Hello everyone

So, it is about the depths of winter, and its cold and dark and miserable out.

If you are just as bored as me, you can contact me on aim at gjbridge23

And so on. Or just ignore this.

Welp! ..the black kitties still needs their homes!

Merry Solstice folks! You want a kitten! You know you do! It's true! Pick two!

Red: LOVES other animals. Pick him if you already have other pets!
Pink: Only girl. Sweet. Opinionated. Huuuungry.
Blue: Sweetest. Mellowest. Inquisitive and friendly.
Yellow: Most outgoing. Loves to people watch.
Purple: Previously the runt. Shortest coated. Wild, cuddly and a little spoiled.
Cyan: Biggest boy. Boofer. Spoken for.

Message me! They want to go home this week!

Pictures under the cut...

[edit] Oh yeah.. they are all black - all but purple have some longer white ghost hairs on their ears or paws.

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My plan to make my S.O. an erhu for Xmas has failed, for many reasons.

Where can I find miracle fruit tablets in Portland (with a strong preference for close-in NE)?

CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION HAS ANCIENT ORIGINS

King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center.

The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.

The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.

Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits.

Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.

Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

The Christmas tree tradition most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio, adds Robson.

But the custom spread slowly. The Puritans banned Christmas in New England. Even as late as 1851, a Cleveland minister nearly lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church. Schools in Boston stayed open on Christmas Day through 1870, and sometimes expelled students who stayed home.

The Christmas tree market was born in 1851 when Catskill farmer Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds of evergreens into New York City and sold them all. By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree, and 20 years later, the custom was nearly universal.

Christmas tree farms sprang up during the depression. Nurserymen couldn't sell their evergreens for landscaping, so they cut them for Christmas trees. Cultivated trees were preferred because they have a more symmetrical shape then wild ones.

Six species account for about 90 percent of the nation's Christmas tree trade. Scotch pine ranks first, comprising about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir which accounts for about 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce.

Do any of you all listen to audio books in MP3 format? What service do you use, what do you get for it and how much does it cost? I'm researching this for a friend who is currently listening to books on cd but would like to switch to MP3. She's currently paying about $10/book, which seems expensive to me. She listens to 3 to 4 books a month. Any advice, tips, pointers, etc.? Thanks, DP!

ETA: Thank you so much for the help so far! I should add that my "friend" is actually an elderly relative, so she's not super media- or tech-savvy. Ease of use is a consideration. Also, she is in Texas, so no access to our awesome library system, although I will definitely still pass that suggestion along.

Whatever holidays you celebrate, in whatever way you observe them, I wish you happy ones. At this time of year and all others.

Is anyone a distributor? Know a distributor? I need some vanilla, 15ml. Maybe others? Thanks!

Know of a good source for bulk cocoa butter around town? Spill it por favor. I've seen it at Limbo, but it seems a bit expensive at $1.85 an ounce when I can get it for $13 a pound from a Eugene-based e-tailer. But I WANTS IT NOW. My dry skin thanks you.

Sayonara [1957]

1. Ricardo Montalban's fishy accent: Kobe by way of Mexico City.
2. A pamphlet falls out of her purse.
3. The two puppets lie down together and die as the curtain slowly descends.

The Machinist [2004]

1. As he bends over we can see the knobs of his spine.
2. He is confronted by a menacing hallway.
3. A pile of bloody fish heads.

www.publicalerts.org

Just passed on to us at work, this website has alot of local information including weather reports, traffic conditions, transit information, school closures and road conditions.

Yesterday:

• 09:43 Had Betsy and Steve over for dinner last night. We haven't played euchre for a while, but Nic and I remembered how to get shellacked.
  
  
• 09:44 Also tested the wine chiller we gave them; results indicate it cools a bottle of wine perhaps 5% faster than refrigeration.
  
  
• 09:45 Today's plans might include a trip to the mall, just cuz we're gluttons for punishment.
  
  
• 15:02 Opted instead for a quick swing through downtown, if by swing you mean crawl.
  
  
• 17:30 All the shopping that'll happen today has happened. Off to Salem for Dad's WMC Christmas concert!
  
  
• 22:17 After-show drinks and nosh with the fam @ Thompsons. Goofiness ensues, as always. We won't see them again til after Christmas.

Can anyone recommend one? We only have to go from downtown, but it's before the Red Max starts service and we don't want to sleep at the airport waiting.

Hey, the fabulous inkytwist has been kind enough to set me up to show some photos at her place of bidness. I need to pick 8. I've never done anything like this before, and I am having a tough time figuring out what to put up.

If you're as bored as I think you are (ha!), could you go take a look at this slideshow and tell me if one or two really stand out for you?

Awesome! Thanks!

If you were among the carolers on MAX last night, I want to say thank you. My hubby and I were headed back from a much needed date night, and the cookies and cheerful Christmas carols really made us smile!

Hello,

I'm looking to buy some pepper spray to use in case of dog attacks on an upcoming bike trip. Anyone know where to buy it in Portland (if they're open on weekends, it's a plus)? The Google was not helpful.

Thanks!

ETA: Some people recommended Cuffs N Stuff, however, they appear to be closed (their domain has expired and their phone number is disconnected) :-(