Oi, computers!

Oh boy. This week the monitor on my laptop decided to buy the farm. Now, at first this may not seem like such a big deal. At a second glance - my computer is my world. Sick? Yes, it is my life, it seems almost completely dependent on this black, 5 lb chunk of technology. I use it for work, communication, photo editing, geeking out, recipes, meal plans, cool workout moves, and it is my constantly evolving jukebox too. Most importantly though, I use it for work. Without work I can't afford all that other great stuff!
So here I am with a broken outdated computer and looking for a replacement. Who wants to spend all that money fixing a monitor when I will be looking for a new computer in a year anyways? It seems silly. So I start my search for a new computer. I have had my eye on a mac book for a while now - so why not? Since the new models have arrived 'the older model' (Is it funny that I am now relating this new model - old model thing to "The First Wives Club", mid-life crises, and planned obsolescence?) is now a whole car payment cheaper than it's new fancy version! Hello new computer!
One thing I hadn't accounted for was the fact that I have no credit rating here in the U.S. - I can buy a car, get a credit card, maybe even a few, have a credit line, student loans that I pay regularly and a good credit rating. What does all that count for here? Nothing! Darnit! I can't even get a high interest credit card, I need a co-signer. Problem is that getting a co-signor sounds a lot easier than it has been for moi. Balderdash.
So since I have been searching and shopping, hunting, begging and pleading - I am still left wanting. Through a lucky stroke of genius HP has now decided to fix my computer for free. Go figure! Awesome right? It is, however, if for some odd reason they can't fix it then I won't know about it until I return back to the U.S. from Canada - the only place where I can buy a computer without paying for it all at once. So now - do I buy one or wish, hope and pray that HP fixes it? I sure would like it if they could, and then, it better last for another year or two!

On the other hand, I've been using my roommates mac book and it's kind of annoying, I don't like how every time you go to the edge of a monitor something pops out at you! Sure it seems really cool at first, but then it's just plain annoying. And also, all those features that I work with on my pc - I like them, there are pro's and con's of both mac and pc - maybe I don't really want a pc after all. It would be a lot easier if I knew of a pc with a battery that lasted as long as the mac book battery does!

So, all in all, what I really have to say is: HP Pavillion dv2020 - I miss you. I took you for granted. I sure would like to watch a scary movie on netflix before I go to bed - remember those good times we used to have?

Rat-a-tatt-tatt. Tattoo!!

Well, I did it. I got my first tattoo. In my own opinion I say it's kick-ass and honestly didn't hurt too much. The scariest part was the noise of the tattoo gun. It scared the crap out of me! So you may be curious to know what I got so if you haven't Nancy Drew'd it out by now - I will asplain it to you. I got a wild rose, those of you from Alberta will know it as our provincial flower that can be seen growing along many a walking path or in the ditch where some of you (you know who you are) courteously throw beer bottles at them. But seriously now, I love roses, and I thought that this one in particular would look fabulous right behind my right ear.

That guy in that hat is Felix the Tat, the tattoo artist that inked me! (Black Lotus in Eugene, OR) He played some really great music, old outlaw country music, and he sang along to it while he worked. The singing was gur-reat, totally settled my nerves. However it was really hard not to laugh when a rap song came on and he started singing about bitches and ho's. Three cheers for comic relief!

I would like to thank Amanda for the photo's and the company.

Now that I know I can handle getting tattooed I am moving forward with plans for #2. Think, a wreath of roses and wheat with a picture of St. George slaying the dragon inside and somehow I have to fit the fair maiden in somewhere too. Good thing I'm not in a hurry.

Dear Diary...

It's been nearly three weeks since my last post. Since that time, I have been busy using bad words and reading the twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I read them all and I have to say that vampire books are my literary weakness. It's like my own private heroin! I never would've thought they would consume my time like that; I was wrong. I should have known because I did the same thing back in the 90's with Anne Rice. We were good buddies, Anne and I. Speaking of Anne Rice, am I the last to know that she's reinvented herself as a serious Christian writer? WTF - right? What a shock! I honestly never seen that one coming. I am going to have to dig a little deeper and reveal the inspiration behind this change. Could it be a near death experience that spawned this change or an occurrence of a post-menopausal crisis? I don't know, but I will get to the bottom of it!

So another Halloween has come and gone, I kept it pretty low key this year, no crazy shenanigans and just a couple scary movies in the dark. I remember saying once, not too long ago, that I dream of spending Halloween in Mexico to experience Dia de los Muertos. I guess that's another entry for the old bucket list! It is getting long! I better get on it!

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my roommates Derek and Amanda (as seen in pictures). Let's see, what I can say that's nice but not too nice, ummmm they rock!!


And finally, today I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs Stop Sucking and Live a Life of Abundance and found a link to this really cool blog posting on polymathic career paths - what the hell is that you ask? Well, let me tell you.....

Basically it is about simultaneously having multiple careers that earn you a living! The article talks about how the individual obtains a specialization that earns us an income and then, if we grow tired of that career; we go in a different direction and specialize in another career path.

A polymath is a person who has interests and talents in a wide range of areas, say for example, horticulture, drafting, accounting, baking and cooking. Wouldn't it be smarter for such a person to integrate all of their interests into their income potential? By having part-time jobs, whether they be seasonal or reduced weekly hours, a person could potentially make a living doing all of the things they love throughout the year while at the same time keeping things interesting and personally satisfying. Does it sound like a lot of work? If you're interested, click on the above link and read the article. Write a comment below on what you think about it!

PORCINI!

PORCINI! PORCINI! PORCINI!

Now you say it three times fast!

So the big brown one is a huge porcini mushroom, the red ones are lobster mushroom, the orange-yellow ones are chicken of the woods. I highly recommend Porcini mushrooms! They rock my fungal world!

Check out those lobster mushrooms, is that a bacterium growing and creating that sliminess!?

Oh bother, hahaha - that's not all that grew on that one. Gross.

Little tip:

1. If you buy some lovely mushrooms, or your cool boss gives you a big awesome Porcini mushroom;
• If you do not plan to cook with it in the next couple days, slice it appropriately, saute it gently in butter and freeze it for later use!

Best dinner since.... oh shit! I don't know when!

Tonight, whilst prepping my weekend road trip itinerary;
I watched a member of the Bobbitt family squeeze Sicilian chicken sausage out of it's casing. And when it was all finished we ate fresh noodles with a Sicilian sausage and homemade marina sauce! Cheap wine too!
And you know what's still funny?

The spell checker recognizes the name Bobbitt.

Chop, chop, chop.....

Tonight, I chopped some vegetables with a member of the Bobbitt family.
For real.
You know what else is funny? The spell checker knows the name Bobbitt.

Paul Newman

What a unique man. Besides enjoying his movies and loving his salad dressing; I didn't really know what he was all about. Until now. I wish the rest of Hollywood were more like him, I wonder what that would be like? Interesting I'm sure! Wouldn't it be great if there were more role models like him around?

Take a look at what the man stood for yourself!

I think it's time for this girl to watch Cool Hand Luke.

Eugene Saturday Market

This is the Eugene Saturday Market
http://www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org/
It is conveniently located right outside my back door!
These pictures were taken from my roommates bedroom window! How sweet is that? Well actually, it's trouble for me! There is a stage for live music in the center of all this action and there is a lot more to it than you can see in these pics! It pretty much has everything. It rocks!! I am currently trying to load up on some really great rings for my fingers as well as trying the different kinds of fruit that grow here. I tried a Marionberry scone, it's almost like a raspberry crossed with a blackberry. Very nice. This saturday I have planned to select a lovely recipe from my favorite new Jamie Oliver cookbook and make something fabulous!

The trip here.

Well my road trip to Oregon (which is pronounced by the natives as ORY-GUN) went very well. I have been informed that I am the first Olds College student to ever get across the U.S. border without being turned back to procure more documents and information. Not too shabby! Apparently.....as if I didn't know this already - I rock!

I managed to get lost on the way here twice, ok three times, the first two were in Spokane where I wasn't paying due attention to the traffic signs. Meh! I made it here after much confusion and $15 in maps just 'to be sure'. I have to comment on the scenery which was fantastic! There is such a variety of landscapes on the way here. Go Washington!