Orange Peel Graphic Design

Uh... It has been a really long time since I've blogged. Well in that amount of time and among other things, I have been gently ushered into unemployment, followed by self-doubt, then followed by a swift kick in the hiny (guess its not a word?) and have come full circle and landed in Self Employment.
Sweet!

It's an interesting phenomenon to go from always wanting something, forgetting what it was that you wanted, then finding it after all in the weirdest, unexpected of circumstances. Truly a Eureka moment. So what is this en devour, you ask? This February, I started Orange Peel Graphic Design (ABN) and will commence on a website momentarily, so you may have more insight. But for now, let's just say it is a business that helps other small business owners with their needs, be it: marketing, brochures, proposals, logo design, advertising design, administrative even, etc. Then I come in and save the day! In not so modest terms. :)

My mantra: Client needs will be met. Provide communication, and have clients leave feeling like they were truly heard and viola! their vision is created.

I will soon have a website for the curious. I know I'm one of them.

Janie

Yay, warm weather and bbq!

I love spring and summer! yay! Warm weather, where have you been? I've missed you so. I cannot wait to go to the beach, river, anywhere with water!

Speaking of, here is what I did for lunch today, upon a friend's invite. Ate some Mississippi barbecue next to one of our many water fountains. Check out the blog she created about it:
http://pdxcartclub.blogspot.com/

Rudolf has left Oregon

Since the holidays are winding down I have spent some time reminiscing over the old days. Mostly by looking at old photos, due to my wonderful gift of a digital photo frame with a preloaded memory card that Steffan gave me. I get to see images of all the parties, trips and wonderful family and friends. *Sigh* So any way Something weird happened on my cold bike ride this morning. I crossed the Steel Bridge and was the only person there. Eerie feeling. Then I noticed that the Made in Oregon stag has changed to his old self. It made me think about change, seasonal, personal, and how we all go through it...hmm...I need to change my tires.

FLAT TIRE! arrrg...

So... it happened again. For the second time, within 2 week period. This morning (tues. 12-17), I had a flat tire and had to walk half a mile to the nearest transit station. At least it was just half a mile. I did, however, get to the max pavilion right before a train came. So that was good. I got to work by 8 am. but had soggy feet and sad disposition when I arrived. Then to my delight, there were Voodoo Doughnuts at the desk. THANKS CHRIS! Oh, and congrats on your surprise.

Bicycling Utopia

So for the past few months I have been biking to and from work. I thought I would share my experience with this as it is probably a foreign idea to most of my friends from back home. I would be crazy to try to bike to some of my former workplaces. Although I did do some biking around campus while at UTK.

Since I live in Portland it is pretty easy to do (the city is a bicycling mecca). My commute is relatively easy but can be scary at times, as I am alongside traffic for most of it. On Friday, one of my friends was hit by a car. She is okay, a little bruised and her front wheel got the Taco effect. Scary. But I've heard several stats on the issue:

1- You are more likely to get into a car accident while driving a car.
and
2 - "There are two kinds of bikers: One that has been in an accident and those who have yet to be in an accident."

Don't worry I am a defensive biker plus I follow all rules of the road.
To my friends who are saying, "you're crazy. please stop," let me say how biking has changed my life these past few months. I feel healthier, stronger, happier and it has given me a chance to squeeze in some "Me time" with exercise every day. Just knowing that I get to ride in the morning and the afternoon gives me something to look forward to. I have also been able to stop by a farmer's market on Wednesdays which has been an added bonus. Plus, we are saving money from less car trips! Now if you're still worried about me...please say a prayer, chant, please insert method of psychological comfort here.

So, now I have it in my head that I am going to do this year round! And why not? A lot of people do it. Since fall is now here my mornings are a little cold. The testing has begun. So far so good.