Inspired by the cooking implement.

He got skillz.

Hey guess what?

A local photographer, Michael Calanan, asked me if I wanted to do a photo shoot documenting a place in Salt Lake that I find special. It's part of a project he's working on. This guy is really good, so if you need a photographer I recommend looking him up.

Photo Shoot!

Thanks Michael! It was really nice meeting you and fun to share my place!

...and now for something completely adorable.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT TONGUE? AAH!

KMHD is awesome.

Hello.

By now pretty much all of you know my plans to move to Portland in July. If you don’t know already, well, SURPRISE!

Heh.

Anyway…let me tell you about an AWESOME radio station over there. It’s called KMHD and it broadcasts from Mount Hood Community College in Gresham (a suburb). A couple months ago I pledged some money because I had started to listen to them online. It seemed fair. I didn’t have enough for the membership, but asked if I could at least get a bumper sticker. The woman I spoke with was very kind and said that wouldn’t be a problem. Almost immediately afterward I received TWO bumper stickers from them and they are the window cling type so I can reuse them whenever I want! Bonus!

I figured that was that. It was nice of them and I was grateful.

WELL.

Yesterday in the mail I received ANOTHER bumper sticker (this one is GREEN!), a post-it pad with their logo on it, a broadcast schedule, a gift certificate for Acadia in Portland AND a coupon for 20% off a purchase at Music Millenium there too!

Holy crap!

Thinking they accidentally processed my donation as a membership, I sent an email thanking them and asking if they needed more money. This was the membership coordinator’s response:

Michael,

What you received is what KMHD can afford for its advertising budget. We count on word of mouth and it sounds like you will be a great new addition to Portland and KMHD’s listening audience. I’m glad you enjoyed and will be able to use firsthand the KMHD premiums and there is no additional contribution other than what your own conscience might dictate. Although I will say, “it’s tax deductible!”

Might I preemptively welcome you to Portland, I think you’ll find it very livable.

Sincerely,

Mary Burlingame
KMHD, Membership Services

Thank you Mary! That was nice of you guys! Portland and I are going to get along just fine with people like you there and I can't wait to try those businesses! I happen to love music and food. It's like you KNEW. Haha!

Such a nice surprise.

Also I would like to note I am listening online as I type this. Just so you know.

You may already know this.

If you're in the U.S. and expecting an economic stimulus check, here is the payment schedule! It's based on the last two digits of your SSN and if you chose direct deposit or a paper check when you filed your 2007 taxes.

Payment Schedule

You DID file already, didn't you? The deadline is TODAY after all.

My friend Becka alerted me to this schedule. Thank you Becka!

I can't stop laughing!!!

It's not just because I'm a vegetarian either.

Stranded.

They must have been put off by his mohawk.

NEWS FLASH.

I HELD A BABY ON THURSDAY AND LIKED IT.

Remember my friend Rebecca? No? Yes you do. I've told you about her before.

No? Really? Come on! Do you ever listen to me?! I mean, I know I can ramble sometimes but if-

Fine.

Rebecca had her baby, named Gerard, 3 months before he was actually due. It was a very scary situation for her and her husband Michael. After the delivery (on Christmas Eve, no less) Rebecca recovered in the hospital and Gerard stayed in the NICU. He was there until his due date (almost three months later). Mom and baby are home now, but Gerard is on oxygen. He's doing really well though, and last Thursday was the first time I got to see him AND REBECCA ASKED ME TO HOLD HIM.

In case you didn't know, this would be the THIRD TIME in my life I have EVER held a baby and the FIRST TIME I held a baby for more than 30 seconds.

It was nice.

Really nice.

He was so calm and quiet...he actually slept in my arms the whole 10 minutes or so I held him. It was very peaceful.

No, I can't say I want to have kids. But holding Gerard was lovely.

Thoughts on retail husbandry.

I'm thinking I might jazz things up a bit in my personal life. See, my personality and sense of style have gotten boring to me, so I've decided to switch it around. Why not? It's springtime - the feeling is bound to surface in springtime.

It seems pretty easy. At the mall yesterday I found a bunch of places that have whole entire identities wrapped up in neat little packages! All you have to do is get the stuff and you're done! Clothing, shoes, music, home decor, which movies you should watch, which books you should read (provided your new personality reads), it's all in there. Choose who you want to be and boom! Brand new person! Just like that!

So I'm totally doing that. It sounds so easy.

I won't even have to THINK.

Heh.

Jackie and I made cupcakes...

...and, well, the best way to describe it is through the photos.

Cupcake Shenanigans

NOTE: Please, please, PLEASE don't use this as a gauge for my or Jackie's baking abilities. We are both really quite good! I swear! I haven't killed a person yet!