PHIL HAS A BLOG.

meet phil: dad / beard owner / dance party enthusiast / advertising dude / eagle scout (retired)

[philhasablog]

In addition to being a Pinterest fantasy world, this Romanian bookstore also happens to sell a variety of books. (at Carturesti Carusel)

[philhasablog]

[philhasablog]

Forever in search of...

[philhasablog]

All I ever want to do.

[samelkinsphoto]

[archatlas]

that’s great

[philhasablog]

In Portland, Lauren and I spend all our time chasing around that little sunny spot.

[philhasablog]

One month.

Today, we crossed the official “one month in Portland” mark.

It’s been a month marked by unpacked boxes, crazy moving logistics, settling in to a new house, trial-by-fire onboarding at the new job, and exploring this new city we now call home. It’s definitely had its ups and downs, but it’s starting to feel like we’re finding our footing.

It wasn’t until this weekend that I think it finally hit me that we live here now instead of being on a really long weird working vacation that involves all of our stuff being in boxes. I have had bouts of homesickness and the most surreal “holy-shit-I-live-here-now” moments – often in the same day.

Ruby is thriving despite all the craziness, as kids often seem to do. She has finally adjusted to the Pacific time zone and is sleeping better than her parents currently. She now knows how to say “hi”, so she spends a good portion of her time outside the house boisterously greeting and waving to all strangers. I think she’s going to love it out here.

We miss our friends and family, but each week seems to offer up a new reason to be glad we made this decision. Just before we moved, I remember someone telling me it takes a full year to really figure out a new place – I seem to recall kinda scoffing at that when I first heard it, but I think I understand it now. 

So, here’s to being 1/12th of the way there.

[danielodowd-deactivated20170124]

annedanielsen

[philhasablog]

[philhasablog]

[philhasablog]

We found our new house! It took approximately 10 minutes after posting a photo for someone to photoshop this. Thanks @justintodd!

[philhasablog]

Wear something nice, show no fear, be nice, say please and thank you, find the toughest guy in the yard and shiv him in the showers, do your time, don’t say no to anything, wear your helmet, don’t run with scissors, ask questions, be wide-eyed but not in awe, be eternally optimistic but not an idiot, firm handshakes and eye contact, act like you’ve been there, learn, eyes open, head on a swivel, remember where you came from, be proud, be strong, and remember I love you. God speed.

some crucial “first day at the new job” advice from my amazing mentor

[philhasablog]

David Bowie – “Heroes”

[philhasablog]

Wet - “Don’t You”

[philhasablog]

Headed home.

[sterlinggraves]

[philhasablog]

I rediscovered this old Bowie song recently and I find myself coming back to it a lot lately. It’s a song he wrote after the birth of his son and it’s one of those songs where, now that I’m a parent, the lyrics have clicked for me in this perfect way that I never really appreciated before. It encapsulates all the different feelings about being a new parent - excited to welcome this new person into your world, not sure what it will be like, both eager and anxious. Now that our first year with Ruby is behind us, her personality is emerging more as she interacts with the world. I can’t wait to continue to get to know this little new human being and hopefully she doesn’t mind getting to know us either.