Was that an earthquake? What a 3.5?? More like 5.5? So it felt

We just had an EARTHQUAKE. I'm sitting at my desk, alone in a building in San Francisco and the whole building just dropped (yeah like a free fall) and then jolted back up again.

I pushed my laptop onto the ground as I tried to get up and exit. Mind you I torn the ligaments in my ankle and am supposed to be on crutches. I'm still in a lot of pain so to just get up and go is not that easy for me.

Then I stopped and was like, was that an earthquake or a muni bus?

Sure enough, it was a 3.5 earthquake centered at the San Francisco zoo. Only this 3.5 felt like a 5.5. The news describes it as "violent!"

Calls into the KTVU news room reported that the quake was short in duration, but “violent” in nature, swaying pictures, light fixtures and TV sets.

So yeah, now we have the aftershocks and since I'm alone at work, I'm having flashbacks of the 1989 earthquake.

What a way to start my Monday morning!

Shutter Island

I finished reading Shutter Island this past weekend. Finally, since I had to start it over twice. It actually turned out to be a decent book. It reminded me of the movie, Fight Club, in a way.

It's actually kinda scary. Schizophrenia, that is. How the mind can perceive the world to be one way, only that way might not be the actual way and who's to say one way or the other.

It's like your most trusted friends and family, placing a piece of fruit in front of you. They ask you, "What is that?" You easily reply with, "an apple." They give you a long hard stare and your Mother, sighs. No Hun, it's an "orange." You turn and insist, "No it's an apple!" As anger and confusion begins to set in you start to question yourself for these are your most trust friends and family, why would they lie? How long before you too believe that the piece of fruit is an orange and not an apple? If you don't agree, even though you disagree will they deem you crazy? Will you deem yourself insane?

The book really gets you thinking and wondering, is this life I'm living real or fantasy?

"Teddy felt her in him, pressed at the base of his throat. He could see her sitting in the early July haze, in that dark orange light a city gets on summer nights just after sundown, looking up as he pulled to the curb and the kids returned to their stick ball game in the middle of the street, and the laundry flapped overhead, and she watched him approach with her chin propped on the heel of her hand the cigarette held up by her ear, and he'd brought flowers for once, and she was so simply his love, his girl, watching him approach as if she were memorizing him and his walk and those flowers and this moment, and he wanted to ask her what sound a heart made when it broke from pleasure, when just the sight of someone filled you the way food, blood, and air never could, when you felt as if you'd been born for only one moment, and this, for whatever reason, was it."

Right after I finished the book, I HAD to see the movie. Overall it was a pretty good book to movie interpretation. Only a few things were left out, however you got the gist of what was going on. I strongly suggest you read the book before you see the movie. As it is with any book, it just makes the movie that much better.

I won't give any details on the book, because I don't want to spoil it. I find that reading books blindly without knowing what it's truly about makes it that much better!

Up next, is The Friday Night Knitting Club. I'm about 50 pages into it and it seems to be a decent book. I'm more excited to start reading The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud. The movie comes out on July 30th. From what I've read, and I think I've read too much, to be honest, it's going to be a tear jerker and really good!

Slowly Coming Along!

Check out these updated pictures on the deck. It's going slowly but surely. The BF is doing a wonderful job.

There will be two sets of stairs. A longer set will go to the left of the stairs that you see here in the picture. You can kinda see the cut out behind our refurbished gazebo, where the 2nd set will go.

I love how there is deck space to the left and right of the stairs. It's going to look so good!! NO MORE WEEDS!!! Well for half the backyard! The big empty square in the back left is where the pool is going to go!! Whoot Whoot!!

As you can see there still is a lot of backyard to landscape. In due time, In due time!

I'm hoping to put some grass in this open area eventually. I'm not sure what we are going to do about the hill though. Maybe extend the deck up? Who knows.

You were BORN WHEN????? **GASP**

Today is The BF's 30th BIRTHDAY. Old timer, timer!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BF, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Yeah he was born in 1980! I don't know, for me, someone born in 1980 seems so young which pisses me off, because it makes me FEEL SO OLD!

You see, I was born in 1978! What? Even though it's only two years prior to his birth I was still born in the 70's! Just thinking about someone born in the 80's makes me squint my facial features at the fact.

I don't know, is it just me? Am I truly crazy?

Plans for tonight, NOTHING! I haven't even gotten him a card yet, though The Boy gave him his present last week. Some memory stick for the Xbox. The BF just wants to work on the deck tonight. I don't think he's to enthused about turning 30. I don't blame him. Seriously, I cried when I turned 30 and then again when I turned 31. I didn't embrace my 30's till this past year when I turned 32. Figured if you can't beat em, join em.

I suggested that we maybe go to the Aquarium here in San Francisco on Saturday, since we have to go to dinner for his Brother's Birthday at the House of Prime Rib. YUM! He said, "We will see!"

So we will see! I have no idea what to get him! I wanted to get him that craftsman electric hammer, but he said "NO."

The Boy said, "Mommy if he uses that then his arms will get all flabby. Yours too!"

Apparently using a real hammer keeps your arms tone, duely noted!

Any suggestions?

Summer MUST have

Check out The Boy's new flippy flops. We got them for $14.99 at Target. They are super soft and squishy and he's been living in them since the start of Summer last week. This coming from a Boy who'd never wear flippy flops. I guess his Momma's obsession with them is finally wearing off!

Happy Summer!

I'm Just Saying...........

Yesterday's post was my 200th!

No glitz and glam here. I can't believe I wasn't more prepared for something special. It's crazy how time goes by so quickly.

I'll leave you with this little ditty, as it's kinda been my theme song lately.

I know way too many people here right now
That I didn’t know last year, who the f**K are y’all?
I swear it feels like the last few nights
We been everywhere and back
But I just can’t remember it all

What am I doin'? What am I doin'?
Oh, yeah, that’s right, I’m doin’ me
I’m doin me
I’m livin’ life right now, mayne

And this what I’ma do ’til it’s over
‘Til it’s over
But it’s far from over

It's what happens when I'm bored and it's 100 degrees outside....

I CRAFT!

I was inspired the other day, as I always am, by a post Valerie from Frugal Family Fun Blog. I have not crafted in minute and recently had been contemplating another textured art painting. It wasn't until I saw Valerie's donut post, that I knew I had to make my own!

So here it is in all it's Fake Yummy, real looking glory.

MY FELTED DONUTS AND BREAKFAST FOOD!

Okay, so don't they totally look real? I think so! 1 Maple Bar, I chocolate old fashion and you can't forget the sprinkled pink donut!

These were super simple to make and super cheap too. The felt was just $.29 cents per color square. I made them Saturday evening while the guys watched UFC.

I was so impressed with my felt donut making skills that I just wanted to make more food.

SO I DID!

A true breakfast is not completed without 2 pieces of bacon, 2 fried eggs and yes that sad looking cigar/poop thing, it's a sausage! I made a pancake Sunday morning, however it didn't come out too well.

I want to make hamburgers, as I think they'd be fun. We will see. I gave all my felt food to my nephew "Papa" since he has a play kitchen to which he uses. I'm just glad someone can benefit from my crafting skills.

BREAKFAST ANYONE?

Grow your own BOOBS!!

Literally! Yeah no I'm totally serious. You can grow your own BOOBS, and by that I don't mean you need to stuff your face and gain a lot of weight or take to the knife.

Do you remember those capsules as a kid that you place in a cup of water and after a few days a sponge looking dinosaur or what have you appears?

Well, these days, it's all about growing your own Boobs.



So the other day I was walking around the office and spotted a large metal bowl sitting on a desk. Naturally, being the curious, nosey person that I am, peaked in. At first glance I was like, "What the!!" So I turned and asked my co-worker, "What is that?" He laughed and said, "Well what does it look like?"



"BOOBS!"


So this morning when I came into work, the BOOBS were gone! For a minute I was like, "Well where did they go?" You see in the past two day's I had grown fond of the Boobs, I was missing them already and they weren't even mine to begin with.

Then as I turned around, I spotted them. For how could have missed them. In plain sight for all to see.


Yes that's a drummer statue that sits on a file cabinet in our office. Such creative co-workers! Yeah, that's a box of Jello under the drum stick. Ummm, I don't get it either.

I'm a tad bit disappointed, as they looked a lot bigger in the bowl of water. Still, NICE RACK!!

OMG TP NANNY REPLIED!!

Maybe they are not so bad! I mean shoot, at least they replied to my email unlike Reebok. Here's what TP Nanny had to say, if you have no clue what I'm talking about, then read my post from yesterday. I don't have time to explain, shoot I have to get to work.



Lisa,

I am glad we made you laugh!

We appreciate you placing our product on your blog. The TV test just finished up and we are starting to gain some momentum. The product looks a little "industrial" because those were prototype shots. The actual models will have a nice grain just like your bathroom hardware. Thank you for the comments, we value all feedback.

On the design front we have some great creative ideas that will be coming out later in the year to make the product more fun.

I love seeing people's inventions. I think you have a great idea and we wish you the best of luck should decide to pursue it further.

If you have any questions let me know. Maybe a free TP Nanny is in your future.

Sincerely,

Jason Light
Partner - Retail Sales and Marketing
TP Nanny

SO I REPLIED BACK!

Jason,

I'm surprised I received a response, it shows dedication on the company's part in regards to customer service. Kudos!! My readers have started to chime in about the product and all agree that the Industrial looking part of the product is a detour ant in them purchasing the item. One also commented on the commercial and how the editing of it needs to be cleaned up a little.

I can't wait to see how you all spice it up a bit to make it more fun. I truly believe you need to make it in some fun colors and patterns. Most of my 200+ followers are single, stay at home Mom's. What I would imagine to be your primary marketing targets. I'm sure If I did a giveaway you'd have over 200 hits to your website and possible purchases. I'm just saying, it's hard to resist that $9.99 price tag!

I wish the company all the best of luck and believe that great minds think a like. I don't have time to pursue the design and making of my product, nor the attention span. I'm off to create and craft my next newest idea, whatever that maybe!!

Sincerely, Lisa Anne
http://smellthecoffeelisa.blogspot.com

It's alright because you, ain't got Sh*t on ME!!

TPNanny VS T-POW

So back in March 2010 I posted a blog about a great invention I had created called the T-POW! If you don't remember just click on the hyper-link above. Isn't it so cool?

100% custom, handmade!

You choose the fabric to match your bathroom decor, perfectly!

Um, duh, if you can't figure out what it is, then let me explain. It's a decorative toilet paper protector so that your toilet paper doesn't end up looking like this:

You don't need to have cat's in your house to need a T-pow. How many of you have found their young child in the bathroom pulling the TP out of the bathroom and down the hall? What if you had neither and just wanted to SPICE up your bathroom decor. If you don't need it, I bet you want it!

With TWO young kittens in the house, I needed to think outside the box and thus the T-POW was born.

THEN IT HAPPENED!!!!

Last night I received a text from my sister to check out the website http://www.tpnanny.com/. It was then that I almost fell off my rocker (if i was sitting on one, I was at the gym leaving my Zumba class.) I didn't know if I should have laughed or cried.

All I thought was, OH DARN, I should have placed a patent on my design. OH WELL, what can I do now?

Check out how UGLY they are! How industrial looking and made of PLASTIC (not very GREEN). The downside, they only come in 3 colors. With the T-POW you have it any color, design or pattern you want.

I have to admit they appear to be a lot easier to use when you have to take a tinkle.

I don't know! WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER? I'll be posting a poll on the right side bar.

Please vote!

SO IF YOU KNOW ME, and I know most of you only know the Bloggy me, I WENT AHEAD AND EMAILED THE COMPANY.

Oh yeah, I wonder if they will respond and maybe send me a TPnanny to try out and or giveaway.

Enclosed below is the exact email.

TP Nanny Vs the T-POW‏
From: Lisa Pappas (smellthecoffeelisa@live.com)
Sent: Wed 6/09/10 10:37 AM
To: info@tpnanny.com

When my sister sent me the link to your website, we both almost died laughing. I thought I was the first to invent this. I have to toot my own horn and say that mine looks a lot cuter, not so industrial. Yours, however appears to be simpler to take off and on the roll. You should look into making the design look better.

Anyway, here is my version on the TPNanny, before I knew he TPNanny even existed.

http://smellthecoffeelisa.blogspot.com/2010/03/introducing-t-pow-patent-pending.html

Sincerely,

Lisa Anne
http://smellthecoffeelisa.blogspot.com

If you drop one on me...........I'm gonna..................

Moving Right Along

Movin' right along in search of good times and good news,
With good friends you can't lose,
This could become a habit!
Opportunity knocks once let's reach out and grab it (yeah!),
Together we'll nab it,
We'll hitchhike, bus or yellow cab it!
(Cab it?)

Movin' right along.
Footloose and fancy-free.
Getting there is half the fun; come share it with me.
Moving right along (doog-a-doon doog-a-doon).
We'll learn to share the load.
We don't need a map to keep this show on the road.

Yeah no, this isn't a remake of the Muppets Movie, though I kinda wouldn't mind seeing it again. Then again you are talking to a girl who's BF bought her the entire FRAGILE ROCK DVD Box set.

So the deck is coming along, here are some pictures of the progress The BF made on the deck in the short 1 hour of sunlight he had left after we got home from work.

This new outer box are you see will become the actual deck that will surround the pool. Hopefully we will have the pool up by Saturday.

Tonight's Zumba, I haven't been to the gym since Saturday. I think I might take both Zumba classes tonight to make up for lost days. Wish me luck!

Visions of Sugar Plums, all in my head....

Well kinda, sorta. This weekend was crazy, and I'm wicked tired this morning. We OFFICIALLY HAVE A 5th GRADER IN THE HOUSE. Whoot Whoot.

With the temperature getting hotter with each day, we are hard at work in getting the backyard ready for the pool.

Finally soon, there will be no more jungle where cats give birth to their kittens and BF's think they are being attacked by Possums only to be kittens. Most importantly, no more staring at these tall overgrown weeds, that consume the precious grounds that is our backyard.

Soon, inside the square you see below will be our POOL!

The BF used a demo hammer to dig the holes for the posts of what soon will be our new deck.

He sweated his Ba**s off on Saturday mixing concrete, measuring and lining up the posts.

It took 9 60lb bags of cement for the 6 posts you see here. We have a ton more holes to dig and posts to put in place.

Hopefully the pool and deck will be completed bu JULY.

It's Getting Hot in HERRRRRE

Yup, that's Baby Boy resting in MY sink in our Master Bathroom. It's been in the 90's these past few days and I sure am loving it! Baby Boy has no idea what he is in store for (100 degrees plus, daily!) I feel so bad for him and his long, fluffy black fur! Poor little guy. At least the tile in the master bathroom is finished, which he loves to sprawl out on to keep cool.

The good news is we are starting to put the pool together! The BF has cleared an area in the backyard, sprayed the weed killer and purchased the wood we need to build the base of the deck. We will lay down black garden tarp stuff (forget what it's called) to keep the weeds from growing back, tonight or over the next few days. Then on Saturday we will have the sand delivered! Once the sand is down and flat we can then put up the pool.

I'm not waiting for the deck to be built to go swimming, NO WAY! Priorities, I need to sunbathe here! I'll lay a tarp down to walk from the patio to the pool until it's built. Yeah you need to walk on something to avoid getting stickers and stuff in your feet. Have you seen our backyard? It's a jungle!

I'm going to take some photos of the cleared area and the wood tonight. FUN!!

BTW:

I joined the gym for the summer, and I DON'T recommend ANYONE taking a SPIN class if they haven't ridden a bike in awhile. MY BUTT bones hurt so bad still, I can barely sit and it's been 3 days! Not to mention the R.I.P.P.E.D class I took the night before spin, has my whole body aching. Despite it all, Zumba tonight at 8:15! Can't Wait!