Kitty Territory

Khaleesi has been very affectionate lately. I think being out of town for Portland, and then escaping for a night in San Diego, she gets lonely, and then overcompensates when I return. She has been very cuddly at night and sleeping on my chest, neck, or arm or just curling up close. Last night I woke up and she was right by my face and when I noticed that she was awake and grooming herself (so vain!) I pet her, and then she turned around and started grooming me. I actually love when cats lick my face, it's so strong, it feels like a facial or at least like I'm getting exfoliated.

I already know that cats licking you is a sign of companionship and territory and safety blah blah blah but I always love to look it up and reiterate it because I am a crazy cat lady who loves to know how much my cat loves me. So I was looking it up on a website and this picture came up as an example of how grooming each other is a social thing for cats.

WHY THIS PICTURE?! It is the epitome of DERP. It made me laugh. I wish these were my cats!

Just kidding, Khaleesi is the best.

UCR Goes Global

This has been a really busy week for me, and I think it's better I didn't grasp the whole idea of it so I didn't have to dread it in the weeks leading up to it; it's just crazy now and I'm relieved we're about halfway through! It's International Education Week, which, as you can imagine, is a huge deal for us, and we've had lots of crazy events and shindigs going on, with our capstone event being today at UCR Goes Global.

We spent the better part of the day out at the bell tower in the center of campus, tabling and having a program for students to participate in where they work for swag and cupcakes. We always coordinate it with the Wednesday nooners, so it was incredibly lively with all the groups, student organizations and clubs out, and then music performances too. The staff and student helps at our table had a lot of fun, and I got Adrian to take this picture with me, which as it turns out, you get free stuff if you are wearing UCR gear on Wednesday and take the picture. I got a car decal and I convinced Adrian to get the foam finger, haha!

We were also having a lunch for international students and I ate with a girl from Saudi Arabia and a guy from Israel and we had a grand ol time, talking economics and midterms. Well, they talked about midterms and I felt sorry for them.

The day was beautiful, by the way, and even hot in the sun. We need more events like that, it was nice to get out of the office with everyone! Tomorrow is game night. If only Cards Against Humanity would be appropriate... but I'll settle for some really defensive Sorry!

Friendsgiving 2014

What is this sorcery?? Friendsgiving has actually come and gone! And before you comment on how "early" Friendsgiving had to be, remember that Thanksgiving is almost a week later in November this year, so actually it probably has been just about an exact year since Friendsgiving 2013.

Pam and Priya continue to host, but this time held it at Pam's apartment, and there was the usual gathering and merriment. It was wonderful.

Jack brought his usual round of jello shots, Priya provided us with a vegetarian alternative to turkey, and Pearo surprised us with some vegetarian and turkey spring rolls that were amazing and a huge hit.

Kunal said we were being clique-y so we allowed him to jump into a picture with us

I crashed at Raf and Rob's since they were closer to the 15 freeway and I was having to get up around 5am to get up and drive in from San Diego today, and we took a lyft there and back, and we had an amazing Ukranian driver who repeatedly would ask "Ay! You want spayshul myusak?" I added my Friendsgiving memory to Rob's 2014 Memory Jar... which we will be opening in less than 2 months!

Here was the super-classy post-it notes I left for Raf & Rob since they weren't even close to getting up by the time I had to leave for work. Sleepy face!

The Once-Over

It was a normal morning, with the normal routine. Hair and teeth in the bathroom, feeding the Khaleesi, making coffee and lunch, and then into my room to get dressed.

Usually, Khaleesi is very hyper in the morning, running around and chasing her toys and running on and off the furniture, but this morning she was content to just lay on my bed. I was in and out of the closet, hustling back and forth between there and my dresser. I put on a red and cream Ann Taylor dress, a gold and white flower chain necklace, big rhinestone earrings, dark green suede wedges, then finished with a cream cardigan. I straightened everything out in the full length mirror, and in the reflection, caught Khaleesi eyeing me from her place on the bed.

I turned around to look at her, and, I am NOT KIDDING - SHE GAVE ME A ONCE OVER.

She was laying on her side, and kinda glancing over her stomach, looking something between confused and annoyed, something like this (it was the closest I could find)

And I'm not kidding - she straight up looked me over from head to toe, then turned right around and plopped on the bed facing away from me! What a brat! I need to stop telling her how beautiful she is - it's going to her head!

Commissioned by Reginald

Portland in Fall

I had the best week ever in Portland. Best. Week. Ever! What a great time it was. And everything, from plane rides to check-ins, so incredibly smooth and easy, and perfection. Even the weather was glorious! It only rained one morning and I was in sessions the whole time so it didn't bother me. I got to comfortably wear boots, scarves and jackets and enjoy the colors and river and Portland!

From the beginning: I had a busy Monday night, got home to pack. Khaleesi was interested in my honey wheat stick pretzel and yes, actually even ate this. Then she tried to prevent me from packing more.

In the morning I was set to go, dressed for cooler weather, and headed to the airport. It was so nice to be able to drive and park! And because I forgot how small Ontario is, and was even flying out of the second terminal, I was actually the only person in security and had an hour and a half to kill, which, thanks to my laptop, went quite quick. Coming into the PNW you could see Mt Hood above the clouds!

Arriving in Portland, it was my instinct to take the public transportation but... classic overpacker that I am, and with work footing the bill, I went and grabbed a cab. I was at the waterfront Marriott and was treated like royalty (remember this, it comes into play later). I checked into my 10th floor river view room, checked into the conference, which didn't really have anything going until a networking event that night, so I headed out into the city for a walk.

Nice little Oregon landmark. Don't forget that nice note in the top corner!

That night was a networking reception. I showed up, cashed in my free drink, and then got caught in a few yawn-inducing circles that made me want to run right back up to my room, put on Ja'mie King and go to sleep, but thanks for being the over-indulger that I am, I decided to get a plate of snacks first. I had a beer in one hand, a plate in the other, and needed a place to sit. I scanned the room and saw an empty table, save for two girls about my age sitting and talking to themselves. I sat down, excusing myself for interrupting, saying "Sorry, I just need a place to eat my cheese".

In most cases, people just say that's fine, and continue on. As it happens, these were my soul-friend-mates, and being that they were so incredibly friendly and sweet, I hit it off with them, and they ended up being my BFFs for the whole conference. I am so happy that I sat down at that table that first night!! It turns out that the vendors and exhibitors at these conference run on the same circuit together, so many of these people knew each other from previous conferences and always run into each other at the events, which was pretty cool, and I got welcomed into their circle.

After the networking event, the girls Erin and Julia invited me out to dinner with them. We went with a group of us to Portland City Grill, a rooftop view of all of Portland. And can I tell you how cheap this place is? All these restaurants do nighttime happy hours, so starting at 9p, they do happy hour again to close. We got entrees and rounds and including tip, it was $20!! And this was a swanky upscale place! We played drinking games until the place shut down, then went by the infamous VooDoo doughnuts.

My daytimes were devoted to sessions, which was informative and great, and I met so many awesome people from universities and other educational institutes from all over our two regions. I went and had sushi with a guy from Washington who had just moved there, and we had lots to talk about because of our interest with Native American Student Programs, it was crazy.

The coffee breaks in the afternoons were DANGEROUS. One day was completely VooDoo doughnuts... the other was Haagen Dazs, ice cream bars, root beer floats, caramel corn, chocolate covered pretzels, cookies and fruit. I stayed and had everything. Then took more up to my room. Oops.

That night was an 80s dance party. I didn't dress 80s, I figured I was the 80s outfit. They had a Michael Jackson impersonator who was in love with Julia, in the same way that Ben Franklin was in love with Pam, and a photobooth! I ended up on the conference instagram during the electric slide... why is no one doing the same move? I don't think there was that much alcohol...

After the event, Julia, Erin, Ali and I went out for drinks at a whiskey bar, then got Thai, then hit up the Rainbow SIG conference party.

Please listen to this. My Thai bill was $7. That was an entree of pad thai, and a large Singha beer. For $7. THAT WAS DINNER. Oh don't worry, it gets better. The Rainbow SIG party at Slaughterhouse had $1 drinks. Are you hearing that? $1 drinks, $1 shots. Jayna, I know we thought Austin was amazing when I got two Uncle Carls' for $5, but Portland now takes the cake!

Let's see, more sessions, more networking, more friends. On the last night of the conference, we went to a riverside party hosted by some group, which equaled free drinks. Then we went to the hotel bar and got hot apple pie drinks, played drinking games, then ended up in the hot tub, singing and playing with the handicap chair to enter the hot tub and pool.

The last day was a little sad. I had a few morning sessions, then saying goodbye to people around as I passed them, exchanging business cards everywhere, and running up to shower and pack and check out by 1, and from there walked to my hostel in NW.

Remember when I said Marriott treated me like royalty? Well, they did. And then checking into my little hostel where they hand you your sheets and you make your own bed... lololololol. I almost understand the diva concept a little bit. It's hard to go from one extreme to another! But hey, the Marriott loved me! But it was great, and my hostel was in a beautiful old building, with a deck and a balcony. I checked in, got settled, then read outdoors while drinking dry lavender soda, which was an extra I saved from the conference.

I went out and warmed myself with pho (mmmm) and then walked up the hills into Washington Park, where I saw the rose garden and the Japanese Garden, supposedly the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. There were such beautiful views and I loved seeing Mt Hood in the distance over the river, and seeing the hills covered in pines everywhere else, it was such a nice site.

Can you see the crazy spider??

Look at that name at the bottom of the statue! We're not worthy!

See the pumpkin?

I made it back to my hostel to warm up and freshen up, then went out for dinner (pizza and my newest favorite beer, Portland-local Drop Top, an amber ale that is almost as good as Yuengling, which I can never find on the west coast!!) then went to see Wild Cub & Bleachers at the Crystal Ballroom.

The show was AMAZING. I'm not sure if Jack Antonoff is just a good performer, or Portland is a great crowd, but it was one helluva show, and the venue was cool and perfect walking distance from my hostel.

I slept in on Saturday, then got everything ready for check out. I took a walk down toward the river, getting an amazing coffee and almond pastry at a small coffee shop called Pearl, then hit the Saturday market, Powell's City of Books (which requires a map!) walking halfway across the Burnside Bridge, and I went by the Chinese Garden, but they wanted you to pay to enter, and I had already done that with the Japanese garden, and I knew I wouldn't be in there too long, so I just took one picture through some brick holes. Oops.

The weather was gorgeous. My cab driver back to the airport was friendly. Portland was so welcoming and kind and beautiful. And then I got to come home and be reunited with this little Khaleesi beauty!



And yesterday was all unpack and catch up. And then I have tomorrow off too. What a great week! I miss you Portland, and I miss the conference and all my friendyssssss! On another note, I officially need to invest in a GoPro.