Halloween Fun

Halloween

Happy Halloween! In Portland we say, "Happy Hallow's Eve, Bitches!" Seriously. The halloween spirit has started all over the Northwest. It's been very exciting...mainly because of the candy corn. Man, that darn candy corn and candy pumpkins get me every time. Frick. Frick on a stick!!




Saturday is the big Halloween bash, which is guaranteed fun. Still, I haven't decided what I want to be for Halloween. There's just so many options. Geez. I think part of the reason I haven't figured out what I want to be, is the fact that I have been so dang busy all week that I haven't but a chance to think about it atall. I think I may be turning into a work-a-hollic, or just needy of money. Not sure which one yet.

Last Saturday marked the start of the Halloween activities, with the pumpkin carving celebration. It was oodles of fun. We got some wine-in-a-box, pumpkins, and a box full of smiles. Christie got the biggest pumpkin, I think it weighed 30 lbs.

It all started with the opening of the boxed wine. On the box it said, "1 box of wine =4 bottles of wine." We didn't believe it, of course. So we bought it. Next came the carving, which was quite a fun event. We all decided to keep the seeds, so removing the pumpkin guts was very time consuming.






None-the-less we all finished the pumpkin autopsies, and continued with the carving. All of us chose a different design, each with unique and exciting personality. Total carve time for my pumpkin total 2 1/2 hours, while most carve time was 1 1/2. I guess I am too maticulous.



Anyhoo, we lit them up with bike flashy red lights and stood back to appreciate the beauty.




Look at all the beauty!!!

















Quote of the day:

"Love only those that love you, cry when no one can see, and make chocolate chip pancakes often."


Pic of the Day:











That's sweet love!

Outside. Where's outside?

So today while I was in my regular routine of work, I had a breif thought. I was thinking about how I never go outside except for when I go from my car to the bus and from the bus to the Clinic. Then on the way home I do the same. This is quite sad. Last year this time, I was riding to work and school and riding my cross bike every chance I could get. Races on the weekends were my regular routine and I loved it. Things have changed dramatically now, but there is no excuse for not being outside.

I have decided to break the pattern and dedicate my spare time to the outdoors. Don't get me wrong, I have about 2 hours of spare time a day, the difference is I have decided to use them. On Saturday I am looking at a bike that I may purchase to start commuting on and riding on the weekends. It will be good fun. The test ride is scheduled early on Saturday, which shortly there after I will be trail running and hiking. Yipee.

So there, it's in writting and now I have to do it. Have you ever noticed that when you fall into a bad routine, that it is the hardest thing to break. Everyday it eats at you and slowly it consumes your life. Interesting stuff sometimes. At the same time, once you start a good routine, everyday you are positively reenforced with all the hopes and accomplishment made and yet to make.

When you are frustrated with the situation, change it. Don't continue to live in your self created misery.

Quote of the Day:

"Don't worry about the things you can't change, change what you worry about."

Pic of the day:

And the Pendulum swings.....

This morning started off with a nice greating of a warm shower, followed by some fresh store bought eggs with Tillamook cheese. Fortunate for me, my favorite shirt was ready to be worn with my choice pair of slacks and so on. It was forecasting a nice day. Well, today I rode the TriMet(bus) all the way, (normally I drive to a Park n Ride and then catch a bus), and it was an interesting experience. I had my Joe with me and my other new best friend, Kitty-my MCAT study guide. So Joe, Kitty, and I started our journey into a day that seemed to be very managable.



The bus ride turned out to be very productful, in which I got through a good section of Kitty. I guess right now I'll call her Kitten because she's so new to me and I don't know her too well. After an hour of bus study time, I gathered myself and moved to the Starbucks lounge to continue my study session. I finished my session with just enough time to walk down to CEI(Casey Eye Institute) and formally great what was in store for me, today.



Today was a clinic day for the doctor that I work for which was prepped the night before. Well as if to say "Good Morning, " Chaos greeted me with missing charts and busy phone lines. The office has been a bit crazy with some staff out for leave of absence and illness. Continuing to push through the fallen wall of bricks, I attempted to accomplish the tasks of the day. Wednesday's satellite clinic did not get completely pulled until 5pm on the dot with an exhausting and endless effort to accomplish the task far sooner.

To say the least, what started out as a fresh day of possibility, quickly turned into a scatter of disorganization with the least bit of control orientation. Thus can be true and applicable to many situtations.

Tomarrows a new day...and personally, I hope it starts bad so it will get better and better all day. Remember, the day is what you make it, not what the day makes you.

Quote of the Day:
"Trust me, Frank knows."

Pic of the Day:

Sing like you're Pro....."Ode to Chopsticks"

So, have you ever found yourself singing when the music suddenly stops? Yeah, no good huh. Well not at Chopsticks! Picture the most dirty bar that you could imagine...here I'll help....PBR=$2.50, little red dress girl, dirties everywhere, old drunk men......got the picture? Yes. It's one of those bars where if the music stops, no one knows..cause they keep singing. The key to this puzzle is "Karaoke."

There's a bar in the dirty ghetto (East side) where "broken-down" people are plentiful. This bar is very classic. Every Friday, and maybe every night, stars are born. Chopsticks hosts a variety of people in which they indulge in a behavior known as Drunkin Singing. To most this "singing" is replulsive, but to the Karaokers....its heaven.

Friday night I became a karaoker.

I can't put in to words the excitement and pure enjoyment I felt as I took the microphone in my hands and sang 80's buttrock. It as oh so good. The got started with a bit of double-fisting of the PBRs and closely followed by a loud, "Yes, yes, (dramatic pause) sing it like you mean it!!" The end of the night came real quick but flashes of good times come to mind.

Like:








The pre-Game pose.....













Waiting for Christie......

















the car ride......
















....Bill.....












Striking a pose.....















..Hoooraying....


















...And Getting TRASHED!!!






My its interesting how much fun you can have when you just sing a little tune. (and become friends with Mr. PBR)

Quote of the Day:

"Sing like your a Pro.....you know...Dicky Dub So-Pro."
----unknown source


Pic of the Day:

There's a bit of a "cold" in the air

With the beautiful colors of fall, comes the very anticipated cold season. I'm not talking about the cold temperature, but the cold virus .
This year, the cold season kickoff has been very consuming, with everyone at the office infected. For the few of us that thought we were "better" than the cold....well we're not. I like to think of colds as little devils waiting to infect you and ruin your life.

Ok it doesn't ruin your life, but it definitely stop you in your tracks.

So if you haven't figured it out, I've been sick at home for 2 days in a row. I tried to tuff it out for 1 day, then the next day I went to work and only lasted until 10am. No good at all. Seems like everyone has this cold, at least at work, and it has been attacking people for about 2wks and totally out of commission for 2-3 days. I think the worst is over, but we'll see.

This cold has forced me to change my daily routine, but most importantly has forced me to not meet with Joe in the morning. For that Mr. Cold, I despise you! 2 days without coffee has been very tragic, but necessary. My temporary best friend has been echinacia tea with real lemon. Oh so good.

Aside from the cold, Portland has been great in temperature, ~70, for the last couple days. The order of rain has been put on temporary hold, but I sense it is well due.

Remember to appreciate those days when your head doesn't hurt with every sound, your body doesn't ache like an old ship, and your nose isn't stuffed up tighter than a high school girl's bra.

Quote of the day:

"I wish I could fine a cool, skinny girl that doesn't ride bikes."

-you know who you are

Pic of the day:

The sweet smell of fall.

So fall is here. With the sweet gray, billowing clouds rolling in and the birds starting their long journey south, I have realized that fall is upon us.
Fall is quite a new experience here in the Northwest. The lush green woods still demonstrate their rain forest-like climate, exploiting only small signs of fall with the yellow leaves nipping at their beauty. The sky only whispers secrets of rain that will be welcoming the new season. My excitement is only contained my erroneous statement, "I love rain."

With the new season brings hope and encouragement for the future. The possiblilities are endless if we are persistant and passonate about what we thrive for.

Welcome back. Bryce is here to stay.