Quiet But Still Sunny
Over the last week, the weather has continued to cooperate. It has been sunny almost every single day! The temperature has been a bit brisk, but the sunlight is a nice change from the gray clouds. Besides the great weather, I've gotten around town for a few cool things. It is much easier to explore in the nice weather.
I've taken advantage of the fantastic sunshine by working in the house. My home office is in a converted garage. It has a window, but there is barely any light. I just can't stand its confining feeling on a nice day. The living room is full of windows and has tons of light. The workday is much more enjoyable in this room. I can only take the garage on a dark day.
After work, a few cool things have happened. Last Friday, my friend Chris from Baltimore was in Portland. He is interviewing for a position in Beaverton. Maybe he'll make the move as well! Teresa and I met Chris for dinner at the Laughing Planet Cafe on NW 21st. It was great to see him and catch up. What are the chances of him having an interview here in Portland? I don't know, but it was a happy coincidence. Besides the great conversation, I enjoyed the burritos. We've been using the Portland Mercury for most of our restaurant recommendations. It has not disappointed.
On Sunday afternoon, we traveled down to Tigard to see Cloverfield. This movie was and still is surrounded by hype. I didn't count the days until its opening, but I have been intrigued. I normally don't enjoy scary movies. How bad could a PG-13 movie be? It wasn't scary but suspenseful. Because the movie is filmed by one of it's characters, you don't see a ton of gore. You really can't see what happens in a few scenes. It sounds strange, but the concept works. I was riveted the entire time.
After sitting inside a dark theater, I knew we needed to enjoy the great outdoors. This is Oregon right? Taking advantage of Monday off for MLK Day, we walked through part of Forest Park. This glorious outdoor space is one of the largest urban parks in the world. You can hike an entire day without leaving Portland's city limits. We decided to start on the Lower Macleay Trail and continue on the Wildwood Trail. The walk wasn't too difficult. There wasn't much elevation gain. The scenery is very green and very pretty. The trail is paved in some spots and a dirt path in others. It was wonderful exercise. I love being so close to such great outdoor activities.
We really have been blessed with the sunny weather. I hope it lasts, but we shall see. One thing is for sure, I'll continue trekking around my new city. Every time we head out, it is a new experience. Maybe there will be some repeats, but maybe there won't be any. So far, it has been an adventure.
