When is an inch more than just an inch?

When that inch is on your neighbor's property! Ever since moving into our house our dog has been wreaking havoc on the neighbors, mailman, meter reader, other animals, etc... You get the idea. Last summer we built a fence on either side of our house preventing her from scaring off the mailman, meter reader and kids in the culdi sac. This spring our project was to fence off the remaining portion along the back of our yard. The posts were dug and set two weeks ago, only to soon be followed by a neighbor we had never seen or met before to be out there digging a hole. Long story short, our fence posts are on our neighbors' land -- in fact, two neighbors...lucky us. Out of 17 poles, we are moving 7 - each about six inches from where they currently sit. We can't be angry with the neighbors because it was our own screw up, but perhaps what is most frustrating (other than our own stupidity) is that we're talking INCHES, but yet hundreds of dollars at the same time. Actually thousands of dollars of total fence cost. Honestly, I'm tired of thinking about it, talking about it and dealing with it and we're coming down the home stretch now. Unless something goes awry this may be the last I speak of it...ever! Word to the wise, if you want to build a fence, ask the oldest neighbor you can find where the boundary markers are...chances are he'll know.

Keep your "you know what" in your own pants!

I mean how hard is it really for American politicians to keep their sexcapades under their own roof with their own spouse? Apparently quite difficult! With this prize move, Eliot Spitzer now joins the likes of Jim McGreevy (gay affair), Larry Craig (airport bathroom toe tapping), Sen. David Vitter (call girl scandal), and of course the most infamous of them all...Bill Clinton. With his complete jackass decision to partake (on multiple occasions) in an online prostitution ring he put an end to any possible future political aspirations that he clearly had, not to mention potentially his own marriage. Perhaps the most irritating part of this is Spitzer's own reputation which he built up as being a hard-nosed fighter of corruption and crime, sometimes to the point of wrongly accusing people and making over-inflated claims. Jerk.

Fast forward to yesterday's press conference....

As a communications professional myself I get the need to present a sense of control to the general public around the situation...although really, who's buying that front? Wouldn't it be great if just for once, the wronged wife didn't have to stand up their next to her lying, cheating, piece of crap husband? Or if she was up there, wouldn't it be great if she just bitch slapped him as he turned to walk off stage? Man, I'd love that. Last night my husband said to me, "There's no way you'd be standing up there next to me if I did something like that." To which I responded, "Oh hell no. Your cootie infested wein and you would be down the road...I'd be long gone." It's just too bad in an age where women are striving to be more respected, political wives - who in theory are meant to be looked up to - still have to swallow their pride and stand up there on the American stage and appear to be a loving, committed (albeit pissed off) wives. We know there's hell to pay behind closed doors...let's just see a little of it so that we know you're human. I would have relished seeing Hillary Clinton separate from Bill Clinton after years of indiscretion on his part. Shouldn't that have raised her credibility amongst women in this country? It's sad to think that she probably stayed with him for that exact reason.

Best of luck to you Spitzer...hope your rendezvous was nice while it lasted because I think you're going to have hell to pay in the days ahead, and I hear payback's a bitch.

It's All Up Hill From Here!

I turned 30 this past weekend. Weird. Although not really in a bad way. Maybe I've been watching too many Oprah's but I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life. I think the 30s are going to bring me a new level of happiness, contentment, intellect, compassion and patience. When you think about it, the 20s are crazy. A lot happens in that span of 10 years - graduating from college, finding your first job, getting your first apartment, falling in love, falling out of love, falling back in love again, moving across the country to a new city where you know no one (maybe even with a guy you've only been dating a couple of months), getting engaged, buying your first house, getting married, moving back across the country, having a baby, furthering your career and before you know it...you're 30!

I welcomed in my 30th birthday with a trip to the Oregon coast. While it was forecasted to be cold and rainy all weekend, the weather gods were looking down on us and it turned out to be a beautiful weekend, complete with great food, trips to the aquarium, sea lion gazing, walking on the beach with my dog (I don't think I've given her 1:1 attention for about 2 years), playing in the "bubbles"...er, I mean waves, with my daughter and then returning home to have a quiet, relaxing BBQ'd steak dinner with my husband. It was great...so bring it on 30s, I'm ready for you.

Five Things to be Happy About...Right Now!

1. Clear blue skies and warm days, equalling BBQs, being outside and cider beers!
2. Kenny Chesney tickets go on sale this Saturday!
3. Getting dressed up for Oscar Night at the Hollywood Theatre this Sunday!
4. The "movement" that is Barack Obama!
5. My daughter saying please, thank you and I love you!

Roll out the Red Carpet...

After months of striking, the writer's union has finally come to an agreement with studios...and it's just in the knick of time! Oscar Night is right around the corner. For anyone in the Portland area, check out Oscar Night America at the Hollywood Theatre this Sunday, Feb. 24. The event is hosted by Film Action Oregon, the non-profit that owns and operates the Theatre as well as provides support to independent filmmakers in the state. The black-tie event is our annual fundraiser to raise money which will support the ongoing restoration of the Theatre and our programs. Commissioner Sam Adams is the event's honorary chair and Daria, Mitch and Ted of 105.1 Afternoon Buzz will emcee. There are great raffle, auction and wine prizes to be had as well as a Predict the Winners contest. A pre-party will be held at Mark Lindsay's Rock 'n Roll Cafe starting at 3 p.m., doors to the Theatre open at 4 p.m. and the live telecast starts at 5 p.m. Tickets to the main event are $75 - pre-party is $25. For tickets, visit www.filmaction.org. Let's all get dressed up with someplace fun to go!

Oprah, er, I mean Obama for President!

For years she's been asked the question and for years she's confidently said "No, I will never run for president." And she hasn't and I can't imagine that she ever will; however she's now closer than she's ever been before as she has officially become Barrack Obama's #1 fan and probably #1 chance of becoming president of the United States. On Saturday I watched Oprah's speech in Iowa to a huge crowd of cheering supporters. She was confident, well-spoken and compelling. Even when her time was up and Obama himself took the stage, he admitted that "I'm sure many people are here today to see Oprah." Ya think? Talk about having a trick up your sleeve though...as the richest and most powerful celebrity in the country today, if I were running for president, I'd want to have her on my side (especially if she's willing to stand up and tell it to the masses!). It will be interesting to see what type of influence she has on his campaign -- as of this morning he and Hillary Clinton are in an essential "dead-heat." And I found it hilarious that in response to Oprah's support of Obama, Clinton brought her mother and daughter on stage with her at rallies this weekend. Hmmm...doesn't quite have the same punch.

Long time, no chat. Lots has happened since I last wrote....maybe that's why I haven't had time to write!

• I gave notice at my job.
• Halloween came and went -- my daughter was adorable as a pumpkin.
• The Ducks have moved up to #3 in the BCS ranking.
• My daughter had pink eye.
• Our friend next door went back to work after being off for six months of maternity leave.
• My mom lost the diamond in her engagement ring after 30 years of marriage.
• I was able to celebrate my friend's 26th b-day with her in St. Louis.
• Pat busted out his inner colonel and deep fried chicken in our kitchen.
• My daughter said "ball."
• Amazing Race 12 started! Yeah!

Things are good though, all in all. There have been ups and downs, aggravating moments, sad moments and nervous moments, but at the end of the day, we're still standing and there are more positives than not. All of those moments add up to life...and life is good.