Today is a good day

Alright- The new governor of New York is my hero. David Paterson was asked if he used marijuana in the past. He said yes. He was then asked if he used cocaine in the past. He said yes. The interviewer was obviously in shock.

It's not great that he did cocaine and marijuana in the past. That doesn't matter. What is so great is that he actually believes it doesn't matter. If more public figures would just answer questions honestly, then in a few short years their answers would no longer draw criticism. It would logically follow that the questions would then stop coming if the readers are no longer excited by the answers.

My phone is no longer working. This makes me very happy. I am looking forward to stepping out of the dark ages and into a telephone with a camera. I have solicited my boss for the top of the line phone available with direct connect. The requirement of direct connect seriously limits my phone choices. There is no telephone available with a slide out keyboard or dual direction hinge that allows for a full keyboard. However, this phone would be a huge step up for myself. This link sucks. If you actually care, then scroll down to the deluxe ic 902 model. http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?filterString=Direct_Connect_Best&id12=UHP_PhonesTab_Link_WalkieTalkiePhones

Best of all, my company pays my phone bill. Hell- I never see the bill. The down side to this setup is that the number and the phone belong to my company. When I quit, I will have to get a new phone with a new telephone number. I am also going to have to copy all of my phone numbers down on paper and re-enter them into my new phone. I'm sure there's a way to import my contacts to my computer and them export them to a different model phone, but I betcha that I could do it manually faster than I could figure that shit out digitally.

Telephonically speaking, these phones are old technology anyhow. As soon as wireless networks are widespread enough to offer coverage in most areas, we can all just email each other instead of calling one another. Email is free. If I could have a small device that could connect to wireless networks and I could then access my email from anywhere: then why would I pay money to a celluar phone company every month? Spencer bought just such a device, but alas; there just aren't enough accessible wireless networks nor other people with such devices. Perhaps the iphone will bridge this gap.

If Portland will get off their collective city employee ass and get the citywide wireless network functioning properly, we could at least email all the time in Portland. Whatever, I just want a new phone without having to pay for it.

Hopworks Urban Brewery opens their restaraunt/Pub today. I will be there because I care. I actually like their beer, and their pub has a whole side that is no minors:all hours all days. Is there any sweeter sound to a barfly's ears? I think not. Your kid is annoying me. Please take your kid away from the bar and into your car.

Outside weather already?

Well it would seem that spring is going to come early this year in Portland. I believe that the time has come to determine ones location of alcohol consumption according to the all important criteria of patio quality.

There are several factors that come into play here. Should a patio be deemed worthy of happy hour use only if that precious sunlight is drenching the whole area until the last possible moment? Obviously this means a patio that is open to the west. The 5th quadrant and Amnesia come to mind immediately.

Should a patio be lush with vegetation and landscaping? Kennedy school and 21st Ave. Bar and Grill pop into my head immediately.

Should a patio be in fact like a backyard? Maybe some horseshoes? The Nest and Vendetta are good examples. There's a great backyard at some joint in Selwood, but I can't recall the name.

Since a patio is outside, should it have a nice view? There is Mcmenamins on the Columbia or the rooftop patio at Jax downtown. One of my personal favorite views is from the cockpit of my docked boat where the drinks are affordable and I get to pick the tunes. If I get too drunk, there's a bed down below.

Should a patio be dog friendly so your best buddy gets to hang? There's the obvious Lucky Lab or the kick ass Moon and Sixpence among many others.

Point is- It's almost patio weather, and though we in Portland are confined to the interior for several months out of the year, we are not driven back inside by unbearable heat in the summer. We get to imbibe al fresco until the fall breezes begin blowing in late October. I intend to do plenty of that this year.

Unfortunately we have to earn money in order to go out and spend it at bars, so I have to do some work now. For some reason, this just happened to be on my mind this morning.