Lessons Learned While Traveling

If you don't see me around the blogosphere Monday-Wednesday it's because I'm now officially traveling for work. Looks like every other week I'll be in The OC, land of sun, beaches, Coffee Bean (delish scones + Blended Mocha = 25,000 calories and I don't care), and of course, Disney.  Chances are I'll only be seeing the calories.

Since eating healthy while traveling is extremely difficult, working out on the daily is a necessity.  This week I decided to bring my P90x DVD's and resistance band for chest and back. Totally awesome right?  Gonna burn the scones away (the mocha can stay) and build muscle all at the same time!

First Lesson:  If you're using a resistance band with an anchor that goes over a door AND requires the door to be closed in order to work, it's a good idea to make sure the door is closed ALL THE WAY. If you don't the anchor will snap back heading straight for your eyeball.

Yup, I'm awesome!  Luckily I walked away with my eyesight.  Not gonna lie, it came close and raising my left eyebrow still hurts 4 days later.  Nothing a little booze and advil can't fix though, right?

Second Lesson: When ordering take-out, make sure to get a fork.  I won't tell you how many times I forgot the damn fork over the course of 3 days.  A veggie bowl is very difficult to eat without a fork or even spoon, but the chips came in handy!  Is there any tortilla chip better than Chipotles?

Third Lesson: The lives of my future children could be at risk while staying in the "smoke-free" Courtyard.

Sign Reads:

 This area contains chemicals including tobacco smoke known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. 

Fantastic, can't wait to come back in 1.5 weeks!

I NEED your help!

This is not a want situation, but a desperate NEED!  See, I started and finished a new book this weekend and I'm STILL thinking about it.  The problem?  I have absolutely NO ONE to talk to about it.  The only other person who seems to have read it is Lainey of Lainey Gossip and Canada's eTalk fame, and my reading friends probably won't get my copy for a couple weeks.

It was actually through Lainey's recommendation that I went to Borders.  Yes, I stepped into an actual bookstore so I didn't have to wait for Amazon (they didn't carry it in Target, my usual go-to).  A bookstore for me is probably like a shoe store for most of you.  If I walk out with only one book, it's a miracle and I will reward my self-control with ice cream and/or chocolate.  There's no reasoning with logic.  Guess what? I had some chocolate on Saturday afternoon.

The book? One Day by David Nicholls.  

via google.com

Since I'm horrible at writing up my own premise without feeling like I'm stealing from others here's an excerpt from the NY Times Review:

In 1988, the day after commencement, two college graduates briefly, romantically collide. The girl has pined for the boy for years; the boy is more aware of the girl than he lets on. She’s an earnest, outspoken lefty, he a handsome, apolitical toff who “liked the word ‘bourgeois’ and all that it implied” and “wanted to live life in such a way that if a photograph were taken at random, it would be a cool photograph.” Their chemistry is as inarguable as their differences, but because of the pride, carelessness and misplaced optimism of youth, they let time and distraction separate them. Yet they never lose track of each other. “One Day” checks in on their intersecting lives once a year, every July 15, from 1988 through 2007.

You can also read Lainey's review here, she puts it much better than I ever could.  Warning they are making it into a movie and the actors are included in the review.  While the casting is PERFECT, if you're the type who likes to create your own image of characters don't click on the link.

The book has been classified as a beach read, but there's no way I could sit on a beach and read this.  Why?

1. I would burn before finishing because once you pick it up, there's no putting it down. 
2. There were tears (along with fist pumps, laughter and the desire to truly strangle the characters) and I don't do crying in public.  If I can help it.  For Harry Potter fans, picture reading Book 7 on a beach, only the material is a tad more realistic.
3. It's more than just a young adult book.  You can relate to the characters in a way I don't usually get to through words on a page.  4 days later I'm still feeling the heartbreak, longing and happiness.  STILL. ugh!

So where do you come in?  If you've read it please let me know so I can talk to SOMEONE about it.  If you haven't do me a favor and get it now!  Then after you can thank me and hate me all at the same time!  Win-win or something like that, right?

Until then I'll be reading South of Broad thanks to Ally's recommendation!

Wordless(ish) Wednesday

"Come, let us dance like children of the night..."

Traveling for work this week, and next, and possibly more after that. I'm hoping for some entertainingly awesome stories, but until then...this is the view from the Starbucks in the Presidio yesterday morning.  San Francisco in the late summer = perfection!

Points for you if you know which movie the quote comes from.

Top 5 Throwdown - Cover Songs

Katie has challenged me to another throwdown.  The first can be found here.  This time I got to pick the topic. Easy...Cover Songs!  My criteria is the song must be better than, and still respectful of, the original. Example, Tim McGraw's cover of Tiny Dancer (original is my all time fave song ever) shows respect to Elton, but is by no means better.  I mean, it's Elton, so really?   So go check out Katie's LIST and let us know what you think!

Honorable Mentions:

Let's Get It On by Jack Black (from High Fidelity)
 I couldn't leave out the cover from the best movie to pay tribute to Top 5 lists!




Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole 
So close to making the Top 5, but I had to make cuts at some point.





MY TOP 5:

5. Glory of Love by New Found Glory 
 Many summers ago, Vladeraptor and I made a CD of cover songs. I listened to this one over and over.  Whenever I'd come back to visit I'd make her play it.


4. Come Together by Michael Jackson
 If there's anyone who could top the Beatles, it's Michael.  Sorry Aerosmith



3. Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
 Even though it's getting overplayed on every TV show, this version holds steady at #3!


2. Come on Eileen by Save Ferris
 I'm a huge fan of the original, but this version makes me mentally dance every time I hear it, and I'll often break out in actual dance.  I hope you all have a song that makes you mentally dance!

1. Long Black Veil by Dave Matthews Band f. Emmylou Harris
 If there's a song that could rival my love for Tiny Dancer this version of Long Black Veil would be it.  I've played it so much my Listener Supported CD now skips.  To this day I still get chills!

Hamburger Alert - Melissa Rycroft

I've been a fan of Melissa Rycroft since her Dallas Cowboys cheerleader audition days.  Yes, I watched that show.  Judge me.  I don't care.  I watch all things dance based.  Don't worry, I still hate the Cowboys.  Anyway, I'm sure it's no surprise I thought of Jason as a douchebagenocerous, but glad it all worked it out in the end.

Until I saw lost week's episode of The Bachelor Pad:

screencap from hulu.com/ABC

Where'd she go?!?! No seriously, where?  It's almost like her boobs deflated!  This girl used to rock a bikini and now she's teetering between needing 1 or 2 hamburgers.  In case there's something out of her control happening I will only give her 1, but with a side of fries!  Please don't let Hollywood turn you into a walking skeleton. Thanks.

I've been touched by the fames

You know where I am today?  Well, yes, work.  But I'm also over at Surferwife's talking about my totally awesome celeb experience with Moses.  Plus, now that she's all fames, it's like two encounters in one.  Check it out...

Remember those Polaroid cameras?  And now I've got shake it like a Polaroid picture in my head, which leads to me picturing WCB's mom (The Original Mama J) shaking it like a Polaroid picture...awesome!

Happy Friday!

The Hamburger Scale

Last fall equaled wedding insanity, and the need to stay skinnies.  I had 4 within 2.5 months, the first 2 I was in and they fell on back-to-back weekends.  On two separate coasts.  Of course what I just told you matters little to the actual story.

Vladeraptor also happened to be in 2 weddings, her first being TI's (my 2nd).  At the rehearsal a groomsmen/friend from the Day Camp days saw Vladeraptor for the first time in years.  His response after seeing her walk in: Dang, she needs a hamburger.

And so it began.  From that point on, anytime we saw a skinny bitch we would comment on how she needed a hamburger.  I may  have even commented on YOUR blog stating this very fact, usually about a celebrity.  Due to the celebrity skinnies being so ridic and extreme, the need for a hamburger has now developed into a 5 point scale.

All this hamburger talk takes me back to Harry Caray.

HEY! If you were a hot dog...

Anyburger, here is how we judge:

1 Burger
Not anorexic, but definitely looking hungry and in need of some iron. 
Possibly exercises TOO much.

Renee Zellweger via instyle.com

2 Burgers
Anorexia/Bulimia is debatable...stomach may have formed a concave shape

Shenae Grimes via tvfanatic.com

After 2 burgers the pics became too disturbing to post at this time

3 Burgers
Anorexia has been brought up, as has the use of ilicit drugs.  Might have a pooch that comes from starvation, but arms/legs are veiny.  Head may look abnormally large.
Example: Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie

4 Burgers
There's a sinkhole (not to be confused with Tori Spelling's black hole) forming where the stomach used to be, clearly food is not an option OR bulimia mouth/jaw has set in
Example: Nicole Ritchie before she ate her 4 burgers

5 Burgers
Death is fast approaching if the hamburgers don't save her soon
Example: Amy Winehouse

 Hamburger Alerts coming soon...

**Disclaimer** In no way do I support the unhealthy skinnies and I hate that we live in a society where women feel need the need to achieve this extreme. If only we all ate more burgers (beef, turkey, veggie, tofu aka fake, doesn't matter) the world would be a better place.