Day 6: Modern Transportation

I'm in Missoula, Montana for work this week and I'm pretty amazed at the ease with which I travelled 550 miles today. Bryann dropped me off (via our car) at the Max station this morning and I took the train to the airport. Then I caught a flight to Seattle, then to Missoula, where I picked up a rental car and drove to the hotel. Total travel time: 6 hours.

By foot: 7 days, 13 hours

By bike: 2 days, 6 hours

By car: 9 hrs, 43 mins

I did good. VERY thankful I didn't have to hoof it - though now I do wish Google maps gave travel time estimates by horse.

Day 5: Clean and Abundant Water

Part of this exercise is to think about the "have"s in my life rather than the "have not"s.  As I took my 10 minute, scalding hot shower this morning, brushed my teeth, made coffee, poured water for Sam, and then walked outside to the rain, I was thankful for living in a place where access to fresh, clean water was not something I ever had to worry about.

Day 4: Being "Laid Off"

And by "laid off" I mean let go by claims that they had budget cuts, allowed to collect unemployment, and learning later on that they'd re-filled my position and several others with someone else.  

But I hadn't been completely happy teaching, and I hadn't been at ALL happy at Cascade.  And I wasn't about to quit my job.  So I'm thankful that I was "laid off" and forced out into the unknown, with unemployment as a safety net, to explore what I was really looking for.  

I've heard the saying a million times about when one door closes, another door opens.  But I heard a comedian on the radio recently describe it more as an opportunity to purge your life of the old crap cluttering everything up.  To clean house in order to be really ready and open to pursuing whatever opportunities come next.  

And so far, I've really enjoyed what came next.  

Day 3 - Family

Family will always be on my list of things to be thankful for.  I have a loving, supportive, functional family, and I'm thankful to be in the same area of the world.  A lot of people live far away from their families (and by far, I mean not within a day's drive) and see them maybe once a year.  I have everyone I'm closest to all in the same state!  My parents are in Klamath, Grandma in Salem, and Reezy, David, and Adam in Portland!  I see the whole gang several times a year  - holiday dinners, brunches, tea parties, back yard BBQ's, birthday parties, beach weekends, etc. 

Granted, some people prefer only seeing their families once a year, but part of what I'm thankful for is that I actually LIKE my family.  No, LOVE my family.  :-) 




Backyard BBQ this past summer with the family!

 

Day 2 - My New Job

I'm enjoying my new role as a trainer at Providence.  Though I haven't actually started teaching classes yet, since my own training won't start until the 13th.  But I'm thankful to be in a healthier work environment.  I'm not being paid with someone's personal check anymore.  There's an HR department.  I have rights and responsibilities.  I didn't realize how PTSD I was from Cascade, but everytime someone says they want to talk to me or that they'd like to schedule a check-in via our chat system, I start having an anxiety attack.  At Cascade, whenever a higher-up wanted to talk to me, it was because they found some newfangled excuse to go on a power trip and make me feel like a terrible, undeserving person.  I'm still recovering, I suppose.  I didn't realize what an emotionally abusive and manipulative situation I was in until I was in something "normal" for awhile. 

Month of Thanks-Giving is Back!

It's that time of year again!  Time to quite dwelling on all the things I don't have and give thanks for all the great things I do have! 

#1 - Bryann Turner (you totally didn't see that coming, did you??) 

He's amazing.  :-) 

I've been hearing stories from the women at my new job about their ex-husbands or crappy boyfriends, or friends crappy husbands, and I often find myself wondering 1) why these women are dating such awful men, and 2) are there really not many good guys out there? 

I'm lucky I don't have to worry about that.  I have a great guy all to myself! 
 

Us being awesome at my friend's "Wiggin Out" birthday party



October: Month in Review

Said goodbye to an awesome friend (and bridesmaid!) before she packed up and moved to Seattle for a new and improved job with Microsoft.

Saw "Legally Blonde: The Musical" with good friends and fellow musical lovers.

Spent a glorious weekend at Pacific Blue with the hubs and the puppy.  Climbed a mountain, had a bonfire, relaxed on the beach, and frolicked in the waves.

Started my new job as an Epic Credentialed Trainer at Providence. 

Had another successful Wine & Dine, after which my friend Katee went into labor and gave birth to baby boy Isaac.  So many milestones happen at Wine & Dine parties! 

Went to the Pumpkin Patch with my mom - her first time - and some other fall-loving buddies. 

Made our very own beer - our first time - with the help of our seasoned beer-making friends, Annie & Aaron.  (Stay tuned for November's sampling of our Apricot Cream Ale.) 

Visited the Davis Graveyard in Milwaukie (5 mins. from our house) and got legitimately spooked out by their homemade gravestones, cemetary abby, and life-sized ghouls.

Watched the Zombie "Thriller" dance at OMSI and mingled with some freaky looking zombies! 

Dressed up in full costume at partied at the Schlyper's for their 1st annual Halloween Monster Mash.  I was a Roman Goddess and Bryann was a Cave Stud. 

Saw the one-night only production of "A Chorus Line" (one of our favorites) at the Schnitz.