Author Archives: maren

Taking the Plunge

Posted by marenin Discovering, Uncategorizedon 01.19.2012 3

It’s mid January and I’ve already crossed one of my 2012 resolutions off the list: to become a swimmer. While this may sound like bragging, it isn’t… swimming was a 2011 resolution… and a 2010 resolution. Two years ago, I bought a proper lap swimsuit, and last year I managed to purchase the swim cap and goggles, neither of which were ever removed from their packaging.

It isn’t that I don’t know how to swim – I learned how to swim as a kid and spent summers at the pool across the street – but most of my experience was on the side of the pool lathered up in baby oil with a magazine. And if I was thrown overboard, I could keep myself afloat and get to solid ground (as long as it wasn’t very far), but seeing me in a pool doesn’t resemble the same fluid, succinct sport that Michael Phelps or Dara Torres compete at.

Portland’s Got Talent

Posted by marenin Discoveringon 12.22.2011 2

Portlanders have a lot to be proud of: amazing eateries, bike friendly initiatives, curbside compost options… the list goes on. Recently I’ve added another item to the “why I love Portland” list – amazing talent. Portland’s new tagline (whether we like it or not) is that it is the place where young people go to retire… and there is some truth to that, but I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by the wealth of professional talent here, especially among the young Portland transplants. According to the 2010 census, the largest represented age group here is 25 to 44 year olds (34.7%).

Top 10 Things Portlandia Forgot

Posted by marenin Playingon 03.25.2011 3

If Portland, Oregon wasn’t on the map before, it is now. Lately it seems like you can’t get through the day without reference to the IFC’s comedy Portlandia. I’ll admit I had high hopes for the show, especially with the pre-release of Portlandia: Dream of the 90′s. Suddenly all of my friends’ Facebook statuses had quotes about Portland—regardless of which coast they lived on or if they’d even been to the city. And, as a native, most of those quotes were eerily accurate: “Portland is the city where young people go to retire…”

Standing for Education, Part 1

Posted by marenin Discoveringon 02.23.2011 0

We Swifties are lucky… and we know it. Most of what we do exists at the intersection of work and play. We get to work on projects and with brands that we have a personal interest in and connection to, which can sometimes make it seem more like playing than working.

There are also times when we step out of the playful work and take action for causes we believe in. Most recently we had the opportunity to join our friends from Stand For Children at their education rally in Salem to show support for public school teachers and protest against impending budget cuts.

Dragging my feet…

Posted by marenin Playingon 02.21.2011 3

There were a million reasons to skip out on my track workout tonight. It was pouring rain. My two girlfriends both canceled. I couldn’t shake the chills all day. I didn’t sleep well last night… and probably most importantly, I just didn’t want to go. As I walked home from work in the rain, the thought of moving my legs faster simply didn’t sound that great.