Saturday, November 29, 2008

Gas prices

Yes, I am thankful that gas prices are lower...and yet I am also bitter. I am bitter about the fact that we moved in August at the height of gas prices. Our move consisted of renting a gigantic uhaul that took a lot of gas and driving one of our vehicles over 1000 miles. How is it that gas is literally half as much now as it was when we moved. Oh the pain of the money spent to get us to Portland.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Friends

It has been so interesting for me moving to a new town and trying to make friends again. When I first moved to Thousand Oaks I really struggled to make friends - it doesn't help that I am quiet around people I don't know (though I do tend to lean on that too much at times) and can be really introverted. I did a lot of things wrong in making friends in Thousand Oaks and I see that now. I judged people too quickly, I didn't put myself out there enough, I didn't think I really needed friends all that badly - and in the end I was left feeling very alone without any good girlfriends. I had a lot of acquaintances, but not many people I knew I could share ALL of myself with (the good along with the bad).
In the end I made one really close friend, but honestly that didn't happen until after I had lived there for about 3 years. It was really hard to leave my closest friend in Thousand Oaks because she taught me so much about how I truly did and do need friends that live in close proximity and how important it is to have girlfriends I can share ALL of me with (as sad as it is I have come to realize that even with some of my closest friends I do not share all of myself).
So, here I am now in a new town again and attempting to make friends. My approach is much different this time. To begin with I know I NEED to make girlfriends and I am not too proud to say that. Also, I am being totally me from the beginning and sharing the good and the bad right from the start. I am being real, being transparent, being vulnerable, being myself - and not trying to impress others. I am not judging people, but instead I am being positive and giving people more credit than I have in the past (just being honest with how bad of a person I can be).
I don't know what friendships will develop here in Portland, but I do know that in the short time I have been here I have already gotten to know some really amazing ladies and they are people I truly hope become close friends. I am thankful that I have learned from my many mistakes in Thousand Oaks and that I am making friends here.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Routine

I have come to realize (and more importantly accept) that I am creature of habit. I think I have always wanted to be characterized as an "easy going" person who can just "roll with the punches", however I see now that those phrases do not describe me. I like routine, I crave a schedule, I need structure...it keeps me sane.
Now that we have begun to settle into life here in Portland we have developed a little routine with my work, Jim's work, and life with Ami. I love this. I love that I know when I go to work, when Jim goes to work, when and where I pick Amalea up and what to expect after I pick her up. I feel prepared and ready for the days because to some degree I know what to expect and this keeps me calm.
Now, I say all this and at the same time I do hope I can be more flexible and spontaneous, even in the every day happenings.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Meet Allison

Baby season continues... Meet Allison Berlyn Garvin - the newest addition to our family. Allison was born to Jim's sister on Halloween in New York and joins her younger brother Rory. We don't know when we'll be able to meet her, but we are happy she is here and healthy.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Fall



One of the reasons I love Portland so much is that Fall actually exists here. Unlike Southern California that sees little change as one season passes to another, Portland trees transform the landscape and light up the skyline with intense and beautiful colors. It is awesome.