Portland: Production

Papers are being finalized and production of the magazine will start soon! I am happy to get things rolling with the design of the magazine and placing articles and photos onto pages!

The title of the publication was decided a couple of weeks ago. The class chose: 

The Affecter

Portland: Plan of Attack

Hey all!

So I have two parts in the overall production of the publication we are creating for EN-200.

I am on a team of three researching Govt. v.s. Private food donations/organizations and basic aid, as well as how to get involved, how to find basic aid, and holiday giving trees.

I am also on the design team and am very excited to help put all the components together and see the finished publication through! I already have some layout ideas floating around my head.

I am Bankrupt Without Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 from the NLT, NIV, and Message Bibles:

Love is Patient

Love is Kind

Love does not Envy (is not Jealous)

Love is not Boastful or Proud

Love is not Rude

Love is not Selfish

Love does not Anger Easily

Love Forgives (keeps no record of wrongs)

Love Rejoices in the Truth

Love never Gives Up

Love always Protects

Love always Trusts…Never loses Faith

Love always Hopes

Love Endures…Love always Perseveres

Love “Never Looks Back but Keeps Going to the End”

To Die For

This last weekend I went to church with my boyfriend and his family. After church we went out to lunch at a little restaurant in Se Portland that is SO good! It is called Pine State Biscuits (http://www.pinestatebiscuits.com/)

If you haven't ever been there, put it on your list of places to eat before you die! (or leave Portland)

I had a biscuit sandwich with fried chicken, an egg, and cheese. WOW! Best fried chicken I have ever tasted and the biscuit comes in second only to the chicken.

I am getting hungry just telling you about it!

(however, this little gem is full of all that stuff we aren't supposed to eat...so maybe just a treat once a year...or a month ;))

Portland: Groups

Today in class we started focusing on what themes/aspects of Homelessness and Poverty that we want to cover or that seems like it would be interesting to research.

The team I am on (Alyssa, Jennika, and myself) will be focusing on the access to basic needs such as food and shelter. Another aspect that a classmate suggested, that ties in and fits with the holidays coming up, is the giving trees that Salvation Army and Angel Tree have for the holidays and what are the "needs" for those.

I believe this will be an interesting aspect to cover and I am excited about the design/layout of the publication as well!

Portland: What's the Question?

Our class was broken up into three teams last class period. One team to read and discuss the statistics from the surveys we took earlier. Another to decide the major themes related to Poverty/Homelessness. Lastly, the team I was on, deciding the question to answer.

"What is the governing question that we want to know?" is what our professor asked us to get our brains moving.

Some different options the group came up with were:

• What were the major factors leading the homeless to where they are today and what keeps them there?
• Is the homeless lifestyle desirable to the individuals involved?
• Does the homeless population affect the citizens surrounding them?
• How much of the crime in Portland is associated to the homeless?
• How does the homeless population effect the economy?

After more discussion on what was we wanted to know and how to incorporate the above questions in our final result, we formed this question:

• How does  poverty/homeless affect Portland and the people of Portland?

Portland: Survey and Stats

The results from the survey are back. On Thursday we will have a final decision for our topic. The results were interesting to look at; statistics are fun to look at and discern in my opinion.

The four main aspects we are looking at, for Sex Trafficking, Poverty/Homelessness,
Street Art, and Education, are:

-Importance to You

-Sense of Urgency

-Affecting Portland

-Personal Knowledge

One of the other groups that was looking at the data suggested that we drop Education from the choice because the people who took the survey may have been confused on the meaning of it. Education could have meant the importance of getting an education and the education system. I thought this was a valid point.

Stand Together

Yesterday my friend Katie and I volunteered with Hands On Portland for Stand Together week. We went to Ockley Green School and worked in their school garden, getting it spruced up an ready for more planting in the seasons to come. Kris Boyd of the Portland Timbers and Timbers Joey were there volunteering too. He has a Scottish accent! It is so fun to listen to him talk. I love listening to people who have accents, there is just something so beautiful and intriguing about accents! That was a total bonus of going to volunteer.

Portland: Surveys

We have finalized our class survey asking for preliminary information to help our class determine what topic to research. The four to choose from are: Sex Trafficking, Poverty/Homelessness, Education, and Street Art. Each member of our class is to send out surveys to people we know in order to retrieve information from a large variety of people.

"A Rather Blustery Day"

The leaves are changing colors, the wind is blowing, and the sun is shining! I don't think I could ask for better fall weather!

The first day the wind started picking up the first thing that came to mind was this, "My what a blustery day. It must be a windsssday." I love that my childhood instilled such a great memory in me.

I've Done it Again!

So it seems that I am not very good about posting on a daily basis. Hm. I am not sure how to fix this. I will try though. It is a new month so I have a fresh start!

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Over the weekend I had my 21st birthday. Yeah that's right, 21. I feel kind of old but at the same time still new to the world. My older brothers came down to surprise me for my birthday and they took my younger brother and I out shopping and to lunch while they were here. New clothes definitely make this girl have a happy birthday! 

I was able to enjoy the unusually sunny day with my family and some close friends. I was reminded that day how blessed I am with the people I have in my life!

Down below is a picture of one of my favorite gifts from this year; a six pack from my little brother:

On a simpler note, the weather has been quite lovely lately and I am so glad that God has blessed us with the sunshine for a little bit longer!

Passing Days

Wow, the days have just flown by! I can't believe I've missed so many posting days, sorry about that!

~~~~~

Today in my daily travel home from work I saw a sign specifying what "city" I live in. I know you are probably thinking "wow really a sign is something cool to write about?" Well yes, yes it is! I live in a little part of Clackamas County that is usually not recognized or known and today I saw a sign with my little "city's" name! That discovery made my day. I love finding new little things in my daily travels.

Critters & Flowers

David, his cousin, and I went out adventuring today on a disc golf course. Before heading to the course we went around town in search of disc golf frisbees. There were none to be found. We went to three or four stores and had no luck; I suppose that's what happens in small towns. There was nobody out on the course when we got there. Beautiful day and an empty course, what a sad sight indeed. However, we had a wonderful time and found ourselves some critters friends and pretty wildflowers!

Roadtrip

Yesterday evening my boyfriend and I headed off to Madras to visit his relatives. I watched Stranger Than Fiction in the car. It was very different an I enjoyed it which is surprising because I'm not a big fan of Will Ferrel as an actor.

I love driving over to central Oregon, one of the best trips to drive!

We have plans to go to Sonic this evening which would be awesome because I have never been there!

The weather is amazing over hers and I will be sad to leave to sunshine for the rain!

Gummy Bears, Sharpies, Pikachu, and Mustaches

I was able to visit my Muffin last night!

(Muffin --> MFN --> Maddy's initials)

Maddy was my first friend in high school, she refused to see my shyness and simply broke through. She helped me to be more outgoing. She encourages me, loves me, tells me when I'm being stupid, is opinionated and knows what she stands for and believes in. Maddy is one of the truest friends you could ask for!

Yeah, that's Maddy, posing for the camera as always!

She is moving on Sunday. Time sure does fly. Four years of friendship, adventures, relationships, break-ups, projects, car rides, college classes, growing in faith, and growing up. I am going to miss her so much and I hardly see her as it is. She is one of those friends that you can not talk to for months on end and then meet up one day and just talk for hours about everything.

She will always have a special place in my heart

I suggested we become pen pals even though we will only be living five hours form each other. There is nothing quite like writing and receiving hand written letters! I will miss the sharpie drawings, gummy bears, mustaches, Pikachu love, and slurpee adventures, but I am excited to see her start the next chapter in her life.

Thank God for paper, pens, envelopes, stamps, and post offices!

In ode to Maddy, a mustache on a stick. Long live Mustaches (and Pikachu)!

An Average Day

Yesterday I was emailed my work schedule. Two fantastic things were in this email. 1) I don't this weekend at all! 2) I am not scheduled to work on my birthday! I am so excited about this!

I get to enjoy the entire weekend without work hanging over my head and I will have time to get homework done and housework done.

I have been hoping that I would have my birthday off so that I could celebrate with my friends and family. Now I can! I have absolutely no idea what we will do, but whatever we do will be fun.

Oh, one other thing that was in my work schedule...three days of work! YES! Days off and a three day work week (for me this is a long but great work week) how blessed can one girl be?!

~~~~~

In other news, the weather is starting to turn more into an Oregon fall. Wet and chilly. I can't say that I am super excited about this, but I am not dreading it either. It brings warm drink and cuddle weather with it.

I have also noticed that some of the leaves are starting to change and drift to ground covering. I am looking forward to all of the bright fall colors! They are breathtaking and worth the wait of winter, spring, and summer!

Common Day of Service

Today was Common Day of Service at my college. The team I went with was up on Mt. Tabor. We worked on pulling ivy out to give the native plants a better chance at growing strong and thriving! I love this kind of work and it was such a blessing to spend it with the group of people I was with. We ended up pulling about thirty piles worth of ivy.

Fall Sunshine

I spent almost all of my free time in the sunshine today! It felt so nice to soak up that vitamin D! I think I enjoy fall sunshine the most because it is chilly then it warms up and then it cools off again to the perfect temperature. I am so grateful to be able to enjoy such a wonderful creation!

Pink Carnations and A Poem

What a beautiful and glorious day God blessed us with today! Bright sunshine, warm weather, and good company. I spent the majority of my day on campus. Met with my adviser and a classmate and I interviewed the school nurse. The interview was quite interesting. We learned about what the school was like "way back when" and what the people were like too. It was fun meeting her and hearing her stories from her days in school and her thoughts on things now.

My guy came over this evening after he worked all day and brought me a bouquet of pink and white carnations! That was a wonderful surprise to end a great day!

~~~~~

When you came over every night I was sick and stayed by my side

I think I knew then

When I got off the plane and you were the first person I saw at the airport

I think I knew then

When you and I went out after graduation and just talked

I think I knew then

When my brother gave you the hardest time at my grad party

I think I knew then

When we went out dancing the first time

I think I knew then

When we exchanged phone numbers in the hallway at school

I hoped then

When you asked me to stay for a dance after class every week

I hoped then

Now...

I know

The Day of Rest

AH! I can't believe I forgot to post yesterday. The day just got away from me, but as a friend told me this morning, "It was Sunday, day of rest!"

~~~~~

Yesterday was not exciting by any means, but it was good. I got off of work four hours early and was able to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with my boyfriend and his family. I played outside for a little bit with his younger brother and sister, listened to him restring and tune a violin, watched him and his dad shoot a compact bow (I think that is what it was called), and went on a small hike. We talked about life as it is now and what we are doing, we talked about the future both near and far off. Families and expectations were also a part of our conversation. All in all a nice, relaxing Sunday spent in the glory of God's sunshine, creation, and blessing of second families!

NFL Swag

Nine A.M. woke up and rolled right out of bed. Put on some comfy sweats and headed to the grocery store. Yes, that is right I wen to the store in my pj's this morning. What can I say...there is a first time for everything! Luckily I am pretty sure I didn't get any weird looks!

~~~~~

Ten thirty this evening, my mom, roommate and I surprised my step-dad with some NFL support!

I am pretty sure he was stoked to get his new Steelers sweatshirt and cheering squad!
(My mom is sporting  a shirt too)

Blessings and Closets

So the plan today was: sleep, go to class, watch a frisbee tournament, head to work to pick up check, deposit check, head home. All goes as planned, but when I opened up my paycheck I notice as I am looking it over, I got three hours of overtime!

I know, I know, really, three hours and you're excited?

Yes I am very excited! It's the first time I have been paid overtime and I was not expecting it at all! For a broke college chick, those three little hours of overtime are a huge blessing!

~~~~~

On another note, when I finally made it home from all my adventuring (Yes, I am referring to my mundane tasks/errands as adventuring) my roommate comes home and asks if I wanna go to Plato's Closet with her. I decided to go. I had never been to Plato's Closet before but have been told on many occasions that I should go.
I. Love. Plato's Closet.
What a great secondhand clothing store! My roommate and I spent about an hour there looking through clothes and trying on shoes, what more could a girl ask for?

All in all a pretty great day of adventuring for this daily traveler!

The weekend lies ahead; good luck, good travels, and happy adventuring!

Portland: Surveys

This will be the first entry for my class assignment. In the future all posts pertaining to information about our class topic and research will be titled as "Portland:
{Insert Topic/Activity}".

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So far we have gone through the process of narrowing down topics for the most important "issues" in Portland. There were many submissions for what we, in the class, thought was most important and what other students thought was the most important. The four we have narrowed it down to now are: 

> Sex Trafficking

> Poverty/Homelessness

> Education

> Street Art

Now to clarify when we started coming up with "issues" it was specified that the term "issues" didn't necessarily mean something bad. Many ideas were good "issues" in Portland such as, being green, the parks and recreation we have, the food you can find everywhere, and thing of that nature. That is why street art made the top four, but isn't always considered a bad "issue".

Today in class we discussed questions to put together a survey to send out on campus. We have worked on outlining this survey in a couple of other class times as well. We reached a solid point of what our purpose was and what it was we wanted to know about and from the faculty, staff, and students on campus. We are scheduled to get the survey completed and sent out by next Thursday!

Live in the Cafeteria

Today after English class, my friend Alyssa and I were working on homework in the cafeteria. A couple tables over there were two guys messing around on a guitar and harmonica. They played "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes, a song I had never heard before, it was so good that it took me out of my homework trance! After they were done Alyssa and I clapped in appreciation and a guy that had just walked in to the cafeteria said "Oh dang I thought that was for me!"

So fun!

~~~~~

I think I like the version I heard in the cafeteria better, but it is still a great song!

Golden Crowns

Today I deviated from my normal route home because of construction on the road I drive on the majority of the time. And I was blessed with this little change in scenery. As I turned on to a neighborhood road I found myself faced with beautiful golden crowns atop long green staffs...or in other words tall and beautiful sunflowers! The first I have seen all year. It was such a blessing to be able to see such a beautiful creation after my day at school!

"Good Things Come in Pink Boxes"

Today was filled with little moments that totally made my day!

After attending chapel I head to my car to grab my lunch and drop off some books. Low and behold there is something on my windshield. As I walk towards my car I hear a couple walking to their bike and the girl says, "Oh, that is so cute!" They see me and ask if it is my car, "It is" I say. "Ohhhhh that is so sweet! Why don't you do that for me?"

There was a small bouquet of flowers and a sweet note on my car from my boyfriend!

What a way to start my day; flowers and a note made my heart soar

My day continued as any normal day on campus would, a couple classes, working on some homework, and hanging out with classmates.

Later in the evening I check my phone and there is a voice mail from none other than my guy. He called to let me know that he left a box of doughnuts on my porch! Needless to say my family and roommates were thrilled to have such a treat!

Cut all the doughnuts into pieces because I couldn't decide which one sounded the best

These small actions just made my day and I will treasure the memories for a long time.

My Goal

Alright, so the original reason that I started this blog was for a class, but then I got to thinking, "It would be kind of nice to have a place to just post and talk about what is going on everyday." So instead of just a blog for a class about a certain topic, I will be posting (hopefully) something everyday even if it is just one sentence long. I will write about life, travel, school, work, friends, family, faith....really anything that is happening at the time. I will also be posting about a topic for the class I am taking, since it is a requirement of the class! I thought I might as well make it fun as well as productive!

Now for the name, Daily Traveler, no it does not mean I go some new and exciting place everyday. Simply that I am going from one place to another each day with the expectation of adventure. Nothing huge, it could be as simple as watching a new sunrise as I drive to school, hearing a new song on the radio on my way to work, or driving a different way home. I want to enjoy the beauty that God creates everyday; experience the adventure of today.

Each and every day holds the possibility of memories and moments. Memories and moments that I could remember for a lifetime, memories and moments that create stories I want to tell to my friends, family, and my kids (when I have them).

~~~~~

So all in all that is my goal for this blog. I hope you enjoy it and who knows, maybe it will inspire you to adventure too!

(Oh, and I will probably be posting some rather opinionated things pertaining to topics for my class, these are my opinions and/or classmates opinions and I am in no way forcing them on anyone. Read at your own risk or benefit!)