Moving is intense.

Oh boy.  Why didn't anyone tell me how much was involved with moving?

I've been in Vancouver, Washington for almost 1 whole week now.

It feels longer.

This week was filled with changing insurance (health and car!), changing all information, setting up my room, getting a new car, starting my new job...etc.

Phew.  So tired.

The good news is that I am really enjoying my job.

It is such a change of pace from any job that I have ever had.

I am actually being trained, my bosses bought me a brand new chair, and the people I help on a day to day basis are actually nice and not yelling at me.

It's wonderful.

I still have to get a second job since this one is only part time, so keep your fingers crossed that I get the one that I interviewed for last Tuesday.  I should find out either way about that one this coming Tuesday. *fingers crossed*

The other good news is that I did a bit of exploring.

Here are some crappy iphone photos. 

I'm definitely going to go back with my "fancy" camera and do a bit more!

Mt. Hood- Taken from Fort Vancouver

The Columbian River- Taken from Portland Womens Forum State Park

Multnomah Falls

Portland Rose Gardens

That time I went to Portland, Oregon to do a half marathon.

My friend and I signed up to to the Portland, Oregon Rock n' Roll Half Marathon back in February.

Did I train for this half marathon at all?

That would be a no.

Gah, who am I?

When I met my friend in Portland, I told her I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not.

She said she wouldn't mind not doing it, so we went all the way to Portland to not do a half marathon.

It was still an adventurous weekend though.

We walked about a mile and a half to our hostel

only to figure out that we had booked it for the wrong night!

I think I nearly died of laughter!

We called many hotels but everywhere was fully booked due to the race.

Luckily, we were able to find a hotel by the airport (they only had a smoking room available, but that sure beats sleeping on the streets!)

and it was another mile and a half walk to the hotel from the train.

We walked all around the city.

We went to the Saturday market which was fantastic.  

Then, we walked another mile and a half to get some Dutch Brothers coffee. 

It is seriously the most delicious coffee you will ever taste. 

If you go to Oregon, you must have Dutch Brothers!

It rained quite a bit on Saturday.  I did not where the right shoes at all.  

My feet were shriveled up like a grandma from all the water!  But, Sunday was gorgeous. 

I'm tempted to move to Portland!

Alaska Adventures: Mike and Derrick

I think it is about time for another installment of Alaska Adventures.  

You can find the first post here about Can-opener Man.

We are just coming up from Roseburg Oregon, 

where we had stayed with some friends of Cheryl's that she had worked on a winery with up there.

We were heading up to Portland, and realized that we didn't really have anywhere to stay.

It had occured to us earlier in the trip that we should try Couch Surfing.

We tried to do it in San Francisco, but it was too short notice.

But, we found two guys named Mike and Derrick to stay with in Portland.

These guys had a pretty nice apartment that they were kind to open up to us.

There was another girl that had stayed with them that week and she was on her way out.

She had an interesting story.  She was from Switzerland and went to Portland to build a bicycle.

We explored all of the city.  

Making sure to hit up Voodoo Donuts, 

getting caught in the rain, 

eating some delicious food from food trucks,

and taking a four person bike around the city.

Kylie, Me, Cheryl

 After our bike ride, 

Mike called us and said he was making some Sangria and was going to go drink it in the park.

He invited us along, and of course we accepted.

These guys were some of the nicest people we met on the trip.

They both were into traveling and playing practical jokes on their friends.

Mike had just gotten back from a trip to Argentina.

We were sad to leave them the next day.

But we got a text from Mike saying that we had forgotten something.

He said we forgot to take him with us to Alaska!

haha!

Fortunately, this wasn't the last time we got to see them.

Luckily for us, these guys were normal.

Many of the people we met on the trip were not.

Look forward to funny stories about those people!

Oh no. Look what I did.

I think I am suffering from temporary insanity. 

I just signed up for my first half marathon! 

It is going to be on May 19, 2013 in Portland, Oregon!  

Anyone interested in doing it as well?  Sign up here!

I am really excited to go back to Portland, and better yet to do my very first half marathon there!  

Yikes.  

I might wake up tomorrow regretting this decision, but for now I am stoked!  

Anyone thinking of doing it as well or even training for a half marathon right now?  

I could use some tips and motivation lol

At least I am making progress on my 2013 goal list!

Now, I will need to book a flight!