Really, Really, Really Weird

Some of you have probably seen this already.

New Computers Rule

It is astonishing to actually feel the difference between my old computer and my new one.

It helps to have a computer whiz for a brother. It took about 30 minutes to build and almost 3 hours to complete the updates and make sure it was running properly but it was well worth it. (And I'll be honest. I did very little work in the whole process.)

For example, it now takes a mere 2 seconds to open Firefox...whereas before it took about 15.

My computer addiction is renewed!

Hell Is Riding In The Back Seat Of A Tiburon

Seattle is a fun place to visit. My sister and I went up there on Saturday and had our own personal tour guides in a couple of friends. Unfortunately they are actually from Bellevue, so they weren't much help!

Mainly, we just wandered around and sampled food. We had some Russian pastry type food, ate at a local pub for lunch, and I also obtained a caramel apple crusted in cashews.

Yum. But the highlight of the day was when our friends offered to drive us back to our car. We noticed they paid twice as much in parking as we ended up paying (note: always park in the garage on the corner of 6th and Union---$6 all day on Saturday!). But even more, in the back of my friend's Tiburon, you actually have to squish down to fit, or else you hit your head on the back window when going over potholes or speed bumps. HA!

Imagine being in a crash as a passenger in a car like that.

She Said What?

Girl 1: I would only say yes to a marriage proposal if the ring was 2 carats or more. (She gestures to her ring finger)

Girl 2: What? Did you just say you would only accept a ring if it was 2 carats or more? (astonished)

Girl 1: Yeah. I mean, think about it. Marriage is forever and I would have to wear it for the rest of my life... (seeming to be serious)

Girl 3: You're kidding.

Girl 2: Seriously? What if you fell in love with a guy who wasn't rich?

Girl 1: Oh, my man will have money. (hypothetically, because she is single)

Girl 2 and 3: Oh my god. (emphatically)
pause

Girl 1: Oh come on you guys. You know I'm not serious. (she lies, badly)

This is an actual conversation that took place at work today. I am represented by Girl 2.

Also On The Loose...

I have experienced some pretty sketchy things on my way to work over the past week or so.

To find out yesterday that someone I know was actually attacked in my neighborhood on Thursday has me a bit freaked out.

In response I've started carrying Mace with me on my morning walk to work. If you are out after dark, I encourage you to do the same.

It just kinda sucks because I've never really felt worried in Portland before. Even considering all the crack-heads. Not so, anymore.

Raccoons On The Loose

The other morning, Wednesday to be precise, I was walking to work, minding my own business, when I came upon two cute, little raccoons.

They were sitting on a brick retaining wall in the approximate area of 19th between Everett and Flanders. I thought they were especially cute because they were sitting in a manner to suggest they were chilling out. (One person pointed out that they looked like they were sitting at a bar).

I quickly took out my camera phone. To my dismay, I discovered there is no flash option! I turned on some "nightshot" mode and snapped the picture. Disappointingly, the picture looks like I was twenty feet away, versus the mere four foot span between the creatures and me, and it is incredibly dark. In an effort to get a better picture, I held my hand way out toward them with the phone.

This resulted in a very blurry picture and two angry raccoons. They immediately started growling at me so I hastily continued on my way.

On Dropping Dead

This is perhaps the most unexpected celebrity news so far. When conversing in some circles, taking bets on which celebs will manage to off themselves next, I never would have placed money on this one.

How odd, but RIP.

Patches

This video will have leave you speechless for many reasons.

For me, it was that Patches actually ate a hamburger...I bet a lot of animal rights people climbed up on a ledge about that one.

Thoroughly enjoyable!

Detox

When I think of detox, I think of drug rehab---I think of people being forced off drugs and having all the withdrawals, etc. I certainly do not think of this.

So if you put this thing on your foot, could you detox from drugs without the negativity of withdrawal?

Ugh. Just looking at their website disturbs me. Their even more disturbing commercial is the reason I was curious. I wish I had never seen it actually, yet there is a part of me that wants someone I know to try it and report back.

Any takers?

Oh God...

Taxes

Yay. Received my W2 today. Just waiting on a few more papers and then I will be collecting back from the government. Can't wait.

The Dangers Of _________.

Be careful. Knitting and blogging have made the list, leaving such things as plane crashes, driving, and swimming with sharks dangling into the abyss.

More on NeCoRo

Faux Cat

OMG. Get One For Me. Now.

I put in a different version so you can hear the sound. Check it out again to hear the life-like meowing!

Fate Has Its Way

WARSAW — A Polish man visiting a brothel was surprised to find his wife working there, Reuters reported.

The woman, who had told her husband she had been working at a store in town to make extra money, Reuters reported.

"I was dumfounded. I thought I was dreaming," the husband told the Polish tabloid Super Express on Wednesday.

The couple reportedly are getting a divorce.

First off, I would like to point out the mistake that IS the first sentence. How many people did this go through? And yet I am not working in any kind of publishing.

Secondly, she was working at a brothel and he was visiting one. Wow. Fate really didn't want them to be together.

Don't Be An Idiot

This is an actual classified ad:

"OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Funny as hell. That's what kids get for being idiots.

Laugh-Out-Loud Funny

My mom sent this to me in an email forward.

I was literally cracking up listening to it.

Highly recommended.

Interactive Movie

Last night, a bunch of us went to a sing-along "Grease" showing.

Wow.

I've never been to one of those before. It was funny as hell. "Grease" is pretty inappropriate at times---again, funny as hell.

Sneaking wine in helped, too. Yum, I don't know what brand it was, but it was a highly palatable Cab. I'd put it on my other blog but that's all I know.

The Miso Report

There is a cat that lives up the street from me. I know his name is Miso because the first time I saw him, he was quite friendly. He was also playful so, even though I did get a chance to look at his tag, I also got batted at with his paw.

Over time, he became more and more aggressive. On one occasion, I was walking with someone and we paused to pet him and Miso actually grabbed at my companion's head. It was funny. There were no claws involved.

He is still friendly; I can tell because he doesn't run away and it's actually like he wants to be near you as you walk by. But as soon as you reach to pet him, he grabs your arm with both paws and pulls your hand to his mouth to bite. There are never claws involved but he literally grabs you so he can bite. He will not allow you to pet him---that is unless you trick him by letting him bite your other hand. I tried this tactic on him just yesterday. I had gloves on which was good because I can tell his biting is also becoming more fierce. Soon, I think he will begin to scratch too.

Strange cat behavior.

Crayons....Eat Them

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease. You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Yeah, no. Not that I don't want to be a green crayon, but that description of me is sort of off. The only thing that is true about it is the being happy with myself part. Also, I would argue that there are a LOT more people around who are less "materialistic" than I am. Or, at least, I don't fib about being such.

The Cat Came Back

Goodbye 2007

With 2007, I am kissing goodbye to expensive dinners. Last night will be the last for quite a while. This is actually one of my resolutions---waste less money on food.

For New Years, three girlfriends and I went to dinner at a local restaurant. They were having some kind of special set-up with a four course meal and a "free" glass of champagne all for a set price.

For the first course, I had an arugula pear salad. It was pretty good. I'd say one would probably pay $7.50 at that particular eatery, or maybe about $5.50 at one of my more regular haunts.

The second course was a butternut squash soup. It was HORRIBLE. It tasted to me as though the chef couldn't decide what it should taste like and simply dumped all the curry in the kitchen into the pot. Never would I imagine butternut squash soup to taste like curry. Had the wait staff been more attentive, they might have asked me why I wasn't eating it. Then perhaps I could have sent it back, or at least somehow had it taken off the bill...

Third course was a petite fillet. I didn't eat it. I had a bite and took the rest to go because by the time at arrived, we had already been at the restaurant for two hours and I was no longer hungry. I'd say a person would pay $20 tops for it in the future.

Then the dessert and champagne came. The fourth course. I can't remember what it was called but it was pretty good. There was some kind of tiny creme boule and a little cake that had the consistency of a Hostess Ding Dong but the flavor of one of those chocolate oranges. I did eat that and had a sip of the drink. I don't think I'd pay more than $5 for the dessert though because it was pretty small.

The total bill just for my portion was enough to buy a nice dinner eight times over. It would buy me lunch 16 times. Therefore, no more spending for me. I'm tapped out. Quite literally. I don't want to bitch or complain because I still had a fun night out with my friends, but I have NEVER paid that much for one meal before and I would certainly have expected better service at the very least for how much the whole thing cost.