I am feeling very frazzled.... Just been a very what do you call it, hard to think, hard to focus, icky day. And it's been raining all day. ALLL DAY. Gotta love Oregon for that.
Well... let's see. Made potatoes tonight. Mmmm they were good. I love those potatoes. Man. The olive oil and spices are just so good. We got a 5 lb bag of yukon gold potatoes for $5. Mmm. So I made eight of them tonight, and cut them into half. And gave my rm half and she said that it was good to have something hot when she walked in the door, as they were ready right, I mean, the MINUTE she walked in the door, is when they were ready. And I made tons. So it made me happy to make her happy. She thanked me for them several times.
Dang, my RM just said that we might lose power cus of the high winds, that would really suck, I hope we don't.
Man I feel disoriented. Anyway. I had some Omega candies. Gummies. I always wondered what they would taste like. RM brought some samples home for me from the health food store. :) I like them. My Attune bars are coming Friday. We were going to get them from HF store at a third of the price (I know such savings!) but as I half expected they were not able to order them. I cannot BELIEVE they charge $14 a box on their website and stores only charge 10, and with my RM's discount could have gotten them for far less, but I am addicted so I decided to pony up the extra money....Getting tired of eating nothing but fruit and chicken, with the occasional salad, potatoes and fish thrown in :). Need a good snack food though. Lo and behold they were shipped today so I should get them by Friday.
I did something today I haven't been able to do in a year. I am not sure how I feel about it, though, so I am not sure if I will write about it until I am more able to handle the emotionalness of it. I feel a lot of regret that I haven't been (physically) able to do it because of MCS, and also regret that even though I was able to do it today , that the experience wasn't as enjoyable as it used to be. But, it did kill 2 hours and give me something to talk about when RM came home, so that was something.
Had a great conversation with RM tonight. Love her so much. Just got into an easy discussion about chronic fatigue syndrome, somehow leading to the subject of friendships and the quality of friendships and how to be emotionally close to someone and how to make your life the way you want it and how to overcome obstacles, and so on and so forth for I dont know how long..... I love that about her. She is as comfortable in the realm of emotionally difficult and intense subjects as she is about, well, anything else you could possibly imagine and concieve of....I have never met anyone so emotionally intelligent before.....it makes my heart sing. Meaty subjects, of which are far and beyond my favorite thing to discuss, and she can talk about them like most people talk about the weather forecast - easily and without difficulty. It is so emotionally fulfilling and amazing. There is not a single thing I don't like about her, she amazes me continually. I am however very frustrated with my percieved in ability to enjoy it as much as I would like due to brain fog and disorientation and other related issues, but I said I wouldn't talk abot that as I don't want to get myself all upset. GRR.
Tomorrow I shall try to take pictures with the camera, assuming I am not as out of it was I was today. Haha today was.... Interesting. I wish I had some cookies or something sweet to munch on as that increases my focus and awareness and reduces my stress.... anyone have a Trader Joe's near them and want to send me a care package? :) I haven't been able to find any junk food I can tolerate well except from there.... man.... Talk about frustrating....I haven't lived near a Trader Joe's since college. :) And I don't want to keep asking my grandfather to mail me stuff from there, lol. In Bend, there will be one, though.
I left half a box of their chocolate almond cookies at home, thinking I didn't like them as much as the pretzels which I already ate, and now am craving them. When have I ever deliberately left junk food behind? I must have been out of my mind :)
I have to think of who lives near a Trader Joe's that I can bug to send me stuff.... maybe my friend A....if she can get into Philly to get them, which is a big if.
Pretty bad when you start to classify everyone you know by if they live near a Trader Joe's or not, lol. My brother does, but don't want to ask him. They dont do mail order....they should lol.
Anyway.....I am going to go find something else to do online for a bit.... then go to bed. I should get out of bed earlier tomorrow.... maybe. I have to make chicken and eggs, and maybe call a business of whom I am not looking forward to. And other stuff I can't remeber.
Kate
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Salmon on a stick!
Wow, I had a very busy and eventful day. My mind feels a bit crowded for it all. We left around 12:30 for Newport. Stopped 2 places along the way. Oceana and post office. I walked along the Bayfront for a bit. Felt a little bit out of it. Okay a lot out of it. But wanted to make the best of it. So. My goal for the day was to get some salmon candy! So I went to the fish market to get some. But I realized I left my money in the car. Ooops. So I got - get this ! ------ SALMON ON A STICK! ------ which cracks me up w/ what I did have. It was good! Like smoked salmon chunk on a stick. $3 Healthy and delicious. Went to coffee shop got mediocre chocolate chip cookie. Ick. Went up HUGE STEEP HILL to get back to car and money. Went down hill (much easier this way!) just as I got back to fish market it started raining. I was annoyed! I sat on a bench underneath a covered area (they have outdoor covered seating areas here? A dream come true! And right across the street from where I was?) and called a friend for 10 minutes while I waited for the rain to ease up. Then went back up the hill.
And didn't get too wet. And gave my RM a salmon stick, which she liked very much, said she had never had in the 20 yrs she's been living here. And got Odwalla which makes me happy. Have to order Attune online though. Oh well. And got camera.
Mind feels like mush. But I will try not to think of that. Focus on the good! Salmon on a stick!
Kate
And didn't get too wet. And gave my RM a salmon stick, which she liked very much, said she had never had in the 20 yrs she's been living here. And got Odwalla which makes me happy. Have to order Attune online though. Oh well. And got camera.
Mind feels like mush. But I will try not to think of that. Focus on the good! Salmon on a stick!
Kate
Rambling about today...and Rockfish
So...what did I do today. I used the computer for a couple hrs when I got up....found out SUGARLAND is coming to Bend a few weeks after I get there....for an outdoor concert! Which means I can go! Woohoo. So that was good. Took a walk.... around dusk. Talked to the neighbors next door when I went by as they were out. Found a new country station I seem to be able to get. Heard some good songs on the oldies station, I think. RM got some free fish from someone at her office who fishes, and cooked it tonight. It was rockfish. It was SO good! It was a whitefish, with not much taste by itself, but really good with lemon and some other spices. I really like this whole fish cook I'm on....had it 3 out of the last 4 nights. I hope to get some more salmon later in the week from another market that might have it and try that again, cook it for less time this time, maybe.
Some bank troubles which weren't pleasant but I talked them out with RM and she really helped me to see my options. She is so amazing in every way, in her ability to communicate about everything in such a clear, direct, helpful and always joyful way. I wish I could think of something to do for her! I have given her some of any food I have cooked, like fish, but it's not enough....Maybe one day I can manage to get some fish if I'm in town and cook a whole dinner
for both of us. That would be cool.
I just hope this lasts. I have found perfection and I don't want to leave it. lol.
Tomorrow, going into Newport. Need to make sure bathroom, house is clean before going. Need to be better at turning off lights, I do most of the time but have been forgetting more. And keeping open bathroom door so not as much moisture in there. Okay. I can remember that.
Going to get my Attune bars in town, FINALLY, I never thought it would be so hard to go without them for ten or 12 days. Also some watermelon. Have to stop at the post office first too, I think my camera may be there. Little bit of awkwardness in discussion about how to acually get package from inside post office as neither one of us is good with that sort of thing but I think it ended okay. Need to work up to trying out more places. Maybe when I have more of a sense of security in a couple weeks I will. She said the coffee shop is okay; it's only open till 3, but I'll get there by 2 or 2:30 most likely. Maybe try the coffee shop. Maybe not. We'll see.
Want to try to get some of the salmon candy if I can. Hope the downtown place has it.
If not maybe it will be nice enough weather to try to walk to the other fish market to get some there. Maybe I should start there. Not sure. Maybe decide in morning.
Looked it up. 1.79 mi. A bit much, probably, but we'll see.
Maybe a half an hour walk...Not sure.
Anyway my mind is wandering. I have to go to bed. On Wed I should be able to take pictures with the camera of everything. That will be fun.
I should call the post office in the morning. Ask if they'd bring the package out. Neither one of us is able to go in there safely and since it's a small post office, how much extra time could that take? I don't know, we'll see. Damn post offices, don't know why they didn't leave it in the mailbox, probably too big I guess.
Anyway. Bed!
Kate
Some bank troubles which weren't pleasant but I talked them out with RM and she really helped me to see my options. She is so amazing in every way, in her ability to communicate about everything in such a clear, direct, helpful and always joyful way. I wish I could think of something to do for her! I have given her some of any food I have cooked, like fish, but it's not enough....Maybe one day I can manage to get some fish if I'm in town and cook a whole dinner
for both of us. That would be cool.
I just hope this lasts. I have found perfection and I don't want to leave it. lol.
Tomorrow, going into Newport. Need to make sure bathroom, house is clean before going. Need to be better at turning off lights, I do most of the time but have been forgetting more. And keeping open bathroom door so not as much moisture in there. Okay. I can remember that.
Going to get my Attune bars in town, FINALLY, I never thought it would be so hard to go without them for ten or 12 days. Also some watermelon. Have to stop at the post office first too, I think my camera may be there. Little bit of awkwardness in discussion about how to acually get package from inside post office as neither one of us is good with that sort of thing but I think it ended okay. Need to work up to trying out more places. Maybe when I have more of a sense of security in a couple weeks I will. She said the coffee shop is okay; it's only open till 3, but I'll get there by 2 or 2:30 most likely. Maybe try the coffee shop. Maybe not. We'll see.
Want to try to get some of the salmon candy if I can. Hope the downtown place has it.
If not maybe it will be nice enough weather to try to walk to the other fish market to get some there. Maybe I should start there. Not sure. Maybe decide in morning.
Looked it up. 1.79 mi. A bit much, probably, but we'll see.
Maybe a half an hour walk...Not sure.
Anyway my mind is wandering. I have to go to bed. On Wed I should be able to take pictures with the camera of everything. That will be fun.
I should call the post office in the morning. Ask if they'd bring the package out. Neither one of us is able to go in there safely and since it's a small post office, how much extra time could that take? I don't know, we'll see. Damn post offices, don't know why they didn't leave it in the mailbox, probably too big I guess.
Anyway. Bed!
Kate
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Salmon, Computer Issues, and My Day
I am feeling a little uncentered and unglued because I can't focus on the computer, and I need my computer time. I can't focus because there is no heat. Why it is this cold in May, who knows. But. Usually we make a fire in the woodstove but we didn't tonight. So. I am sitting here trying not to be frustrated over it. The portable heaters just don't do it. One is loud and has a weird smell, the other doesn't work well enough, has a little bit of weird smell, and makes me lean to one side to get the heat therefore making that area of my back hurt which makes me freaked out so that is just not good at all overall.
But hopefully we can make a fire tomorrow. We did talk about it and we compromised and said we'd make a fire from 9am-12pm so I could have a few hrs a day of being warm and able to focus on the computer, which is downtime I need very much and might fall apart without, but my roommate didn't want to make one tonight. I didn't want to push it, I had only gotten cold recently and thought maybe I could push through it, but no, it just makes me feel miserable, to be cold and not beable to do anything about it and not be able to focus on the computer, but I don't want to make it into a bigger issue than it has to be. And honestly I love every single thing about her and every single thing , with the exception of PHONE RECEPTION which she has no control over, is going great, so I hate to make an issue of this, except it is an issue. I need my downtime. I need heat. The problem is there is no wood left - long winter - didnt expect to need it in May. ARGH.
Anyway. Good things. Write about the good things.
1. Felt icky when I got up but felt better later. Proud of self for getting thru first few hours of day calmly.
2. Wanted to do something non computer related so I asked if RM (roommate) had any colored pencils which I thought she did. And I drew a whole paper picture of Siletz, with the llamas, and peacocks, and all the trees and greenery and pond. I was rather proud of it and it was relaxing to do. Art therapy you might say. Maybe I should do one of Newport next.
3. Managed to call grandfather although was rather agitated doing so, can't stand that phone and was too impatient to have decent convo although we did talk for a while.
4. **** TA DA *** lol Made salmon from what I bought Friday. Made mix of olive oil, basil, garlic and lemon juice! Baked it for about 40 minutes. Turned out all right - the taste of the herbs and spices was good, but the salmon was a bit thick, and meaty, and more fishier than what my dad cooks - it was still good and a good meal though. Looking forward to trying again.
So good day trying out new things. Just wish I could have my computer time to relax.
Will maybe do some more drawing tomorrow....listen to relaxation tapes RM gave me... try to get some stuff done on the computer....we shall see. Maybe take a walk although it's very difficult to do so as you need to go down steep hill to get to street and by that point are usually too tired to keep walking on the level street. I don't like unlevel surfaces.
Tuesday I will get my Attune bars, Wednesday my camera. Time is moving slowly!
Will go out again on Tuesday. To town that is .
Thursday I can hopefully play with the camera and Friday take pictures of town with it if I am lucky. I want to try the salmon candy I heard about next time I go in.
I do feel lucky. She has given me so much. In some ways it's everything I've ever wanted. I just wish the things I'm worried about wouldn't cloud my enjoyment of it so much. It's hard to focus on much but the worries. If I really try I can distract myself more or less with things like cooking or the drawing or whatever but it's hard to completely enjoy them.
But I am trying very hard to be grateful for what I've got. Like I said, she's everything I could have ever wished for, and I have never been able to communicate with someone so easily before, I have never had someone who was so open in communications, so honest in every possible way, so skilled at talking about every possible subject in every possible way, so able to meet one at one's level.....so compassionate, full of such joy.....it's like I keep asking myself, is this real?
She liked my salmon tonight which made me feel happy. I wonder if the South Beach fish market will be better.
I just need to be comfortable on the computer though it's the only time of the day where I'm not worrying, for the most part, and where I can feel comfortable.... it's good to do the other stuff cus of variety but I need a few hours on the computer at night to center and ground myself.....especially since no phone.....ARGH.
I think I have done pretty good for not having any phone and limited radio use, like I've told people they're worth giving up for what I have here, to be with someone so wonderful in a place so wonderful, but it's still hard, and losing an important avenue for stress relief and venting.
But I'd rather have this, but I'd rather have it with HEAT. And computer. lol.
It wasn't too cold during the day but gets cold at night.
I'm going to email someone on Craigslist and ask how much they charge for delivery....
Anyway....I will try to focus on the positive. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully it will be one with heat. Hahahaha.
Kate
But hopefully we can make a fire tomorrow. We did talk about it and we compromised and said we'd make a fire from 9am-12pm so I could have a few hrs a day of being warm and able to focus on the computer, which is downtime I need very much and might fall apart without, but my roommate didn't want to make one tonight. I didn't want to push it, I had only gotten cold recently and thought maybe I could push through it, but no, it just makes me feel miserable, to be cold and not beable to do anything about it and not be able to focus on the computer, but I don't want to make it into a bigger issue than it has to be. And honestly I love every single thing about her and every single thing , with the exception of PHONE RECEPTION which she has no control over, is going great, so I hate to make an issue of this, except it is an issue. I need my downtime. I need heat. The problem is there is no wood left - long winter - didnt expect to need it in May. ARGH.
Anyway. Good things. Write about the good things.
1. Felt icky when I got up but felt better later. Proud of self for getting thru first few hours of day calmly.
2. Wanted to do something non computer related so I asked if RM (roommate) had any colored pencils which I thought she did. And I drew a whole paper picture of Siletz, with the llamas, and peacocks, and all the trees and greenery and pond. I was rather proud of it and it was relaxing to do. Art therapy you might say. Maybe I should do one of Newport next.
3. Managed to call grandfather although was rather agitated doing so, can't stand that phone and was too impatient to have decent convo although we did talk for a while.
4. **** TA DA *** lol Made salmon from what I bought Friday. Made mix of olive oil, basil, garlic and lemon juice! Baked it for about 40 minutes. Turned out all right - the taste of the herbs and spices was good, but the salmon was a bit thick, and meaty, and more fishier than what my dad cooks - it was still good and a good meal though. Looking forward to trying again.
So good day trying out new things. Just wish I could have my computer time to relax.
Will maybe do some more drawing tomorrow....listen to relaxation tapes RM gave me... try to get some stuff done on the computer....we shall see. Maybe take a walk although it's very difficult to do so as you need to go down steep hill to get to street and by that point are usually too tired to keep walking on the level street. I don't like unlevel surfaces.
Tuesday I will get my Attune bars, Wednesday my camera. Time is moving slowly!
Will go out again on Tuesday. To town that is .
Thursday I can hopefully play with the camera and Friday take pictures of town with it if I am lucky. I want to try the salmon candy I heard about next time I go in.
I do feel lucky. She has given me so much. In some ways it's everything I've ever wanted. I just wish the things I'm worried about wouldn't cloud my enjoyment of it so much. It's hard to focus on much but the worries. If I really try I can distract myself more or less with things like cooking or the drawing or whatever but it's hard to completely enjoy them.
But I am trying very hard to be grateful for what I've got. Like I said, she's everything I could have ever wished for, and I have never been able to communicate with someone so easily before, I have never had someone who was so open in communications, so honest in every possible way, so skilled at talking about every possible subject in every possible way, so able to meet one at one's level.....so compassionate, full of such joy.....it's like I keep asking myself, is this real?
She liked my salmon tonight which made me feel happy. I wonder if the South Beach fish market will be better.
I just need to be comfortable on the computer though it's the only time of the day where I'm not worrying, for the most part, and where I can feel comfortable.... it's good to do the other stuff cus of variety but I need a few hours on the computer at night to center and ground myself.....especially since no phone.....ARGH.
I think I have done pretty good for not having any phone and limited radio use, like I've told people they're worth giving up for what I have here, to be with someone so wonderful in a place so wonderful, but it's still hard, and losing an important avenue for stress relief and venting.
But I'd rather have this, but I'd rather have it with HEAT. And computer. lol.
It wasn't too cold during the day but gets cold at night.
I'm going to email someone on Craigslist and ask how much they charge for delivery....
Anyway....I will try to focus on the positive. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully it will be one with heat. Hahahaha.
Kate
Newport: Connecting Two Worlds
An article I wrote on Newport tonight. Managed to put something together more organized, and that felt good.
Newport: Combining Two Worlds in One
After spending a day in the seaside town of Newport, Oregon, one can start to guesswhy San Francisco was the center of the 1960s hippie movement - it's just something about the water. Something about the majestic waves, the grand size of everything out on the West coast. It makes a person feel a bit more free, a bit more unencumbered. The same spirit seems to have been carried up the coast from California to central Oregon.
Newport is a city of about 10,000 residents that serves as something of a hub for smaller, nearby towns in Lincoln County. The ocean is its most striking feature; the water is visible the moment you enter city limits. Unlike some coastal cities, much of the coast is accessible through various parts of the city; the area known as the "Bayfront" has cute, touristy shops lining the street, and huge ocean views at any point along it. Go a little further down that street and you'll come to a state park with stunning ocean and wave views that you won't believe. The Nye Beach area is one of the largest beaches you've ever seen, along with some shops. South Beach has a famous marine center. The Yaquina Bay Bridge can be seen in the distance from many areas of the city; it is quite picturesque with many boats underneath it.
Gift shops of all kinds abound; tie dye pokes out from every corner of the city in various shops. A Beatles Yellow Submarine logo adorns a wall by the marine center. An old green VW van can be seen cruising down the streets. A "Baitful Dead" parody of a Greatful Dead t-shirt hangs in the wall of one gift shop, a play on the fact that this is a fishing town at heart. Signs annoucing clams and other fish compete for space with Ripley's Believe it or Not and other eclectic businesses. Walk down to one of many piers leading to the ocean and you might see people fishing for crabs. On another dock you may see sea lions lounging in the sun.
Newport is surrounded by many relatively rural areas; some of these can be quite a treat in themselves, with an abundance of trees, hiking areas, and wildlife. It is not unusual to see cows, sheep, even llamas on the side of the road. The sound of roosters mixes with the baahing of a sheep; the shrill call of a peacock mixes with the gentle ribetting of a frog. It is almost like being in another world.
People are unusually friendly and helpful when asking for directions. Newport, Oregon is a city with heart; the ocean air seems to imbibe its inhabitants with a certain free-spiritness that makes the town a joy to be in. Located on the coast, it has its share of rainy, cloudy days, but it just makes the sunny days all the more special. Make plans to visit Newport today.
****
Worked on my clothes issue today. My roommate is amazing. She's the first person who's gotten me into clean clothes in months. Okay THAT is embarassing but I just made this a mostly private blog so I can say that lol. And it's true.
My clothes issues are still very worriesome and bothersome but I feel much more confident dealing with them than anyone.
I love so much about her, every day there seems to be something new that just amazes me.
I have never seen anyone handle, well anything and everything, as well as she handles anything and everything that comes her way. It blows me away. It inspires me to try to do the same, although I don't think I 'm quite as far along as she is.
But when the Internet didn't work for an hour today, I didn't stress about it at all. I just waited patiently until she was off the phone to ask if I could reset the router. It's little things like that that make me think, wow. My ability to deal with stress is getting much better as I live with someone who is such a great role model and just takes everything in stride. Laughing more, worrying less, compassion and understanding and appreciation for everyone's needs and differences: that is the motto I'd like to live by and the one she already does.
I made shrimp scampi....yesterday? I think so. Don't remember if I wrote about that. Today I made potatoes. They were SO GOOD. Cut baby potatoes in half, put olive oil and basil and oregano on them, bake for about 30 minutes, and they melt in your mouth. and burst in flavor. T (T will be my acronym for my roommate if I remember) really liked them too. Said I taught her something new. Made me feel good!
I also made chicken soup out of a can which I've never done before. And had a salad. I'm working on my cooking skills - feels good.
Sunny today. Walked to where the llamas were. Saw sheep, llamas, roosters, and I'm not sure if therer were chickens or cows but maybe. Heard sheep baaing and roosters crowing at same time, it was so beautiful! Wow. What eye and ear candy. Just something else that's for sure.
Tomorrow....New day....Try not to worry..... See what happens.
Try to call my grandfather or someone else, I think.....that will be one goal. Try to make the salmon I bought yesterday.
Goodnight
Kate
Newport: Combining Two Worlds in One
After spending a day in the seaside town of Newport, Oregon, one can start to guesswhy San Francisco was the center of the 1960s hippie movement - it's just something about the water. Something about the majestic waves, the grand size of everything out on the West coast. It makes a person feel a bit more free, a bit more unencumbered. The same spirit seems to have been carried up the coast from California to central Oregon.
Newport is a city of about 10,000 residents that serves as something of a hub for smaller, nearby towns in Lincoln County. The ocean is its most striking feature; the water is visible the moment you enter city limits. Unlike some coastal cities, much of the coast is accessible through various parts of the city; the area known as the "Bayfront" has cute, touristy shops lining the street, and huge ocean views at any point along it. Go a little further down that street and you'll come to a state park with stunning ocean and wave views that you won't believe. The Nye Beach area is one of the largest beaches you've ever seen, along with some shops. South Beach has a famous marine center. The Yaquina Bay Bridge can be seen in the distance from many areas of the city; it is quite picturesque with many boats underneath it.
Gift shops of all kinds abound; tie dye pokes out from every corner of the city in various shops. A Beatles Yellow Submarine logo adorns a wall by the marine center. An old green VW van can be seen cruising down the streets. A "Baitful Dead" parody of a Greatful Dead t-shirt hangs in the wall of one gift shop, a play on the fact that this is a fishing town at heart. Signs annoucing clams and other fish compete for space with Ripley's Believe it or Not and other eclectic businesses. Walk down to one of many piers leading to the ocean and you might see people fishing for crabs. On another dock you may see sea lions lounging in the sun.
Newport is surrounded by many relatively rural areas; some of these can be quite a treat in themselves, with an abundance of trees, hiking areas, and wildlife. It is not unusual to see cows, sheep, even llamas on the side of the road. The sound of roosters mixes with the baahing of a sheep; the shrill call of a peacock mixes with the gentle ribetting of a frog. It is almost like being in another world.
People are unusually friendly and helpful when asking for directions. Newport, Oregon is a city with heart; the ocean air seems to imbibe its inhabitants with a certain free-spiritness that makes the town a joy to be in. Located on the coast, it has its share of rainy, cloudy days, but it just makes the sunny days all the more special. Make plans to visit Newport today.
****
Worked on my clothes issue today. My roommate is amazing. She's the first person who's gotten me into clean clothes in months. Okay THAT is embarassing but I just made this a mostly private blog so I can say that lol. And it's true.
My clothes issues are still very worriesome and bothersome but I feel much more confident dealing with them than anyone.
I love so much about her, every day there seems to be something new that just amazes me.
I have never seen anyone handle, well anything and everything, as well as she handles anything and everything that comes her way. It blows me away. It inspires me to try to do the same, although I don't think I 'm quite as far along as she is.
But when the Internet didn't work for an hour today, I didn't stress about it at all. I just waited patiently until she was off the phone to ask if I could reset the router. It's little things like that that make me think, wow. My ability to deal with stress is getting much better as I live with someone who is such a great role model and just takes everything in stride. Laughing more, worrying less, compassion and understanding and appreciation for everyone's needs and differences: that is the motto I'd like to live by and the one she already does.
I made shrimp scampi....yesterday? I think so. Don't remember if I wrote about that. Today I made potatoes. They were SO GOOD. Cut baby potatoes in half, put olive oil and basil and oregano on them, bake for about 30 minutes, and they melt in your mouth. and burst in flavor. T (T will be my acronym for my roommate if I remember) really liked them too. Said I taught her something new. Made me feel good!
I also made chicken soup out of a can which I've never done before. And had a salad. I'm working on my cooking skills - feels good.
Sunny today. Walked to where the llamas were. Saw sheep, llamas, roosters, and I'm not sure if therer were chickens or cows but maybe. Heard sheep baaing and roosters crowing at same time, it was so beautiful! Wow. What eye and ear candy. Just something else that's for sure.
Tomorrow....New day....Try not to worry..... See what happens.
Try to call my grandfather or someone else, I think.....that will be one goal. Try to make the salmon I bought yesterday.
Goodnight
Kate
Friday, May 8, 2009
Things Heard and Seen in Newport Today
Today, we left about 1 to go into Newport. Fortunately, it was sunny. It seems to have been sunny on all the days we have gone out, and since it usually raining when we stay home, that is something.
We went to the South Beach first to explore there. There is a marine center there.
We then went to the Bayfront. There are so many different parts of ocean here and so many different access points they have to give all their different oceanside parts different names. The Bayfront is kind of like the downtown with lots of shops, cute little touristy shops, all along one main street. If you go further down that street, you see the ocean, in all of its majesty - it is big. And a state park.
I was able to walk around here for about half an hour and enjoy myself. It was cool seeing everything and it was a nice day, and listening to the music on my Walkman, too.
Some things I saw that are worth remembering:
1. Sea lions - about 20 all lying on a dock in the center of town, with people crowding around. My, were they loud! Cool to look at but got old quick.
2. Baitful Dead (Grateful Dead) tie dye tshirt - Typical Dead tshirt with crabs and lobsters around it!
3. Some people fishing off a dock, and I actually got to see them reel in a crab they caught, and a mink underneath they used as bait.
This is a hippe town, and that makes me laugh. I also saw an old VW van, rusting, green, looking very much like it was from the 60s in its original shape. And, at the marine center, which had some very colorful, neon gift shops around it, they actually had one, maybe two, cut-outs or paintings of the Yellow Submarine - now how cool is that?
A couple candy shops, several clam shacks, a fish market. Some resteraunts. Lots of wharfs, docks, places to view the ocean. Ten times as much as Portland (Maine)'s waterfront offers, I have to say. As much as I like Portland.... :)
Anyway....Where was I. Yeah, so walked the length of the street and back. Then went into the Nye Beach area, which is beautiful, and has a huge beyond belief beach, but it was way too windy. So I walked up the street looking at shops....but there weren't many and nothing of interest. So I asked a woman how to get back to the van at the community college, and by following her directions more or less I ended up exactly where I wanted to be: right by the road that led back to the bayfront, which I thought I'd had to find from the van. Wow, not often that directions lead you in places you hadn't even hoped you would find. Found out it's only a 15 minute walk from Nye Beach to the bayfront, connecting the two parts of town, not hard at all. Less than the distance from Good Food to Bernice's in Missoula. There is a huge hill going one way, but not sure the incline, might not be as bad as it looks going back up.
So went back to bayfront, much sunnier there. Sat, looked around for a bit. Walked some more.
Ended up getting some fish at the fish market! Was able to do so without going in as was open market. Got shrimp (from Mexico) and frozen salmon. Wasn't sure of quality of either product but really wanted shrimp.
Made a shrimp scampi - trying to satisfy my goal of learning how to cook! Got some angel hair pasta, and my roommate helped me figure out how to sautee the shrimp and so on. We put some butter and some olive oil and diced some garlic up and sauteed it together and then sauteed the shrimp. Okay, they weren't as tasty as Maine shrimp but they were still good. It felt pretty cool to have sauteed something more or less on my own after some initial guidance from my roommate. It ended up quite good although next time I may just do without the pasta.
She also gave me some vegetables she sauteed and I actually ate them this time, a little bit. My other goal is to start eating more veggies and less chicken and less protein in general. May take some time but. My stomach actually feels much better after the veggies have been processed. It was feeling pretty icky all day. So that is one good thing.
Still don't have clothes issues solved, soon hopefully, maybe tomorrow. It's still pretty cold here, rainy and in the 50s most of the time, so it's been pretty cold inside too (heated by wood stove which few wood is left for it so not used much). That is a little frustrating but hopefully warmer weather will come soon. Feeling a bit lost and adrift. Was high on the adrenaline of being someplace new and having a new challenge to face and figure out and so on in the first few days, but that is fading and leaving me with worries. Trying to figure out how to structure time and what I can rely on and what I can't; discovering it's a bit frustrating not to have cell phone reception as I can't stand the regular phones for very long and therefore I just don't call anyone, but I'm used to venting a good deal of my emotions and worries and gaining emotional connections through phone calls to friends. Have reception in Newport but too busy walking around to use phone then. :)
All the old ways and habits have to be replaced by new ones, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's going to take some getting used to. I have been enjoying all of the interaction and conversation with my roommate, for example, but I need to have some time alone to be centered and relaxed, and that's hard when I'm sitting in the living room and am in talking distance of her because we, well, talk. And when it's too cold I can't focus on the computer so that's not reliable and that's worriesome. I'm not used to being so cold! I've had more trouble using the computer, which is frustrating as well. And the clothes issues. Not having a reliable place to use computer and phone, yea those take the most getting used to. I enjoy my roommate so much that the frequent interaction has not beem a problem, as it would be with most people, and has even been quite enjoyable, but still, I think at some point we will have to come down to more normal levels. And my room being problematic makes me a bit nervous.
Still, she's a great person who's fun to talk to and is really trying.
It's a pretty area.
I have to remember to be grateful for what I have and think of the alternatives.
It's just a lot of change to get used to!
She told me I did a good job handling the airline fiasco. That I did a great job coming across country and taking a risk like that that she couldn't do that. That made me feel good, both things.
Yeah I feel very uprooted and if i had more stability with the computer and a room I felt comfortable in I'd feel less so. Her being so wonderful has made it a lot easier and it's not terrible but I just worry once the "honeymoon stage" is over if I will have enough things left to keep me together. Hopefully it will get warmer so using the computer in the living room will be easier.
I look forward to taking pictures with the camera of the area once Puppup sends it to me.
Anyway I'd best be finishing up here and going to bed soonish.
Kate
We went to the South Beach first to explore there. There is a marine center there.
We then went to the Bayfront. There are so many different parts of ocean here and so many different access points they have to give all their different oceanside parts different names. The Bayfront is kind of like the downtown with lots of shops, cute little touristy shops, all along one main street. If you go further down that street, you see the ocean, in all of its majesty - it is big. And a state park.
I was able to walk around here for about half an hour and enjoy myself. It was cool seeing everything and it was a nice day, and listening to the music on my Walkman, too.
Some things I saw that are worth remembering:
1. Sea lions - about 20 all lying on a dock in the center of town, with people crowding around. My, were they loud! Cool to look at but got old quick.
2. Baitful Dead (Grateful Dead) tie dye tshirt - Typical Dead tshirt with crabs and lobsters around it!
3. Some people fishing off a dock, and I actually got to see them reel in a crab they caught, and a mink underneath they used as bait.
This is a hippe town, and that makes me laugh. I also saw an old VW van, rusting, green, looking very much like it was from the 60s in its original shape. And, at the marine center, which had some very colorful, neon gift shops around it, they actually had one, maybe two, cut-outs or paintings of the Yellow Submarine - now how cool is that?
A couple candy shops, several clam shacks, a fish market. Some resteraunts. Lots of wharfs, docks, places to view the ocean. Ten times as much as Portland (Maine)'s waterfront offers, I have to say. As much as I like Portland.... :)
Anyway....Where was I. Yeah, so walked the length of the street and back. Then went into the Nye Beach area, which is beautiful, and has a huge beyond belief beach, but it was way too windy. So I walked up the street looking at shops....but there weren't many and nothing of interest. So I asked a woman how to get back to the van at the community college, and by following her directions more or less I ended up exactly where I wanted to be: right by the road that led back to the bayfront, which I thought I'd had to find from the van. Wow, not often that directions lead you in places you hadn't even hoped you would find. Found out it's only a 15 minute walk from Nye Beach to the bayfront, connecting the two parts of town, not hard at all. Less than the distance from Good Food to Bernice's in Missoula. There is a huge hill going one way, but not sure the incline, might not be as bad as it looks going back up.
So went back to bayfront, much sunnier there. Sat, looked around for a bit. Walked some more.
Ended up getting some fish at the fish market! Was able to do so without going in as was open market. Got shrimp (from Mexico) and frozen salmon. Wasn't sure of quality of either product but really wanted shrimp.
Made a shrimp scampi - trying to satisfy my goal of learning how to cook! Got some angel hair pasta, and my roommate helped me figure out how to sautee the shrimp and so on. We put some butter and some olive oil and diced some garlic up and sauteed it together and then sauteed the shrimp. Okay, they weren't as tasty as Maine shrimp but they were still good. It felt pretty cool to have sauteed something more or less on my own after some initial guidance from my roommate. It ended up quite good although next time I may just do without the pasta.
She also gave me some vegetables she sauteed and I actually ate them this time, a little bit. My other goal is to start eating more veggies and less chicken and less protein in general. May take some time but. My stomach actually feels much better after the veggies have been processed. It was feeling pretty icky all day. So that is one good thing.
Still don't have clothes issues solved, soon hopefully, maybe tomorrow. It's still pretty cold here, rainy and in the 50s most of the time, so it's been pretty cold inside too (heated by wood stove which few wood is left for it so not used much). That is a little frustrating but hopefully warmer weather will come soon. Feeling a bit lost and adrift. Was high on the adrenaline of being someplace new and having a new challenge to face and figure out and so on in the first few days, but that is fading and leaving me with worries. Trying to figure out how to structure time and what I can rely on and what I can't; discovering it's a bit frustrating not to have cell phone reception as I can't stand the regular phones for very long and therefore I just don't call anyone, but I'm used to venting a good deal of my emotions and worries and gaining emotional connections through phone calls to friends. Have reception in Newport but too busy walking around to use phone then. :)
All the old ways and habits have to be replaced by new ones, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's going to take some getting used to. I have been enjoying all of the interaction and conversation with my roommate, for example, but I need to have some time alone to be centered and relaxed, and that's hard when I'm sitting in the living room and am in talking distance of her because we, well, talk. And when it's too cold I can't focus on the computer so that's not reliable and that's worriesome. I'm not used to being so cold! I've had more trouble using the computer, which is frustrating as well. And the clothes issues. Not having a reliable place to use computer and phone, yea those take the most getting used to. I enjoy my roommate so much that the frequent interaction has not beem a problem, as it would be with most people, and has even been quite enjoyable, but still, I think at some point we will have to come down to more normal levels. And my room being problematic makes me a bit nervous.
Still, she's a great person who's fun to talk to and is really trying.
It's a pretty area.
I have to remember to be grateful for what I have and think of the alternatives.
It's just a lot of change to get used to!
She told me I did a good job handling the airline fiasco. That I did a great job coming across country and taking a risk like that that she couldn't do that. That made me feel good, both things.
Yeah I feel very uprooted and if i had more stability with the computer and a room I felt comfortable in I'd feel less so. Her being so wonderful has made it a lot easier and it's not terrible but I just worry once the "honeymoon stage" is over if I will have enough things left to keep me together. Hopefully it will get warmer so using the computer in the living room will be easier.
I look forward to taking pictures with the camera of the area once Puppup sends it to me.
Anyway I'd best be finishing up here and going to bed soonish.
Kate
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Llamas and peacocks and deer, oh my!
Haha, isn't that a funny title? And frogs too. I love the sound of frogs ribetting.
Ribbet! Ribbet!
Okay, tell me why people are not impressed by llamas? Not here but people online I talk to don't seem to be impressed by a llama. If you can't be impressed by a llama, what can you be impressed by? :)
So, I went into Newport today .... Siletz is so beautiful I thought I'd have no real need to go into Newport but wow..... wow.....wow.
The downtown is cute and touristy with lots of colorful looking shops and lots of clam shacks and a fish market right in the middle, and that was interesting enough, but keep going down that road and./....I just can't do this justice without pictures!!! Frustrating. I can't think of the words. I've been having trouble actually thinking of words lately .... feel brain fogged from flight or something....I don't know. But whatever. It's, how do you say it? It's like the rest of the world dissapeared and was swallowed up by beach. The road above the beach, it's like on a bluff l don't what you call it, a cliff but not as high as the cliffs in California were and not rocky, but a road overlooking it. And it looks like - it looks completely unreal. It looks like a watercolor painting of an ocean. The waves actually look still - it's big enough that it's like someone took a huge canvas and painted blue ocean and white waves, and did it over and over and over again until it was all you could see. It did NOT look real. The beach and the ocean were about 100 times bigger than any beach I've ever seen in Maine. When you got close to it you could see the waves moving but it looked unreal until then. It was quite something. That they have a beach right downtown, and not just a beach but like the biggest one I've ever seen, is pretty amazing, Portland doesn't. There's 2 shopping districts next to each other I guess and then a place called South Beach we didn't go to. Pretty amazing overall.
I wasn't feeling so well today and debated about whether to go or not, but I'm glad I did. I sat in the car for about 90 minutes talking on the phone - a bit of a treat since there's no cell phone reception here and I haven't really wanted to deal with the regular phone - but mostly because I wasn't much up for walking, but then I started to feel a little better and realized I could see the ocean from the parking lot where I was waiting for my friend to be done with her appts, and so decided to walk down to it. And WOW, am I glad I did. Didn't have much time there as it was late by the time I decided to, but hopefully I will be able to go back and enjoy it Friday or Saturday.
Haha, got lost walking back, for a little bit, thought it was the street by the Whaler or Whalen Hotel I think, and I'm pretty sure it was, except I went all the way up it without remembering which street to turn off to get back to the office. So I asked a little old lady and a washed out hippie smoking a cigarette (something I would usually avoid) for directions. It took the two of them to figure out how to get back, lol. I couldn't remember where the office where we were parked was or what it was called but I remembered the community college was next to it so I just asked directions to there. Oh yea and at one point I even asked directions from a ten year old or so boy even though we all know that is not usually the most fruitful of endeavors; there wasn't a lot of people on the street and I was trying to get back to the car by 4:15 so I wouldn't be late.... so I got more bolder in my direction asking, lol.
It was only 5 minutes away, you just needed to know what street to go on. Anyway, cool adventure.
Really enjoying talking to my new roommate and having lots of great conversations with her.
Went into Oceana, the health food store, today, but I reacted to it (chemical sensitivity) so oh well. Hell, everything is so beautiful, who needs stores anyway? They'd be nice but are certainly not necessary. It was very similar, in size, layout, and level of reactivity, to the health food store in Darmascotta. I always like to compare things to what I already know :)
I can't wait to take pictures. I hope I feel well enough to take a walk tomorrow. That would be great if I could. And find the path to walk on. And listen to the oldies and country station of which I only got to listen to a little today, but the oldies station seemed to be playing 60s, so that was great.
Kate
Ribbet! Ribbet!
Okay, tell me why people are not impressed by llamas? Not here but people online I talk to don't seem to be impressed by a llama. If you can't be impressed by a llama, what can you be impressed by? :)
So, I went into Newport today .... Siletz is so beautiful I thought I'd have no real need to go into Newport but wow..... wow.....wow.
The downtown is cute and touristy with lots of colorful looking shops and lots of clam shacks and a fish market right in the middle, and that was interesting enough, but keep going down that road and./....I just can't do this justice without pictures!!! Frustrating. I can't think of the words. I've been having trouble actually thinking of words lately .... feel brain fogged from flight or something....I don't know. But whatever. It's, how do you say it? It's like the rest of the world dissapeared and was swallowed up by beach. The road above the beach, it's like on a bluff l don't what you call it, a cliff but not as high as the cliffs in California were and not rocky, but a road overlooking it. And it looks like - it looks completely unreal. It looks like a watercolor painting of an ocean. The waves actually look still - it's big enough that it's like someone took a huge canvas and painted blue ocean and white waves, and did it over and over and over again until it was all you could see. It did NOT look real. The beach and the ocean were about 100 times bigger than any beach I've ever seen in Maine. When you got close to it you could see the waves moving but it looked unreal until then. It was quite something. That they have a beach right downtown, and not just a beach but like the biggest one I've ever seen, is pretty amazing, Portland doesn't. There's 2 shopping districts next to each other I guess and then a place called South Beach we didn't go to. Pretty amazing overall.
I wasn't feeling so well today and debated about whether to go or not, but I'm glad I did. I sat in the car for about 90 minutes talking on the phone - a bit of a treat since there's no cell phone reception here and I haven't really wanted to deal with the regular phone - but mostly because I wasn't much up for walking, but then I started to feel a little better and realized I could see the ocean from the parking lot where I was waiting for my friend to be done with her appts, and so decided to walk down to it. And WOW, am I glad I did. Didn't have much time there as it was late by the time I decided to, but hopefully I will be able to go back and enjoy it Friday or Saturday.
Haha, got lost walking back, for a little bit, thought it was the street by the Whaler or Whalen Hotel I think, and I'm pretty sure it was, except I went all the way up it without remembering which street to turn off to get back to the office. So I asked a little old lady and a washed out hippie smoking a cigarette (something I would usually avoid) for directions. It took the two of them to figure out how to get back, lol. I couldn't remember where the office where we were parked was or what it was called but I remembered the community college was next to it so I just asked directions to there. Oh yea and at one point I even asked directions from a ten year old or so boy even though we all know that is not usually the most fruitful of endeavors; there wasn't a lot of people on the street and I was trying to get back to the car by 4:15 so I wouldn't be late.... so I got more bolder in my direction asking, lol.
It was only 5 minutes away, you just needed to know what street to go on. Anyway, cool adventure.
Really enjoying talking to my new roommate and having lots of great conversations with her.
Went into Oceana, the health food store, today, but I reacted to it (chemical sensitivity) so oh well. Hell, everything is so beautiful, who needs stores anyway? They'd be nice but are certainly not necessary. It was very similar, in size, layout, and level of reactivity, to the health food store in Darmascotta. I always like to compare things to what I already know :)
I can't wait to take pictures. I hope I feel well enough to take a walk tomorrow. That would be great if I could. And find the path to walk on. And listen to the oldies and country station of which I only got to listen to a little today, but the oldies station seemed to be playing 60s, so that was great.
Kate
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