Last night the boy and I were lucky to attend a fantastic event, Taste of the Nation. As I was falling asleep last night, I was composing a thoughtful post in my head about the event and planned to post that today. Then, this morning, I woke up with a possible case of swine flu. (Okay, I know I don’t have swine flu, but I do have many of the symptoms). Still, I am on my death couch with a terribly sore throat and really hurty lungs.

Instead, I’ll tell you – it’s a really great event, for a very worthy cause. You should buy tickets RIGHT NOW (if there is one in your area).

My 3 favorite things I sampled:

1. Belgian Sugar Waffle with Bacon, Brie and Basil from the Waffle Window- The boy and I shared this, I wish I had gotten my own
2. Tuna Tartare from Alberta Street Oyster Bar – I’m a sucker for tuna tartare, and this one was fantastic.
3. Mole Guerrerense from Autentica – I’ve always turned my nose up at Mole, but oh my goodness, this was good.
4. And, oh crap, one more – Fig Bellinis from Pazzo.
5. Ok, really last one – Frito Pie from Russell Street BBQ

So, really, if this event is in your area – GO. It’s a great way to sample tons of restaurants all while helping to feed hungry children. There was a silent auction with amazing prizes (including one involving a cooking class and a magnum of wine that we won). Also, with a $20 dollar donation, you got to select a bottle of wine from Cork Bottle Shop’s wine wall – we came home with two new bottles of wine to try (in addition to our awesome magnum)

Now, I’m back to the couch to whine and wait for my boy to bring me tomato soup (from Seasons and Regions, because this post is all about places I like to eat anyway).

But you can’t take the Canby out of the girl

The Facts:

• I will apparently do ANYTHING if there isn’t a line.
• The extra drink tickets that were gifted to me also contributed to this act.
• I don’t think this is what my father had in mind when he gave me the Flip camera for Christmas.
• A man resembling Brett Michaels ran the mechanical bull.
• This was at a work function.
• My  job is totally awesome.
• My thighs are sore today.
• You’re welcome.

My sweet friend Shana’s baby boy passed away yesterday. I’m struggling to understand how God could another baby away, within a week of beautiful Maddie’s passing.

Please keep Shana, her husband, and her two little girls in your thoughts and prayers as they heal. Whoorl has set up a fund to help the Myers family out. If you can, please consider donating to help with the medical and funeral expenses.

Rest peacefully, Sweet Thalon.

• I’m not one to toot my own horn, but this is the fourth time I’ve posted in a week.
• Who in the hell am I kidding? I’m completely one to toot my own horn. Toot toot!
• This weekend was the kind of weekend in Portland where we’re all reminded just why we live here. It was in the 60s on both Saturday and Sunday. Today Yesterday it will be was in the 70s.
• Weekends like we just had are basically the reason I don’t complain about the rain. Because I know, good things come to those who wait.
• We took advantage of the nice weather by visiting 6 wineries.
• I’m thrilled to say that I’ve added a new Rose and a new Pinot Noir to my list of favorites. It’s a long list.
• Oh, also? A Tempranillo.
• I started writing this on Monday, and am super lame and didn’t publish it.
• HOW HARD ARE BULLETS, RHIANNON?
• Yesterday, I drove to the Oregon Coast for the second time in a month FOR WORK. That does not suck.
• The boy took a vacation day and came with me. And, well, I just really like him.
• So, today, my boss and I gave a presentation on social media and I had an anxiety attack MID PRESENTATION. I think I held myself together pretty well. But, crap, anxiety attacks can be exhausting.
• Anyway, I’ve been taking supplements recommended in the book The Mood Cure (recommended by my lovely friend Katherine) and have had pretty good results.
• Hopefully today’s incident was just a fluke. But, I’m still going to look at other ways to manage these attacks.
• Remember how I’m all done with Lupron? Well, I’m evicting the Lupron weight from my body.
• I *think* I gained about 10 pounds during my 6 month treatment. I do know that I once burst into tears at the gym after a weigh in with my trainer showed that I had actually gained weight and inches after 10 personal training sessions.
• And, that was the very last time I went to the gym.
• Don’t question my reasoning on that one. It made tons of sense to Lupron Rhi.
• So, I’m working out again. And, OWIE.
• I might be bribing myself with wine. As in, I cannot have wine until I work out.
• SHUT UP, IT IS WORKING.
• And, that is all for now.

It’s no secret that I have a strong distaste for my name being mispronounced. I don’t like it. I typically hold judgment for people who genuinely try to pronounce it correctly. It is hard to say, and if you’re trying, that says a lot. I do not hold judgment for people who have known me for quite a while and have just stopped trying. To continually call me “Rayann” because that’s just what you’ve gotten used to calling me? This is a) not okay and b) disrespectful. In these situations, I reserve the right to either give you a nickname you probably won’t like, or mispronounce your name in a way you won’t like. Also, I’ll correct you.

But, right now? I have bigger fish to fry…

Situation A) I call 24 Hour Fitness to freeze my gym membership, and a telephone agent whose attitude suggests to me that he has better things to do answers. I tell him my account information and my name and he says, “Oh, like the singer.” I say, “you mean like the song?” He says, “No, the girl who sings Umbrella.” I use all my willpower to not hang up on him and politely say, “No, not like the singer. My name is different.”

Situation B) I’m test driving a car at a local car dealership. The salesman asks my name and after I tell him, he says, “Oh, what do you think of your namesake’s current relationship.” I very politely explain, “NO, MY NAME IS DIFFERENT.”

And, actually, I’ve been asked what I think of the situation many times – some people were joking, which is fine. Some people were serious, which is not fine. Am I supposed to have some sort of special insight because this girl’s name is similar to mine? I’m not sure why this bothers me so much, and is it just Lupron Rhi that it annoys? Can someone remind me – did this bother Regular Rhi?

I’ll leave you with this:

Situation C) A woman named Jane from Comcast leaves me a message. She has a lovely British accent. I call back and she tells me that she was excited to see my name because her father is Welsh, and she had a cousin called Rhiannon. She pronounces it perfectly and never once mentions a certain 20 year old singer.

That is all.