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Happy birthday to the best gal anyone could dream for, The fabulous , Tiki Queen of Portland.

Hooray!!

I know there are a bunch of freaks who insist on continuing to use 2 spaces after a period when the typeface is automatically kerned and not a mono-spaced font. Their surrender to that old chestnut of a genetic fallacy cannot be helped.

However, THREE SPACES? I mean, what kind of an asshole would use three spaces after a period? Jeez!

That’s 17 smacks per cheek. Any takers?

This is the Mug master from which we’ll be making the molds for this year’s Crawl mug. Work done by the incredibly talented Noel Henneman. I heart Noel!

The bums lost.

I am now officially gainfully employed, in an apropriate position for my skill set, at an apropriate compensation level.

I start on May 30 at TriMet, Network Systems Administrator.

Thanks to everyone who sent me good luck mojo all the while. I know it has only been about 3 weeks that I’ve been unemployed, but it felt like ages.

June 23-25, 2006
Portland, Oregon

This year, the NW Tiki Crawl digs its toes in at Portland’spremier boutique motel, The Jupiter, and transforms into the NWTiki-Kon! Tiki-Kon spans three days and roams all over Portland fromSt. Johns to downtown Portland, including visits to tiki bars TheJasmine Tree and Tiki-Kon sponsor The Alibi. Tiki-Kon also includes theOriginal NW Tiki Home Bar Tour—visit the most exclusive tiki bars inPortland!

Crawlers who have purchased a full weekend pass will be invited toa party at Portland’s greatest home bar, Castaway Cove. Get to knowyour fellow Crawlers and kick off the weekend!

The paramount event is Saturday night, when the Jupiter’scourtyard is transformed into a enchanted oasis to host a night of rum,fun & comradery. The evening will include plenty of classic tikirum drinks (specialty rums provided by Pyrat, flavored rums by 3DSpirits), hula girls, live bands Mars Needs Women and Lisa and Her Kinwith a set by exotica DJ Selector Lopaka, tropical delectables(provided by Salvador Molly’s) and shopping opportunities from tikispecialty vendors and a raffle with great prizes!

Sunday’s events include a special Tiki-Kon Brunch hosted by TheAlibi, with prizes given out for best dressed—wear your tiki finery!After brunch, a luxurious coach will wisk the lucky crawlers on TheOriginal NW Tiki Home Bar Tour, which this year will includes new homebars and rums provided by 3D Spirits. The group will then return to theJupiter for the weekend farewell – allowing more time for shopping,socializing, and maybe a little drinking at the nearby Doug Fir.

Tickets are available in variety of packages, or Saturdaystand-alone. Also available is a original mug created by Portland tikiartist Noel Henneman. Visit http://www.nwtiki.com to purchase. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Oregon Humane Society.

Sometimes Spring just comes unnoticed, completely triumphing over the Winter.

Job front/search has not yet paid its dividends. I will endeavor to persevere.

Posting as often? Maybe, maybe not. It is nothing personal, LJ. Things just are, you know?

The day I realized that opinions and tastes are not me was a great breakthrough. I don’t really think there was an epiphany. Realizing that I am not the sum of my opinions allowed me to live in a separate space from them.

No longer would I take others tastes or critiques of my interests to be a critique of me
No longer also would I assume the taste of others (or rather, my opinion of those tastes) necessarily reflect on their person either.
(for fun’s sake, I have to say I still hold the grudge a bit on those who listen to country music. I can’t be a perfect person, you know.)

This breakthrough allowed me to drop aspects of my personality that would get in the way of really enjoying the company of others. Freed from my pre-suppositions about the character of others based on their tastes allowed me get a fresh view of people. I was constantly amazed at how much my own prejudices were not only holding me back from enjoying things, but also how much they held me back from meeting truly wonderful people.

It also allows me to be more honest about my true connections with people despite their tastes, based merely on their personalities and peoples. This has led me to deeper friendships and and a more rewarding life.

So yay for that.

Though it does bring me sorrow when I meet people who still follow my abandoned behavior: Those who can not hear criticism of their tastes without taking it as a personal attack and those who judge based on such. I have to be sensitive to this, but I quickly realize the friendship will likely be a surface one.

Some silly little things go through my mind about how my tastes have changed over the years.

For instance:

Until late 90’s: Funk / Dance / Disco music? Disgusting! can’t listen to it! Garbage.
Sometime after late 90’s: Funk / Dance / Disco? Delicious! Give me more! Play that funky music, white boy!

Middle 90’s: Fur? Disgusting! How could anyone?
I can’t remember when: Fur? expensive. Don’t like fur? Don’t buy it. Ethics? as long as animals aren’t in danger of extinction (due to hunting/trapping)? don’t really give a rat’s ass.

early: LowBrow humor: Philistines! Egad!
Late 90’s: if it’s funny, I’ll laugh no matter how low.

More patterns like this emerge.

Looking back, it would seem someone, somewhere pulled a stick out of my ass in the mid 90’s. Thanks, whoever you were. I sure like the current me a whole bunch.

Yesterday afternoon was sunny and a tad bit warm.

So I did what anyone would do: I put the top down on Hansel, Pulled out the barbeque and grilled us some steak.

It was absolute heaven to barbeque out-of-doors in nice(ish) weather. The eating of the delicious animal topped it. I’m glad that I still have my gril skills – it came out the perfect balance between rare and medium rare. It was like meat flavoured candy, I tell you.

I can’t wait to grill again.

Hooray for spring!