girl at large

Arriving Like A Rock Star

I get in to the hotel in Portland at 9pm local time (11 central, started my day at 5am) after a 7 hour delay in Denver last night to....a freshly delivered room service steak dinner, cheese and crackers from the gourmet grocery, my favorite raspberry booze treat chilling on ice (in the trash can, how adorable), and a pressie from Powells Books. Which was, of course, a Charlie Harper book. Because my boyfriend is f'ing amazing.

Crap, I really have to keep giving out.

Sometimes It Is The Destination

I'm returning to the Deluxe Hotel in Portland, Oregon tonight for my friend Meg's wedding.

I stayed at the Deluxe my very last night in Portland, two years ago.
I had packed up the house, the truck had left, the apartment was empty
but it was too late and I was too tired to start the drive. So I
treated myself to one last night in my favorite place. They allow dogs
too so Miss Ruby was all cuddled up in the down comforter right away.
I sent out messages to my friends that I would be at the Driftwood
Lounge in the lobby for one last beverage. I expected maybe one or two
to come. They ALL came. It was a lovely night. Meg walked me up to my
room for one last Ruby kiss, then teared up when she said goodbye to
me----she's a tough cookie, not a crier. I will always remember how
touched I was.

I was excited to be moving on, but sad to have failed at yet another
business, another town. I was sad to leave the best, most "Kate"
apartment I'd ever had. I was happy to be returning to family, but
questioning whether I could really stand all the "Wisconsin" things
that I don't like about Wisconsin. I had hopes that I'd be able to
make my dream come true by compromising on the job (it was most
definitely not my dream job) and moving close to family who could
support me. I was planning on having a family someway, some
how---probably on my own. That would never be possible in pdx, so
there I was on my way back to moo town. But that was a stretch too,
the only thing I really knew was that there was no future for me in
Portland. And I wanted to be home.

I had a ten day drive adventure ahead of me, then a whole new life
with a new job I had no idea how to do, a new town I didn't know. I
had no idea what was waiting for me at my destination.

Turns out it was everything I could have ever wished for. And then some. I am a lucky, lucky girl.

Ready Or Not

It's been a calendar year since I moved in, and this closet has been filled to the brim that entire time. Somehow I managed to get it empty and all the household debris put away in one day. The hottest, stickiest day of the year, of course. But it's done. Which means the close ready for The Boy's stuff. Am I ready?