The Awkward Adventurer

Honeymoon

2012-02-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Good food. Great company. A lovely cabin near Mt. Rainier. It was a thoroughly relaxing and happy week.

Wedding Partybooth Gifs (Part 1)

2012-02-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a gif featuring Bill and Elli in the partybooth at our wedding. (A gif is several photographs in a row that play like a movie.)

It's almost like being there. Enjoy. :)

I'll share more soon.

[Tech note] It's possible to make better quality gifs with photoshop... but I opted for a quicker route for now and used an online gif creator.

Wedding Flash Mob

2012-02-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

When we first began planning our wedding, Jay and I knew that we wanted to do a flash mob at the reception.

There were two problems with this though.

I never thought we'd have the guts to actually do it.
We waited to choreograph it until about 3 weeks before the wedding.

We also had no idea if people would join in, or if we'd look like 2 dorks up there dancing by ourselves.

It turns out that we did have the guts... and despite the timeline, plenty of people joined in. And now it's one of my favorite memories from our wedding day.

Enjoy the video. :)

Note: You can click on the video to open it directly in YouTube if you want to comment on it or view larger.

So, we got married.

2012-01-27T23:37:00.000-08:00

On January 21st, around 2:45pm, I married the love of my life. Oh, happy day.

Despite the crazy weather, power outages, canceled flights and last minute changes, we made it happen. The snow and ice really threw us for a loop. Because of the strange weather, my dad and stepmom were unable to make it from Phoenix. But, I was thankful to have loved ones there from all sides of my family. And we recorded some highlights on video so that we'd be able to share them later.

Favorite moments include:

Our surprise flash mob after our first dance
Seeing my wedding ring for the first time
Smashing whipped cream frosting into Jay's face
The conga line snaking in front of our DIY photobooth backdrop
Laughing and dancing with some of my best friends
Walking down the aisle hand-in-hand with my mom
All our friends that worked so hard to help with crafting decorations, preparing food (Devan Hurst made 300+ cupcakes!), setting up the tables/chairs and granting our every request the day-of. We couldn't have done it without them!

Here are a few 'sneak peeks' from our crazy-awesome photographer, Carly Bishop of Carly Bish Photography.

It's going to take some time to adjust to calling Jay my 'husband'... and to signing my name as Jenna Weiner.... that's 'weeeeener' for those that are pronouncing it like a hotdog!

And now, let real life continue.

Today {A Short Post}

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm marrying the most compassionate, genuine, kind, easy-going, good-natured man I've ever met. And I am so ridiculously happy.

Let the adventure begin.

Get Ready For The Partybooth

2012-01-19T07:55:00.001-08:00

We completed another DIY project last night - our photo booth backdrop.

The photo booth is essentially a backdrop plus some lighting and a photographer. It's going to be a lot of fun! We hope to get a picture of every wedding guest in it.

We used crepe paper in bright colors, taped/staples to a paint drop cloth. I think it will add some wonderful color and texture to the photos.

Yay for DIY! :)

Paint Fumes

2012-01-19T07:47:00.001-08:00

So, I spent my evening sniffing paint fumes (not intentionally!) after we painted the toilet paper roll flowers in the garage, below my apartment.

This is probably the most labor intensive craft project I've attempted. These little things take forever to cut, glue and paint. And you have to spray from about 17 angles to get good coverage.

Bleh.

But, I think they turned out pretty neat.

Snow.

2012-01-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sunday, it started snowing. Monday it continued snowing. And today, it's still snowing.

It's been somewhat intermittent... and is supposed to be melted by Thursday. But, I can't help but worry about this weekend.

I had a few errands and wedding tasks that I had put off until this week. I'm definitely regretting that.

We have to spray paint the tp roll flowers and I'm not sure about how/where we will do that since it's so cold. But, oh well.

Saturday will arrive... and things will be fine, regardless of whether or not the flowers are painted, posters are printed, etc. Things will be fine. [self: keep repeating this]

Geocaching

2012-01-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

A week or so ago, when we all had the day off, Jay and I joined the Keays family to go geoaching.

After a slow start to the day (waiting over an hour for breakfast), we began searching for caches.

If you haven't heard of geocaching before, it's kind of like a treasure hunt that requires you to use GPS and sometimes solve riddles. When you find the cache, you sign a log book and take a trinket (if you'd like), replacing it with a prize of your own.

We had a fun time (despite my coughing). Here are some pictures from the day.

Saying Goodbye

2012-01-07T00:12:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, I'm doing something I'm not looking forward to. I've been debating it for months... and kept putting off making a decision. But, I've given up.

I'm taking Simon and Sedona, the cats I adopted a little over a year ago, back to the shelter in Portland.

Simon

Sedona

Soon after adopting them, I discovered that Simon had special needs and some behavioral problems, despite being an absolutely sweet and cuddly boy. I've spent a year trying to correct his issues, but I haven't made much progress. And, now that my wedding is just a few weeks away, I decided that it's time.

Growing up, all of our cats were pretty 'easy.' They didn't require a lot of extra care and got along just fine. Adopting two adult cats though, without knowing what kind of environment they came from or what their personalities were like, was challenging.

I discovered that Sedona didn't like to be held and acted like she was in pain when I touched her back. Was it a trust issue? I don't know. Eventually she stopped doing that with me, but occasionally still would with visitors. Simon stopped drinking soon after I got him, wouldn't poo in the litterbox, and wanted to be held like a baby all the time. I spent time and money trying to find dry and wet food they liked after weeks of vomiting. Needless to say, I became pretty good at cleaning carpets.

Despite those quirks, I became attached to these two cats. They slept with me in bed every night - Sedona curled at my feet and Simon under the covers, nestled at my side. They were with me when I went through a breakup, and came along with me when I moved back home.

This decision was hard to make. Part of me feels like I'm abandoning them. When I think about them sitting at the shelter, not understanding why they aren't coming back home with me... I start to cry. I feel like a failure. Why couldn't I 'fix' him?

My mom told me to think of it like I provided a foster home for them for a year. That's one year that they weren't in the shelter and they had a good home.

I'm contractually obligated to take them to Portland. But, I don't mind. I have been to that shelter - Animal Aid. It's a very nice place - a home with many volunteers that spend time with the cats. They are meticulous when it comes to researching the background of someone who wants to adopt. They feed them well and make sure the cats have good veterinary care. I know that Simon and Sedona will be taken care of... and they will have each other to cuddle with. That's helping me get through this.

I know that animals don't have feelings like people do. But, my mom trained me to feel this tenderness toward animals. It's something that has stuck with me.

I'm thankful to Jay and my friend Devan, who will be going with me. Although I'm sure tomorrow will be a mess of tears and doubts, I am confident that I am making the right decision.

They'll be okay. And so will I.

Here are a few photos of them during the time that they lived with me. Such cuddlebugs.

A Jack and Jill Event {Wedding Shower}

2011-12-27T13:09:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, my lovely friend Neva hosted a wedding shower for Jamison and I.

I felt a little out of place in the spotlight, and kept trying to hide in the corner. And, knowing me, Neva tried to limit the potential for embarrassment. (I had been worried that we would play the trivia game where you have to chew a piece of gum for each question to get wrong about your fiance... I thought that I would forget silly things like his favorite color when I was put on the spot, and then it would look like I didn't know him at all! I know... I worry about things too much.) She's a great friend.

Here are a few photos of the lovely decorations and treats that Neva prepared... and a few people too.

We had a wonderful time. I felt so loved... and thankful for all the people who have welcomed Jay.

What We Did With the TP Rolls

2011-12-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, we had a craft party to work on some decorations for our wedding.

Kathy and Phil opened their home and helped us get quite a bit done. A handful of volunteers showed up and we all spent time cutting toilet paper rolls.

I got a kick out of the fact that the guys helped too!

After a coat of spray paint, these tp-roll flowers will be ready to adorn our reception hall.

Cutting Back & Moving Forward

2011-12-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

I read this article by Chris Brogan recently and it made me think... and then it made me stop doing stuff.

He says:

I think that I equate “busy” with the “need to be visible.” I create so much material because I have lots of ideas and I want to share them. I want to share them because I love feedback. I crave feedback. And at a very base level, I just want to be “seen.”

Most humans want this. The Zulu say “Sawubona” as a greeting. It translates to: “I see you.” I recognize that you are there. It’s a powerful want for a lot of us, to be seen, to be heard.

But it can also be another kind of addiction. Addiction to feedback hampers a lot of other valuable pursuits. How often do you rush to see if anyone’s commented on your Facebook status or retweeted your witty tweet? How many times do you check on your blog to see whether you need to answer a comment? Ask yourself quite honestly what purpose this activity serves.

His article made me think about how often I stay up past midnight drafting a blog post that few people will read, or editing vacation photos when they were probably fine in the first place, or coming up with new things to share in a status update.

Foggy Morning | Photo taken with Instagram app for iPhone

And so, if you notice in the coming weeks that I'm posting less often, it's not because I don't have things to say. It's because I'm trying to tame my desire to constantly share my thoughts. (And also because my wedding is only five weeks away and I'm scurrying to get things done in time).

My focus is on filtering through things in my life that are no longer necessary to make room for someone who is.

Headed Home Soon + New Gmail/Blogger iPhone Apps

2011-12-01T22:53:00.001-08:00

I can't sleep (it's my last day of this work trip to Sheboygan, WI)... so I spent some time on the app store browsing for new iPhone apps.

I was excited to find that there are now official Blogger and Gmail apps. Installed. Impressed so far!

I'm heading back home to WA tomorrow evening. Lots to accomplish before the wedding... but I am mainly looking forward to seeing my man again... in person.

Absence makes the heart a little sad and crazy.

This is the man I'm marrying... and I couldn't be happier.

2011-11-16T23:01:00.001-08:00

Photos by Nostalgia Photographics.

Back to Sheboygan + Engagement Pics

2011-11-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

At this very moment, I'm flying through the air somewhere in between Wisconsin and Washington. I spent the last few days working in our Sheboygan office.

In five days, there has been sun, wind and snow. The weather changes so much from day to day... and often from hour to hour!

Wednesday - snow and rain

Thursday - snow and then sun + wind

This work trip gave me the opportunity to meet up with a few Sheboygan friends and hang out after work (although I didn't get a chance to see them all... bummer!).

I have so many fond memories from living here a year and a half ago. (Has it really been that long already?)

Right before I left for this trip, my future sister-in-law (whom I am hereafter naming Elli the Awesome) took some photos of Jamison (aka: Jay, the fiance) and I. I don't think I've ever felt before like I'm watching my life from someone else's eyes... but these pictures did that. Here's a link to view them.

The Weekend

2011-10-31T18:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday

Service.
Meeting with our wedding photographer in Seattle.
Running around the mall and doing other errands with Lauren and Ana.
Mattress shopping.

Sunday

Morning coffee at Ristretto's.
Walking with Kanga in the park.

I've Never Been So Stressed

2011-10-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

It's true.

The planning. The fear that I won't get everything done in time... or will run out of money (weddings are crazy expensive, ya'll! .... Did I just say 'ya'll'? What's wrong with me?). The disappointment that I'm not in better shape. Worrying about forgetting someone on the guest list or offending someone because of a song we pick to dance to or the food we decide on or my dress or the details or about a million other things.

The constant barrage of questions and opinions (even though I know they are well-meant!).

It's ridiculous.

And yet, I'm staying (mostly) sane. I have this amazing man by my side that keeps saying "I'm here for you. Whatever you need." And he does helpful things like installing curtain rods and picking up pho and reminding me to breathe. <3 I am so looking forward to marrying Jay. He makes me ridiculously happy.

I'm excited... I just wish that I was better at pushing the anxiety down. I always assumed I would be, because I've been gathering ideas for my wedding for years. I carefully crafted a game plan and itinerary. And now it just feels like everything is spiraling out of my control... and it's become more an issue of "what can we do for the least amount of money in the least amount of time". We are battling a lengthy to-do list.

But, I know that it will be okay. I know that when it's all done and we are heading to our honeymoon, I'll probably say "Hey, that wasn't that bad!"

In the meantime though, please please please bear with me. If I flake out on plans... if I am not available to do something... if I forget to call or email you back...if you make a suggestion and I don't use it.... please understand that I'm just trying to do what I can to make our wedding day 'ours' and keep myself from falling apart.

With love,

Jenna

This is What We Did This Evening

2011-10-24T00:04:00.000-07:00

I love this girl. :)

What Happened This Weekend

2011-10-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

Homemade Oatmeal in the Crockpot

2011-09-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

I used dried cherries and currants. 1 cup of steel cut oats made enough oatmeal for 4-5 servings.

Here's the recipe.

Breakfast

2011-09-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

I found the recipe here. These were quite yummy and very easy.

Flowers

2011-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

My sweetie greeted me at the airport when I came back from San Francisco with these flowers in hand.

They lasted for over a week and brightened up my apartment.

My Summer (So Far) in Photographs... In No Particular Order

2011-09-09T23:43:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted much but I thought I'd share a few photos from my summer. The highlights so far include:

Traveling up the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay.
Traveling to San Francisco for the annual Dreamforce conference.
Spending time with the sweetest man I know, especially after he moved 2,000 miles so we don't have to date long distance anymore.
Lots of good food.

A bird joined me for lunch @ Samovar Tea Lounge, San Francisco

The best pork sandwich I've eaten @ Boccalone, Ferry Building, San Francisco

Mocha @ Panera, Kent

Grilled watermelon with goat cheese, arugula and balsamic vinegar + marinated chicken @ Brandon and Elli's

Me and my love @ Panera, way too early in the morning

Planes @ Merrill field airport, Anchorage

Watermelon

Ripe plum

On a walk during my work day

Driving through the watershed

My hoya in bloom

Coleus starts from seed

Time for swimming!

On a walk in my neighborhood

My mother's garden

Beans from my garden

Mmm. Ice cream.

Sedona

So happy @ Fairbanks Botanical Garden

I used Instagram to capture these photos. It's a rather handy app. :)

Fairbanks Botanical Garden and University Museum

2011-07-29T22:35:00.001-07:00

Friends in Fairbanks

2011-07-29T22:34:00.001-07:00

These people are great.

Dalton Highway, Arctic Ocean Trip, Alaska

2011-07-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

I am currently staying in Fairbanks, Alaska after getting back from a three day trip to the Arctic Ocean. It was the most fun I’ve had on a roadtrip. The scenery was enjoyable, but it was the company that affected me most.

Highlights

Driving 1,000+ miles in 3 days
Dipping my hands into the Arctic Ocean
Using duct tape to repair my boots (the only pair of shoes that I brought camping) after they fell apart
Tripping and falling, ripping the only pair of pants that I brought and gouging my knee
Learning how to pee in the woods
Hiking to a waterfall and dipping my head into it to wash my hair
Getting eaten alive by mosquitoes
Seeing Alaskan wildlife: Dall sheep, moose, fox, swans

A Day in Downtown Seattle

2011-06-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I took the day off work and spent it with some good friends wandering around downtown Seattle and eating some delicious food. (Note for future: Popcorn ice cream at Spring Hill = AWESOME... and their fries are delicious too.)

I’m still here + a picture of the Space Needle

2011-06-18T04:55:00.001-07:00

I’ve been a bit remiss in posting lately. Life has been busy… and I guess I haven’t done anything that I would really consider blog-worthy. :) (But, uh, I know you’re thinking …. ‘since when has that stopped you before, Jenna?!’)

On Thursday evening, I went to dinner with some friends in downtown Seattle. After, we drove around and saw the sights – including Alki Beach and this gorgeous view from Queen Anne (and probably one of the most photographed locations).

Seattle, you are rather beautiful.

Events.

2011-05-22T23:17:00.001-07:00

It's been quite a while since my last post. A lot has happened since then. I've lost two people in my family - a cousin and my grandma.

There is so much that I want to write, to document, to express. All in due time.

For now, here are some photos of flowers that have played a part in the last week.

- The rose and carnation are from the bouquet at my Nana's viewing last Friday.

- The orchid is something I bought for myself when I first found out that my Nana died.

- The bouquet on the right is from a friend - she gave me flowers from her garden to cheer me up.

Hotel Life

2011-04-22T00:28:00.001-07:00

This pretty much sums up the majority of the time I spent at the hotel in Sheboygan.

I propped myself up with the fluffy pillows and worked on my laptop when I wasn’t in the office. Yay wifi!

Memorial

2011-04-22T00:27:00.001-07:00

I attended the memorial of Jesus’ death in Sheboygan, the first time I have attended this event away from home. The speaker gave a fine talk highlighting the importance of Christ’s ransom sacrifice.

I enjoyed spending the evening with friends and considering such a sobering subject.

Sheboygan Snow

2011-04-22T00:22:00.001-07:00

During the last week of my recent visit to Sheboygan, the weather took a turn for… the cold.

Meanwhile…

2011-04-19T12:32:00.001-07:00

This is what is currently happening in Sheboygan.

Eek!

It’s not a lot of snow yet, but it’s been snowing for several hours now and shows no signs of stopping. The news reported that there could be up to 6 inches.

I’m not prepared for this!

Sheboygan Storms – Sunday Evening

2011-04-13T06:25:00.001-07:00

One of the things that I really miss from living in Wisconsin is the storms; The sharp crack of lightning that would wake me up in the middle of the night, the resounding boom of the thunder, the dense humidity and sudden downpour of rain.

As I drove home from a friend’s house, I thought the repeated flash of light that I saw in the distance was from an ambulance around the corner. As I continued driving however, I realized that a storm was encroaching.

The weather had been strangely warm all day, but it became very windy in the evening. Later, the news reported that 5 tornados had touched down in Wisconsin and caused quite a bit of damage, although none had affected Sheboygan.

When I arrived at Debra and Paul’s, I got ready for bed and settled in. Then, the idea struck me to try to photograph the lightning. So, I put on my boots and (still in my pajamas), trekked up a hill in their neighborhood to be in a better position for experimenting with my camera settings.

The photos didn’t turn out perfect, but that’s okay. The experience of standing in the warm, gusting wind and watching the sky light up with silent lightning strikes (I’m still not sure why they were so quiet; they didn’t seem that far away) was one that I won’t soon forget.

I’m in Wisconsin, so of course I’m eating a lot of…

2011-04-13T06:22:00.001-07:00

This particular variety was a gift from a coworker. It’s “chili cheese.” It was delicious.

Back to WI

2011-04-13T06:20:00.001-07:00

I’m currently in Wisconsin on a work trip. It’s nice to see familiar faces and sights.

Simon + Bubbles

2011-03-27T21:41:00.001-07:00

He wasn’t quite sure about those bubbles (neither was Sedona), but it was still fun.

How to Sneak up on a Cat

2011-03-24T21:44:00.001-07:00

Just Another Day

2011-03-23T23:45:00.001-07:00

I decided to have a little fun while Sedona and Simon were napping. I wanted to see how long it would take for me to get The Glare from Sedona.

It didn’t take long.

Above: Yep, there it is. The Glare.

Oh, and the eyes…. they narrow.

Cats, Snow

2011-03-12T00:19:00.001-08:00

Two weeks ago, it snowed. Enough to actually stick for a few days. It was rather nice.

Simon enjoyed ‘talking’ to the snowflakes as they fell.

A Home Cooked Meal

2011-03-11T23:57:00.001-08:00

Last week, my friend JoAnne and my mom and I shared a nice home cooked meal: white chicken chili. It was delicious!

It was great to have a girls night – we just spent time talking and laughing.

Double Dutch – Session 1

2011-03-08T23:43:00.001-08:00

A few of my friends and I got together to do double dutch this weekend. I’m planning on making it a regular thing and hope to drum up some support from other people that might be interested.

Four of us showed up for this first session.

It was a lot of fun! We spent most of our time laughing. We did some double dutch, single rope jumping and other silly tricks.

I’m looking forward to the next session!

Chicken Cordon Bleu & Adventures with Wine

2011-02-15T19:27:00.001-08:00

This evening, I made dinner for my parents. I enjoy cooking for other people, but when I am just cooking for myself I am pretty lazy. So, I asked if I could cook with them as an alternative to the ‘I-want-to-get-married-so-I-can-cook-for-someone’ blues.

This was my first attempt at cooking with wine. After one bottle shattered in the driveway when I was bringing it home from the grocery store, I returned and got another. Later, I attempted to open it with a knife (forgetting I had a corkscrew) and it exploded in my face. Apparently, I shouldn’t attempt to cook with wine.

I made chicken cordon bleu (chicken with ham and Swiss cheese inside) and broccoli with red pepper flakes and Parmesan. Everything turned out quite good! Keith wasn’t a big fan of the broccoli (since he doesn’t like anything green) but I thought that it was tasty.

I’m hoping that I can cook for them one night a week. I say ‘hoping’ because my mom and I have such different tastes… and it’s possible that she won’t like all the things I make. But, I’m trying to choose carefully.

Now I’ve got to find some other recipes to finish off that bottle of chardonnay (since I don’t particularly care for just drinking wine… at least not yet).

Below: The wine (left) with the knife that fell in and (right) my wine-splattered face.

Recipes

If you are interested, these are the recipes I used.

What I’ve Been Up To

2011-02-10T23:21:00.001-08:00

I haven’t blogged much in the last few weeks. I’ve been rather busy. Packing. Moving. Unpacking. Working.

And, to be honest, I’ve been a bit exhausted physically and electronically.

But, I’ve got some exciting projects lined up that I look forward to sharing.

Catnip High

2011-02-10T23:19:00.001-08:00

Silly kitty cats!

Among Friends

2011-02-10T23:17:00.001-08:00

I spent last Saturday and Sunday surrounded by some of my best friends.

Leaving Lakeshore

2011-02-10T23:14:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, I said goodbye to some friends that I had made in the Lakeshore congregation in Vancouver. I’ll miss them!

Above: The Edgertons. What a sweet couple!

Above: Kelsee and I, being silly.

Above: Tiffany, who I worked with in service several times. She’s so encouraging!

Above: Casey and K, who always made me laugh and were the very first people to greet me.

Catnip

2011-01-24T22:20:00.001-08:00

Today, I laughed. A lot. And it was all thanks to these silly cats.

Just More Life

2011-01-19T01:27:00.001-08:00

New Craft Project: Cheerful Cards

2011-01-14T02:28:00.001-08:00

I love making small gift cards and I recently got out my supplies (which involved digging in to some boxes that were in the garage) and made a few.

They are so cheerful!

My Si Guy

2011-01-14T02:27:00.001-08:00

Simon is definitely a ‘people cat.’ He loves to be held and snuggled and wants attention almost all of the time.

So, it’s pretty much like I’m married.

;) Just kidding.

Above: He fell asleep while I was holding him. He is so trusting.

Above: Snuggling under the covers.

Above: He makes a cushy wrist pad for my keyboard.

Along the Waterfront

2011-01-14T02:23:00.001-08:00

It’s been a few weeks now, but I went jogging along the waterfront again with my friend Coralie. She kicked my butt… and I mean that in a good way.

We attempted to do the first session of the ‘Couch to 5k’ program, which involves running for a minute and walking for a minute and a half (if I remember correctly) for 20+ minutes. Anyway, my timer was off and so I ended up getting a bit frustrated. Plus, we took a ‘shortcut’ that wasn’t quite so short. But, it was still fun to hang out with Cor.

Above: This is part of Fort Vancouver, the reconstructed fort established in 1825 as the Pacific headquarters for the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Everything’s Nicer on a Fancy Dish

2011-01-14T02:18:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, I forgo the plain old plate and choose instead a fancy dish, one of a set that I inherited from a relative. They have matching cups and are one of my favorite dining items.

Adventures in Portland

2011-01-09T20:20:00.001-08:00

Today, my friend Coralie and I wandered through Portland, ate some wonderful food and snapped some nice pictures.

You can see more of my pictures from today by clicking here.

A Special Visitor

2011-01-08T23:41:00.001-08:00

Today, I had a special visitor. His name is Riley. (His mom came along for a visit too.)

He brought me some very colorful flowers. How sweet!

Thanks for stopping by Riley! Have fun with your marble runs!

All For Pho

2011-01-08T23:37:00.001-08:00

I attempted to make pho for the second time.

It didn’t turn out that well, but I ate it.

The next time I had a craving for pho (a few days later), I went to the place down the street. Much better.

The Weekend: In Summary

2011-01-03T23:35:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday, I made the trip up north to visit my family and friends. I stayed through Sunday evening.

During this trip, I:

took some pictures of my friend’s new baby and did some other photography work
wandered through a horse pasture
ate some awesome food
went to a wedding
talked to my parents about moving back
went out to lunch with some girlfriends
hugged people

By the Way… (Simon’s Face)

2010-12-30T23:30:00.001-08:00

Simon has healed from his surgery and his face is looking great. His eyebrows are still growing back on the side that they shaved, but he looks so much better.

Such a pretty boy!

Back Home For the Weekend

2010-12-30T23:27:00.001-08:00

So, I’m back home… sitting in my old bedroom (which I inhabited from the ages of 12 to 19), wearing a pair of my mom’s pajamas (since I forgot mine) and snuggling with the cat.

Soon after I arrived, I sat down with my mom and stepdad in the living room and we just talked. I really enjoyed it, and it made me realize how much I miss being around people (specifically people that I love).

Back in Vancouver, I live alone. I work from home. I am not surrounded by people like I used to be when I lived up north. I think that is having an effect on me.

But, soon my life will change… and I’m sure it will be for the better.

Crockpot Lovin’

2010-12-29T22:00:00.001-08:00

I recently discovered several crockpot recipes that I was eager to try. So, I decided to make them. All at once.

I figured that I could freeze them in individual portions and pull them out when I was in need of a quick meal. (Hint: Click on the titles to view the recipe on my new favorite blog.)

Recipe 1: Margarita Chicken

I really liked this chicken. The flavor is very unique and the meat was tender. Plus, it took less than five minutes to put together. Quite yummy over rice.

Recipe 2: Vietnamese Pho Soup

This was quite flavorful, but was missing a few ingredients. I couldn’t find bean sprouts or basil, which I think are pretty crucial to pho. The noodles I bought were too small. I think if I try making it again, I’d leave out the cinnamon stick. The flavor of it was a bit too strong for me.

Recipe 3: Taco Soup

Recipe 4: Vegetable Broth

This wasn’t a crockpot recipe, but I turned it into one. I added a few ingredients and used dried spices when I didn’t have fresh.

I poured some of the finished soup into a muffin tin. I read a great idea to then pop those single serving sizes of broth into a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer for later. The only bad thing is that I haven’t been able to get them out of the muffin tin. :)

The broth is rather strong, but I think it will be great for recipes that call for vegetable broth.

New Recipe: Coconut Curry Chicken in the Crockpot

2010-12-21T23:53:00.001-08:00

This recipe turned out pretty tasty, although not spicy enough for my taste. The smells of the raw vegetables and freshly grated ginger were amazing though.

I served it over brown basmati rice, which I found to be delicious.

If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, you can find the recipe here.

The Last Week and a Half: A Summary

2010-12-14T23:46:00.001-08:00

Drove 3 hours to my hometown
Spent a day packaging jellybeans as favors
Took a plane to San Francisco for a work conference
Took a taxi
Attended a conference and did a smidgen of public speaking
Saw an awesome view of the Bay Bridge
Wandered Chinatown
Rode a trolley
Walked down Lombard Street and then walked back up
Ate Cioppino at Fisherman’s Wharf
Bought chocolate at the Ghirardelli factory
Took a plane home and slept quite soundly
Promptly got sick because I didn’t finish my last round of antibiotics (stupid, I know)
Went to urgent care
Spent the next few days sleeping on an airbed at my mom’s
Drove home to Vancouver

And I did this all without any internal meltdowns, extreme awkwardness or overwhelming self-doubt.

That’s a pretty big deal for me.

Realization: I can’t do it all.

2010-12-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

This might sound silly, but I just realized that I can’t do it all.

Seriously. It happened the other day.

I was feeling weighed down. I wanted to learn to make my own shampoo and was debating whether to buy expensive, organic cat food or make my own or settle with lower quality food and was contemplating making my own cat food and felt guilty that I haven’t learned to sew yet and was overwhelmed by all of the DIY projects that I want to undertake, all of the blog posts that I have bookmarked, the photography skills that I haven’t developed yet, the recipes that I haven’t learned to cook…

And I finally realized… I don’t have to do any of those things.

I don’t have to feel guilty if I don’t recycle one can or buy non-organic fruit or any of the other things that run through my head.

I can’t do everything.

Along with that, I realized that my time is finite. I can only do so much in one day.

And I’m done worrying about it. Instead, I’m going to give my energy to the things that I want to do, the things that are meaningful in my life.

I’m okay.

2010-12-03T03:00:00.001-08:00

I heard that my last rather cryptic post had some of you back home worried and I wanted to reassure you that things are okay.

My plans have changed a little since my original move. But, I’m determined to stay here through the winter.

After that, I’ll figure out what my next steps are.

So, I’m okay. Life is okay.

I went to a new hall Thursday evening and met some nice people. I have plans today for lunch with Mike and JoAnne. This evening I’m driving up north to get ready for a work trip to San Francisco next week. Exciting! (It feels weird to write this talking about ‘this evening’ and ‘today’ because I’ve been staying up late to finish up work. It’s 3am… so technically it’s Friday but I’m still stuck on Thursday.)

Anyway, that’s it for me at the moment.

Love and hugs to my back-home buddies. :)

Wandering a Few Streets in Portland

2010-12-01T21:24:00.001-08:00

Today I enjoyed a few hours with several of my good friends – JoAnne and Mike, familiar faces from back ‘home’.

Mike is here for a few days for work and so JoAnne and I took advantage of the opportunity to meet up and walk around. JoAnne spends a lot of time walking around here when Mike is on work trips, so she had some good recommendations for shops to browse and places to stop for a snack.

Above: mmm, gelato!

Above: If you know me well, you know that I love candy!

Since Mike loves good food and can be counted on to know where to find it, he took us to a few neat places for lunch and dinner.

Below: That’s my kind of pizza! Mmmm. I’ll be eating leftover prosciutto pizza for breakfast.

I’m looking forward to joining them for lunch and dinner for the duration (hopefully) of their visit.

Fear and Exhilaration.

2010-11-29T23:40:00.001-08:00

Circumstances in my life have changed a bit in the last week.

And I had a realization.

I am making decisions that affect my life, not just coasting along letting things happen.

That’s scary.

And the freedom to move somewhere else or take up a new hobby… that’s scary too.

But, it’s also kind of exhilarating.

Relaxed.

2010-11-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

That’s it. I am turning into the crazy cat lady.

All I post lately are pictures of my cats. I think I need to do some more adventuring.

Oh well.

At a Clinic, Waiting for Someone to Look at My Tonsils

2010-11-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in the waiting room at a local clinic. The air smells slightly like cigarette smoke. I'm not sure if that's due to staff or fellow 'waiters', but it's giving me a headache.

My tonsils have been swollen and hurting since last Tuesday evening. It's miserable being sick while living alone. I am tired and don't feel like I have the energy to take care of myself. But, that's why I'm here. I've tried getting rest and taking EmergenC, etc but still don't feel any better. So, it must be something more.

ugh.

I usually don't get sick often... Maybe once a year. But, since moving, I've had two illnesses pretty much knock me flat.

I hope that I am able to resolve this before my work trip next week!

Affection

2010-11-26T23:26:00.001-08:00

I am constantly tickled at how well Simon and Sedona get along.

Simon – Doing Great One Week After Surgery

2010-11-26T23:19:00.001-08:00

Doesn’t he look great? … oh, except that he doesn’t have eyebrows over his left eye.

Yams (and Marshmallows!)

2010-11-26T23:05:00.001-08:00

Growing up, I always wanted to try yams with marshmallows. It wasn’t a dish that my mom fixed.

Since yams were on sale this week, I bought a few.

I cooked and blended the yams, added a little bit of cinnamon and brown sugar and plopped some marshmallows on top. (I realized later that I probably should have used mini-marshmallows instead.)

At first I tried using a sharp small knife to cut the peeled yams into smaller chunks. This made the task fairly laborious. Then, I switched to a larger knife which made it much easier.

They turned out great! I think this dish is more of a dessert than a side dish, but I will definitely be making it again.

Adventures in Food – Baby Cauliflower, etc.

2010-11-26T22:43:00.001-08:00

I bought a few adorable heads of baby cauliflower. I never imagined I would call cauliflower adorable. But, these were itty bitty heads – I bought four different colors: orange, purple, white and light green. The colors were actually quite pretty.

By the time I figured out how I should cook them, only two of the heads were edible. So, I cooked them up with a bit of seasoning in some butter. I normally don’t care for cauliflower at all, but sliced up thin like this, they were pretty tasty.

I also decided to make some orange Jell-O with mandarin oranges (one of the easiest desserts to make). I added a few orange jellybeans that I had around. I soon decided that this was a mistake. They were initially pretty chewy but eventually disintegrated and got pretty gross.

I was in a baking mood, so I made some brownies from a mix. They were good, but I probably shouldn’t have made a whole pan. That’s another drawback of living alone… even if I make something great, I’m stuck with it until I start thinking it’s not so great. :)

Walk + Run in the Cold

2010-11-22T23:23:00.001-08:00

I went on a walk + run (and yes, I say ‘run’ because she had a much longer stride than me!) with an old friend along the waterfront this evening after work.

I recently discovered that she lives only a few miles from me. I haven’t seen her in more than a year, so it was nice to catch up.

My legs are sore but it was good to get out and push myself, despite the cold and damp weather. We went a little over two miles, but it passed by quickly as we talked.

Simon Update: Finally Back to Normal

2010-11-22T15:20:00.001-08:00

Simon is doing much, much better. It’s like he’s a whole different cat.

He is eating well, playing a bit and chasing Sedona. He’s back to his normal ‘talkative’ self, meowing at me and purring loudly when I hold him.

Incidentally, he’s also doing a great job using the litter box. No more surprise poo on the floor. Yay!

Simon, Before and After

2010-11-19T00:15:00.001-08:00

Warning: The ‘after’ pictures are somewhat graphic (but not overly so). Please do not click the ‘read more’ link unless you want to see pictures of Simon after his surgery.

Before

You can see the swollen eyelid and forehead. Even though he looked pretty pathetic, he was still eating and wanted to be cuddled.

At The Vet

I brought along a blankie for him to make him more comfortable at the vet.

After

(Clicking on the ‘Read More’ link will take you to pictures and a little more information about Simon post-surgery.)

Simon arrived home with a big appetite. After he ate, Sedona quickly started grooming him and snuggling with him. He settled right in.

He has a small incision on his forehead. It is still swollen but that will likely go down soon. I’ve got antibiotics to give him twice a day and pain medication once a day. I’ve been very impressed with him so far. Even when I had to force him to open his mouth for the antibiotics, he did not scratch or bite me. A few times an hour, I wipe pus off of his forehead. Even though he flinches, he doesn’t try to hurt me and get away.

The vet said that the wound should heal quickly. I hope that it does. I also hope that the coming weeks will involve much less feline-related drama.
I look forward to Simon being back to his normal, happy self.

Simon Update – Post Surgery

2010-11-18T19:36:00.001-08:00

Around midnight, I took Simon to an emergency vet.

His eye was nearly swollen closed. His forehead was bulging. It had gotten much worse in the few hours I had been away from home. I was afraid that he might loose his eye. I was afraid that he might die. I was afraid.

The vet said that it was likely an abscess (possibly from a bug or spider bite) and that it might be best to wait until morning. I was given instructions on what to do if it erupted (gross) and headed home, keeping a close eye on him.

In the morning, I took him to the local vet. This made the third week in a row that he saw the vet. Poor guy. And this, all within a little over a month since I adopted him and his sister.

Several hours later, Simon arrived home with an incision on his forehead, a half-shaved noggin and feeling a bit tipsy from the anesthesia.

My mom knows that I’m a tender hearted girl, especially when it comes to animals. She reminded me on the phone to “toughen up” because I was going to have to give him medication and clean the wound.

A few minutes ago, I gave him his first dose of antibiotics. I’m proud of myself. It may seem like a small thing. But, to care for an animal that depends on me… that makes me feel like “Okay, I can handle this. I can handle life.”

So, for the next several days, I’ll be carefully monitoring my cat and wiping his forehead to prevent scabbing, which could cause the abscess to return.

I hope that the next few weeks of pet ownership are less eventful.

Sedona – The Attack Cat

2010-11-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

I love that Sedona has finally settled down and started playing more.

Here are a few cute clips for the cat lovers.

Friday Morning Wog

2010-11-14T16:23:00.001-08:00

In case you are wondering, “wog” stands for “walk + jog”. I jog for a little while, then walk for a little while, then jog for a little while…

Friday morning was rather foggy.

Simon to the Vet… Again

2010-11-14T16:21:00.001-08:00

On Thursday, I took Simon to the vet for the second time in two weeks. His eye was swollen and he wasn’t acting like his normal self.

Poor guy. The vet is such a stressful place.

But, he did a good job.

My Cat is Stalking Me

2010-11-14T16:19:00.001-08:00

The other day Simon kept randomly appearing, peeking from around a corner and then suddenly gone somewhere else when I turned around again. Creepy cat!

Did you spot him in the first picture? He was being pretty sneaky.

Are You Sick of Soup Pictures Yet?

2010-11-14T16:03:00.001-08:00

So, here are the results of the soup that I was preparing a few days ago.

It turned out great! The extra veggies really enhanced the flavor from the first time that I made it.

Once I combined the noodles, veggies, chicken and broth, it was too large for my small crockpot. (I should have used the larger one.) So, I had to break out my giant mixing bowl.

Yum! Check out those fingerling potatoes. They were great in the soup – just the right size for a mouthful.

Finally Getting to Know My Oven – Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-11-10T22:31:00.001-08:00

This evening, after prepping the chicken stock for tomorrow’s dinner, I looked up a recipe for chocolate chip cookies on allrecipes.com.

I followed the recipe fairly closing, but added some bran (or wheat germ… I can’t remember what’s in that particular storage container), coconut and white chocolate chips (in addition to the semi-sweet).

The first pan out of the oven was a tad burned on the bottom. But, they still tasted just fine.

After that, I monitored the cookies a bit more closely. The following batches were slightly browned on the bottom. Perfect!

I actually tidied up when I was done. Yay! It’s a great feeling to go to bed knowing the dishes are drying in the dish rack. (Yes Mom, you were right. It is better to clean as you go.)

Get Ready For More Soup!

2010-11-10T22:24:00.001-08:00

After last week’s successful chicken soup ‘experiment’, I decided that I wanted to make some more. It seems like the perfect dinner for this chilly weather.

This time, I decided to try some additional ingredients.

I jogged (sort of) to the grocery store with a backpack holding my canvas bags. Then, I picked up too many vegetables and a rotisserie chicken. I walked back home (it’s about 1.2 miles round trip) and got to work on the stock.

Soon, I’ll post the very easy recipe for making homemade chicken stock, unless you’ve already gotten it from Linda. :)

The vegetables I am going to add to the soup are:

celery
yams
fingerling potatoes
carrots
parsnips
zucchini
onion

I’ll add the veggies to the strained stock tomorrow, let them cook all day in the crockpot and then add the chicken and wheat noodles and some seasoning. I can’t wait!

Golden Beets and Pumpkin Soup

2010-11-10T00:05:00.001-08:00

I found some neat looking beets at Chuck’s, the nearby market. They have a mild flavor in comparison with regular beets.

It must be the weather – I’ve been in the mood for soup. So, I took some canned pumpkin and chicken broth, added the golden beets and blended them. The result was a perfect Fall soup.

Then I decided to try just pumpkin and chicken broth. It was tasty too!

I’m excited to do more cooking. After my chicken noodle soup success last week, I’m feeling more motivated.

Lunch with New Friends

2010-11-07T23:53:00.001-08:00

Today, I went to lunch with some of my new friends here, in appreciation of a guest speaker that came to our meeting.

I had fun getting to know a few new people and enjoying the good food.

Cupcakes

2010-11-07T23:51:00.001-08:00

Yesterday evening, I made coconut snowball cupcakes for a lunch today.

I also made orange Jell-O, with mandarin orange sections and homemade whipped cream for toppings. Yum!

These cupcakes are one of my favorite things to make. They are so easy but so tasty!

Life With Cats

2010-11-05T23:48:00.001-07:00

Recently, Simon had a digestive issue that made him rather sick. I took him to the vet today and it seems that he is on the mend.

The experience at the vet and after made me realize what a sweet boy Simon is. While at the vet, even while getting a shot, he didn’t attempt to bite anyone. Later, when I was confining him to the bathroom for a while, he remained his sweet self and ‘talked’ to me each time I walked in to check on him. Good boy!

Here are a few pictures from peaceful moments with Simon and Sedona. Aren’t they adorable?

Goodwill Finds

2010-11-05T23:40:00.001-07:00

I found a few neat things at one of the local Goodwill stores (one of my favorite places to shop). I’m looking for items I can use in a few DIY projects I’m planning.

One of the projects that I want to work on is to redecorate a lampshade. So, I found a base that will match my shabby chic decor in my bedroom and a shade with a good frame.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2010-11-05T23:31:00.001-07:00

My friend Linda gave me a simple recipe for homemade chicken soup (from scratch!) using a crock-pot.

I used ‘rainbow’ carrots from Chuck’s (the local neat-o grocery store) and then added vegetable pasta, which was quite tasty.

With the addition of a little seasoning, the soup was great! I took some over to my boyfriend, who said: “I don’t usually eat soup this fast, but this is really good!”

I’ll definitely be making this again. Thanks Linda for the recipe!

Once You Let Them In….

2010-10-28T01:31:00.001-07:00

I made the mistake of letting Sedona snuggle with me in bed for a little bit.
Since I still have many plants in my bedroom, the cats aren’t allowed in. But, she was meowing outside the door and so I thought I’d let her in. I put her on the bed and she immediately flopped over and started purring. She was so happy!

Now, she cries to be let in every night. :(

Once I am able to figure out which plants I can part with, I will make my bedroom more cat-friendly. I have a feeling that both Simon and Sedona will be spending a lot of time in my room. It’s the brightest area in the apartment.
In related news, I’m trying to figure out a way to make my bedroom more private. The large window (which lets in all the wonderful light) opens into the parking lot and I can’t keep my blinds closed all the time because the plants need sun. So, I bought a roll of decorative removable window cling and I’m going to attempt to use that. It will still let light in, but will prevent people walking by the window from looking inside my bedroom.

Chuck’s – A New Grocery Store

2010-10-28T01:31:00.000-07:00

A new grocery store opened a few weeks ago down the street from my house (within walking distance – yay!).

Chuck’s proclaims itself to be a Whole Foods-type grocery store at lower cost. They are open every day but Saturday – which they have declared a ‘family day.’

They have a lot of organic/local produce and unique items. They even sell cheese curds!

It’s very similar to Nature’s Market in Kent (where I used to go), but it is at least five times as big.

I love that healthy options are within walking distance!

More Like Home With Simon and Sedona

2010-10-23T02:42:00.001-07:00

I’ve talked a little bit about Simon and Sedona, the cats I adopted from Animal Aid, a shelter in Portland.

They are settling in well. Yesterday I took them to the veterinary hospital to have some stitches removed. They both did great riding in the car.

I love that they snuggle together. Simon is a bit of a bully – he’ll plop down on Sedona when she obviously isn’t in the mood to cuddle. But, they usually work things out without any intervention from me.

As I spend more time with both of them, I’m feeling more confident in my decision to adopt them. Initially, I felt a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of being responsible for two furry beings. But, I think that responsibility is worth it. They’ve already made my apartment feel more like a home.

Simon and Sedona are Settling In

2010-10-17T00:40:00.001-07:00

Simon and Sedona, the cats I adopted, arrived today.

I visited them last week at the shelter in Portland, Animal Aid. They are a small no-kill facility that takes in cats and dogs and attempts to find loving homes for them. I’ve been very impressed so far (and sometimes a bit irked) by their thorough screening for adoption. I filled out a lengthy application and provided personal character references that the adoption counselor followed up on.

But, it was worth it.

Not only did a volunteer with Animal Aid drop them off, she also informed me that they recently had their teeth cleaned and minor surgeries at no cost to me. They included id tags with my phone number also.

So far, Simon and Sedona are doing great. They are both very affectionate and seem to be comfortable here. I’m looking forward to getting to know their unique little personalities as time goes by.

I’m sure I’ll be posting pictures of them soon… just as soon as I get around to taking my camera out again.

Until then…

Not Just Homesick.

2010-10-11T20:56:00.003-07:00

I’ve been sick since Friday afternoon. I was continuing on with a productive morning of work and suddenly felt chilled and achy. I spent the next few days starting to feel better and then reverting back to feeling worse. Symptoms have come and gone.

It’s a horrible time to get sick. I’ve got an important work deadline looming. I’m expecting the 2 cats that I’ve adopted to be dropped off on Friday (and my apartment is no where near ready for them). I still have quite a bit of unpacking to do.

But, here I am, exhausted and achy, sipping tea and feeling rather sorry for myself. My body refuses to listen to my commands to “GET BETTER!” and I lack the comfort of being somewhere that really feels like ‘home.’

I miss my mom and her chicken noodle soup. I miss napping on her couch with her handmade flannel quilt and listening to the muted hum of her sewing machine behind the closed door of her craft room. I miss her checking on me and putting her cool hand on my forehead.

I guess when it comes down to it, I just miss my mom.

Meeting Simon and Sedona

2010-10-11T20:56:00.001-07:00

Last week, I met Simon and Sedona, two sibling Siamese cats that I hoped to adopt.

Since then, I’ve found out that my application for adoption has been approved. Yay!

They will arrive on Friday.

I still have quite a bit to do to prepare my house, including unpack a number of boxes (I’m missing my walk-in closet!) and figure out what to do with some of my plants that I have discovered can be toxic.

Here’s a brief introduction:

My family has owned Siamese cats since I was a baby. I love their independent personalities and unique ‘voices'. I’m looking forward to having some feline companionship.

So, I Moved.

2010-09-28T23:58:00.001-07:00

I’m currently back home (in Cov-town) for the week while my boss is in town.

But, I did indeed move to Vancouver last week.

I’ve started setting up my new little apartment and look forward to sharing pictures as soon as I get it looking a bit more homey.

Sometimes I still can’t believe that I moved away. It seems like everything happened so fast.

But, I’m happy that I made this decision. I’m looking forward to getting to know Vancouver… and myself… a little bit better.

Sinking In.

2010-09-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last few hours packing, carefully sandwiching breakables between layers of towels and soft blankets.

Holy moly. I'm moving.

I'm moving away from my hometown. The place that has been part of my identity for the past 25 years. With the exception of 3 months (spent in Wisconsin for work), I have spent my whole life within 5 minutes of my parents.

Now, I'll be 3 hours away.

I am excited. And afraid.

There are many faces here that I will miss. I worry that my friend's children will forget me. I regret that I will miss out on some milestones - graduations, births, first jobs. I'm not that far away geographically, but that 'out of sight, out of mind' adage is true.

Life goes on.

It will go on here... and in Vancouver.

Welcome.

2010-09-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

So, a new blog. Why? Several reasons.

I'm moving away from my hometown soon and I want an easy way to share my adventures with my close friends and family.
I want to consolidate some of the other blogs that I've been updating.
I love blogging.

If keeping up with 'this sort of thing' isn't your 'thing,' no worries.

Enjoy the awkwardness... and the adventures.