りぼん

I recently discovered "Ribon" during a quest to verify the merits of an ex's claim that I look like a white japanimation doll. During said noble quest I discovered the best site ever. I love children's japanimation stationary imports for the plethora of stickers, colors and strange translations (think: "a beautiful friendship, do you like cherries?"). I had no idea that the websites were so interactive. Just beware if you're prone to seizures or allergic to japanimation kitsch.

New Bird Feeder

I got this silly bird feeder in WA as an early birthday present. It looks like a little bird-barn and it makes me happy. Yay for silly bird feeders and houses!

Rebecca

I watched Hitchcock's "Rebecca" last night; comically, classically, magnificently dramatic. Everyone, save Joan Fontaine, acts with a route woodenness that evokes the comic antics of Will Ferrell. The most dramatic scenes rival a good spanish soap. Yet, melodrama aside, it's so refreshing: Hitchcock could captivate the audience for 130 plus minutes sans gratuitous violence, sex and without the distraction of highly choreographed action scenes. Classic, suspenseful and fun eye-candy!

Why I Love Mom

She saw Cirque du Soleil "LOVE" this week in Vegas and thought I could be the person who decides what color everyones' shoes should be.

Blonde on Blonde

Spring break day two.

Evidently all hairdressers think I need to be Bitchin' Blonde Beach Barbie.

So. I am back to my Bitchin' Blonde roots. I feel very pink and a little plastic but not quite like Barbie. Which is OK, really.

I think it will take the rest of the break to adjust to the blondness.

Think I will stay home tonight and watch LEGALLY BLOND.

In Defense of a City

Note to Women Over the Age of, like, 18

When you, like, use, like, the word "like", like, more than 5 times a sentence you sound, you know, sort of, like, childish and ridiculous. I mean, like, it just seems, sort of, like, i don't know, like, hilarious that you've made it as far as, uh, like, law school and you can't, like, speak without sounding like a 12 year old girl.
I mean, like, I'm sorry to sound, uh, harsh, but, like, I just sort of, like, find listening to you speak like this when I know damn well you're intelligent enough to know better sort of, like, irritating as shit.

Leprechauns Exist.

Side Yard Ideas

Today I lined my raised garden bed with some purdy bricks. We will pretend said bricks are "purdy" because my landlords left them in a pile on the side of the house and they were FREE.

Next, I am thinking about digging a swimming hole in an attempt to find the best possible way to use the total lack of privacy I have with this unfenced side yard to disgust my neighbors while enjoying next summer. Anyone with stone-washed cut-offs and beer cozies is more than welcome to bring over a lawn chair and stereo if they need a place to sun-bathe once the sun arrives.

Strange "Missed Connection" posting

Following is a "Missed Connections" posting from Craigslist that was also some form of chain mail. I don't know if any of the male half is true but the female half isn't half bad..

When a guy calls you,
he wants to be with you.

When a guy is quiet,
He's listening to you.

When a guy is not arguing,
he realizes he's wrong.

When a guy says, "I'm fine, " after a few
minutes,
he means it.

When a guy stares at you,
he wishes you would care about him and
wonders if you do.

When you're laying your head on a guy's
chest,
he has the world.

When a guy calls you everyday,
he is in love.

When a good guy tells you he loves you,
he means it.

When a guy says he can't live without you,
he's with you till you're done.

When a guy says, "I miss you, "
he misses you more than you could have
ever missed him or anything else.


Girl facts:

When she wants a hug
she will just stand there.

When you break a girls heart,
she still feels it when
you run into each other 3 years later.

When a girl is quiet,
millions of things are running through her
mind.

When a girl is not arguing,
she is thinking deeply.

When a girl looks at you with eyes full of
questions,
she is wondering how long you will be
around.

When a girl answers, "I'm fine, " after a
few seconds,
she is not fine at all.

When a girl stares at you,
she is wondering why you are so
wonderful.

When a girl lays her head on your chest,
she is wishing for you to be hers forever.

When a girl says that she can't live
without you,
she has made up her mind that you are
her future.

When a girl says, "I miss you, "
no one in this world can miss you more
than that.

When a girl is mean to you after a breakup
she wants you back, but she's
scared she'll get hurt and knows
you're gone forever.

Spring Break

I love, love, love that I'm just about to turn 27, have been in college for 10 years and still get a Spring Break a couple weeks from now.
This will be my last Spring Break. What should I do? What should I do?
So far, I'm planning on doing some gardening (huge dork). What should I plant, what should I plant?
Happy almost spring break.

What's creepier than creepy?

The Dell service team has been reading this blog.

Kicked in the Nuts!

A friend at a party showed us all this Channel 101 show Kicked in the Nuts! last night. It's regodamndiculous but just sort of doesn't get old. So, if you need an easy laugh, check it out.

Ground Kontrol

Finally made it to Ground Kontrol last night and admittedly fell in love with the place. Beer and video games and pinball? Super-sweet! If I didn't have to cross the river to get there I'd be all over that place. Having NES at home just doesn't compare to the thrill of fisting a bottle in one hand while commanding a joystick with the other to songs like "TNT"...oh yee-ah!
Great Fun.

Why I Hate Dell

Following is the transcript of my on-line chat w/Dell about my old laptop last night. Notice how long it takes them answer my question about how I can send in my laptop...

08:17:36PM System: "Thank you for choosing Chat support. The next representative will be available to assist you shortly. While waiting, check some of our self support options above. No fear, you won't lose your place in line!"

08:17:43PM Session Started with Agent (RTS Gerry H)

08:17:47PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Thank you for patiently waiting. You have reached Dell Hardware Warranty Chat Support. My name is Alan and I will be assisting you today. Will you provide details about the issue you’re having?"

08:18:32PM Me: "My laptop sustained damage to the screen and subsequently would not start up. Can I send it in?"

08:18:58PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Christine is this a new issue, or have you contacted dell on this about the cracked LCD issue before? (If you have contacted us before on this issue, please provide the case number)."

08:19:41PM Me: "I contacted you in January but was disconnected. I do not have a case number."

08:19:57PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Christine, I understand about the cracked LCD issue, and will do my best to assist."
08:20:28PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Christine, to ensure we are working with the correct system, are you chatting about the LATD600 listed on your account?"

08:20:43PM Me: "yes."

08:22:11PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Are you using the computer with the issue to chat with me?"

08:22:42PM Me: "No. When that laptop is started the screen is black."

08:23:32PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Ok."

08:23:47PM Me: "I would like to send the laptop into you. I have heard that you can send me the proper envelope?"

08:23:50PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "So is the actual LCD cracked or just the plasic around the LCD?"
08:23:52PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "?"

08:25:02PM Me: "The LCD is not visibly cracked. The laptop seems to have gotten a hard knock, there's a visible ding on the outer shell."

08:25:18PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Ok."
08:25:45PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Well I can either send an onsite tech to your place to replace the LCD, or you can send it to the depot for repair."
08:25:49PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "The choice is yours."

08:26:00PM Me: "I would like to send it to the depot please."
08:26:21PM Me: "How can I do that?"

08:26:52PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Ok."
08:27:00PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "I will set the dispatch up."

08:27:28PM Me: "The dispatch?"

08:28:25PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "The dispatch is an order for the depot service."

08:28:49PM Me: "OK. What do I do with the laptop? How do I send it to you? Are you sending me something?"

08:29:08PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "What is the exact address that you want the computer sent back to once the repair facility is finished with it? (It will probably ship by DHL and cannot be a P.O. Box.)"

08:29:39PM Me: "XXXX SE XXXX Street Portland, OR 97202"

08:33:22PM Me: "where and how do i send my laptop to the facility?"

08:34:15PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "I am making the order."
08:34:22PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Please allow 2-3 minutes for this."

08:34:49PM Me: "I have. And I would really appreciate it if you would answer my question."

08:37:14PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Thanks for waiting."
08:37:23PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Christine, it has been a great pleasure working with you today. I'm going to send you some important information for your records. I apologize for its lengthiness. Let me know if you have any questions about it."
08:37:30PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Please use these numbers for future questions on this issue: Case #xxxxxx Dispatch Reference #xxxxxxx"
08:37:37PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "I have setup a return to depot service for your system."
08:37:41PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "The estimated return time after shipping the system to the depot is 5-8 business days from when it is shipped. Please remove your hard drive and any other hardware you have installed prior to shipping."
08:37:43PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "When you are ready to ship the system, just call DHL at 1-877-335-5782 to schedule the pickup and location. They will ask for the dispatch number I provided above. DHL will schedule a pickup with you and provide you with an airbill number at that time."
08:37:45PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "A courier will be dispatched to pick up your system and supply any necessary packing materials and deliver the system to our repair depot."
08:37:48PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Our repair depot will diagnose, repair and return your system to the address on record with Dell. If any further actions are required they will include a letter of explanation with the system."
03/06/2007 08:37:58PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "If you need further assistance with this case, you may contact us via [Chat]: www.dell.com/chatsupport or [Email]: us_acs_team_1@dell.com (include your Case# and Service Tag) [Subject]: Team 317 Email Dell Inc."
8:38:01PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "I am constantly striving to improve my service. If there is anything I can do to help improve your experience, please don't hesitate to let me know by contacting my manager via email at us_acs_team_1@dell.com."
08:38:03PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "For service status, please go to http://support.dell.com 1. Log in. 2. Click on “My Order Status.” 3. Click on “My Support” and select “Service Call Status.” 4. Enter your Dispatch Reference# (Service Call Number) and Region or Service Tag."
08:38:05PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "For future reference, a copy of this chat will be sent to the email you provided as you entered the chat."
03/06/2007 08:38:12PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Well, I apologize for any inconvenience, but hopefully we have resolved the issue today. Is there anything else, on your system I can help you with today?"

08:38:27PM Christine Buckley: "no."

08:38:45PM Agent (RTS Gerry H): "Thank you for using Dell Hardware Warranty Chat Support. Have a great week!"

The Icing on the Cake? I then got a confirmation e-mail. The email was addressed to ANOTHER CUSTOMER and included the OTHER CUSTOMER'S order information!!!

Sedum Sunday

The sun came out today! I visited the nursery and picked up some sedums for the porch (they're so cool looking, they reproduce and the nursery's still a little sad this time of year flower wise).

Love, love, loving the sunshine!