From chasing down a pack to chess in the park... I think I covered every possible inch of the greater Portland area this afternoon/evening.
We got out of the training at 4:30, and I went directly down 205 to I5 (north 2 exits) hitting the Tualatin REI. Looking for the elusive lavender pack I know I saw there when Alicia and I went about a month ago! Alas, no pack... no record of one ever possibly being there... and no customer service from some girl who really only wanted to go to "lunch!"
I got on the phone to the other REI in Jantzen Beach... got much helpful tactics and information. I made the same girl (still very "lunch" oriented) look up Jansport.com to see that I'm not imaging things. Duh, I'm not! Still, she wouldn't special order the AirWave in Lavender without insisting I had to come back in person to pick it up... Heaven forbid they ship it!
Grr-ed to the max I also made this "I'm going to lunch" girl print up the list of stores Jansport gave, and provide a phone book to be able to call them. From REI still, I called Copeland first (pure fluke since I thought I was calling the Clackamas store, but I wasn't) and sure enough, they've got one. After some finagling on my part, quote current sales and situations at REI, and that I was going all that way (oh, and getting directions) Mr. Nathan said he's see what he could do.
Off to City Center... basically the rest of I5 in Portland, I went! After 50 circles trying to understand streets and parking I found a $1.50 evening lot inside the same building as Copeland. God is awesome!

  scribbled by manky @ 21:24:48
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I love purple!
As a glance around me, I realize that I've surrounded myself by it. In my little tabletop workspace I currently have a collection, including: my impromptu "name plate" written boldly in lower-case purple 'amancay' (with a myriad of purple doodled swirls framing half of it,) my "Larry-Boy purple" cell phone, a Passion tazo tea bag, a chubby Mr. Sketch grape scented purple marker, my pretty purse pen...
Little did I know I could accumulate all that without even trying!

  scribbled by manky @ 11:54:39
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so, I'm in a training [5-Star Training for Trainers] and we just completed a learning style assessment [The Kolb Learning Style Inventory]. Contrary to popular belief, I'm rather balanced in my preferences. However, what stuck out to me was my (hardly notable) prominent combination quadrant:

Diverging Combines learning steps of Concrete Experience and Reflective Observation People with this learning style are best at viewing concrete situations from many different points of view. Their approach to situations is to observe rather than take action. If this is your style, you may enjoy situations that call for generating a wide range of ideas, such as brainstorming sessions. You probably have broad cultural interests and like to gather information. This imaginative ability and sensitivity to feelings is needed for effectiveness in arts, entertainment, and service careers. In formal learning situations, you may prefer working in groups to gather information, listening with an open mind, and receiving personalized feedback.

  scribbled by manky @ 11:09:58
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tuesday you say?... yea! Time to play This-or-That:

1. CandyLand or Chutes and Ladders? Chutes & Ladders: I never really got CandyLand... anyone care to explain?

2. Barbie or GI Joe? Barbie has all the cool shoes, plus she gets all the GI Joes when they're on leave! Did I just type and post that? I don't know what you're talkin' about!

3. Play-Doh or Silly Putty? Play-Doh: it's has this luscious smell, comes in way cool colors, and if you leave it out long enough (or even venture to bake it a scotch) you can immortalize your creations!

  scribbled by manky @ 0:39:15
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