Safety never takes a vacation

I heard that from someone.

I was just unpacking from last weekend (and the only reason I'm getting around to it now is because I have people coming over tomorrow night, otherwise I'm sure it would be even longer before I got around to it - don't judge me) and I found a bottle of hairspray left in my backpack by accident. Not like a travel-size bottle, like a full-on bottle. And not a peep out of TSA. Seriously, what's the point?

For documentation purposes

"KTJane is right, as always."

Really?  I guess I won't argue.

I heart you, Portland

I live in the best place.  Even when I'm having a rough time, all I have to do is step out into my city and I become apart of it.  It's constantly moving and breathing and changing.  The community is rich with of the things that are important.  Not to mention, I'm pretty in love with the gorgeous fall we're experiencing.

Portland is all kinds of weird, and it's mine!

Texting

me: Listening to Oh Boy, lusting after that harmonica.  GOOD LORD... pretty sure this album could be the end of my salvation.

ae: Just downloaded Oh Boy last night.  See you in hell!

Everybody's a hypocrite

Surely you've seen the Daily Show clips of Rove badmouthing the dem's potential picks, but then later praising the very same things, which Palin embodies.  It's funny.   I don't care which side you're on.  It's the typical spin of politics.  Everybody does it. 

Anyway, this talk of smaller government has had me thinking a lot lately, and now I'm all confused over the GOP's take on community organizers and how completely unimportant it is.  To quote Palin as she shook her finger, "I was mayor of my hometown.  And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.  I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except you have actual responsibilities."

Well, thank you for that explanation.  What were you saying about less government, more community and voluntary action?  I mean, I know they have to rip each other apart, that's what American politics seems to be all about... but this?  I kinda don't get the point.

Oh, the ideas swirling through my brain

Elevators are funny.  Well, not the elevators themselves, but the way people behave in them. I've noticed this a lot lately, working on the ninth floor... a bunch of strangers cram into a box that moves up and down, and no one talks or makes eye contact. It's SO WEIRD! Makes me want to burst into The Sound of Music soundtrack - just to see what would happen.

Napping is the stuff dreams are made from

I ♥ napping, plain and simple.  It makes the whole day so much more wonderful!

Don't know where to start

Finally got the internet right here in my very own little apartment.  I'm so excited I don't even know where to start!  Email, maps and searching - oh my!

Just after

"I do not know which to prefer,

the beauty of inflections,

Or the beauty of innuendoes,

The blackbird whistling,

Or just after."

I can't remember where I read this, or who it's by, but it seems like it came from a book, maybe Ann Lamott-ish.  At any rate, I really like it.  And I think I would say just after is my favorite!

Just can't stay away

My former boss left me a voicemail asking if he could fly me back to Phoenix for a week to work.  It's nice to be wanted!  So, I'll be enjoying the sunshine again soon and seeing friends!  It still feels like I'm just on vacation.

Eye encounter

"Them your eyes?"

I look around, I'm the only other person in the elevator, and not sure why the eyes in my head would belong to someone else, so I respond, "Yeah."

"Well, I just mean, you know how some people have them contacts to change the eyes."

"Oh, yeah.  These are really mine."

"Them nice!" he says and starts to exit the elevator, then pauses and stares at me, "Mmm... I could look into them eyes all day!"

"Uh... thanks?"

Proof Positive

I must really belong in Africa... today I pulled out on the road and was driving on the left side.  I didn't even realize I had done that until the person in on coming traffic pulled over and watched me go by.  Bless their heart, they were so nice about it.  Didn't even give me the finger or honk the "hooter".

Crunchland

The fortune cookie said, "You are heading for a land of sunshine and relaxation".  Maybe the cookie thinks I'm moving to Mexico?  I love Oregon, but it's no land of sunshine - that's for sure!

To Pro or not to Pro

For now I'm just excited.  The guilt hasn't set in yet.  I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

This post was brought to you today by:

Third nipple

It's been asked before about the nubbin label. (I guess it rubs people funny! Har har!) I think you could say it's a third nipplish post of sorts. Like not really a proper post, but just an extra lil somethin' somethin'. The internet offers this definition:

nub·bin n.
1. A small stunted ear of corn.
2. A small stunted or projecting part.

Being a long time Dooce reader, I actually stole this label from her. So there you have it!

On my mind

To the man on the corner: I'm so sorry for being on the phone. I can imagine how that came across and I am sorry. I would have put the phone down ordinarily, but it truly was an important call I couldn't inturrupt. I wish I had the opportunity to ask your name, see how you are doing and tell you to hang in there, but I was a jerk. Thank you for taking the change, I hope it at least got you something to eat or cool to drink.

To God: Thank you for filling my cup with change that jingles and reminds me to give it to others.

A quick fix

Until just a few days ago I was still feeling guilty about taking so much time off to come to Ohio. I felt like such a selfish jerk. I guess it apparently took me ten days in the middle of nowhere, cut off from all things fast-paced, to get a grip on reality. And the fact that it took this long for me to decompress from The Stress That Is My Life is enough of a wake-up call to know that I don't want to go back. I wasn't crazy to leave town for so long, in fact, this was the only sane thing I could do for myself.

But I'm not gonna lie: I've totally been having the shakes from Internet withdrawal. I miss Google more than words can describe. I need you, Internet. I could never really leave you. As I sit in the tiny Clyde Library and type this, I know you are the one addiction I don't want to give up!

About time, I'd say

Curtis Jay finally arrived today. I can't wait to hold him and smell him and kiss him and take his picture!

Let it be known

"I don't know how much cheese you like on your quesadilla."

"Well, lets put it this way: I'm in the Cheese Lovers Anonymous group on MySpace."

One for the shower

Yesterday we were talking about this crazy idea in Africa where a man can be cured of AIDS by having sex with a virgin and therefore "passing" it to her. I was saying how I didn't understand why a myth like this could go on and on, since it obviously would never actually work. It got me thinking about technology and wondering if they had better access to the Internet, like how we run to Google every five seconds to answer anything and everything, if stuff like this would dissolve (obviously education plays a huge role as well). But I could see how not having access to world wide information 24/7 that you would still be telling and re-telling old stories... and we all know how those end up. Maybe I should go take a shower and think about this some more? According to one of the guys downtown the other night you think better in the shower because there is more oxygen. Yeah! I'll be Googling that one for sure!

[Updated to add: Bush has been traveling in Africa this week and I was very excited to hear on NPR this morning that he promised Liberia educational help! "The president is announcing that the U.S. aid will provide 1 million textbooks to children by the start of the next school year and desks and seating for 10,000 students." Such great news!]