look at my girl showing off in her heelys skates -- so adorable!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
oregon is in the news...again
i don't know if you've noticed or paid attention, but lately oregon has been mentioned on the national news: whether it be weather-related (november was the wettest month on record here - ever) or tragedy-related (california family lost in the oregon wilderness or climbers lost on mount hood)...which has led my girlie to wonder aloud, ever-so-subtlely, "remind me again -- why did we move to portland?" and "are these events signs from the universe that maybe we weren't supposed to land in oregon?" of course, she's saying things we're both thinking - i'm just not as vocal as she. instead of focusing on the negative, though, it has caused us to reflect upon the positive.
in a narcissistic, self-centered way, we wonder if hearing something about oregon mentioned in the news causes you, our beloved family and friends, to think about us...not in a worried kind of way, but more of a "hmmm, oregon is in the news again -- wonder how lucky and minnesota are doing...."
as i said, it's quite narcissistic, yes, but, to turn the tables a bit, any time i hear anything about georgia, i immediately think of lucky's family and i smile. likewise, anytime i hear anything about minnesota, i immediately think of my family and i smile. wisconsin? my mind shifts to dear friends. similarly, when indiana is mentioned, other dear friends are remembered. you get the idea, yes?
certainly, that's not to negate or minimize the tragedies that have recently occurred in our new home state. our hearts go out to their loved ones. it's just that i try to find little reminders of love throughout my daily existence, regardless of their origin. call me crazy....
yes, we still do love it here, by the way. at times, our patience has been tested, like when it's been raining for the fifteenth straight day or when we've driven around our neighborhood for what seems like an eternity looking for a parking spot...any parking spot. but portland is a beautiful city in a beautiful state, and we're so lucky to live here.
in fact, ohmygosh, we've seen some of the most BEAUTIFUL sunrises since moving to p-town!!! below you'll see a couple of pictures of those spectacular sights, which of course, don't quite do the actual sunrise justice...but you get the idea.
so with that, i'll close. thanks for reading, thanks for thinking of us, and thanks for your love and support. as always sending love and hugs across the miles.
oh, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!
our homemade decorations :) cute, huh??
in a narcissistic, self-centered way, we wonder if hearing something about oregon mentioned in the news causes you, our beloved family and friends, to think about us...not in a worried kind of way, but more of a "hmmm, oregon is in the news again -- wonder how lucky and minnesota are doing...."
as i said, it's quite narcissistic, yes, but, to turn the tables a bit, any time i hear anything about georgia, i immediately think of lucky's family and i smile. likewise, anytime i hear anything about minnesota, i immediately think of my family and i smile. wisconsin? my mind shifts to dear friends. similarly, when indiana is mentioned, other dear friends are remembered. you get the idea, yes?
certainly, that's not to negate or minimize the tragedies that have recently occurred in our new home state. our hearts go out to their loved ones. it's just that i try to find little reminders of love throughout my daily existence, regardless of their origin. call me crazy....
yes, we still do love it here, by the way. at times, our patience has been tested, like when it's been raining for the fifteenth straight day or when we've driven around our neighborhood for what seems like an eternity looking for a parking spot...any parking spot. but portland is a beautiful city in a beautiful state, and we're so lucky to live here.
in fact, ohmygosh, we've seen some of the most BEAUTIFUL sunrises since moving to p-town!!! below you'll see a couple of pictures of those spectacular sights, which of course, don't quite do the actual sunrise justice...but you get the idea.
so with that, i'll close. thanks for reading, thanks for thinking of us, and thanks for your love and support. as always sending love and hugs across the miles.
oh, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!
our homemade decorations :) cute, huh??
Friday, December 01, 2006
that time of year again
What is it about our culture that says that we have to buy gifts for everyone? It is amazing how people go into debt buying things that are not even appreciated over time. Think back about all the gifts that you have gotten. I'll bet you can't remember most of them. What really makes people happy? Is it the gift or the connection with another person? People create so much more stress for themselves by believing that they have to buy expensive gifts for others. Whatever happened to making something special or just writing a very nice card? What if you gave gifts in the form of donations or charity work? Can you imagine getting a card that said the person had given their time to a charity as a gift to you? How would you feel? Do you have to get and give material presents to be happy, or would you be just as happy with the satisfaction that something nice had been done in your honor? Remember, this is all about your belief system. You are the boss of your own values. - Dr. Rick Blue
i read this quote last friday and it resonated with me - its truth is so simple and yet so profound. mn and i haven't been buying christmas gifts for our families or friends for a couple of years now - we made cookies last year and the year before made donations. sometimes it's still hard for me, tho - the pull of tradition and advertising can be fairly strong. not to mention sometimes it's fun to go on an endless hunt for who knows what. but for me, the holiday season isn't about how many gifts you receive or how many you buy for others. the holiday season is about spending time with family and friends, focusing on each other and catching up on what's been happening while you've been separated. it's a time of reunion, a time of caring, a time of love.
mn and i won't be able to spend time with our families during the holidays this year because the airlines seem to think the holidays are the only time of the year they can make some serious cash - the price jacking is dumbfounding. for example, i'm travelling to atlanta on january 10 and returning on january 16. i found an outstanding price of $220 - yes, round trip. (thank you, karol for spreading the word about farecast.com.) when i search the same criteria with the exception of entering a departure date during the week before christmas, the 79-day low is $479 and the high is $696. how is that possible? how can it possibly cost $476 more to fly to the same city just a few days prior??? the answer is it doesn't. the airlines know people really want to spend time with their friends and family during the holidays, and some are willing to shell out more cash for the tickets. ah, the spirit of the season.
so if you're a member of the crew of mn/lucky's family and friends, please know we would love to be able to spend the holidays with y'all. please know we'll be thinking of y'all and toasting the strength of love and friendship no matter how many miles lie between us.
here's a photo of us in downtown portland on the night of the tree lighting. even though there was a chill in the air, people were cheerful and filled with the holiday spirit. we had a great time participating in a tradition of our new city.
i read this quote last friday and it resonated with me - its truth is so simple and yet so profound. mn and i haven't been buying christmas gifts for our families or friends for a couple of years now - we made cookies last year and the year before made donations. sometimes it's still hard for me, tho - the pull of tradition and advertising can be fairly strong. not to mention sometimes it's fun to go on an endless hunt for who knows what. but for me, the holiday season isn't about how many gifts you receive or how many you buy for others. the holiday season is about spending time with family and friends, focusing on each other and catching up on what's been happening while you've been separated. it's a time of reunion, a time of caring, a time of love.
mn and i won't be able to spend time with our families during the holidays this year because the airlines seem to think the holidays are the only time of the year they can make some serious cash - the price jacking is dumbfounding. for example, i'm travelling to atlanta on january 10 and returning on january 16. i found an outstanding price of $220 - yes, round trip. (thank you, karol for spreading the word about farecast.com.) when i search the same criteria with the exception of entering a departure date during the week before christmas, the 79-day low is $479 and the high is $696. how is that possible? how can it possibly cost $476 more to fly to the same city just a few days prior??? the answer is it doesn't. the airlines know people really want to spend time with their friends and family during the holidays, and some are willing to shell out more cash for the tickets. ah, the spirit of the season.
so if you're a member of the crew of mn/lucky's family and friends, please know we would love to be able to spend the holidays with y'all. please know we'll be thinking of y'all and toasting the strength of love and friendship no matter how many miles lie between us.
here's a photo of us in downtown portland on the night of the tree lighting. even though there was a chill in the air, people were cheerful and filled with the holiday spirit. we had a great time participating in a tradition of our new city.
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