Chalkboard Paint Labels

This is a repost of sorts. I originally had this on a different blog, but decided to copy it here. It's saturday night and I'm watching the Walking Dead by myself. I have nothing better to do.

For some time I've been collecting and cleaning up used wine bottles and glass jars. I recycled a bunch of them when we moved here so I'm starting over again. I use the wine bottles for smaller grains like quinoa, soft white wheat berries, bulgur, flax seeds, etc. and pasta sauce jars are perfect for dried beans.

I debated on printing out cute labels for the jars, but I don't like being committed to only using them for one item. What if I want to put something different in there next time? I had this idea to use the chalkboard paint to create labels on my food storage. I still have the quart of paint and supplies from my deck table adventure. I searched the internet for any tips on painting glass and found another woman who'd had the same idea for her kitchen.

I started with the masking tape to mark of the area, but the tape is a real pain to work with. And like she discovered you really need to take it off after the first coat. By doing 3 coats in varying directions you can get the same uneven edge effect without the hassle of tape. I also decided to paint a large swatch onto my laundry soap bucket because the permanent marker was, well, not so permanent as it turns out.

A positive week

Well, I had Monday off (6 free days off work in a row!). I spent the day tediously gathering information for pre-approval on a mortgage loan. We had a meeting with a loan guy on Wednesday and while he was getting us approved he was also giving out really helpful advise on paying down debt faster. The concept is pretty simple and after researching it and crunching numbers we realized I could pay off my school debt in 5 years instead of 11 and he could have his paid off in 12.5 years instead of 30! Currently we both pay our school debts separately, but out of curiosity we decided to see how it would differ if we started paying off our debts together using the same concept. Turns out we can pay off 120K in combined school debt in 8 years! I don't want to bore folks who aren't interested in the details of how it works so all that is at the bottom of this post. [...]

Two crazy weeks

Disclaimer: It's been a month of long hours outside, so I apologize for the rather dry dialog.... my brain is running on fumes. Also, I really wish I had taken more pictures in Anchorage, but I was having such a great time with all my friends, that it never crossed my mind!

While I was out working on the bridge (see previous post) I got a call about going to Alaska with Gabe! Really, that was all I needed to hear before I as nonchalantly as humanly possible said "Sure" while inside I was jumping up and down with excitement. This would be my first time back in state since 2010 when Matt and I went to Megan and Aaron's wedding. 

The job was up at Eielson AFB in the Interior about 30 min SE of Fairbanks. The project itself was simple enough- getting vertical and horizontal data on over 200 water quality monitoring wells. We worked with Chris from EA Engineering who was a huge help and the unofficial third person on the crew. I wish I could have taken more pictures, but the military frowns on that. We watched F16s all week. No matter how many times you see them screaming overhead it never gets old! [...]

The Sellwood Bridge

Sorry, for the blur spot. It was bright and I couldn't see
the panorama correctly in my camera.

Today was my first day on the project site. I won't go into too much detail, but you can learn more about the project here. There's even a link to two live feed cameras. Currently, we have to help Advanced American Construction set 150 pylons by Oct. 15. Basically, I stand on the shore (currently) and tell them based on our instrument readings where they need to go to set the pylon in the correct spot. It sounds like "Go offshore/inshore 3 tenths and upriver/downriver 8 tenths." We aim for a 2 tenth tolerance, but it's up to them to decide when it's close enough. This process takes patience since our instruments are very accurate and a crane on a barge is not so much. Then they use a hydraulic hammer to pound it into the bedrock while we periodically stop and check to make sure we're still in the correct spot and haven't slid out of place. 

Ben took this of me on the east platform.

[...]

Autumn Backpacking Guide

Did you know fall hiking is considered to be the time span from September 22 to December 21? I didn't but maybe that's because I'm from Alaska. The time stretch provides quite a range of temperatures and weather conditions even at a single elevation. Last night we went to another REI hosted presentation  on fall backpacking led by Bernie Wilt. We’ve been to two presentations before and this one was exactly what I was hoping it would be. The first one was on Fall Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge and another one on trail running put on by Salomon, which was really just a 1 hour commercial for their products. It did answer the two questions I had about trail running though. 1) do I need any special gear or considerations to do it? No. Trail specific shoes might help but they aren’t necessary. We did learn some things to consider in shoe shopping though like materials and tread design, but overall we don’t need to buy anything new and definitely not anything expensive (thanks, but no thanks on the $500 watch with GPS, maps, weather, and altimeter or the super duper hydration vest because believe it or not we don’t run super ultra-marathons). 2) Where around here are trails to run on? Technically, trail running is running anywhere but on the road/ pavement, but the only places they had to suggest were Forest Park (which we have yet to check out despite it vast size and trails available and proximity to Portland proper) and a few short ones around the Beaverton area, one of which we have already run on- the Nike campus trails. So, all in all that presentation was our least favorite.  [...]

Food education & shaved zucchini

For as much as we whine (or is it wine? both.) to each other about having to cook dinner when all we really want is to be lazy and throw a frozen pizza in the oven, we make good food. None of it is complicated and none of it resembles the canned veggies, iceberg lettuce, boiled corn, margarine, and baked chicken I was raised on (sorry, Mom!). 

First off, no veggies come from store bought cans except artichoke hearts, chickpeas, and stewed tomatoes. Our corn is always done on the grill with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper (quarter turns every 5 minutes, if you're wondering!). There is only real butter in the fridge and it gets used one or twice a year when I decide to bake something dessert-y. We rarely bake anything. It's steamed, grilled, sauteed, or seared. We haven't followed a recipe, except maybe the first time or two we made something new like chili, shepherd's pie, or curried noodles. Our general method is find a protein: fish, ground turkey, chicken, chicken sausage, shrimp, or on occasion, steak, grab whatever veggies are on hand, and a carb like pearl couscous, basmati rice, pasta, or quinoa and combine it via one or more of the previously stated cooking methods.

It's a challenge to eat this many vegetables in a week. Most of the time we don't succeed.

[...]

Hood River to Mosier

We really enjoy Hood River. We went this weekend because we're members of Naked Winery there and they have a pick up party every 3 months. This was our second one. Also, it is our 40th month as a couple (woohoo!)- what better way to celebrate than enjoying the outdoors!? I've been looking forward to today since last weekend's outdoor fun. Thus, it was the longest 4-day week ever. 

Waited all week for this view! (click for a larger version)

[...]

Labor Day on the Olympic Peninsula

For the holiday weekend we decided to head up to Matt's grandmother's in Sequim, WA. First off, who doesn't enjoy visiting their grandparents (especially fiesty, independant ones like Hana). Second, the weather was predicted to be GORGEOUS all across the PacNW and they have some great hiking. The bonus was that I discovered the Olympic Discovery Trail during the week while searching for activities. It's a paved pedestrian/ bike path that goes around the peninsula connecting all the towns. Naturally, this meant we were bringing the bikes! 

Olympic Peninsula National Park

[...]

Keep calm and carry on.

Matt hit the ground running and started work the next morning after we arrived and I spent the next few days getting utilities set up, checking on the cats, and running errands. This is the first time EVER that every utility is in my name (he's authorized on the accounts of course). Despite having to say "no, i don't have a job" to every person trying to set up accounts, my credit score is awesome enough to avoid deposits. Yeah! Moving in day was Sunday morning. Ed, Fender, and Mackenzie came to lend a hand and they did an awesome job. Thanks guys! 

[...]

You pack; We haul.

In March 2010 we drove and ferried more than 6,000 miles (it was at least 6,017 miles but that doesn’t include all the running around at each stop). It was probably close to 6,500 when all was said and done. I would like to note that we did take THE LONG WAY!

 

View Larger Map

[...]

Oregon Move Day 6: The Last Leg

http://shotinthedarkcoffee.com/

We woke up in Twin Falls and did the same thing we did every morning. Once loaded into the car it was off to find coffee and breakfast. Everything (ie not fast food) was more in the downtown area- the opposite direction of the interstate. Maybe a mile down the road I saw a coffee sign and flipped a U-ey. A Shot in the Dark Coffee House. A cute place that reminded me a lot of the coffee shops back in Alaska. You know the kind that feel like you’re in someone’s living room. Lisa, the owner, was working the counter. She’s cheerful and easy to talk to. We ordered our coffees and breakfast. She has a menu of to go meals. She explains the breakfast sandwiches are 2 eggs, your choice of meat, veggies, and a variety of sauces. Doesn’t matter what you want it’s all the same price. It takes her about 15 minutes to make them both and they are huge! More importantly they are amazingly delicious! The coffee is local and also delicious. If you are ever in the Twin Falls area please stop by and enjoy what the shop has to offer we highly recommend them. [...]

Move to Oregon Day 5

Caution: Rattlesnakes May Be Present

Let’s see, we woke up from the first decent night of sleep in a while- Little Baby Tom Tom was actually quiet for most of the night for once. Of course, we still had to move the bed to get at him when it was kennel time. Double-dosed The Luce Goose, but apparently she has been building a tolerance. A few days ago, it would have knocked her out completely for a few hours at least. Coffee and the biggest donuts from a drive-up coffee shop-- shop local—then back on the I-80 where we’ve been since, well, since we left Chicago.

The rest of Wyoming was just as pretty, but very remote. The occasional ranch, plant (we passed a big power plant that was working so hard the building was nearly invisible from its own white smoke which trailed off and looked a lot like a white version of the smoke monster in Lost), or rest stop/ weigh station there was not much to speak of. There were a few stretches that warned of high winds and quite a few wind turbines and long stretches of power lines. We did stop at one rest stop and were quite amused to see this sign:

We had Taco Time (anytime is a good time for tacos) in Rock Springs and we made one last stop in Evenston, Wyo for fuel before crossing into Utah. Matt’s Dad- generous man that he is- gave us a credit card for Shell and he’s picking up the tab. He also gave us a gift card that is paying for the hotels and some food. Thanks, Jerry! There was no Shell here and come to find out no Shell gas between Rawlins, Wyo (208 miles behind us) until 12 miles from Twin Falls, ID (223 miles down the road) along the I-80 and 84. What’s up Shell?! This is no bueno. [...]

Wyoming sunset

Day 4 Oregon Move, Cornhuskers and Cowboys, January 8, 2012

Woke up in west Des Moines. So, this is what Iowa looks like in the light. Flat. We went back to Panera again, this time for breakfast. Sadly, we learned that there were some good brew pubs in Des Moines a little too late. Wish we had that info the night before. Anyway, drugged the cats and went to get some breakfast and coffee. Bagel sandwiches and hazelnut coffee at Panera and some high cats and we were off, heading West on I-80. 

Blew through the rest of Iowa and into Nebraska. This was the first time either of us had been in the Cornhusker State. Hit Omaha (somewhere in Middle America) right across the border. Saw Rosenblatt Stadium on the East end of town. Someday we will come back and see the College World Series when Georgia Tech can avoid choking in regional or super-regional round of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Omaha was a much bigger city that I anticipated. Then again, so was Des Moines. I kept picturing college town-size cities for these plains states. I was wrong. A little further to Lincoln, which actually is a college town. The city was well off the freeway, so we only saw it in the distance. For anyone who has never driven through Nebraska, it is big. More than 400 miles from Iowa to Wyoming.  At some point in mid-day, we crossed through Brady, NE. This is relevant, because it is the halfway point of our trip. 1400 miles from Oakton, VA. 1400 miles to Hillsboro, OR. [...]

Move to Oregon Days 1-3

OK, may go back and update these with some more detail later. But, I am tired and watching the playoff game in a Motel 6 is Des Moines, Iowa while Sam is already down for the count (as is Lucy). Just pumped out a quick update of the first few days to get something up. The book on tape for the first part of the drive has been "Lisey's Story" by Stephen King.

ME

Day 1:  False Start, Thursday, January 5, 2012

Well, our original intention was to leave sometime this afternoon…

The moving truck came on Monday. It was a success loading that thing. Our driver, Keith, was a big help. We had a lot more stuff that the space would allow if we had packed the thing. Our expert truck driver made sure we got everything in place, though. We are the first load being picked up and the last one to be dropped off. Stuff should arrive the weekend of January 14^th.

We had been staying at Dad’s place in Mansassas the past few days after cleaning out the Oakton apartment. I have to admit that I will miss our old apartment. It was Sam and my first place as a married couple and the first place we picked out together. I won’t miss the commute or the ridiculous rent in the area, but there is some nostalgia in that unit.

Took the car in to Dad’s trusted mechanic, Kevin, so we could have the lights looked at and to check on a noise the wheels had been making. Turned out that the past few mechanics to look at the Subaru didn’t really care to take care of it. The back light console had been broken off and part of the under carriage was hanging on with a zip tie. The noise in the wheels turned out to be some bad ball bearings. Kevin was great enough to get some new ones ordered and put in the same day. Anyone in Northern VA, we can’t recommend Complete Auto Care in Manassas enough.

Even after the car issues, we are still feeling good. We locked down a new place to live in Hillsboro! Got a nice price on a 2 bedroom townhouse with an attached garage. It is just a couple miles from work and walking distance to the light rail. We are excited. No rush now that we aren’t trying to find a place before our stuff gets there.

We are taking it easy and leaving tomorrow. Pack the car tonight for a good early start in the morning. [...]