Friday night involved a frantic attempt to wrap up a project at work, and was thankfully given the option to finish it up Saturday morning. Once that was finished, I realized I had a chance to get internet WOOT! so I got that taken care of. I got the basics of that setup and realized *shoot!* I needed to pick up some last stuff that was left in Portland, so off I went, took care of business, and made the rounds visiting who I could. Yes, you guessed it - the camera sat in my room the whole time. I got back and in bed around, well, I don't remember when. But I got there.
Sunday was spent hiding from allergies and getting more things caught up on the new computer. (i.e. blogging in the booth) Then I took a break to take advantage of the pool that's just a few feet from my back door, and dove in before the pollen could launch an attack. I thought about taking a picture of the pool to show how conveniently close it is, but didn't want my first impression to others to be that creepy neighbor taking pictures of their kids. "No really, I was just taking a picture of the pool!" Sometimes the truth just isn't convincing enough.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Whodunit?
After spending a day in the outdoors digging, raking, trimming, mowing, etc, the troops came in to get cleaned up, recover, and nurse sunburns. Tragically, we suddenly had no water, and someone was caught in the shower after she had shampooed her fairly long hair but before she had a chance to rinse it. Not only was there shampoo drying in the hair, but grass clippings, dust, and who knows what else was hanging out in what could only have been referred to as a mop.
We went in search of what it could be. There were no obvious leaks, and we traced the pipeline down to the barn, where the water pump still showed the pressure was fine. Upon further reflection, we began to wonder if the valve by the water trough could be affecting it. Out of options, we went to check it out. SOMEHOW, it had been shut off. Looking around the corner, we found the only possible culprit:
We went in search of what it could be. There were no obvious leaks, and we traced the pipeline down to the barn, where the water pump still showed the pressure was fine. Upon further reflection, we began to wonder if the valve by the water trough could be affecting it. Out of options, we went to check it out. SOMEHOW, it had been shut off. Looking around the corner, we found the only possible culprit:
Sure enough, he somehow had grabbed a hold of and/or messed with a garden-hose style spigot and turned it around enough to shut off the water line. Everyone else's alibi was legit. And for some reason, the water line that first goes by the watering trough is the line that feeds the rest of the property. ?!?! Our newest resident seems to be a fan of mischief. Now that we're onto him, I'm sure he'll be laying low for a while.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
We carried out our yearly tradition of taking the local mothers over to the coast for the day. We had our usual stop at Dairy Queen on the way over, and tried to remember why we laughed out loud in public so embarrassingly last year. While we couldn't remember why, we inadvertently did so again, anyway.
Once we got there, it was quite a bit cooler and windier than further inland, which tends to happen if it's a hot day in the valley. But we still had fun, threw a frisbee around, and I finally remembered that I had a camera with me, just in time for an artistic moment:
Yup, the sister's sporting a fumanchu - must be the sea air. As the day wore on and we once again were ready to eat, we worked our way up to Mo's up in Lincoln City, and appreciated the opportunity to thaw out. Then we made our way back, and I lamented a couple of lost photo op's in the restaurant, as I had left the blasted thing in the dingbat car. Maybe if I got one as cool as little by little's ...
Once we got there, it was quite a bit cooler and windier than further inland, which tends to happen if it's a hot day in the valley. But we still had fun, threw a frisbee around, and I finally remembered that I had a camera with me, just in time for an artistic moment:
Yup, the sister's sporting a fumanchu - must be the sea air. As the day wore on and we once again were ready to eat, we worked our way up to Mo's up in Lincoln City, and appreciated the opportunity to thaw out. Then we made our way back, and I lamented a couple of lost photo op's in the restaurant, as I had left the blasted thing in the dingbat car. Maybe if I got one as cool as little by little's ...
Sunday, May 3, 2009
A Homecoming of Sorts
I kept hoping I'd have time on my lunch breaks to set up some appointments to check out some apartments in the Eugene area, but I kept too busy to do any of that. Thankfully I have family that lives reasonably close to where I'll be working (about 40 min drive), so I have a base of operations to work from in my quest for a longer-term home. Even though it's a short visit, I was welcomed by many:
My first surprise hit me before I had even turned in the driveway. A massive black form was in the front pasture, which left me puzzled because our last large animal had passed on a couple months ago, leaving the farm without any livestock for the first time since it was settled over a hundred years ago. I almost ran into the ditch as I reminisced. That could've been embarrassing.
My first surprise hit me before I had even turned in the driveway. A massive black form was in the front pasture, which left me puzzled because our last large animal had passed on a couple months ago, leaving the farm without any livestock for the first time since it was settled over a hundred years ago. I almost ran into the ditch as I reminisced. That could've been embarrassing.
This breed is so much larger than what we've historically had. For some reason, the smaller one tends to be intimidated. I know I'd be! It turns out we'll be able to lease out our pasture to the same farm family that's leasing the rest of the land for grass seed, so at least the property can still be used.
A much smaller, much more ancient, much more familiar friend also showed up to greet me.
She's almost as old as I am.
Of course, there are people around here, too. They're glad that I'm able to stop by for a few days and visit. Perhaps even join in on the weekly tradition of Sunday afternoon gameplay?
The countdown is on to the first day at the new workplace. I'm trying not to be too nervous. My first experience in customer service wasn't too pleasant. It wasn't anybody's fault, I was just coming in at an inopportune time for someone who, being a perfectionist, wanted to be trained first and do everything right. Now that I'm coming into a branch that's not quite so fast-paced, armed with knowledge on the other side of the business and a long-standing reputation (mostly good?!), I should hopefully get past any remnants of post-traumatic stress from the last time I was on the phones. Lunch break agenda: arrange appointments for apartment viewing and figure out where I can buy more work clothes. I hope I get a long lunch break - when else will I get my nap?!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Glowing Pirates and Fireworks
Well, Portland sent me off with style Friday night.
My friend Erin and I met Katie downtown via the Max (sorry you couldn't make it, Steven!) in search of our first destination of the evening. Erin and I realized on the way that neither of us knew which stop we should get off at, or knew where the cross street might be. We were getting ready to play it by ear, but fortunately Katie had already found the area the mini-golf course (is that what you call it?) was supposed to be at. I never thought I'd be looking for an underground-glow-in-the-dark-pirate-themed-mini-golf-course that just happened to reside under the Hilton in downtown Portland. Sure enough, there it was: http://glowinggreens.com/ !!! We had a blast but, alas, I once again failed to have the camera with me.
Afterwards, around 10pm, we were walking around downtown in 65 degree weather and, all of a sudden, commotion was reverberating off the skyscrapers around us. We weren't sure if a thunderstorm came in, if a max car was repeatedly derailing and re-railing, or if the US was being invaded via the Willamette River. But then we saw some fireworks reflecting off some of the windows, so Erin and I made our way down to the waterfront. Katie needed to go home - apparently she prefers looking at cadavers early in the morning over fireworks. I know, I know, I don't understand it, either. Girls are funny that way. It was a great fireworks show. It's pretty cool how they hav
e the barge down on the river setting them off, and they explode right over you and fill up your whole vision. I asked the person next to us what they were for, and he said it was for Cinco de Mayo. For those of you who don't "habla espanol," el cinco is Spanish for ... el ... fifth. Before I could point that out and clarify that it was the first of May, he went on to say that it was the kickoff for a weeklong celebration. I still think the more likely answer is that the city of Portland wanted to send me off properly with a fireworks show, for which I'm grateful. Afterall, who celebrates the fifth of May on the first? It had to be for me. It was a great way to finish off the week. Well, I've been settled for almost a year now. I suppose it's time to roam south...
My friend Erin and I met Katie downtown via the Max (sorry you couldn't make it, Steven!) in search of our first destination of the evening. Erin and I realized on the way that neither of us knew which stop we should get off at, or knew where the cross street might be. We were getting ready to play it by ear, but fortunately Katie had already found the area the mini-golf course (is that what you call it?) was supposed to be at. I never thought I'd be looking for an underground-glow-in-the-dark-pirate-themed-mini-golf-course that just happened to reside under the Hilton in downtown Portland. Sure enough, there it was: http://glowinggreens.com/ !!! We had a blast but, alas, I once again failed to have the camera with me.
Afterwards, around 10pm, we were walking around downtown in 65 degree weather and, all of a sudden, commotion was reverberating off the skyscrapers around us. We weren't sure if a thunderstorm came in, if a max car was repeatedly derailing and re-railing, or if the US was being invaded via the Willamette River. But then we saw some fireworks reflecting off some of the windows, so Erin and I made our way down to the waterfront. Katie needed to go home - apparently she prefers looking at cadavers early in the morning over fireworks. I know, I know, I don't understand it, either. Girls are funny that way. It was a great fireworks show. It's pretty cool how they hav
e the barge down on the river setting them off, and they explode right over you and fill up your whole vision. I asked the person next to us what they were for, and he said it was for Cinco de Mayo. For those of you who don't "habla espanol," el cinco is Spanish for ... el ... fifth. Before I could point that out and clarify that it was the first of May, he went on to say that it was the kickoff for a weeklong celebration. I still think the more likely answer is that the city of Portland wanted to send me off properly with a fireworks show, for which I'm grateful. Afterall, who celebrates the fifth of May on the first? It had to be for me. It was a great way to finish off the week. Well, I've been settled for almost a year now. I suppose it's time to roam south...
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