One year later

Well, it's official. This week marks the one-year anniversary of our moving back to Seattle. It is a tough milestone for me since it means that I have been tirelessly applying to and interviewing for jobs for one whole year. I never imagined I would be jobless still a year after the move. I am convinced that there are few tasks in life that are as painstaking as “the hunt”. I have grown to hate it. I used to kind of like it because when the economy was better you could just quit your job if you didn’t like it and try on something else for size. Obviously, times they are a changin’. I have now had quite a few interviews and despite promising feedback I don’t end up with an offer. Each time that happens, try not to as I might, I can’t help but wonder what’s wrong with me, what I could have done differently and better, etc. It’s all very disheartening and I feel like my self-esteem gets knocked down a notch each time I get the bad news. Worst of all, however, is the proverbial question that everybody asks me when they see me: “How’s the job hunt going?” I used to hem and haw and explain myself out of embarrassment but now I just answer abruptly and change the subject. Rude? Perhaps. I know people care but there’s only so much pity and “helpful advice” one person can take. I feel like wearing a sign on my forehead that says, “Please, please just don’t ask.” I get a knot in my stomach just thinking about it all…. But, despite the aforementioned misery, I am somehow still optimistic that something will work out. People say there’s a reason for everything and although I can’t see that reason just now I think it will all become clearer later on down the road.

This not working thing does have its advantages, however. I get to cook and I always find cooking (or is it the eating part I really like?) to be a therapeutic and rewarding chore. I recently tackled a Creole favorite—jambalaya. It doesn’t make for an appetizing photo but this was the end result:

We still really want a dog but we have decided that we (meaning I) just can’t really compromise on the breed and we simply don’t have the right space at the moment. Someday, however, we’ll get a golden retriever and I know it’ll be really fun. For now, we’re the weirdoes who go to the dog park every weekend to spy on others’ dogs, haha. Besides, it’s a great excuse to get out of the city, go for a walk and get some fresh air. I did, though, recently babysit the little Havanese (disregard his unfortunate haircut) dog I wrote about a while back. We had a great time. Here he is pre-walk and post-walk:

My Paralegal course is going very well still. I am in my sixth and final class, Complex Litigation, and will get my certificate in December! I can’t wait. It has been personally rewarding for me to have something to focus my energy on other than the job hunt and I have really enjoyed it.

Not much else is going on these days. I can’t believe it’s already fall. I love fall—definitely my favorite season. I’ve been walking to the market to get beautiful fall flowers like these:

More to come…

Meeting Colin

Meet Colin. Born July 12, 2010.

Jake had some well-deserved time off of work so we drove home to Idaho to meet our new nephew. He is the cutest thing ever! (I might be biased).

We had a great time. I seriously love Idaho summers. I think it even smells good in Idaho in the summer--that sagebrushy kind of dry, hot, fresh cut grass smell. Jake was able to go golfing with the dads twice. I got a little girl time in with my mom during a mani/pedi. We got to see both of our families, celebrate a birthday and hang out with the baby and with my grandma who now lives in Twin Falls. Perfect.

I'm back in Seattle now catching up on homework (or, perhaps, blogging instead) and cooking up new recipes with whatever comes in the produce box. Last night's dinner was corn chowder with roasted peppers and fresh herbs with a side of spinach and roasted beets and fennel salad with walnut basil dressing. I think it is so fun to try new things. It was my first time roasting my own peppers and beets. But, that is a lot of veggies! We were kind of feeling like we ate the whole farm!

Cold feet and a shout out to organic produce

Why I have this:

But not this:

So, I was all set to get the dog. I had read everything I could get my hands on. I had researched countless breeders and thought I had found the one. When I got a picture of “Patches”, a 14-week old male Havanese, I really thought I would be bringing him home. He was so cute! Jake and I went to Pet Smart, bought toys and a food bowl, puppy proofed the apartment and set out at 5:30 on Sunday morning to drive down to Portland to go get him. I was so excited I couldn’t even sleep on Saturday night. That’s why I can’t explain what happened when I got there… Patches was everything I had imagined but for some reason I got cold feet and didn’t buy him. I can’t explain it. It was such a letdown to make the drive home empty-handed. Not at all how I had pictured the day going. What is my problem!? All I could think about when I was holding the puppy was what happens when and if I finally do get a job and he has to be alone all day? Or what if we want to go on vacation and he has nowhere to stay? What do I do if he eats something he shouldn’t? Etc. Etc. Etc. I wish I didn’t think about “what ifs” so much sometimes. I want a dog so badly and I practically ran out of the breeder's house. I think I really left her scratching her head. After all, who drives all the way from Seattle and back to pick up a dog and then changes her mind?? Apparently I do. Maybe I just need some more time to sort out all of my “what ifs”.

Changing gears… has anybody else read the book, In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan? I know it has been in the news a lot lately but I read it for myself about 6 months ago and loved it. It inspired me to join a CSA—a community sponsored agriculture—club thingy where I get an amazing box of fresh, organic produce delivered to my door every other week. It has been so much fun getting all sorts of produce and trying to work ‘em all into various recipes. We are eating healthier than ever mostly because I would never think to buy most of the stuff that comes in the box. I recommend it if you live in a place with a similar service. Check out today’s delivery items:

My own urban herb garden. It's so easy and way cheaper than buying the prepackaged herbs at the store:

Puppy Love

We’re thinking about getting a dog like the one in the picture (only I’m pretty sure ours won’t come with an adorable winter coat). I think we’re finally ready to take on a little more responsibility and get a puppy! I have wanted a dog for SOOO long but the problem is that I have wanted a golden retriever and nothing else. Sadly, a golden retriever wouldn’t fit very well into our tiny one bedroom apartment. And I wouldn’t even entertain the idea of getting a different breed until recently when I went over to a friend’s house and met her cute and hilarious little Havanese. Her little dog completely stole our hearts and I have been busy researching them now for a couple of months. Everything I read about them seems to suggest that it would be the perfect addition. They are a long-living breed (as in 16 years!) so I want to make certain that it is something we can handle. Obviously, I don’t take getting a dog lightly. I have books on them and I am tirelessly interviewing breeders to make sure that I get the healthiest and best tempered one possible. We are going this weekend to meet some puppies and see if one of them could be THE ONE! I’m excited but nervous about the potty training since we’re renting and I would rather not have our place destroyed (I’m sure my landlord would agree). I have read up on all sorts of potty training techniques but I live in a condo building—it’s not as if I can just catch the puppy mid…well, you know…and open the back door to the yard. We have to walk down the hall, get in an elevator and run through the lobby to get outside. And there is no grass out there! I guess he or she will just have to be a true city dog and learn to do his or her business on the street. I’m not sure whether all this worrying before I even have the dog makes me completely neurotic or just better prepared. : ) In any case, I’m really excited and hoping to have a little fury bundle of joy home soon-ish!

Oh, we could use some help with the name. The dogs are of Spanish/Cuban descent so hence some of our choices…

Boys: Javier (“Javi” for short), Ernesto (“Ernie” for short), Jose, Pedro, Ignacio, Bentley.

Girls: Isabella (“Isa”), Frida (after Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter with huge eyebrows!) Gloria, Girona (My mom’s cute suggestion—after my favorite town in Spain)

Thoughts?

Since I last wrote

In no particular order...

I celebrated my 27th birthday.

Jake celebrated his 30th birthday!

I aced my final exams (phew!) and began my 2nd quarter in the paralegal program.

I finished my temp. job and landed a job interview at a company I would love to work for (it’s tomorrow—wish me luck, I’m nervous!)

We went to Mexico with friends and family!

We found out we’re going to have a nephew!!!

I finally picked up my Christmas gift in Oregon and have been doing lots of baking!

Good friends came to visit and we acted half our age! :)

So, all is well. Not much has changed.

Life as of late

I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging lately. Sometimes I want to just get rid of my blog all together now that we’re back from Spain and life is back to “normal”. But then something interesting might happen and who would I tell about it!? :) I guess I’m just kind of over the whole blog thing. I feel like such a narcissist talking about myself all the time. I can see the point if you have kids or at least a pet to talk about….but there’s not a whole heck of a lot to say when you’re just two people who get up really early and go to work, come home exhausted, and try to think of something for dinner before collapsing in bed. Then…repeat, repeat, repeat.

But what the heck…I’ll fill you in anyway. (You’re on the edge of your seat, I know…. “I wonder what Annie is doing RIGHT THIS MINUTE!?!?!") :)

Well, I’m procrastinating, that’s what I’m doing. I have a fair amount of homework I should be doing but am not. You see, I had been incredibly bored so I thought school would give me something to do. But I ended up getting a full-time, albeit only temporary, job and both the job and school started on the very same day. Since then I have been waking up at 5:15, taking 2 buses (1+ hour) to work then 2 more buses (1+ hour) home from work…making dinner….then cracking the books and trying my hardest to stay awake long enough to get my assignments done. It is not easy. I knew it wouldn’t be but I’m so tired I constantly feel like I’m in a mental fog. The good news is that I really do enjoy both work and school so it seems worth it.

Jake, on the other hand, is away on business for 10 days…in Colombia. Beautiful place but yikes. I’m excited to see pictures and hear stories from his trip…but mostly I just want him back home with me! I spent the day feeling a little sorry for myself that he wasn’t around to hang out with me…we are normally glued at the hip, especially on the weekends….but I took advantage of the alone time and walked around downtown for 3 hours by myself today. It was fun until I went to Banana Republic to get a new pair of pants only to discover that the size I was when I left the US a couple of years ago is not the size I am now…nor am I one size bigger….I seriously could have sat down on the floor and cried. I have been avoiding buying pants as I sort of had a feeling…but the reality was much worse than I expected. It took the wind right out of my sails! I bought a swimming suit cover-up instead, haha. I walked home totally deflated (well, not really) and mad at myself for making pizza for dinner last night. I keep telling myself that life is too short to worry about stuff like this but it isn't making me feel any better. So, here I sit pouting. And hungry for dinner…

A little tour

Some of you have asked for pics of our new place. It's not really ours since we're renting but it feels like home nonetheless.

I spent the day making these little holiday goodies...I wonder why I have gained 13lbs this year!?

The kitchen table. Small, yes. But after our tiny apartment in Spain it feels plenty big.

The new-ish TV!

Hmm. That wall is looking a little bare...

The kitchen. Love it. Cook a lot in it. Eat a lot in it.

You all know my favorite...the bed!! And she's all dressed up for this photo.

The view from our little balcony. If you stand on your tippy toes you can see the water! :)