Storm Front Blew In 1 Year Ago

Well it was 1 year ago today that I decided it was time to babble at all you fine folks. Frankly never expecting there to be any of you fine folks reading it, so big cyber hugs and "oh gosh, thanks!" from me to all of you who spend some of your time here at my humble abode.

I almost made it 1 year and my 300th post, but I fell what...4 short? I could spam my own blog but that seems a tad silly :p

Let's see. Time to semi wrap up the last couple of days. First thing, Wed had much fun with the landscaper idiots. I think I might have ranted about our issues with the Home Owners Assoc and the fact that our sprinklers SUCK and there are not enough of them. Suffice to say the only thing green about our landscape company is probably the ganja they smoke on the 3 hour lunch breaks. I shit you not. Anyhow they sent a "representative" out to the house probably thinking I would not be there but unlucky them it was drop off kidlet time. Between Mom and me, we seem to have put the fear of God and/or litigation into both the HOA and the Landscaper. Idiot worker tried to tell me rhododendrons don't like sun. Err...sure. Asshat.

So that irked me. I go inside to turn on Mr Laptop and low and behold Windows is fubar'd and will not launch OR run diagnostics. Called Best Buys and was told to bring it in. That's cool, not looking forward to more time in that parking lot, but ok. So I get there and I get in line at Geek Squad central. Sorta their Batcave in the store, ya know? Take a guess what I got for a geek. A 5 foot, bleach blonde, cigarette jean wearing EmoSkeeze with roots and that whole "whoa is me" attitude. I could not make this stupid bitch get the difference between the OS initializing and the friggin computer turning on. She kept babbling about the battery.

I finally told her that the only thing she looked knowledgeable in was body shots and how to puke and not get it in her hair. It took her a bit but once she worked through the bigger words she looked suitably stunned. Fortunately for me, Napoleon Dynamites twin was behind the counter. Tall, skinny, chin pubes, thick glasses, Leatherman, and chapstick. THIS, my friends, was a geek. I told EmoSkank I wanted Napoleon to help me and to step aside. I called him Obi Wan, told him he was my only hope, and he fixed me up with a new laptop. He was actually pretty cool.

So laptop now works awesome. Kidlet and I went to Panera bread for dinner last night and took our laptops to use their handy dandy free wifi. It was most cool. And the french onion soup rocks too.

Kidlet got her guitar. It's the blue one


She is beyond stoked about it. The starter kit came with a small amp, cable, strap, and gig bag. Oh and 4 picks. I upgraded the bag to a thicker one and also got her an electronic tuner. And 4 lessons starting on June 13th. Typically, her dad has been attempting to find any way to piss on this. And keeps making comments about all the "cash" I am throwing around. Well first off, it was our vacation money but since the Shakespeare Fest is seriously booked this year it is looking like it will be 1 play instead of 3. That is 250 in ticket cost savings right there. And like..duh...it's May. We have HUGE summer child care/activity charges every year. It's actually cheaper than when she was younger and we had to have all day camps. That used to set us back 2k per summer. By comparison 240 for a guitar set up is cheap!

Tonight I am going to Francis X for dinner and cosmos with my good friend H and D another friend I have not seen in ages. Should be fun.

Finally to wrap up this post, I was tagged by Devilish Southern Belle to participate in the 5 Fave Places to Eat Locally meme.

The complete rules:1. Link to the name of the person who tagged you.
2. Include the state and country you're in.
3. List your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location (locally).
4. Tag 5 other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they've been tagged.

Kidlet and I have discussed and here are our local recommendations. We live in a suburb of Portland (woo) but we pretty much have lived in every part of the city and we have choosen our top 5 from all metro area.

1. Mad Greek Deli - Words can not express the love I have for this place. Greek Fries...yum. The best gyros and a cranky old greek dude to serve you. It's home. Hillsboro Oregon

2. Marrakesh - Kidlet and I love this place. You sit on the floor, they serve awesome tea, the set starters just rock and the rabbit is to die for. Northwest Portland

3. Pazzo - The best food I have had in Portland since the good old days of Zefiro restaurant. Awesome Italian. The best I have had outside of Italy. Downtown Portland

4. Outback - Yes I know it is not local, but tough shit, I love steak! Everywhere and the moon and Beaverton Oregon

5. Pasta Pronto - Hands down the single most divine Fettucine Alfredo on the planet. I have never once, in 7 years, ordered anything else. And that is ok by me! Hillsboro Oregon

Now as for tags, I am pretty lame on making folks do that mostly cause I am lazy :P So, feel free, link me and let me know you have done this and I will post a link to you in this post!

Off to work for me. Y'all come back now, ya hear?