Unexpected Gift

This morning I woke up to the news that school was canceled for the day–snow day!  The funny thing is that the roads in our neighborhood were completely clear and the snow that was on the lawns quickly melted.  It feels a big indulgent to have a snow day when it’s clear here in the valley.  I guess it was icy in the West Hills.

It’s crazy but I have so many things that I’d like to do “when I have time” that it’s hard to figure out what to do first.  The choices nearly put me out of commission.  The dogs got TWO walks today, I met Nate for lunch,  I packed up and mailed some stuff that’s been waiting to be posted, I had a cup of coffee and a cookie (chocolate chocolate chocolate from Grand Central Bakery–yum!), and I got to play around in my studio.

In other news, this is my last week as a junior high teacher.  I have accepted a position as a “supported education” teacher at the two high schools in my district.  I’ll be supporting the high school special education programs and reporting directly to the director of special education.  I’m excited for some new challenges and I’m curious to see if I find a more administrative-type position fulfilling or if I’ll miss the daily interaction with students.

I’m sort of dreading this week.  I think it’s starting to sink in with my students that I’m leaving.  A retired teacher is coming in to finish out the school year for me.  She started last week so we could have some overlap and get her up to speed with what I’ve been doing in the classroom.  She’s taken over the teaching component already and this week I need to tie up loose ends on paperwork and teach her how to use the software that we use to write IEPs.  It’s really hard for me to give up “my” school and “my” students and “my” fabulous co-workers. I’ve been pretty sad about that.  It doesn’t help that a couple of my co-workers and a couple of my students have already shed a few tears about my leaving.  I’m glad that they’re not cheering, “Whoo-hoo!  She’s leaving!” but it’s hard for me to know how to respond to their sadness when I’m actually a little excited to be moving on.

I feel like this unexpected gift of time has given me a chance to prepare myself for the week ahead.  Thanks, snow day!

Back Home Again in Portland

We did finally make it to Indiana for the holidays after 24 hours of waiting in lines, flying, staying in a hotel at O’Hare, and then that last little 20 minute flight from Chicago to South Bend. We had a lovely time with our families and friends. We’ll put some of our pictures on Flick’r soon.

In the meantime, I’m happy to be back in Portland. I have a lot of work I need to do to get ready for the next trimester at PSU (classes start next week, aackk!). So today I took my laptop down to my new-favorite coffeeshop, Caffe Pallino, and here I sit, warm and cozy on a dreary, wet day (my favorite kind of day). The coffee here is Caffe Umbria. Yum. This picture is actually from the original Caffe Umbria in Seattle.  May you also be warm and dry and caffeinated.

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I’ll Be Home for Christmas….Maybe

We set the alarm clock for 5:30.  Arose from the depths of slumber to finish backing our bags so we could catch a cab to the airport at 6:15.  We got to the airport at 6:35 for our 8:30 flight.  We tried to check in at the curb but the United guy told us our plane was delayed and we’d have to check in at the desk inside.   We stood in a long line for a long time.

The flight was delayed for 10:37.  And then it was delayed until 10:39 (make up your minds, people!).  The plane was slow to board.  We stood in a long line for a long time.

The plane pushed off from the gate and headed down the runway.  Just as the engines revved up, the plane turned around and headed back to the gate.  Problems with the air pressurization system.  Take off delayed until 11:45.  The United mechanics jiggled things and the pilots took the plane out to try again.  Once more the engines revved, the air pressurization system failed and the take off was aborted.  The United mechanics giggle things some more.  They need a new gasket or some sort of whatchamacallit that is in San Francisco.  They’ll fly it to Portland and fix the plane.  Maybe.  Meanwhile please deplane and try to work with the travel agent to figure out your connecting flights.

We’re still at PDX.  We’ve been standing in a long line for a long time.

Little Victories

Yesterday we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.  I know it’s crazy! 12! We must have been mere infants when we got married.  It’s not been an easy year of marriage.  There are times when our marriage has been easy–we’ve been in agreement and a cohesive Unit.  And there are other times when our marriage has been a constant struggle–negotiations and attempts at compromise between two opinionated and stubborn people.  This has been such a year.  Both of us are in it for the long haul and we know that we will do the hard work of marriage with hopes that someday it will be easy again.

Last night we toasted our marriage at the Victory Wine Bar in Portland.  This was the first time we’d been there, but we were drawn in by the cozy warm interior and lack of a wait for a table (oh, that is prized in Portland on a Friday night!).  It was a great place for a date.  We sat in the corner in the soft candle light and ordered food that reminded us of the Alsace or Black Forest.  The spaezle with gruyere cheese and carmelized shallots was divine!  It gives any mac-n-cheese I’ve ever had a run for its money.  Mussels with chorizo.  Hanger steak with chanterelle mushroom risotto.  Chocolate pots de creme.  Need we say more?  Get thee to the Victory Wine Bar at Division and 36th!

Celebrate the little victories in life (we are still married).

Dr. Seuss Would Be Proud

My dinner order at the Laughing Planet tonight:  Posole soup and a Holy Mole burrito with Guacamole.

The cashier called out, “Posole, Holy Mole, Guacamole!”

Ways for Deb to Amuse Herself #32

can’t ride in the winter?…

not true in portland.. there’s this little sport called cyclocross (CX) that has actually been around for over a hundred years (invented in europe of course) and it’s found a particularly rabid following here in portland.

this weekend, portland hosted the us gran prix of CX out at PIR

since the storm of the century was forecast (can you say “extra tropical cyclone”), i thought it would make for a memorable racing, so i headed out to witness the mud ‘n gears.

full race report here.

a few of my pictures there.

major storm hits portland

so far its been a rainy and a little windy.

we did find some damage when we came home from church today..

it was quite a mess

we’re not sure how it happened…

maybe we can ask the dogs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a lovely day, thanks to our friends, Justin & Erica, and to the geniuses in the Test Kitchen who write the Cook’s Illustrated cookbooks. Seriously, if you’re food geeks like we are, the Cook’s Illustrated cookbooks are the definitive source for fabulous food….not so low fat or healthy for you…but the tastiest.

We’ve developed one little Thanksgiving tradition here in Portland. After the first round of cooking and getting the turkey in the oven, we drive over to Mt. Tabor, park at the bottom and climb up to the top. Today was a crisp, clear day and there was a fabulous view of the mountain. Here are some pictures from the day–cooking the turkey, hanging out with Erica & Justin, and eating dinner with them and our new friends Jennifer, Jason and Jacob.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Party Clothes

Nature’s put her party clothes on for a last hurrah before winter.  We put on our party clothes too and went to the annual referral party for Morgan Davis, our realtor.  I know that sounds geeky and it is…to go to a party hosted by your realtor.  But we really like Morgan and his team and refer our friends to him.  And then Morgan puts on a really good party and we get to go hang out with our friends Michael & Debra because they’re Morgan’s clients too.

morning shivers as the sun climbs into the sky

morning shivers as the sun climbs into the sky

Originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon

Photo of Mt. Hood by Carolyn in Oregon