It's Friday again!

And thank goodness, I feel like I have finally turned a corner. Ok, so maybe, took a curve on a windy mountain road, is a more apt description. But either way, things are starting to develop a bit more in Seattle. Sure, I still get homesick for Portland, but I am no longer at that point where I can’t even help but wallow about my situation. Instead! I am at that point where I have identified all my sources of unease, admitted and dealt with the fact that I am sometimes less than happy about this situation, and have started looking for ways to make the most of it instead of focusing on the fact that it’s hard or not ideal, or whatever. Really, even though it’s hard, I know it’s right. And maybe I’d go so far to say I know it’s right because it’s hard.

What is no longer hard is finding new things to occupy my time with. Yesterday, Bernadette gave me 3 new books to read. All delightful summer reading: The Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton biography, Furious Love; Andre Agassi’s autobiography; and some other book about a Jewish family sitting Shiva after the death of their father/husband/brother/uncle/what-have-you.

I am also going to check out that ranch today – the one that leases horses. Whooo! I am not sure on the details, like, what leasing a horse for $40 a ride actually gets me, but I do know that I am crazy excited at the prospect of having my own horse to ride every week.

I also ran across an article in the Seattle Times today about a dance studio downtown that has reasonably priced drop-in dance classes available. I am so in. I’ve always wanted to take dance classes – so watch out world.

And of course to do all of these new things, I need money, which! Will happen on August 10. First paycheck. If that is not a morale boost, motivation, and incentive to keep on keepin on, than I don’t know what is. To have money after not having money for so long is pretty unfathomable. First order of business, taking my very patient and supportive boyfriend to a Mariner’s game. Then I take my ladies out to get cocktails and pedicures – drinks on me. Then I take the burden off of my overworked mother and for the first time in a long time, pay my bills and then some. Dim sum? Yes, I can buy that too.

So, fear not faithful readers. My temporary tryst in Seattle is burgeoning into a nice, little, happy space in my brain. It’s been a slow and demanding (sorry and thanks to those who consistently quell my anxiety!) road, but I am making the turns one by one, and I expect, at the end of it all, life will, for at least awhile, feel like the equivalent of cruising down a Montana freeway, complete with lovely scenery – curvy mountain roads far off in the distance.

Friday, I'm in Love with You

This week. This week is best summed up with my decision to write a blog post on Wednesday night that flowed freely and spoke openly about my attempts at positivity in the face of unforeseen hardships related to this move. It was pretty good. I felt good writing it and felt good reading it and was like, yeah! Wow! I am a champion!

Enter the following morning when I rolled over in bed and before doing anything else, deleted the entire thing, adorable picture and all. Shit. Needless to say, this week has been rough city for me! Change is hard. For everyone. I know. But for me, it is my Achilles. I’ve always struggled to deal with change and had to force myself into those uncomfortable situations and have usually come out happier for it. So while I know it’s hard, I also know it’s good and if you want to grow and learn at all in this crazy world….then change is the necessary evil we all must face.

So, here it is Friday and I am at work (I know, I know) and my job is picking up a bit and they let me wear whatever I want (Chucks – yeah!) and they all have Ph.D’s and talk about nerdy, research-heavy topics, and I can walk out the door at 4 every day, and I commute by bus (and soon to be bike), and I work on a beautiful campus surrounded by funky shops and even funkier people, and it’s Seattle, not Guam, so I mean, all in all, there are some positive aspects to this decision to move away from the home I love so much.

I haven’t done much this week but try relentlessly, and at times hopelessly, to get a hold on my emotions. New job? New living situation? All my crap in boxes? Far away from friends? No more gorgeous, Portland apartment? No more gorgeous daily Portland period??? Sigggghhhhhh. It’s not ideal. BUT! I am making money and relieving some stress off those who have spent far too long supporting me. And I am living rent-free, which means I have months to save up for the house that trumps the apartment and becomes the ultimate in SE Portland living….

Speaking of Portland, I am headed there after work today. My first weekend back and MY GOD it took so long to get here! Needless to say, I am having my second happy, positive day this week. 2/3, not terrible. Here’s hoping that next week the tables turn in my favor.

Here's to Portland. I'll see you today, yo!

The Times They Are A Changin'

What fun would summer be if I didn't pack it up and move it out and keep a blog about it all? My most recent adventure finds me venturing back to Seattle...not so much by choice, but because this economy is in such disarray that I might classify as a complete idiot if I didn't take the job offered to me by my beautiful sister and the kind folks at the University of Washington.

Stable, regular employment. Ah, what a blessing. What a relief! My new steady requires I (wo)man the front desk at a research center on campus. Everyone I met with during my interview was super chill and the environment was perfect! School. I love school. I love that I'll be surrounded by grad students and professors who ride their bikes to work and can't be bothered to throw on anything more impressive than a t-shirt from their latest travels to Costa Rica or whatever.

The job is all well and good. Hell, it's great! But I am loathe to leave Portland even with the amazingness that is friends and family and ferry rides in Sea-town. I love Portland. Like full on want to make out with Portland all of the time, which faithful readers, is why this move is temporary to the fullest. I'll be back in Portland most weekends and I hope my Portland peeps aren't lying to me when they say they'll be up to visit me (H&M shopping sprees, ahem). I'm gonna save money like a mother f*cker and head back to rent myself a beautiful little house with a garden and a garage in the heart of Portland proper just as soon as I can.

And in the meantime...I am going to enjoy the crap out of this latest adventure. I had such a rollicking good time the brief year I previously resided in the Emerald city and I have no doubt similar shenanigans will again ensue. As for this blog, it is at once a selfish way for me to stay connected to the life I'm leaving, but also a way for me to update everyone on the haps in Seattle, while also chit-chatting with those I won't be harassing every day through text, or telephone, or frequent facebook hello's.

So please read and enjoy and comment as often as your pretty little heart desires. I'm totally selfish, it's true, but believe it or not, I want to hear about you too...(and we can make rhymes together!)...now I bid you adieu. <3, Lucy