This is a short post as I have tons to do today! Most importantly, I am trotting my tush (beguiling though shrinking as it may be, to date, I've lost 43 or so pounds since the beginning of October! Hooray for swimming and working out and being happy!) down to the local Social Security office to show them our certified marriage certificate so I can now do everything official, like file taxes,etc. under my new name!
Jeff and I are so happy in our new house and in our new neighborhood!
Last night, because it was my brother's birthday and, just because we could, we went to The Goodfoot for their regular Monday night open mic. It was so wonderful to realize that we could do that and still be home at a reasonable hour. Needless, we love our new neighborhood, our new life and all of the doors that being married, out of Beaverton, not tied to Jeff's former marriage in any way, living in our wonderful house that needs work (so we get to live in it as it takes shape, just like us and our lives) are bringing to us! A common refrain in our house between Jeff and I is, "I love you more everyday"! I am so happy we are now in a position to share that love with all of our friends and family and with Ethan, especially, who we get to see in Las Vegas in just over a week!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Milestones
19 February, 2010. It's a big day. As of today, Jeff and I have been married two months and we have lived in our new home exactly one week! The combination of those two events, the commemoration of our marriage and the one week anniversary of our residence in our new home, thrills me and yet doesn't surprise me at all!
We are starting to feel at home in our new house and, have always felt at home, at peace, excited about and, completely secure in our unity as a couple.
It is a welcome surprise to find ourselves having escaped Beaverton unscathed and completely in love with each other and our new/old lives in inner South East Portland.
To paraphrase a good friend of ours, " It is so nice to be in a home that reflects us and a neighborhood in which we feel like we can breathe and grow and become ourselves, as a couple and as individuals, as a family... Death to the liminality of our life in Beaverton!"
Absolutely! We are so happy to be starting anew, finally! I don't think it has really hit us how lucky we are to be in living in the area we are in, no more then 3 minutes by car to just about anywhere we would want to be and within very easy walking/public transit access to the entire Portland universe.
The joy and the novelty of walking to pick up good chinese food (an 11 minute door to door round trip, including payment and pick up!) on Wednesday after work, was not lost on either Jeff or I! It's the little things sometimes!
Sure, we still have a basement full of boxes to deal with and sometimes have trouble remembering where we put the bowls, etc... but we are home and we are together and that means more to me and to Jeff then I think either of us could have anticipated.
For Jeff, living in a house built in 1920 is a big transition but, I think, a welcome one- for me, it feels like coming home. And even though I know a 90 year old house is only old in the North American sense, it feel familiar to me and I am glad to be able to ease Jeff into living in a house that has a soul and a positive history rather then ghosts of past residents and relationships and a negative history, a feeling that hung over us for the entire time that we "lived" in Jeff's old house in Beaverton.
Such a wonderful feeling to wake up everyday and be happy, not naive, not unaware that life and, love and being in a family and, a community takes daily work and commitment but, we are so happy to finally be here. We love our little bungalow and can't wait for Ethan to come stay with us and, for friends and family to come enjoy our new home with us. We have truly arrived! I will try to post pictures soon. Also, I sent out an email with our new contact info to most of you but, for those of you who were not on that list, feel free to email me at: aviva@eberlin.net for our street address, phone number(s), etc...
Love, Light, and (a rare moment) of Portland early Spring sunshine to you all! I've just written this whole blog soaking up vitamin D while basking in the sun on our front porch, as Flynn kitty looks on from behind the screen door- a new favorite occupation of his.
Be well, all!
We are starting to feel at home in our new house and, have always felt at home, at peace, excited about and, completely secure in our unity as a couple.
It is a welcome surprise to find ourselves having escaped Beaverton unscathed and completely in love with each other and our new/old lives in inner South East Portland.
To paraphrase a good friend of ours, " It is so nice to be in a home that reflects us and a neighborhood in which we feel like we can breathe and grow and become ourselves, as a couple and as individuals, as a family... Death to the liminality of our life in Beaverton!"
Absolutely! We are so happy to be starting anew, finally! I don't think it has really hit us how lucky we are to be in living in the area we are in, no more then 3 minutes by car to just about anywhere we would want to be and within very easy walking/public transit access to the entire Portland universe.
The joy and the novelty of walking to pick up good chinese food (an 11 minute door to door round trip, including payment and pick up!) on Wednesday after work, was not lost on either Jeff or I! It's the little things sometimes!
Sure, we still have a basement full of boxes to deal with and sometimes have trouble remembering where we put the bowls, etc... but we are home and we are together and that means more to me and to Jeff then I think either of us could have anticipated.
For Jeff, living in a house built in 1920 is a big transition but, I think, a welcome one- for me, it feels like coming home. And even though I know a 90 year old house is only old in the North American sense, it feel familiar to me and I am glad to be able to ease Jeff into living in a house that has a soul and a positive history rather then ghosts of past residents and relationships and a negative history, a feeling that hung over us for the entire time that we "lived" in Jeff's old house in Beaverton.
Such a wonderful feeling to wake up everyday and be happy, not naive, not unaware that life and, love and being in a family and, a community takes daily work and commitment but, we are so happy to finally be here. We love our little bungalow and can't wait for Ethan to come stay with us and, for friends and family to come enjoy our new home with us. We have truly arrived! I will try to post pictures soon. Also, I sent out an email with our new contact info to most of you but, for those of you who were not on that list, feel free to email me at: aviva@eberlin.net for our street address, phone number(s), etc...
Love, Light, and (a rare moment) of Portland early Spring sunshine to you all! I've just written this whole blog soaking up vitamin D while basking in the sun on our front porch, as Flynn kitty looks on from behind the screen door- a new favorite occupation of his.
Be well, all!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Transitions a plenty!
Firstly, apologies for not posting pictures of Jeff and my visit with Ethan in Ohio, yet! I fully intend to do so but, as the title belies, this last few weeks have hit the zenith of transitions! Jeff and I are also excited to be going to Vegas for the first weekend in March to see Ethan at Jeff's parents house, perhaps I will post a blog full of Ethan pics after what I'm sure will be a fun and exciting family weekend!
All of these transitions are wonderful, scary, joyous, stressful, deadline driven, fast-paced and ultimately, the best thing to happen to Jeff and I since well, our wonderful wedding!
2010 is certainly turning out to be our year! We are still blissfully happy and more and more in love with each other and our ability to support each other, be resilient, positive, engaged in the world and our community, work together and strive always for what is best for our selves as individuals, as a couple and, as a support for our loved ones, family and close friends. This of course includes our parents on both sides, our siblings and their partners on both sides, and of course, and always, Ethan!
The big news is that we are moving out of Beaverton, finally! It is such a liberating feeling to know that we will have a place of our own in which our love and our commitment to each other, our sense of partnership and family can grow- unburdened by the ghost of Jeff's former marriage.
We have been so lucky in finding each other and being able to work through some incredibly difficult times and issues, many of which most couples don't face or weather successfully, ever that it is almost not surprising that the house we are moving into was the second one we looked at!
We were officially accepted as renters in the middle of last week which meant that much of our time last week was spent packing and organizing a move in hopes of but not, certainty that ,we would be accepted and yet, having no choice as the Beaverton house closes on the 16th of February!
Our plan is to rent for a year or two and then consider our options as far as whether to buy a home or continue to rent.
We are thrilled to have found a beautiful 1920's bungalow with a huge partially finished basement, new back deck and front porch, and tons of yard space for planting in both the front and back yards! The house needs work but we seem to have found a management company that is very proactive and aware of the work that needs doing.
The house has three bedrooms and tons of gorgeous period details like built in glass front shelves, quirky walk in closets, a claw footed bath tub in a bathroom with wonderful tile work and, the piece de' resistance, a wonderful 1920's kitchen! The house as a whole has tons of storage space and lots of character! It has three bedrooms, one of which we are using as a den and, the other we are setting up as a room for Ethan and/or any guests who want to come visit!
The house is smack in the middle of inner SE Portland, no more then 7 minutes from my Mom's house, the house that Jeremy and Melissa will be living in soon, many friends and loved ones, coffee shops, restaurants, great transit links, music venues, etc... This move is going to change our lives in so many ways and, it is about time! We will no longer be "fish out of water" in suburban-bedroom community land but, close to our friends and family and in prime position to pursue our passions and truly experience Portland!
Even though this move (as all moves are) is difficult and tiring, we are so very thrilled about the positive effects that this will have on Jeff and my lives and so excited to be able to share that life with Ethan when he comes to spend time with us!
So far Jeff and I have proven to be a great (and rather fast!) moving team.
This is a great learning experience for both of us; For Jeff it is a new experience to live in an older home and to have a partner who is equally invested and involved in doing the work needed to make the move happen.
For me, it is a new experience to share the moving process with a partner, to realize that while my vast knowledge and experience of inner and transcontinental moves is useful here, I have only ever done those moves on my own. It is great to have a partner who is appreciative of my packing, hauling, organizing and, moving prowess while not expecting me to do all of it!
Feel free to come visit! When we are fully out of the Beaverton house, in a week, exactly- I will send out new address announcements! Much love and smooth transitions, whatever they may be, to you all!
All of these transitions are wonderful, scary, joyous, stressful, deadline driven, fast-paced and ultimately, the best thing to happen to Jeff and I since well, our wonderful wedding!
2010 is certainly turning out to be our year! We are still blissfully happy and more and more in love with each other and our ability to support each other, be resilient, positive, engaged in the world and our community, work together and strive always for what is best for our selves as individuals, as a couple and, as a support for our loved ones, family and close friends. This of course includes our parents on both sides, our siblings and their partners on both sides, and of course, and always, Ethan!
The big news is that we are moving out of Beaverton, finally! It is such a liberating feeling to know that we will have a place of our own in which our love and our commitment to each other, our sense of partnership and family can grow- unburdened by the ghost of Jeff's former marriage.
We have been so lucky in finding each other and being able to work through some incredibly difficult times and issues, many of which most couples don't face or weather successfully, ever that it is almost not surprising that the house we are moving into was the second one we looked at!
We were officially accepted as renters in the middle of last week which meant that much of our time last week was spent packing and organizing a move in hopes of but not, certainty that ,we would be accepted and yet, having no choice as the Beaverton house closes on the 16th of February!
Our plan is to rent for a year or two and then consider our options as far as whether to buy a home or continue to rent.
We are thrilled to have found a beautiful 1920's bungalow with a huge partially finished basement, new back deck and front porch, and tons of yard space for planting in both the front and back yards! The house needs work but we seem to have found a management company that is very proactive and aware of the work that needs doing.
The house has three bedrooms and tons of gorgeous period details like built in glass front shelves, quirky walk in closets, a claw footed bath tub in a bathroom with wonderful tile work and, the piece de' resistance, a wonderful 1920's kitchen! The house as a whole has tons of storage space and lots of character! It has three bedrooms, one of which we are using as a den and, the other we are setting up as a room for Ethan and/or any guests who want to come visit!
The house is smack in the middle of inner SE Portland, no more then 7 minutes from my Mom's house, the house that Jeremy and Melissa will be living in soon, many friends and loved ones, coffee shops, restaurants, great transit links, music venues, etc... This move is going to change our lives in so many ways and, it is about time! We will no longer be "fish out of water" in suburban-bedroom community land but, close to our friends and family and in prime position to pursue our passions and truly experience Portland!
Even though this move (as all moves are) is difficult and tiring, we are so very thrilled about the positive effects that this will have on Jeff and my lives and so excited to be able to share that life with Ethan when he comes to spend time with us!
So far Jeff and I have proven to be a great (and rather fast!) moving team.
This is a great learning experience for both of us; For Jeff it is a new experience to live in an older home and to have a partner who is equally invested and involved in doing the work needed to make the move happen.
For me, it is a new experience to share the moving process with a partner, to realize that while my vast knowledge and experience of inner and transcontinental moves is useful here, I have only ever done those moves on my own. It is great to have a partner who is appreciative of my packing, hauling, organizing and, moving prowess while not expecting me to do all of it!
Feel free to come visit! When we are fully out of the Beaverton house, in a week, exactly- I will send out new address announcements! Much love and smooth transitions, whatever they may be, to you all!
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