We Survived!

....the first week!

We are all still alive.  The first week was a bit of an adjustment for all three of us.  But here we are on Friday evening.  We are hoping next week is a little easier as we all adjust to the schedule.
I wanted to share a few lovely recipes with my readers.  Last night we enjoyed Rachael Ray's Corn and Crab Chowder Pot Pies for dinner.  They are a partial make ahead meal and really tasty.  And if you live near a Trader Joe's, you can buy canned crab there for $2.99. 
Last Saturday we made these amazing Tyler Florence fajitas on the grill and Ina's basic margaritas.  It made me once again ask the question, Why do people buy premixed margaritas?  (As my dear friend said, because they are peasants.)
The Zika/ DiVerde pair is lucky enough to have a full dance card for their Labor Day weekend.  I kicked it off by leaving work early and going to Hardcore Yoga, which is an amazing way to start a weekend.  (Detoxify to retoxify; we are going out for a few drinks this evening.)  Tomorrow is jogging/ market/ mentoring line up as usual and then we are going to the first Ducks football game of the season.  (All a part of the Legal Beagle's plan to be more normal this year!  Good work, LB!)  On Sunday we have a birthday festivity for a friend and on Monday we've decided to be crazy and drive to Crater Lake for the day.  It is a 2.5 hour drive and supposed to be amazing.  We had the crazy realization that if we don't go this weekend, when will we??  So let's load up the dog and go!    

Last First Day Ever. (We Hope.)

 Trooper takes his job very seriously.  You better watch it, squirrel. 

 I bought these zinnias at the market for $2.50.  Next time I'll tell you about the new farmer's market I know attend on Saturdays. 

Guerrilla shot!!  I had to take a picture of Jim's last first day of school.  (Unless he takes up medical school next.)  He wouldn't allow a picture, so take that!  (He really was wearing a dress shirt for actual school/ work.)  Jim's goal for the year: "be more normal."  (Was last year's goal "be a crazy law student?"  Achieved!)  I love that guy!

So Happy Its Thursday

I forgot to post this picture from a tide pool in Seaside that my friend and I saw on our morning jog.  Can you find the starfish?

Remember a few weeks ago when Asian Fusion Jim was around?  He's back tonight!  He's making Asian Noodles with Roast Pork.  This is another one of those recipes that involves a lot of Asian supermarket ingredients.  (You don't have black bean garlic paste in your pantry?)  I'm pretty excited.

We are experiencing the most beautiful weather this week.  High 70s, sunny, no rain.  Trooper Zika loves it.  We love it.  I'm assuming this will last for four more months.  Or it will start monsooning soon.  Either one.

Adventures by the Sea

Seaside, Oregon was a lovely weekend getaway.  We left after work on Friday evening.  It was about a three hour drive, almost to the Washington coast.  Trooper Z went to the boarders for a puppy spa weekend (and so mom and dad could have fun and not worry about him.)  A few of our friends were already at the hotel when we arrived, so we all went next door to the Bigfoot Saloon.  (That was seriously its name.)  I was lucky enough to have two girlfriends jog with me on Saturday and Sunday along the coast.  On Saturday we walked around, saw the ocean, visited a Living History Exhibit, and went to the wedding.  If you thought our wedding was progressive, you should have been to this one.  It was a great party: potluck, kegs, bonfire on the beach, dogs running around, etc.  We always love a good wedding.  Sadly, no dance floor, so we couldn't break out our awesome dance moves.  (Next time.)  On Sunday, we drove up to Astoria and headed home. 
Trooper Z came home this morning and we are happy to be a part of the dog pack again.  One week until law school resumes.  (Wah.)  We also begin the great job search of 2012/2013 for the Legal Beagle.  Should be another interesting year!

Dog Days

 This morning we went on a walk along the river.  These paths are within walking distance of our apartment. 

Pre's Trail is a series of bark paths throughout Eugene, named after Steve Prefontaine.  Summer is very dry in Eugene and we are now getting the few hot days (95 today) that come in the late summer. 

Tonight I made a pretty nice corn and bacon pasta.  If you are lucky enough to have some good sweet corn out this summer, this is a tasty recipe.  Jim said it was like a mix of creamed corn, pasta, and bacon, and I thought it tasted like a corn carbonara.  (The blogger wrote that a little goes a long way; she is not feeding JMD.) 

Back

Were you thinking that I'm the worst summer blogger ever?  Because you were right.  It's hard to find the time and motivation to sit at the computer after being at a computer at work all week.  I'm okay with that.
The week was pretty uneventful except that Jim had some sort of big ethics exam yesterday morning, so he was studying for that all week.  There's a direct relationship between the amount of time he studies and the amount of food he eats.  Luckily the exam is over and he was able to have some fun last night to celebrate.  (Don't worry, he's ethical.) 
My friend and I started seeking out yoga studios in the Eugene area.  My teacher (whom I love ever so dearly) is pregnant.  Exciting for her, but sad for my yoga practice.  When I miss one week of yoga it takes a toll on me, so I decided it was time to find another place to go if she's out of commission for awhile.  Eugene is lacking in the fitness yoga department.  I like to go to class that will challenge me and give me a good workout, not sit and chant for an hour.  (My rule is that I shouldn't have more anxiety when I leave a yoga class than when I came in.)  And we're on a limited budget, so it has to be affordable.  So we are going through a trial and error period. 
Eugene is finally warming up.  I've felt so secluded from the horrible drought the rest of the country is going through.  We are trying to make it through the summer without installing our window AC.  (The three of us are pretty tough.)  We'll see how the next few weeks go. 
At some point I'll have to recount for my readers the continuing drama of the Siamese cat and its owners.  The good news is it seems Jim does not have cat scratch fever or rabies.  (Yay!)  The bad news is that the invalid  (we call her Smokey Jokey) who owns the devil cat still allows it to go outdoors, so it continues to chase and taunt us and Trooper.  In the meantime, the woman's (adult) son and his friends are up at 6am cutting up things with Samurai swords.  Last night another neighbor told us that that cat has attacked his dog.  And since the city of Eugene is cat friendly, we can't call animal control to have it removed.  What a wacky, wacky place we live in. 

Fall's Around the Corner

Oh my gosh, only about three weeks until Jim returns to school.  For his last year!  We are going to a wedding in Seaside the weekend of August 18th, and then he's back to school on August 27th.  (Wah!)  I love fall but will be slightly bummed to have him back in school.  Hopefully the 3L year will be a bit easier for everyone involved.  And then we get to start thinking about the big question of "what next?" 

Bachelorette Antics

Lesson learned: I am getting older and do not have the energy I once did. 
In all seriousness, I had a fun time in Bend.  There were 13 women in a house that sleeps 10 and has two bathrooms, so that alone was an adventure.  (Another lesson learned: organizing 13 women is a bit of a challenge.)  But it was a fun adventure!
My good friend and I left Eugene on Friday afternoon (after working a half day and a quick stop in at Jim's company picnic) and arrived in Bend in the evening.  On Saturday, she and I woke up early (it was nice to have a like-minded friend along!) and went on a run then had coffee outside.  All of the gals spent the afternoon floating on the Deschuetes River (making for a very worried Jim).  After, we all got ready for dinner, which, with that many women, took until about 9:30pm and involved a lot of silly girls on the town.  On Sunday we headed home early and I was so happy to see my hubby and doggie.  (They had to survive a high of 101 degrees on Saturday in Eugene with no air conditioning!) 
So all in all it was a good weekend.  I met a lot of new girls, spent time with one of my fave Eugene friends, and went to Bend.  (Good for me to be less of a homebody!) 
Now, I can look forward to watching PBS and eating ice cream with my hubby. 

Summertime

Oregon's brief summer is upon us.  Rumor has it it will even hit 90 this weekend!  I am heading to Bend for a bachelorette party.  Don't worry; I have a good lawyer.