Now I only got to see your fine city for a week and I spent most of it holed up in a house in NW doing work, so I'm sure I didn't see Portland's finest... but I did get a good sense of the city and here are a few things that I think y'all should know if you don't already:
1. You're GORGEOUS. I mean stunning. I probably nearly crashed about 12 times because the views over the river at sunset from the bridges are incredible. Seriously. There should be photo opportunities along the bridges. I would have loved to have time to just stroll across the footbridges all day err' day.
2. Upholstery is not just a modern thing you should eschew. I know antique wooden chairs are cool and all but so is not having your ass hurt constantly. Just a thought. But it might save you from fleas, you might say. I can personally say that sleeping on a wooden bench does not guarantee that you will not be attacked by Portland fleas.
3. Kudos on the fact that y'all have an AWESOME chic/hipster restaurant on every single corner (and most spaces in between) serving locally sourced superfoods and asian fusions. We had a bunch of recommendations for places to eat and I don't think we followed any of them because we would just walk in a random direction and pick a place. Even the "burger joint" we decided on had locally sourced organic free range steak burgers. Spot on, Portlandia.
4. Too many single earrings and mullets. This is not a David Bowie revival tour... it's a city. Act accordingly.
5. Stop being such a tease. All of the mountains look so close and beautiful and ready to be scaled! But a full day trip? Please consult with Denver about appropriate mountain distance to your metropolitan area. I think that that would seriously bump Portland's stock. Plus... think of all the mountain products you could more readily stock in your hip restaurants. Not to mention all of the business for the approximately fifty bajillion hiking stores I saw about town.
Please take these comments to heart. Or don't. Just keep doing what you're doing.
-Arima Rose
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
It’s the day before the day before my birthday and can I make you take the trash out for me if I want you to….
… that’s how the song goes, right?
It might be said that I abuse my birthday powers just a teeny tiny bit but I absolutely love birthdays and I’m going to be holding my 19th birthday party against the world for a long, long time (…with the exception of Kelsey Merlo. She has done everything she ever needs to for my birthdays for the rest of her life after that one). For those of you who don’t know… my 19th birthday party consisted of a theoretical 150 people for which a lot of “refreshments” and grilling materials were purchased but boiled down to Kelsey Merlo and about three others on a muggy stormy day on my porch and 148 “sorry but we can’t make it at the last minute” messages in my inbox.
This birthday, however, was fantastic and not even because I was forcing people to celebrate with me left and right.
The week began with me desperately trying to get all of my work done so that I could skip a couple days of work to celebrate. This was complicated when a report was due at work and the logistics for our Portland IT meeting – which I was in charge of – fell through with regularity throughout the week (hello from PDX baggage claim, by the way). By Tuesday I was thoroughly ready to give up…
…but then this all happened:
It might be said that I abuse my birthday powers just a teeny tiny bit but I absolutely love birthdays and I’m going to be holding my 19th birthday party against the world for a long, long time (…with the exception of Kelsey Merlo. She has done everything she ever needs to for my birthdays for the rest of her life after that one). For those of you who don’t know… my 19th birthday party consisted of a theoretical 150 people for which a lot of “refreshments” and grilling materials were purchased but boiled down to Kelsey Merlo and about three others on a muggy stormy day on my porch and 148 “sorry but we can’t make it at the last minute” messages in my inbox.
This birthday, however, was fantastic and not even because I was forcing people to celebrate with me left and right.
The week began with me desperately trying to get all of my work done so that I could skip a couple days of work to celebrate. This was complicated when a report was due at work and the logistics for our Portland IT meeting – which I was in charge of – fell through with regularity throughout the week (hello from PDX baggage claim, by the way). By Tuesday I was thoroughly ready to give up…
…but then this all happened:
1. My boyfriend
cooked me dinner for kicks on Tuesday night… and despite his previous burnt
attempts at rice it was really good.
Plus there was birthday cake ice cream as insurance.
2. I was dragged out on Wednesday night because it was the night before the night before my birthday and I deserved a free beer, damnit.
3. Thursday was the girliest thing that has ever happened to my life but I got my nails done and Marissa Provost took my request to look like Charlize Theron (or at least her hair) for my birthday very seriously and threw in doing my makeup because she’s the best. Between that and my bomb birthday dress that I bought a month ago and have been dying to wear, I looked great. Sorry ‘bout it but let’s not even pretend that anyone believes I’m modest.
4. Delicious birthday dinner with my family followed by Freeport Bakery cake with only a moderately rude message on top! :P Read: I never wanted to move again.
5. But fortunately I got off my butt because I went out for drinks with friends and at midnight I got a birthday lapdance in a bar from a complete stranger. It was definitely good that his friends bought me a really nice drink to make up for the trauma. I think the highlight was when I didn’t know what to do to make him stop so I gave him a high five and then shook his hand.
6. Eggs Benedict.
7. THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR. Red Velvet Funnel Cake. The Zipper. Swings. Hypnotist Show. Bunnies. A Cow Born On My Birthday. Brick O’ Curly Fries. Fireworks. The Zipper. SLOTH. [but seriously we saw this sloth move across his enclosure, suspend by his legs, and NOM on a nectarine. It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my life. On a scale from one to Kristen Bell I was actually about an 8.5. I had to leave.]
8. I became a pet owner. I got a goldfish from Alex and Devin for my birthday. His name is Morton M. I am in love with him. I got him a home with a pirate ship. We’re going to be best friends forever.
9. Saturday night we continued the party with karaoke at Hamburger Mary’s (I still refuse to call it Hamburger Patties). Devin and Alex sang The Boxer while I stood awkwardly in the middle laughing my ass of at the fact that there were literally three or four screens in a row of JUST “Lie la lie lie lie” over and over again.
10. In breaks in the festivities I cam home to loads of messages from family and friends that made me smile each and every time. If I had the time and energy I would message each and every one of you just to tell you how much I appreciate it and how much you mean to me but as I am now in Portland on the last legs of my battery I will have to leave it at a general thank you for now.
All my love from Portland!
2. I was dragged out on Wednesday night because it was the night before the night before my birthday and I deserved a free beer, damnit.
3. Thursday was the girliest thing that has ever happened to my life but I got my nails done and Marissa Provost took my request to look like Charlize Theron (or at least her hair) for my birthday very seriously and threw in doing my makeup because she’s the best. Between that and my bomb birthday dress that I bought a month ago and have been dying to wear, I looked great. Sorry ‘bout it but let’s not even pretend that anyone believes I’m modest.
4. Delicious birthday dinner with my family followed by Freeport Bakery cake with only a moderately rude message on top! :P Read: I never wanted to move again.
5. But fortunately I got off my butt because I went out for drinks with friends and at midnight I got a birthday lapdance in a bar from a complete stranger. It was definitely good that his friends bought me a really nice drink to make up for the trauma. I think the highlight was when I didn’t know what to do to make him stop so I gave him a high five and then shook his hand.
6. Eggs Benedict.
7. THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR. Red Velvet Funnel Cake. The Zipper. Swings. Hypnotist Show. Bunnies. A Cow Born On My Birthday. Brick O’ Curly Fries. Fireworks. The Zipper. SLOTH. [but seriously we saw this sloth move across his enclosure, suspend by his legs, and NOM on a nectarine. It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my life. On a scale from one to Kristen Bell I was actually about an 8.5. I had to leave.]
8. I became a pet owner. I got a goldfish from Alex and Devin for my birthday. His name is Morton M. I am in love with him. I got him a home with a pirate ship. We’re going to be best friends forever.
9. Saturday night we continued the party with karaoke at Hamburger Mary’s (I still refuse to call it Hamburger Patties). Devin and Alex sang The Boxer while I stood awkwardly in the middle laughing my ass of at the fact that there were literally three or four screens in a row of JUST “Lie la lie lie lie” over and over again.
10. In breaks in the festivities I cam home to loads of messages from family and friends that made me smile each and every time. If I had the time and energy I would message each and every one of you just to tell you how much I appreciate it and how much you mean to me but as I am now in Portland on the last legs of my battery I will have to leave it at a general thank you for now.
All my love from Portland!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Reflections on the fact that my apartment needs a guest book...
Since I have my own place now, I've been hosting a lot of couch surfers. When I first changed my status to hosting, requests flooded in. They have now receded to a much more manageable rate but it still seems as if I always have someone sleeping on my floor. And I love it. A few months back I hosted two guys from Germany who were down on their luck hitching from LA to Portland. It reminded me of all the times Keki and I picked up last minute hosts who completely saved us. Showing surfers around Sacramento gives me a new appreciation for my home and, let's be real, no one ever complained about a stroll around the capital. I've hosted people trying to move to Sacramento who needed a home base for interviews. I've hosted tourists and people on business trips and folks just passing through from the mountains to San Fransisco.
It's made me reflect on my own couchsurfing experiences and realize I'm not nearly as nice of a surfer as I could be. I mean. I always tried to cook a little or take my host out for a drink. But everyone who has stayed with me has really gone above and beyond. I come back to a clean apartment or a treat in the fridge regularly. Surfers have taken me out to nice meals and gone to events with me. They all say they feel it's right because they so appreciate me opening up my home but really I think I get the better deal of all this. Fun stories, good company, and excuse to get out of the house or have a home cooked meal. Even though it means that most of my friends are transient, I love having them about.
Being a couchsurf host isn't an obligation (as I used to think it would be)... it's an absolute joy. Almost more fun than surfing!
I haven't really been able to connect with the CS community in Sacramento yet because the new site format really throws me and I just can't seem to connect with anyone but it's probably only a matter of time... I have to bring some of those Salamanca CS parties to life in California, claro.
And hopefully soon I will also be hosting friends from all over. Devin comes into town in a few days and there's a possibility of visits from friends in August and more in the Fall. It's about time y'all started coming to visit from the East (yeah, I'm talking to you, c.williams!).... I'll have my "couch" waiting.
It's made me reflect on my own couchsurfing experiences and realize I'm not nearly as nice of a surfer as I could be. I mean. I always tried to cook a little or take my host out for a drink. But everyone who has stayed with me has really gone above and beyond. I come back to a clean apartment or a treat in the fridge regularly. Surfers have taken me out to nice meals and gone to events with me. They all say they feel it's right because they so appreciate me opening up my home but really I think I get the better deal of all this. Fun stories, good company, and excuse to get out of the house or have a home cooked meal. Even though it means that most of my friends are transient, I love having them about.
Being a couchsurf host isn't an obligation (as I used to think it would be)... it's an absolute joy. Almost more fun than surfing!
I haven't really been able to connect with the CS community in Sacramento yet because the new site format really throws me and I just can't seem to connect with anyone but it's probably only a matter of time... I have to bring some of those Salamanca CS parties to life in California, claro.
And hopefully soon I will also be hosting friends from all over. Devin comes into town in a few days and there's a possibility of visits from friends in August and more in the Fall. It's about time y'all started coming to visit from the East (yeah, I'm talking to you, c.williams!).... I'll have my "couch" waiting.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Arima Nesting...
...Is about #3 on the list of titles that would be more accurate for this blog right about now. I am still in Sacramento if you had not heard. In fact, I am about to sign another six month lease. That's right, folks. I will be living in the same apartment for a year and the same town for well over that. Consider your minds blown.
So here's what my life has turned into.
I live in a little studio in the heart of midtown Sacramento. I no longer work three jobs... just two! Personal record. I work full time for an organization called COSA (I think the last post was just pre-COSA). COSA is the Committee on Sustainability Assessment. We essentially do sustainability assessments of international agricultural certifications (read: I stare at excel spreadsheets all day). I work from home about 80% of the time and from my boss' home the other 20%. I'm including Old Soul coffee shop as home for the purposes of this stat. I never expected to love what I'm doing as much but it's really grown on me. I'm in the process of balancing scaling up my hours with actually having a life in Sacramento (something I didn't even dream of in high school :P ).
But really. I have friends. And, oddly enough, plans for every weekend for the rest of the Summer. The biggest surprise (no offense mom & dad) but I LOVE living near my family for the first time in a long while. I can go over there for free food or to watch the game and I can just go hang out with my parents which is really really nice.
It still blows my mind when I run into people I knew when I was little but living this close to South Land Park means eventually someone's going to recognize me. It's kind of insane to be back in my home town. Everything's completely new to me but at any point in exploring a new place or activity there will be something that reminds me that this is where I grew up. I can take walks to the capitol or go to free concerts in Cesar Chavez park or chill at the river. I forgot how much I love Summers in Sacramento.
Fourth of July (arguably my favorite holiday) and my birthday are coming up and I am taking this time of year to do all the things I love and miss and never thought I would get to do again. Floating down the American, BBQing at my parents, Davis for fireworks, getting a manicure from Sandy with madre for my birthday, going to Moxi for birthday dinner, getting a neener neener birthday cake from Freeport Bakery, and most importantly GOING TO THE CA STATE FAIR WHICH OPENS ON MY BIRTHDAY.
I know I keep saying I will update here and I am past making promises but I will try my absolute best to not completely neglect it anymore. Thanks for keeping up with my life even when I start to nest and I will keep y'all apprised of my slightly more mundane goings on in the future.
All my love from Sacramento, CA.
So here's what my life has turned into.
I live in a little studio in the heart of midtown Sacramento. I no longer work three jobs... just two! Personal record. I work full time for an organization called COSA (I think the last post was just pre-COSA). COSA is the Committee on Sustainability Assessment. We essentially do sustainability assessments of international agricultural certifications (read: I stare at excel spreadsheets all day). I work from home about 80% of the time and from my boss' home the other 20%. I'm including Old Soul coffee shop as home for the purposes of this stat. I never expected to love what I'm doing as much but it's really grown on me. I'm in the process of balancing scaling up my hours with actually having a life in Sacramento (something I didn't even dream of in high school :P ).
But really. I have friends. And, oddly enough, plans for every weekend for the rest of the Summer. The biggest surprise (no offense mom & dad) but I LOVE living near my family for the first time in a long while. I can go over there for free food or to watch the game and I can just go hang out with my parents which is really really nice.
It still blows my mind when I run into people I knew when I was little but living this close to South Land Park means eventually someone's going to recognize me. It's kind of insane to be back in my home town. Everything's completely new to me but at any point in exploring a new place or activity there will be something that reminds me that this is where I grew up. I can take walks to the capitol or go to free concerts in Cesar Chavez park or chill at the river. I forgot how much I love Summers in Sacramento.
Fourth of July (arguably my favorite holiday) and my birthday are coming up and I am taking this time of year to do all the things I love and miss and never thought I would get to do again. Floating down the American, BBQing at my parents, Davis for fireworks, getting a manicure from Sandy with madre for my birthday, going to Moxi for birthday dinner, getting a neener neener birthday cake from Freeport Bakery, and most importantly GOING TO THE CA STATE FAIR WHICH OPENS ON MY BIRTHDAY.
I know I keep saying I will update here and I am past making promises but I will try my absolute best to not completely neglect it anymore. Thanks for keeping up with my life even when I start to nest and I will keep y'all apprised of my slightly more mundane goings on in the future.
All my love from Sacramento, CA.
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