Strawberry Fields, For Now..

Salutations, fellow tellurians!

How y'all doing little kittens?

PDX Is treating me pretty well. Lots of working, and a little bit of frolic.

I have been at the museum for a month now! It is really challenging, and dreamy, and I am getting better at it, I think. For those of you who are curious as to what the day to day of a researcher looks like, it's varied. I spend some time looking up and sorting articles, I work on maintaining ethical standards, I spend a lot of time thinking. I also spend a lot of time figuring out how to enter my time on the timesheet, oh! And meetings! Lot's of meetings. It is a culture shock in a lot of ways. I am still getting used to what it feels like to be "on my brain" for 8 hours instead of on my feet. I have to take "museum walk about" breaks every couple hours or I go stir cray cray. I am kinda chugging along, trying to work my way through the tough part. I may have to tap some professional friends for advice on how to hang, as suggested by my boss. I think it's been really evident to me that I went from somewhere I was top dog, knew all of the plays, to somewhere I am pretty much completely unfamiliar. It will take a while before I am where I want to be for sure, but overall work life is good.

Anyways, SO... I am dating again (heehee).

Unfortunately, the Chloe Challenge went by the wayside, turns out beginning a new life in a new city with a new job isn't the best time to get out and meet people IRL. At least not for me. So, went back on the OKC, and I have some moderate success (yay for making out & cuddling!).
Most recently my exploits have had me cogitating about what the potential future with a divorced man with a couple of youngins would be like. It's definitely an interesting thought train to take a ride on, but it's way to soon to tell if anything serious will develop.
The more I think about it though, and you know me I think it's really great to stretch the limits of one's perceived mettle, as long as there is proper communication of expectations and a realistic interpretation of the implications, should nuthin be too wrong with it.
I fancy myself always growing, and am really cognizant of my selfish past, so internally I am intentionally making a shift from that "world revolves around me" mentality to, you know, there may be other important things going on. I reckon as long as I am important and feel that way, that'll do.
That all said, who knows how it will go!! I think overall I just like the opportunity to really be thoughtful and do my best to be communicative and honest about my feelings, I could use the practice!

Also, OMG, He's like, totes SO cute!
:)
I'll keep y'all updated.

On other fronts..

I have been watching a [shit]ton of documentaries! The photo above is from this one called Marwencol, which is about this guy who was beat to shit by this pack of teenagers and left in a coma, when he returned he was damaged and didn't remember anything from his life prior to the incident. He dealt with the trauma by creating this fantasy world based on his real life, but set somewhere in WWII in this imaginary town he created. It was really amazing, well done, and the guy's story is so completely bizarre and awe inspiring. I think it's one of the best films I have seen in a while.
I have been on somewhat of an artist bio drama kick I guess (who says that!?) and saw another film I really liked called The Woodmans which was about this family of artists and the way that they deal with the suicide of their daughter, the really a-fucking-mazing photographer Francesca Woodman.

Alrighty sugar muffins, I reckon that about covers this time in between, leave me likes or comments if thou art so compelled...
As always, thank you so much for reading, and until next time... Expect great things!

A rose by any other name...

Salutations, my honey kittens!

WELL!

Here I am in the land of steel bridges, beards, and rain drops! I have made it through my first two weeks and thought maybe you'd like to get a little update on what the haps have all been happening with yours truly.

MY J-O-B

holy crap. 

This is unlike anything I have ever done in my life. My organization is so thoughtful, methodical about all of it's process, and mindful of being inclusive of all of those taking part in the process. It's really less hippy than I expected it to be and more like, "you are in charge of timeline, and budget, and knowing the protocol and designing the research schema, and we're here for you the whole way cause no one makes decisions by themselves, and you're gonna kick ass!". I'm all like, "woooah nellie!". 

It is on the one hand, really overwhelming right now, because I have never had to think about those kinds of things, or like, be in charge of overseeing an External Evaluator contract, ya know? 

However, on the better more "woot woot" hand, I am really being groomed to be an integral, well informed part of a team, I am an investment! It feels really good. I so whole heartedly believe in what I am doing I am really motivated to succeed. So right now the input is like 80% of my waking life, i definetly know that is not sustainable, but I feel it is necessary right now, and will not be the case in a few months. For a few reasons, one of which is I need the time to improve some of my skills necessary for my job, and also, I of course want to get to know Portland.

Yea, so anyway, what else?

Well... in the 20% of my other time I have named my couch, set up my pretty sweet apartment, explored my front yard, and thought about, of course, what else!

RELATIONSHIPS.

One of my favorite topics to talk about, and perhaps one of your favorites to read about, I'll give ya a glimpse of my inner workings on the loving side of things.

Clearly, I have ::gasp:: not had time for dating. 

I know! It's been tough in a lot of ways, and really good in a lot of ways. I am still under the Chloe Challenge of securing my next date in the flesh and blood, which is great for those cold (below freezing!) evenings when I thinking longingly of just the act of browsing the OKC annals for fresh, beardy, PDX meat (no pun intended?) for if nothing else, something to look at. It actually feels really great to not have that as an option, because why? Because I want an actual relationship to flourish next! I have no idea what that will look like, I just know that I am being consious and not settling for anything other than what I want. There are some cuties at work, and of course as is to be expected at this age, the wedding bands abound. It's alright, at this point in my life as soon as I even catch the glimmer of metal on a hand, I drop the guillotine on desire. I have learned that lesson well, and have Zero interest in retreading those steps. So, I will take in the eye candy without the cavities.

In regard to those ringless manhands, well, I am similarly being aloof. I am not particularly interested in messing up any career move on account of a careless poontang, at the same time I realize that a lot of your social circle comes from where you work, so I am keeping an open mind.

Minding my honeypot. Using the time to think about what approach I want to take, what I want to communicate, and how.

Not much else to report really, work and home rules the day. Can't wait till I get a car to really be able to get around, cause I don't give a crap what those hippy fucks are doing I am not riding my bike in 17 degree weather...

I think I am having a good time.. At this point I know the pains of relocating, so I am just trying to be patient with myself. Though, when I named my couch it kinda became apparent I need to get out more... Updates as they develop. 

Till next time, my beautiful reader,

Expect great things!