A friend forwarded me this NY Times article about Portland. The picture at the beginning is the perfect image to describe this wonderful city.
Frugal Portland - NYTimes.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
locally-owned
before i blog, a quick "shout out" to kirsten and colin, geo metro owners. i think you guys should challenge my dad to a race for pink slips (a la grease) to see who wins. :)
tonight i went to my favorite vegetarian restaurant in town, the bay leaf on division and 50th-ish. i was sad to see that of the 20-ish tables, there were only 3 tables with customers at them......the rest were empty. wha?? the bay leaf food is tasty asian goodness! i am worried that the kind owners will go out of business, so i am going to commit to stopping in for dinner on the way home from work every few weeks to do my part in keeping a local business running. i do the same by purchasing an americano every day at kobos, the coffee shop across the street from my office at work. i'm not perfect (i do still shop at fred meyer and target), but every little bit counts, right?
*sidenote: thanks to kimmy, i tried something new on the menu. in fact 2 new things. both were eggplant dishes and both were ooh la la.
what local businesses do you support in your community? i realize some of my frugal friends don't like to spend money, but i'd encourage you to find ways to give money to your community and your local small business owners when you do spend. sometimes it's actually a good thing to spend money. my dad, and all other small business owners, thank you.
in closing, which of my portland friends wants to join me at the bay leaf, and when should we go?
tonight i went to my favorite vegetarian restaurant in town, the bay leaf on division and 50th-ish. i was sad to see that of the 20-ish tables, there were only 3 tables with customers at them......the rest were empty. wha?? the bay leaf food is tasty asian goodness! i am worried that the kind owners will go out of business, so i am going to commit to stopping in for dinner on the way home from work every few weeks to do my part in keeping a local business running. i do the same by purchasing an americano every day at kobos, the coffee shop across the street from my office at work. i'm not perfect (i do still shop at fred meyer and target), but every little bit counts, right?
*sidenote: thanks to kimmy, i tried something new on the menu. in fact 2 new things. both were eggplant dishes and both were ooh la la.
what local businesses do you support in your community? i realize some of my frugal friends don't like to spend money, but i'd encourage you to find ways to give money to your community and your local small business owners when you do spend. sometimes it's actually a good thing to spend money. my dad, and all other small business owners, thank you.
in closing, which of my portland friends wants to join me at the bay leaf, and when should we go?
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
geo metros...
...should not be allowed on the freeway. they drive slower than my dad's 190? Chalmers, and at least that car looks good.
i realize the metro only made me get home about 90 seconds later than if it hadn't been in front of me, but it's really the principle. i mean, my 1980 chevrolet monza went tons faster than a metro. ok, not tons, but faster. wow, that was a great car...
(the red one looks exactly like mine did):
i realize the metro only made me get home about 90 seconds later than if it hadn't been in front of me, but it's really the principle. i mean, my 1980 chevrolet monza went tons faster than a metro. ok, not tons, but faster. wow, that was a great car...
(the red one looks exactly like mine did):
Monday, May 04, 2009
livin' in the hood
in college, the days when tammy said i was "livin' in the hood" with my green day t-shirts, my malcolm x glasses, and my attempts to dye my hair blue with rit dye, i was so creative and in tune with my emotions. i loved my life and i loved being weird and expressing outwardly what i was feeling on the inside.
cut to me today: corporate job, sitting at a desk all day, staring at outlook and dialing numbers over and over on my cisco phone, coaching as "coach-bot" with some moments of creativity as i create training stuff. this is not where i thought i'd be 10+ years later. with my re-corporatization over the last 3 years (i did a brief stint at "wells fargo e.f.s" right after college), i have become terribly out of tune with my emotions and stress, just working away each day creating those coaching call widgits (that was a reference to dr. staggers' horrid u.s. history class, if you usf-ers can recall).
my creative self has nearly died. and now i am pulling out the creativity defibrillator and restarting it. i've been carrying around the book "the artists way" for several years, after "stealing" it from warren hall when we cleaned out the storage rooms one year. this week i finally started the 12-week process of rediscovering my creative self through daily "morning pages" and weekly "artist dates".
warning: this could lead to more blogging, some painting, pushing the dress code envelope at work, creating music in "garage band" on my computer (thanks, jim, for the introduction), more mismatched sock / shoe combos, new crazy glasses, more random creations from bryan ko's old business cards, more extended ellipses and CAPITAL LETTERS when i blog or post on facebook. WHO KNOWS. the sky is the limit.
more to come..................!!!!
cut to me today: corporate job, sitting at a desk all day, staring at outlook and dialing numbers over and over on my cisco phone, coaching as "coach-bot" with some moments of creativity as i create training stuff. this is not where i thought i'd be 10+ years later. with my re-corporatization over the last 3 years (i did a brief stint at "wells fargo e.f.s" right after college), i have become terribly out of tune with my emotions and stress, just working away each day creating those coaching call widgits (that was a reference to dr. staggers' horrid u.s. history class, if you usf-ers can recall).
my creative self has nearly died. and now i am pulling out the creativity defibrillator and restarting it. i've been carrying around the book "the artists way" for several years, after "stealing" it from warren hall when we cleaned out the storage rooms one year. this week i finally started the 12-week process of rediscovering my creative self through daily "morning pages" and weekly "artist dates".
warning: this could lead to more blogging, some painting, pushing the dress code envelope at work, creating music in "garage band" on my computer (thanks, jim, for the introduction), more mismatched sock / shoe combos, new crazy glasses, more random creations from bryan ko's old business cards, more extended ellipses and CAPITAL LETTERS when i blog or post on facebook. WHO KNOWS. the sky is the limit.
more to come..................!!!!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Bumblebee
I'm now on a team at work called Transformers (most of the team works with Game and Simulation Programming students). As part of my hazing, I took a transformers test to see which transformer I am. :)
I AM
67%
BUMBLEBEETake the Transformers Quiz
Bumblebee
As an Autobot spy, Bumblebee is the ultimate robot in disguise. What he lacks in size and strength, he makes up for with courage. He enjoys the company of humans and would do anything for his Earthly friends.
Like Bumblebee, you are good by nature. But beware because mischievous thoughts sometimes tempt you. You show no aptitude to become the commander of the Autobots. In addition, you stick to the basics and don't need all the encumberances of modern technology.
I AM
67%
BUMBLEBEETake the Transformers Quiz
Bumblebee
As an Autobot spy, Bumblebee is the ultimate robot in disguise. What he lacks in size and strength, he makes up for with courage. He enjoys the company of humans and would do anything for his Earthly friends.
Like Bumblebee, you are good by nature. But beware because mischievous thoughts sometimes tempt you. You show no aptitude to become the commander of the Autobots. In addition, you stick to the basics and don't need all the encumberances of modern technology.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
spring
i'm going to try to start posting here again. no promises, but i'll try.
things of spring to note:
*the Regal Beagle is open. i spent a large chunk of time last weekend cleaning off my furniture covers so that i could put them into storage clean (so as not to rot over the winter). i have only had 1 guest so far, but i may cristen it with a mini-party soon.
*i got a new haircut a few weeks ago and have gotten a lot of compliments. it must look good.
*i am trying to read more. including the "finish what you started" new years resolution i set for books a few years ago. i still have a lot of books to finish, but i'm using the library to give myself some variety. i recently finished the 4 books in the twilight series (i give the series a C+ but would recommend you read it if you like sappy crap or just want something juvenile that doesn't use your brain). i also just read 1984 by george orwell - trippy - and three cups of tea - inspiring, and something i'd recommend for all. next up i'm reading sense and sensibility / pride and prejudice / mansford park (all in 1 book i checked out) and the picture of dorian grey. i'm going old-school for the next few weeks.
*as i type this, i'm breaking a self-care rule i set for myself. i'm trying to shut of my tv and computer at 9pm and go to bed between 10 and 10:30. i will follow through in a few short minutes...only 30 minutes late. :)
*i planted new stuff in my big giant pots on my patio and this year, i planted most of the flowers and stuff from seeds. so i head out every day to see the progress. though it's slow, the snow peas are starting to get big, and the mint plant (which i bought already in bloom) is doing well. i put some mint in hot water today for some tasty tea.
*nicole, dayna, and mindy came to town this weekend to celebrate nic's birthday. we had a nice urban family + dayna dinner on friday night and we had a night on the town last night that included mint/820, bowling, and tasty food in ne portland.
ok, that's all the wild and crazy stuff in my world right now.
things of spring to note:
*the Regal Beagle is open. i spent a large chunk of time last weekend cleaning off my furniture covers so that i could put them into storage clean (so as not to rot over the winter). i have only had 1 guest so far, but i may cristen it with a mini-party soon.
*i got a new haircut a few weeks ago and have gotten a lot of compliments. it must look good.
*i am trying to read more. including the "finish what you started" new years resolution i set for books a few years ago. i still have a lot of books to finish, but i'm using the library to give myself some variety. i recently finished the 4 books in the twilight series (i give the series a C+ but would recommend you read it if you like sappy crap or just want something juvenile that doesn't use your brain). i also just read 1984 by george orwell - trippy - and three cups of tea - inspiring, and something i'd recommend for all. next up i'm reading sense and sensibility / pride and prejudice / mansford park (all in 1 book i checked out) and the picture of dorian grey. i'm going old-school for the next few weeks.
*as i type this, i'm breaking a self-care rule i set for myself. i'm trying to shut of my tv and computer at 9pm and go to bed between 10 and 10:30. i will follow through in a few short minutes...only 30 minutes late. :)
*i planted new stuff in my big giant pots on my patio and this year, i planted most of the flowers and stuff from seeds. so i head out every day to see the progress. though it's slow, the snow peas are starting to get big, and the mint plant (which i bought already in bloom) is doing well. i put some mint in hot water today for some tasty tea.
*nicole, dayna, and mindy came to town this weekend to celebrate nic's birthday. we had a nice urban family + dayna dinner on friday night and we had a night on the town last night that included mint/820, bowling, and tasty food in ne portland.
ok, that's all the wild and crazy stuff in my world right now.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
'Midwest' Discovered Between East And West Coasts
A funny article from The Onion (read: it's meant to be funny) sent to me by a friend.
'Midwest' Discovered Between East And West Coasts | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
'Midwest' Discovered Between East And West Coasts | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
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