I'm still alive

So, I haven't updated my blog in a while. And I have been told that this is because--now that I have a job and all that jazz--I have nothing interesting to say.
This is in fact not true.
In fact, I'm just lazy. I've composed several fascinating, thought-provoking and/or cheerily anecdotal blog posts in my head, but somehow the thought of pulling out the computer and writing them down has seemed like such a hassle that they've remained there in my head rather than here for all of you to enjoy.
It's a pity, really. You've missed out.

Another whim

I randomly applied for a receptionist job with Mercy Corps today. I don't think I'm actually qualified for it, but we'll see what happens. As much as I love the people I work with at my current job, it would be nice to know I'll get a full week's worth of work each week. And to get out of the house and interact with people in person a bit more. If--miraculously--the job pans out, I'm hoping to do some sort of combo deal, where I don't entirely quit what I'm doing now.
I'm also in touch with people from IRCO (the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) and Catholic Charities, both of which have volunteer opportunities in Portland's refugee populations. So hopefully I'll be out among people more, anyway.
Still looking for a church, though...

Work!

I finally have work again! I'll be able to eat this month. And pay the rent and phone and internet and all that jazz that let's me work in the first place. I'm very happy. (As much as I enjoyed goofing off last week.)

Internet

I finally have internet in my apartment. And phone service. Hooray!

Social-ness

Living downtown is fun. (Did I mention that?)
Yesterday I hung out with three friends: a vegan sign-language-interpreter I know from high school, then a girl I'd never met who's from Vermont but just finished traveling the world and is thinking about becoming a Rabbi and then opening her own restaurant (she's a friend of a friend), and then a native Portlander-friend whom I met in Canada who brought over wine and fresh vegetables so we could make stir-fry together. Any free time in there was spent wandering around looking for inexpensive (aka free) haunts and admiring the green-ness of my neighborhood.
Life is good.
I am hoping that my employers have more work for me soon (you know, little things like paychecks end up being important when you're trying to buy food and shelter). But in the meantime, at least life is entertaining.

Pictures

I've finally uploaded a few pictures of my new home. You can see them here. It's definitely feeling like home now. I even can wander all around and not get lost. (Seriously; today I went up to north Portland, and then out to the train station, through a farmer's market, up to Powell's, and back without any problems at all. It's like I belong here.)
Anywho.

All moved in...but internet-less

Well, the move this past weekend was successful. There are still boxes littering the floor (and books scattered across all horizontal surfaces as we try to fit eight roomfuls of books into three medium-sized bookcases), but we're definitely settling.
However, we won't have any internet or phone until Friday at the earliest. Currently I'm at the library using their free wireless (fortunately a short walk away), and I'll probably end up coming here daily until I have internet at home, but the best way to get a hold of me at the moment is on my cell.
Living downtown is fun. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Anyway.
(By the way, pictures will be coming soon. I forgot to bring my card reader with me this trip so I could upload them...but soon.)