True to my word, I return with a real, honest-to-God, post!  Still, I find myself in a bit of a precarious situation.  I suppose such is the way of time and forward progression.  You see, I feel as though I simply have too much to say!  I would love to be able to sit down and wax poetically about the people I see and the places my feet have taken me over the past months, but I can't seem to pin myself down to describing simply one, two, or even three such observations.  Life is moving ahead and warp speed out here on the West coast and I am simply floundering along trying to keep up. Sigh...

Which brings me to the ever-dependable, yet perhaps over-utilized staple of the blog world:

The bullet by bullet update, a medium which magically allows the writer to catch up said reader in record time, with an efficiency that is quite mind-boggling.  So, enough preface.  Let's get to it, shall we?

• I have a home!!! For real!  And it is AWESOME!  1 br 1 ba, close to downtown and in between the Hawthorne and Belmont districts.  Basically, we are in the heart Portland, in a neighborhood bursting with life, youth, and creativity.  Our little house is actually part of a quad that is occupied by three other young couples.  I am so excited about our new neighbors!  Already we have shared dinners, game nights, good conversation, homemade milkshakes, and even some quality "Office" time!  I left the house this morning and have been wandering around all day, walking to a bakery this morning for breakfast and tea, then to starbucks to try and find internet, and finally to Hotlips pizza for lunch, where I am currently camped out.  There is a fresh produce market a block from the house and a grocery store four blocks east.  Movie theaters, coffee shops, book stores, music venues: all within a ten minute walk.  Like I said, it's freakin' amazing.
• Doug is loving his job, working as a Case Manager in Clackamas County.  He carpools there and back every day for roughly $10 a week and, starting this week, will begin a 4-day work week.  As in, he will be working 37 1/2 hours a week, with every Friday off.  What a punk.
• As for me, things are finally starting to come together.  I have registered as a substitute teacher with two districts already, and have an interview with Beaverton school district, a highly-sought after position, on Tuesday.  Meanwhile, on Monday I start shadowing for Huntington Learning Center as a test prep tutor.  
• My dear friend Liz will be joining me here in Portland in a couple of weeks, something I am absolutely ecstatic about!  As lovely as Oregon is, I have been seriously lacking some female camaraderie, something that is of upmost important to me.  Which is why I nearly peed my pants when, a couple of days ago, I found out that Ms. Wendy Higgins, another of my favorite people on this planet, will also be following me out West!!!  I feel as though the addition of these two beautiful ladies into my life is a blessing beyond words.  With them they bring a sense of peace and fulfillment that only girlfriends can offer.  So get on out here, girls!!!  pretty please?  :)

Well I think that is enough of an update for now.  I am quite confident that my next visit will be a little less structured, and perhaps slightly more specific.  Then again, who am I kidding?  The possibilities are endless, my friend.  And isn't that absolutely the way it should be?  

:)

Public Notice:

This actually isn't a real post.  Not really.  I suppose it's more of a "keep you posted" post.  As in: now that things are finally starting to settle down here in the beautiful Land of Ports, new, updated, and ever-fascinating posts are on the way.  So fear not, my loyal follower(s)!  I have not abandoned you for greener blog formats!  

More to come....soon...