indian beach again!

 

more beach pics, as requested

wish you guys could be here!

love, anne

 

thursday on the beach

it was cloudy, but so gorgeous out there. the temp was about 65 or 70. after all the heat portland had last week, it was really refreshing.

 

i changed the settings guys

there's now a "word verification" when you post a comment. i've been getting a TON of anonymous spam comments posted on this site. and while it's not that irritating, it is a tad annoying to have my inbox full of emails from this anonymous poster.

in other news, mike got a new job! it's more money, it's got health insurance, and it's right downtown by where i work!i'm re-switching my days off so we'll have normal weekends off.

it's been incredibly hot here. really, really nasty. i never really realized how accustomed i have become to a/c in my life. thankfully, i'm working through this heat wave, so i'll be in a/c during the hot part of the day.

--anne

today is our saturday, so we got up early-ish and headed east to the columbia river gorge. there's a scenic highway (read: slow and under construction) that runs parallel to the river and has tons of scenic overlooks and hiking paths that end with these wonderfull waterfalls. we say three BIG falls today (bridal veil, wahkeena, and the big momma: multnomah). personally, i preferred bridal veil because we were able to walk right up to the water and snap pictures and there weren't thousands of tourists clammering up the hiking paths, like there were at multnomah falls. anyway, it was a really fun day trip. the trip there and back was a total of 4 hours. after the bridal veil falls, we sat in the sun and ate our lunch of french bread, cheese, salami, and hummus. as mike would say, it was very "euro". we had a blast. i can't believe how close it all is to us! we were able to see breathtaking views of mount hood and st helens, too. can't imagine that sucker blowing it's top--the sound alone would've been deafening! who knows though, we may get our chance while we're here--although our parents will be glad to know that they've allowed hikers up there again (no on'es been allowed up there since the latest eruptions begain in september 2003). so no imminent eruptions folks, nothing to worry about. haha!

anyway, it was really nice to get out of the city today. we're heading into a heat wave, so we'll be able to share your pain, guys. let's just say, karma's a bitch and i had it coming. i gloated for days about the gorgeous weather here while you all were sweating to death, so yes, i have it coming...

love to you all!

anne and mike 

babbling river, stone railing, and scenic overlook of the columbia river

 

bridal veil waterfall

 

tall trees, rocky paths, and the 2nd highest waterfall in the US

 

waterfalls!

 

mike and i had the best weekend ever. we went to the northwest neighborhood (ultra trendy) and had dinner with kim and kevin, two of the nicest people we've ever met. kevin's brother is the touring manager for the rolling stones and he's got the coolest apartment i've ever seen. ever. anyway, kim cooked us a delicious dinner and we drank wine and beer and sat on the rooftop (i know!) patio. of all the nights to not have the camera on me! the view is spectacular. we could see the west hills behind us and all of portland stretching ahead. lit up at night (or during the day for that matter), portland is gorgeous. i am smitten by this wonderful city.

anyway, earlier that day i met up with yoshi. yosh is one of my oldest friends on the planet and she just moved to portland. i showed her around a little bit. it was really nice to see her. she and i are hanging out tonight, too. we're going to a place called "pix" a couple of blocks over from here. it's a chocolate bar (i know!). they serve all sorts of chocolate delicacies and beer and wine. i'll be sure and take the camera this time.

i wish you all could be here to enjoy this city the way we are. you're the only thing missing!

love, anne

p.s. we finally bought a bed. we pick it up a week from today.

ah, the weekend. tomorrow is my first day off in 8 days. mike and i finally have the same days off. we were going to head to the beach tomorrow, but what do you know, it's supposed to rain. so we're going to run errands and head over to kim and kevin's house for dinner (we met them when we went out for sushi--they just moved here too).

things are great here in portland. i feel like it's home now. i don't feel like an outsider so much anymore, either. by the way, i decided not to apply for the supervisor position at work. i feel like i'd rock the boat, so to speak, if i applied. things are good as it stands. and i need to focus my energy in studying for the GRE.

more to come tomorrow!
love, anne

you guys are all so quiet!

tell us what's going on in your lives!

--love anne

p.s. weather is nice here blah blah blah

i cannot believe how beautiful the weather is here. it's slightly breezy, about 80-degrees, and so pleasant. there's no bugs, humidity, or sweaty heat. there's a hint of pine scent in the air. it's amazing.

in other news, i found out that one of my very best friends from elementary and high school, yoshi, is moving to portland on friday! i called her this afternoon and we're going to get together once she moves in. fun!

next week we're hoping for a trip to the beach. cross your fingers for nice weather!

love, anne

saturday party

last night was my coworker/friend rhiannon's birthday party. it was at her boyfriend, tim's house on 35th and belmont. in the pictures, rhiannon is the one in the red dress and silly hat. needless to say, she was slightly tipsy when we arrived. she was so silly. the girl in the black in the first picture is sarah. she also works with me. i really like her. we're going to be study-buddies for the GRE. we're thinking of starting a women's cooking group with the other gals at work. the dude in the last picture leaning against the deck railing, is jordan. he's a manager at our store. he's the most zen person i've ever met. he, like most of the people i work with, is a total sci-fi nerd. he's from michigan. so is sarah. rhiannon is from montana, so it explains why she's so kooky. teeheehee! anyway, it looks like we're making friends here! i might be having lunch with kim, the girl we had sushi with a couple weeks ago (she and her boyfriend, kevin just moved here). anyway, things are pretty good here. i'm not so homesick as i was a week ago. i feel like portland is really home now. i still miss you guys, though.


we're getting into the beautiful weather part of the year here. it's sunny and warm (mid-80's) and ZERO humidity. it's perfect. next week i start my new schedule so mike and i are going to head to the beach on our days off together!

more party pics to follow:
 

food food food

it turns out that all i needed to do to make friends and fit in was...bring a cheesecake! i made this raspberry and chocolate cheesecake for rhiannon's birthday. it was an "r" party. everyone had to bring something that began with an "r". rhi's boyfriend grilled this awesome jamacian jerk chicken. there was red beans and rice, grilled veggies, and grilled halibut. it was so much fun! the backyard is amazing and we all sat outside and enjoyed the perfect july evening.

--anne