Portland, the City of (White) Roses

One thing we miss about the Bay Area is its cultural diversity. When we arrive at San Jose airport, we are always pleasantly surprised, I think, at the number of minorities we see. And no one looks at us twice because we look Asian!

Our flight back from San Jose to Portland was surprisingly mixed. Come to find out later, the flight was continuing on to Phoenix (what a horrible route!). And when we arrived in Portland, all the white people de-planed and all the 'colored folks' continued on!

My recent obsession with Vera Bradley

It all started with a need to find good gifts for my relatives in Taiwan (see 3/4/08 blog). I bought all my female relatives the Medium Bow Cosmetic bags (in various colors) and they loved it. Next I bought my mother-in-law an "On-the-Go" purse with adjustable straps in Yellow Bird for her Mother's Day/birthday present. The next week Tom's cousin, Alaina, was graduating from high school so we sent her the "Amy" purse in Daisy Daisy. Then I bought my Matron of Honor a Baby Bag in Raspberry Fizz as her wedding attendant gift (practical too!). For my good friend Divya, the co-host of our Jack-and-Jill shower who graciously opened her home, I also bought her a Baby Bag in Pink Elephant. And as a "just because" present for a good friend from law school, I bought her the a wristlet in the latest color - Seaside.

Finally for myself, I initially ordered the Miller Bag in Mesa Red, but it was too big so I returned it and bought myself the Villager in Mesa Red. And because it's a retiring color, all Mesa Red items were 25% off. It didn't take too much convincing from my Mom for me to get the 21" Rolling Luggage (pictured)! Ho! Of course, then I fell in love with the Note Cube and matching pen in Pinwheel Pink (a portion of which is donated to Breast Cancer Research), which I had to have! But oh I am far from done - I've got my eyes set on the beach towel and hat - both in Seaside. So am I obsessed with this stuff or what? Oh maybe just a little...

I feel recessed.

Strangely enough, it is not the slump in the housing market, or the $4 dollar per gallon of gas, or the layoffs, or the general solemn and morose atmosphere that seems to emanate from people these days that makes me feel like we are in a recession, even though no one official will come out and say it. It's actually the little things - the things that affect me on a daily basis - that remind me the economy is slow.

For example, we use to have Little Moos, or half-and-half creamers, at work and now we don't. Apparently this one restaurant we went to use to provide free bread, and now customers have to ask for it. And my favorite rubber stamp company increased their price for shipping. The reason for these changes weren't explicit, but the message is loud and clear: We're in a recession, stupid!

An Addiction to Chips

One thing my friend Michelle and I have in common is a deep love of chips. Since I've known her, Michelle has lived abroad twice - once in China and now in London - both times for about a year. We like to spoil each other by sending care packages. The things I've received from Michelle include various Starbucks paraphenalia to furnish my obsessive hobby, PJs, chocolates, chapsticks, and other fun little knick-knacks.

All of the care packages I have sent to her are varied but are mainly food-based. She likes Trader Joe's, See's Scotmallow, and chips. Michelle's favorite types of chips are the Maui Sweet Onion chips and Flamin' hot Cheetos, and these two are constant staples in my care packages to her. In the most recent care package I sent her, I added Salt & Vinegar chips and Salt & Pepper kettle chips. The international cost of shipping, at $34, makes these the most expensive chips in the world.

Baseball

Tom's been wanting to see a baseball game since the weather got nice. Don't get me wrong - Tom is not a baseball fan, but rather he wanted to take pics with his new camera. I merrily go along with this plan for a different reason altogether: the food. People think I'm crazy because I go to ballgames to eat hotdogs, garlic fries, lemonade, cotton candy, and beer, but there's really no better time (or place) to enjoy all that junk.  

Last night we went for the first time to Portland's PGE Park and watched AAA teams, the Beaver versus Las Vegas 51s. For me, baseball games are more about the food and the people watching rather than the game itself. I often find that Tom will talk to me about something that just happened, or I will hear the crowd cheer loudly, and I have no idea what just happened because I was in the midst of watching someone. People are immensely fascinating to me, much more than a little ball that flies from here to there. I am just worried that one of these days, the ball will come flying at me in the face and I won't even know it. 

Love

Love is never getting tired of spending every minute with your spouse and when you are parted for only a mere 3 hours, you miss that person.

Happiness

Happiness is taking turns reading a fantasy book, by your favorite author, out loud with your spouse before bed.

Life is Good

Life is good when you can wake up, have 2 cups of coffee with rice milk, and study Constitutional Law in your bathrobe until noon.

Chicken Florentine

If this blog is turning into a list of recipes, so be it! Second to the crockpot, casseroles are my next best friend because they are simple, easy, and will usually take care of at least 2 of your food groups. Here is another easy and foolproof recipe that is simply delicious!

Ingredients:

1 can of chicken

1 box of chopped spinach, thawed

2 cans of cream of mushroom

shredded cheese, any kind

Optional:

saltine crackers

sauteed mushrooms

Steps:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly Pan a casserole dish - size does not matter.

2.  Mince chicken using a fork.

3.  Drain spinach by balling it up and squeezing all the water out.

4.  Mix spinach, chicken, cheese, cream of mushroom soup, crackers, and mushrooms.

5.  Bake casserole covered in foil for 20 minutes.

6.  Uncover, add more cheese (be generous), and bake for another 10 minutes.

7.  Serve over rice.  Pictured is the result.

Breakfast Burritos

Imho I make the best breakfast burritos that always hit the spot.

Ingredients for each burrito:

6 tater tots 

2 eggs

2 slices of bacon

2 spoonfuls of pinto beans

1 tortilla

cheese - any kind

optional: salsa

Steps:

1.  Pop the taters in the toaster oven.

2.  Fry slices of bacon.

3.  Heat up pinto beans.

4.  Scramble eggs, add salsa & cheese if desired.

5.  Heat up tortilla.

6.  Assemble.

7.  Add hot sauce if desired.

8.  Enjoy!