On the move again

It's been a while since I've posted and I know I still need to finish out my Belize posts. 

Work and Moving news:

New work toys: GeoXT and a Rangefinder

I was laid off at the end of January and spent February and March collecting unemployment and looking for jobs in any way related to my field or bartending. I discovered two things- my career field is not really hiring and you can not get a job anywhere in this area without knowing someone... not even a bartending job! Mackay Sposito called me in March wanting to add me to a new project and I started April 1. I am now listed as an Engineering Tech in the Engineering Dept. The work is not quite surveying and not quite engineering or design. I am helping assess transmission line access roads for improvements, reconstruction, drainage, etc. At some point I will be assessing and mapping access road stream crossings. Washington state doesn't want anyone impeding fish migration. [...]

Matt has accepted a position with Morris, Smith, Starns, Raschio, and Sullivan in The Dalles and we are moving to Hood River. We were very lucky to find a 1950's house in the heights area of Hood River. The rental market in the area is terrible because it is 98% vacation rentals. This area is much like Palm Springs in that regard- it is a huge seasonal tourist draw (just the opposite season). 

Recreational News:

Once I wasn't calling the office every week to find out about work, I really began to enjoy all the free time. I went cross country skiing a few times in the Mt. Hood area. Matt and I both went out to Trillium Lake a couple of times. In January, Matt and I were able to enjoy unusually nice weather and played tennis several times and finally joined a gym on Super Bowl Sunday. I am currently in week 8 of a 12 week weightlifting program I found online. There's a smoothie bar at the gym and I discovered the awesomeness of wheat grass shots and matcha green tea. I finished the wine rack I started last April, organized the garage, brewing supplies, and started to clean out junk and trash from our belongings. I also accomplished quite a bit of recreational reading with Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

We were supposed to go kayaking and camping in the Channel Island in California for our 2 year anniversary at the end of the month, but we won't be able to do that. So, we decided to buy some kayaks instead. They are recreational kayaks from Costco and we got the roof rack setup for the suby at REI. Between gift cards, discounts, and member rewards we saved about $350 off the entire setup.

Love. It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

Wheat grass shot with OJ chaser

Trillium Lake covered in snow and Mt. Hood hiding in the background