Portland Timbers

I went to the game last night with some of my family - sister Katie, her boyfriend, my Dad and Step mom; my uncles John and Bill and their wives Theresa and Linda. Also my niece Erin came. Awesome night. Timbers tied with Toronto 2 - 2.

"This is a football game, not a photo opp." ~ my father.

Katie, Dad, Uncle John

Inked

I've been wanting some ink, and I knew I wanted some sort of representation of peace and love - all that good stuff that we don't have enough of on this planet. So, I took a stroll down Hawthorne, popped into my local and fabulous tattoo shop, Voodoo Tattoos and Piercings, and had Rikk give me this sweet treat - a dove. She has her heart coming out of her chest and it has a peace sign on it. Next week he'll do the touch ups and add some red highlights to the heart, possibly some blue to the dove herself.

This fucker burned and took 2.5hrs but I'll go back and see Rikk for my next tat because he is awesome!!

It's located on my left side, on my lower back. At an angle, where the tail of the bird is towards my center, lower back (the konji is my 'tramp stamp') while the dove's head is on my ribs.

For the record...

I'm over it. 'It' being me feeding into this idea that because I felt something, and he said wonderful, poetic, lovely words and made me feel special, connected and that who I was, me, was more than enough - reality check!! He was total bullshit; he got off on my immediate reaction, he got off on the chase and had zero plan of catching me and making an 'us' - I feed into this idea that I should hold out because maybe, just maybe he'll wake up and realize that we really did have a connection. That he didn't give us enough time.

False.

I'm over it. You did a shitty thing. You sort of apologized, I mean, you said 'I'm sorry' but most importantly, you continued to be shitty to me. I have emails and texts that are romantic and promising and all these things that made me believe in love again, and you bailed on me. You toyed with me months ago and I need to stop making excuses for your behavior because it's been holding me back.

I don't want to carry this baggage any longer. I've unfriended you, deleted the text messages, sent all those emails to the trash - I want to find the version of you that made me happy, but in an actual honest man that has pure intentions with me; not one that plays the part.

I hate that this is another experience that has fucked with my self esteem, fucked with my value system and made me even more awkward with intimacy. I'm done stumbling with Seattle Matt. Regardless of your intentions, no matter how convincing you will try to be to me or yourself, it was shitty.

I'm going to let it go and live in the present. Only good things can come of me not thinking "what if..." any longer.

Apple Bottoms glasses

Yup. I've been wearing black framed glasses since I was 15 years old. I dig on the nifty nerdy look but I thought it was time for a switch. Check out my plum colored frames, made by Apple Bottoms! Still nerdy, just with a little more flava.

Jon Schneibel

July 6th, 1983 - July 20th, 2011.

Not fair. Jonny at a young age proved he was going to be a disciplined athlete; this catapulted his dedication in weight lifting and fitness making him a super star in the gym. A genius in the classroom and always a class act. He was of superior quality - a rare man of my generation. Jon got along with everyone, was thoughtful, motivating and quick to suggest a helpful remedy to a work out, diet or even a homework question. I shared in your excitement and felt pride that my friend was accepted into Linfield's nursing program. You were going to get out of the bartending gig and finally do what you were meant to do Jon - help people.

We met in 6th grade, you were my first kiss and my date to my first dance. Getting the phone call this morning that you tragically died in front of Heather (your fiance), the wind was knocked out of me. My heart goes out to Heather, your family, (Sue, Ed and Luke), and to the many, many, many people who love you, Jon. We were robbed. We didn't get enough time with you.

You will not fade, my friend. We won't let you.
xoxo

Summer before 8th grade.



Jon with his fiance, Heather

Moving... moved

Ugh. What a freaking weekend. I moved into my new apartment with my sister. Shit is everywhere, still need to clean my old place and return the keys by Wednesday; school started today (and that schedule is 7:30am to 4pm Mon-Fri!!!). I'm beat kids.

And I can't find my phone chargers... rats.

our living room filled with boxes...

my bedroom not yet unpacked and driving me crazy...

Beach Theme Birthday Party

HEY-O!! My boy Rikee shared his birthday with Rob over the weekend at Barrel Room. They had a beach theme - snow cones, Mark Mac spinning the ones and twos, swimsuits and board shorts.

me with Rikee

me with Rob

me with my girl Cecily

The Rock Stars group

Photographer: Robert John

Julysober

I was inspired by a friend's commitment to sobering up for the month of June. She hadn't been feeling at her best, was not happy with her job situation, money situation and wanted to change and BAM!! JUNESOBER. She was successful, saved money, got healthy and feels great.

I AM PARTICIPATING IN JULYSOBER!! It's day nine of not having any alcohol. It's not hard, but definitely a challenge when at the bar, or dinner (everyone drinks wine). I've always been a one or two drink girl but since the loss of my job and free time, I've found myself getting to be a four, five drink girl.

I have been presented with less than supportive comments from friends, but ultimately they can't say anything negative about me wanting to stop drinking for 30 days.

I'm looking forward to saving some cash, getting healthier (even if I don't really notice it) and simply committing to something. I've been feeling a bit restless for two months (being jobless). I'll keep you kids posted.

Celebrating America's Independence

Happy 4th kiddies!! I spent the afternoon at the Oregon Zoo. Perfect weather - cannot stress this enough. If you are familiar with the Portland area, you know we have (generally) 10 months of cloudiness and rain and then two amazing warm, breezy, still green and gorgeous summer months... and I believe it started today!!



After the Zoo, I did a little firework watching in Colin's neighborhood. It's amazing how regular, shop at Albertson's, live in a cul-da-sac, sleeps in on the weekends folks turn into eardrum blasting, pyromania freaks, fireworks (aka bombs) fiends one night a year!! I love the light show but the medic in me gets super edgy when I see little kids so close to explosives.

breaking Junesober

Celebrating Alysha's month of sobriety... by breaking it.
Porch party, hooping, strangers becoming friends and beer pong. I love my friends.