Yesterday I told my doctor that I had S.A.D.-Seasonal Affective Disorder.  He told me that I really have Situational Affective Disorder.  Yeah, it has been another weird winter for me, and this rain is NOT HELPING.  Not only that, but when I took a vacation in December to Palm Springs, usually SUNNY Palm Springs, it rained like a mother.  Then after my hernia surgery we went to usually sunny Arizona, and again…IT RAINED!  I’ve had it!  Enough!  Yeah, yeah, these places are usually dry and need the moisture, but how about when I’m not there?

Yesterday after seeing the doc, I went shopping on my way home and while I was in the store, a most incredible downpour started.  The noise was what got the shopper’s attention first.  It was like someone was doing the drum solo from “In a Gadda Da Vida” on the roof.  All eyes went to the ceiling, then to the windows.  It was rediculous how heavy the rain was.  Then there was thunder and all that.  When I got back in the car, Shannon was playing “Mr. Blue Sky” and the clouds parted a little…a very little…but enough to give hope.  Of course that hope was dashed again and the rain resumed.

Yesterday reminded me of a time when I was in Mexico with my friend Chris. It was muggy and hot when we landed at the airport.  We got a rental car and drove to the grocery store.  I love Mexican grocery stores.  They are just different.  There are things about it that will gross you out if you are at all squeemish, but I get a kick out of it.  Gives new meaning to the term “mystery meat.”  Also I’m always amazed at how much Spanish I do understand when it comes to food.  The story of my life.  It’s the universal language for me.  Anyway, we were in the store, and we heard LOUD pounding on the roof of the grocery store and then KA-BOOM!  Thunder…more pounding.  We kept shopping and thought that it would pass soon.  This happens in Mexico in September.  Big drenching rains come and go…all day long.  We checked out, took the bags of food to the car, which was in covered underground parking (this is in Puerto Vallarta…very civilized) and started to drive to the road.  Road?  It looked more like a river!  I’m not exaggerating here, it looked like we couldn’t possibly drive in this without an amphibious vehicle, and we had an economy rental. 

My friend Chris is a fearless driver.  She’s tackled roads in other countries like she was born to drive.  The Autobahn (I’m hearing Kraftwerk in my brain right now….), Italy, Mexico, and the other side of the street in the British Isles are nothing to her.  She gets in whatever she’s driving and just attacks the situation.  God help the car.  So, she takes off into the street filled with water up past the kick plates on our little car and just decides to pull a Moses parting the Red Sea.  She hits that gas pedal and the car actually does forge ahead…of other people pushing their cars in this instant river…of people who were on motorcycles that are now walking beside them.  She amazes me and terrifies me all at the same time.  I’m such a pussy.  I won’t even tell you what it was like climbing the almost verticle cobblestone streets to her condo.  I pray silently when in those situations, unless I’m driving, and then it’s really LOUD!  “DEAR GOD PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let us get there. 

Oh, and while you’re at it, please stop the rain for at least a good week here in the Portland/Vancouver area.

Alright, enough bitching about the rain, I need to do my homework and write about prayer. 

Hey, I think I just did.

Getting ready for a big Blazer party before Game 6 tonight. The best part about the party is we have a keg of Coors Light. Yep, a keg of Coors Light. And guess who gets to sample the old keggaroo all night? Yep, me. I’m gonna go ahead and go out on a limb and say this night’s going to be totally awesome.

Heather, one of my favorite people in the KGON promotion department, text me today to let me know I haven’t blogged since February. It’s true, I’m guilty!

I really have to be inspired, blogging isn’t something that comes natural to me, as it does to Iris…she’s a natural born writer.

I sent a picture to a friend of mine some time ago, who urged me at the time, to throw it up on my blog.

So, here it is…….

This is what’s usually on the menu at my house on Sunday morning….I keep telling my son Hank that it’s the real reason so many of his buddies like to spend the night on Saturday!  

Don’t ask me why guys take pictures of their food (it’s just a guy thing) and….don’t drool on your keyboard!  Hahahahahaha

So one of our interns just asked everyone sitting in the promotions area how to spell Mississippi. I kid you not. There isn’t a 10 year old anywhere in the world who can’t spell Mississippi and our intern, who is IN COLLEGE mind you, can’t spell it? Sounds like that one will be joining the sales team!

Best fan made sign held up at Portland Trail Blazers game 4 at the Rose Garden last Saturday:

“Phoenix Fans Have Rock Lawns.”

Hilarious. My sign said “Block the Suns” and would have been much more clever and possibly been seen on the ESPN or KPTV sports highlight reel if I had worn white zinc oxide on my nose. My first draft of my sign said “Phuck Fenix” but was deemed inappropriate.

Another funny sign that I came across today while googling “funny signs”:

Why is this funny? Because last week I was emailing back and forth with my dad’s wife and she wrote that his blood count was off and he was looking into treatment options. I assumed it had something to do with his prostate or something in that region of maleness. I’m not really in the loop on all this stuff, I mean, they live in California! I wrote back and asked if he was ok or if he was in any pain and if getting him neutered was an option. I of course laughed at my humor. I didn’t hear back. I quickly sent another email apologizing for my inappropriate humor and telling her I hope she wasn’t mad at me. I still haven’t heard back. Safe to assume she’s mad. Also safe to assume that 9 times out of 10, my humor is neither humorous nor appropriate. Yep, sounds like me.

It’s been a while since I’ve had homework.  It’s been a while since I’ve taken a class.  I’m out of practice.  Oddly enough it’s a writing class, so this is my excuse not to write anything of importance today.

Did I mention that Miss Pamela Des Barres is the teacher?  The most famous groupie in the world, published writer, etc.

I’m learning things.  More later.

It was a lovely little weekend on Mt. Hood.  I belong to a group of women who have called ourselves “The Cabin Girls” since 1991.  We will always be “girls” and we are not in the least offended by this label.  We have tried over the years to make it up to this wonderful peaceful little place at least 4 times a year, but some years it’s less due to busy schedules and all that life stuff that gets in the way of fun. 

We always have a large time no matter what the weather is like.  It’s not about skiing, which isn’t far away from the location of the cabin, but none of us ski anymore.  I gave that up after realizing that in 6 years since my initial lessons, I had not improved very much at all, and it took forever to get the gear and all that from the car, to the lodge and then spend the day falling down.  As usual I guess if I had cared more, I would have done better.  Maybe not.  I enjoyed parts of skiing, but also had a huge amount of fear associated with it.  I was forever being credited with more prowess by my instructors that I really posessed, and thus getting myself onto runs that I had no business being on.  One time I even skiied with the General Manager of Timberline and while he was lovely and kind (Mr. K, I will always love you for those “turns” on the mountain) I was freaking out the whole time that I would embarrass myself.

I have a healthy amount of respect for Ms. Hood.  I gave her the “s” in the spelling instead of a “t” because it’s like she has a personality that way.  She’s been very moody on days…dumping snow until I couldn’t find my car, much less drive the thing down the road…or not having enough snow and my skis looked like they had been used in a grocery store parking lot. 

Weather happens fast on Mt. Hood.  One time I was at Timberline Lodge on June 1st, and we got out of the car in lovely warm sunshine.  While having bloody marys (which Timberline Lodge does very well…) waiting for our lunch to arrive at the table, it started raining.  As we ate lunch, the sun came out again.  Then while we were thinking of dessert, it started to snow.  By the time we went back to the car, it was sunny again, but windy.  All within about 90 minutes. 

One time at the Cabin, down the mountain on Still Creek, there was a freaky wind storm.  We saw that the wind was coming up and thought we needed to get out of there.  After loading our cars and cleaning up, this loud crash sounding like an explosion came from outside.  A tree had fallen on the cabin next door.  We were all getting ready to leave and heard another BOOM.  A tree was down on the cabin on the other side of us.  I was now in full blown panic.  Two of the girls, Ann and Becki were just slightly concerned.  I was screaming and hugging what I thought would be the most secure place in the little cabin…the fireplace.  I’m pretty sure Tina was with me on that one.  Finally I got out to my car, and tried to leave, but there was a tree across the road.  The next attempt out, there were men with chainsaws making room for cars to pass.  Here’s the really weird part: on the way down the mountain, I expected to see trees and power lines down, devistation, roofs blown off…but there was virtually no other areas than the little pocket that we were staying in that was affected.  Damn moody mountain weather system, anyway!

This weekend it gave us a little sun, and rain.  Ann’s car battery died before she left, and I missed the big event of the flatbed truck trying to get down the tiny windy driveway because I had already headed back to civilization.  I’m sure it was interesting watching him back out.  That’s what was going on when I called. 

We even got to watch the last quarter of the Blazer game on Saturday at the Rendezvous Tap Room.  There’s no TV in the cabin.  ON PURPOSE!  So if we want to watch a game, we have to go out.  It’s better that way.  It was nice to see them win.  Now, if they can pull off another one in Phoenix!  Go Blazers!

The mountain adventures of “The Cabin Girls” are always interesting.  Sometimes scary, other times very peaceful.  No matter what happens, we seem to take away great memories, several laughs and stories to tell.  I’m not rested this time though.  Not enough sleep.  I guess we should work on getting to bed earlier than 2:30am.  We just lose track of time up there in the evergreen scent and darkness.

Writing class tonight.  No rest for the wicked.

I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want.  If that makes me a bitch, okay. 

Seems to suit today and pretty much every day just fine. ‘Nuff said.

Anyone know who actually said that? Hint- it’s not an artist we play on KGON.

1. What is the medical specialty of Dr. Jack Shephard, Matthew Fox’s character on Lost: brain surgery, spinal surgery or cosmetic surgery?
(ANSWER: Spinal surgery)

2. Which of these actors is terrified of earthquakes: George Clooney, Alec Baldwin or Rob Lowe?
(ANSWER: George Clooney)

3. True or false: Demi Moore once worked as a bill collector?
(ANSWER: True)

4. Who was Carrie Underwood’s favorite singer growing up: Madonna, Michael Jackson or George Michael?
(ANSWER: George Michael)

5. What Will Smith movie earned the most money: Independence Day, Men in Black or I Am Legend?
(ANSWER: Independence Day earned more than $300 million)

6. True or false: despite her role as a pot dealer on Weeds, Mary Louise-Parker is a real-life opponent of decriminalizing marijuana?
(ANSWER: False, in real life she supports decriminalizing marijuana)

7. What is the name of Sigourney Weaver’s character in Avatar?
(ANSWER: Dr. Grace Augustine)

8. Vanessa Williams left which university to pursue stardom: Columbia, Syracuse or Northwestern?
(ANSWER: Syracuse)

9. True or false: Avril Lavigne’s career got rolling after she won a radio contest and got to sing on stage with Shania Twain?
(ANSWER: True)

10. Which game show has been on TV longer: The Price Is Right or Family Feud?
(ANSWER: The Price Is Right, which debuted in 1972. Family Feud came along in 1976.)

11. On which sitcom did Danny Masterson have a role before That ’70s Show: The Cosby Show, Home Improvement or Roseanne?
(ANSWER: Before Steve Hyde came along, Masterson played Darlene’s boyfriend Jimmy on Roseanne)

12. True or false: Anne Hathaway attended high school with American Idol contestant Kelly Clarkson?
(ANSWER: False)

13. Jessica Biel’s film career includes a role in what grisly horror remake: Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Nightmare on Elm Street?
(ANSWER: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

14. The 1988 indie flick Mystic Pizza marked a breakthrough role for Julia Roberts. It also marked the big-screen debut of which of her future Ocean’s Eleven co-stars?
(ANSWER: Matt Damon)

15. True or false: Eddie Murphy’s role as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop was originally meant for Sylvester Stallone?
(ANSWER: True)

16. What famous person was an occasional visitor to Uma Thurman’s childhood home: the Dalai Lama, Queen Elizabeth or the Pope?
(ANSWER: The Dalai Lama, because Uma’s father is a leading Buddhist scholar)

17. At 17, Halle Berry won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant. Which state did she represent?
(ANSWER: Ohio)

18. True or false: Kid Rock’s real name is Kenneth William Gordy?
(ANSWER: False, it is Robert James Ritchie)

19. Janet Jackson made her acting debut on what TV show: What’s Happening?, Good Times or Diff’rent Strokes?
(ANSWER: Good Times)

20. Which of these celebrities does not have two different eye colors: Mila Kunis, Conan O’Brien or Dan Akroyd?
(ANSWER: Conan O’Brien)

According to a new survey of 1,500 women, men who own iPhones are more appealing than those who carry other mobile devices.

The survey found that 54 percent of women would be more likely to date a man who owns an iPhone — reportedly because it shows the man is good with computers, reliable and (most importantly?) because it shows that the guy is rich enough to own the expensive gadget.