Nine Eleven Oh Nine

It’s been over a month since my last entry.  Although I log on to the site ever single day to read my faves and possibly leave a note or two.  I didn’t even write about my trip to Oregon last month.  So it’s not that I haven’t had anything to write about.  It’s the fact that I just haven’t had the proper motivation to write.  Not sure why today is any different, but I guess something clicked because here I am… writing.

Oregon last month was pretty fun.  It was nice to get away for a few days and leave my worries behind.  I had hoped at the time that it would be the key to coming back with a fresh outlook on my current situation, but alas… as soon as I got back, I sunk right back into my funk if not a little bit deeper.  But before I get to that, I’ll write about a few observations on Oregon.  Maybe even throw in a few pictures since I do have them on my computer.

So while Oregon is a very pretty state, at least on the western side, it is a bit different.  The state likes to regulate quite a bit it seems like.  Lots of silly rules.  You can’t pump your own gas for instance.  It’s not even an option.  Now granted most people wouldn’t mind not having to pump their own gas, but if the person who pumps the gas is busy, then you sit and wait until they can get to you.  They’re reasoning behind not allowing you to pump your own gas is that it creates jobs.  Okay.  I guess it’s just the fact that they don’t give you the option.  Once something is taken off of the list of options that’s usually what you want to do.  There were a bunch of other lame things that I noticed about the state and Portland in general, but I’m not here to bash the place.

Okay… just a couple more weird observations…

Portland is considered the most "homeless friendly" city in the world or something along those lines.  People are known to go to Portland just to live on the streets.  ???  Okay.  Whatever floats your boat I guess.  And I couldn’t help but laugh at the people there that made it a point to be as "unique" as possible but in turn ended up looking just like the next "unique" person walking down the street.

Here are a few pictures.

Stop off point half way up to Portland.  This is where we stopped to eat lunch.

The water was freezing!

Mount Shasta

97 miles into Oregon

Oh yeah… one day I got to see an old friend that I haven’t seen for years while we were up in Oregon.  Doug.  He hasn’t changed much.  He’s still a pothead, but he’s a successful chef and he’s getting married this weekend actually.  His fiance is so sweet and very pretty.  Not sure what she sees in Doug, but to each her own.  LOL  I was on a very limited budget while I was in Portland, so when I ordered an $8.50 meal but ended up getting stuck with $12 of the $14 tip that was left for the waitress, I wasn’t exactly jumping with joy.  Gee thanks, Doug!  LOL  I’m over it though.  After I went to lunch with Doug, Natalie, and his brother David, we went into Portland to Powell’s Book Store.  This place is HUGE!  It’s a full city block and 3 stories high.  New and used books.  INSANITY!!!

They have a window display of weird books.  I couldn’t help but laugh at a couple of them.

     

And last but not least (and probably the biggest laugh)

I ended up parting ways with Doug at the bookstore and stayed and walked around for about an hour and a half to two hours.  Dori was with her friend taking care of some of the wedding stuff, so when I got done at the store, I called her up and they met me down the street at a fountain that I walked to.

Cool huh?

Awesome picture of me in front of fountain!  =)

All in all it was a good trip.  I drank entirely too much while I was there… probably enough to last me for the rest of the year.  LOL  But it was fun none the less.

Once we got back from Portland, I stepped right back into the stress of not having a job.  Like I said before, I was hoping that I would have a fresh outlook on the situation once I returned, but alas I came back only to realize that it was going to be so.  I sunk even deeper into my funk and started stressing the closer we got to the end of August.  People noticed and could tell that I was stressed and it was taking a visible toll on both me and Jacob.  I got my last unemployment check, but there wasn’t an additional continuation form like I had assumed there would be.  There was only a note saying that I MAY be eligible for extended benefits and to either log onto the unemployment website or call the local unemployment office.  I did both and found out absolutely nothing.

Luckily only a couple of days later, I got a separate continuation form in the mail extending my benefits through the rest of the year, and on top of that we were given a monetary gift from our church so that we wouldn’t have to stress about rent for this month.  Everything is back in order again, and because of our amazing support system through our church friends/family we have been able to catch up on bills and such.  There’s still quite a bit that we need to work on such as getting the car tuned up and re-registered, but it’s going to take time.  In the meantime I am definitely breathing easier and thankfully Jacob and I are working better together and getting along better as well.

Last weekend was the beginning of college football season.  I am part of a local group called the Bay Area Huskers for obviously people from Nebraska who live in the Bay Area.  They have four different watch sites in the area where peo

ple can get together each weekend to watch the games.  So last weekend we went to watch the season opener.  We got there a little bit late and suffered the consequences because of it.  The place was packed with people in red and white, and we ended up sitting in the back of the bar.  It still wasn’t a bad deal though considering the game was on every television in the place.  I’m pretty excited to know that I have a place to go watch the games whenever I want now!  GO HUSKERS!  Oh yeah… and we won our season opener 49-3!!!  HELLS YEAH!

Well, I’m going to go lay in the bedroom and read my new book.  This entry has taken me nearly all day to write.  LOL  I better quit while I’m ahead.

Laters,
JamieLynn =)