tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58142714877645565552024-03-05T21:48:20.426-08:00Out of Order: Midlife ParisThe Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-28316361288043409972012-02-15T17:20:00.000-08:002012-02-15T17:23:43.903-08:00After 3 Months...Well, there it is! We moved to Oregon, DH got in a job he loves, we bought a house, I had my real Christmas tree and... are we done? Is the sparkle of all things fast and new gone?<br />
<br />
Oh no. No no no.<br />
<br />
Things HAVE happened and I hope they always will. I looooove change and progress and possibilities around the corner. DH was promoted to Lead Line Cook after just 6 months, the minimum waiting period for promotions at his job! He's been told by his superiors that he is one of the best cooks they have ever hired and the management sees him as a 'key player' in the future growth of the Allison, which is quite an honor. *proud wife* <br />
<br />
I have a driving ambition in encouraging my sister and her husband to venture out West (and if you even MENTION to me you want to move - you'll be on my hit list, too!) They have the itch to move out of Minnesota, and I am presenting Portland to them with great fanfare and allure. When Kelsey visited us a week ago, she played in the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, hiked up a waterfall, the zoo, downtown vintage shopping, Jory restaurant, the beer movie theater, Voodoo Doughnuts and probably a dozen other things in her 7-day stay, all in the cocoon of balmy spring-like weather that remained in the 50's the entire time. So far, pleased to say, it seems to be working. I hear September 2012 is Final Decision Month for them.<br />
<br />
As for the house - lots of work to do! But it's ours, and the kids yell, and I work out and do laundry at 11pm and don't worry about who can hear me. Awesome. <br />
<br />
Last of all, we got a bunny. A pregnant bunny. Due next week! Who wants a baby bunny?<br />
<br />
Anyway, we've finally come home, and this glow, this warmth, this deep-seated satisfaction of finally being settled after years of striving to 'arrive', so to speak, is immensely gratifying. We're content with days of DIY house projects and punching the timecard in the general quietness - for now. :)The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-36042398225227858742011-08-17T14:45:00.000-07:002011-08-17T14:45:46.954-07:00The House HuntHouse hunting in this economy, in our price range, in this area of the country - is a complete rat race! Every house we've been interested in enough to offer on, has been scooped out from under us sometimes even before we got the chance view the property! Investors throwing in their cash offers, properties that banks won't finance because it needs too many repairs or simply doesn't have a fridge, 5 other offers on the table, short sales and all their funny laws and ways... we haven't gotten anywhere.<br />
<br />
Now one of the properties we wanted to offer on but couldn't because 3 other offers had already been submitted the day before and the bank chose another, went back on the market yesterday. This time we're the first offer in. Last night, I felt immense peace and excitement. That same anticipation I was assured with the night before we sold our house, and right before DH got invited to Oregon for his first interview. It's incomparable, and the message feels clear. I am sure this is... it. <br />
<br />
<br />
AAAAAAAGGGGGHGHHHH before I could finish this post, our realtor called!! We got it we got it we got it!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-83649142962232669952011-06-13T21:50:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:33:42.958-07:00Ugly<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
Now that DH is out of the film catering gig and received his last paycheck, I can finally spill the goods! I already said he wanted to leave the job because of the insane hours and relatively low food quality. But there was a whole lot more to it.<br />
<br />
I guess you hear it all the time - the film industry is hard and cold. But if you're like me, you were probably thinking of it from the talent's point of view. Constant rejection and criticism, the casting couch, things like that. I was surprised, maybe more than I should have been, that it's hard and cold all the way down to the ground level behind the scenes.<br />
<br />
It's a 100% fear-driven work environment. They do not want you to feel comfortable or secure about your position on the crew. I didn't mention it before because our mortgage lender would not have liked to hear this at all, but DH's company signed a contract with the production company every single night to be hired for the next day and the next day only. The upper echelon on set (the producers and execs) are rich, powerful and moody because they can be, and because it works to keep your performance on its toes. They know what you are being paid and they know 200 people would jump into your place in a dead second. <br />
<br />
There is no loyalty to speak of, even within the catering crew. It truly is every man for himself. Mysterious 'complaints' run rampant on the set, and any one of these could be grounds for your termination, whether or not they are true, or even important (for example, if one person out of 120 thinks the table seating is too tight - and she happens to be dating one of the producers). DH was expressly warned not to do any special favors outside of what they were under contract for without speaking to his boss first, because today's kind gesture could become expected as an entitlement tomorrow and if you refuse to do it again, you may find yourself out of a job depending on whom you've ticked off. <br />
<br />
Frenchy, DH's boss, has been in the business for over 20 years and seems comfortable playing any game that needs to be played to cover his own back. Sadly, it was hard to respect him in the end. It was interesting to me that his longest term employee has been there only three years (and he's on the verge of leaving as well). Despite the money to be made and stars to meet and the parties to go to, no one can do it for long. It's too demeaning, and too lonely.<br />
<br />
The heavy paycheck was great, of course, but it came with many strings and ugly feelings, and the uncomfortable knowledge that it could end at any moment for any trivial reason at all. It's no way to live.<br />
<br />
For us, anyway.The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-41792270727647938402011-06-01T20:54:00.000-07:002011-06-01T21:07:36.289-07:00Another Leap (These Things Just Keep Getting Easier)<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
Ah...heh. Yep!<br />
<br />
So it sure is good that God prepared us for the decision we made this week. Had He not, would we have been able to make the decision we did? Would the decision have even been on the table? You know what, I don't think so. We would have never been where we are now, physically and spiritually, if He hadn't brought us through so many storms. And now the financial waters may get kind of rough again, but our souls are soothed, and even assured that this is the right road.<br />
<br />
DH decided to accept the job at the restaurant, at a rather crippling pay cut. If we had not gone through Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and rid ourselves of debt, saved a bundle and learned how to limit our living expenses, it is pretty much a given that we would not have been able to afford to take it. But I trust my husband's relationship with God as much as my own, and he feels strongly this job opportunity was a clear answer to his prayers. There certainly were many 'coincidences' of timing and events that made it very easy for him to nab the position. Almost like he was being prodded and pushed along towards it through doors opened by invisible hands.<br />
<br />
Apart from the initial wage issue, DH is going to absolutely love the work ahead of him. The kitchen has its own gardens on site to grow produce, and close relationships with local farmers for pork and beef. The executive chef who hand-picked DH for the position previously worked under Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, which is pretty much any chef's nirvana. DH will finally be able to grow as a chef again, and have a good chance to advance up through the ranks (he's going in at the bottom). We have absolutely not given up on Paris, either. We're getting closer, in a roundabout sort of way. :)<br />
<br />
I prayed that the wage would be 'enough', and even though, yes, in all honesty a few indignant tears may have squeezed their way out (how many times should one man be asked to 'start over' in the only field he's worked in for 14 years??), they have dried up now and I trust that it is indeed enough, simply because that's what we will be given for now. I am so, so glad that we learned that money cannot be our comfort and safety - only God can be that, and His arms are so much wider and loving than the hard, unfeeling god that money makes - counting on that god just stresses me out!<br />
<br />
So DH has just two more days on the set. I do not know what this is going to do to my chances of going to the wrap parties! But it's cool. I'm going to get my husband back from the land of 17-hour shifts, and he's going to be inspired in his work again. He's even going to take a week break in between the end of this job and the start of the next. A whole week to rest and spend time with the boys and I, maybe take a drive down to CA to see the redwoods and hit 'Ripley's Believe It or Not' museum along the way. <br />
<br />
To make it even better, DH's dad 'happens' to be stopping in for a visit one of those days! It'll be the first time his dad has ever met Theo in person. DH would not have been able to be off work from the set that day if everything didn't happen when it did, and he would have missed what is definitely going to be a rare and special time for our continentally-divided family. Life is good.<br />
<br />
Thank God for change, and for new adventures! Let's get this show on the road!The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-54613415851671491072011-05-28T20:03:00.000-07:002011-05-28T20:08:35.880-07:00Shuffle Rummy<b>LANA:</b><br />
<div><b><br />
</b></div><div>Is there any such game as shuffle rummy? I don't know, but it sounds like an accurate metaphor for the way things are shifting around for us these days.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I've skipped a lot of news because I didn't know how to put it in a blog. It was mostly about money and the decisions it influences - not always the best fodder for a public diary. But I've come to see now that I can't skip over it completely, or else none of the subsequent stories would make sense.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, here is the powerpoint summary of life since March:<br />
<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. DH has been earning decent money working for the film industry. Between his job and Abbamart, we'd have a 6-figure joint annual income for the first time ever. This blows our minds. And boy, is the sushi good out here!</div><div><br />
</div><div>2. DH has sacrificed almost every waking hour for the job since we moved to Oregon. Most nights he sleeps an average of 5 hours before pulling yet another 15-17 hour day. He spends the weekends basically in a daze of fatigue, trying to catch up before doing it all over again. Doesn't leave a whole lot of time to enjoy our new locale.</div><div><br />
</div><div>3. Despite having a healthy income and no debt or shoddy payment history, we found underwriters would not approve a home loan to us based on the contractor-type nature of his job. We wouldn't be able to secure a mortgage unless he stays with this job for 2 years (ack!) and shows continuous projects, or joins the Union.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgmpOTcc3XjtLukCHqplUc2k04DlrIZVeCZ7HEZwVAj5GSSgMUvSEgETV76rCbFO72UaR_EmM67anqltSippf4sEdv9hhyU3hndv8TUA3tx-QVHEfXzDGMEzZi14Xv5F_kxYtbHo7J7o/s1600/amanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgmpOTcc3XjtLukCHqplUc2k04DlrIZVeCZ7HEZwVAj5GSSgMUvSEgETV76rCbFO72UaR_EmM67anqltSippf4sEdv9hhyU3hndv8TUA3tx-QVHEfXzDGMEzZi14Xv5F_kxYtbHo7J7o/s1600/amanda.jpg" /></a>4. DH's culinary spirit has been a bit depressed by buffet catering out of a truck every day. Not even having daily casual conversations with Amanda Seyfried makes up for it (thank goodness, I guess?? See inset).<br />
<br />
5. DH's boss revealed he is going to move his company to Louisiana, which is apparently a hotbed of movie-making activity - who knew? - in September, or sooner. It took DH about .0019 seconds to decide he did not have any desire to follow him there, no matter how many blondes in lace bodysuits roam the bayou.<br />
<br />
I had really wanted to be in a house by the time Samuel started school this September, but ironically the very job that brought us here and is supporting us so well is only reason we can't get one. At the same time, DH is becoming physically weary, and really does long to be in a restaurant kitchen again and stretch his skills with all the new ingredients available here. So all these intertangled bits have been tying my mind up, even though I know God is in control. He always is, which is why I didn't feel the need to panic this time around as the job search to fill the upcoming gap began. And ended just as quickly.<br />
<br />
DH was invited to a group interview last Wednesday for an amazing restaurant he'd applied for twice before when we lived in MN. He was politely turned down both times then, so it was nice to get the invitation. However, of course it was scheduled for the middle of one of his bazillion-hour shifts, and he didn't go. They called him two days later, wondering why he didn't show, and if he was still interested!<br />
<br />
They set a time for him this morning with the executive chef, who flat-out told DH he thinks he is the right person for the job. The chef remembered his applications from MN, and says he wished he had called DH then - he hadn't believed he was serious about making the move! Even though they would like him to start as early as tomorrow, they said are willing to wait for him if he needs to finish up things with Frenchy for a couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
How amazing, right?? We feel completely humbled and grateful again for our Father's care. So many gifts in such a short time. If he starts this new job, our mortgage broker says approving us for a mortgage will be so much easier. We will also know what he can expect to be earning for the long term, instead of the unsustainable (but awfully fun while it lasted) megabucks from film catering. Yeah, we don't yet know what's on the table as far as wages at the new job. That will be talked about next week. But I believe God will provide enough.<br />
<br />
I like this. DH is pretty thrilled, too, about the thought of working in that kitchen with all it's top-of-the-line equipment and locally grown ingredients. I can see the wheels turning, bringing us closer and closer to our new home, in every sense of the word. Just around the bend, now... maybe even by fall.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-65565025839051372102011-04-14T11:52:00.000-07:002011-04-29T21:36:51.083-07:00The Stars are so Shiny! (First Visit to the Set)<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>I know DH is completely <span class="hw">blasé </span>about the whole thing (or maybe it's clinical-level exhaustion), but the boys and I visited him on set for the first time yesterday to watch him in action, and it was about one of the coolest things ever. When we were driving closer to the set location, there started to be little yellow signs tied to the street poles saying 'LEVERAGE' with arrows pointing out the turns. That was exciting. Then I had to talk to someone at the parking lot entrance. I told him I was there to have lunch with DH in catering, and he pointed me to 'Crew Parking'.<br />
<br />
The boys and I found the base camp where DH was set up and then mainly lurked around the catering truck and tent to wait for lunch to begin. Christian K. was one of the first to come striding up to the table to table to eat. No thoughts of 'he looks shorter/fatter/paler/disappointing in person' here. Quite the opposite - he practically sparkles. Seriously. Like he walked - go figure - right off a tv set. He was tan, cut, upbeat and friendly with the cooks, complimenting them on the dishes and flipping his hair around like no one's business. DH says he comes out for lunch pretty often (many main actors just have production assistants run them food in their trailers).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROJNPL2cvfg4Q42AwIOIoVZyLrLM6WvVtG28JGaHZZL73MhHmn_arPIqCFpZ_DYbzrrztNqsiuRr8v8KdnKdC8-iwy4BdqG7l52BvQfxOyjCF3AEqsDF-nj3nF6WJqzxVJXo37LQEhs0/s1600/ck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROJNPL2cvfg4Q42AwIOIoVZyLrLM6WvVtG28JGaHZZL73MhHmn_arPIqCFpZ_DYbzrrztNqsiuRr8v8KdnKdC8-iwy4BdqG7l52BvQfxOyjCF3AEqsDF-nj3nF6WJqzxVJXo37LQEhs0/s320/ck.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Timothy H. made an appearance not too much later. He doesn't come out to the truck to eat very often, so I guess we were lucky yesterday that his son was on set so they came together to get some grub. He was tall and calm, mostly cuddling and speaking quietly to his son while they waited for their meals. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqe6Y7XtRj8PD1Ct5iJyx3-N4fItBnglQJvhQydLFX3hCaZdEoaaQ13qqsHVO8kkmAzJIbetEYEPCvQP1lQ560n6ph8MwAwyePLSKMRnE3SEAAf82DIyiUM2NsmqY0DHRs_io2p4QUQU/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqe6Y7XtRj8PD1Ct5iJyx3-N4fItBnglQJvhQydLFX3hCaZdEoaaQ13qqsHVO8kkmAzJIbetEYEPCvQP1lQ560n6ph8MwAwyePLSKMRnE3SEAAf82DIyiUM2NsmqY0DHRs_io2p4QUQU/s320/th.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And of course I had to have an awkward moment with him. All Theo's fault, as most of my awkward moments are (usually involving his penchant for spontaneously stripping his pants off at inappropriate times). I was watching the boys play outside in the lot several feet behind TH, and Theo had just splashed into a deep puddle and soaked his pants up past his knees. I was just sort of playfully reacting to it by putting both of my hands up to my cheeks in a sort of Home-Alone-esque expression and that's when T turned around and caught my eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And he smiled and WINKED at me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interpret that how you might, but I have no other theory except that he thought that was my faint-of-heart 'star-struck' face and he was throwing me a bone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to crawl under a table and die!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OK, so now I have -80 dignity points with TH. Thanks a lot, Theo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, beyond the cast, just watching the ebb and flow of activity on set was so much fun. Everyone is communicating constantly in their headsets ("Gina probably has two more takes and she'll be down to lunch,") and little go-carts are zipping about everywhere, and the extras were getting all dolled up in 1920's era evening wear, getting their hair curled in rollers and bowler hats cocked at the right angle, and red lipstick done in front of the lighted mirrors. It's just like everyone's getting ready for a play - and I guess essentially they are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boys loved the catering truck where DH works. They know really nothing else of what's going on, except that their Papa cooks in this big kitchen truck, and they are beyond impressed! His boss invited them to come inside the truck and watch him work, which I was surprised about (considering liability and whatnot). They loved the spigots of never-ending juice on the outside, and Mike the driver gave them a tiny toy monkey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, we stayed about three hours watching all the activity and in the end got to sit down with DH and his co-workers and eat some pasta before they had to start cleaning up. Let it be noted that this is the first time in our entire relationship of 14 years that I have gotten to visit him on a work lunch break! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm proud of DH for being a part of a production like that, something that so many talented people are working so hard on. And I overheard CK say the chicken in the pasta was just awesome - yeah, my husband made that. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-14318597385800930562011-04-11T18:03:00.000-07:002011-04-11T18:03:37.045-07:00Almost There<b> LANA:</b><br />
<br />
I woke up in the middle of the night not too long ago, and in my foggy 3am brain, I could just grasp at the tail end of this cool dream - our family had made the move to Oregon, DH was cooking for tv shows and movies, and I was about to start shopping (and working out amongst the moss-enrobed pines) for my dress for the wrap party.<br />
<br />
Then I grinned like a lunatic at myself in the bathroom mirror and literally boogied my way back to bed - my bed that is safely anchored under a patch of pine trees right outside of Portland, empty because my caterer husband has left for the set over an hour ago - to envision what sort of pretty cocktail party dress and shoes I finally have a decent excuse to buy. <br />
<br />
I'd had a lot of those dreams in the past year - the we-made-it-there-everything's-going-fine dreams - only to slowly surface and see I was still existing quite solidly in our unfortunately-decorated orange bedroom with brown marbled wallpaper in Detroit Lakes, with no hint of reliable employment in sight and the ever-present dread of having to visit 'the weird tenants' this week.<br />
<br />
So what with already being so happy and thankful for our prayers having been answered about all of this, it's with a little trepidation, a bit of guilt (here it comes again) and a lot of shyness that I admit... I'm asking God for more.<br />
<br />
A house.<br />
<br />
It's been just 3 weeks since I got here, but I can barely think of anything else. We are so close to being truly HOME. This apartment, while quite nice and safe and happily not boasting the brown/orange/green color scheme of Detroit Lakes, comes with a Japanese businessman upstairs who unwinds by singing some karaoke into an impressive sound sytem every Saturday night and the constant threat of receiving a lease violation if I use the washer/dryer after 10pm (or fail to use the fan while I cook, or hang curtains without prior approval, or my bike rolls 6 inches off the patio, etc., etc.). You get the gist of it. This isn't really OUR place.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to make a home for my family again. I've got stars in my eyes, dreaming of pretty paint colors, sparkling lights, a fenced yard with a puppy. And the best part is I wouldn't have to ask anyone if that's ok with them first!<br />
<br />
We know the responsible thing to do would be to put this job DH has been given to good use and put together a 20% down payment. That would still be hard to achieve (and more hard to wait for, especially since we rented this apartment with only a 6 month lease in hopes of being in a home by then), but God has brought us this far; I know He'll give us His patience and wisdom and bring this whole journey to completion; I really can't wait to see what He's got in store for us.The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-71194064112381181282011-03-25T09:54:00.000-07:002011-03-25T09:54:37.780-07:00Dorky<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
I told DH I can't help it. I know it's dorky, and it's not exactly the food he ultimately aspires to create, but I think the fact that he works on film sets is just super cool. You can't deny that being based in MN for the past 28 years, you don't see a whole lot of this particular industry. I'm going to just sit here and be my dorky self and be gleefully delighted that this is the job God gave him for the time being!<br />
<br />
There have been even more surprise blessings than we expected. In the matter of finances, we expected that he would be making one dollar less an hour than he did in Minnesota. When he arrived, he learned he would actually be making a dollar MORE per hour, with double overtime. We were so thankful for this news - maybe we could pre-qualify for a mortgage! - and there was still more to come. From next week he'll be officially promoted to 'chef' (which is yet another answered prayer - he gets to plan menus and actually use his passion for food much more than he has been), and be given a raise to a wage we have never even thought possible in this economy. We are joyfully amazed, and so grateful to God for this awesome gift to our family!<br />
<br />
I love the strange little perks and nuances of his job, too. For instance, today he was told to park our van in the studio lot and leave the gas cap open. The transportation crew will fill the tank for him while he works. Much appreciated with a 20-mile commute and gas near $4.00/gallon. For another, he brought home an entire chocolate cheesecake. Not complaining! And best of all for this dork right here, an invitation for me and the boys to come visit the set when they film close to our neighborhood next week - I'm so there! <br />
<br />
Yes, the schedule is grueling, but there seems to be a week off in April and another in May on the horizon which will be a lot of fun. Plus now for the first time in his career, he can count on having Saturdays and Sundays off.<br />
<br />
All in all, it's a really exciting time for us, seeing what God has put in place for us here in Oregon. We're not entirely sure where this job will take him or how long he can do it, but we have the ultimate confidence the God does, and as long as we keep Him in sight, we'll be on the right track and enjoy the journey!The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-68770516343348319732011-03-22T22:21:00.000-07:002011-03-22T22:21:24.441-07:00What It's Like - And Where DH Works!<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
We are here! DH flew to Portland on March 13th, and had pretty much been squatting in our apartment until the boys and my mom and I arrived by van 5 days later with provisions. Thankfully, a friend who lives nearby dropped by with some sleeping bags and pillows so he wouldn't have to curl up with a pile of socks and his coat for a blanket at night.<br />
<br />
We are still living pretty scrappy here since our moving truck has yet to make an appearance. But it hardly matters.<br />
<br />
Driving over from Washington into Oregon and pulling up to the first gas station to have my tank filled for me (it's illegal to pump your own gas here), I seriously almost cried happy tears. 20 miles outside of Portland, seeing mossy boulders and pine-studded cliffs bursting with waterfalls next to the highway and raindrops sprinkling down even in sunshine, I did. To say the natural beauty here is breathtaking is an understatement. There are forest corridors that are dark even in daytime, tree trunks wrapped with vines, and twisted branches completely fuzzy green with moss, pink and white cherry and apple blossoms between the roads - and this is all within the city and suburbs! In MARCH!! It's gorgeous and clean and fresh pretty much everywhere, and boy do these people like to landscape! I am thrilled that this is finally our home! As evidenced by the number of exclamation points in this paragraph!!!<br />
<br />
As for DH's work, it's a pretty brutal schedule. He pulled a 17-hour day just before last weekend, and most days average about 15 hours. He leaves our apartment at about 2:45am and gets home around 7pm on a normal day, but every day is slightly different and he doesn't know until the end of the work day what to expect for the next day's schedule. A praise, though - he's actually been making more money per hour than he was told at the interview - with double overtime, which he hits by the 3rd day of the work week. Some of the guys doing this job work only 6 months out of the year. They take their much-needed breaks between projects to take real vacations and rest up for the next.<br />
<br />
And yes, the elusive titles of the projects are finally known! He has been working on two sets - the first is the TV series 'Leverage', and the second is a pilot episode for a new NBC series called 'Grimm' that will air this winter if all goes well. He says that it's funny to see people coming to eat in costume - for Grimm there are a lot of policemen and CSI personnel with fake guns and handcuffs, and last Friday he fed a zombie. After the pilot, he'll work on a movie called 'Gone', which we know nothing else about at this point.<br />
<br />
All in all, we're messy, we're tired, we've spent a heck of a lot of money getting here and need to spend a whole lot more to get settled again (need to buy second car again and replace all our furniture), but at this point, it's all just details. By the skin of our teeth and the grace of God, we made it home, and we've got nothing but time to sort it all out.The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-1897081104343082942011-02-19T21:42:00.000-08:002011-02-19T21:47:59.298-08:00Never Late<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
I get to write a pretty awesome post tonight.<br />
<br />
If you didn't catch my incessant second-by-second Facebook status updates yesterday, we've got some pretty incredible news.<br />
<br />
Yesterday morning, DH was offered the same movie catering position he interviewed for earlier this month. They wanted him to be at work on March 14th. Two days after his last day at the Fireside. One day after we start paying rent on our Oregon apartment.<br />
<br />
He will not be jobless for even a single weekend in Portland.<br />
<br />
Humbled. Grateful. Excited. Joyful. In love with our Father Who <i>is never late</i>. Can't you just see Him grinning and chuckling a little as He sees us going crazy over His gift? Because we put our trust in Him and Him alone - not a job waiting for us in Oregon - He got to let us know now beyond the shadow of any possible doubt that we are moving under the cover of His blessing. This is love.<br />
<br />
What I'm learning is that our migration west is not just about God wanting us to 'be happy' or eat more fresh fish. He likes to give good gifts to His children, yes, but ultimately this is a faith journey. It's all about the single most important thing on this planet - our relationship with Him. He's been drawing us close and teaching us about Himself over the past several weeks, not for His sake, but for ours. God is God and is unchanging; He will be the same whether we pray to Him or not, or whether we ask for His guidance or not. That the God Who made the whole universe loves us enough to use our desire to move cross-country to teach us about Himself in such a personal way is astounding to me. Life is so full. Whether we're in a valley or at a peak, He's waiting for us to seek Him out so He can enrich every moment. I could go on and on right now; I just think He's pretty amazing. I love these kinds of days, when He acts in such an easily recognizable way.<br />
<br />
And look. Look above at how much I wrote about DH's new job versus how much I wrote about Him.<br />
<br />
Guess I'm a little more excited about one over the other.<br />
<br />
Interesting...The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-70139415225014789712011-02-16T18:22:00.000-08:002011-02-16T18:22:57.106-08:00Since the Decision<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
In the past few days, we've made subsequent steps of faith, the results of which are lining up at an alarming pace into a big arrow pointing WEST. We were approved for our apartment and have put notice in to both our jobs. DH's shoes will be filled by his boss, and our caretaker position is being advertised in the Help Wanted section in the local newspaper. Our moving van arrangements are being tied up. March 15th, give or take a day, we'll start out on our own Oregon Trail.<br />
<br />
I'd like to be flippant and say we won't look back, but we will. We won't be looking back at Lake Detroit or our first house in Perham, or the Fireside or the snow or even the awesome county fair. We'll be looking back at our family and friends. We know what we're saying goodbye to - barbeques that we'll miss, friends' kids that our boys won't grow up with, and grandparents in Fergus Falls that Theo likely won't even remember apart from yearly visits. Those will be the parts that sting. They already do. <br />
<br />
We need to find our own family's home, though. I want to be close to the awesome beauty of craggy mountains and mossy forests every day, not just once every couple of years. Plus have a city close enough to enjoy without having to make an entire weekend out of it. DH needs to develop his talents and take advantage of more work and education opportunities than are available here. We are so blessed that we actually have the option to choose where we want to go now, and that we are both in complete agreement with each other about such a huge decision. <br />
<br />
I just didn't want our friends to think they didn't factor into our actions at all. Good friends and family are rare and not replaceable, so it was not altogether an easy choice to make. I will never rest in my quest to convince you all that Portland is where you want to be, too!The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-71097124813551932422011-02-10T13:55:00.000-08:002011-02-10T13:56:43.781-08:00Our Step of FaithLANA:<br />
<br />
After having the rug pulled out from underneath us somewhat with the interview and DH not getting the job, I prayed for a sign if we should stay and wait for the next interview, or move on ahead without one. Overnight, Abbamart sold $400+ worth of product. It was not a legendary, solve-all-our-concerns sort of situation, but it reminded me that after a year of being sort of a nice thing on the side to help with groceries, Abbamart really could be something now. Maybe something enough to count on a bit along with our savings to float us a few months while DH job-hunts. After all, one interview cost us about $900. Do too many more of those, and we might as well have paid rent in Oregon for 3 months. <br />
<br />
But the job market is rough out there, and that's no joke. The doubts started creeping in again. It could turn into a bad situation if we move and he doesn't find work. We were still scared... and that's the responsible thing to be, right? No guaranteed money coming in, no security, right? We could burn through everything we've worked so hard to obtain. <br />
<br />
I told my mom everything we were considering, expecting to hear, 'You guys are crazy to think about taking a risk like that.' But instead, she asked me,<b> 'What are you going to do in faith?'</b><br />
<br />
You mean... without a job? What are we going to do in faith about moving to Oregon without a job for DH? She said yes, to show that we trust that God will keep His promises. He's definitely told us we can go. Why were we so worried that He wouldn't take care of us and help DH find work when we get there? What were we waiting for? <br />
<br />
Um, OK. Mom tells me to do something in bold faith. A step out of our comfort and cautious and yes, even our common-sense zone, placing the situation squarely in God's hands like He continually tells us to. Yielding control and doubt and fear and taking a leap of faith. And see what happens. If we take a step and the doors don't open, step back and pray some more. OK. The Israelites had to battle for their entry into the Promised Land, too. Just because we've been promised something doesn't mean we should wait around and do nothing. We have to do our part. <br />
<br />
So, with the help of a friend in the area, last week we chose an apartment complex in Beaverton, OR and applied for a unit coming available March 13th. It cost $80 to apply. I told our property manager that we are planning to leave next month if the apartment accepts us.<br />
<br />
Then Abbamart exploded. In less than 2 days, it brought in about $1700. Can you believe when that happened, my first thought wasn't 'Thank you for this, God!! Thank you so much for this HUGE, UNMISSABLE sign of assuarance that You can and will take care of our family!' I was caught up in the work and demand of getting all the orders filled for hours upon hours before I talked to my mom again, telling her about the flood of business and she laughed and said, 'See? What are you scared about? Move, and don't worry anymore.'<br />
<br />
God knows what we need. He is God over money, food, safety, and loves us more than we love our own children. I know we'll be OK. God's got the perfect job all ready for DH at the right time. He knows how important work is and He won't forget or be late with it. He won't give us more difficulty than we can handle with His help. Taking our step of faith made this beautiful truth very real to us once again.<br />
<br />
We are moving to Oregon!The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-48569812625361511772011-02-02T17:41:00.000-08:002011-02-02T17:41:40.537-08:00Our AnswerLANA:<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>This really isn't the post I imagined writing today.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Um.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It was a 'no'. Apparently he has gone and gotten himself 'too much experience'. That darn experience will get you every time.</div><div><br />
</div><div>For those who didn't know, the position would have been an on-site caterer for casts and crews filming movies and TV series. We are so desperate to leave that the details of the job didn't matter. They flew around my head like so many flies to be swatted when I got the time. But, I guess they did matter. Or, would have. Here's a few:</div><div><br />
</div><div>* One dollar less an hour than he earns now (<i>but possibly more hours</i>!)</div><div>* Some projects would require travel for up to 3 months at a time (<i>I'll homeschool the kids! We'll come visit! We'll live in an RV!</i>)</div><div>* Past projects of the company have been adult films (<i>He won't look!</i>)</div><div>* Hours often would begin at 4am to get the breakfast spread out (<i>Well, he doesn't have to do it forever!</i>)</div><div>* Possibly could be gaps between projects with no work (<i>Uh...I don't know, we'll figure it out!</i>)</div><div><br />
</div><div>If we're brutally honest with ourselves, it wouldn't have been a good fit for our family. We kind of like having DH around every day. We're adventurous though, and ready for something, ANYTHING new, even if it is inconvenient or different or means we have to adjust further than we imagined. Plus it would have been just plain cool to have DH catering to movie stars (or soon-to-be ones, anyway). The connections and networking could have been amazing. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Aaaaah, I can't lie - it hurts to have been so close and have the door shut on our toes. It hurts pretty bad. DH and I look at one another and have no words to say. I want him to know it's not his fault; he did everything he possibly could, and now we have to accept that this job was not the one. Not today. It has to mean something better is in the works. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></span></div><h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- Jeremiah 29:11</span></h2><div><br />
</div><div>Thank you for your answer today, God. We have faith.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-41594425454869602682011-02-01T12:34:00.000-08:002011-02-01T12:34:25.411-08:00DuringLANA:<br />
<br />
DH's interview has just started. My stomach is soup.<br />
<br />
He says Portland reminds him of Korea because he can see the mountains again. He sounds happy!<br />
<br />
My head is spinning, and I'm thrilled. I've got the thrill of anticipation, of excitement and fear and even sadness of the things that will end. There are friends and family here. I'm going to be pulling as many of them as I can to come with us! <br />
<br />
I don't feel him coming home with no answers. I don't feel we'll be here to mulch the tenants' flower beds in the spring.<br />
<br />
I don't know, but I do feel the change, the building.<br />
<br />
15 more minutes...!The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-18146207484360926332011-01-31T15:50:00.000-08:002011-01-31T15:50:56.453-08:00JoyLANA:<br />
<br />
It's probably been pretty obvious that I have not been a happy girl for the past few weeks. I'm sort of ashamed of how much I've complained and 'uuuuggggh'ed and 'urrrrrrrgh'ed on my Facebook updates. I know my attitude has been less than exemplary. But it's really been driving me crazy. This waiting.<br />
<br />
I kept taking it back to God (only after indulging in week-long pity parties, of course - when will I learn?). And every single time, He's assured me in no uncertain terms that He has us covered. It's ok to be wanting to leave. The end of our reign of these townhomes is near.<br />
<br />
But how near? God is eternal. He's not necessarily on my timeline.<br />
<br />
I thought maybe we were too focused on Portland as our destination city. Maybe that's not where He was leading us after all. All I was hearing from out there is that there are next to no jobs, and the competition is fierce (think 400-500 applications per position), and generally, employers strongly prefer to hire locals. Plus two cooking schools within the city limits pumping out fresh culinary students every few weeks. Willing to work for crumbs. How is DH supposed to compete with that, and beyond it, support a family? Of course nothing is impossible with God, and I don't doubt for a minute that He can give DH any job out there, but sometimes these circumstances can be His way of saying 'no', too. I just have to trust Him.<br />
<br />
So I opened my heart up the possibility that He was saying 'no' to Portland. Even though we've spent hours upon hours getting to know the neighborhoods, housing prices, parks and restaurants. My mind hit the wall and exploded, going in no particular direction. I started at Square One, searching towns and employment climates on the other side of the Cascades, in Duluth, in Minneapolis, in Chico, CA, and - what in the world - Austin, TX.<br />
<br />
Two hours later I was scrolling through Craigslist help wanted ads out of Dallas, my stomach in my throat about how we were ever going to figure out where our home is supposed to be, when the call came. A fellow with a thick accent asking for DH. I am so glad right now that I don't hang up on telemarketers!<br />
<br />
DH has an interview in Portland tomorrow.<br />
<br />
God brought us back.<br />
<br />
I think He wanted my willingness to change our plans to His will, to be flexible to His direction. To make sure we know that none of this is happening by chance and that He has us very firmly by the hand. We're on the right path. We didn't think twice about the cost of the plane ticket to get DH out there. It's no fluke.<br />
<br />
It's for a real job. With a real chef, a <u>French</u>-born chef, who has worked in <u>France</u>.<br />
<br />
2:15 PM tomorrow... could this be it?The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-49851583720840459222011-01-10T21:38:00.000-08:002011-01-10T21:38:09.508-08:00MinnesotaDon't get me wrong.. I love Minnesota. The reason why we lived here as long as we did is because I love it. If I lived in, say, Nebraska, I'd get out of there the first chance I get.<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG_mGtJfqypytvrZyBDVpl0X4FxDSx_gA5jPdoP6yTEDRcMpvrsXwupTihCduYS_U1PCgLBuVBKbVydum7j8y0OWVdyb_RkohR9mMmizdABYLkNQc58ZRln4n4yx25VPXyqpykvVBM2w/s1600/IMGP3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG_mGtJfqypytvrZyBDVpl0X4FxDSx_gA5jPdoP6yTEDRcMpvrsXwupTihCduYS_U1PCgLBuVBKbVydum7j8y0OWVdyb_RkohR9mMmizdABYLkNQc58ZRln4n4yx25VPXyqpykvVBM2w/s320/IMGP3047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I was shoveling on one fine day. It was still lightly snowing and blowing. The wind was not pleasant. But that unpleasant wind was spreading fine ice crystals all over the sky creating a complete circle of rainbow! It was much more beautiful in person than this camera can capture. How God turns something unpleasant into something beautiful is amazing.</div><div><br />
</div><div>What's more amazing is that there wasn't just one rainbow. There was another one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9JFvTh79UqzxhNzSx5-q18eVlYA3UP1bIa7L6r0XfYRnqSQi6m9F7jgB0aHFPmN4hCy-UUhgVygWVbnfHVUkq49u3L79nlV2rBv0Y9gSUZkw3e2Gnj3hqBXufsmH8F-vJLx5xTiAjwQ/s1600/IMGP3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9JFvTh79UqzxhNzSx5-q18eVlYA3UP1bIa7L6r0XfYRnqSQi6m9F7jgB0aHFPmN4hCy-UUhgVygWVbnfHVUkq49u3L79nlV2rBv0Y9gSUZkw3e2Gnj3hqBXufsmH8F-vJLx5xTiAjwQ/s320/IMGP3061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Driving is always fun. Especially when you can't see the road!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTup0CYdaoADNvXNxm8utAMY7SVh8ZZ7MdwKgZ5Ix1vTtL3Q6xjoyP4BMUTT0aRHFyNAlCVsXbcFFJY355SE6fw8KNAXil0pIdpEOd225XHd4FaJZx9ZQ82pddCWX4jgCJZxqSgWyIy8g/s1600/IMGP3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTup0CYdaoADNvXNxm8utAMY7SVh8ZZ7MdwKgZ5Ix1vTtL3Q6xjoyP4BMUTT0aRHFyNAlCVsXbcFFJY355SE6fw8KNAXil0pIdpEOd225XHd4FaJZx9ZQ82pddCWX4jgCJZxqSgWyIy8g/s320/IMGP3087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-VThOTy_uwZQhcqx7bBlhuKiLyzdUXxwGyCW-Ammh726KmTk0RWfFFWZHofYC4KSL4ZykR8QKTeuTsyAUhulS3MHnllO_do2iB7L9YBCoXZo23oDKxhW18I3VHEQWu9FN-Y5NrJfK6A/s1600/IMGP3078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-VThOTy_uwZQhcqx7bBlhuKiLyzdUXxwGyCW-Ammh726KmTk0RWfFFWZHofYC4KSL4ZykR8QKTeuTsyAUhulS3MHnllO_do2iB7L9YBCoXZo23oDKxhW18I3VHEQWu9FN-Y5NrJfK6A/s320/IMGP3078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm looking forward to reminiscent these days as those days.</div><div><br />
</div>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-11110676894915311032010-12-06T21:41:00.002-08:002010-12-06T21:41:47.346-08:00Birthday DinnerBirthdays are a big deal, as you know. People love to get stuff on their birthdays, and they expect it. It's kind of rude. Yeah, your mother pushed you out of her or some doctor cut her and got you out. However happened, you looked like you've had a better day. But the same day, next year was much better day...<br />
<br />
I love to cook so that's precisely what I want to do to celebrate my mother's enduring pain. So, here's what I'm thinking.<br />
<br />
I want to accentuate one main ingredient in the dish and name it after it. I would like it to be five courses and pared with beverages. So here's the menu:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Foie Gras</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Steamed Foie Gras and Chive Shumai</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>White Soy and Chive Sauce</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Truffle</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Truffle Consomme</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Topped with Truffle Puff Pastry</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shrimp</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Shrimp Bisque Filled Vol au Vent</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Not yet decided)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bacon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Canadian Bacon Stuffed English Bacon</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wrapped with Italian Bacon</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Topped with American Bacon and Bacon Foam</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Butter</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Butter poached Apple Tart with Butter Cookie Crust</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Brown Butter Ice Cream</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Not yet decided)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I haven't really been thinking about the pairing at all, partly because I haven't finished the menu yet. Also because I have no idea what is going to be available to me. More than likely what I will be able to buy at the Happy Harry's will be it. That's sad but I also wouldn't want unlimited options on things that I don't know much about. So, maybe it will happen someday.</div>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-31749920799223753922010-11-16T21:02:00.000-08:002010-11-16T21:30:36.697-08:00Reasons<b>DH:</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A few days ago I told my dad about our plan to move to Portland, OR and his immediate response was to ask 'WHY'. Normally, I would answer that question with a plain but effective 'WHY NOT'. I basically told him there are numerous reasons and by writing this, I wanted to lay out plainly and clearly of the reasons why we HAVE TO move.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">First of all, Portland is not the ultimate, metaphorical destination of our goal. It's a physical, geographical destination of the relocation. Most important things for us, at least for me, is not being here. Portland just happens to be more attractive and accessible than other candidate cities. I am constantly reminded of where I am living now and I mean that in a bad way. I feel that there are so many wonderful things this world has to offer and I am not taking any of it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are many things I like to do. A lot of them are big city amenities like taking kids to a real zoo, going to the planetarium, the aquarium, and museums, and enjoying plays, musicals, and concerts. I don't mean concerts by crappy pop singers or We-Sound-Exactly-Like-Other-Bands' rock 'concerts'. I mean real concerts by real musicians. But more than that, there's food.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Food is a big part of my life as is for everybody else that's alive. Limited availability of food kills me. If I have to go to Wal-Mart to find the freshest produce and versatility of ingredients, that's just sad. I can't find any seafood without frost burn. There are only, usually, four basic choice I can make here for seafood : frozen cooked shrimp, frozen raw shrimp, breaded fish sticks, and battered fish sticks.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Restaurants here aren't any better. It seems to me, there are five types of restaurants here: fast food chains, 'Chinese' / 'Mexican', 'fine dining', bars, and Subways. 'Fine dining' is probably the number one misused term and the second is 'casual dining' or 'family restaurant'. In Midwest, more than likely 'fine dining' means over priced casual restaurant or family restaurant with cheap linens and 'casual dining' means full bar with seating area on the side where they serve the same food as the bar. By 'family restaurant', they really mean fast food restaurant with beer and wine license - the same dirty, hard plastic looking table with equally sticky booth or chairs. Service is quiet the same, non-existent. Only real difference is the price. If you pick up a Burger King's menu and add low grade steaks and walleye in there and voila! It's their menu... and their competitor's menu. It's sad.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Take a look at my birthday dinner, for example. I wanted to do this for two years now. I've been kind of thinking about it on and off. I wanted to accentuate one ingredient in each dish and name the whole dish just that. For example, for the first course, I am going grind lean pork, firm tofu, and foie gras together and make them into shumai and serve it with chive foam. I am going to give an accent to the flavor of the foie gras and name the whole dish 'Foie Gras' because I want everyone to taste that it's foie gras. The problem is foie gras just happens to be really hard to find in the middle of nowhere. I can get it through one of the vendors from the restaurant but I don't feel like getting five or ten pounds of stuff that costs $70 per pound. I can order it online and pay $60 for 6 ounce of it and pay another $30 for shipping. Truffles are hard to get, too. Oh, yeah. There's going to be a dish called truffle. But we'll talk more about that on next post. Not all things I'm trying to get are really not that expensive or rare. Half the stuff you see on magazines, you can't make it the way it's written. I had to substitute four ingredients and omit one when making kimchi and there are only nine ingredients in that, including salt.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The world is offering a more fun, enjoyable, and delicious life and I'm gonna take it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Oh, there is one more reason. ACS Sucks!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-53227957683445256202010-09-28T12:51:00.000-07:002010-09-28T12:56:16.839-07:00Movement<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
Ha! I keep writing my name at the top to let you know it's me writing every time... DH means to write - he has a lot to say - but he's been so awfully busy that he just hasn't been able to chime in. He will, though! So one of these days you'll see a big ol' <b>DH</b> at the beginning instead, I promise.<br />
<br />
So yep. The answer is yes. The winds of change are strong and events have been set in motion. We won't be here much longer.<br />
<br />
One thing that I used to do, and I still am tempted to do it, is to protect God while He works. I kept secrets. I only gave out information to people tentatively as I became more sure of His direction and answered prayers. So that, you know, if perhaps I interpreted something wrong, or if it seemed He let us down, it would be just between me and Him, and I wouldn't have made Him look bad.<br />
<br />
As if He ever needed me to do that.<br />
<br />
I'm growing in faith; I don't want to keep secrets anymore, because it might be these very nuances and developments He wants to touch others through. I can be transparent, and leave the rest to Him. Probably He can take care of Himself, hm? <br />
<br />
So I will put plainly, in bullet points, the reasons I know our prayers about moving soon have been heard and answered with a 'Yes'. And I do still believe this will be a road that leads to Paris.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Two very good friends and co-workers of DH's are leaving the kitchen for different jobs within a 4-week period. This is something that does matter very much to DH in terms of making his workplace a positive and constructive place to be.</li>
<li>A friend I haven't seen in nearly 10 years 'popped up' in the Portland area about 2 weeks ago. </li>
<li>This friend, ironically, has recently become a culinary student.</li>
<li>This friend, absurdly, knew of an open position for an instructor at her culinary institute. </li>
<li>The cover letter DH immediately set out to write to accompany his resume reflects him and his heart to teach perfectly<i></i>. I put together all the right 'power terms' and 'action phrases' together for him to use, but what he wrote himself was<u> inspired</u>. I would underline that 7 times if I could. </li>
<li>Expectancy. There is a certainty and anticipation to these events. They build on each other. There is a purpose that is tangible. This is how I felt the night before we sold our house. I had been happy and excited for previous 'lookers', but it was completely different with the last couple. There was the same jitters and urge to get prepared as I feel today. </li>
</ul><br />
Whatever this culminates in, these are surges forward. The great part about knowing when it's a prayed-for event, is that hesitation and doubt goes out the window. If DH is invited out for an interview, he won't think twice.<br />
<br />
We've already saved for the plane ticket.The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-64455711908634092702010-09-05T12:58:00.000-07:002010-09-05T15:18:12.124-07:00First Step<b>LANA</b>:<br />
<br />
As we've now been bringing our question to God of whether Paris should happen or not, it's kind of interesting to me that DH and I are both in a dramatically heightened state of unrest. We are not feeling more pacified with the idea of a long, drawn-out savings plan for school, but exactly the opposite. It feels like a fire has been lit under our bums. We're getting extremely antsy. <br />
<br />
I came across <a href="http://dl2china.areavoices.com/">this blog</a> today by a Detroit Lakes man living abroad in China and I can't even read past the first page for how it twists me up inside with urgency. It reminds me of how much we're missing each and every day while there is so much outside of the Midwest we want to be a part of and learn, and it feels quite simply like we are wasting precious time. It reaffirmed to me that our need to leave (not just for DH's baking and pastry program, but permanently relocating to Seattle or Portland afterward) isn't a wishful dream; it's a sense of purpose that it's frustrating to delay longer than we already have.<br />
<br />
I also met with a couple a few days ago who prospectively want to live in these townhomes. Through their eyes, it was a spacious, homey complex with sunlight and windows galore and a wide-open grassy yard, plus a swimming beach only a few blocks away. They said they want to start and grow their family here. This reminded me that there is really nothing wrong with where we live. For some people, living in this town, even at this address, is what they envision when they plan their future, and it makes them happy. I don't know why, but this is not us. <br />
<br />
I realized it ultimately comes down to two things: DH has gone about as far as he can go with his profession and food education here and he still wants to be better and have access to more styles and ingredients. Similarly, we do not have a real home yet, and we want to get on finding it that, too. God is allowing these things to continue to chafe on us, prodding us to near desperation to make something happen soon.<br />
<br />
It's not the most pleasing feeling to go about the day with, but desperation begets more prayer and more ideas, and these beget action, which likely results in change. Boy, I could use some change right now!<br />
<br />
One note I can make is that DH and I admitted to each other that we have both started thinking about the idea of moving to the West Coast before going abroad, as there is likely more springboards and networking opportunities that could make Paris a feasible reality sooner. <br />
<br />
It is a step. <br />
<br />
It could very likely be an answer to prayer.The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-14163812755218489522010-08-22T20:07:00.000-07:002010-08-22T20:10:26.353-07:00Maybe I Should Ask First<b>LANA:</b><br />
<br />
We are living in an in-between place.<br />
<br />
On one hand, we're totally grateful for it. We prayed relentlessly for this job and situation, and are thrilled to be in our current dwelling, managing 24 town homes in return for free rent and pay for odd jobs. We are set up better than we ever have been before to save a significant amount of money every month for school in Paris. Plus, no lease! We can be up and out in two weeks flat.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, we're uncomfortable. Our living space is, unfortunately, ugly (it doesn't seem to bother DH, but it does chafe on me quite a bit). We don't have a yard of our own, can't let the boys play unattended for more than a few minutes, and we can't form real friendships with the neighbors. We are always unofficially 'on duty', taking calls about apartments and being caught by tenants who need repairs while going out to the mailbox. All the while, DH is itching to expand his career and experiences, and it grates on him. It doesn't help that he recently saw one fellow CIA alumnus win a chef de cuisine position aboard a Caribbean ocean liner, and another classmate pop up in a Food Network program. Time and opportunity is tangibly passing us by. <br />
<br />
The truth of the matter, though, is that our income is not spectacular enough for this to be a speedy process. While we can save a decent chunk of change every month, it will still take several years to accumulate enough by traditional saving alone. We are not prepared to be here for 3-4 more years. It's nearly unthinkable.<br />
<br />
It <i>is</i> unthinkable.<br />
<br />
It's tempting to consider school loans. Impatient people like me in imminently unthinkable situations are predisposed to find this notion pretty darn appealing. But God just spent two years teaching us how NOT to be in debt. I can't convince myself it's His will that we throw all that to the wind and fall back into borrowing.<br />
<br />
We have to fall back into Him instead. We have to pray for something extraordinary.<br />
<br />
I hit this same roadblock so many times during the past few years while we were clawing our way to debt-freedom. We were always at God's feet, asking for another job, for a break, for help with a bill, for help selling this or that and finally our house. I continually felt guilt about the righteousness of praying for such things. It felt so selfish. What good does selling our house quickly do for the Kingdom of God? What ministry is there in having a healthy financial situation and two reliable cars? Yet He granted it all. He explicitly answered prayer after prayer after prayer, and we got out and beyond. <br />
<br />
I will be open about this. While I knew that God had said 'yes' to our request for help in becoming debt free, and also to selling our house in a timely manner, I do not know what He has to say about Paris yet. It's not exactly written in the Bible whether one should or should not strive to study cooking abroad. But it does say we should bring all things to God in prayer.<br />
<br />
So I'm a little embarrassed to say I haven't really started praying about it yet. It's scary, because we've wanted this so badly for so long, and soon after we begin seriously praying about it, we will know His answer. It will become very obvious.<br />
<br />
It is a fact that we will not make it to Paris without God's explicit blessing. The mountain of time and money is too large for us to move alone. I'll begin to bring this huge request to Him now, knowing that He is the one who created DH with this passion for food and learning. Also for our will to match His, to make sure we go (or *gulp* stay) where and when He wants us. And of course, for obedient hearts to accept whatever answer He gives.The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5814271487764556555.post-85463877015659453682010-08-01T14:19:00.000-07:002010-08-01T23:18:15.202-07:00Midlife Paris: Day 1<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <br />
<h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.” - Dale E. Turner</span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1><h1 style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">LANA:</span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Our dream has been simmering for more than a decade. Today we are renewing it, taking it out of 'dream' status and upgrading it to a 'plan'. DH is going back to culinary school. In Paris. And he's taking us all with him.</span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Truth is, this would have been easier 10 years ago. Before we had two kids, three jobs and believed in not borrowing money for anything. Maybe even while we were young enough to still expect our parents to pay for it all. </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">DH is 29, and I am 28. We may have married too young, and we may not have thought it through just how long kids tend to stick around when we started throwing caution and birth control to the wind. We might also not have realized that moving home to Minnesota 'to be near Mom and Dad just while the baby is young' is a surefire way to slip into a comfortable half-life that hazily passes until that baby is 6 years old, while also adding a second baby to the roster. </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Through the hometown haze, though, we've kept one eye on that plan we didn't fulfill after he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2004, that stint abroad to work in Michelin-starred restaurants that was postponed until... when? </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If not now, when? </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Will someone knock on our door and tell us it's now the absolute perfect time for DH to spend a year continuing his culinary education in Paris? Will we get a gift check from Great Uncle Olaf for $75,000 with a note that says, 'Take a year off on me, guys'? Well. We hope so. Fingers crossed.</span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But while we wait, we are going to pretend like that check isn't coming. (Besides, I don't think we have a Great Uncle Olaf.) We have to save a sizable amount of money before we leave - enough for our family of 4 to live for 11 months in Paris. We will apply for scholarships and grants and financial aid. We will enter contests. We will sell things. We will save. We will go without. We might beg when the police aren't looking. </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We do have some things going for us, though. We have God to give us wisdom on this journey. We work and plan together like pros. We have passion for our goal and for DH's craft as a chef. We're relatively young, our health is good, we have no debt, and the kids still do what we tell them to. </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Knock. Knock.</b> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1>The Shindigshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11164159771368317585noreply@blogger.com4