:30am, just in time to check in, rent skies (for me) and get out on the slope for my lesson. This was the second time in my life that I had ever even tried skiing, and the first time (about 4 years ago) I actually started the day off by running into a crowd of people waiting to get on the ski lift on the bunny slope…… so you can say that I was a bit apprehensive.
I was in a group of three people; the other two people were a couple on holiday from England one of which had the goal of going skiing before they turned 40 (it was great talking to them). The instructor was great; she was very helpful, at one point even held my skies for me and skied down the hill backwards to give me a feel of what skiing correctly feels like. I didn’t fall once! Until 10 minutes before the end of the 2 hour lesson when I was talking on the ski lift and didn’t realize we were so close to getting off of it…. Yeah… Quite embarrassing……. Haha. At this point I meet D and R and the instructor specifically tells D that although I have excellent balance to not take me on any steep slopes until I get my form down… “Ok!” he says and off we go.
The first run we made was called “West Leg Road” which, as R pointed out, is because you pretty much ski the entire thing on your western leg. This run is very easy.. although I did end up almost doing the splits one time… and after some…. not so nice… words emitted out of my mouth I made it back up and was good to go. We get to the bottom and take the express lift back up to the top.
In order to not have to go back to the lodge and start all over again D decides to take a “short cut” to a different green slope. This “short cut” is not a trail, and I couldn’t get on it with my skies on so I ended up having to take them off. Now I am walking in ski boots, carrying my skies and my poles (which I was calling my sticks), the snow was up past my knees and my body is so tired I was literally shaking. But on I must go! With each step I would inadvertently fall down and would have to strain to get back up again. This went on for about 15 minutes when we finally found the trail! But wait, this was no green trail!! This was a BLACK trail (Black = Expert) with the specific name “The Bone Zone”. Not only was it steep but it was nothing but zig-zag 90 degree turns! Suffice to say, I was screaming the whole way down, but I didn’t fall once! Hehe (I have to admit that going down this run was actually quite fun, and is something that I am sure I would enjoy had my experience level been past my first real time skiing…
.)After we finally made it to the bottom (we never found the green run mind you) we rode the lift back up and I took R, sent D off to do his difficult runs on his own, and had no problem finding a nice and easy green run to go down.
The time is now 3 o’clock, the lift closes at 4 so down we go. We make it to the bottom maybe 10 minutes later, get on the lift, and are enjoying the quiet ride back up. The lift stops. That is typical… 5 minutes later it is still stopped so I get out my phone and start communicating with all those I left at the bottom of the mountain (and took some the only pictures I could being that I left my real camera on my desk at home).
10 minutes later we are still sitting there, suspended in the air! Ok, this is fine, but now it is almost 3:30 and any hopes of a final run are quickly fading. The guys in the chair behind us were even more upset than us… spewing things that I cannot really repeat. Finally, five more minutes later, and we start moving again and are let off at the top at around 3:45 pm. Way too late to try anything real, because there isn’t any run that would be worth me having to trek it all the way to the top of the mountain by foot.
So it was a disappointing end to quite the fun day.
I guarantee you will be seeing me up there more often! I want to take E up and teach him how to ski…. He will be one of those little boys doing crazy jumps off the mountain in no time.
Now I just need to recover………
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)