Day 93, 94, 95, 96 & Day 97: is that all i've missed?

I call do-over. Do-over resolution, do-over fresh start in Portland, just do-over.
It's monday. Time for a fresh, invigorated start.

Last week was exhausting. We spent the first two days commuting from grungy hotel to campus & job interviews. Finally, on the 7th we 'moved in'--though you can hardly call it that.  We lacked anything falling under the furniture category.   First dinner (cheap steak & cheap red wine!) enjoyed sitting on the floor with a cardboard table--the table stayed with us until yesterday.

We looked forward to the milder temperatures of the Pacific Northwest--but still happened to arrive during one of the colder spells. Still not so bad. Until we discovered our heater (the monstrous  brown box as seen behind Casper in photo above) was unprepared to heat and would not be ready for heating until the following day (pilot light issues). NOT ONLY that, but we were severely unprepared bedding-wise and were living in a 1920's building. We shared an old, ripped sleeping bag on the same floor we ate upon--using towels and shawls as our mattress.

Since then, our living arrangements have improved. Heat is functional; Internet is soaring; and we've even acquired some free/cheap furniture via craigslist. (an 85$ bed w/ delivery; a free, small, unavoidably versatile table, two (free) shaky wooden chairs, a free hand-held vacuum, and a free 123,098 lb. TV.

This week I will focus on my accomplishments rather than my failures.  Portland is a wonderful place, but it is still a city and I am again, unemployed. The work is competitive. Several times already I have gone into an interview thinking, 'I really don't want this job, but at least it's a job and at least it's a sure thing.' The 'sure thing' does not exist here. Everyone wants Every Job. And while I am minimally qualified for a ridiculously wide array of jobs, I am not ultimately qualified for any one job--that is dangerous, in times like these...

By this afternoon, I will know if I have 0 - 2 jobs. Wish me luck.

Q: Why do you like Portland so much?
A:  Because any city where I can hop out of my car, after 28 hours of driving, covered in M&M crumbs, wearing greasy hair & sweatpants tucked into old winter snow boots, and STILL feel welcome--is the city for me. . . and look at my view!