My Visitors

Shaunna and her mom came out to visit from Spokane, WA today.  They spent six long hot hours in the car just to get here and then they took me out for a beer.  So, so sweet.  I suggested going to Juan Colorado which is a cute Mexican restaurant within walking distance from my apartment.  I hadn't been and thought they would be the perfect people to check it out with.  We had a nice round of very cold beers and good chips then came back to the apartment where Eddie treated us to some good Sokol Blosser wines.  Not the most flattering picture of me, but you can see we're having fun.  :-)

As our catch-up chatter wore down, we decided to put on a movie.  Shaunna's mom came prepared with a copy of The Blind Side.  I was excited to see this one because I bought the book a few months ago but haven't been interested in starting it.  I was also curious to see Sandra Bullock's award-winning performance and I was completely shocked to find out Tim McGraw was her co-star.  He looks so different without his cowboy hat.  Since I enjoyed the movie I will probably bump up the book to a higher position on my reading list.  Should be fun.

Tomorrow is going to be a fun road trip day!  :-)

Leaving California

Hi all,

I thought it was high time I started writing again. I used to be so good about writing my thoughts regularly either on paper in a journal or online at one of the many blog sites. I stopped writing as I got more involved with Facebook, Myspace, and now Twitter. I figured I was posting nearly daily updates with those that I really didn't have much left to say for an actual blog. But I had an idea tonight while watching my cooking shows and sipping on my Pinot Gris. I am starting this blog to remember my first year in Oregon.

Most reading this know my story. But for those who don't, I was born and raised in Northern California and moved south to Orange County to attend UC Irvine in 2001. After graduation I decided to stay down there to be with my friends and start my working career. Well a few years later, Eddie and I decided we were ready to leave the expensive, right-wing hoity-toitiness that is the OC. But where to go? Surely returning to Nor Cal would be great to be with my family. And it would put us near wine country. But we thought we could do one better and actually live in wine country. I had reservations about Napa & Sonoma though. I didn't think I could find a job as easily in Nor Cal wine country since the towns are somewhat small.

After many discussions we decided on Portland, OR. We actually live in Tualatin which is about 25 minutes from Dundee Hills (the heart of the Willamette Valley) and just twenty minutes from downtown Portland. Perfect location for us. So on March 31 we loaded up our U-Haul and started driving to Oregon. Nearly three months later we are loving life up here.

Unfortunately my old company in California that hired me as a consultant to work from my new home in Tualatin has decided to let me go. So I found myself with a lot of free time this week and decided I wanted to commit myself to exploring my new home. And that's why I'm starting this blog.

Okay. Time to wrap this up. I didn't do a whole lot today but I was determined to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. But since I'm jobless and a bit poor I wanted to keep it simple today. I packed up a little backpack with a light snack and a book and set off for a bike ride. I rode out on the trail near my apartment which follows a portion of the Tualatin River (pictured). I rode around until I found a cute bench to park my bike so I could eat and begin reading Shutter Island. I never saw the movie but the book is good so far.

I'll end it there for the evening. Not sure what I'll do tomorrow (if anything). I will say that my short-term quest will be to find the awesomest burger in the Portland Metro area. And also to find a burger joint that is most similar to In-N-Out. So you can expect several burger entries in the near future. :-)

Peace!