My BFF, MAX

I now regularly commute to work on the MAX. Although it requires being ready 30 minutes earlier than if I drove to work, it's worth it. I hate driving my car lately. I park it far away from my apartment downtown so it's inconvenient to use it. I like to challenge myself to figure out alternative ways to get around. Apparently it didn't take me long to return to the Portland roots I left behind almost 7 years ago. Living with the parents in Beaverton made using public transportation a little difficult, but now that I am downtown it's so much easier than driving around.

Last month I was starting work at 5am. The first MAX gets to the airport at 4:45. And the next one isn't until 5:15. So I only have one option. I can't miss the train. I was doing so well until the final week on the dreaded schedule. I was down at the station in enough time but I had a feeling I didn't have my badge on me. So I quickly scanned my backpack. I didn't find it so I ran up the stairs to my apartment. Threw apart my room to look for it. After a minute I decided to check my backpack again. It was in there the whole time. So I flew back down the stairs. Ran to the stop only to see the back of the train already gone. My instincts kicked in and I started to run. See here's the thing. The weekend before that I had decided instead of driving home in rush hour traffic I was going to leave my car parked at the airport and take the MAX instead. It seemed like a great idea until this moment. Of course I had to miss the train on a morning when my car wasn't parked downtown. After running through downtown unsuccessfully I walked up to a parked cab, bartered my way down to a $20 ride instead of $35. After that I swore I would never leave my car at the airport.

I love my commute though. The crazy things I see every day keep me coming back. Exhibit A:

How did you forget that you weren't wearing your shoes anymore?

I do have one suggestion for TriMet. Everyone riding should be required to be clean and smell good. I'm just saying...

A Little Something Different

I'm gonna go a little spiritual here for a minute. I am so grateful for the Lord's hand in everything. Today I taught the Sunbeams about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love for each one of us. And I truly felt that today.

So right now I am trying to find a job. Who isn't? And it feels like I send out a stack of resumes everyday. The people at the post office in Thriftway are my friends now. I know they look forward to seeing me 2 or 3 times a week. Not only am I desperate to find a job because I want to start my career, but I am also slowly going BROKE. And only slowly because I moved home to save money. And thankfully that is actually helping. I don't spend any money except gas, postage and food maybe once a week. It's wonderful. My parents are so great right now to put up with me.

All week I have been looking forward to today for a chance to fast and ask for extra help at this time. [Let me just tell you that fasting while being a nursery or sunbeams teacher is hard. Well not hard, but it sure doesn't make it easy. Especially when you're serving the best animal crackers ever (the organic ones from Costco!) for snacks.]

I need some guidance as to where I should be looking. My main concern right now is that my personality and drive will not be well-represented on a piece of paper displaying my resume and cover letter. And my DVD, a chance for on air people to show themselves to news directors, only shows my work, not me. When they open my envelope I want them to instantly see that this girl Katie, she's fun, has a love for directing, and would be a great addition to their station.

Yesterday evening I started to feel a sore throat come on. I didn't want to be sick for when my nieces get here this coming week, so I drank a ton of fluids, drank an emergency and tried to get to bed early. Upon waking up I felt the sore throat even worse. My first thought was that I shouldn't fast so that I could drink lots of fluids today. I also thought about not going to church so that I wouldn't get my little Sunbeams sick. I debated it for a few minutes and then decided I would still fast. So among everything else I asked for my throat to feel better so that I would be able to fast. As I was sitting in church I realized the pain I felt when swallowing was gone. And it was gone until earlier this evening. And now it's back almost as bad as it was this morning. But it didn't bother me at all while I was fasting. I know it's small, but it's something that would have kept me from fasting and receiving blessings and guidance that I need right now. The Lord prepares a way for everyone to follow Him!

"...for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1Nephi 3:7)

I had a great Sunday. I feel prepared to take on the job world tomorrow. Please someone just hire me.