stuff jen says: Aug. 21: Oregon, my Oregon

I love trivia. That’s a big reason I enjoy sites like Snopes and IMDB so. Tonight, while browsing Wikipedia, I found a list of lists about Oregon, and also this list of the state symbols. Most of them are big yawners, but a few headscratchers make it worth reading.

Oregon has 19 official state symbols. They are:

State flower: Oregon-grape
State song: “Oregon, My Oregon”
State bird: Western Meadowlark (chosen by the state’s children in 1927)
State tree: Douglas-fir
State fish: Chinook salmon
State rock: Thunderegg
State animal: American Beaver
State dance: Square dance (fortunately, not one of the state’s high school graduation requirements)
State insect: Oregon Swallowtail butterfly
State fossil: Metasequoia
State gemstone: Oregon sunstone, a type of feldspar
State nut: Hazelnut
State seashell: Oregon hairy triton
State mushroom: Pacific Golden Chanterelle
State beverage: Milk (um, this is actually a state symbol? Burgerville milkshakes, I could understand, but plain ol’ milk?)
State fruit: Pear
State motto: Alis Volat Propriis, Latin for “She Flies with Her Own Wings” (since 1987; this was the original motto of Oregon, but had been changed to “The Union” in 1957)
State hostess: Miss Oregon (duh... what else is she gonna do?)
State team: Portland Trail Blazers of 1990–1991 (sure, we all liked them that year)
State father: Dr. John McLoughlin
State mother: Tabitha Brown

Source: Wikipedia, of course, though I found the links on my own

—Jen

facts of jen's life

So, who do you think you are? I think I’m Jen. People who don’t know me sometimes call me Jenny. That’s weird.

Tell me about yourself. I was born a small black child, and am now a grown-up, or at least my kids think I am. I’m in my mid-40s and live in the ‘burbs of Portland, Oregon. My husband is Victor, and my kids are Katie and Jack. Read this if you want the real and very long scoop.

Tell me things people might not know about you. I am an ordained minister and can perform marriages. Why no one has asked me to do this for them yet, I do not know. ● At the request of my Disney-hating friend Ed, I got mouse ears embroidered with the name “Satan” and I didn’t even get kicked out of Disneyland. It’s quite possibly the ballsiest thing I’ve ever done. ● I “helped” write this book, published in 2012: You Take it From Here, by Pamela Ribon. My name is in the back, and I’m still geeking out about it. ● I recorded a song in a studio in 1994 and it got local radio play for a few months. At least two times I turned on the radio in the car and my song was playing at that moment—very cool. ● I nearly died from a zit in 1986. I am not making this up. ● Victor and I once appeared on The Tonight Show. Really. If you can find a VCR, I’ll show you the tape.

I read some of your posts and I think you might be an alcoholic. I drink way less than I write about drinking. If I ever STOP talking about booze, then it’ll be time for an intervention.

What do you love? Books. Coffee. Fonts. Broadway musicals. San Francisco. Bacon. Rum. Law & Order. Naps. Butter. Home. Crack cocaine. iDevices. Words. Disney vacations. You.

If you could punch anything or anyone in the face, what/who would it be? Cancer. I was diagnosed with lymphoma in November 2009. I kicked its big fat ugly ass and am in remission now. ● Comic Sans. ● People who won’t take responsibility for their problems—the “I didn’t do anything to deserve this!” attitude. Look in the mirror. That’s who to blame. ● Celebrities who are famous for no reason. Y’know, if we stop looking, they’ll go away... ● Bad grammar and spelling and the dummies who use it.

You seem bitter. Did someone piss in your Cheerios? I’m not bitter. I think unicorns-and-rainbows stuff isn’t very interesting to read, so I tend not to write that way. But also, now you’re being kind of a jackhole.

It seems like no one ever comments on your blog posts. Why is that? Most people comment on the Facebook links. I don’t know why.

What if I want to tell you something? Two ways to reach me: leave a comment on a post, or e-mail me at jenniferTAKETHISPARTOUTmanullang at gmail-dot-com.

1 comment:

AnonymousAugust 22, 2007 at 10:36:00 AM PDT
And I'm proud to call her home now. (Even prouder to stand with those more progressive thinking Oregonians....)

Mother Mary

Hey, please don’t leave an anonymous comment.
Select “Name/URL” below and you can use whatever name you want. No registration required.
Thanks! –Jen

Aug. 21: Oregon, my Oregon

1 comment:

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