Keep Oregon Weird

About 3 weeks ago I decided to go on a mini-adventure.  I took a weekend solo trip to Portland, Oregon.  I think I need to first note something I have learned since living in Washington when it comes to this neighboring state--pronunciation.  Turns out it's said or-eee-gin rather than the or-a-gonn way my Mid-Western accent was accustomed too.

Anyways, I took a 2.5 hour train ride south and was ready for my close up, so to speak.  I guess before I begin the tales of my adventure, I should say a little about the city itself.  Some "fun facts" if you will.  And because it's early and I'm lazy, I Googled the question "what makes Portland special?"  Here are my top 5...some of this I knew, some I didn't.  Oh, and FYI...I'm not working PR for the city, most people just don't know much about it.

1. "Ranked #1 Best City for Public Transportation"  

*I will definitely agree with this...buses, link rails, extremely friendly for bicycles, etc. 

2. "Greenest City in America"

*Portland is home to a lot of hipsters and younger populations and takes things very seriously on issues pertaining to the environment...i.e. public transportation.  There were also tree's everywhere. I was actually surprised because for it being a large city, it was really lush with parks, trees, and 

various nooks of forestry all over.

3. There is no freeway that goes through the city. It's actually raised and cuts up and around. Plus, it's 2   stories....sort of.  Cars drive on top and through the covered section...one-way each direction. I thought it was cool.

4. They have the WORLD's largest independent book store...new and used. 68,000 square feet of reading material...an entire city block.  I was in heaven and spent far too much time in here.  Any true nerds dream--over 1,000,000 volumes on the shelves.

5. Voodoo Doughnuts...as made famous by the Food Network.  It's this doughnut place with a weird assortment of handmade specialty doughnuts.  Such as--the Bacon Maple Bar (bacon on top of a cake doughnut with maple frosting), Captain my Crunch (yeast doughnut covered in frosting and Captain Crunch cereal...also done with Fruit Loops and Coco Puffs), Mango Tango (doughnut filled with maple jelly and topped with vanilla frosting and Tang...yes, I said Tang), etc etc.

For your entertainment...http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.php 

There...now you know a bit about Portland. Stay tuned for my adventures.

Reconcile This.

So, I know I've mentioned previously about some of my "boyfriends/husbands."  I don't think I ever described T though (T is his actual nickname, so it seems easiest to use).  T may be one of my biggest suitors because he REFUSES to take my constant answer of "No" personally.  There was a time when he would ask me out on dates literally 7-10 times a day.  Thankfully, he's gained some acceptance into the fact that this relationship will not happen, so it's usually 3-5 times now.  T is a nice guy who likes to bring me flowers and will introduce me to anyone and everyone he knows (he occasionally brings people into Nativity just to meet me).

He also shares too much information about himself, which I will relay some of this information now.  He's in his late 20's and has been in and out of various jails and prisons since he was in his mid-teens.  He's a country boy from the Midwest with a long list of convictions.  The list includes theft, drug trafficking/distribution, drug possession, and assorted other things.  Not uncommon for the people that I come into contact every day.  He is currently on parole and wears an ankle monitor which doesn't allow him to leave Pierce County.

What I'm really posting about though is a piece of information that I recently learned about my friend though.  T's a sex offender.  And I'm not talking about "indecent exposure" or some other ridiculous charge that gets a person on the registry.  T has various charges of child molestation with both young boys and girls ranging in ages from 10-16.

Now, I can imagine the horror that is flashing through your mind and the thoughts of insanity concerning myself and my on-going friendship with T.  I'll admit when I first found out (via text), I was shocked.  I immediately looked up his file and broke into tears.  It's easy for me to ignore charges of theft and drugs, but how was I supposed to reconcile this?  By God's grace, when I found out this information, I was on a retreat from work and didn't see T for 2 months because of a parole violation, but he recently came back into my life.

It seems like nothing has changed between him and I.  When I'm monitoring the smoke room, T will still come up and talk to me for the whole hour that I sit there.  He brought me flowers this weekend and constantly asks me out on dates, but will settle for a game of cards.  Yet, in the back of my mind, I know this information about him.  I'm pretty sure that he doesn't have a clue that I know about his past, but maybe he does?  Who knows.

I don't have any answers or words of wisdom to this dilemma.  It's a daily struggle, but I've decided that there is no point in ending my friendship with T.  I value him as a person even with this information.  I do not fear for my safety when I am around him.  Most of all, I imagine if I were in the position of his mother.  Sure, I'd be heartbroken about his actions, but he's still my son.  It'd be tough, but I honestly believe that I'd chose to love him despite of this.  So, for right now, I'm going to choose to love T for the humor he brings, the stories he shares of life in prison and drug worlds that I know nothing about, and just because.

Thanks.

Rain and Crazies.

Currently, I'm sitting at my desk looking out at the rain.  It's falling at a slant and sort of looks like sleet, but it's almost 50 degrees, so I think it's just rain.  The sky to the west is clear and sunny, but to the east, it's dark and ominous.  However, I've come to learn that it's really rare for Tacoma to have either thunder or lightning due to the mountains, so the dark skies are just a big tease.

Anyways, you may be wondering...why rain?  Surely something more interesting has happened to me recently that weather isn't my main topic of conversation.  Well, rain is a big part of my life now, so there.  Take yesterday for example...I was across town babysitting like I usually do on Tuesday mornings.  Thankfully, I opted out of my usual fleece and decided to wear my raincoat just in case.  After I finished with Elizabeth, I headed out for an afternoon workout at the gym.  1.7 mile walk...no problem.  However, after about 120 feet out the door it started to rain.  Didn't phase me...it's Washington.  Except it only misted for a few minutes then began to pour down.  I'm talking cats and dogs, lots of wind, colder temperatures...the whole crappy lot.  So, I thought to myself--dang it, oh well gotta tough it out.  So, I did.  By the time I got to the gym, I couldn't feel my fingers or my nose, my pants/shoes/socks/backpack/coat were soaked, and I was just defeated.  I did the logical thing then...I skipped my workout and just laid in the dry sauna for awhile trying to cheer myself up (and dry out my pants).  The worst part of the whole ordeal...it happened again about 4 hours later when I went out for a walk to the library.  My life.

On another note...best story of the week from my job.  There's this crazy man named Jeremiah.  He only wears MMA or boxing outfits (although he doesn't fight) and will drink at least 1 liter of Coca Cola ever day.  On top of that, he's completely nuts.  Anyways, it was a calm week because of it being the first of the month.  [Everyone has their checks, so they live high and large for a couple of weeks, then their back].  I love the first 2 weeks of the month.  On Monday, Jeremiah decided the port-o-potty down the sidewalk from Nativity House needed to be taught a lesson.  Or, maybe it was just a bad day...who knows.

Anyways, he lassoed this huge chain around the port-o-potty and then wrapped the end a few times around his shoulder.  And to complete the process, he started to pull.  Well, Newton's laws were correct because gravity worked....the thing fell over.  So, here we have Jeremiah who's covered in _________ (fill in your own blank), in the middle of the afternoon completely visible to anyone and everyone.  He doesn't run away, nope, he just hangs out around the port-o-potty and occasionally hits it with objects.  One of my co-workers is freaking out, I'm laughing, and we are just watching chaos ensue.  The police come and arrest Jeremiah after about 25 minutes.  A perfect end to the work week.

The end.  Have a good week.

One thing after another...

This past 10 days or so have been rough.  Enough said.  Allow me to give you the highlights...


1. Stupid friend drama.  Oh well, it will work itself out in due time.  If not...there's other fish in the sea.

2. Dropped my wallet in the toilet...post doing my business.  At the YMCA.  Double bonus.

3. Because of my job, I've been exposed to TB or Tuberculosis for the uncool (like myself).  Getting tested tomorrow...not awesome.

4. Somehow managed to staple my sweatshirt to a stack of papers at work.  Do you know how embarrassing it is to have your boss de-staple you from information about a Supreme Court case?  Yep.

5. Got the opportunity to pluck out rogue chin hairs from an older woman I know.  And by given the opportunity, I actually mean not given a choice but to do it.  Welcome to my life.

6. My allergy that I thought was gone has tricked me yet again.  In the past 24 hours, I have sneezed no less than 75 times. Not even kidding.

7. Next week happens to be our Spring LVC retreat.  This means that I will have a 9 day vacation from work (because of my weekends) and will be spending 5 days camping in northern Washington.  Saturday also happens to be my birthday...guess what's planned?  An LVC mandated day of "intentional silence" from dawn till dusk.  I wish I could make this stuff up.

8. I've lost my ability to sleep-in.  It's like losing a piece of my soul.


I think that about covers the con's of the last week or so.  I wish I could say that the pro's have outweighed the negative, but it's just not the case.  However, tomorrow is only a day awaaaaaaaaaay!

Adventures of a Cake Topper

It's been awhile since I last updated and honestly, it's because I got busy and forgot.  Perhaps it's just hard for me to pin down exactly what I think would be worthy of a post.  Or, something shiny floated by and my thoughts on writing become preoccupied...that's probably the closest thing to the truth.

ANYWAYS....I have been well.  January was a chaotic month.  Nativity House did not follow it's usual routine of having a slow first couple of weeks due to welfare checks arriving, followed by a steady rush of chaos at the end.  Instead, it was crazy the whole way through.  I can honestly say that I learned so much during the month, perhaps more than any other.  To briefly recap--2 people (in the same day) had seizures in my arms, I was able to participate in a few drug busts, at least one of my "boyfriends" went to jail (or violated probation and will be going), I joined a gym, became an unofficial personal trainer, and visited friends and family in Michigan for 2 weeks.

It was really great to visit people in MI, but I'm so happy to be back in Washington.  I think the "Snowpocalypse" was the key factor that made me realize I don't want to live in Michigan.  Oh, and everyone asked me about the weather out here.  Let me clarify--yes, it rains.  However, it's not nearly as much or horrible as you are picturing.  Imagine walking through the tail end of an obnoxious sprinkler that sprays all over the sidewalk you're trying to walk on.  You get wet, but not really.  Instead, you get misty...that's the weather in Tacoma.  Serious.

In other news...I've met a new boyfriend.  He's a little different from the others, but all the more special.  His name is Milo.  He's this 70-year-old black man with the most beautiful blue eyes.  He's led a rough life including spending nearly 40 years in prison, but he considers himself a blessed man.  He prefers to sleep outdoors so as to be closer to nature and refuses to live alone in an apartment.  My day is not complete without seeing Milo.

Everyday that Milo comes into Nativity he yells "Honey, I'm home" as soon as he sees me.  He constantly asks me to read him stories, and I usually oblige.  He also really likes to bring me "gifts."  These are generally found items, but I cherish them all the same.  I've collected some youth wide receiver gloves, a Mickey Mouse cake topper (who came with me to MI and got his picture in a snow bank) and a Happy Meal toy.  His reasoning..."I thought of you when I saw this and figured you would like it."

So, I've pretty much decided...who needs a real boyfriend when you've got an older man who's so full of life (except when he sleeps.  "You've gotta sleep with one eye open when you're my age cause death is always creeping around the corner") and is definitely in the running for the person who brings the most uninhibited joy in my daily journey.  I think we should all be so lucky to know someone like Milo.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Happy 2011.  Between December 31st and January 2nd, I was told "Happy New Years" by no less than 200 different  people.  I'm blessed.

2011 has started off to be an interesting year thus far.  Nothing extremely monumental has happened, but it just feels good.  To think that this time in 2010 (because it was so long ago) I was just beginning the last semester of my undergraduate career.  I was freaking out about post-graduation and what was going to happen.  You know, pretty much end-of-the-world worthy problems.  

Anyways, here I am in 2011 living in Tacoma, working full-time, and surviving. Whew.  It's true that my job may be temporary (my program ends in August) but I am currently looking at other job possibilities post-LVC.  Ideally, I really want to stay in the Pac Northwest or at least a state that is not considered to be a part of the "Midwest."  Sorry Mom and Dad.  You must have known this day was coming sooner or later. 

However, that 2011 rant is not the purpose of this post.  I got side-tracked...surprise, surprise.  What I really wanted to write about was my last couple of days of craziness that has become my daily life.

Yesterday (Sunday) was a large occasion because I got to go to an actual Sunday morning church service.  It's a big deal and comes around like once every 3 months due to my work schedule.  I went to an "urban" church in downtown Tacoma.  I can't say that I was overly impressed with my experience though.  Oh well.  I'll just chalk it up to learning something new everyday and a notch off my Tacoma Bucket List.  

At the start of the day I'd hoped for nothing too out of the ordinary.  Things changed though, when I walked into Nativity House.  I put down my coat and greeted a couple of friends.  Around my 3rd minute in the place, I was informed that a lady was having a seizure by some concerned guests.  Megeen, a Jesuit Volunteer, and I ran to this woman's aid.  It was a fairly mild seizure.  She was still able to stand with minimal assistance from Megeen and I and was minimally responsive.  The man she was with explained that this happened at least 3-4 times a day.  Drug induced?...perhaps?  Who knows. 

She came out of the seizure after a couple of minutes and immediately pulled down her pants and peed all over the floor!  Megeen's initial reaction, "This isn't the bathroom, maa'm."  It was all that could be said.  To her credit though, she managed to pee for at least 25 seconds, while standing in a room with over 250 people AND managed to avoid getting any on herself.  She's a hero in my book.  However, I had to clean up this mess and spent the rest of the day with the sneaking suspicion of smelling like urine.  The worst part...I smelled like someone else's urine. Yuck. 

Now, I'd hoped that this was the last of the surprises.  Wrong again.  Lunch came and went without a hitch.  Then I was reminded about a pair of gloves that I had forgotten to give someone.  On the way, I was grabbed by the arm.  The reason, "Rachel, I'm about to have a seizure."  Shoot.  I asked Joe if I needed to call 911, he shook his head no and then went completely unresponsive. I was the only staff member around.  SIDE NOTE--Joe is more than twice my body weight and size.  He started shaking uncontrollably, eyes rolled into the back of his head and started to choke.  Among the chaos, 911 was called and some guests helped me get Joe out of his chair and laying on his side.

At this point, I'm supporting Joe's head in my hands while he was laying on the floor.  He was blue from the choking, but slowly regained color.  Amidst the shaking, Joe also bit his tongue and terrified me when he started spitting blood.  However, after a few minutes, he regained consciousness and the paramedics arrived. He was then taken care of and has since been seen on the streets going about his business.

All in all, it was a looooong day and things just kept piling on top of one another.  I have these next 2 upcoming days off for my "weekend" and apart from babysitting and a 5:30 am yoga class I agreed to, I will be relaxing.  

In other news...3 weeks from today I leave for Michigan for my 2 week vacation.  I'm so excited.

Signing off now.

So Much For A White Christmas

Alas, Christmas time has come and gone once again.

I have to say that this has been one of the most interesting Christmas' that I have had in a long time.  I can't really say that it was anything too special or extravagant, but I was surrounded by some of my favorite people, so I suppose that counts.

I don't know if the feeling of the "Holiday Season" ever really sank in this year.  Perhaps it's because the weather was fairly clear (with some rain) and 50 degrees pretty much everyday for the past couple of weeks.  Also, I watched the original Halloween movie like 3 days before Christmas, so maybe that killed the mood as well?

It could have also been the fact that I actually had to decorate for Christmas.  Who does that, honestly?  All I know is that I broke a sweat hanging like 30 stockings, using a bag of men's underwear donations to break my fall,  getting stuck under the tree, and had some close calls with a few light strands.  But it was for the Nativity House, so it's all worth it in the end.

Things improved throughout the days (including my self-diagnosed case of whooping cough) until I accidentally decapitated Joseph in the Nativity scene.  It went like this---we had a Christmas Eve worship service and of course we needed to bring out our Nativity scene from the shed.  After fishing out this mangy looking box and checking for mice, I brought it inside.

As I was pulling out the figurines and dusting off the grime (shows how often it sees the light of day) I didn't realize that Joseph was a little more fragile than the rest.  So, as the Queen of Hearts so eloquently states, "Off with his head!"  Oops.  However, Joseph was sort of in a kneeling position with a perfect little nook in his arms, so I just placed his head in there, like he was holding it.  I thought it was a fun new twist on the classic depiction.  I think Washington Irving would have been proud of my comparison of the Headless Horseman to Joseph, but we eventually had to use another set.  Oh well, no Sleepy Hollow style Christmas set for Rachel this year.

As for the actual days of celebration, they were fun.  The majority of my time was spent at NH with a multitude of guests, volunteers, semi-pro football players "giving back to the community," and assorted others.  I was told "Merry Christmas" by at least 200 different people and received nearly as many hugs.  Honestly, there is no other place that I would have rather been.  

I also got to Skype with my parents and family members in the morning and spent the evening at my boss, Dominique's, mother's house watching basketball and hanging out with the "Bro Club."

Now it's back to the awkward week between Christmas and New Year's.  I look forward to babysitting a 9 year old boy named Ben for a few days.  We have big plans to discuss Harry Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, well playing legos and watching Despicable Me.

Life has never been so good.