It's been a while.....

It's been three months since my last post. I feel like I am in confession. But it is true, I am long overdue for an update on our infamous life in Portland, Oregon. Most of you know what Brendan and I have been up to: beach camping while dinning on crab and pbr, exploring Portland by bike, and soaking in the sun. Ok that last one was a lie. The rain and clouds have finally settled over us and after talking to some locals the weather is here to stay until May. Yes May, what kind of winter do they have here? Lasting till May!? We all know that winter lasts till February, anyways we are settling in for the long haul and run outside when we see the sun peaking out. Literally we run outside.

Oregon Fungi

I am in my third week of school, with only eight weeks left! Biostatistics has been hard but fun. It is always fun to apply math to the mortality, morbidity, and disease rates around the world, a real upper. My other class, Program Planning, has turned out to be a lot of work. I am working with two other students to create a plan for making convenience stores healthier. In other words, we are trying to have convenience stores carry fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, etc. instead of the standard soda, candy, and beer. Thus, I will save the world by making everyone eat healthier! My last class is not on my list of favorites: Health Systems Organization. This exciting three hour class is filled with fun facts about how the U.S. health care system is organized (actually how unorganized) and how health care is filled with money grubbing rich people who don't want to lessen the cost of health care. Do I sound a little cynical?
Anyways, besides my hours and hours of reading and math homework I have been training for the upcoming road season. Last weekend I went on a team ride, of course it was raining and I have begun developing the art of riding behind a bike for hours while getting sprayed in the face with grit, it truly is a skill. My first race will be March 20th in Corvallis, Oregon. I also get to travel to far away places such as Seattle, Salem, Montana, and Moscow (Idaho, silly). I am going to start in the Women's B category and will hopefully upgrade to the A's which means I have a chance of going to nationals in Madison, WI.
Brendan has been slaving away at work. On his spare time he has been playing with his new power tools and writing a new computer language ( I have no idea what that means). At night he has been giving me programming lessons using Java. It blows my mind. Cricket is still growing and growing and is almost 9 months old!


Well that is it for now, we miss all of you,
Emily and Brendan