Labor Day Roadtrip. Check.

Ladies!

Okay, I'm writing this posting for two reasons:

1. To report on our lovely weekend; and

2. Because no one has written in anything in nearly three months!!!!

This weekend marked the official close of our first summer in Oregon. And, as I'm learning, what would a summer in Oregon be without a good old-fashioned family roadtrip to some outdoorsy location? Luckily we got one in just in time!

It all started a couple of weeks ago, really, when we were in Napa for the weekend. Point B hosts a company getaway for all associates and their partners each year, and this year's was at the Silverado Resort in Napa. So, down we flew, dropped off Ian at the grandparents and spend the weekend eating, drinking and participating in the Point B Olympics, which included the now-famous "crab catch."

Now, I know you are all wondering what Napa has to do with an Oregon family roadtrip. Well, Jeff was recently appointed the Point B "Culture Director" (all positions with the company are voluntary and contribute to your annual bonus). In the role, he was immediately informed upon our return from Napa that Point B was already behind in planning next year's getaway, which would preferably be somewhere in Oregon given that the Portland market is getting sizeable enough at this point to do its own thing. So, being the helpful, event-planning, resort-finding spouse that I am, I put my handy skills to work and hopped on the computer to locate some perfect options for next year (i.e., nice resorts in OR where I would most like to go).

Enter Sunriver Resort. This is a name that seems to come up often in these parts. Family-friendly resort with lots of activities outside of Bend in Central Oregon. With a little convincing, we decided a mini family getaway was long overdue since our trek out West and booked a condo at Sunriver for Labor Day.

It was a wonderful little getaway. We left around Noon on Friday. The drive there takes you out of Portland and immediately into the mountains around the base of Mount Hood, which is amazing beautiful. Then you drop into a valley and follow along the Deschutes River for a bit until you eventually come into Bend - which, you probably know, is the hoity toity place to be and be seen in Oregon these days. Sunriver is just on the other side about 15 miles outside of Bend. It's a very pretty area with quite the woodsy feel. The resort itself is huge with a main lodge, three golf courses, several pools, a spa, it's own airport, river rafting, horseback riding, miles of bike trails, kids' playgrounds, a nature center and many condos and vacation homes. We had a two bedroom, two bath condo with its own deck that overlooked a lake and clear views of Mt. Bachelor. (Molly & Erica - It reminds me a little bit of Yosemite Valley, but bigger, I think.) The weather could not have been better as there was not a cloud in the sky all weekend with daytime temps in the 80s.

Friday evening we ventured back into Bend for dinner at a cute little Italian place, then sitting out under the stars, wine in hand, after Ian went to bed. Saturday morning we took a long stroll to the village to check out the restaurants and shops and then back to the condo for Ian's lunch and nap. Midday our friends Zach and Brianne joined us where we hung out lazily on the deck most of the afternoon and then went to gather nuts for dinner (just kidding - we went to the grocery store). I tried to push for Tater Tot Casserole, but the group instead voted on hamburgers, with Tater Tots. Close enough, I guess. Lots of wine and amazing star gazing/meteor showers that evening as well. Sunday more laziness and walks, with the required trip to the playground, of course.

And the Monday morning - back to reality - time to pack up and head back to Portland. But not before a Dairy Queen stop along the way. (Cat - you know how I love the Dairy Queen!!!)

All in all, lots of fun and hopefully just the beginning of all the beautiful places along the coast and in the mountains we have to explore in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Next up: A visit to Timberline Lodge this winter for skiing on Mount Hood.

I hope everyone else enjoyed a labor-free weekend!

Fun Times with Sis!!!

Hey girls.

I just had a FAB weekend with my sister. She flew up from Cyprus on Friday and stayed until today (Monday) and left this afternoon. I am SO SAAAADDD! I hated to see her go I had so much fun and felt like bawling seeing her go away. I miss her so much especially since we used to live so close and could hang out and talk whenever we wanted.

The weekend was SO much fun! It started with me taking the whole day off on Friday to clean my apartment which was in scary shape and get some groceries in the house so we had something to eat. The weather was uncharacteristically good for Holland - mid 70s and bright sun all weekend! A welcome change to the usual gloom and doom. She got in on Friday and we rented her a bike so we could ride around town. It was perfect biking weather although I was worried being that it is the height of flower mania AND sunny out that there would be more than the usual number of tourists and pedestrians to navigate in the bike path. But she got the hang of it immediately (much faster than me!). Friday we strolled around a bit - took a much needed nap then rode down to the PC Hoffstraat south of the canals to go to a great Indonesian Rice Table. Super yum. Afterwards we strolled around the streets a bit to walk off the wine and make sure we were biking responsibly. :) We came back up to the Newmarkt (a big square right where I live) and it was bustling so we stopped our bikes and got a table outside, sat and had a great time chatting in the nice weather.

This focus of this weekend was the Flower Show - every year Amsterdam puts on a big show of the tulips and gorgeous flowers out at a place called Keukenhof - www.keukenhof.nl. We headed out there Sunday and although it was a crush of people it was gorgeous! Walking through a huge park surrounded by millions of the most beautiful floral varieties you've ever seen. There were literally dozens of tulip types and other flowers I'd never before seen. So pretty. We walked around for about 2.5 hours then were exhausted from our journey so laid down and dozed on the grass for a while. To the cool stylings of the Oompa band in the background! We topped off the weekend with a very fun BBQ at my friend's Chris and Madelon's house were again we sat outside and soaked in the incredible weather.

Claire will never again believe me when I complain about Amsterdam weather given this weekend! Then she had to leave today - too short as always but oh so fun! I will post photos as soon as I download them!

I miss you girls - AND am counting down to GBW! I cannot wait! Melin - any word on whether we can persuade you? Big hugs.

Kate

Fifth Time's a Charm

After four unsuccessful efforts, I am delighted to report that an offer we put on a house was accepted!!!! We're finally homeowners!! Well, almost - we still have to have the contractor's inspection tomorrow and sign our life away with our mortgage broker, but for the moment, we're just happy we didn't get ANOTHER call from our realtor with that sad tone in his voice.

The house is in the Noe Valley, which is due West of the Mission District, which means those delicious burritos and our favorite bakery are more accessible than ever! And we'll have two bathrooms, which means I can finally choose my clothes when I want! (In our current apt, the bathrom is connected to, without door, my closet, so every morning I have to rush in and choose my outfit before Andy and the sports page take over. Is this too much information? Hm.) Anyway, I can't wait for you guys to see it and be able to stay in a guest room, instead of the fold-out couch!

Memories...Like the Corners of My Mind

Hello Ladies and Happy Wednesday!

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Portland today and all the flowers of spring are blooming. Those (sunny days) do happen here more frequently than you'd think. In fact, I'm now convinced the whole "the weather sucks in Portland" thing is a hoax to keep people from moving here. But, I digress.

So tonight I thought I'd post a couple of recent pictures of Ian, which first required me to download some photos into iPhoto. In the process I realized that we took a few pics of him last weekend (St. Patty's Day) in the new house. Which then lead me to start flipping through my photo album of our Arlington house (we kept an electronic album from the pics we took for the sale). And before I knew it, I was singing Babs and my eyes were welling up with tears. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally stoked about our new house. And, I think you'll find that it's basically the complete opposite of our old house. But, I think there's nothing like the fondness you feel for your first home. It was a cute place, if I do say so myself. And I just loved sitting in the glider chair in Ian's room after he was born. But really, there is no point to this except maybe to say I guess I haven't left my "old" life totally behind...yet.

So, to get back to the original point of this post - Ian recently became a full-blown walker. It was several weeks ago that he actually took his first very unexpected steps while we were sitting in the hallway of our rental house. But after that, no real action for a few weeks until we were in CA over President's Day weekend and something inspired him to really start taking steps at his grandparent's house. Since then, he's quickly gone from our little Speedy G crawler to our Speedy G walker. Boy, it happens fast. For the first couple of weeks he walked like Frankenstein with arms out in front and a smile plastered to his face (clearly very proud of himself). Now he's getting a bit more skilled and is starting to master carrying something while walking. We are proud parents.

A Forester I am Not (Apparently)

Okay, so now that I've accomplished my first blog comment (I hope I wasn't too harsh, Cat...I have had a few glasses of wine), I'm ready to tackle my first blog post. So many topics to choose from...new city, new house, new(ish) kid. Yet, one recent experience stands out...my worst job interview EVER!!!

Being new to the blogging world as I am, I'm not going to say the name of the organization for fear that people Googling it might come up with this post (for future reference, can that happen?), but let's just say it's a government organization that has to do with trees (you get the idea, right?). And, somewhat ironically, it's the first government job I've ever applied for.

So, I saw this job posting back in December for this state agency representing trees and that does a lot of educational programs and they were looking for a comm. director to head up their public education campaign. I was mainly interested given that I happen to have a lot of experience at this point in doing public education campaigns for various crazy industries (steel, propane, diesel...need I say more). So, I figured I'd apply because it's worth at least learning more about the position. Well, apparently that was mistake number one: Assuming that I'd have the opportunity to actually learn more from an interview to gauge my interest in the position.

For starters, this was the application process from hell. Not only was it a long application form, but I had to answer four essay questions, no more than two pages each. Questions included:
*What are the elements of a communications plan? Have you ever written a communications plan? What do you feel you could have done differently?
*What's the difference between public relations and public education?

Okay, this is kind of lame, but fine. So I submit my application and for weeks didn't hear anything to the point that I had written them off thinking apparently my essay answers were not sufficient. Finally, in the spirit of "when it rains, it pours", one week when I was in the middle of juggling about five other balls on the job front, I get a message asking me to come in one day the following week for an interview. Well, of course it's not as easy as me just being able to walk out the door of my house without being accompanied by a one-year-old, so I talk with Jeff about what day he can leave work and cover me and then I call back with a message requesting that I do another day where I could get childcare. Then I get a message back saying that I am being offered this one time slot on this one day and I can take it or leave it. Oooookkkaaaay. So, we rearrange schedules so I can make it. Then I am informed that I will receive a letter (not verbally, not an email, but a postal letter) telling me where to be. As you might guess, flags are already going up at this point that this might be a waste of my time.

When the letter arrives, I am informed that I am to bring references with me and that I will be interviewing with a "panel" of people consisting of the director of the organziation and three board members. Okay. Somehow, this makes me more nervous. I keep telling Jeff I'm having visions of going before some firing squad, to which he tells me I'm being ridiculous and worrying too much.

So, interview day arrives. My day starts with Ian deciding he's not in the mood for a morning nap that day (which of course rarely happens), so I spend my time mentally preparing myself and getting back into "business" mode by taking a shower and getting dressed while he screams in his crib. I have no other choice but to leave him there because I have to get ready. Fun. Then Jeff comes home to take over and I leave for the interview. I walk in and it's the most depressing, drab office I've ever seen in my life. I already want to walk out.

Then they call me into the board room. They tell me I am to take a seat at the head of the table. Then they each pull out lengthy stapled questinnaires and tell me that we have one hour (no more, no less) and they will be going around the table asking me questions in alternating order and I should provide brief, yet comprehensive answers to each question. Then I will have a few minutes at the end to ask them any questions I may have. Um, okay. I'm thinking, well, how about maybe first telling me a little more about the organization, or maybe a little more about the position? But apparently that wasn't important. And firing squad, it was. Each question had two, sometimes three parts to it, so I had to do the whole: Um, can you back and repeat the third part of that question? SO WEIRD!! These people clearly had no interest in knowing me or understanding who I was at all. Case in point: I had to start off explaining why my experience was relevant to the position. Fine. So of course I talked about my extensive agency background. And then the next question was: Do you have any experience working in a deadline-driven, fast-paced environment? ARE YOU PEOPLE DEAF????

Seriously, it was a complete nightmare. All they did was go around the table and fire questions at me for an hour while they all furiously dictated my answers on paper. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. Some of my favorite questions were:
*What is your perception of the image of the foresty industry in Ore. and what are you going to do to change it?
*If we hire you, what will you accomplish in your first six months on the job? (I don't know, can I learn more about the position first????????????????)

It took EVERY ounce of me not to stand up five minutes in and tell them that I needed to leave because this was a waste of my time, and theirs. Unfortunately I've already learned that this is a small town and that would not be a smart idea.

But once I was done in that room, that wasn't the end. Then I was escorted to another plain-walled room where all the employees were sitting around a table and they too had questionnaires and went around the table asking me questions. Even the admin was asking me questions, and clearly had no idea what she was even asking me because when I asked her to clarify one question, that very much threw her off since it varied from what was written on her sheet of paper.

Seriously, I was never so happy to get out of a place in my life when it was over. As I told Jeff, you would have thought I was testifying at a Senate Committee hearing on Iraq instead of interviewing for some po-dunk state agency in Oregon.

Needless to say, they did not call me back to tell me I had been selected for the job. Thank God.

Feeling Myself Up

Ok girls, I have a problem and I don't know what to do about it.

I am frequently catching myself feeling myself up these days. To see if I'm fat. In public.

My obsession with my weight is no longer staying under wraps (um, not that it ever did...) But now I am catching myself frequently squeezing and groping my waist, stomach, and love handles to see if I feel noticeably fatter, especially after I've eaten. But in public, which is not good.

I think this has been going on for some time now, but I have only recently become conscious of it. Like, just now at work I was doing it while at the printer when a co-worker asked me, "Cat, what are you doing?"

"Seeing if I'm fat."

"Oh, ok...."

(They are all scared of me here, I know it...)

I need to stop this, I fear it is becoming a bit OCD and out of my control.

I come from a family of proud belly rubbers. My neices are very proud of their bellies and rub them in public quite often, mostly out of pride. But they are 8, 5 and 2. I am 34. And my belly rubbing is not out of pride.

I fear I am one sick and twisted cookie. Where does one even begin searching the yellow pages for self-groping therapy and rehab? In New York, I am sure this is a valid medical condition covered by health insurance. But here in happy fish-n-chips eating London, where girls proudly display and show off their bare midrifs, usually hanging over their jeans, I might be stuck....

Hola Chicas!

Hola Chicas! I am back from Mexico and ready to start blogging! This is my first time blogging, so be gentle with me. So, yes, back from a long weekend in San Jose del Cabo with Andy. You will not be surprised to hear that all day people at work were saying, "Oh my God I can't believe how tan you are!" Even though I swear I used SPF 30 every half hour, I now look like George Hamilton, minus the gelled hair and snazzy suit. We were at an all-inclusive resort and took full advantage! Emphasis on the full -- I should never eat again. Why can't I restrain myself at a buffet? WHYYYYY????

Actually the worst incident of gluttony took place when we left the resort and ventured into town -- they were celebrating an annual fiesta, complete with rides, booths, and... churros! I bought a bag of 5, but when I pulled one out, another was attached - no problem for the large mouthed! Andy snapped the attractive photo.

And now that we're back, I have become a widow to March Madness. It really IS madness I think. Having gone to school in Canada (a little EBM trivia for those outside the 5 who happen to be reading), I can't understand the hysteria. But Andy is all over it. Sent out his pool, and taking this Thursday afternoon off to go to Sacramento to watch GW play.

In other news, the Reverends visit this weekend - an unprecedented visit without any work-related activities attached; they're just coming to visit. It marks another in a string of visitors we're having this spring - saw Melinda and Jeff last month, which was great!! Samantha & Molly Mandell are coming out next weekend; then Mary and Anna are visiting in April, and then Andy's mom & her beau Pat come in May, as do Jesse & Stephen and Katy & Ann Elizabeth Montgomery. I hope they like house hunting! Kate, you'll have to give them all pointers for how to be a good quasi realtor. We've bid, and lost, on three houses, and I am ready to win!! There are some cute ones in great SF neighborhoods - we just have to act fast.