i tried to ford the river, but my oxen died

I’m not sure what to call this one. So I didn’t. It’s been raining a lot recently. But then this is Portland, so that shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Despite not having money, I recently purchased a Columbia Sportswear water-proof winter jacket. It was a bit expensive, but so worth it. And it was on sale, which they don’t do, so I went for it. Columbia Sportswear is to Portland what LL Bean is to Freeport, Maine. So there that is.

I still haven’t heard back from the interview at PSU, but I never expected to get that job anyway. Yesterday I had another interview at PSU at a different college, this one for Engineering (I asked. They’re not your sort.) It was the same deal. A panel interview and I left thinking they liked me but I wasn’t getting the job. Especially since the one lady was giving me advice on applying for future jobs. That’s okay. I didn’t think that job was quite for me either.

Well, today was another day. Another rainy day. But a good rainy day. On a lesser note, I did get my new Oregon driver’s license in the mail. That was fun, but I have to say Pennsylvania does a much better job. Not only do they give you the licenses within a few minutes, the design is much cooler.

And in more important news, John’s feelings came true (you and your feelings!). My friend Jessica works at a temp agency, which I despise, mostly because they’ve never done me any good. She said it wouldn’t hurt to sign up with them anyway, so I did. I had nothing to lose, and it was easier since I got to fast track a lot of the processes. Well, they found me a potential job at OHSU, which stands for Oregon Health & Science University. They wanted to interview me, which I thought odd since it was through a temp agency. But it seems that the only people who want me are from institutes of higher learning.

So this afternoon I walked over to one of their satellite offices about a brisk fifteen minute walk from my apartment. I met a handful of people and I was eventually brought to a conference room and interviewed by someone high up. One of the first things he asked me was “If you had to find out how many gas stations Portland needed, how would you go about doing that?” After I told him, he then told me to take minutes on what he was about to tell me without actually writing anything down. So he went off for about three to five minutes about a new system they’ve implemented and then I had to regurgitate as best I could what I had just heard. Apparently he just wanted to see what kind of person I was and how I thought. I think I did okay.

After he ran to another meeting, I was interviewed by Doctor Tom. I’m not sure what his job was other than being an MD, but he was also a higher up. He just wanted me to talk about myself. So I did. He seemed like a nice guy. After all that, my initial contact there showed me around the office and the different floors they occupied. She was surprised that I was temping and thought I was a shoe-in for the job. I felt good about everything, including that, but unfortunately she had no official say in whether I got the job.

Well, after I got back to my apartment I got a call from my friend at the temp agency and she told me that they decided to hire me. Yeah for new jobs! I still have to go through HIPPA training and some paperwork, but I should be starting either Friday or Monday. Now I desperately need to go shopping for “real clothes.” This will be the first job I’ve ever had that I actually had to dress up at. It’s only business casual, but I’m spoiled after SWS

And I had pictures for you, including some of the local trains, but they just went MIA. Now I have twice as many of one set, and none of the ones I wanted. They weren’t anything important, I’ll just have to take them again.

So that’s been my week. Oh, and I answered an advert on Craigslist for people who wanted to play Mah Jong, so I’m going to meet up with them on Sunday and teach them how to play. And that I always win.

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I hope everyone had a tryptofantastic day yesterday. I know I did. I went with my friend to her friend’s house out in The Dalles. That’s about two hours east of PDX. It was just the three of us, so it was a nice simple meal. And while that was cooking, we went to the bluffs overlooking the Columbia River and Washington state. I have a few photos of them on Picasa if you’re interested.

Today was the Macy’s Parade. For reasons unknown, they have it the day after Thanksgiving here. But the nice this is that the parade route went right past my apartment, so I got to watch it in my pyjamas. I did manage to take a bunch of photos. I can’t say that they’re horribly interesting, but they’re worth a look if you’re bored.

Oh, and I passed my driver’s test the second time around. I spent the entire evening before memorising all those “useless” facts and distances and can now recite pointless driving rules. And then none of them were on the test the next day; it was all common sense questions. Go figure. Other than a different interview I have on Tuesday (I forget if I mentioned that already), nothing much else in new.

So there that is.

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I almost don’t want to write this yet because I’m afraid it won’t come true. But I think my apartment search is finally over. And let me tell you, it’s been a stressful few days here.

A friend of mine described renting in Portland like bidding on something from ebay. You have to be dedicated or someone else will snatch it from under you, often within minutes. That’s actually happened a few times this week. Yesterday, a girl beat me to a place by ten minutes. Ten bloody minutes. It’s crazy here.

But not today. Today I decided to sit in front of the computer with one hand on the F5 button the other on my phone. And I sat. And I waited. Eventually an apartment came available and I called within minutes. Hour later I was downtown viewing it. I filled out an application, and he said as long as I’m not a convicted felon there shouldn’t be any problem. As I filled it out, another girl showed up to view it. I so beat her by five minutes.

Were it not for me, that place would have been filled within an hour and a half of posting. That’s how fast things go around here. It’s amazing anyone who actually has a full time job can even find a place. Conversely, it’s amazing that anyone who doesn’t have a full time job can find a place.

At any rate he said he’d know by tonight or tomorrow morning whether I pass the credit check or not. So as soon as I get that call, I’ll go down and sign the lease and it’ll be mine! All mine! I’ll let you know when that happens.

Oh, and it’s small. Really small. But I like to think of it as cosy. That and I don’t actually own anything at the moment, so I don’t really need space. Location, Location, Location! And mine’s a doozy!

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I like Portland so far. Granted it’s only been a week and a half, but I don’t think I’ll have a problem with my five-year plan. My only concern right now is me being jobless. In all reality, I’d be surprised if I actually found a job within a week and a half of getting here. But all the same, the fact that I have no source of income is always looming in the background.

On the plus side, and thanks to the 3.6 billion resumes I’ve sent out, I do have an upcoming interview with PSU (Portland State, not Penn). The clever among you, will remember that that is the school at which I hope to matriculate. Should I get the job, I would get a tuition reduction, which would be greatly beneficial. But I could only take a few classes at a time, so my three year Masters would take me fifteen instead.

And that’s all based on me actually getting said job. Mind you, when I said I have a scheduled interview, I should point out that it’s not until the 14th. So I have a lifetime of waiting between now and then. And in all reality, I can’t stop job searching on the hopes that I get this particular job. So I keep looking. But it’s nice to know that at least someone is biting.

When not taking the Interwebs by storm, I’ve been occupying myself with reading, movies, walking and the like. Entertaining myself is a job skill I picked up in China. I’ve also made a new friend here. So occasionally I’ll hang out with her and her boyfriend, and on occasion her boyfriend’s friends. I’ve gotta meet people somehow, eh? They’re all transplants as well, of varying length.

And finally, I will be evicted from my temporary residence on the 22nd. So I’ve also been on the lookout for a place to live. Last week I mentioned going to see a place, but a lot has happened in the past week. Not knowing for sure when my friend Holly is moving out here, I’ve decided to go for a single bedroom. I found a place yesterday, and put my application in today. The only reason I would get turned down is because of the lack of job. But I’ve offered to pay the first two months of rent in advance if need be. I hope that will assuage them. It’s a really nice place, hardwood floors, quiet and conveniently located cattywompus to a small park. I really like the neighbourhood.

Speaking of which, I have a handful of choice phrases I choose to employ from time to time. A good number of them seemingly haven’t been heard in the northwest. So it would appear the time is right for introducing, shall we say, other lesser known… Hellpeckervillian sayings. I’ll let you know how that turns out.

So until next time!

Post Script: JNI, I have two phone numbers. A direct number and a permanent number. The direct number you can send text messages to, but that will be changing soon. The permanent number is the local number, that won’t be changing, but you also can’t send text messages there. It’s also the thing My won’t let us talk about. Enjoy!

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