She’s 29…..for real!  B and I originally were just going to visit her for the weekend but he got sick, and it turned into Taylor Girl’s trip….Our first!

First though..The Birthday Quiz 2017.

1. If you were a cake which cake would you be?

Lemon cake. No frosting.

2. What is one thing you’re embarrassed to admit you want to try?

I have a firm policy about not being embarrassed about anything that you’re interested in or enjoy. To answer the spirit of the question, though, I want to try living in New York City, even though I know it’s chaotic and too expensive and filled with pretentious people.

3. Are you proud of what you’re doing with your heart and time right now?

To a degree. I’m spending a lot of time focusing on accepting and caring for myself, which I think is a worthwhile endeavor, and I’m doing well at work and doing well on my goals and helping others when I can. If anything, I wish that I were spending more time on making and maintaining connections with other people, but I get to things when I get to them and I’ll get there when I get there.

4. Have you ever won anything? Big or small?

I am very competitive, so anything that I can work hard to win, I will. I’ve won things like board games and trivia quizzes and tests of preparation or of will, but I don’t think I’ve ever won a raffle or lottery or other luck-based contest.

5. What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat?

As long as it’s cooked well, I don’t think there are any foods that I would absolutely refuse to eat under duress. I don’t really enjoy asparagus or the texture of raw fish, and I can’t imagine enjoying oysters or mussels or snails, but I’m sure I could be convinced to eat them for the right price.

6. What’s the best way to comfort you when you’re having a really terrible day?

Quiet time alone. Funny podcasts made by nice people. Support from friends and family that validates how I’m feeling and lets me wallow if I want to.

7. Where is the most beautiful place on earth and why?

Anywhere by the ocean. I love being by the ocean; it soothes me in a way that I can’t really define.

8. Are ghosts real?

I don’t think it would be possible to prove that they aren’t, and I’m open to being convinced that they are.

9. Are aliens real?

I think they’d have to be.

10. What’s the saddest song you’ve ever heard?

Probably “It’s Quiet Uptown” from the Hamilton musical. It didn’t really hit me how sad it was until I listened to the Kelly Clarkson version from the Hamilton mixtape, and it actually made me cry at my desk at work.

11. How about the sweetest song?

“Sunday Candy” by Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment

12. What was the name of the first person you ever had a crush on? Why did you like them?

I really don’t remember the names of any of my crushes before the fifth grade, though I know I had crushes on boys in my first and third grade classes. The boy in my third grade class had really pretty green eyes.

13. What do you think you cook or bake the best?

I really like the rice bowls that I make. I’m the kind of person that wants each bite to contain a perfect spread of every ingredient, so I’m a really good mixer and know the exact right order to add ingredients so that the rice absorbs the cilantro and whatever creamy dressing and there’s a bit of olive and a good chunk of avocado in every square inch.

14. If you could change your first name what would it be?

I don’t think I would. I’ve got a good first name that lends itself to just the right number of nicknames.

15.When you’re upset, do you want space or attention?

Space. Unless I’m upset about being ignored.

16. What’s #1 on your bucket list?

Living in Europe again.

17. What embarrasses you the most in front of other people?

Gosh. A lot of things. I’m embarrassed whenever I feel like strangers might be laughing at me or feeling bad for me.

18. Who are you most envious of—real or fictional—and why?

I can’t think of anyone specific. Everyone’s fighting a hard battle. I know this is a cop-out and some people reading this are probably rolling their eyes, but I can’t think of anyone! Maybe I lack creativity and should just say J.K. Rowling.

19.What are 5 things that give you complete peace of mind?

Marking off every item on my day’s to-do list, paying off all of my bills, getting my favorite seat on the bus, getting a notification that a package has been delivered, and finishing a long day of meetings or of traveling and knowing that I don’t have any more in front of me.

20. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

People being inconsiderate of other people in public. I can think of so many examples. Stopping in front of people walking on the sidewalk, standing in front of an empty seat on the bus instead of sitting or letting someone else sit, putting your bag on an empty seat when the bus is crowded, talking in movies, playing loud music in a public space, taking your time once you reach the front of a long line… Just be aware of the space you take up and how it impacts other people!

We really lucked out with the weather – it was snowing when we left UT so we were very happy to see blue skies and somewhat warmer weather.  Above was our view from our hotel window.  Aub’s apartment is right across the river.  First we had to compare Lelu’s super tan hands (the only part of her body that got a lot of sun).These geese and their babies hung out right outside our hotel, and we literally got hissed at by the mommy and daddy and I was genuinely afraid they may attack Ari.  This tree was between Aub’s apartment and the restaurant we had lunch at.  Spring is really in bloom there and it’s amazing!

Man does Portland do food right!  We went to this Venezuelan restaurant a couple blocks from Aub’s apartment called Teote. And Ari was just chillin out by the fire Then we went to the Japanese gardens.  There’s a waterfall behind them. It is beautiful, serene, God’s artistic creations on display and well worth going to see.   We tried to go to the Rose Garden but sadly roses aren’t in bloom yet.  It wouldn’t be a Taylor Girl’s trip without getting our hair done!  Honestly, Aub’s hair doesn’t ever need to be done as it just dries into beautiful curls – so she pretty much just humored us.   We walked all over Portland logging over 15000 steps both days, shopped SALES TAX FREE.  I do really love that!  We watched a scary movie together that Aub and I have already seen, so we warned and spoiler alerted all through it so Lelu and Ari wouldn’t freak out that much.  We took a long nap, ordered gourmet mac n cheese to be delivered, bought a book of questions and got to know each other a little better and took Uber everywhere that we didn’t walk.  It was an awesome weekend.  Thanks Aub for being the hostess with the mostess and having a birthday!  These moments and time together are absolutely priceless.