Our First Weekend on the Oregon Trail

So, lucky for us, Brent had the weekend off. His first day of internship on the nephrology service proved he truly is a white cloud. While the service is normally busy (~25 patients), there were no one new consults, Brent was able send me an extensive list via email of homes to search and he was home by 5 with a long list of suggested restaurants in Portland to go to. Lets hope this continues. I'm not holding my breath.

Friday was pretty unexciting from a reader's standpoint. We explored a bunch of neighborhoods in Portland to see if we'd want to live there. We came to the conclusion that Brent's intense hatred of all things hippie might limit our neighborhood choices.

Saturday we went to the North American Organic Brewer's Festival in Portland. Brent was able to put aside his hippie-hater status in the name of beer. Most of the beer was delicious and the whole time there was a band playing with the coolest looking singer and a didgeridoo player. See picture. Saturday night we met up with some former Dartmouth alums and one of Brent's internal medicine people and his girlfriend. I think I've made my first non-medical friend in Portland. Yay, I am no longer a friendless, jobless, housewife... I'm just a jobless housewife. Thanks, Emily. Night was a lot of fun... so much fun we had to resort to using the services of a taxicab and walking to get our car on Sunday. Well, I walked the 2.5 miles, while Brent napped. Lazy.

Sunday we drove along Columbia River Scenic Highway and stopped at Crown Point and Multnomah Falls. Gorgeous. Day was awesome despite feeling a little groggy from Saturday night.

Day Four - Day Off, Errands

Today was productive. Brent had the day off... he starts doing real doctor stuff tomorrow and I suppose he needs to rest up before he starts potentially killing people. We really did have a nice little Thursday. Brent got Oregon plates and license, we shopped around for a new computer, went to the bank and we went food shopping. We had our first home cooked meal together in like a month. We made taco salad in case you're interested and/or hungry.

On another note, we ran into some teachers dining at the Baja Fresh for lunch (delicious burritos). We struck up conversation with them because one of said teachers had a Wisconsin T-shirt on... thank goodness for "America's Dailyland." Brent is from this great state of cheap beer/women/cheese in case you didn't know. The two teachers informed me that teaching jobs are awfully hard to come by (awesome), even for a math/science teacher. Since I haven't started my licensure paperwork, I am even more screwed. Go me. Tomorrow is dedicated to resume updating and job searching. Ugh, by the way, I was thinking if all else fails, I'd enter the fullfilling barista career since there are about 10,000 coffee shops per square mile in Portland. Apparently those are highly coveted jobs and you'd having better luck running for president. I still love Portland though... even if I may have to spend my nights on the street for income (just kidding, Mom, Brent told me I'd have better luck during the days).

Tomorrow's plan:

1) Update resume/search for jobs

2) Find ways to meet friends

3) Attend local rummage sale to look for coffee table

4) Sign up for a local run (which I may or may not get Brent to run)

Day Three

Okay, so I'm a little late getting this started. I will add so much more later, but currently, here are some day three events:

1) Marianne finishes unpacking boxes while Brent learns boring computer system.
2) Marianne and Brent (and recruited trivia-ers/fellow internist residents Mike and Chris) finish in 2nd place in local trivia event!!! Well, of three teams :-( BUT, we got a $20 gift cert.
3) Brent goes out partying while Marianne chills at home. I have a feeling these tides may turn as Brent actually starts engaging in doctor stuff.
4) Marianne starts watching the newest Real World while drinking wine and eating chips & salsa. Marianne wonders how much dumber these people can get.... or is it just me? Public education has failed these people.
5) Marianne is ashamed of watching the new Real World, but probably will continue.
6) Marianne, in attempt to redeam herself, created Blog, something at least more constructive.

That is it for now. I am tired and am writing in 3rd person... how annoying am I? I mean Marianne? I mean I. Good night,

Marianne and Brent