Portland May 20th

Portland May 19th

week with Shawn

Shawn came to visit for a week. It was actually nice having him around. We lived together for a little over a year, he moved to Dallas with him. I b*tched and complained about it but he was an ok roommate. He really came down to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and my apartment was just a place for him to put his stuff but that's what family is for. As soon as he got into the car last Wednesday, he told me how much he misses Dallas and moving back to Minnesota was a mistake. Then yesterday, Monday night, he told me he put in his application for Americorp to work another year in Dallas with Habitat. It made me think about my decisions, my next step. I cannot work for the same company anymore, been here 6 years. I need change, I need something different but what? I moved down with the idea that after two years, I would move to the West Coast- Seattle or Portland. 4 months until my employment contact is up. I am actually starting to like Texas. HUGE state, tons of activities and places to visit. I have been/will be participating in bike rides around North Texas (Muenster, Mt Vernon, Cedar Hill, Italy, Paris, San Angelo, Burleson, Witchia Falls, Waxahachie, and Cleburne). There are still places in Texas I want to visit- Shiner Brewery, Big Bend and New Orleans. Do I stay in Texas another year or move? I am ready for a change, a new adventure, and I can always come back to Texas. Decisions decisions. May 19th through 22nd, I will be visiting Portland and see if this is truly what I want to do.

Saturday April 24th

Last Saturday I biked the farther I have ever biked, 63 miles!! Went to Muenster, TX for an orgazined ride, It was intense, brutual, amazing!!! Fighting the wind the whole time, the hills kept coming and coming and giving AND GIVING, sun was beating down. LOVED IT!! Kept a 12mph pace, I would trying to bump it up to 15mph. From now to the end of August, I am going to try to bike in at least two rides/tours/rallies a month. April 17th I did a ride too in Mount Vernon, 45 miles. Compared to Muenster, Mt Vernon was a Sunday stroll in the park. (laughing)

Freakin' out a little bit today. So much to do but only 4 months. Planning a trip up to Portland in May, check out apartments and take a bike tour around Portland (http://pedalbiketours.com/). Everything will be fine, just have one of those days.

Micah enjoying the sun last week!

Went to a Rangers game on Sunday with a few friends and coworkers. Tailgated before the game, talked during the game, great times!!

next step

Lately, I have been feeling like it's time for a change. Dallas is not my home but everytime I go up to Minneapolis, it feels less and less like house. I cannot stand my job. Been here 6 years! Find it unfulfilling. I am ready for a new city(PORTLAND!) and a new job (no clue). Trying to think in two to five year spans instead thinking 'what do I want to do/live for the rest of my life?' That's a little overwhelming.

Since moving to Dallas, I have felt like I have discovered myself, come out of my shell. I have been doing the activities I love to do - camping (with friends, sister, BY MYSELF!), biking (100 mile ride in August, biking in rallies once a month), jogged two half-marathons, working on having a vegan kitchen, taking public transportation more, going to the gym four times a week.... Dallas is not a BAD city, I just want more. From what I heard about Portland, it's a place I want to live in (for at least two years, don't want to commit myself to forever). I am excited about the move. Spetember 2nd, Drew and I start the drive up the California coast to Portland!! New adventure!

Dream time ~ live in a tiny little two bedroom house (antique-y, dark wood, brown, red, home-y) with basement (treadmill, movie/game/bar room) and backyard garden (preferably with a hot tub, grill, fire pit, flowers, fruits and veggie,), 2 dogs, 2 cats and no kids. I want to stay active (running, biking, volunteer at a park) and go on a (big) trip (Europe, Africa, Asia, south America, etc) every three years ~ when I am ready to settle down, that's is what I want. Right now, I like moving around, exploring. Depending how Portland goes, Alaska and the East Coast is on my list of places to life!

been awhile

5 months since my last blog, WOW, ooops! Nothing has happened but a lot has happened, I guess I should say nothing major has planned.

Faith and I went snow camping at the end of January in WI.

Jasmine died of kidney problem

got a new cat 2 months later, Micah

he LOVES to be in the sink, LOVES it!!

a lot of work and Starbucks soy chai teas

January 30th shot a gun for the first time. scary!!!

February 11th, Dallas got 12inches of snow!!! 1.5days off of work!! Enjoyed some margaritas!

February 14th, ran in the Austin Half Marathon, 4 mins better than last yr!!!

after that I decided I am done running for awhile and got a road bike. planning on biking a 100miles during the Hell than Hell ride!!

went camping at Huntsville State Park on February 20th and 21st.

February 26th, had a happy hour at Barcadia to celebrate my birthday with coworkers. went to Mineral Wells State Park for my 28th b-day!!

Sunday 28th, then went to my favorite restaurant, Lalibela Ethiopian, with some friends!

went camping again at Purtis Creek State Park March 5th thru 7th with some friends. made pies and sandwiches with the pudgie pie iron, LOVE it!!!

SNOW CAMPING

October 1st, I cannot believe it. Soon Halloween, Thanksgiving then Christmas. This time of year always goes so quickly. I feel like I blink and a week has passed.

Movies

This week I saw Jennifer's Body and Pandorum. Luckily I saw both movies for free because neither of them were very good.

Jennifer's Body was like a teenage boy's wet dream mixed with some horror. Megan Fox is not a very good actress. some parts were good but overall, not so much. Its a renter.

Pandorum was confusing, I had no feelings towards the characters and I felt like the movie just wanted to shock and scare people. Lame. But I did stay. I wanted to see have it would end. What the spin at the end would be. I would also rate this has a renter. If you are looking for a space/action/monster movie, I recommended Event Horizon.

attempted bombing

Scary!! A Jordanian national was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to bomb Fountain Place, a 60-story glass office tower in downtown Dallas, the FBI said. I work a few blocks away from the Fountain Place building.