Jarf

DISASTROPHE

I have been scarce, everywhere, and I have scarce been anywhere.

I haven't had a computer for a couple months now. I have survived only with the aid of a gift from the fabled father christmas: iPhone. I haven't named it yet, and it has no music on it - both as a result of not having a computer. My last remaining iPod (iBiza) I guard with my life, as it contains the final remnants of the hundreds of dollars of music I once owned. Once I can afford a new one (see: probably never), there is software with which I can extract it from iBiza for a more extended preservation. I haven't backed up my iTunes library since 2007, and got rid of most of my CDs when I left jersey.

Going to Portland Community College this spring. My parents will help pay for it, and I figure I should go while I work for a generous company that offers tuition reimbursement. No, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it anyway. <--- story of my life.

I've been keeping up with everyone's journal entries, so don't think I've forgotten any of you. It just sucks to comment using a touch-screen phone keyboard.

Life has not become clearer, but it has become more peaceful at least. I'm slowly working my way out of debt. My car will be paid off at the end of this year. Maybe I'll have my credit card paid off too?

I was going to move to a cheaper place, but I decided i really don't pay that much considering all utilities are included. And the location is perfect.

I've been taking the light rail to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays so Adam can drive to his internship in east vancouver. It's been a lot of fun, actually, aside from the homeless people, loud high school kids, and smelly hooligans.

Work is fine. No complaints.

Oh, and my sex life and social life are dead again. Sad.

There is something meditative about preparing food that I never really noticed before. I think normally when I make food, it's because I'm hungry - it's not usually something I plan out. Because I only make food when I'm hungry, I've only ever made things that are relatively quick to cook.

Today I made bean soup. I know, simple, right? What's really cool is I bought the beans yesterday (13 different kinds, actually) and soaked them overnight. I've never done this before. I've never even CONSIDERED starting to prepare a meal 24 hours in advance. That's insane. If Paula ever told me I needed to do anything overnight, or anything that takes longer than 30 minutes... that's a dealbreaker, ladies.

It felt good though, to be prepared and know that I would be eating a [hopefully] delicious meal the next day. It unexpectedly put me at ease. This afternoon when I drained, washed, and started simmering the beans, it was like some ritual. A three hour ritual, yes, but because they were simmering for three hours, I was able to take time with other things. I took my time carefully dicing some sweet walla walla onions and some celery. I took time to wash some bay leaves and mix them in, too. My favorite part was the smell of home-cooking, filling the kitchen(ette) on a rainy sunday afternoon.

Side note - I went overboard on the bay leaves. I think I'll only use a couple next time.

It all turned out wonderfully. I was able to taste it as it cooked, trying a little bite here and there, deciding at a couple points it needed more onions, so I would chop more and put them in. I had never cut an onion before tonight, and I have to say I was quite entertained by all the layers being separate, as though the onion had done half the chopping for me. Anyway the whole experience was a big contrast to the fast-paced cooking I'm used to. I'm used to eggs and pasta - things that either require your constant attention or are done before you have a chance to get the rest of your meal prepared. I want to find more low-maintenance cooking things like this. Dinner should be chill, yo.

No one told me my soup would be green, though. It didn't look very appetizing (although both adam and I scarfed it down like poor people). Next time I'll have to carefully select which beans I put in, and I guess food coloring too? Also, it needed some ham or something salty and savory in it. What could I put in it besides ham? I hate ham, but the flavor combination there would be undeniable. Also, I want bread with it next time instead of crackers, and some cake for dessert to go with the ice cream we had.

So I guess this probably means I've become a very boring person. I would say I'm destined to be a good housewife, but the pile of dirty soupy dishes in the sink right now would cry otherwise.

Honestly, I just need some whiskey. This is what happens when I haven't had a drink in a few days. Blech. Cooking.

$15 < 26 YR OLD | $30 26 YR + UP | $130 VIP

Oct 5th @ 7:00pm | The Gerding Theater: Map


I guess I won't be going to the wheelies this year :(

ok, so i know i've been back from the east coast for almost two weeks now, and haven't updated at all, but i've been putting it off because there's a lot to go over. i have pictures too.

got back from vacation in Vancouver, BC last night around 9:30.
took two hours to get from Everett, WA to Tacoma, WA because of traffic. it was like driving on the Bronx Expressway four times in a row. I didn't think traffic could get worse than it was on the east coast, but I guess I was wrong.

i'll update later with pics from my trip.

had a fantastic time, but glad to be home in portland. i like how visiting a more unfamiliar place makes the place you live seem less unfamiliar - although the same can be said of visiting a familiar place long after you've left.

i'm craving more green peppercorns.

leaving for bc.
back next week.
love ya.

adam and i took a day trip to cannon beach yesterday. it's about an hour and a half drive out of portland to get there, which doesn't sounds bad, but it's all like windy mountain roads. no fun. it was a sunny day by oregon standards - overcast but not raining - so it was pretty crowded there. had a great time. ate tacos.

took some pictures on my phone:


the wet sand went on forever, it looked really cool. it was a really gradual slope.
that's the world famous Haystack Rock in the background.



adam is the handsomest and i larv him.



we walked forever to get there. that's adam washing his sandy feet off and trying to put his shoes on. the white pixels on haystack rock are actually seagulls.


there were gross ass barnacles everywhere, and some neat little tidal pools with crabs, starfish, anenonenonenomes and all that. i should have brought a real carmerar innit?

larvely.

I'm not dead, I think I'm just coming to terms with the fact that I might actually be quite happy.

Gross.