Livestrong Challenge- Portland

hey peeps– i’m participating in the Livestrong Challenge this year in Portland on June 29th. I’m riding 40 miles and helping to raise at least $250 for the benefit. if you  are interested in contributing, please click here to be directed to my page. any help is greatly appreciated!

here’s some info on where donations are going:

The Lance Armstrong Foundation unites people to fight cancer, believing that unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything.

Through the dollars and awareness that we raise, we can inspire and empower individuals, and we can make life better for the more than 10 million Americans affected by cancer.

* $10 provides information packets to 16 cancer survivors to offer support, inspiration and hope.

* $50 provides 35 people cancer survivorship information, worksheets to organize their fight against cancer and support, inspiration and hope from other cancer survivors.

* $155 provides a cancer survivor one-on-one direct support through the LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare program.

* $250 provides LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebooks to 27 cancer survivors.

Please support me as I make a difference in the cancer fight through my participation in the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Thank you!

Sweetpea does it big

i came across this ad for Sweetpea Bicycles on a bike forum today. it features the lovely founder, Natalie Ramsland and one of her frames. i found it pretty exciting for a local bike shop to be featured on a larger scale like an HP ad. i wouldn’t see this as “selling out” by any means. it’s networking and getting the word out to people who may never come across such beautiful bikes that aren’t spit out by factories.

hooray for bikes made from love!

no competition, plz.

do you know who you’re voting for?

oh and who is the mysterious man in the background? hmm…

it’s not always sunny in Portlandia

but when it is…. we likes to play. and play we did; on the waterfront, esplanade, on bridges and even on motorcycles. oh my.

don’t fish here.

i made a friend!

yep, it’s a town of bridges all right.

one rock of crack, please.

well life has been going as follows:

mini-interview marathon/fiasco. in the past few weeks i have interviewed with 2 companies and another i am looking forward to this Monday. the other two were chummy jobs that i probably would have hated anyhow, but i suppose it makes for good practice to meet these people. my interview on Monday is with a senior designer for the Portland Closet Company as a personal assistant. mind you this won’t be anything coveted or a step into the design field. it’s more of transferring sketches to the computer and miscellaneous office work. he mentioned there were over 250 applicants and i was selected among 14 others to come meet with him in person. i have no experience in that industry, but tons of time spent in useless offices–i’m pretty interested to see what the company offers and what the job specifically entails.

other than that it’s been:

seeing lots o’ friends, a little bit of drinking, watching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia until my eyes bleed, having cuddle puddles with pretty white cats and my boy, thinking of taking a ballet class in June and scoping out for a bike rack for some longer bike riding this summer. oh and i need a new battery for the scooter so it can finally leave the back yard. poor thing.

ooh, i mentioned my boy… i’ve been blabbing around town that this person does exist. i’m not dating a figment of my imagination this time. he’s a real boy! errr, man–person. and quite lovely i might add. one of my guy friends even said he was a good lookin’ guy, hah. he’s so real that i even told my mother about him! gasp. i usually don’t let her into my private life because she like to pry–like all mothers do. this time, i figured she’d be happy to know that i am capable of meeting men and am in fact, not a lesbian. lets just get that out of the way, thanks. she knows the basics and seems pleased with my catch. she likes the academic guys so i mentioned that he has a million degrees and wants to go to grad school. ding ding ding ding.

i’m convinced i’m dating a pretty rad dude if my friends are mentioning him more than i am.

i don’t watch much TV, except for Project Runway and ANTM, but this show is my form of crack and will be the only that i personally suggest for your amusement. and no, i don’t watch LOST nor do i have any desire to. take that bitches.

never again.

seriously.

more Secrets here.

Fantastically, fantastically.

i like filling these random surveys out on MySpace ’cause it briefly cures my boredom. so here’s one for the WP kids–

favorite time of the day? early evening, 6 or 7pm.
last time you were excited? when Alex brought me tulips
you’d rather be ______ right now. in a bigger city right now.
most overrated movie? Crash. it was awful.
summertime calls for? bbq’s, kickball and long bike rides.
you wish you were better at______. listening and writing.
best trait about a person? their laugh.
last time you were hurt? when a pit bull nipped my nose. felt like i was punched in the face.
is this shit really bananas? hell yeah it is.
your GPA in college? 3.4/3.5
best memories are obtained by_____. sounds and smells.
favorite names, male/female? Holden, Lucy.
something people are surprised to find out about me is…. I’m capable of being quiet.
the last time you cried was… when the pit bull bit me.
who do you trust to keep your secrets? 1 or 2 people and myself.
3 things you can’t leave the house without: keys, phone, glasses.
something you’ll never put into your mouth is…. a cigarette.
if you could have any job it would be…. here’s a few: clothing designer, professional bike racer, DJ, pastry chef, published author.
who are you comfortable around? people i trust or feel i know.
best part of a relationship? being able to connect with someone on a deeper level.
worst? knowing your insecurities can ruin things.
something you do often, but wish you didn’t is: judge people.
last movie you watched? Me You and Everyone we Know
best karaoke song? anything by Journey.
favorite holiday? Halloween
are you good at driving? i’m okay, but i tend to drive fast.
something people commonly refer to you as? a city person.
what are you currently reading? A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.
something that makes you look twice? nice bikes, sweet cats.
what are you bad at? time management.
you don’t like it when people…. can see me cry.
favorite ride at a carnival? ferris wheel.
what do you like to do before bedtime? read or watch a movie.

Not a cloud in sight

the weekend was fantastic. 77 degrees, lots of sun, lounging on the beach all Saturday afternoon and a roller skating venture tonight at Oaks Park.

Pup Pup and I enjoying some sun.

and a picture of Alex and I that his niece colored. Check out how dark i am! we thought it was adorable.

more weekend pictures on the right at my Flickr page. woot!

the happiest of hours

where do a group of cabin fever-ish, thirsty kids end up on such a beautiful warm, sunny day?

Berbatis, of course. where the 2 dollar beers keep flowing and people watching becomes a professional hobby.

one of us also received this text message below..

“made it home. got raviolis. and condoms”

awesome.

little did she know

squirming around all night to the sounds of a movie playing in the background. wiggle, wiggle until slumber finally takes over. sleeping on the right side because it’s the comfortable side. eyes rolling back, lightly snoring. fucking asthma. 7 hours later–abruptly waking after realizing it’s almost that time.. the sun isn’t even out, the world is still asleep. turn to the other side and set eyes on a warm body. scooches over, nuzzling the nose into the arch of his back and take a slow, deep breath. eyes closed, repeat. peek over and lightly give a couple of smooches on his scruffy cheek. he makes small noises in his sleep. quite endearing. squeeze in a little closer to create a nook between two laying bodies. perfect spot to lay, want to lie forever. tuck the moment away in your hippocampus for quick future recall of elation.

drift. away.