Bad Day

On occasion I will get an email or two from blog readers thanking me for blogging about a certain topic. It’s nice. It makes me think this little online diary of mine is worth publishing to all of you. I also get a few emails from readers who think my life, or the moments I share, is far more interesting than it actually is. Well…

Today was a bad, bad day for me. From start to finish. In fact, probably the worst day I have had since I can remember. However, there were positive moments. And, we choose our attitude.

My morning started with a photography shoot in John’s Landing. The shoot ended short after I fell down a flight of cement stairs. The sidewalk, mud, and my camera helped break my fall as I came to a skidding {not a joke} halt. I was bloody and beaten up. But, I didn’t cry. That would have been unprofessional. It’s one thing to flail down a flight of stairs like a dead body; it’s another thing to start wailing in front of client, right?! Not only was I beaten up, but so was my camera. The camera that was out of my budget in the first place was so longer working.

As soon as I got into my car and drove ten feet out of sight, I was sobbing on the phone to my live in. This actually can be put into the positive moment’s category for the day. He is the best.

Once at home I confirmed that the camera was out of commission and phoned my second client for the day to cancel. This killed me. I hated cancelling but even more I hated looking outside, seeing the beautiful weather and realizing it probably won’t happen again. At least not before Christmas, and these photos were for Christmas cards.

While I was icing my golf ball size bump on the knee the live in and I were playing around with the camera. Lo and behold, we figured out the problem. A little duct tape and I was back in business. I called my second client back and our appointment was back on. Another positive moment of the day.

I covered my body in band-aids in an attempt to not scare the children, grabbed my banged up camera, and limped downstairs. I am sure I made a great first impression on this family. Just sure of it. Actually, the family was great. They knew my day was off to a terrible start and couldn’t have been more kind.

If my killer first impression didn’t impress them I am sure the jail threat I received during the photo shoot did. I took them to the railroad tracks near my home for a few photos. A one car train rolled past in the five minutes we happen to be there. Four men took the liberty of stopping the train, and yelling out of their window that the police had been called and I was in violation of trespassing. Again, I didn’t cry. One, there was no sign indicating this “law”, and two – it’s not like I was at the railroad station. We were simply five feet from the actual road where cars and pedestrians pass frequently. Lastly, it was a great shot and I would go back in a second. Especially for an engagement shoot - it’d be perfect.

There were several other “worst day” moments that worked their way into my day, however I’ll spare you. You can feel good in trusting me when I say; it was a truly bad day.

But, like I said, we choose our attitudes. And victim is one thing I am not. I hope this insight into my terrible day helped just one person feel better about theirs. I am thankful for my live in and for my parents. I am thankful I didn’t get hurt worse. But I guess if I actually did go to jail it would have made for an even better story…

The Allison Inn and Spa

I was lucky enough to spend my day at the newly opened Allison Inn and Spa. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptic about a “luxury” hotel and spa in Newberg but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I would highly recommend The Allison to anyone looking for a bit of luxury not too far from home. It’s very well done…from the spa, to the rooms, to the common areas.

I am working on booking a weekend for the live in and I as we speak…

I am back. And, feeling much better. I was able to get away {for work, but still} for a few glorious days in New York City. I stopped thinking about all the things that were bugging me back in Portland and have resolved to letting go of a few things. People are rude, and perhaps don’t always follow the golden rule, but…my friends, there is a whole lotta world out there. It makes certain things look really, really small. Enough said.

Blessings to all.

p.s. more on NY soon.

Hi friends.

I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging,

and truthfully won’t be fully back until the middle of next week.

I miss blogging regularly but

this little break has been much needed.

See you soon!

xoxo,

erica

I am loving this travel style guide. 

So true, so true. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, sweet Mom!

Thanks for being the best mom and mom in-law anyone could ask for!

Dear Bryce,

Remember when we were playing that ridiculous game of Uno Spin at the cabin?

Remember how you and I kept cheating…not to win but to hopefully end the game?

Remember how mad Emilie got at us when she found out?

She was a level 5 (seriously mad).

 That was fun.

xx,

erica

Spotted:

...Vinnie Chase in Paris!

(Sorry, I am channeling my inner Gossip Girl.)   

I let out a little scream at work when I heard the news…

Cirque du Soleil is coming to Portland with their show, KOOZA!

Presale tickets were just announced

and I couldn’t resist sharing the news with you, my friends.

Don’t miss out…

Poor Mr. Cunningham

Remember my mention of Joan, our building’s maintenance person? Well now she has the live in scared…

Yesterday I received a call from the live in at 8:30am. Now, we talk a lot during the day but he never calls me that early unless 1. He has gotten into a traffic altercation. 2. He “forgot” to tell me we had company coming over that evening. Or 3. He is being stalked by Joan, the maintenance women.

This time it was reason #3.

As the live in was headed out of the building to his car Joan appeared “out of nowhere” according to the live, but come on let’s keep it real. She probably came out of the maintenance closest if you can believe that. Regardless, she appeared and said to my live in, “good morning…it’s Mr. Cunningham, correct?” Stunned and shaken he replied, “yes, yes it is.”

Apparently this exchange of sentences was enough to send the live in into a conspiracy so tangled only a {true} Cunningham could conceive of it. The live in does not understand how this woman knows his name and now believes she is stalking his hot body. To be honest, I don’t know how she would know his name either. We do have our cars registered to the building and maybe she has access to that list so that she can monitor the parking garage? Who knows. I will say that the live in rocks a suit to work everyday and although this can be quite pleasing to the eyes he just doesn’t seem like Joan’s type.

I listened and sympathized with the live in as he described the situation over and over. He is clearly scared. Perhaps I should start escorting him to his car each morning…

Need A Good Book?

My little book club and I just finished
reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

I thought I would pass on this
recommendation to you...it truly is a great book.

 I already have a list of people
waiting to borrow my copy…

My Week

It’s been a week since I have truly blogged. Friends, time is flying by within the walls of our loft. And it doesn’t help that the days are literally getting shorter and shorter either.

Anyhow, here’s a little of what’s been up this past week:

• The live in has slept on the couch the last three nights in a row. Apparently he felt like taking up snoring and that’s not really welcomed in our bed. I am sympathetic to his nasal issues to a point - however during the middle of the night when he feels like cuddling up about two inches from my face and then letting out a bone curdling log saw, I have little tolerance. Now, before you jump to his defense you should know two things. 1. Our couch is awesome for sleeping on. 2. The recent sleeping arrangements were entirely his choose. Apparently it beats getting kicked in the shins all night.

• I found out that someone I do business with reads my blog. Random, but cool. Hi Laura.

• I am in texting jail. I have a small (okay, medium size) celebrity crush on Chad Ochocinco, who is a bit of a twitter king. I am not on twitter, I don’t tweet, but I thought it might be cool to “follow” Chad as the kids say. So I set up my little account and starting following. The guy is funny. Then I thought it would be nice to have his twitter updates sent to my cell. It would be like a little treat a work, something to break up the day – not to mention a great conversation piece.

By the way, the live in did not understand the relationship I had with Chad. Honestly, I felt like he was a bit jealous.

One morning while I was getting ready the live in asked if I had an unlimited text plan on my phone. I told him I did. Of course I did. I am 28, texting is rad, obviously I would have an unlimited plan. He asked, he said, because just that morning I had already gotten 20 texts from Chad. Before 7:30am my time…no joke. Later that day (and 15 texts later) I double checked with my phone company that I truly had an unlimited plan. Turns out I actually don’t. Chad had already used up 75% of my allotment for October.

He and I broke up that day.

• And lastly...
The live in needs to go to DVR school. Badly.

New Blog

I had so much fun taking photos of Meghan and her family that

I thought I would create a seperate blog for photography,

and the amazing people who let me join them for a few hours of fun...

Please check it out....here. 

xoxo,

erica

1950's?

The live in and I are helping out at the Aids Walk this Sunday. It’s a volunteer group based out of Wells Fargo, which is where the live in works. Last night we went to the mandatory volunteer training session (blah!) and we were asked to introduce ourselves to the group and explain where we worked. The organizer assumed everyone there worked for Wells Fargo and he was more or less asking them to say which part of the company they worked in. I do not work for Wells Fargo. So, I introduced myself as “Troy’s wife”. In other words, good bye self identity…hello 1950’s. What was I thinking with this answer? Plus, poor live in. I looked a wreck and he was looking his usual GQ self. I still had pieces of bun in my hair from the hamburger I just devoured. And I refused to take my coat off because “I didn’t want to stay long.” So, picture a really sloppy Eskimo with out of control hair, and you have your visual.

On the way out of the bank from our meeting there was a group of homeless people making camp for the night. One woman looked at me and with the most sincere voice said, “God bless you, you take care.” I am pretty sure she thought I was one of them (or would be soon). This didn’t offend me. She was nice. Then another guy yelled, “watch out for Chase”. And the live in laughed. It was funny.

On the way home I told the live in that the way I introduced myself was a poor life decision. He disagreed. I also told him I refused to wear the Wells Fargo Volunteer shirt they were threatening to make me wear. He disagreed with that too.

Portland Fashion Week is here!

I encourage you all to go check out this fun event.

My friends and I have made it an annual thing…

...