A Short Getaway Weekend

Last weekend Kendall and I were able to take a little getaway trip to Portland, OR. It was nice to getaway to relax, shop, and well eat! A little work too, for Kendall anyway. Kendall had an interview at the VA hospital in Portland on Monday so we went for the weekend to check out the area and just have fun. Portland is a beautiful city, lots of green everywhere and I love all the bridges over the water!

While we were there we decided to stay right downtown rely on the public transportation. First I have to say that the Trimet system (Portland's public trans.) is awesome! We had almost no problems getting anywhere we wanted. We took the Max (light rail) from the airport to downtown and took a bus to right in front of our hotel! The buses were easy to navigate if you just got onto the trimet website and typed where you wanted to go and it would just tell you what number bus(es) to take.

On the other hand, it IS public transportation in one of the hippie capitols of the nation! So you can only imagine what kind of people you run into using trimet. Starting right off from the airport we saw a woman with a mustache and sideburns, a family of dreadlocks (children included), a man hopping on asking for spare change in exchange for candy, and much more. The next day we even ran into a guy rolling his own pot on the bus! That's right, its legal there! So I guess we had a little bit of a shock initiation of downtown metro life, but it was still a great experience!

The lobby of the very modern hotel we stayed in, cleverly named the Modera.

This is the room we stayed in, I loved the big comfy bed and the fur blanket!


Kendall standing in the sky walk in Pioneer Place mall downtown.

We went to the Japanese Gardens for some "peace and tranquility", it was very beautiful but it didn't have very much color since it is still winter.


Here is a close up on one of the sand gardens.


Trying to do a self picture, doesn't always work out, especially on stairs!

Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Kendall and I had a good one hear at home. I have been sick the last couple of days with a nasty cough and didn't feel like doing much or thinking of anything to do at that. We made some coffee cake for breakfast (more like brunch, or even lunch!) exchanged valentines and then went to Macaroni Grill for dinner. We were lucky we didn't have to wait too long since everywhere most likely was the same, one hour wait at least! I love Macaroni Grill because you can color on the tables! The waiter always comes by and writes his/her name on the table upside down so Kendall and I like to practice our upside down writing (just in case we ever have to work there someday).

I have never been a huge fan of V-day, but I do like the concept of celebrating love. I AM a fan of LOVE! Lately I have been getting into scrapbooking and card making (more so now that I have my cricut machine from "I love you Aunt Suzie"!) and I decided to make some valentines day cards for my family. Although the majority of them got sent out late due to being in Portland and being sick (and whatever else I can blame it on) but its the thought that counts right?! Here are a few of the cards I made. I want to say a special thanks to Kendall for putting up with all my scrabooking stuff in the kitchen in "my corner", it really is just EVERYWHERE!



Happy Valentine's Day!

Food For Thought...

I feel a little monotonous in my life lately, and I have decided its not a good feeling. Most of the blame is my work I believe. I feel like I live there! I started working 4 tens a week, but after the first couple of months our group of three became two. So now its two of us doing the job of three and our boss thinks "it works this way." So now it has been about 9 months of between 40 and 50 hours a week (18 hrs overtime last pay period). Too much! Its been rough and doesn't help my personal life either. I guess its a good thing I didn't go to medical school! I don't know if I could handle crazy intern hours! I am just sick of finally getting home each day and not feeling like doing anything else. Some days I don't have time to do anything else when I get home after eight! So now back to the monotonous part, I do the same things day in and day out at work. I need something more challenging. I guess we'll see what the next year or two brings. For now I have to just figure out what I want it to bring!

Here is some more food for thought. I heard on the radio a few things to think about and I thought they were pretty interesting! If pizzas are round why do they come in square boxes? Why do we drive on parkways and park in driveways? Also, what kind of cheese is string cheese? It doesn't taste like mozzarella or American or even Swiss!

Funny Ad...Makes Me Laugh Every Time!

This is not a Superbowl ad (I didn't watch any, I know...crazy) but I have been seeing it quite a bit latley and it makes me laugh seriously EVERY single time! I thought I would share it with those of you who have missed out on it or just need a laugh for the day (feel free to watch it over and over again!) This is: T-Mobile Ad-A girl teaches her boyfriend a lesson for butt dialing her one too many times. Featuring the BlackBerry Pearl Flip from T-Mobile.

Nine Words Women Use

I got this e-mail the other day and it started a discussion at my work (all women I might add)! We all agreed with it almost 100%! So guys, husbands, fathers listen up...this is what we are all 'really' saying when we say these things! After all you are suppose to read our minds right?!

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half and hour. Five min is only five min if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5. Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and ownders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6. That's Okay: This in one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here- This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot'- that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'your're welcome'. That will bring on a 'whatever'.)
8. Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying...well, it's her way of telling you off!
9. Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to #3.