Movin' In, Feelin' Good

Today I was encouraged to stay home from work to unpack our home. HOLY MOLEY! Why, on God's green earth, do we have THIS MUCH STUFF? Better yet, why on earth did we PAY to ship it this far? Seriously? Yikes.

Enough whining. We have lovely things and are blessed by our bounty (did you throw up a little in your mouth?). Actually, the truth is, we have been working pretty solidly since yesterday afternoon when the movers left (well, since I got home at 6'ish from my first day at work). 24 hours later and this place is starting to shape up! I plan to post before and after pics in the next few days, so stay tuned! If you're dying for a sneak peak, you can check out my facebook page where I posted a pic of our first home-prepared (I can't really say 'cooked' because it was only spaghetti) meal and a pic of the living room as it takes shape. What? Don't tell me that you're surprised that we are 79.4% unpacked and set up...I mean, if you're reading this you KNOW Trina and I, right? We get stuff done. Just ask Jen and Meg about their yard-scape-extravaganza several years ago. Give me a shovel, box cutter, agenda, task list, or general physical labor and I'll work until it's done. Several times during our massive unpacking hoopla I thought of Ironman.....

Amidst the unpacking, sorting, organizing, setting up mayhem, T had to work for several hours today (she is so good!). So, I took the opportunity to make a few donations to the local goodwill (why we paid to ship it so that it could be donated is beyond me) and pick up lunch at the local 'city feed'. I also took a spin around the 'pond', both within walking distance to our apartment.

Jamaica Pond is, in my uneducated opinion, the crown jewel of my neighborhood. http://www.jamaicapond.com/. It is a pond encircled by a paved 1.5 mile path perfect for dog walking, running and enjoying the wooded and sunny glory of the waterfront. The pond is large enough for kayaking (come one come all!!), sailing small crafts, and row boats. The boat house on site rents by the hour and you better believe it will be merely a matter of days before
I'll be out there soaking up the sun as it glitters off the water. The path around the pond gets ample sun, but plenty of shade so that both sun-philes and shade-philes can enjoy the peace and beauty of this little gem amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life.

City Feed is an organic, local (or as local as possible) grocery and deli located in our neighborhood (http://www.cityfeedandsupply.com/) They serve terrific breakfast, coffee (and I imagine other morning beverages as well), and FABULOUS sandwiches. Today I had one of the best mozzarella, tomato, basil sandwiches EVER! I think the thing that I love most about this establishment is that it reminds be of a sweet little place (the Kiva) in Eugene. I ate at the Kiva for lunch every day for 5 years prior to pursuing my PhD in Corvallis. There is something incredibly comforting about the familiarity of the City Feed in this time when everything feels turned upside down...in the most positive way, of course.

Another HUGE benefit to the City Feed is that they are located on my way to the train...and it was wonderful to stop there for a hot, steamy cup of coffee on my way to my first day at work yesterday! More on work later...but for now know that things look appropriately challenging and absolutely FABULOUS and wonderful in every possible way.