Wonderful Challenge

Things are getting a bit rocky in the narrative of this adventure. I mentioned that I was let go from my job (which I didn't like, the job that is, being let go wasn't especially great either) and thus was trying to find new work, but also trying to collect unemployment, food stamps, and take the summer a bit leisurely. Turns out the universe disagreed with this plan. On Tuesday I walked the 1.5 miles to the food stamp office and after sitting in the waiting room for a little over an hour I met with a worker and found out that I am may not qualify for food stamps after all due to my talent for saving money. I had to bring back a few documents and I will find out in a month whether or not I am able to receive them. Sitting in the food stamp office in Brooklyn was really interesting though, not like sitting in the DMV in Oregon which is the only thing I have to compare it to. I didn't bring a book but was not bored at all while eavesdropping on the young man next to me who was talking so much to whatever pretty lady would listen to him about his troubles with his ex-girlfriend and her family. I also enjoyed watching the father who was great with his toddler and 5 year old, next to the Armenian family with three young kids who all looked like miniature versions of their parents. Oh and there was this adorable 8 year old Latina girl who was pacing around, mumbling into a digital camera she had pressed to her ear with her shoulder like a cell phone while holding a thick stack of papers. The next day while I was walking to the Staples in Queens to print out my unemployment papers to bring back to the food stamp office (a 6 mile walk in total) I got a call from Oregon Unemployment informing me that my last employers are claiming that I was terminated, thus rendering me ineligible for unemployment benefits. Kick me while I'm down I thought, but today I have a different outlook. After listening to inspiring podcasts and looking at pretty blogs for the last hour I am inspired. I can't remember how exactly, but the confluence of events right now seem like a lovely little challenge. Like when I'm running through the airport to catch a flight, and I think I have enough time but it still seems like a good idea to run. It makes me feel important, and I'm a little panicked but also pretty sure I don't need to be. Who knows what will happen but I know that I am going to keep looking for jobs more vigorously than before when I thought I was getting unemployment, and maybe that was the whole point. Maybe the perfect opportunity for me is going to be a little harder for me to find and skipping around all summer was not going to bring me there. I have been productive in other ways. Today I made cookies and then ate way too many of them.

And a couple days ago I finished this drawing that I plan to send to Valerie (my "french mother") and Bruno with a congratulations note on their recent marriage.

In related news Alison (Valerie's daughter who was our french exchange student for a month after high school) wrote to me today to ask if she could stay with me when she comes to New York in September! I'm excited. Having her around will make me feel closer to France and I want that right now.

When in Doubt go on Vacation

I've just returned from an invigorating trip to see my old friend Kesslie up state. Kesslie and I went to kindergarden-high school together. We reunited a few years ago in New York while I was here on my way back from Israel. The only way I would have known that she was even living in New York is through Facebook since we lost touch after school, thank god for social media because I have loved every minute that I get spend in the beautiful Hudson Valley hanging out with her. I wanted to go back up there ever since returning from Portland a few weeks ago, and since subsequently loosing my job there was now nothing stopping me. I know I've talked about this before but being jobless is scary but also kind of fun. I'm loving the endless possibilities especially considering that I didn't like going to my last job, it can only get better from there. The only downside is the potential for no opportunities materializing but I can't really focus on that or the stress will make my back muscle pull my rib out of alignment again. My daily routine lately has been to sit on the "productivity couch" in my living room, which is much better than my "lazy bed" as comfortable and convenient as it is. After I apply to as many jobs as it takes for my brain to get smooshy I go for a run around my neighborhood and up into Queens. I'm going to do that today, after this. I must be sure not to make the same mistake I made last time of giving myself to unrealistic goal of running to a park in Queens that was in fact 2.6 miles away (it looked much closer on the map!) This is a recurring mistake I keep making that comes with moving to a huge city from Portland. It was drizzeling out when I started running and it did not let up like I hoped it would. By the time I was thoroughly exhausted I hadn't even reached the park yet but I thought I was close and my goal oriented stubbornness became apparent as I insisted on continuing to try and find the park despite the confusingly similar street names (69th st, then 69th pl, then 69th dr...) and the multiple dead ends. I finally did reach the park which was kind of relieving but then needed to run all the way home since I didn't bring my metro card and also couldn't walk since I was completely drenched and would freeze. My hair was in droopy pig tails since my hair is at that awkward length now, and as I ran down Metropolitan Ave. I laughed at the thought of everyone I passed thinking "look at the stupid white girl running around in shorts and a tee-shirt in the rain" There's a visual reenactment of the scene. Well anyways, so that happened, but back to my original point: I had a lovely time up state with Kesslie, hanging out at the bar where she works and driving around the country roads in her big old red Toyota 4-Runner. I took some really cool pictures of Kesslie in the shirt I painted for her. Here is one: You can find the rest of them here: http://aureliar.com/2013/06/05/kesslie-in-up-state/