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...

A week in the life of concert going Jamie

This, although sick - has been a very fun week of concerts! Laurel, her sister Rachel and I went to go see Ray LaMontagne at SaltAire. Getting lost was fun, sitting and talking through the concert was fun. Enjoying girl time was really fun!



Tonight Melissa and I enjoyed yet another Joshua Radin concert. Highlights of the evening:


1) getting hit on by the bouncer. Carl offered to put us on his friends list whenever we wanted. I didn't even have to flash any body parts to get that offer. Although he was hinting for digits, and well - even I can't be that skeezy.


2) getting hit on by Eduardo - the 21 year old fresh off his mission! That's right ladies, we've still got it!

3) pay attention, this is the big finale...getting to touch Joshua Radin as he walked by in the crowd. Melissa said "great show" and touched his arm - and he turned around and said "oh thank you". to which i just tried to cop a feel as he walked by. He's totally migit-o, but when you can sing like this....I will still gladly bear your children.

(i apologize that he's sideways)

The sick kid.

I'm doing a scientific study on myself this year. Last year I didn't get a flu shot and used up all my sick days by Feb. This year I decided to get a flu shot, and have been sick pretty much since I got it. Not as horrible as earlier this year - but still! 2 weeks of the BLAHs is no bueno!



However, this sick girl has a silver lining today. My knight in shining armor brought me Theraflu and a sweatshirt (I was freezing) and these beauties! Awww....what a nice guy. All my favourite colors in one perfect arrangement. Plus then took me to get tomato soup at Paradise. YUM! Now that's what I call worth being sick for.