April 2009
4 tags
portland: eats
Thank goodness I walked so much on this trip because I ate a whole lot of not so healthy food, but Portland is definitely a vegan mecca and I couldn’t help indulging. Left to right: A “whole bowl” (brown rice, black beans, olives, thali sauce, avocado, and cilantro) from the famous food cart at 9th at Alder; soy latte and vegan cinnamon roll from Coffee Plant downtown;...
March 2009
1 tag
March 31
Another great thing about Portland is that they don’t have any sales tax. I used that to justify my purchase of the American Apparel summer shirt deep v that I’ve coveted for so long. I hate myself for loving it, but I totally regret not buying more.
2 tags
pacific northwest: textures
I was constantly grabbed by vivid colors, cool patterns, and the intricacy of nature during my trip. From left to right and top to bottom: Powell’s book recycling logo (wouldn’t that be a great sticker for a car?), leaves in the Portland arboretum, a bright mural in Alberta, the bathroom floor in the Seattle train station (is that gross?), rock formations in Stanley Park, a tree in...
2 tags
March 30
We’ve begun discussing whether or not to get another dog. We all agree that we’d want a wheaton, and my mom started doing some searches on pet finder. When she found a wheaton at the Humane Society just south of town, she had me stop and see him on my way home from Sarasota. He was pretty darn cute and I asked to visit with him. Two applications had already been placed and he’d...
3 tags
March 29
Would you believe the rain delay had just ended? The Rays didn’t play many starters, but Kaz pitched six decent innings, and had two RBIs and a run. We won eleven to two, so I’d say it was a pretty great game.
2 tags
March 28
In an attempt to distract ourselves from our depression, my parents and I went to a plant fair at one of the local colleges, out for veggie burgers at Square One, and then, on a whim, to an ice cream parlor in South Tampa. My parents don’t love leaving our ‘burb, so we rarely head to this part of town as a family. As we walked into the ice cream shop, we spotted a ceramic cupcake in...
4 tags
March 27
I had an amazing breakfast in Belmont and despite my full belly managed to snap a photo of this brick wall with bird tile. I’m really trying hard to avoid the whole bird thing because I’m not much for trends, but they sure are cute. The plane rides passed quickly enough, especially with what must have been the coolest eleven-year-old in all of the pacific northwest to chat with on the...
3 tags
March 26
I had a long stopover in Seattle on my way back to Vancouver, and so I got to explore Pioneer Square, including the fabulous Elliot Bay Book Company. (Don’t tell the Portlandians, but I think I liked it just as well, or maybe better than Powell’s—and they had Mighty-O Doughnuts in the too-cute cafe.) I treated myself to a collection of Czeslaw Milosz’s poetry, a bargain at...
2 tags
March 25
I was grateful for some lovely weather for my last full day in Vancouver. I went to Granville Island Public Market again, stopping at Net Loft to buy myself a cute new journal at Paper-Ya. I headed back to Kitsilano for lunch at Greens and Gourmet, a vegetarian pay-by-weight buffet. I decided to try to walk to UBC, but got diverted from my course when I glimpsed the stunning views at Point Grey...
2 tags
March 24
I stayed close to downtown today, walking through the Granville St. mall, the shops at Pacific Centre, and along the waterfront to Canada Place. I loved this little raised hut on the promenade along the water, and the crow perched on top. The dreary day suited my mood perfectly, and I was more prepared for the weather. I visited Gastown and went into Chinatown again. I also went to the Vancouver...
3 tags
March 23
When I arrived at the Granville Island Public Market, I was so happy to be among tons of foodies and tons of fresh produce, loose teas, exotic ingredients, and local treats. I even managed a vegan brownie. (Thank goodness I walked so much on this trip, because obviously I ate a whole heck of a lot.) I planned an ambitious schedule for a dreary day; the rain didn’t stop and I trekked a long...
2 tags
March 22
I’m glad I chose to spend my first morning exploring Vancouver’s massive urban park, Stanley Park, because it rained for most of the next two days. I walked up the coast, passing English Bay Beach before heading into the park. There, I walked the 9km seawall loop, stopping every so often to eat my last dougnnut and take some photos. I loved this quaint little lighthouse. I headed to...
2 tags
March 21
I left Portland early and with a bit of regret. One train ride, one bus ride, and three doughnuts later I was in Vancouver. I arrived in the early evening at the picturesque Pacific Central station, and then hoofed it into town to put down my bags, find dinner, and get my bearings.
2 tags
March 20
After the law school preview event in the morning (where I wasn’t as nervy as some other kids who were taking photos), I went to Alberta to see the cute, too-hip-for-me neighborhood and have dinner at Vita Cafe. I loved this mural outside the Alberta Tea House, where I regrettably did not stop for a cup of tea.
1 tag
March 19
I visited the famed Powell’s Books (neither for the first time nor the last during my trip), and browsed gleefully, mostly in the blue (fiction and poetry) room. They even have a separate section with selections of Nobel Prize winning work! Please, can I live here?
1 tag
March 18
I completed a pretty thorough walking tour of the downtown Portland area this morning, much of it while I was looking for Voo Doo Doughnut, located in a weird area below Burnside, but in Old Town rather than downtown proper. If I remember correctly, I stumbled across this old sign in the Pearl.
1 tag
March 17
I left Tampa at 6:45 a.m. and I was in Portland by 11:30 a.m. (And by 11:35 a.m. I was already convinced that Portland rules.) This cluster of signs in Pioneer Courthouse Square only added to my sense of geographic dizziness.
1 tag
brief hiatus
I’m off to the northwest for a law school visit, which doubles as a nice excuse for a ten day vacation. I’ll be back with my project 365 photos and travel recaps in a couple of weeks.
2 tags
March 16
R and I went to the produce stand to pick up citrus before it’s gone.
1 tag
March 15
R and I went walking on Bayshore to enjoy the afternoon. Just before the Superbowl, there was a rubber ducky race at Port of Tampa. This duck apparently was never found.
1 tag
March 14
I am so grateful to be seeing more sunsets since the time change, even if it is just in my side and rear view mirrors.
2 tags
March 13
Wearing my panda robot shirt makes a good day great.
2 tags
March 12
I’ve been desperate to go to central Europe all year. I’m getting close to finalizing plans and buying a ticket, but anxiety about committing a large chunk of this summer to travel keeps delaying me. Basically, I’ve spent far too much time on Kayak.
3 tags
Project 365 - January
So that my February photo mosaic isn’t lonely, here’s January’s photos. I totally love these things. Going through the photos again is really neat, and I can’t wait to look at the whole year in review next January.
1 tag
March 11
Haircut. I don’t think I’ll ever like my hair, but it’s better now.
2 tags
March 10
Vegetarian buffet at our favorite Indian restaurant. The owner brought out an eggplant dish (pictured in the top right corner) for me since several of the dishes have dairy. I can’t honestly think of much that’s better than an Indian buffet.
4 tags
spring has sprung!
Not technically, but today was too glorious to be a winter day. I sat and played in the yard for half an hour, taking photos, kicking my feet in the grass and breathing in the scent of bloom. Clockwise from the top left: Azaleas in bloom, Sweetie preening on the driveway, our gazing globe (can you spot yours truly?), and a big honkin’ lizard perched on top of a flamingo’s head.
1 tag
March 9
This is the first time this spring that I’ve worn a sleeveless top and a skirt/shorts. It’s so beautiful out!
1 tag
crabbydad
I only occasionally read crabbydad, a blog by a guy who raises what must be two of the coolest kids ever. After reading this post, though, I think I need to start reading regularly. (Mr. Z is his son, Old Lady, his wife.) OLD LADY: So, I dropped an F-bomb in a meeting today. MR. Z: YOU FARTED IN A MEETING?!?! ME: [spraying hot tea outta my nostrils] No, while “dropping an f-bomb”...
2 tags
March 8
I made cupcakes (vanilla with chocolate frosting and sprinkles) for R’s sister’s birthday. Yum.
2 tags
March 7
R and his rescue dog, Cheech. She’s even older than Sweetie and Toto and a very sweet, but timid dog. (By the way, we love Mike’s “my dog is a rescue” shirt on the Race. It’s made by PETA, so sorry to the haters, but here’s the link.
2 tags
March 6
My usual route home is messed up, so I had to take a different road and drive past a bunch of pawn shops. They always weird me out. (Uneventful day, sorry!)
2 tags
Project 365 - February
I made this neato mosaic of my February Project 365 photos through fd’s Flickr Toys.
2 tags
the lying days
I finished The Lying Days (Nadine Gordimer) a few days ago. I’ve so identified with the main characters of most of the books that I’ve read lately, though especially so with Helen Shaw, the protagonist in this book. Her life is set against a much more interesting backdrop than my own, but ultimately the state of being an uneasy twenty-something whose life is in a state of flux is...
3 tags
March 5
Finishing one book and starting another always feels a bit sad. Wandering Star is great so far, but I miss The Lying Days. I can’t wait to read another of Nadine Gordimer’s books.
2 tags
March 4
I finally went to the Ethiopian restaurant that opened while I was in school. I sprang for the buffet, half of which was vegan and featured injera bread, chickpea spead, cabbage, lentils, yellow split peas, potatoes, lentil puree, and collard greens. I used the injera to eat the lentils, dips, and split peas, but I wimped out and used a fork for the veggies.
3 tags
March 3
Vegan chocolate chip cookie, soy milk, and a good book makes for a nice midday break.
1 tag
March 2
Sorry to all of you coping with snow up north.
"Tell FDR..."
The older I get, the more I become interested in hearing family stories. My dad has an amazing memory and his family’s stories are so interesting. I never really knew my grandfather, who passed away when I was only two, and last night we stayed up late over dessert talking about him. My grandfather, like my dad, grew up in Chicago. His parents died when he was young, and he lived with his...
2 tags
Hotel for Dogs
One of the kids I was sitting for this week, an eleven year old girl, wanted to go to the movies on Sunday. She picked Hotel For Dogs, and I was dreading sitting through an hour and a half of what I assumed would be drivel. Wrong I was! The movie stars about 40 dogs doing all kinds of cute shit. And it has a great message about adopting and no-kill shelters.
1 tag
March 1
This week was fun, but I’m finally a little tired of shuttling kids around.
