whisky tango foxtrot

Today is supposedly the first day of Spring. At the moment I see a smidgeon of blue sky, but it’s not promising, I can’t lie.

I NEED SOME SUNSHINE. Get me that beautiful Vitamin D. Oregonians, because of the lack of sunshine, only get something like 20% of their daily need of D. LAME.

I’m thrilled it’s finally Friday. Thing have been weird lately, and I can’t completely put my finger on why. Work is an adventure politically, I have friends with some issues going on in their lives, and I can’t decide what my next “goal” is. I mean, I’m done with school, I like my job, things are going well. I’d like to be able to take advantage of this great first-time homebuyer market that’s going on, but I need to pay down some student loans first. Sigh.

Maybe I’ll buy a lottery ticket.

I AM, however, going to Washington DC in May and I am P-U-M-P-E-D PUMPED. Yes, like cheerleader level pumped.

On a completely random off-note, I was googling something today, and typed in “where is” and got distracted for a sec. When I looked back to the screen, I noticed the drop-down of popular searches that start with “where is” and started cracking up to see:

I mean, I can’t decide which is funnier, “where is Chuck Norris” or “where is the G spot.”
So naturally I started doing other ones, including “who is”:

This one is a bit weirder, because whoever this “big poppa” is, he’s quite a popular fellow. I mean he’s got 4 searches. I’m also a bit concerned that people have to google “who is my congressman.”

Yikes.
Have a good weekend, all!

A few things not worth mentioning...

Thing the First: My oven caught on fire last night. It was kind of a dramatic moment as I had just turned the oven on, and suddenly it made this horrible buzzing sound and then a loud POP, which produced some good size flames. I was able to turn it immediately off, which stopped the flames, but then produced some impressive billows of smoke. So then of course I opened every window in my apartment to air it out, which promptly made my apartment FREEZING (but not smelling like smoke). So now I have no oven, and while it's perhaps safe to use the stove burners, I'm disinclined to do so. Now I'm waiting for my apartment manager to see if it's reparable. But for now I have to eat things cold or things that are microwavable. Bummer, dude.

Thing the Second: I have been having some trippy-ass dreams lately. First, I had a dream that I was a reporter covering the Blagojevich impeachment, and Mr. Pipo was called as a character witness, which horrified me. He came over to talk to me, bringing Mr. Blagojevich, who promptly decided to hit on me, so I ran away. As I was running, it turned in to me doing a marathon, and my iPod wouldn't work. I also have dreams fairly frequently where my teeth are falling out. Then last night I had a dream where I was invisible to everyone but children. Googling the themes of my dreams would lead one to believe I must have serious issues I'm unaware of, including worrying too much about how I look, thinking I'm not important, trying to remove myself from society, and putting my faith in man over God. Whatever that means. Really I think it just provides me entertainment the next morning when I remember them. Except the teeth falling out one. YUCK!

Thing the Third: Why does our mayor have to be scandalous? I mean, I'm feeling good politically, my President was elected, he's officially in office and Bush is puttin' his boots up on a coffee table in Podunk, Texas, and he can't send us to war again. But then the day before Inauguration, Portland's mayor has to go scandalize himself with an inappropriate relationship. I mean come ON. So I have decided to pay as little attention as possible to the whole shebang, even if I am technically a city employee. Whatev! Evidently in Portland, 18-year-olds can enjoy Sam Adams. Ba-dum kshhhh!

Blubber

Just another manic Monday…

Actually, that’s not true. I’m so bored I could watch paint peel. The students are back for summer session, but almost no one takes summer classes, so it’s dull.

But outside is absolutely incredibly fantastically sunny!!

And it’s going to be 80 degrees! Tomorrow too!

I just don’t know what to do with myself! Of course I can’t really enjoy it because I have to work all day and I have class tomorrow, but I’ll be breakin open the sunroof this week for sure!

So how was your weekend?

Mine was OK. I had my weekend class again and it wasn’t as good as the class we had last month. We did a lot of the same thing over and over and it just really wasn’t catching my attention.

BUT, in a strange twist of fate, I ran into an old classmate of mine at my Starbucks on Saturday morning. I’ve known the guy since kindergarten, and I see him every once in a while (may 3 times in the last seven years). So I asked him what he was doing at my Starbucks, and it turns out he lives two blocks away from me! He’s been there for 8 months, and somehow we hadn’t run into each other yet! It was crazy. He also drives this fantastic yellow and black Mini Cooper. Lucky bastard. His girlfriend seemed nice, but not very friendly.

Anyway, that was my trip down memory lane for the day. He and I were in the same class for kindergarten and first grade, and we were the “smart kids,” put in AGP or TAG or whatever they call it these days. We did this advanced reading program in first grade because the other kids were still doing the See Spot run hoopla.

On Sunday I started teaching my sister how to drive! She’s almost 27 but just never got on the driving bandwagon. She needs to be able to drive for her new job, so she bought a car and got her permit the other day. So we had a driving session for a few hours, and she did really well. Still takes corners a little hard, but she’s getting better! And now I won’t have to drag her butt around because she’ll have her own car!

In other news, I ran into this video on YouTube and about died. This happened about 50 miles south of where I grew up, but eleven years before I was born. I couldn’t stop laughing because really…what the hell did they think was going to happen??

Optical Intercourse

What's that you say?

Read this fascinating story from March 2006's Chronicle of Higher Education.

A little excerpt for your enjoyment/amazement/disbelief:

Even couples who are not talking or touching can be reprimanded. Sabrina Poirier, a student at Pensacola who withdrew in 1997, was disciplined for what is known on the campus as "optical intercourse" — staring too intently into the eyes of a member of the opposite sex. This is also referred to as "making eye babies." While the rule does not appear in written form, most students interviewed for this article were familiar with the concept.

Visit the school's website.



This picture from the website looks pretty questionable...doesn't it look like that guy and polka dots are making "eye babies"?? And you know he's thinking, Sweet, a threesome.

Now they are definitely sitting too close here. And I'm pretty sure he's staring at her boobs.

A look at their application is interesting (you can find a PDF link to get a good look).


DISCUSS.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

My window is open at work and I can hear that sweet sound of a ball hitting a bat from across campus. Oh how I love springtime and its baseball season glory.

You know what that means—Thirsty Thursday is coming soon!

In other news, I got a haircut that just about gave everyone around me a heart attack. In a good way, though, because it does indeed look fabulous. But I had quite long hair, and had long hair for a couple of years, and was ready for a change. Not to mention I have thick hair so it would take like 20 minutes to blowdry. Are you bored of this story yet and starting to scroll down? Anyway, I cut about 8 inches off, and my head feels so much lighter! You wouldn’t believe the pile of hair I left on the floor at the hairdresser’s. Now it’s about shoulder-length with fantastic layers that flip out and make me look like the diva that I am. ;)

The hairdresser was pretty funny. She was this cute little Asian lady who kept saying in her cute little Asian accent:

“Oh yes, this look cute. Make look younger!”

Then I had the

“Oooh, what yo friend say about you cut short??”

“I didn’t really tell anyone I was going to.”

“Oooh. Well what about yo boyfriend? What yo man say?”

Instead of saying “I don’t have one, and it wouldn’t matter what he said, anyway!” I just said, “Oh, I don’t have one.”

“Oooh, well this cut get you one.”

Hillaaaaaaarious.

Gotten lots of compliments already, so it was a good decision.

In other other news, my sister is moving back to Portland. She 1) Hates Seattle [sorry Tristan, I don’t know what her deal is] and 2) Hates the store she’s working in. So she got a job offer back in Portland, and she applied and was hired! It looks like she’ll be moving back in 5-6 weeks. Now I need to find a good excuse to get out of helping her move. ;)

Well that is all for now, my lovelies. Have a great weekend, relax with a beverage of your choice, and enjoy the sunshine if you have some.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Items of note on this Monday:

1. I do not understand WHY people feel the need to mess with my damn car! I went out to my car Sunday morning to head to the store, and someone had broken into my car. Again. The first time was somewhat funny, but it’s not anymore. I don’t like people messing with my stuff. Whoever it was must have been disappointed not to find anything (I had my face plate off my stereo so they couldn’t take it this time). Then they got into my trunk to rummage around but once again found nothing. I think they were probably

A) Looking for my face plate—many people just take it off and leave it in the glove box, for example--

or

B) Seeing if I had a stereo in my trunk as many people do.

Luckily, once again, they just jimmied my door and did not break my window. And it’s a long shot, but I am actually wondering if it might be the same moron from before because the way s/he left my car was verrrry similar to the last time. My door wasn’t closed all the way and my trunk was partially open. Perhaps this person figured I must have replaced my stereo by now so they thought they’d snag stereo #2. Fool!


2. My mock arbitration hearing went very well. I am a damn good arbitrator if I do say so myself. It was interesting to see the two sides present their cases—they were ready to draw blood! It was pretty funny, actually. Not to mention there was some shameful sucking up going on since I was the arbitrator. I could get used to that. ;)

3. The Bachelorette Party was a blast and a half. We started off the evening at the bride-to-be’s house for some pre-drinking and party games. They were of course all dirty—including a contest for shaping the best penis out of play dough as well as a “deep-throat” contest using a banana. I won one of these two games, but I will not say which for I am a lady, dammit!

We then headed to our dance class, which I mentioned in my previous post. It turns out it wasn’t actually a pole-dancing class like I originally thought. It was just exotic dancing, but pole dancing classes are offered. We learned this fantastic routine of sorts to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” It was a lot of fun, I must say. It’s totally out of the comfort zone, of course, because there was much discussion of putting the va-jay-jay out there during the dance. We were clothed, but the idea when you actually perform the dance for someone is to be naked or at least be naked by the end of the dance if you know what I’m sayin. ;)

After we were all sexed up we headed downtown to the Irish Festival to get our drink on. Surprisingly, it wasn’t at busy as I would have thought. We didn’t have to wait in line at all to get in, so that was nice. There was plenty ‘o green beer and sody bread a-flowin. The band in the tent we were in was really fantastic. They were so damn energetic, too! After they finished their set I went to talk to the good-looking fiddle-player and he was bouncing off the walls, I tell you! He gave me a free pass to get in on Sunday but I had to finish up a term paper so I wasn’t able to go. :( Too bad. But it was a lot of fun.

4. I’m glad to have two weeks off from class, man! I still have to write up my arbitration decision, but then it’s free time until April. I just don’t know what I’m going to do with myself! I think perhaps I will have to visit friends who have been neglected by my busy schedule. I feel a game night coming on…

Ides of March

There are little tiny daffodils popping up outside my office! Spring is on the way! It’s taking its time, though—I had to scrape ice off my car this morning.

And how is everyone in the blogging world today?

I read this story this morning and I was beyond horrified. Horrified doesn’t even cut it, really.

I also just saw this story, which is very cool. Finally having a black Disney princess is extremely cool. Also, I will admit that I am thrilled that they’re actually doing a hand-drawn feature again!! I love the Pixar movies and Shrek and all that, but there’s something extra special about the classic hand-drawn Disney movies like Cinderella & Snow White.

On a completely unrelated note, I wish to share this video with you. This woman is certifiable! It is important to note, however, that Boric Acid is not toxic. It’s found in antiseptics and athlete’s foot meds and such. It’s probably not the best idea to rub it all over your skin like she did, but still. She is definitely psycho, though:





This is my last week for the term, then it’s two weeks off for Spring Break, baby! Not that I’m really doing anything special, I still have to work. But it’ll be nice not to worry about schoolwork for a couple weeks. Then April’s a new term.

What is it about college campuses in the springtime? They just have this fantastic feel to them, don’t they?

St. Patty’s Day is this weekend, which means drunk Irish people (and people who wish they were Irish) running amok about Portland. I will probably be joining in the festivities because I have a bachelorette party I’m attending on Saturday. It should be an adventure to say the least. Our first stop is a pole dancing class (yes, I said pole dancing) at Euphoria Studios in southeast. Yes, I will be taking pictures, no I will not be posting them!

Should provide good blogging material come Monday. ;)

True colors are beautiful

This post may be rather boring, and if it is, I do apologize. But I found it over at the lovely Madge's blog, and thought it was cute.

COLORS

Red.
1. Closest red thing to you? My raincoat
2. Last thing to make you angry? My mother. She likes to make family reunion plans during the one weekend for which I said I cannot go. Then she guilt trips me about it.
3. Do you have a temper? For certain things, yes. I don’t usually have a temper with people I love, but politics often make my blood boil.
4. Are you a fan of romance? I used to be…I still am sometimes, but not like I was when I was younger. I hope this is just “growing up” and not cynicism.

Orange.
1. Closest orange thing to you? The wind-up giraffe I have on my desk.
2. Do you like to burn things? Actually I am kind of a pyro sometimes. I think fire is pretty.
3. Dress up for Halloween? Yeah, my friends and I usually hit up a Halloween party.
4. Are you usually a warm-hearted person? Yes, I think so. I cry when watching the news sometimes, does that count?
5. Do you have anything against redheaded people? Only that they have red hair and I’m jealous. I love red hair. I was a [chemically-created] red-head for a couple of years, but the up-keep was tough.
6. Are you usually full of energy? Yeah, I’m usually pretty energetic. (That didn't sound very energetic, did it?)

Yellow.
1. Closest yellow thing to you? My fantastic new handbag!
2. The happiest time[s] of your life? When I studied abroad in Ecuador in ’03. I really had the time of my life. So far, anyway. But it’ll be tough to top.
3. Favorite holiday? Christmas.
4. Are you a coward? Not about most things. But approaching a male I find interesting, yes, I’m a coward!!
5. Do you burn or tan? I try not to do either. Sunscreen for everyone!

Green.
1. Closest green thing to you? Highlighter!
2. Do you care about the enviroment? Hello! I’m from OREGON! (Translation = YES!)
3. Are you jealous of anyone right now? My best friend who is heading to Vegas next week. Beotch.
4. Are you a lucky person? No, definitely not.
5. Do you always want what you can't have? No, that’s not an issue I have often.
6. Do you like being outdoors? The outdoors is a wonderful place, isn’t it? I’m especially fond of bridges and waterfalls.
7. Are you Irish? Nope. Dutch and Czech.

Blue.
1. Closest blue thing to you? My post-it notes.
2. Are you good at calming people down? Yeah, I am pretty good at that, actually. Usually I manage to make them laugh.
3. Do you like the sea? Oh yes, I’m a beach girl at heart.
4. What was the last thing that made you cry? I don’t remember….. I think a few weeks ago when I watched Life is Beautiful.
5. Are you a logical thinker? Most of the time.
6. Can you sleep easily? Yes! It’s that beautiful new bed I bought myself.

Purple.
1. Closest purple thing to you? Vase on my desk.
2. Like being treated to expensive things? I like expensive things, but I’m also frugal so I usually don’t give in. And I have this annoying personality trait where I don’t like to let people buy things or do things for me. I’m working on letting that go, though. Sometimes you just need to let people help you out.
3. Do you like mysterious things? Yes, mysteries are always a good time.
4. Favorite type of chocolate? Dark with cayenne pepper.
5. Ever met anyone in royalty? I am royalty.
6. Are you creative? Yes, I am pretty creative! But not artistic. Those are very different things.

Pink.
1. Closest pink thing to you? My undies! -- Me too, Madge!
2. Do you like sweet things? Why yes I do. As a matter of fact, I'm eating some Junior Mints right now!
3. Are you sensitive? Not really.
4. Do you like music? Oh music...how do I love thee?

White
1. Closest white thing to you? My page-a-day calendar.
2. Would you say you're innocent? Um…I’m pleading the fifth on that one.
3. Are you good at keeping the peace? I can usually keep the peace, but I also like a good debate. 4. How do you imagine your wedding? I don’t, really. I often think I’ll do it Vegas-style if I walk down that plank. Then again, a reception would be fun. Plus, my family would kill me if I did it in Vegas.
5. Do you like to play in the snow? I love to play in the snow! Try to drag my butt to work in the snow? Not so much.
6. Are you afraid of going to the doctors or dentist? I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DENTIST. Doctors are OK.

Black.
1. Closest black thing to you? My shoes
2. Ever enjoy hurting people? Um, no. What kind of question is this?
3. Are you sophisticated or silly? Totally depends on the situation. Out with friends? Silly. In class? Sophisticated.
4. Would you like to go to space? I would love to go to space. I think the stars are fascinating.
5. Do you have a lot of secrets? Only a few---it’s more fun if you only have one or two. Like this blog, for example. No one in the “real world” knows I have it.
6. What is your favorite colour? Red. Also yellow and blue.
7. Does the colour you wear affect your mood? No, but I think perhaps my mood affects the color I wear.

I ain't just whistlin' dixie

Items of note for Friday—

I was perusing Flickr this morning (I can’t remember why, there was a reason) when I came upon this photograph.

Isn’t that just stunning?? So beautiful. Taken by sduffy (who I don’t know, but is now my personal hero).

In other news, I ordered some “business cards” this morning. I don’t have actual business cards, and when I make public service connections, I want something to hand out that has my contact info on them. So I went to Moo and ordered 100 cards with the following photos on the back:

Pretty, huh? Maybe some day I’ll actually have real business cards!


Finally, if you need something to do, please go visit my new favorite site, which had me in stitches all afternoon. Definitely one to add to the sidebar!

One of my favorites for the day:

4PM Too-Much-Information Technology

Coworker: Thank you for calling ABC Tech Support*.

Can I have your name, please?

... While we're waiting for the information to come up in our system,

you wouldn't happen to know how they execute their criminals in China...?

I just ask because I heard that they sell the organs of condemned

criminals over there..

Houston, Texas

Overheard by: Glad I wasn't on the phone at the time


Have a fantastic weekend!

Fiddlesticks

I had a really horrible dream last night. I dreamt that it was the day of my surgery, and I kept accidentally eating stuff, like a piece of toast or a sucker, and then freaking out because I’m not supposed to eat anything after midnight the night before the surgery.

So that was annoying in itself, but then I go in to have the surgery, and the receptionist is like, “Yeah, sorry—we’re not going to be able to do that today. You’ll have to reschedule for sometime in April.”

Needless to say, I was PO’d and started shouting obscenities. I guess I’m a total potty mouth in my dreams. So I ask the lady why we can’t do it and she’s like, “I don’t know, your doctor just didn’t want to.”

So I go hunting around the hospital and find him in a room making balloon animals for a bunch of kids. So I ask him what the deal is, and A) Why we’re not doing the surgery, and B) Why he didn’t call and tell me yesterday. And he says he just didn’t feel like it, so I go off again and say I’m going to find a new doctor. Then he says I can’t, or I’ll have to pay for it all myself.

OK, it may not sound like much, but it was really annoying. I mean, I’m not exactly looking forward to the surgery, but I’m so sick of snot, sinus headaches, coughing, and swollen eyelids in the morning (goddamn ethmoid sinuses) that I am ready to do ANYTHING to make it all go away.

Hrmph.

::::::

In other news, I’m still really really bored at work. So what does Jennifer do when she’s bored? She plays with Microsoft Paint!

I should do this for a living.

::::::

In other other news, I’m looking forward to Christmas—it’s my favorite time of year. I’ve had my radio tuned to the Christmas station since the day after Thanksgiving. I just love it because it’s a time when I get to spend time with my family (which sounds corny, but it’s true). I don’t get to see my grandpa, aunt & uncle, or cousins very often, so it’s always fun to get together on Christmas Eve to have general merriment! :) Not to mention I love watching my little brother and sister on Christmas morning—so much fun!

::::::

I am painfully bored here at work, so here’s a painfully boring survey that I filled out. If you are equally bored, please fill it out for yourself…it will give me something to read!!

1. Hi my name is...Jennifer

2. Never in my life have I...Done drugs

3. The one person who can drive me nuts...One person? Um, there's several.

4. Favorite Teacher?Of all time? That's tough... Byron Steiger (aka Mr. Burns)

5. When I'm nervous...I bite my nails

6. The last time I cried was...Yesterday I laughed so hard that I cried!

7. If I were to get married right now my maid of honor/best man...Crappety crap. Can't they just all be my MOH?

8. My hair is...Getting long!

9. When I was 5...My grandma died

10. Last Christmas...I didn't put any presents on a credit card.

11. I should be...Working...but I have nothing to do.

12. When I look down I see...My keyboard...exciting stuff going on over here.

13. The craziest recent event was...Inexplicably finding a dead rat in my toilet.

14. If I were a character on 'Friends' I'd be...Monica

15. By this time next year...I will be able to breathe freely!

16. My current gripe...That I might be stuck with a famously psychotic professor next term.

17. I have a hard time understanding...Why Oregonians can't drive in the rain. I mean, we're Oregonians! Helllooooo!!

18. There's this girl I know who...Is going to be a fantastic teacher.

19. You know what the weather is going to be by... Remembering where I live. RAIN!

20. If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be...Probably my dad.

21. Take my advice...Don't go out walking when zombies are on the loose.

22. My ideal breakfast...French toast...alas I rarely have it.

23. If you visited the place I was born...You would be unimpressed.

24. I plan to visit someone...In Alaska in June!!

25. If you spent the night at my house....I'd have a fabulous air bed for you.

26. I'd stop my wedding if...My fiance cheated.

27. The world could do without...Unnecessary war.

28. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than...Hold a spider.

29. Most recent thing that I have bought?I can't tell you, it's a Christmas present.

30. Most recent thing someone else bought for me...My friend got me a coffee mug in St. Louis.

31. My favorite blonde is...My little bro and sis.

32. My favorite brunette is...Me. I'm fantastic.

33. My favorite bald guy is...Um...Mr. Clean.

34. My middle name is...Lynn

35. This morning I...Begrudgingly woke up.

36. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are...Giraffes. I mean, wouldn't that be funny?

37. Once, at a bar...I dealt with friends' bizarre escapades. Oh wait, that's more than once.

38. Last night I was...Watching "Bones." Booth is hot.

39. There's this girl I know that....Is getting married in July!

40: I don't know...The square root of 784,525,455.568

41. A better name for me would be...Jennifer, Princess of North Portland

42. If I ever go back to school I'll say..I'm in school.

43. my birthday is....October 19th

44. What I really want for Valentine's Day is…Flowers. I haven’t gotten flowers in a long time.
45. I'm wearing...My comfy purple sweater

46. Tomorrow I am...Going to my best friend’s for our annual dinner/gift exchange!

47. The last thing I ate was...A Clementine orange

48. I really want to learn...Everything.

There's the sugar!

OK, Beta seems to be behaving a little better. Maybe it was just the switch that made people anonymous, but those who were previously anonymous are no longer.

Happy Dance!



I have to admit, I had a fun time adding “Labels” to my posts (which didn’t take very long thanks to Mr. Hijacker). I had an even more fun time looking at what a write about the most.

At the moment I have 24 different labels—which seems like a lot, but hey, I talk a lot.

You’ll be surprised to know that post-hijacking, I’ve only talked about Shoes 3 times. That’s it! I’ve talked about Recycling Guy 4 times, so he trumps shoes.

I talk about Portland and Oregon a lot (10 total). Then I made a label entitled “Only Me” which refers to bizarre crap that happens to me (rats-in-toilets, parking tickets, etc.). Only Me appears 8 times.

The number one topic post-hijacking? Sinus Fiasco.

This makes me very sad. Sinus Fiasco owns 12 posts. *sigh*

So goal for 2007 (which, ladies and gentlemen, is only 19 days away) is to be able to stop talking about my Sinus Fiasco. Obviously, the month of January will still have some tidbits, but after that, no more sickness please! I had enough in ’06 to last me through the aughts. No more bronchitis/sinus infections/root canals/pink eye/flu/food poisoning/whatever. Done. Finito. Bring on the Vitamins!


In other news, I am finding it very difficult to resist buying all of the DVDs and CDs that just have to come out right before Christmas that I really want but cannot afford. Namely, The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine (Dec.19), Taylor Hicks’ Album, Pirates of the Caribbean, and I know there was something else, but I don’t remember what it was. Evil, evil I tell you! But I would guess that Santa is probably going to bring me some gift cards for Christmas, so I’ll put them to good use. ;)

In other other news, I just finished reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter, and it was excellent. Highly recommend.

Why does it have to be so dark outside?

So no balls.

We searched for a couple of hours (half of which my little brother and sister spent “getting water because it will be easier to find them”), and eventually gave up the search.



So we decided to cheat. We drove over to this little shop down the highway that sells the glass floats. Bro and sis were kind of disappointed that we didn’t find any, so I figured we could buy a couple as consolation prizes.

WELL. We did find a couple to buy, but the guy at the shop informed me that the floats aren’t on the beach, they’re above the beach in the grassy areas hidden near rocks.

(!!!)

I’m sorry, did the Oregonian not say that the floats are hidden below the embankment and above the high tide line in the sand?? Is there any way to read that? I think not. So I was pretty annoyed. But we still had fun.

:::::::

The reason I went to the coast was actually because it’s my little sister’s 10th birthday today, so I wanted to go see her and give her her present. Also, I hadn’t seen the fam since before my birthday, so I figured now was a good time.

I bought her a little battery-operated pottery wheel with some air-drying clay and paints. She opened it and exclaimed with joy, “A POT-MAKING KIT!!”



I’m happy to say she didn’t understand why my parents and I were cracking up.

:::::::

The Halloween party I attended on Saturday night started out fun, but by the end of the night I thought I might murder my best friend. I don’t know what the hell was wrong with her, but she was out of control. Somehow she got pissed and started trying to ditch us in downtown Portland at 2 in the morning (drunk off her ass of course). I was sober (although at this point I wished I wasn’t), so that made it even more irritating. Long story short, she was ridiculous. I give her some credit because she actually apologized the next morning without me having to say a word, but it ruined the whole night. And that’s all I have to say about that.

:::::::

In other news, I bought new speakers for my car at Car Toys. No, I’m not going bumping down the road, I just needed new ones because the ones I had in there came with the car back in ’89. When they took them out, they showed them to me, and all I can say is “YUCK.” No wonder my music sounded crappy. But the new ones are lovely.



:::::::

Speaking of my car, one of my seat belts is broken (the part you click the belt into). So I called around to try and find one in a salvage lot or something (since my car’s an ’89). WELL, here is some news for you Honda owners out there. I discovered in my searching that Honda has a lifetime warranty on seatbelts! I went to a Honda dealer last night, and they are going to replace my seat belt and I don't have to pay a dime. I mean, I figured I'd get the part for free, but I don't even have to pay labor!

:::::::

And I got another @&#*%^ parking ticket from the University of Utah.

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Happy Halloween!

If I were Pluto, I'd be pissed!

Pay no attention the man behind the curtain!

First, I must start by saying this is totally crazy. I am shocked that this case might be solved. I mean ten years. I was 14. Just wild.

And I must say, holy Creepy Creeperton:




And, it looks like one of my favorite little villages in Ecuador is covered in ash. I visited Banos twice while I was there, and just loved that little town. We even rode horses up to the volcano (which in retrospect was not the best idea). Although the article doesn’t specifically mention Banos (other than the picture) I’m still worried because Banos is literally at the base of the mountain. I have a picture of me somewhere standing on the side of the volcano with the city down below me. That makes me sad.



On a lighter note, I’m taking a vacation day tomorrow! Yay! My friends and I are headed for a girls weekend at the beach where we will drink cocktails and check out cute boys playing volleyball. Well, that’s the plan anyway. I’m ready to escape work for a bit, even if it’s only for a few days.

And A/B, I'm sorry I don't have juicier gossip for you about my friend, but I really don't. We never went that route--he had a girlfriend when we met. Not to mention he lives on the other side of the country. AND I haven't seen him in three years. But if any of that changes, you'll be the first to know. ;)

In other news, a professor stopped by the library today to return a piece of work she borrowed from the library about six years ago. This library for the most part has really crappy art. And I guess six years ago they knew it was crappy because they were all in a closet somewhere. So this professor rescued it from the closet and put it up in her office.

Anyway, she returned it today, and I looked at it…did a double-take. It is an original Salvador Dali! It’s a lithograph of some kind because it’s numbered, and it’s even SIGNED. SIGNED, people. I started freaking out immediately, which in turn freaked out my coworkers because they didn’t understand why I think this is so freaking cool. [They must not have noticed the two Dali posters I have up in my office].

The professor thought I was funny and said, “you know, I think there’s two more floating around the library somewhere.”

WHAT!?!

So she and I went on a little hunt and sho nough there are TWO MORE signed lithographs by Salvador-freakin-Dali. And they’re seriously in some back random ass corner where no one ever goes! I was like, “Dudes, I think these would look better in my office…” But I got denied.

But there are three Dalis where I work.

I think that makes me special.

Baby, light my fire...

Alright, Bob will not effing give it up. I have decided I’m going to put Cayenne pepper in the squirt bottle. I figure this way, if I get the little bugger with the water, he’ll have to lick it off and maybe it’ll put a fire in his ass to stay away from my window!

I’ll keep you updated on Adventures with Bob.

In other news, the Bite of Oregon was this weekend, and while Snow Patrol couldn’t make it through security in London (no idea why not), it will still fun. I got a lovely souvenir wine glass which I used to taste many fabulous Oregon wines. I also got an Oregon vineyard and winery guide, so I sense a field trip coming up!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A good friend of mine is serving in the Peace Corps in Panama. I’m going to send a care package to him, and I need to see if I’ve missed something important! I asked him if there was anything in particular he wanted, and there was, so I added those to the list. He’s in a very very rural area. A lot of people around him speak Spanish, but there’s also a tribal language he’s learning.

I thought about going into the Peace Corps after college. I also thought about applying for a Fulbright, but in the end, I decided I just really needed a break from studying & adventures. And although I’m extremely glad I decided to take some time off, hearing about his adventures does give me a few pangs of jealousy! :) But he’s very good about sending me postcards and keeping me updated on his adventures, so it won’t hurt to live vicariously through him for a while. And I keep him updated on worldly news while he’s away, so it works out well.

I actually met him while I was studying abroad in Ecuador-we were gallivanting around the country for five months, it was great! He’s actually from Delaware, so I haven’t seen him since we left in May of ’03, but we’ve kept in touch all this time.

Anyway, so this is the list of things he asked for:

Huy Fong Sriracha Sauce (apparently it’s some fabulous Thai sauce)
A cookbook
A big map of the U.S.
A picture of me
Connect Four (the game!)

I added the following after some thought and some Internet browsing:

Time & Newsweek magazines (from the last few weeks anyway)
A couple of books (I haven’t decided which yet)
Instant Gatorade (the powdered kind in case he gets sick)
A jar of Oregon jam
A t-shirt from Portland State Univ.
Some Peanut M&Ms
Marshmallows
Ziploc Bags

Anything else you’d want if you were cut off from civilization? I mean, obviously I’ll probably send other packages eventually, so if I forget something, I can always add it later.

And you’re probably thinking Ziploc bags is a weird choice, but I was surfing Peace Corps sites and blogs and message boards, and apparently Ziploc bags are like gold for some reason. Weird, huh?

On a final note, I just have to add this picture. It's one I've gotten back from before the wedding when I was getting my hair tortured done. No wonder it took me 30 minutes and half a bottle of conditioner to get the tangles out...

I swear I'm under there somewhere...

[I just noticed it kind of looks like I have a black eye in this pic, but it's just my hair in my face!]

These are the days of our lives...

:: Why do people get plastic surgery? I mean come on, just the name “PLASTIC surgery” should be a complete turn-off.

:: Why is the official name of debating (like on a debate team) “Forensics?” I thought Forensics was like messing around with dead people.

:: Who invented Post-Its?

:: Why can’t the fingernails on my right hand grow nice and pretty like the ones on my right hand? Why do my right hand’s nails keep breaking?

:: What happened to July? It went bye-bye.

:: Why are people stupid enough to do drugs? And I’m not talking about smoking weed or something equally silly (although you shouldn’t do that either). I mean drugs. I have an aunt who was a drug addict. She’s 45. She looks like my grandmother did right before she died.

:: Did you know that librarians are secretly evil?

:: Shouldn’t I have gotten my PSU email account by now? Or am I just jumping the gun?

:: Doesn’t the word “kumquat” sound kind of dirty?

:: Why is laugh spelled L-A-U-G-H? I mean, how do you get an “F” sound out of “UGH?”

:: Speaking of "F," why did they skip "E" in the grading curve? It goes A,B,C,D,F. Where is the love for the E?

:: And why are “flour” and “flower” pronounced the same?

Go, Jon! You get yours!

OK, so here's some insight into just how silly I am.

I love Garfield. I have since I was a kid. I had Garfield everything (sheets, blankets, toys). Obviously I don't have the sheets or toys anymore, but I do still love that fat orange cat. In fact, even though she's not orange, Jane reminds me an awful lot of Garfield.

Anyway, Garfield is still one of my favorite comic strips in the morning.

And THIS IS BIG NEWS!!!





A few weeks later.....


























Yay Jon! For those of you who aren't Garfield weirdos like me, Jon is one of those guys who is lonely and never gets dates and he's been hot after Liz the Veterinarian for years. And I mean years. Garfield started in 1978, and he's been chasing her tail ever since. Usually she's cold and kind of bitchy, but apparently she has decided to come around!!

Now that last strip is from today. If I open my newspaper tomorrow and it was all a dream, I am going to be PO'd!

Have a fabulous weekend everybody!