First week

We are here in Portland, and it feels like we've been here much longer than 10 days. I started my new job last week, and things went pretty well. It is exhausting though, working full time. The last time I did this (1999) I could come home and just crash. Now I have family to attend to, not to mention all the chores of moving into a new home. Oh, and I'm a bit older now too.

I have hardly done any of the unpacking. Steve is doing it all. He's so awesome.

I am loving walking to the train each day, and delving into the corporate environment. Politics are pretty thick where I work, so I'm trying to figure out where I fit in. Mostly I want to learn the job, score some early wins, and not piss anybody off too much.

Athena is doing great at her new (temporary) daycare situation. We don't love it but it is what we found, so it will have to do for another week. She goes M-F from 9am-1pm. It wasn't a good fit for Sam, so he has been home with Steve. Sam is having a hard time adjusting to being away from his friends. He doesn't say so, but I know he misses the rhythm of his life in Port Townsend. He had friends to play with everyday; he doesn't have that here. It is causing him to act out and try everyone's patience.

Again, Steve is getting the worst of this. He is awesome. xoxoxo

We have ventured out a bit into the neighborhood. Steve and the kids have found several parks (indoors and out -- yes they have indoor parks here). We tried the Tibetan restaurant half a block away and it was good. I walk past Trader Joe's twice a day and find it hard not to stop and grab something we "need." We're planning to take the kids to see Shrek III -- it plays every half hour on the weekends starting at 9:30AM!

Sam and I went to church today, and I think this one will work out. They meet at 5pm on Sundays which is a great time for me. Athena stayed home this time to get some play time with Dad. Sam is having trouble getting used to the new place/people, but the songs are familiar and I think he'll get it in a few weeks.

I went to another NIA class today, (I went last Sunday too) which is taught by one of the founders, Carlos Rosas. I still think it is amazing and I look forward to going each week. With all the walking I do to/from and at work, if I can get in one dance class a week I think that will feel pretty good. My body already feels different just from all the walking. In a good way.

Why I Blog

Sister Rebecca tagged me with this question. I started blogging because my husband suggested it. At the time he was posting a lot more; we both started on LiveJournal. Now I blog for a couple of reasons:

1. To share pictures with my extended family and friends.
2. To share major events in my life with same.
3. To share and document good (or not so good) recipes and menus (World of Food)
3. To "talk" about things in my life.

This last one is the most sensitive, I suppose. I tend to blog about people being rude to me, as a way to heal from hurt feelings. This has backfired, when one of those people identified themselves and took offense. I also muse about things I've read, heard, or thought about recently. This sometimes starts a discussion that is almost always highly civil, since it is mostly my friends and family who read the blog.

I don't blog for the benefit of people I don't know -- what I write would be exceedingly boring to them. I don't have any agenda, topic, theme, or even style. This is my public diary, and like anything public I don't post anything I would be embarrassed to have my mother read. Likewise, if I'm blogging about another person, I don't blog anything I wouldn't say to their face.

I blog because I can, and because I like to share!

It was bound to happen, or How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Morning

This morning was a little hectic, getting the kids off to school with Athena screaming nonstop and fighting every move I made (esp. putting her in her car seat). I finally got them situated at school, swung by home for a bottle of water, and headed off to NIA class. I bought a five-card class a month ago but haven't found/made the time to attend but one. Now with only five days left until we move and no weekend classes, I will probably leave one class "on the table" as they say.

I love NIA. It is a body-positive class populated by (mostly) women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. The instructor is a fortyish hard-body mama with absolutely no attitude about it. She wants you to feel sexy and have fun. I always leave there thinking, "I want to do this every day."

Today was no different. The last two songs were specific "Thank You" anthems to our bodies and our classmates/friends/community. I got up to leave feeling energized, alive, peaceful, and grateful. Then an older woman came up to me and said: "This class is the best thing you can do for your baby. It's good for you, and for the baby. I'm a nurse. Keep coming to class. It really is so good for both of you."

I shit you not, she actually said this. I smiled, said, "Thank you" and got out of there just before the waterworks began. The last hour of feeling good about my body was blown to shreds by some old lady mistaking my belly fat for pregnancy.

I'm mostly over it now, but left wondering what I'm going to say if I see her at class next week. I know she meant well, and pretty much every overweight woman I know has had this happen to them too. It was just my first time. Not something I care to repeat.

Four down, one to go

Things are moving quickly now. Tuesday we sold the record store. Wednesday we leased (to own) a house in Portland. Now all we have to do is sell our old house, and we are done with our spring "To Do" list.

Then on to our Summer To Do list: job for Steve, schools and childcare for both kids, and all the million and one things that come with a new house in a new neighborhood in a new city in a new state. And plan our Fall vacation.