So, I leave for BlogHer in oh, an hour. I’m sitting at Rogue Ales at the Portland Airport (Hi, BEST AIRPORT EVER! NO, REALLY) perhaps having a screwdriver and I’m so excited I can barely hold my shit together.

I did a post similar to this last year, and I thought I might do another one. So here goes:

Things you should know about me, Rhi (HAAAAA!)

• I often look like I’m deep in thought, or scowling. THIS IS JUST MY NORMAL LOOK. I’m not glaring at you. If you see me, say hi! It will wipe the rotten look off my face.
• I’ll be working at the registration desk on both Friday and Saturday from 10 to 1 with my lovely, lovely friend Kerri. I’ll be working VERY HARD at not scowling at people as they come to check in.
• If you need Tums, a Tide Stick, facial blotters, hand sanitizer, lotion, ibuprofen, etc. Let me know, as I probably have these items in my big ass purse.
• I’m a bit better about the hugging thing, but please do not be offended if I offer my hand instead of hugging.
• By the way: Explore Chicago did a great job putting together some deals for conference attendees. Check them out!
• Oh, and to my roommates: SORRY ABOUT MY SHOES. And, I might talk in my sleep. But, I’m not sure.

Okay, that’s it! See you guys there!

• I’m happy to announce that I finally have plane tickets to BlogHer. Hurray!
• As it turns out, having kidney stones is the best diet ever. I went a couple weeks with counting calories and running/Shredding and didn’t lose anything. Then, BOOM! 5 pounds, gone!
• FYI, if I have any facial bruising today, it’s because the boy elbowed me in the face AT LEAST three times last night. Tomorrow night, I’m drawing a line down the center of the bed.
• Can we discuss last night’s season finale of 16 and Pregnant? I don’t want to spoil anything, but OH MY GOD.
• Okay, but one thing: Smartest kids yet, dumbest parents yet. That is all.
• If you live in Portland, close to Portland, or in one of Oregon’s neighboring states, I am REQUIRING you to buy tickets to see Storm Large’s Crazy Enough. It’s heart-wrenching, funny, and awe-inspiring all at the same time. Storm’s voice is freaking amazing and I want to be best friends with her.
• And, if you come to see it, chances are, I’ll see it again.
• I’m apparently all about live performance this week, because tomorrow the boy and I are going to see Andrew Bird and The Decemberists. I almost don’t know who I’m more excited to see.
• Now, I must go. My presence has been requested downtown at 8 a.m. and I still have my hair in a towel.
• But, tell me…what are you doing this weekend?

Reminder! My Smart Food/BlogHer $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway ends tomorrow at 5 Pacific. Please go enter if you’ve not already.

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the chain smoking jackass in my apartment building. This one, unfortunately, lives beneath me. This issue is probably the thing that currently bothers me the most. I have a coworker that recently moved into this complex and when she was touring apartments the leasing agent told her about a particular apartment that the neighbor was a smoker and would that bother her. I would have liked the same courtesy when they rented the apartment below me to a chain smoker. A simple, “Rhiannon, we’re about to expose you to a cancer causing agent, do you mind?” Also, I’ve spent a lot of time at home in the past week, and this person apparently DOES NOT HAVE A JOB, so I smelled his/her pollution far more than necessary.

Anyway, I love to open my patio door in the morning and let some fresh air in while also letting Gelsey look at the birds. Most mornings when I do this, I am greeted by a cloud of smoke. Yesterday, I came up with the MOST GENIUS THING EVER, while working from home, of course. I shared this with my coworkers in carpool today and I don’t feel like they appreciated the awesomeness of this plan. So, now it’s up to you guys to tell me how brilliant I am. (HINT: PRETTY DAMN BRILLIANT)

Here goes: I sometimes work from home, which makes my home my workplace. Oregon has a Smokefree Workplace Law that prohibits smoking within 10 feet of the entrance to a workplace. Now, I’ve not taken any actual measurements, but I know that his patio is closer than 10 feet to mine – from my floor, to his ceiling, of course. So, there you have it, I’m being exposed to second hand smoke in my workplace. WHICH IS ILLEGAL. Yes?

Disclaimer: I know this is ridiculous, but I’m totally mentioning the smoke when I’m negotiating my new lease next month. And, I’ll also be mentioning my other new neighbor who lives above me that plays fetch with his dog at 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings. You are SO glad you do not live near me.