A note to Ryan.

A week ago there was a going away party for one of my favorite people, whom we will call "Ryan" (because that is his name). At this party, Ryan asked me if I was going to blog about it. So, here it is, sort of.
Ryan happens to be one of the most charming and charismatic people I've ever met. One time when we were going to meet for trivia, I sent him a text saying, "I'll be carrying a copy of Pride and Prejudice and a red rose." He responded by sending me this picture:
along with a description of what he'd be wearing, something about a trench coat... ahem. This might also be the time to mention that he is an equal opportunity flirt, which I think more people need to be. Gold star, Ryan!
Last Saturday when I said he was one of my favorite people, he seemed shocked, and asked if I liked him better than Obama. Without getting on a political soapbox, let me just say, Obama = not a favorite, while Ryan = a favorite.

Ryan, now that you are where you were going away to, have so much fun, and know that you are missed.

Accomplishment:

I am someone who likes pumpkin. I like pumpkin pie okay, but for thanksgiving, a holiday only celebrated by social eating, why serve the same old pumpkin pie? Last year I made a pumpkin cheesecake with cranberry compote, which was super yummy. And this year, I decided to try something I saw on the Food Network. Ina Garten, aka the Barefoot Contessa, and my all time fave, made a pumpkin roulade with ginger butter cream. I thought I'd mix it up and put an orange cream cheese frosting inside it instead of the ginger butter cream, and boy howdy, it was rich, and delicious. Since my computer has yet to be replaced, I don't have a picture of it to post, but think of a really big hostess ho ho. In order to make it all roll uppy like roulades are by definition you flip it out of the pan onto a towel as soon as it comes out of the oven, then you roll it up and let it cool, (later to unroll it and add the filling). When I flipped that 13" x 18" cake out of the pan and rolled it up without anything breaking I had this huge sense of accomplishment. I would liken it to the time when Heidi taught me how to bust a coal, aka start a fire by rubbing sticks together. After rolling up that cake I had the rush of, "I have made fire! I have made fire!" (and by fire, I mean a cake, rolled up in a towel.)

One of these days I'll blog again...today maybe?

So, I've been a little hesitant to post the blogs on my mental to-blog-list because I've recently been bombarded with a bunch* of random commenters/email respondents, some of them have been hard core crazy - not unlike our old friend Hawkeye Rachel. Sure, some of the people who have emailed me were mentioned on my blog, and apparently have a bone to pick with me, like I'm Hedda Hopper or something. But some have not. I'm not sure how these new friends are finding my blog, but it made me not post about my run in with Gumby at Lola's Room last Friday night, lest Gumby google him/herself and then feel like I was mis-representing them and the integrity of their costume at 80's night. (Chuck Norris** was also there, and for a brief moment I was concerned that the universe would implode because they were in the same room together.) (Nice comments and emails, and non-nice from people I know, are always welcome.)

Also, my little laptop died. It has been geriatric for a while (why yes, it is the same 12 inch beauty I bought in 2004, and had recently contracted narcolepsy (do you contract narcolepsy? develop maybe?) where it would yawn briefly before quickly falling asleep. Tonight, it gave up the ghost. It is making a terrible angry beeping noise every time I try to turn it on - apparently it has had enough moments posing as Lazarus. Even though I was anticipating the loss, it still smarts something fierce. Sure I've been through three operating systems, two hard drives, four batteries and two plugs, I loved my computer. The sad news is, I have to buy this as soon as possible, potentially changing my plans for Africa...I was making MAJOR progress on a project, and I need a computer. SHOOT!

*Ok, maybe just a few, but enough all the same.

**Not THE duster-wearing Chuck Norris, but he sure does throw down an awe-inspiring roundhouse!

Open Season:

To the writers of Gossip Girl:
Dan + Vanessa with her awful extensions + Hilary Duff = EW.

To Matthew Weiner:
Good job. Wow. Wow. Good job.

To AMC:
Please order more episodes of Mad Men. 13 is not enough. Thank you.

To my wrist:
I don't know how you got sprained, but I do know that you hurt like nobody's business. I hope you like the stupid brace I'm wearing for you. Let's be friends again soon.

To the pretentious 18 year old featured on Caridgan Empire today:
I really liked this outfit.

To Charlie Kaufman:
I just watched Being John Malkovich again, and you are AWESOME.

To Wade Robson:
Your dance last week was my favorite of this season, and last season.

To the sales girl at Ray's Ragtime.
You're not cool.

To the kid who plays Artie on Glee:
I am SHOCKED that I like your David Bowie cover so much. Good job.

To pears:
I am addicted to you.

To my hair:
I'm sorry that I tease and curl you all the time. Thanks for doing whatever I tell you to do.

To Cory:
Yes, Dead Man's Bones really is my greatest concert yet. You were there, you know why.

To Charlie Kelly:
I'd like to place an order for "Kitten Mittons." I'm smitten!

Halloween

Yesterday as I was sending a little red power ranger on to the school bus, the elderly bus driver asked me what I was dressed up as. I was wearing a black dress, red tights, and black heels, dressing as I normally dress. I replied, "I'm not dressed up." Which of course made her visibly uncomfortable.

Maybe now she knows how uncomfortable I am every day when she chats with me.

For some really delightful and horrifying (but in the best way) halloween costumes compiled into one amazing place, check out miss james' blog. Not convinced? How about a preview:


Seriously, go they are amazing!

Ryan Gosling Day!

I don't have a tremendous amount of time right now, but how about a quick little post to:
1. Big sad face for Shara not being able to get a ticket before it sold out.
2. Big thanks to Becky for coming, you're always willing to be my friend, and I appreciate that.
3. BIG BIG thanks to Analee for making this -



which of course prompted the Dead Man's Bones men to invite me on stage and have the entire audience sing Happy Birthday to me! (and LOTS of "Happy Birthdays" from strangers after the show!) And then I got hugs and kisses from both of these dreamy men:




One of whom happens to be my celebrity crush!!!

Why no, I can't think of a better way to usher in a birthday. In fact, I would say that this has been my GREATEST BIRTHDAY EVER, and my actual birthday isn't until Wednesday! haha. Thanks Analee!! You're so brave and so much fun, and SUCH a good friend! Loves & loves!

Craigslist is so funny.

I've been looking for a wrought iron bed recently, and craigslist is one of the places I look pretty regularly. Yesterday in my search I found an ad posted by someone I know. One of the sentences from the ad is as follows, "I love this bed!! It is heavy, sturdy and gorgeous. If I had a room for it or even a grand daughter or guest room there is no way I would sell it. It is awesome."
This person has 4 grand daughters and at least 3 guest bedrooms. I'm just saying...

For reasons I won't share on the interweb, I decided to look and see if I recognized anyone in the "men seeking women" section... I did not recognize anyone, but I did find a couple of HILARIOUS posts that I just had to share:

Are you what I've been looking for? - 23 (Portland)
Date: 2009-10-13, 3:34PM PDT

I've been searching all my life...

I need a lesbian, nazi, hooker, abducted by a ufo, and forced into a weightloss program...

Don't make me wait any longer!

and of course the predictable:
Semi athletic but shy young man seeks playful cougar for passion - 30 (sw portland)
Date: 2009-10-13, 3:54PM PDT


Im a semi athletic and healthy and disease free, single 30 year old man with my own place here in downtown portland, im 5'10 with blue eyes and brown hair, fit body and 175 lbs, with a 7 inch [CENSORED].

Married or not, but age doesnt matter to me.


Im athletic, romantic, educated at PSU with a bachelors degree, I have a job, love coffee, drinks, movies, and sex!!!!!

Suffice it to say, I replied to both of those ads.