A very Harker Thanksgiving

I went to my parents house for Thanksgiving in California and we had so much fun. Matt and Blake came down from Portland so it was a good ole time! We lazed about a lot of the time. Had fun just joking around like the old days. I love my brothers! They're so funny. One night we busted out the game Taboo (but the handheld digital version). Everyone took a turn, but my parents giving clues were the best. Here are their videos.

Big Ring Girl!!

In college there was this guy in our math class with Twoy that wore this gargantuan turquoise ring. We called him big ring boy because that was our thing in college. To not get to know people, but call them by the names we made up for them! At least we thought we were funny. Today I officially became "Big Ring Girl". I've been eyeballing this beauty on Nordstrom.com and nearly plopped down the 1/2 off sale price of $160, when I decided to show a little restraint. Then tonight - I was out shopping for pretty girl dresses for my company party and wandered into TJ Maxx. How pretty girl dresses equals jewelry, handbags and shoes - I'll never know. But let's just blame my A.D.D. Anyway - I ended up with THIS BEAUTY (for $34.00!!). I actually think I like it better because it's dark brown as opposed to tan, but still has the damask feel to it. Thank you Big Ring Boy...wherever you are. You inspire me!

Tagging

I got tagged like 400 years ago, by a couple of people - and I'd completely forgotten about it. Sorry for those of you that I didn't finish the circle of tagging...but here goes to the one I remember now:
This one is from Amanda: (The rules….link your tagger and list these rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.) It said to tag 7 people, but if you see this and want to do it on your blog, then TAG! haha. I'm such a rule-breaker!

1. Actually...not so much a rule-breaker, but I love finding that "loop hole" in rules. And I love to TELL people how to get around the same rule as well. Why not share the wealth right?

2. I do not believe that food should be purple - so I don't eat it. I'm not sure where/how this got started but I don't eat purple food. No to grape jelly, No to purple candy, no to purple cabbage (sick). And for those that went to college with me, they know the salad cannot be started until all those pieces are picked out. I get around the grapes thing by calling them "red" (see above statement about loop-holes)

3. I wear less makeup now than I did in 6-12th grade.

4. I cannot swallow pills. It's like a huge production to have to take medicine/vitamins. They always get lodged in my esohpagus somewhere and I can feel them all day. That's after 3 attempts at swallowing with gagging and watery eyes. I took the chewable penicillin until I was like 16 and my mom finally put an end to it. JERK FACE!

5. I LOVE needles. I'm not like a heroin junkie or anything, but giving blood or getting shots - I always want to watch. I've always wanted to get a tattoo, but think I'd be that addicted girl that would end up with the full sleeve. Best to stay away.

6. I mix up phrases all the time. The other day I told Dennis he was crazy like the Wolf. Which of course he won't stop telling me. I've told my boss "That's like killing 2 birds with a frying pan" Something about 2 birds and one stone, and I think it's blended with the irons in the fire phrase. Clearly we laughed for like 20 minutes. Plus Mark does this laugh where you literally think he's going to stop breathing and it makes you laugh harder because you don't know if you should heimlich him, or just keep laughing and let fate take it's course.

7. I am addicted to drinking out of Mason jars. Glass is environmentally friendlier than plastic, re-useable cups. And I needed a lid to transport my liquids in the car. Now if I could find a car with cup holders to fit a mason jar - I'd be GOLDEN!

Wine & Cheese Class

Tonight Samantha and I took another class. This one was wine sampling and comparing different cheeses with the wines.

I am not a huge wine lover by nature, but this was actually really really fun. The cheese guy was rugged and somewhat attractive - I must admit. I think I just found it fascinating that someone could know so much about cheese. I mean to be honest, I'm pretty happy with the Kraft single straight out of the plastic. To me, high society cheese is the Baby Bel cheese I buy at the grocery that I get to peel from the wax.

We tested a Riesling, Pinot Noir, and 2 other wines I have absolutely no idea what they were called. We were given a "spreadsheet" to rate the wines and the combinations. The teacher "man hands" Cheryl was totally snooty and kind of annoying. But very knowledgeable. She had all these rules on drinking wine.

1. You're not allowed to touch the goblet part so you don't disturb the art of the wine. Stem only.

2. Smell the wine first without swirling it around.

3. Swirld the wine, then smell again. It sounds weird - but it actually does smell different

4. Taste a little of the wine and let it coat the 4000 taste buds you have in your mouth. She made this weird slurping noise that actually almost made wine come out of my nose on the first sip. Someone should've really warned us about that.

It was TOTALLY GREAT just hanging out with Samantha again! I've missed her since ghost hunting! Next up for us is Holiday Wreath making! Should be a good time for sure! I can't wait to see the train wrecks we create!

Me and Mister "T"

Wow do I ever love this kid!

While I was in Portland I got some great bonding time with my nephew Trenten. I seriously couldn't get enough of him. He's soooo funny, but so serious all at the same time. We were singing Old MacDonald had a farm, and he stopped me to ask what a farm was. When I told him - we started singing all over again, to which he stopped again to ask "what is MacDonald - where they have fries?" I laughed for 5 minutes and then thought of the easiest way to explain the name of the farmer.

We went to the park, sang a million songs, played I spy, jumped in piles of leaves. On Sunday morning before I left he was SOOOO snuggly. He crawled up on my lap and said "I want to talk to you". In his cute little munchkin voice. Not about anything particular, just have a conversation. Then we made breakfast (cereal & bananas). I put him up in his chair and I was just going to pour him a bowl when all the sudden I see his little face in the doorway and he says "I want to help you". So we figured out all the items required to make cereal. He's very smart! The smallest things about spending time with him were my absolute favourite.

So he melts your heart as well, here is a video of him singing:

Portland Trip

This past weekend I went to Portland to visit my brothers and my cute nephew Trent. Along the way, thanks to Facebook - that I'm totally addicted to - I got to hook up with some old girlfriends as well! They're not old, I've just known them some of them since I was 16!!!! YIKES, nearly 1/2 my life. Jamie and Lisa and I met up and went to Justa Pasta where I had the best pasta alive! Then we went to some shady dive Huka bar to see Jessica and Derek. There was a toothless wonder sitting at our table trying to make conversation.

For those of you that don't know what a Huka Bar is, it was these little tables that had big water pipes sitting on them that you put some sort of "herb" on top and then smoked. I swear this showed my age that my biggest concern was that everyone put their mouth on the same smokey part. After seeing the guys teeth - you would've been concerned too! It was pimps and hoes night at the bar so there were all these totally skeevy girls in fishnets (not knockin' those...i have some) and the tighest, shortest hoochie shorts ever and barely any clothes. These was one girl in a bustier that literally was going to fall off. And then there was us...me in a jacket and scarf, Lisa in a turtle neck, and Jamie in a semi-turtle neck. Old ladies - YOU'RE NOT KIDDIN! It was so fun to catch up with those girls

Just so you know I'm not lying about the pimps and hoes....

That's Derek - who was lovin' every minute of it!

The next night I got to hang out with Monica and Danae and we sat around talking forever at Acapulco! This Mexican Restaurant that I swear has not that great of food, but for some reason - I always want. So fun to see those girls too!

Crazy Like the Wolf

So tonight we went to see the Changling. Warning, this is an insanely LONG movie. I wasn't really thrilled the the Angelina acting either. Possibly because I just don't like her, but besides that - it was odd. Interesting TRUE story. Plus, the music is straight out of a bad after school special.

2.5 hours into the movie, the emergency fire alarms go off. I swear everyone in the theatre was like "you've gotta be kidding me". Then the kid working (who tried to convince us that High School Musical 3 was a good movie even though he hadn't seen it) told us he was going to reset the movie. What he meant was restart it from where it shut off - but the HORROR of having to sit through another 2.5 hours to see the last 15 minute ending...YIKES!

Fun night. Oh! And Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks are a year round enjoyment. Plus they now have Peppermint Whip Cream (that's only seasonal mind you!) Bring on winter!

My day of politics

Today was my first time voting in a BOOTH! Oregon is mail-in stuff, so I've always just only done that. I was very excited. Luckily www.leaveyourprint.com gave me a tutorial on what to expect from the automated voting process so I wasn't nervous! Dennis came with for moral support - even though it wasn't his district and he couldn't vote there. What a nice guy! I thought it was going to take FOREVER, but we were IN - and - OUT!

Then he took me to lunch at Saltimbocca downtown. Pizza...yum! I was getting annoyed at this well dressed man (suit & tie) just sipping water at the bar and staring at me. I told Dennis it was like he was in the Secret Service because he was just loitering. And then out comes the Huntsman party from the back room. He wasn't actually staring at me...they were just right behind me. I do flatter myself though! haha. Governor Huntsman stopped at our table and shook our hands. Probably would've kissed some babies if we had some with us. He kindly asked if we voted, and said "i'm not even going to ask WHO you voted for!". Well congratulations Mister John Huntsman, you were 1 of 2 Republicans on my ballot.

Also, I'm officially a presidential nomination! Don't be surprised if you see some results for Jamie Harker tricking in on CNN tonight! Dennis wrote me in as his candidate. He said his vote didn't count in Utah anyway - so why not?! Why not indeed! Congratulations to me! haha.
All in all, this politiking is pretty tiring work. I'm taking the night off!

My name is Jamie Harker and I approve this message...