A Made In Oregon Opportunity

I participated in the Grand Floral Walk today and while I was walking across the Burnside bridge on the beautiful day that was today I decided to snap a picture that I have been wanting to take for Years! But I typically think of taking the picture when I am driving across the bridge; when do I ever have the opportunity to stop in the middle of the street and take the perfect picture?

Now if only I could photoshop out that "for lease" sign it would be perfect.

When in Doubt, Break Out the Pro/Con List.

We are thinking about moving into a house in Battle Ground. The first time I went and saw the place solo I couldn't wait to leave.. but then when Brandon was there with me he was able to sell me on the place. Now we are both doubting whether we will be happy there, but don't want to pass up on a potentially great opportunity without first thinking it through.

Pro:
House, almost an acre of yard, 2 car garage, chicken coop, Ethan will have a yard to play in, we won't have to tip toe inside, no one above or beside us for us to hear day in and day out, dog run, my dog will be able to play outside more often, creek in the back yard, river within walking distance, I can have a real garden (veggies and flower beds), inside was completely redone in 2006, have been told if we want to do any improvements on the property they would provide the materials at no cost to us (paint, landscaping, etc), low rent which will save us both quite a lot of money ($4200/yr for just me), outside of city limits so burning is allowed, there is a fire pit which Brandon is in love with, His commute goes down to 7 minutes, but he is looking for a new job so that could possibly only be a temporary improvement
(17 items)

Con:
Small (900 sq ft), only one bathroom, bedrooms are small, paint chipping from the outside, looks very old, the garage looks as if it is very unstable (we wouldn't be parking cars inside, instead it would be used for storage), no neighbors, very isolated, creepy in the evenings, ground level which causes me to lose the sense of security I have in my second level apartment, increased commute to work (in Portland) for me, 4 other applicants already and at $80 for us to apply for the place it could end up being all for naught anyways, floor plan less than desirable (but I know you get what you pay for), Ethan will have to change school districts, may end up paying more for after school care which will eat into the savings
(15 items)

Ok so from really looking over the list I like the location, the price and the benefits that come with living in a house, but I don't really like how isolated it is and the house in itself. If we move into a nicer house though, how will we ever be able to actually save the money needed to get a house of our own? I guess when it comes down to it, its either go to a place like that or just stay in the apartment for another year or two..
Decisions.

The Best Blueberry Muffin Recipe EVER.

Yes, Ever!

I made these on Saturday night and come Monday morning all 24 of them had mysteriously vanished (and no, they were not fed to the dog or somehow made their way to the trash can)

I took the recipe from Food Network and tweaked it a bit to make it my own.

• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup nonfat half and half
• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp basking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 cup blueberries (if using frozen blueberries do not thaw)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Add cupcake liners to the pan.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (at least 3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time while mixing. Add sour cream, milk and half and half and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry mixture to the batter and mix well. Fold blueberries into the mix being careful not to over stir.

Fill cupcake liners until 2/3 full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean.

Makes approx 24 muffins.

One thing I did learn by making these... if you are going to tell your coworkers all about how wonderful they are, make sure to bring some in and share :)

Where did I lose my way?

I went to school with a dream. A dream that with my education would come with a good job. A job that could get me the things I need from life. It would be interesting, challenging; something that required my degree and would make a difference.

I graduated.

As I look around, nothing has changed. There is nothing I can really do with my degree and I feel a bit duped. Education is supposed to open doors! Instead, I'm laden with debt and working in a position that doesn't even require a degree.

All that hard work and dedication for this?

...

My Choice of a Plane Read: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This past weekend I found myself with a four hour round trip plane trip in front of me. Now, either I could sleep on the plane, make conversation with my unknown neighbors, twiddle my thumbs or read a book. After much deliberation I chose to bring a book. Those of you who known me know that I have plenty of unread books on my bookcase to chose from for situations such as this (I am what is known as a bookaholic), but I live for reasons to go to the bookstore so off I went in search of an exciting read. I must admit, I did my homework beforehand and had a pretty good idea of what I was going to get, so I walked over to the fiction section and scanned the authors last names.
... A... C.... H...
Nope, have to go around the corner..
....J..... K.. L
There it was, the first book in Stieg Larsson's Millenim series.

If I would have known that the literal translation of the Swedish title was actually "Men who Hate Women" I probably would have never picked up this book in the first place, but since it was cleverly named "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" I picked it up and gave it a chance. I must say, not what I was expecting at all, but very well written and gripping nonetheless. What initially starts out as an investigative reporter working on a very cold murder case turns into something I would have never imagined. Filled with twists and turns, suspect after suspect and lets not forget drama, I was not able to put the book down!*

Admittedly, it was a little dry to start out with, but after the set up, the introductions and all the back ground was out of the way, the meat of the story did not disappoint. If you like gritty crime dramas that do not hold back, I would recommend this book for you.
Now, I need to find someplace else to fly off to so I can get started on the second book!
__________________


*On the plane, off the plane, by the pool, when I got back home. Clearly, I became addicted.

Pure as Snow

Vision is not reserved for the eyes alone.

For anything to be seen it must first be accepted.

Where else but here?

Where else can I pay almost $900 a month to listen to elephants frolicking upstairs, a guy with a baby who likes to scream in a megaphone pointed towards my wall on one side and a couple with surround sound rival any Dolby digital system at the cinema on the other. Not to mention people downstairs that like to slam their door like they are keeping the beat to a heavy metal marathon?

Oh thats right, my place.

The best way.

With a heart as pure as white rice. Or snow, but snow melts a little too easy.

Easter, for all its worth.

Easter in itself is a strange holiday. Its like they couldn't pick just one thing to celebrate so they mushed fertility rituals, celebration of a god that rose of the dead and a big creepy easter bunny that puts candies and gifts in children's rooms while they are sleeping and hides eggs in the yard when they are not watching all into one day and called it "Easter". Personally, I just like looking at the cute, fuzzy baby chicks. Happy Easter, whatever you are celebrating, everyone :)

Rebecca, the film critic (at least for a minute or two)

Writing about “An Education” got me thinking, what else have I watched over the last couple of weeks? (way too many movies I am thinking) Here is a rundown:

How to Train Your Dragon: 5/5

Hiccup, a young viking boy desperate to prove to his father and his clan that he is deserving of the viking name, wounds a dragon that everyone is deathly afraid of. He finds the dragon, still alive, and contemplates killing it, but while his knife is raised all he can see is his own fear coming from the animals eyes so he decides to let him live. The problem is that its tail has been crippled and he is unable to fly. The boy helps the dragon get back in the air and proves to his village that dragons are not the beasts that they make them out to be. This was the first (and probably last) film that I have seen in 3D, and while it was good at the time the 3 hour headache I had after I got home pretty much made the decision to go 2D from here on out. The movie itself was cute, child appropriate and very entertaining to watch. Not only has it been requested that we purchase this film when it comes out, we actually went out and bought the books it was based on. A win/win in my book!

Coco before Chanel: 4/5

I love a good foreign film and this was French with English subtitles, which I know can be a turnoff for some, but this picture was good on more than one level. The costumes and the set design were done very beautifully, there was one scene where it was a little surreal seeing the french gentry on the beach in their corsets, flamboyant hats, lacy umbrellas and pompous fluff. Personally, I was really interested in the story due to my background, but I think it could have been a little dry for someone who didn’t admire Chanel for her impact to fashion. It was for this reason why I was glued to the story, but I doubt anyone who was uninterested in fashion would even think of picking up this film.

Brothers: 3/5

Set during wartime Afghanistan, this movie tells the story of an American solider who goes to war, is captured by the enemy and does the unthinkable to get back home. His wife is told that he is killed in action however and she starts to get on with her life back at home, namely, she starts a pseudo relationship with his brother who was there helping with the children (his nieces) cope with the loss. I think it does tell a great story of what happens mentally to solders that deal with the immense stress of battle and how they are not always ready to be simply immersed in “typical” society, but the movie itself was a little dry and boring. I was watching the clock, wondering when it was going to be over, which I think was quite unfortunate because they were telling a great story. I think I shall look for the original version of this film (this was a remake) and see if they did a more entertaining job.

The Time Travelers Wife: 2.5/5

A story of a man who travels through time against his will* (how often does one little sentence sum up an entire story??) It was recommended I watch this movie by a friend and while I should have known the “greatness” was probably going to be lost on me (being mostly against sappy chick flicks) I didn’t find it horrible. It was slow, drawn out and a little cheesy at times, but the overall story was original and somewhat interesting. I wouldn’t really recommend it, nor would I ever watch it again.

* A Note to Children, Gullible Men and Women alike: If a naked man ever comes stumbling out of the woods claiming to be your friend/relative and/or romantic partner from the future do not stick around to see if they are telling you the truth, Run dammit RUN!!

An Education

I’ve been watching quite a few movies of late, but I have to say that my favorite out of the bunch has got to be “An Education”. Its a story of a school aged girl that has everything going for her; she has straight A’s, means to not only get into a college like Oxford but a family to pay for it for her and set goals for what she wants to do with her life after college. All this changes after a chance meeting with an older man. I won’t give away the story, but when it comes down to it this film has a very clear and important message: you must never give up on yourself. Five stars! :)

Seven things I noticed while in the Emerald City and then some.

The sun was playing a little game with us on Monday and every time we stepped foot outside it started raining and every time we went inside of anything (my car, a coffee shop, the market, a tree) it would peek out and give us a mischievous wink. Maybe that is what is “supposed to happen” in Seattle, but thanks to the sun I spent a little more money than I probably should have.

Here are a few more things I noticed while in the Emerald City:

1. Like Portland, umbrellas are pretty much pointless because either there is not enough rain to justify opening it or there is too much wind to keep the dang thing from flipping inside out every other minute.

2. Coffee is Cheap! Maybe it had more to do with the fact there were three coffee shops allocated to each city block or maybe I just got lucky with the location that I went to, but I WISH I could get a medium latte for $2.50 anywhere here in Portland! The fact that it was delicious

3. I love my car. I guess I should have already known this due to the fact that I drive it everywhere, but after filling my gas tank for $42 (at THREE DOLLARS A GALLON) I was able to make it up there and back on about 2/3 a tank! While on the way up and back I kept wondering why I didn’t fly, but this beats getting a rental car and having to give a strip show for airport security any day.

4. Maybe it’s just me, but isn’t the Space Needle due a facelift? It looked exactly the same as it did when I actually went up the elevators in 1994: dirty, dingy, rusty, smelly, need I go on?

5. “Emerald City” = Seattle. Care to venture to guess who “The All American City” is? Oh that’s right! I’m surprised you knew that Olympia, Washington has this title… which leads me to ask, who comes up with these “titles”? What is Portland’s? The only thing that comes to mind when trying to come up with its “title” are the “keep Portland weird” bumper stickers… oh wait, “The Rose City”… yeah, that is weird enough in itself.

6. I cannot stand the smell of fish. Sure, I have officially been a vegetarian for a month on the 8^th (or 4 weeks on Monday), but seafood used to be some of my favorite dishes! Crab legs were divine! Now? I was gagging while walking through and Pikes Place Market (maybe this was more due to being in the touristiest part of the city? I’m not sure…)

7. I hate streets that are at 89.995 degree angles. I hate driving up them even more. I know it is because of the water, but some of the streets there reminded me of San Francisco (or this one in San Diego that I had to *try* to drive down without screaming too loud, let’s just say it was a good thing I was driving a rental car that time) and since I was in my own car I wanted away from the shoreline as quickly as possible.

When it was all said and done, I have to admit that I had a good time in Seattle. I’m sure I’ll come again, but next time it won’t be on a day that I am boating up and down the freeway.

An Abrupt Ending?

I guess it would be fitting to post this here, this being where I used to post a majority, if not all, of my misgivings.

Maybe I am expecting too much.

Maybe I am allowing my impatience to sabotage something that could have stayed good forever.

But isn't there an inherent badness in settling for a situation that is unacceptable?

I feel like I am living a lie.

That if things truly were the way it was stated, this would be a non-issue. But issue it is and unless I settle once again, the next stretch of road ahead is not looking very pleasant.

I am distracted, distraught and demoralized.

Looking at the road is not helping; I need to know if I need to start walking.

So this is happiness

There have been Rabbit Holes and Roundabouts

Detours and Distractions

But nothing quite like this before.

I am walking down a straight path.

I can see the light all around me.

There are no stones in the way; No forks in the path.

I know where I am headed.

I am sprinting to the finish.

So this is happiness :)

This Year vs. Last Year. Resolutionally.

And just like that the new year has come and gone and before I decide to come up with resolutions for 2010, I think it is a good time to go over what I said I wanted to accomplish in 2009...

Things I would like to accomplish in the year 2009

1) Move to a different neighborhood

2) FINALLY finish my degree

3) Get my passport

4) Travel to Europe

5) Make more female friends (this is harder than one would imagine!)

6) Decide what I want to do with my degree and take appropriate actions to get there

7) Ski Mt Bachelor

8) Rollerblade on the Boardwalk in LA

9) Buy a Motorcycle

10) Learn how to ride a Motorcycle

11) Learn at least 75 new Kanji characters

12) Find happiness, even if that is just with myself

So lets see here... number 1... check... number 2.... check... number 3....uh... 4....5..... (see the previous post for progress on this one).... 6... 7 (we were going to go to bend but it didn't seem to happen).... 8 (I did go to San Diego and ride a bicycle on the boardwalk, this has to count for something!)...... 9 (not that I didnt want to, but I didnt have the money)... 10... 11 (maybe a couple this year)... 12 CHECK!!

So, out of 12 it is looking like I accomplished 3 and a half.

But the ones that I did get were the more important ones..

So for this year:

1) Buy a house or at least move into one

2) Savannah and Myrtle Beach!

3) Write at least one chapter of a book

4) Find a way to make a dent in my student loans

5) Decide what I want to do with my degree and DO IT

6) Get out and travel a bit more, even if it is simply in the US

7) Reconnect!!

8) Should I add getting my passport to the list once again? Second time is a charm?

9) Take Ethan to the Children's Museum

10) Spend more time writing in general. Blog, Journals, Creatively.

11) Find a creative outlet and explore it.

12) Keep smiling. No matter what.

The more things on the list, the more chances of actually getting something done :)

A True Life Four Christmases

When you come from a "broken family" it is always difficult when the holiday's come around to decide which side of the family a person is going to spend time with that year, but what happens when you have two "broken families" to contend with? Do you simply chose one and leave the others out, or do you try to accomodate for all? Well this year we attempted the impossible (if not only for the fact that there simply is not enough energy to contend with four families over a single weekend) and did just that.

Dinner and Dominos with his dad on Christmas Eve

Prime Rib and Home Videos with my mom on Christmas Day

Potatoes and Presents with his mom on the day after

Christmas Cake and Conversation with my dad on the day after the day after Christmas

Sadly, when something is boring in real life, it seems even more boring down on paper so instead of boring you with details I will simply leave it at that.

Next year I am thinking of hopping on a plane for sure!

And I said I would not analyze it: Hi Panda

Hi Panda by Ji Ji

On first glance, what impression did these panda bears give you?
Cute?
Cuddly?
Evil?
Disturbing?
Those were Pandas?
Believe it or not, I actually find these bears quite lovable. Maybe it is because the artist intended for these figures to represent children born in the 80's, of which I am included, and all my life I have been dealing with each of the said emotions the bears are depicting.
Maybe it is because the media has desensitized me to the point that "evil bears" seem so far out there that I see them as anything but evil.
Maybe the little diapers they are wearing make me instinctively think "baby" and since, in order to ensure the survival of the human race, we are wired to feel empathetic towards babies I feel nothing but love for them. And an evil baby is simply unheard of.
Maybe it is because on a subconscious level I really do see them as disturbing, I am thus feeling sorry for them and only see them as lovable because in my heart I really want to help them.
Or maybe it is because I simply am crazy. Who knows.
All I know is that I have Angry Panda glaring at me from his cozy little perch atop my mantle across the room.
I need no definitive reason why.
My smile is enough.

...and repeat...

Hello.
My name is Rebecca and I am addicted to a game on Facebook.
Oh, its not just any game..
And its not even a good game.
But once I start I cannot stop!
The high score is taunting me..
"83,050? Is that really the best you can do?"
Each game only takes a minute..
"Can you not spare a minute?"
One minute turns into two, which turns into 12, which turns into 30 and the next thing I know I have spent a good hour trying to beat a pointless score.
I know that is what they want.
I know they have me in the palm of their hands.
Just one more time..
I know I can do it...

9 Ways to Avoid the Baby Shower Blues

All I could think of as I finally escaped those double doors was why I decided to waste close to 2 hours of my Sunday in the clutches of boredom, the face of awkwardness and in the presence of more strangers that I would have subjected myself had I took the city bus. Oh and the two words "Thank God". Thank God for the fact that I finally made it out of there of course.
As I drove down the road, attempting to clear my memory of the recent event, it occurred to me that I could actually benefit from the previous situation if only by ensuring that it was never to happen again. Well, if it was to at least never happen to the one person I have the power to guarantee this with: Myself.

Note to Self: If for any reason a baby shower is thrown in my honor the following rules shall be strictly adhered to.
1. The location shall never, under any circumstances, be held in a pizza parlor.
2. There shall never be more guests than a standard sheet cake can feed.
3. The noise level will never be so high that anyone has to shout to be heard by the person sitting right next to them.
4. Games will be played with the hope and intent of facilitating conversation between the entire group.
5. While food is important at a lunchtime party, that shall not be the main focus. Said food shall also not contribute to the obesity epidemic of America (this rule may be bent if shower is held outside of the States)
6. While it is understandable that not everyone will know all the attendees, the event must be kept at a size where it is reasonable for people to feel comfortable enough to interact with others. Showers must be split into separate parties for this very reason. IE: One for family, one for friends, one for coworkers, etc.
7. Presents are a key part of a baby shower, but common etiquette suggests not opening them within the first 30 minutes of the shower commencing.
8. Clowns?? Need I say anything more?
9. No matter what, the atmosphere must be keep light and unserious. Otherwise guests will be scheming ways to escape after only being there an hour.

Now that I have that stored away in case of emergencies, on with the rest of my Sunday.

Ode to the Bloggerverse

My computer was gone,
I was all alone.
But luckily for me,
I still had my phone.

This was all well and good,
for all sites but this one.
So I continued my postings,
after I'd get all my work done.

Then work got savvy of the fact that work related blogs are hard to find
Took away blogger (and twitter! and plurk!) which near put me out of my mind.

But what should I get? I truly had no idea
To the computer store I went! (in this case I chose Costco)
It didn't take long, there was no searching high and low.
I saw my new Dell right in the front row!

So now I am back, there was no stopping me
Thought I would swing by and share with you my glee ;)