Back to basics....

In order to get my degree in Baking and Pastry I have to take some English and Math classes along with a few others.  Last Monday I started a new term and I have Math and English.  I love my English class because we get to do a lot of free writing.  Everyday my professor gives us a Yiddish word and a definition.  I am really looking forward to including some of these "new" words to my blogs.   My math class is not too bad.  The professor is very funny so that helps.  Today he gave us our grades.  We took a quiz last week, had one today and another tomorrow and on Wednesday we have a midterm.  Oh joyous!!  I currently have a 100% in the class!!!  I want my 4.0 back so I am buckling down and working really hard to achieve this goal. 

Breakfast by the water...

Saturday morning when I got off work I decided to go for walk because it was beautiful out and it looked like it was going to be an amazing day.  I stopped at this little shop and purchased a cup of coffee and a Hawaiian bagel, which was delicious!!!  I took my breakfast to the water front and sat on a bench and watched the sun appear!!!  It was beautiful. 

I spotted this tree and just found myself infatuated with it.  Even bare I just couldn't step away.  I don't know why this tree got me but it did and now I am looking forward to spring to see this tree in bloom.  I wonder if it will still have the same affect on me. 

After enjoying this tree for awhile I walk the waterfront and took some pictures and just listened.  I usually have my ipod on and just in my own little world when I am walking, but yesterday I walked and just listened to all the things around me.  I heard the birds, groups of people talking, people walking, and the sound of the cars driving over the bridges as I walked under them.  It was astounding at all sounds that are around you.  It was really quite an experience yesterday.   

Roomie Time...

Yesterday afternoon my one of my roomies, Tim, and I went out to dinner.  After I woke up I went stairs to make some food and just didn't feel much like cooking, so I started to make a pb & j.  Tim heard me down stairs and came down.  He was dressed to the nines, in his new 3 piece suit he just got.  We started chatting and he told me he was a little down so he put on his suit, which he looks very good in, to cheer himself up.  I thought to myself, hmmm he shouldn't be sad, so I said hey lets go out to dinner.  I will go put something nice on as well and we can walk to eat. 

 I went to my room to change and then we walked down to the Marina (it is about a mile or so away). 

We ate on the waterfront outside.  It was very nice. 

 We sat out there and chatted for a few hours.  He had a few long island ice teas

 and I drank water because I had to work later that night. Tim got sweet potato fries, which were pretty darn good.

 I got Penne Pasta

And wow it was DELICIOUS!!!  The best past is that is was happy hour so I got this amazing meal for $5.50.  WHoop Whoop!!  I had a great time just bonding and enjoying the view of the water.  We are suppose to hanging out again later today.  I am going to make him try sweet potato tots.  They are super yummy!!

Cup of Coffee...

For being Portland and having coffee shops and bars everywhere I have had some trouble finding a really good cup of joe...  I love white chocolate mocha frappe!!!  Now I was introduced to this AMAZING very unhealthy beverage when I was 18 at a local coffee shop located in Salisbury, NC.  After a few years of being able to get this amazing brand of yumminess, the local shop closed and the owners moved. This saddened me because I have yet to find a cup of joe that was as good as Mr. Morgan made.  Miss you Mr. Morgan and your coffee making abilities!!  Anyway, I have been on a search for a replacement and I usually end up slightly disappointed.  I try each cup with an open mind hoping that one will quench this craving I have.  I have found some "good" coffee but not WW points worthy.  This cup of the Gods has to be ground breaking because it cost me so much in the points department, it must be worth it.  Which is also why I find myself disappointed as well.  My coffee habit has increase a little since living here due to the hectic schedule I keep now.  I sometimes (ok, more than not) need the extra assistance staying awake and I fear next term, sitting in an English and Math class for 4 hours after working 8 hours on graveyard I will need this assistance more often.  So my search is on full force.  This morning when I got off work I noticed a quaint bakery across the street where I pick up the Max and I thought, hey lets try it.  First, they actually make Frappe, oh by the way a lot of places here do not make frappe.  A frappe is just a frozen coffee, equipment needed: BLENDER!!!!  Why do they not have blenders here in restaurants, coffee house, etc... Ok sorry back on track.  SO I got frappe which first sip, I thought hey, I may be on to something here... 3 and 4 sips oh darn, this is really sweet!!!  WHAT!!!  A frappe TOO SWEET FOR ME!!  Yes folks it happened, I was unable to finish this cup of joe...

Oh well probably better I didn't because it was HUGE!!!
After purchasing this coffee I got on the max and heading home.  On route we go over the Steele bridge and most days they view is good, but this morning it was beautiful.  I tried to get a good shot but this was the best I could do for riding by it on the train.

Then after the Max I pick up a bus from time to time or I will walk.  Today I opted for the bus ride.  While waiting for the bus I noticed a new statue across the street.  I just love how these random statues just, show up and are just, you know there hanging out and don't really have to do with anything besides being awesome and something look at besides the weirdies that walk by. 

After I get off the bus I still a small walk to get home.  So that is always a good time to snap a photo...

The grades are in....

I finished out my term in Introduction to Patisserie and Baking Techniques with a "B" which makes my cumulative GPA a 3.57!!!  Not too bad I was hoping to keep my 4.0 but this class was really hard for me.  I will still get a star for my collar.  It should be a silver.  I look damn good in silver so I am alright with that!!! 
In all honesty I am extremely happy I finished out with a "B", I was worried I was dropping to a "C" and that would not have been kosher with me.  So yay GO ME!!!!! 

A night of firsts....

There are no pictures to along with this post due to the nature of events.  Yesterday evening I woke up at 7 PM and was feeling really bad so I went back to sleep until roughly 8:45 PM.  When I got up to start getting ready for work, I was feeling really shitty, my glands in my throat were really swollen, I thought I was running a fever, and just over all bad and sore.  I could not call out from work due to the fact I work night audit at a hotel, not an easy shift to replace if someone calls out.  So I went and let them know when I got there I was feeling shitty.  I went on with my work and tried to get most of it done just in case I needed to leave early.  The staff at the hotel is really amazing and caring.  One front desk agent offered to make me coffee before she left.  One of the guys from room service made me some hot tea with honey.  Very nice people there, one of the many reasons why I love my job (well mostly my shift, I get to see the awesome people getting off work and they are great).  Around 12:45 AM I had to run to the restroom and I cough up a little tiny bit of dark blood and had a decent case of vertigo.  So I stumbled to the desk and told my supervisor I think I need to go to the hospital (and those of you who know me, know I do not got see a doc when I am sick).  My supervisor called a paramedic to come check me out and my blood pressure spike really high for me, 185/95 mine usually runs around 110/68 ish.  After they checked me out they said they were going to have an ambulance come get me.  My first, first was having a paramedic check me out, followed by being put on a stretcher and riding in an ambulance.  Once I got to the hospital they did all the typical checks and what not.  The staff there was really amazing.  I would like to bake them something (after I am feeling better of course).  Are they allowed to receive baked goods from a previous patient I wonder.  I will have to find out.  The doctor wanted to get a few X-rays, which is another first for me.  Then my doc and my nurse got really busy with another patient that they had to use heroic measures is all I was told.  When he was finally able to come back in he said I do have strep throat.  He wrote me out of work for 2 days and luckily I am on spring break so I don't have to miss school.  YAY!!!  While I was at the hospital they gave a dose of steroids and ibuprofen.  I was prescribed amoxicillin and he gave me some hydrocodone for pain.  When I finally got to leave I realized I didn't have my wallet or any money on me or my trimet pass to catch a bus.  So I had to walk about about a mile to max line (farefree zone).  I took the max back to work to give them my no working paperwork and to get my wallet and to close out my money.  I left there and came home and went to sleep.  I got up about 2:30 PM and had to find a pharmacy that was open on Sundays and that wasn't going to charge an arm and a leg for meds without insurance.  I should be getting my insurance at work next month, convenient eh?  The pharmacy in target was open til 6 PM and the amoxicillin was only going to cost me $4.  I got online and found a route via public transport.  Took a bus and asked the driver about a stop and she was clueless I ended up way way way out of the way and then hoped another bus back and then had to transfer to another bus and I finally made it to target at 5:15 PM (this is when public transport SUCKS, I was only 5.6 miles out originally.  I had to wait around target for 30 mins, which was no biggie but I was starting to feel bad so I did purchase my ibuprofen and took a few bc I could feel a fever coming on and my throat swelling.  Then I got back on line to check public transport back home hopefully with less issues, but that was not the case.  I hoped a max and got off at the wrong stop, had to wait for next one and then my directions said take bus 17 and when I got off the max bus 14 was there and so I didn't rush down.  I saw the sign bus 17 doesn't even stop on that side of town so I re-routed and dammit I was suppose to be on 14.  The next one wasn't for 45 mins and it was cold I was feeling shitty and just wanted to go home so I broke down and called a cab.  Which cost me a pretty penny bc somehow I was 6.3 miles away.  I finally got home from the crazy ass day at 7:30 PM.  Almost 5 hours to go and fill a damn prescription and get home.  This is one of the only times I have wished I had a car here. 

Pet love....

Ryan, the roomie I pay rent too has a cat.  A very cute affectionate cat named Mee Mee!!!  When she first sees you she runs away and one day she was meowing so loud.  So I chased her and picked her up and loved on her, now every time I go upstairs she comes to me and wants me to pet her.  The other day Mee Mee and I had some quality time together.