Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts

Monday, January 25, 2010

My Time in Houston

I had the chance to get out of San Marcos for a few days, and I headed over to Houston to meet my new niece.  While I was there, I realized two things: I have the cutest nieces ever, and I think I'm almost ready to settle down and have a family.  I just need to find someone to settle down with...and learn how to hold a baby without freaking out.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

My Christmas Break

Although I have to go in on Monday to help tie up some end of the semester loose ends, I am officially on break until January 4.  Yup, that's two weeks of holiday vacation, and to be honest I don't know what I'm going to do with so much time on my hands.

The plan for Christmas is set.  We're going to Houston to celebrate since my sister is expecting another child, and making her travel didn't make much sense.  My folks are going to be swinging through San Marcos on Tuesday, and then we're off to H-town.  Right now, I don't know how long we're going to be there, but I'm looking forward to it, which is an odd thing for me to say.

After Christmas is a whole different story.  Part of me wouldn't mind going back to Midland for a few days, but my low tolerance for my hometown combined with limited traveling funds makes coming back to San Marcos a more appealing option.  Then again, it's the holidays, and it's not like I have a ton to do in Central TX, so I might as well head back for some home cooking.  We'll just have to see what happens.

Regardless, I'm pumped to have some time off even though I've only been technically working for a little more than two months.  What can I say, it was a hectic couple of months...

Saturday, July 11, 2009

My Top 5 Places I Want to Live

Being back home and conducting a job hunt has me thinking about where I want to end up if I had the choice. This post is similar to one that I put up here a while back, but with a few changes.

1. San Francisco, CA
I had the chance to drive the entire state of California on my way back from Portland, and I took this opportunity to check out some potential new homes. The first stop was in San Francisco, and I fell in love with the place after only two days. Sometimes you just get the feeling that you belong somewhere, and that's what I felt in SF. Now, we'll have to see if I have a reason to move there once and for all.

2. Austin, TX
Living up in Portland changed me in a good way. I feel that I'm more open minded, and even more laid back than before. This change in attitude has me warming up to the idea of living in Austin, and again I feel that living here would be more natural than any other city in Texas.

3. Boulder, CO
A part of me has always wanted to live in Colorado, and Boulder seems to be the right fit (although Colorado Springs has always piqued my interest as well). Unfortunately, finding a job at CU is a daunting task because they seem to be in short supply. I also don't know how I'd handle the snow, but I'm in love with the idea of lots of sunshine.

4. San Diego, CA
Another stop on my journey home was San Diego, and to be honest it wasn't what I was expecting. To be fair, I don't think I had an accurate image of SD in my head, so I doubt it could have lived up to the standard I had set for it. I still enjoyed my time there, and the coast was amazing, but San Diego just didn't strike the same chord with me that San Francisco did.

5. Houston, TX
The main reason Houston makes this list is because me sister and her family live there, and I wouldn't be surprised if all of my family end up near Houston and San Antonio. I'd make the move to Houston because it'd be nice to be close to them. Sure, Houston is too big and humid, but having loved ones close by does have its perks.

Of course, I'm fully aware that where I end up is heavily dependent on the job market, but it's fun to dream every once in a while.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

My Lone Star Pride

I've never been prouder to be a Texan until now. Seriously, 3 out of the 10 fattest cities are in Texas while Portland is ranked #6 on the Fittest Cities list. Maybe I should stick around the Northwest for a little bit longer.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

My Christmas Vacation

So, I made it back to Portland safely, and the overall trip was easy despite the snowy weather in Oregon. My outgoing flight was delayed only an hour, and there were not any complications coming back from Houston, so I lucked out.

The trip itself was your typical Christmas. I had the chance to visit with my loved ones, received some great DVDs, and I had the chance to relax a little bit. Not a bad trip at all. It was also good to be back in Texas, even if it was only for a few days.

The only downside of the trip is the fact that it was cloudy and rainy for most of the time while I was there. I swear I can never leave the rain to save my life. I think rainclouds just follow me around. It was also very humid in Houston, which isn't anything new, but it just reminded me how much I've gotten used to the weather up here in Portland.

Being in Houston also gave me something to think about, especially when it comes to my next big move. I realized that I really, really, really don't like the heat and humidity, which could rule out Houston (or any where on the Gulf Coast) as a possible destination. Combine this revelation with the fact that I really enjoyed the snow in Portland, and I think I have a better idea of where I might belong, i.e. somewhere that has sun but also gets cold and snowy with little to no humidity. Where could that be?

My trip home was good, and it was nice to see the family again, but I was really excited to be back in Portland. Part of me actually missed the cold and snow, and for the first time in a long time I referred to Portland as home...maybe that will factor in my next decision as well.