Smart Furniture

I recently discovered smartfurniture.com, and what a great discovery it is! The following are just a few must-haves for our new apartment, where space will be sparse.

Two-foot tall storage module. Perfect for the bathroom!

Sleek, concealed bookshelves

This display tower could be good in any space, but I'm thinking living room.


Leather hamper - a perfect replacement for the duck design we currently have (see below).



When everything you have is on display, even the clothes hamper needs special consideration.

Sweet design for a coat rack!

Entry-area organization at its best

SNAFU

Saturday we loaded two thirds of our belongings into a horse trailer and pick-up and sent them off to Haines, Oregon with Tim's mom. Tuesday the moving company came and loaded everything else to transport to DC. What's left is an apartment full of echoes.

First-time experiences, like our moving across the country, tend to produce SNAFUs which, at the time, can be funny at best or panic-inducing at worst. Here are just a couple of our own memory-making moving SNAFUs.

1) Being a control freak, and not having much control over much of this moving situation, I meticulously planned out my wardrobe for the week between sending everything off with the movers and flying out to DC. I hand-picked each outfit, down to the socks and underwear. I kept just the right number of items, and the perfect type of outfit for each day we have remaining in Eugene. Apparently, Tim had done the same, though probably not as meticulously. Unfortunately, we both left all of our undergarments in the dresser which is now on its way to DC in the moving truck. Replacing socks, underwear, and sport bra (for tennis with my family): $77.

2) For The Move, the company we contracted to transport our belongings across the country apparently hires out their jobs. A company called "Best West Movers" showed up to load our things and demanded that we pay 60% of our remaining balance plus packing costs to them in order for them to load the truck. This was not what we agreed to, but being in desperate need of their service and with no other recourse we wrote them a check. I was not pleased that we had been given the run-around, however, so I called the brokering agent the next day to explain what happened. The agent apologized profusely, saying that there must have been some mix-up and that the check we wrote would be torn up. Demanding justice from the moving company: $278 savings.

3) We arranged to borrow an air mattress for the week from one of Tim's coworkers. When setting up our temporary bed for the first time, however, we realized that it was actually two twin mattresses. On the plus side, they are really nice, comfortable mattresses (as comfortable as an air mattress can be), which is especially good considering my "sneezy-back" issue. Laughing every night at the crack between us: priceless.

Looking Forward

Amid the hubbub of the moving preparations - finding boxes, sorting out what goes and what stays, booking a moving truck, finding affordable airfare, tying up loose ends at work etc. - I am setting my sights on the White House Internship program. I follow the White House blog almost religiously to watch as Obama lives up to his campaign promises. Tonight, as I was working on my application for the internship I checked out the White House Blog and was met with this amusing image:

(The White House North Lawn fountain flows with green water Tuesday, March 17, 2009, in honor of St. Patrick's Day. White House Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Now, that's a sense of humor!

Aside from looking forward to green St. Patrick's day fountains, I am excited about many aspects of our pending move to Washington. Here are just a few:

1) Peak Cherry Blossom week - check it out! Peak week is April 3rd - 9th. How handy that we will arrive in DC the evening of the 2nd. Just in time! Plus, in a gesture of extravagant hospitality, there will be a parade to welcome us to town!

2) Scaling back on our belongings. We are moving from a large two bedroom apartment, into a studio. Simplifying is going to be so gratifying!

3) Traveling 3,000 miles with a kitty. This is going to be interesting. Timmy doesn't want to have Sophie in the cabin with us for fear of being "those crazy cat people", but I put my foot down and insisted that she's getting her own ticket to fly under the seat in front of me. Have I really turned into the cray cat woman this quickly?

4) The job market in DC! It's got to be one of the few areas of the country not hard-hit by this economic slump. So far I've applied for two administrative jobs - one with the Presidential Protective Service (a branch of the Secret Service) and one with the Department of Labor. I've also applied for a Policy Associate position with the National Immigration Forum, and several entry level jobs with senators. Of course, there's also the White House Internship application which is due Sunday!

5) Living without cars. For a long time I've wished I could live close to functional mass transit so I could live without a car. Now it will be possible.

6) The location of our new apartment - a map is worth how many words?

I'll keep you posted as to the progress of the move and how fully my dreams are fulfilled. :)

Speaking of moving too fast...

In case you haven't heard... Tim and I are moving to Washington, DC in less than three weeks.

Here's how it all happened, for those of you who are interested in "the rest of the story":

As anyone who follows my blog knows, I went to Barack Obama's Inauguration in January. What you may not know is that I came back inspired and with a great desire to move to D.C.! Almost immediately upon my arrival at PDX I was telling Tim about how we were going to sell both of our cars, and scale down on our belongings and move to Washington, DC to live the dream. I was pretty exhausted after delayed flights and a week of very little sleep, but I'm pretty sure Tim's response was something like: "What in the WORLD are you talking about, little miss crazy??"

Once he recovered from the shock, Timmy naturally realized that mine was a good idea. ;) We began discussing how we would make the DC dream a reality. Tim sent his resume out to a couple of Information Technology contacts I had gleaned from friends in DC and I began looking for jobs that were of interest to me. Shortly after Tim had sent out his resumes, we decided that moving immediately was not a very wise decision financially, so we aimed to save money over the summer and look into moving in September. Of course, in an ironic twist, shortly after we renewed our apartment lease through August, Tim got a phone interview with HouseCall IT in DC. Then a week later he had a video conference with the same company. And a week later (last week) he was flying out for a week long interview on The Hill.

Long story short, Tim loved DC and the job and has accepted a Jr. Systems Administrator position with HouseCall starting April 6th! He also nailed down an apartment for us. You can check it out here! We will be living just 5 blocks from the Capitol (where Tim will work, and hopefully where I will work as well), 4 blocks from one Metro stop and 5 blocks from another, and just 4 blocks from my good friend Anna (with whom both Tim and I stayed during our recent visits to DC)! It's right across the street from a park with tennis courts and room to frolic, too!

So, as it turns out, we have sold both of our cars, turned in our 2 weeks notice, and will be moving to DC the first of April - just in time for the peak Cherry Blossom season! A dream come true.

And we both live Happily Ever After!

Slow down, ya move too fast

So, do you wanna hear a funny story? Of course you do! Anything to take your mind off the depressing news about the economy, right?

This morning I woke up and felt like the cold I had been fighting the last few days had finally gotten better! I was pretty excited about that, thinking - this is great! I'm finally past the worst of it and am back up to full speed! And I rolled out of bed to get in the shower and get ready for work.

I noticed my lower back was feeling a bit funny, but thought it was just the morning kinks. It was right about then that I felt a sneeze coming on. This had been a recurring theme to my cold. I would feel like I was going to sneeze, but I would only get the precursors and none of the relief that an actual sneeze provides. So, in the last couple of days, I have been celebrating full-on sneezes. Therefore, I got a bit excited when this sneeze started building (as excited as one can be through the early morning grogginess). And then I SNEEZE!!!!!!!

But this sneeze is not one to rejoice over like the ones of the last few days. This one shoots serious pain down my lower back and the pain is so intense that I can't stand back up straight.

Instead, I fell to my knees and then realize I couldn't stand back up.

Oh yes, it was THAT pathetic!

I could hardly move! I made it to my phone and called my chiropractor, only to learn from their answering machine that they aren't open on Thursdays. Perfect. On top of that, Tim is out of town so I called my good friend Kristen who graciously got me phone numbers to other chiropractic clinics in town then took me to one on her lunch break.

Yup, I sneezed in the shower and threw my back out so bad that I'm laid up for two days, and had to go to a new chiropractor. The new chiropractor (at The Chiropractic Healing Center) said it seems to just be major muscle spasms, not a bulging disc, which is good! I should be up and running in a couple of days as long as I stay off my feet, use ice/heat therapy and lay in the appropriate positions.

So, it's sad, but it's kinda funny. This silly incident forced me to let my body rest and recover from my cold completely, and take a much needed break from work. So I'm listening to my body and taking it easy. Plus kitty and I are enjoying our time together taking cat naps, reading and blogging...

Office Before and After

Lately I've been obsessed with Before and Afters. Like this foot stool and this dresser.

So here's one of my own. My office at work, before and after. It's nothing grandiose, and I'd still do a lot more if I had a larger budget and more freedom, but let me know what you think!

BEFORE:

View when you walk into the office. I love the hardwood floors, but really nothing else.Looking at my desk from the client perspective. Not a pretty sight.

Another angle on the desk and window. Gotta love that clunky monitor and the fan.

The awesome bead curtain "concealing" the server "closet" that resides in my office.

AFTER:

The view upon walking into the office.

View from my side of the desk.
Note the much nicer monitor and much more concealed server room.

Side of the office.

Client view - looking out the window.
Note, new chair - much more comfy and stylish.

This side of the room is still very cluttered, but I'm not authorized to move those files, so I just added a plant and photos on top in an attempt to distract from the clutter.

New shelf set-up, including a real, live pet fish.
Meet Frederick VII.

Ahhhh, tidy desk with nice set-up.

So, what do you think? Obviously it's FAR from perfect, but it's much more workable now than it was to start with.

Tutu's message to Obama

This article from BBC News, "Obama, don't lose goodwill - Tutu", pretty well expresses how I feel about Obama's presidency. I have high hopes for President Obama, as does the majority of the world, but I refuse to delude myself in thinking of him as the savior of the world. No single man can solve the world's problems in the way some people believe Obama could. As usual, however, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's caution to Obama is insightful - and hopefully advice that the President will follow.

Weekend with my Valentine

Tim and I spent Valentine's Weekend on the Oregon Coast with his grandparents, Grandma Barbie and Grandad Don. Since we didn't leave until after work on Friday most of our drive to Oceanside was dark. I would have never known we were at the ocean ... if it weren't for the sound of the waves on the shore when we got out of the car. But the sunrise Valentine's morning brought a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean from the third story of the house. It was so calming to just watch the waves crashing in on themselves as we sat cozy in a warm house and ate bacon, eggs, pears & cream, and orange juice fixed with love by Grandma Barbie's hands.

Morning Stroll

We took a stroll on the beach in the morning... it was so chilly Tim and I borrowed some of our grandparents' clothes to bundle up. But even with the brisk weather it was still a joy to walk on the beach, taking pictures of the natural beauty we so seldom see.

Tim in Borrowed Hat, and I in Borrowed Coat and Hat

In the afternoon we watched some old home video from when Tim's dad was little, and then from when Timmy was little. It was quite an experience, especially since several of the people who were in those videos are now dead - people I never met (and one that I did) that are talked about so much by the family they left behind. Following the home videos, we saw Grandad Don in one of his early plays in his younger days. Then it was onto the video from their recent trip through the Panama Canal along with the hilarious and ironic Nova documentary about the making of the canal. I worked on a small art project while we watched the movies, then transitioned to conversations about recent happenings.

We took another stroll on the beach at sunset before high-tailing it back to the house to catch the end of the sunset from a better vantage point.

Silhouettes

Surfers at Sunset

Sunset from the House

Dinner was at Roseanna's - a quaint restaurant in Oceanside with delicious food! I had grilled halibut with a yummy strawberry feta salad, asparagus and grilled potatoes. To top it off, Tim and I shared a yummy Marrionberry cobbler a-la-mode. YUM!

Roseanna's

End of Dinner - Marrionberry Cobbler A-la-Mode

We spent the evening chatting about the future of the ranch in Haines, got up for Mass on Sunday followed by French Toast breakfast put on by the Tillamook Sr. Class to raise money for several "causes".

The drive home was lovely - much better in the light of day - and a great way to top off a splendid trip.

After Dinner - Happy and Full


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
EVERYONE!!!

Decorating ideas for renters

I recently found this great slide show of great decorating ideas for renters at the Domino Magazine website (unfortunately March is their last issue!). For those of us who will be renting for the next few years, these tips can make our time as non-homeowners much more enjoyable!

This is one of my favorite ideas:

It has come to this

The story discussed in this editorial disturbs me. How is it ok to treat people this way (afterall, these are people) - some of whom have done nothing wrong but cross a line drawn in the sand seeking a better life? I think it's important to note that many people who enter the country without papers do not have any way to enter legally. It's not that they choose to enter illegally rather than going through the propper process. It's that there is no process for them because they have no US Citizen family, or they are not Olympic Atheletes, or they don't have their M.D. and are not sponsored by some specialty hospital who has the money to cover their immigration process. It seems to me that we treat convicted felons better than we treat undocumented immigrants! What upsets me the most, I think, is that this spectacle reminds me of photos I saw at the Holocaust Museum last month. I pray that we are not going there with our overzealous, xenophobic enforcement of immigration law.

I was there!

I traveled to DC for the Inauguration last week. Needless to say, it was very inspiring and historic. I could write a book, but I'll let a few pictures speak for the experience. To see all three albums on facebook, these are the links: Inauguration Day, DC Part I, DC Part II.

In front of the Jefferson Memorial

Jumping for Joy at the Jefferson

By the Washington Memorial

At the Lincoln Memorial

This guy was dancing to some impromptu music on the steps of the Lincoln. He was TOO cute!

Night on the Mall - this photo was taken by a freelance photographer and writer who I met in line and who happens to know several of the people I met during my study abroad in Latin America. It was quite an enjoyable and serendipitous night!

Ice Skating at the National Art Museum Sculpture Garden

4:45 AM on Inauguration Day - coming out from the Metro with a million people. EXCITED!

Dawn at the Capitol

Friends we just met - all trying to stay warm, but filled with excitement

Feeling patriotic and proud to be an American. A good moment.

The reason we all gathered in the freezing cold for hours and hours. President Obama!!

The huge crowd behaved itself but left a lot of trash. :(

Getting warm again at the Hawk & Dove - Cheers to the next 4 years!

Girls Weekend

This weekend I visited my friend Caris in Portland. Somehow I didn't take one picture the whole time I was there... but we had a great time. Friday night I had to ref a basketball game in Junction City, then met up with Tim and friends for dinner at La Perla in Eugene. By 8:00 I was finally on my way to Portland.

On Saturday we went to brunch at Pambiche, a Cuban restaurant in NE Portland. The food and atmosphere were truly authentic and very enjoyable, as was the company of course! Then it was off to bowling at Hollywood Bowl. I scored over 100 twice - quite an accomplishment for me! But Caris still beat me both games. After bowling we hit the theater and saw Gran Torino - such a surprising film! I highly recommend it.

We rounded out the evening with split pea soup (my first ever - YUMM!), and the Blazers game at Caris' parents' house on their huge HDTV. It was so fun to see how much the Blazers have changed in the last 5-10 years. They are selfless on and off the court, and they really work together as a team. Such fun to watch!

All in all, a fun time! Thanks for a great weekend, Caris!

Cameron & Christina's Wedding

So, I went to Estes Park, Colorado for my cousin Christina's wedding. I discovered I should be an event/wedding coordinator as I had so much fun pulling everything together in the last few days... Here are some photos:

Sisters - my mom, aunt Lura (the cake miracle worker) and Aunt Lesta (the mother of the bride)

Daniel and I dancing at the reception

Tim and I at the reception

The sweet and serene father-daughter dance turned CRAZY! :)

Cutting the beautiful cake

Family

Beautiful bride and groom

I played guest-book/program/gift table girl - and matched the theme too!

Steaming out the wrinkles in the wedding dress