On Wednesday, iIt took me about three hours to get from Downtown Seattle to Westport and Westhaven State Park, on the Washington coast. Most of the people visiting the park came to try out the waves, and they were not disappointed, as it was windy enough to create some significant waves on the Pacific.

I then stopped at Raymond, a small-enough town. I was drawn in to this cafe strictly for its wifi access. There was even a small booklet full of humour, such as adjusting to the mentality of rural Washington state, and variations of "Kids Say the Darndest Things".

I followed US 101 into Astoria, Oregon, using a very long bridge over the Columbia River. The speed limit is supposed to be 55 miles per hour, but luckily we weren't going that fast, which allowed me to attempt these photos. Seriously, don't ever try it - just take photos from the ground instead, like the last photo.

Even on the approach to Portland on US 30, I was surprised at how rural the layout was when I saw a sign that read "PORTLAND 20". 20 miles (~30 km) outside downtown Portland, and it's still the middle of nowhere. I got to my accommodation almost ten hours after I set off, and needless to say, I was tired. Nevertheless, it was an experience.

Frank and his friends never changed.

FHA financing is becoming popular once again with buyers, particularly first-time buyers, due to the new increased loan limit of $417,000 here in Portland, Oregon.

You can borrow up to 97% financing for a purchase and up to 95% for a refinance.  The down payment can be 100% gift and Down Payment Assistance Programs are allowed. A seller can pay up to 6% towards allowable closings costs and/or pre-paids.  There are no reserve requirements and no minimum credit scores.  Make sure you speak to a lender and get pre-approved before you decide to make an offer.  FHA loan amounts vary from state to state, so make sure you check on your particular area and become familiar with the requirements where you live.

Following is Part 2 of the FHA-approved Condominium projects in Portland, Oregon.  CLICK HERE for the link to the Part 1 list for Portland.  Two other posts were written for FHA Approved Condos in Lake Oswego  (CLICK HERE) and Tigard (CLICK HERE) as well.

PORTLAND OREGON APPROVED FHA CONDOMINIUM LIST - PART 2

After admiring their place, we headed out to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the market.

From top left, going clockwise: berries galore (this was just one berry stall out of many); Walla Walla onions, the sweetest onions around; enjoying a natural and organic lunch at Chef Naoko (I like how Mo's raspberry matches her new shirt!); satisfied shoppers...

On Sunday after church we enjoyed more food with more good friends, Dave and Drenda.  We always have a great time with them.  This time, we went to Everett Street Bistro.  The french toast was so good, I ate all of it (so much for controlling my sugar!)...I ate it so fast, I didn't even get a picture!  The food was very satisfying, and so was the conversation.

No entry was written on this day and only (poor) pictures of Multnomah Falls at the Columbia Gorge were taken. Forgive me, for I was partaking in a substance of questionable legal nature and quite inebriated.

7.20.2008

Entry written prior to going to bed and after effects of aforementioned substance worn off. The event described in the entry took place on 7.19.2008

What is America? The question haunts, plagues me as I sit, stoned and mesmerized, on the soft blanket covering the lawn. The marimbas sound plastic, hollow, as they blast transfigured out the giant speakers staring at us. Khakis, polos, straw hats, strollers, hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream scream middle America at me. The music blows and though I have yet to grab or bite into one of the many all-American goodies offered at the concession stands (God, please don’t let me succumb to one of those), I’m almost positive that the flavors that’ll greet my taste buds will be as bland as the notes and rhythm entering my ears.

R. continues to look at the stage, fixated by the ludicrousness of our environs. She holds her gaze even when she speaks with what appears to be a combination of morbid curiosity and genuine concern.

“God, do I really want to put my kids through this? I mean, the kids seem to be having some fun. But shit, can I put myself through this?”

Though none of us have children of our own, we sit and contemplate the horrors of being in a ubiquitous city park, listening to the lifeless, generic music that tries to pass itself off as being “ethnic”, but somehow these people seem to tolerate, maybe even enjoy, and worst of all, being present not high and not horrified by the sights and sounds, but being an active part of the ghoulish scene, being one of them.

I wonder about the people here, whether they were always this boring, whether they were always this generic, this homogenous, this dead. I wonder. Can I put myself through this? Would I be willing to sacrifice everything and lead the lives these people live, to marry the woman I love, to have two or three healthy children, to live in a nice house in the suburbs with a white picket fence? I’m horrified when I realize that there was once a time when this horrid scene was the quintessential scene from my ideal future. But now, there is absolutely no fucking way that I could ever, ever in a million years numb myself enough to be a part of whatever this thing is.

I continue to look at the stage, transfixed by the present horrors and the thoughts of horrific alternate universes where I may be a part of this crowd, as I speak without volume and to no one in particular.

“This is America.”

On Sunday, our very good friends, William and Rae, invited us to go on a garden tour with them after church.  This has become a pattern of ours - gardens, food and walking after church.  We love spending time with them -it gives us great joy to talk, walk and eat together.  This Sunday, we enjoyed people's wonderful gardens.  For a black thumb like me, these gardens were amazing.  We had brunch at Hands On Cafe, located in Oregon College of Art and Craft .  My food was so good (as you can see below), but my favorite treat that day was the watermelon with candied ginger!

Written in the morning, prior to breaking camp from Ft. Stevens, OR

I’m excited about two things today.

I’m going to be going through Astoria, OR. For you non-Goonies out there (shame on you!), that’s where the Goonie house is and where some of the movie was filmed.

It's not the Goonies, but hey, it's got Astoria in it. Astoria, OR

More importantly, I’m going to meet and possibly stay with a friend I haven’t seen in six(!) years. I met R. at Yonsei University when I was “studying” abroad and she was definitely among the coolest people there, if not the coolest. All I have to say is, the Irish Catholic girl got the KAGA (Korean American Grocer’s Association) scholarship. Need I say more?

That’s it.

Written in the evening, prior to calling it a night at R.’s house in Portland, OR

Portland is fantastic. My opinions of the city may be biased by the fact that I’m being hosted by one of the coolest people ever, but it’s hard to beat two dollar draft beers, no sales tax, and no traffic (compared to the 405, 101, and 10, Portland’s freeways are remarkably drivable). On a more serious note, the city is just brimming with beauty and respite from the “busier” hustle and bustle of the big city can be easily found just going up the hill to the west side, where the impressive Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, and Pittock Mansion reside. Plus, the socio-economic diversity is amazing and the host of various ethnic communities and neighborhoods are fascinating, despite the fact that they do seem a bit segregated.

So far, this is *the* city to beat. Maybe Portland will be home to another Yoon in the nearby future?

Mr. Pittock: Proud and dead owner of the Pittock Mansion, Portland, OR

Statue at Pittock Mansion. Portland, OR

River of Zen. Japanese Garden. Portland, OR

The Flow. Japanese Garden, Portland, OR

Harmony. Japanese Garden, Portland, OR

Master. Japanese Garden, Portland OR

Back in May, I landed a gig with one of Portland's best sushi restaurants, Mio Sushi. They strive for the freshest ingredients and serve them at affordable prices! Great perk for college students :D My task was to give their website a facelift and make it more contemporary, clean and inviting. After a few months of doing all the logistics work like finding and art directing the photography and partnering up with the right developer, I was able to pull all this together:

www.miosushi.com

I've also recently did a project for Make A Wish Foundation through Sigma Solutions (a company I'm affiliated with) and it was a HUGE success! I did all the design for the promo pieces (flyers, website, magazine ad, etc.) for their event and it raised up to $20,000!!! Can I scream?! I am really excited that I got to take part in such a great cause.

 July 23-26, 2008  American Cheese Society Annual Conference & Competition
Chicago, Illinois

July 24, 2008  Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation
Miami, Florida
Savor the finest dishes and drinks prepared by the nation's hottest chefs and mixologists, enjoy the best wines and bid in exciting live and silent auctions. All this to catch the more than 12 million children at risk of hunger and surround them with the nutritious foods where they live, learn and play!  100% of ticket sales help ensure no kid in America grows up hungry.

July 24-26, 2008  45th Annual Louisiana Watermelon Festival
Farmerville, Louisiana
The Louisiana Watermelon Festival was founded by the Farmerville Jaycees, and is a proud member of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals. The Festival has been named one of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

July 24-27, 2008  21st Annual Oregon Brewers Festival
Portland, Oregon
Regarded as one of the finest craft beer festivals in the nation.

July 25, 2008  Virginia Cantaloupe Festival
Halifax County Fairgrounds, Virginia

July 25-26, 2008  Frankfort Hot Dog Festival
Frankfort, Indiana

July 25-26, 2008  Pierogi Festival
Whiting, Indiana
Pierogis, polka, parades, and more.

July 25-27, 2008  Aebleskiver Days
Tyler, Minnesota
Annual celebration of Danish heritage. Danish sandwiches, and the aebleskive - a tennis ball shaped Danish pancake. Games for the kids, crafts and entertainment for the adults, and of course, good food everywhere.

July 25-27, 2008  Blueberry Festival
Park Rapids, Minnesota
A three day festival that is focused on blueberries--a blueberry pancake breakfast, a blueberry ball, a blueberry square dance.

July 25-27, 2008  30th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival
Gilroy, California

July 25-27, 2008  PMA Foodservice Conference
Monterey, California
Produce Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference is the one event focused on fresh produce and foodservice.

July 25-27, 2008  Sugar Grove Corn Boil
Sugar Grove, Illinois
41st Anniversary. The Corn Boil, held in Volunteer Park on Main Street in Sugar Grove, generates approximately 15,000 visitors. There is no admission charge for visitors to the Corn Boil.

July 25-27, 2008  North Carolina Watermelon Festival
Fair Bluff, North Carolina

July 26, 2008  FishFest
Warroad, Minnesota
Walleye Fish Fry Competition on the shores of the Warroad River at Riverside Bait & Tackle.

July 26, 2008  The Great Minnesota Pie Extravaganza
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Celebrate the third annual Great Minnesota Pie Extravaganza and learn about cooking in a 1900 logging camp. Cooks worked with the ingredients they had on hand to create delicious and wholesome pies. This event allows visitors to compare and contrast pies served in the logging camps with modern day creations. The adventurous may try their hand at rolling the perfect piecrust and inventing their own take-home and bake-it pie. Visitors are encouraged to bring a recipe to share.

July 26, 2008  5th NAS BBQ, Chili Cook-off, & Music Festival
Tahoka, Texas
Come eat BBQ & enjoy talented local West Texas musicians & artists.  There is something for everyone!

July 26, 2008  Down Bay Wine Tasting
Manahawkin, New Jersey
Tuckerton Seaport’s premier fundraising event, Sample wines from across the globe, enjoy live entertainment, and bid on great silent auction items. Supports Tuckerton Seaport’s educational programs.

July 26, 2008  Mountain Brewer Open & GHHA Brewfest
Huntington, West Virginia
The Greater Huntington Homebrewers Association is proud to host the 2008 Mountain Brewer Open Homebrew Contest.  This years event will be held at St Clouds Commons, Huntington, WV on Saturday July 26th 2008. GHHA BREWFEST will follow the homebrew contest.

July 26-27, 2008  15th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival
Oxnard, California
The Oxnard Salsa Festival is a celebration of all things salsa - the food, the music, and the dance! The two-day festival takes place at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. Admission and parking are free.

July 26-27, 2008  The Great Grapes Wine, Arts & Food Festival
Annapolis, Maryland
The Great Grapes Wine, Arts & Food Festival offers premier wines from various local wineries as well as gourmet foods, fine art, and live music. This festival appeals to families, couples and connoisseurs of good food, good wine and good music. Come uncork the fun!

July 26-27, 2008  Tavistock Food and Drink Festival
Tavistock, Devon, UK
Attracting over 10,000 visitors in 2007 with Celebrity Chef demonstrations; 100's of top quality regional exhibitors; Farmers Market; Children's Food Tent; Live Music.

July 26-27, 2008  Kickapoo Country Fair
La Farge, Wisconsin
Live Music, Sustainability Workshops, Rural Heritage Exhibits, Beer and Dancing!

July 26-27, 2008  Ballard SeafoodFest 2008
Ballard, Washington
Every year we close down the streets and roll out the fun. With entertainment for all ages, beer and wine gardens, a plethora of seafood vendors, arts and crafts and our unique contests, it’s a great, old fashioned summer party.

July 26-27, 2008  Shawangunk Wine Trail Annual Bounty of the Hudson Food & Wine Festival
New Paltz, New York
Taste the wines from all eleven wineries on the SWT as well as several others from around the Hudson Valley region.

July 26-Aug 3, 2008  Baltimore Restaurant Week
Baltimore, Maryland
Enjoy a variety of three-course dinners, in just about any cuisine that strikes your fancy, for only $30.08. Or try three-course lunches at select restaurants for just $20.08. And new this summer, many restaurants will also offer special culinary experiences, such as wine pairings, cooking classes, tasting menus and more.

June 27-28, 2008  Lakeside Vineyard Summer Festival
Felicity, Ohio
Wine tasting, wine purchasing, vineyard tours, music, dance, art, crafts, food, cruise-in

July 27-28, 2008  Very Berry Wine Trail
Hermann, Missouri
Travel to 7 local wineries tasting Berry Creations paired with wine.

July 27-30, 2008  Dietary Managers Association’s 48th Annual Meeting & Expo
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 27-30, 2008  NFSSC Annual Seminar & Exposition
Grapevine, Texas
National Food Service Security Council

Thanks to foodreference.com for the info.

!!!

For more information see the offical site or the wikipedia page:

http://www.japanesegarden.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Japanese_Garden

Anyways, after I came back home, I told my friend that lives here that I didn't really enjoy the class. And she invited me to go with her to a Bikram Yoga class on this same night. And that experience was quite different! But I'll write about it on a next post.

There are essentially four places that I can be in the next year, depending on which path I decide to take. Naturally, each of these places can mean many different things depending on how I get there. Let me describe each and then I will elaborate.

1) I can stay exactly where I am at right now. I can move in with my current roommates, or find some new ones, in the valley and continue working at the coffee bar. I make decent money, but I will probably try and get another job for reasons I will explain soon.

a) Along these lines there is a possibility of potentially moving to Santa Barbara, trying to find a job there, and going to city college. This is a newer option so I haven't looked into it very much but i am obviously keeping my options open. One good thing about staying in California is that I can establish residency and then transfer to a UC school (with all the benefits California students receive!).

2) I can (maybe) go back to Whitworth. I say maybe because this is still a very uncertain prospect. I had just finally started telling people a week or two ago that I would definitely not be going back to Whitworth. Of course, a few days later I received an email from Whitworth saying

This request for supplemental application to be considered for the Charles and Maxine Skaggs Foundation scholarship is being sent now as we have determined that you may meet the criteria for the scholarship, and the selection committee has requested additional applications for consideration... A number of students have received this scholarship in the past and the amount has been in the $3000 range.

Ahhhh!!!!!!!

So basically, I need to write an essay and fill out some information before next week, and then wait and see if I get this scholarship. If I do receive it, I still don't know what I am going to do. I almost wish I hadn't gotten that email, and I am almost hoping that I don't receive it. Almost. At least then I can cross one option off the list. It's like my teachers used to tell me about multiple choice questions: eliminate the ones you know are wrong and then go from there. At this point, that's pretty much my system.

If I were to go back to Whitworth, I would be living off campus somewhere and I would probably have to be working around 20 hours each week on top of course work, which would be pretty gnarly. Again, it is something I have to think very seriously about [/sigh].

3) I move back in with my parents in Portland and go to school at community college there. This option is acually pretty appealing now that I have spent a summer paying for everything myself and cooking for myself! Who wouldn't want to live and eat for free, plus have home-cooked meals all the time? I am naturally pretty hesitant as well because I like being independent and it would be hard to go back into that kind of situation. Though my parents have assured me time and time again that I would be more of a "roommate" to them, they are still my parents, and I can't see how that could be entirely avoided. It would also be really nice to have my own room again. I would probably move downstairs and take my sister's room, because it is the only room downstairs and has it's own bathroom, etc., and would have more privacy. My father has assured me that my truck would be available to me, but I doubt I would drive that very much. I have become rather attached to my bicycle, and to not having to pay $4.50 a gallon for gas! As you can see, there are many advantages that would come from living at home. Plus, I would be back in Portland, which I miss very much and cannot wait to return to.

4) I suppose this fourth option doesn't necessarily conflict with the preceding three, but it is still something that has been thrown into the mix of decisions. I have been presented with the potential opportunity of going to Iraq as an intern for Buy Shoes, Save Lives (hello Jeremy and Cody, I know you are both watching!) This would probably be done in December and January for just those two months, in order to give me a first-hand experience in what is happening over there. Definitely check out their website for more information. It is exciting stuff.

The beauty of this is that I could probably go regardless of where I choose to live this fall. If I went to Whitworth, I might have to bail on January term, and maybe take some finals early or start second semester late, maybe even take second semester off. But that wouldn't be a big deal in the long run. I am in a discussion with Cody Fisher, who is the co-founder and U.S. director of the Preemptive Love Coalition (the parent organization of Buy Shoes, Save Lives), about this. Some other guys from the valley are also looking into going to Iraq as well. Ultimately we are just beginning this, and I don't have much information beyond that.

5)  I know, I said there were only four things I was going to talk about when I began writing this, but I remembered somewhere along the way that it wouldn't be right if I didn't include the fifth option. This is the option to just pick up and move somewhere new and crazy and do it all over again. This is the least likely to happen and the most likely option that will end in tears, but I have to throw that out there.

Well, there you have it. That is my current situation, in a nutshell. Part of the reason I decided to write this was to get advice as well, so please leave some feedback or something. Or call me. Whatever, I don't care how you get it to me, I am simply seeking wisdom from people that care about me and have different perspectives that are outside myself. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by the possibilities and can't see them clearly anymore. You can be the warm little center that the life of this world crowds around (name that movie).

That, my dear friends, is why I can't give you a straight or accurate answer about what I am doing with my life. Because I simply don't know, and all of the options are very different from each other and will have very different implications and consequences. As always, I can use prayer too as I try to make a wise decision.

If you want your fun to also be free, why not swing by the Bagdad Theater on Hawthorne? Filmmaker Jeff Barrie will be attending a screening of his film Kilowatt Ours this Sunday evening. Doors open at 5pm, the film is at 6pm and all ages are welcome. The screening is sponsored by the Multnomah County's Sustainability Program, Portland General Electric and McMenamins.

Of course, the Bagdad serves beer, too (but it won't be free).

Learn more about the film on their website or watch the 5-minute trailer below. I haven't seen it yet, so I can't recommend it, but it seems worth the price of admission to check it out, so I'll be there. If you see it, check back in and let me know what you think!

The providers on this list are certified by Anderson & Anderson, and they have done the following: 1.) completed the 40 hour certification training, 2.) use the Conover Assessment and post-tests, and 3.) are using the Anderson & Anderson client workbooks and other Anderson & Anderson training material for their classes.

This court list is updated every six months to reflect the current status of anger management providers in L.A. County. Each court mandated anger management client receives a copy of this list, and he/she can choose which program to enroll in. The providers list, in its web-based form, is available on the Anderson & Anderson website: http://www.andersonservices.com/providersLACounty.html.

###

Anderson & Anderson, Trusted Name in Anger Management

All reputable programs for “disruptive physicians” must begin with a comprehensive assessment, workbooks and focused intervention to address issues of stress management, communication, anger management, emotional intelligence, and motivation to change. Following the intervention, post-tests and aftercare are generally provided. The three major providers of acceptable resources for “disruptive physicians” include the following: P.A.C.E Program of University of California at San Diego, Department of Psychiatry of Vanderbilt University and Anderson & Anderson, Trusted Name in Anger Management of Los Angeles, CA.

George Anderson, MSW, BCD, CAMF, CEAP
Diplomate, American Association of Anger Management Providers
Anderson & Anderson®, The Trusted Name in Anger Management
http://www.andersonservices.com/
http://www.aaamp.org
http://www.linkedin.com/in/geoanderson
www.anger-management-resources.org

A third day of this campaign was canceled after certain news outlets reported the location ahead of time this morning. Nice work, folks. I ride, and I drive, and as much as I support other cyclists, we have to play fair.

In Haines, Oregon. -- Jer

Can you believe it?  This is one of the Chevron gas stations I pass everyday on the way to and from work.  The $3.99 a gallon for regular was posted when I left on Wednesday.  I was in a hurry and couldn't stop, so I drove by praying that the rate wouldn't go up overnight as it so often does. Thankfully, God saw fit to answer that prayer and I shot this photo while filling the fuel tank this morning.  I was just so happy I had to share :)

Chloe wasn't sure how to proceed, or even if she should proceed. She didn't know what lay ahead. The future was an indeterminate fog and she couldn't see a thing except the small step in front of her. So she advanced forward into that space believing that by the time she got to wherever it was she was going, she would discover more space to step into. It was more about trust than about a plan.

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Yesterday, Amanda introduced me to Pandora. Am I the last person who knows about this? I couldn't tear myself away last night. I'm going to recommend it to Caroline :-).