Best Birthday Ever!

As some loyal readers may know, I recently celebrated a birthday. Brent made me a delicious breakfast, which we enjoyed on the front porch, before giving me a ride to work. When I arrived, I found this beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for me on my desk! Thanks Joint Editorial!

Brent picked me up from work, and surprised me by taking me to dinner at Toro Bravo. It is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland, featuring tapas and small plates to share. We got the tasting menu and it was amazing!



I thought the dinner was my surprise, but little did I know what Brent had in store. We decided (on a whim) to go bowling. We got our shoes and started our game, when suddenly our friend Stafan appeared. "What a coincidence!" I exclaimed. Then I saw Matt & Alea. Then Jamie & Jay. "Surprise!!!!!!!!" it was a surprise bowling birthday party! I've never had a surprise party before, and I was totally shocked. It was the best!!!



Apparently Brent has been reading my blog, specifically the "Somebody Give me an award" post, because he asked everyone to bring me a trophy of some kind. I even got a pineapple (which ended up being the most wonderful pineapple I've ever tasted)!


Then in GEB fashion, Brent gave me an award for winning the most awards. Hahaha.


My presents from Molly included a retro apron, an awesome leaf necklace, and some homemade chocolate cookies.


My sister Shawn got me this adorable dress! Thanks Shawn!



And to top it off, Brent got me THE BEST CAKE I HAVE EVER SEEN. It features dinosaurs doing trapeze!!! He even had the dinosaur doing my latest trick, an uprise forward over!!!! What a great boyfriend.

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday so special!

Menomena "Mines"- a totally biased record review

Guess who is getting the 2nd ever Karte Blanch Blue Ribbon?? No, not me, but that was a good guess. This KBBR (and tallboy of PBR) goes to Portland Indie rock trio, Menomena, for their glorious new album, Mines.

The album represents a progression for the band. It is definitely their most polished and grown up sounding record, to date. Because all 3 members work in (relative) isolation, the listener gets 3 different points of view combined into a single album. The result is a wildly creative and gorgeous album that takes you from head banging, to crying alone in your bedroom in the span of less than an hour.

Of course, in great Menomena tradition, the packaging for this record is amazing! Their previous records have been packaged in origami, flip books, & Grammy nominated artwork by Craig Thompson. When you unfold the CD or LP case for Mines, it becomes a Stereoscopic 3D image. I've seen it, and it really works! How clever! Don't be a fool and illegally download this one. You'll want to see it in person!

Overall, Menomena is one of those super-talented groups that is really pushing the envelope of what music can and should sound like. Mines is an album that, once heard, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. It is that phenomenal. If you have a brain that is capable of 1. hearing & 2. interpreting heard sounds as music, then you will be impressed with Mines. I suggest that everyone run out and buy a copy RIGHT NOW!!



Menomena did an in store performance at Music Millennium in Portland on Tuesday. Here is a photo of the show, as well as a drawing that Craig Thompson made of the experience.

Dinosaurs at the Zoo!

As a pre-birthday present, Brent took me to see Dinosaurs at the Portland Zoo! It was pretty awesome! Here are some of my favorites...









This one spits water on you... oh, I mean, Dino juice.



At the end of the dinowalk, I saw a teenage elephant trying to stay cool by hosing itself off with dirt. Pretty cute!

Solabee Grand Opening - amazing flowers in north Portland

Last night I went to the opening for Solabee Flowers. It is an innovative and lovely botanical supplier in North Portland. I was really impressed with their gorgeous selection of exotic plants, flowers, and terrariums. I loved the way they were arranged in stunning glass vases and planters.

I adore the way the different sizes and shapes of vases and flowers create distinct levels of interest on a single shelf. Just beautiful!

The lovely Alea Joy, Co-owner of Solabee.


Air plants were nestled inside nautilus shells, and hung from a suspended branch, creating a stunning natural mobile.

KB + Old Spice Man

Yes, the man your man can smell like (aka Old Spice Man) dropped by the office today. He gave me 2 tickets to that thing I love, and then baked me a cake while building my dream kitchen with his bare hands. Then he rode off on a stallion into the sunset. All in all, it's been an alright day.

Bad pun of the day

I came across this young lad at the Portland Saturday Market a few months back. If it isn't clear from the picture, he is a white man with dread locks playing the didgeridoo. I took his photo because he effortlessly combines so many things that Brent hates about humanity, prompting him to remark...

"How about you didgeri-DON'T"

The Night Ride

On Saturday, July 11, Brent & I participated in The Night Ride. We joined 2,000 enthusiastic bicyclists to ride 21 miles throughout North Portland. Riders were encouraged to wear costumes. Brent & I went as "Silly Hats". We were given glow necklaces and let loose to take over the streets of Portland. We had a blast!

Brent at the starting line.

Waiting to start the ride.

I loved these gypsy costumes. I thought it was so smart how they hid their bike helmets under turbans.

Brent & I were really impressed with the Last regimen of Syncopated Drummers, who performed at the starting line as the ride began. If I ever move to portland, I might try to worm my way onto their color guard, as it has been a lifelong dream of mine to be a flag girl and march in a parade.

Cool cone-head costumes.

Bad Joke of the Day

What do you call a Gangsta that has to pee?

G. Whiz

Thanks to Brent for making up this joke (and posing for this picture).

Brent single-handedly brings down Communism in Seattle

Take that Vladimir Lenin!

A Full complete rainbow

This is probably one of the funniest things I've seen on the internet. It is a little bit long, but you don't have to watch the whole thing to get the unstoppable giggles. Enjoy!

The new international sign for Bullsh*t

Demonstrated by the lovely Jocelyn Brown. Thanks for teaching us this incredibly useful form of non-verbal communication that so clearly states "BS!"

World's biggest marshmallow

On Thursday night, our friends Nicolas & Elizabeth came over for some dinner and campfire s'more making. S'mores are one of my favorite foods, and in all the years I have been enjoying them, nothing prepared me for the awesomeness of making a s'more with a giant-ass marshmallow. Elizabeth and Nicolas are creative geniuses. Thank you guys for this amazing surprise!



Of course, roasting giant marshmallows is not without its consequences. They are a little harder to keep on the stick than an average sized 'shmallow. In fairness, my roasting to eating ratio with the giant marshmallows ended up being 2 to 1 (2 lost for every 1 that actually made it into my mouth). It is a small price to pay for the delight of a HUGE marshmallow. Here is one that didn't make it.