My Memorial Weekend and My New Car

Last weekend was a couple of exhausting days! We celebrated 4 birthdays and drove to the coast and back and then to the Columbia River gorge and back. After a week of haggling and dealing with pushy salesmen, I finally got my new car! 2009 VW Jetta TDI. Yup...turbo diesel. I got a great deal on the car. Not only do I get a $1,300 alternative fuel tax credit but I can also get AMAZING gas mileage on fuel that is cheaper than the lowest grade (for now...::crosses fingers::).




Portland's annual Rose Festival kicked off with some fireworks Friday night at the waterfront




Hawthorne bridge after the smoke cleared out



Just detailed at the dealership.....about to take a road trip



...to Cannon Beach!



.........and Seaside! 2009 Green Car of the Year


...........and all the way to the highest point in Astoria


we went to Bonneville Dam and the fish hatchery the next day


beautiful pictures of the Columbia River Gorge after climbing Beacon Rock


watched some windsurfers and kiteboarders in Hood River, OR - the windsurfing capital of the world


we made our way to Lost Lake...yes Angela and I have matching black Jettas...that day we both inadvertently wore black North Face jackets, khaki shorts, and gray shoes.



...we found out why it was called Lost Lake! Mount Hood is calling your name Sunny.


That's the abridged version of this weekend. I have over 400 pics but who has the time really?
Tomorrow I'm heading into Seattle to look for apartments finally so hopefully next time I update there will be apartment pictures!

W

My New Life

On Tuesday May 19th, 2009, I said goodbye to my family and friends to embark on what is the next chapter of my life and stepping stone of my career. I'm starting residency June 25th and have roughly a month to buy a car, look for an apartment, and get settled before I begin the onslaught of internship. And the rest is history. ::cliche alert!::




The view of the city of brotherly love from my Embraer. Note to self: Never fly US Airways again.








As the plane descended into the western sunset, I immediately saw the beauty of the Pacific Northwest when the clouds dissipated. We followed the Columbia River demarcating the states of Orgeon and Washington and I got a great view of Eastern Portland and possibly the Gorge/Dalles area. I arrived in PDX at 9pm Pacific time and was greeted by Angela who had some Best Baguettes (http://www.bestbaguettesandwiches.com/) waiting for me in the car.


She totally read my mind. I was so hungry on the flight that I was chugging V8 tomato juice. And I don't particularly enjoy tomato juice. Note to self: US Airways is the pits. In order to welcome me to the NW and congratulate me on my graduation (totally uneccessary but it was all out of love) I received a handsome consolation prize. A Fodor's guide to the Pacific NW, a humorous Basic Training handbook to the NW, NorthFace windbreaker, and Manfrotto camera tripod and ball-head to boot. Someone did some research and found exactly what I've also have been eyeing. Thanks again!



That's it for now. I'm currently negotiating a deal on a 2009 Jetta TDI and am killing time while I wait for a reply. Next time you visit I'll be rolling on some green power!

Welcome

Hey everyone! Welcome to my new blog! I'm hoping to let more of my pictures do the talking but feel free to comment and leave some love.