#335 Hosting the PNW Nomads
01 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Had a blast with Billy, Marissa, and Laine– PNW is a fun team! Got to enjoy hearing LiNK’s new Jangmadang presentation, and got to take them out to Killer Burgers afterwards for some peanut butter, bacon, pickle burgers.
#336 GTFF on Strike
02 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
My (sort of) union at my (sort of) job is (definitely) on strike… and they’re bringing some awesome picketing skills. In all seriousness, hopefully this gets worked out soon. Doesn’t seem like it would be too much to ask for the university to give some paid sick leave.
#337 Winter Shoes
03 December 2014 // Springfield, Oregon
Took this shot by accident but it turned out to be the best of the day. Stepping out onto the leaf-filled ground while heading towards Deanna’s house in the morning. One of my favorite parts of the day.
#338 Liberty Cold Brew
04 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
While the Nomads were in Eugene, I ended up buying some of LiNK’s Cold Brew. Merchandise has come a long way since I’ve been on tour, but in the words of Todd Barry, “After your first sip of COLD BREW coffee, it’s polite to stand up, look at the barista and go “DAMN! This brew is COLD!”
#339 Terwilliger Hot Springs
05 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Deanna decided that she wanted to plan one of our dates and surprise me. What does she pick? A hot springs in the middle of the Willamette National Forest during December.
#340 Springfield Christmas Parade
06 December 2014 // Springfield, Oregon
A really, really fun weekend continued! Deanna and I got to go to Downtown Springfield and watch the Christmas Parade. It was pretty fun getting to sit out with all the locals for our first Christmas in town.
#341 Sweet Write
07 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Spend the evening with a Maté Latte putting the finishing touches on a long writing project. It was a lovely, cozy Sunday night.
#342 Pam and Abby
08 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
This is our new friend Pam and her horse Abby. Pam runs a non-profit where she uses Abby to help special needs individuals and victims of sex trafficking learn important recovery skills. Deanna and I went over to Pam’s place to get a walk-through of her program and to see how we could get involved. Horses are amazing animals for therapy and learning social skills.
#343 The Suits
09 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Went out to town to look for my tuxedo, or whatever it is I’ll be wearing while getting married. The results were inconclusive.
#344 Cream Cheese Scone
10 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Did some reading and thinking about my thesis at Espresso Roma with two of my favorite snacks– a cream cheese scone and a white hot chocolate.
#345 Sunlit Walks
11 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Eugene had an unusual amount of blue skies and sunshine for the day, so it was impossible to not spend some of it walking around the neighborhood and enjoying the outside.
#346 Coffee & Eggs
12 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Slept in a little bit this morning, then spent it working on one of my favorites– big breakfast! Sausages, eggs, hash browns, and piping hot coffee.
#347 Christmas Light Drive
13 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Had an absolute great day with Deanna. Took a great morning walk, then enjoyed the Grinch at David Minor, then drove around at night with some Dutch Bros. to look at the Christmas lit houses.
#348 Gilead
14 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
I don’t know why it has taken me so long to read this book. It instantly became one of my favorites, hands down. I love reading over break.
#349 Public Market, Holiday Time
15 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Ran out to get a few random gift items from the market and from Provisions in the evening. Fun seeing it all decorated.
#350 Hoppyness is a Choice
16 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Went out to Elk Horn Brewery with Karla and Taylor, and Alli and Colin. When Deanna got around to joining us it became a triple date.
#351 Pad See Ew
17 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Basically spent the day taking a day long nap. But I also got to make Pad See Ew for the first time.
#352 Finale Time
18 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Went to sit outside by the holiday market while listening to the Serial season finale. And that’s that.
#353 Gateways Blackjack
19 December 2014 // Springfield, Oregon
Went to Deanna’s work party in the evening. In addition to the free food and drinks, there was also a mock game show and a casino set up.
#354 Let It Pour
20 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Deanna and I finally got around to eating at Falling Sky and we loved it. Lamb pastrami, easily one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a super long time.
#355 Visiting California
21 December 2014 // Carlsbad, California
Flew in to San Diego nice and early– it was my first time ever visiting California. Met up with Ben in Carlsbad and ate at a neat Armenian Café. Spent some time chatting and walking on the beach afterwards. This was pretty nice after being away for some time.
#356 Pannikin
22 December 2014 // Encinitas, California
Got to spend some time with Jeremy and go on a little field trip to Encinitas. Found Pannikin– a really neat work space with several different levels.
#357 The Ward
23 December 2014 // San Diego, California
Went to Tiger Tiger to catch up with Chris, for the first time since he got married. After recommending to him pretty much everything I’ve read and watched over the past couple of months, we then came up with an idea you’ll probably be hearing more about soon.
#358 A Family Christmas Eve
24 December 2014 // San Diego, California
Got to see my family and spend a wonderful Christmas Eve with them. I’m kinda glad we’ve slowly become a Christmas Eve family over time, because that allows me to enjoy two Christmases with different sets of people.
#359 First Christmas with Dee
25 December 2014 // Bakersfield, California
After dating for three years, we are finally able to spend Christmas Day together and that makes me really happy. My favorite Christmas Gift this year was my stepdad letting me use a car to get to Bakersfield to make this thing possible. My second favorite was this sweater Deanna’s mom made me.
#360 Fly Fishing with Rich
26 December 2014 // Kernville, California
Entered the world of Deanna’s dad when I asked him to take me fly fishing. The fish were totally MIA, but I loved it! I loved being outside, and I can only imagine how fun this is when the fish actually do bite. I could get into this.
#361 Nephew Playtime
27 December 2014 // Bakersfield, California
So glad that my time in California allowed me to get sufficient time playing with the nephews. Also, we got to see Colin and Judy for a hot minute while our paths crossed in town.
#362 Philippe's Bread
28 December 2014 // Portland, Oregon
Before returning to Eugene, I spent the day wandering around Portland and exploring, discovering several fun new places in the process. Also, breathing the Oregon air again felt really good.
#363 Back in the Neighborhood
29 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
After a week in California, Oregon feels a little bit empty, but not necessarily the bad sort of empty. It’s more like fertile ground where new adventures can grow.
#364 Winter Sun
30 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
Considering how little sun Eugene gets in the winter, having the sun light up the house like this in the morning has been a treat this week. A bit deceptive, though, as it’s actually pretty freezing.
#365 2014
31 December 2014 // Eugene, Oregon
This will be a year to remember for sure. So many adventures and new endeavors. How on earth are you supposed to top the year that you got engaged?? Oh yeah, there’s the year you get married.