Rumors

Gossip and rumors are everywhere

You know what I heard?

Ears ready to receive the latest information

Let me tell you…

Mouths poised to make facts public

Gossip and rumors are everywhere

I obtained my facts from a reputable source

He went where?

She said what?!

Who was there?

Ask and you shall receive your answers

Gossip and rumors are everywhere

You received your details from a reputable source

Talking with confidence makes it true

Our words are carried like autumn leaves in the cool wind

Harmless idle talk 

damaging reputations

imputing bad motives

ruining lives

Gossip and rumors are everywhere

And we THOUGHT our information was from a reputable source

Crime is dangerous

I love reading stories where the thief attacks the wrong person and get their behind handed to them properly. This is what happened when a man tried to rob an expert in Ultimate Fighting. Needless to say, a tussle ensued and the man was pinned down waiting for the police to save him. LOL

http://www.newser.com/story/134854/cops-man-robs-expert-in-ultimate-fighting.html

Maybe the next time he will ask if the person has any kung fu or kickboxing experience before asking them to give up their wallet. Or maybe this bad experience will cause him to reexamine his options and try a less dangerous lifestyle like working hard for honest money.

I wondered to myself what is it about these types of stories that cheers me so much. I realized it is because I like reading of situations where the bully/thief/bad person picks on someone who is not intimidated and, not only fights back, but wins the altercation.  A big part of crime is the power of the person to intimidate others because they are afraid of what the bully/thief/bad person will do if they do not comply. They have little regard for others and only use their power (usually enhanced by their weapon of choice) to frighten and invoke fear.

But when the stars are in perfect alignment, the threat of “Give me your money, or ELSE” is met with BAM! SLAP! CRACK! POP! And the offending party is nursing his/her injuries while cowering on the floor, usually in a fetal position to protect their vital organs. Who is scared now?

It warms my heart when a would be bully/thief/bad person picks the wrong one and it leads to their own detriment.

I am not a political person, but these two have me shaking my head

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/01/cain-blames-time-for-change-in-story/?hpt=hp_c1

 

It is funny to see the “Right” playing the race card. Any other time, they would say the person is crying victim for no reason. Personally, I don’t know if Cain harassed those girls or not. That being said, his behavior is not consistent with someone that is innocent. When first questioned about it, he turned the question around as if to say, “Who has not been falsely accused of harassment?” Ummm I know a lot of men who have not. Plus, it is easy to make claims when the other person is under a legal contractual agreement not to divulge their side. I wonder if Cain is walking on a thin line with some of his comments or will he face legal action. Comments have been made that Cain should be able to face his accusers. I think he knows who both the women in question are and is hoping that the company does not relieve them of their obligation to keep quiet.

As for settling out of court for a sexual harassment issue, I can see how someone would do that. It happens all the time with discrimination and harassment cases. Who has the money and time to go up against a big corporation even when you were wronged? Corporations have the resources to file motion after motion to prolong the trial. Meanwhile, the victim/accuser has to figure how they will pay their bills along with mounting legal fees because they probably lost their job by this point.

I have taken several classes dealing with HR issues, and this is what I know. Someone cannot just make a claim and get a check to be quiet. For the company to settle out of court, they know that the person has a strong case. There is proof of a questionable situation that would lead a jury to side with the accuser/victim. If the company could find anything on the accuser/victim, they would use that as leverage to make the claim/case go away. Is the person credible? Do they have poor work performance? Do they get along with others at work?

In any case, whenever a person creates a hostile work environment, it is their responsibility to change. They cannot tell the person that feels harassed that they should not feel that way.

I hope that the company releases the women to be able to tell their side. There is his side, her side, and the truth. At this point, I think her side might be closer to the real facts than his. He cannot get his story straight and blames the media for that!

 

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/27/tea-party-group-to-bachmann-quit-the-presidential-race/

 

This is funny because I think that once some people get their moment in the spotlight, they have a hard time letting it go. Bachmann is not doing well in the polls and Cain is overshadowing everyone in the GOP right now. She had her few minutes of fame because of the outrageous things she was saying, only to be upstaged by Cain who has shown himself to be even more extreme. It seems there is a contest over who can be the most divisive and controversial. Before Bachman, there was Palin and lets now forget McDowell (the would be witch from cannot-remember-the-state). And now there is Cain. So many are taking their turn piloting the crazy train to who-knows-where. You can be sure that they will write a book and do a book tour about the journey. They are around until enough of their would be supporters wish them into oblivion. So now it is time to say good bye to the woman who notoriously said that blacks had it better during slavery than under Obama. It pains my heart and saddens my soul when I try to imagine how I would feel to be subjected to inhumane treatment of slavery. Sad to say, but I think that she has convinced herself that mindless, nonsensical drivel was a logical thought.

Poetic Justice

An abusive man was hitting his wife while she was driving. When she lost
control of the car, the car went into a body of water. The woman and
daughter survived, but fortunately he did not.

http://www.newser.com/story/131900/diaper-saves-toddler-from-drowning.ht
ml

Even though I like the fact that he seemed to get what he deserved, I
only hope that the woman in this story learns from this incident for
future relationships. It can be hard to get out of an abusive
relationship, but she has been given a golden opportunity. I hope that
she gets the help that she needs so that she has the self-worth not to
get emotionally involved with another abuser. Her daughter is a baby and
not yet scarred by seeing an unhealthy relationship between her mother
and father unfold. I hope this woman and her daughter find happiness and
peace in a life that continues to be free from physical or emotional
abuse.

Shameless Promotion

Sharing the various links associated with my entrepreneurial efforts

 

www.designsbonitas.com  My website that explains different services that I am willing to provide if you are willing to pay for them. I try to be an economical option to people that may not have a big budget.

www.amaryllisturman.wordpress.com This is my latest blog that I created with the purpose of sharing reviews. I have various types like movies, products, restaurants, and hotels. I try to share a picture with most entries. If the review is about a product that is available for sale on Amazon, I include the link to make it easier for you to purchase if you so desire.

 

http://www.cafepress.com/chocolatiada This is my online Cafepress storefront for a few of my designs. I hope to get some new designs in store soon, but I have been trying to find the right inspiration.

http://www.helium.com/user/show/30475 Helium is an online article database spanning various topics. Feel free to peruse my articles and learn more about any number of subjects.

 

Tanka Poem: Caught!

Small rodent leaves hole

A gross miscalculation

Trapped in kitty’s claws

Playtime is now beginning

And then toy becomes dinner

Poem: True love is...

True love is giving up your favorite perfume because to him, it smells like “old lady”

True love is getting her a cat, even though you have always been a dog person

True love is buying a limited edition magazine because it is the only one he is missing for his collection

True love is making her a bookcase because she said she needed somewhere to put her books

True love is not just roses and sweet poetry, but thoughtfulness and consideration

True love encompasses all the things we do for those special in our life

Poem: What is Truth

what is truth

is it actual facts

or my perception of what I believe it to be

mental riddles, mind playing games

contorting the physical into an alternate reality

visible to only me

what is truth

is the vow of undying affection

that he bestowed upon me

pursued me with intensity

filling unspoken wishes as if he lived inside my mind

was it truth or trickery

overpowering my discernment abilities

ruse, hoax, fraud

presented before me

as the luscious fruit was before Eve

a glorious deception of promises of happiness

brain manipulation like a potter with his clay

forced hallucinations like mirages in the desert

cleverly crafted world of dreams

become nightmares

where darkness absorbs all light

words of attestation flow freely like water

through cracks in a broken well

action do not corroborate

testimony given, statements cannot be truth

I love you

truth or trickery

is it he or my own ear that deceive

wanting to believe

doubt my ears instead

question their capacity to hear correctly

but in this life of misery

all that is left is to accept the truth

his actions speak truth that his voice will not

Poem: Inner Thoughts Spoken

you took my voice

but I am not despondent

so happy that if you cut me

I would bleed butterflies, rainbows, and sunshine

yet words do not do my feelings any justice

clique expressions and tame overused adjectives

are unable to explain these emotions inside of me

known to be loquacious I should be able to eloquently describe

yet you have left me speechless

I forget my words and thoughts as I catch my breath

our love intensely overwhelms me

who knew an emotion was so powerful to create paradox

delightful, wonderful chaotic but bringing balance

hence my confusion defining this thing called love

Poem: Operation Harmony

there exists a battle for hearts and minds
each side deploys weapons of choice
forward attack with rage and hatred
counter attack with happiness and joy
both become intertwined
cool coils of kindness entangle stark anger
diffusing gently
as darkness turns slowly to muted light
comprehension dawns, glowing with peace
one end brings new beginnings
and feelings of serendipity

In the news

Piranhas attack beachgoers
http://www.newser.com/story/129554/piranhas-attack-brazilian-beachgoers.
html
Open season on tourists. I think that people should develop a taste for
fried piranhas to thin out the population. Until then, maybe it will be
best swim in the pool instead. Seems like the beach is really overrated
unless you like getting your feet and legs nipped by swarms of mini
sharks.
GOP staffers meet with the Birther Queen
http://www.newser.com/story/129563/gop-staffers-meet-with-orly-taitz-bir
ther-queen.html
I don't understand why this lady is so obsessed with the issue of
Obama's birth certificate. The whole conspiracy is for what? To have a
black president? It seems like a whole lot of wasted effort. But what I
don't understand is if his mother is a US citizen, why should it matter
where he was born? Shouldn't he be a US citizen too? But I think that
some people will find anything to complain about. It really is not that
serious. Too bad they are wasting precious energy on this instead of
doing something productive like charity work.

Ala. loses workers as immigration law takes effect

http://news.yahoo.com/ala-loses-workers-immigration-law-takes-effect-222
404123.html
I just had a conspiracies' theory thought - Wonder if the push for
legislation against illegal immigration is a ploy in any way for
corporations to be able to force out domestically owned small
businesses/farmers. It is not that local farmers do not want to pay
workers, there are not enough people willing to work for low wages in
such labor intensive jobs. With the new legislation it is even more
difficult for them to find workers to pick their crops. If no one is
there to harvest all the fruits and vegetables, the farms cannot sell
their goods or pay their bills. When the local farms go out of business,
Big Business Farms can fill the void with produce from their overseas
farms. Consequently, the rich get richer and the poor stay poor.

In the news

Great White Shark attacks swimmer
http://www.newser.com/story/129752/great-white-attacks-swimmer-who-ignor
ed-warnings.html
The alarm was sounded and people were supposed to heed the warning. But
one idiot decided that he did not want to pay attention.
What can happen when you scoff in the face of danger? You lose your
legs.
Some would say that is a high price to pay for stupidity. Hopefully now
he has learned his lesson. Should we feel sorry for him? Someone who did
not value his life enough to pay attention to the warnings now has the
rest of his life to think about how foolish he was. Last I heard, he was
in critical condition. If he survives, he should dedicate his life to
helping children understand the importance of following safety rules.
I wonder what kind of man this guy was before this incident. Was he
arrogant, headstrong, pompous? Why would a person be so reckless?
Whatever the case, he has decimated his quality of life because of an
ill advised decision.

Poem: Mid-winter night dream

Mid-winter night dream

taking off her coat, gloves, scarf and sweaters

like one would peel the skin of an orange

so many layers for a cold frigid winter day

sitting in front of a heater

as the warm air softly blows on her face

eyes closed

she imagines for a moment a sunny day in June

the hot air is the summer’s heat

no snow, no ice, no sleet

just rays of sunshine

hearing the constant, gentle whoosh of the sea

completely immersed in this balmy fantasy land

In the news

Doctor sends woman to the morgue alive
http://www.newser.com/story/129570/doc-sends-woman-to-morgue-alive.html
Brazil is not known for their wonderful healthcare for women. If she is
not getting implants or lipo, I do not think the doctors care too much.
And I might be mistaken, but I thought it was in Brazil that a doctor
erroneously thought a baby was dead too. Either way, healthcare in
Brazil is risky for women.
Everyone who unfriended you on Facebook hidden again
http://www.newser.com/story/129565/everyone-who-unfriended-you-on-facebo
ok-hidden-again.html
The new Facebook sucks. If it was not a free service, I would probably
stop using it. But as it stands, I will just have to use less until I
figure out all the ways that people who are not my friends can now see
my pictures and status updates. I hate having my privacy taken away.
Then again FB does not understand why anyone would want privacy- such an
arcane notion. Zuckerburg promotes these changes as improvements because
it makes it easier to connect with people. He does not realize that I
don't want it to be easy. There are too many crazies out there for that.
I am ready for the next big thing so that I can move on from FB. Google
+ when will you get games??? Or maybe I will use Google to connect with
people and FB for games.

Person sues White Castle for small booths- REALLY???

http://www.newser.com/story/128341/new-york-stockbroker-sues-white-castl
e-over-small-booths.html
I am tired of hearing of people who eat too much of the wrong types of
food and try to group themselves in with people who have a real
disability or handicap. This fat guy did not catch the sarcasm when
White Castle was humoring him about making their booths bigger. Granted
I don't know if they were or not, but I know if I received that
complaint, I would not have taken it seriously.
I do not know the reason for this particular man's weight gain, but I am
sure that eating White Castle hamburgers probably did not help him LOSE
weight.
From the article, all I understand is that his side of the story is like
"I am fat so I cannot sit is your booth, Booo hooo".
My response is "Do some exercise like ride a bike. If you are going to
eat high caloric food, you better be doing some activities to counter
the weight gain tubby!"
I get that some people think of over eating as an addiction so they
should get understanding for their "illness". SO now I am supposed to
feel bad? It is just hard for me to accept that because it all comes
down to their lack of self control.

poem: Good Ol Days

Good Ol’ Days

Saw a program about disappearing country stores

Older people sit around and fondly reminisce of the good ol’ days

The South- full of hospitality where everyone is treated like family

There were no strangers on friends they did not know yet

A better time

Part of me wishes I could have been there

Thinking better of it though

Wonder who was part of the Klan back in the day

Maybe they did not set fire to crosses or actively practice intimidation

but were they friends to people that did those awful things?

Old time friendly country store in the Segregated South

Also known for colored only bathrooms and back door entrances

Do I still want to be there?

Makes my heart heavy to think how I might have been treated during the

Good Ol’ Days

instead of looking backwards to the days that were good for some

need to look forward

Really good days for all coming ahead

Time is coming when color of my skin will be a non issue

Wherever I go

Ali Lohan

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/thefamous/what-did-ali-lohan-do-to-her-face/2
012?nc
Now she looks like she is on crack. I don't understand why famous people
do that to themselves. It would be funny in a sad way if she lost her
modeling contract because she no longer has the "LOOK" that they wanted.
It just goes to show that money is not everything. Lasting happiness can
not be bought.
She had her moment of fame and now she wants to extend that time by
giving people what she thinks they want. Oh well, another sad model who
will probably OD on drugs. And in the meantime, she is a symbol with
what is wrong this messed up world that places more emphasis on looks
and some ridiculous standard of beauty.

Greenwood Under 40 Stars Announcement

 

Greenwood Under 40 Stars

Just wanted to share: I am getting an award from the local chamber of commerce for my professionalism, leadership skills, and community involvement.

Priceline - review

Priceline is famous for their “Name your own price” catch phrase. Every time I think of Priceline, I think of their commercials with William Shatner. He encourages the person searching for a deal to always bid lower for the price they want to pay. Priceline knows that when you are planning your vacation, you are looking for a deal to save money any way you can.

How does it work? You complete an online form with the specifics of what you want. Imagine that you are booking a hotel for your vacation. You want to stay in a four-star hotel but all the room rates are out of your price range. Using the online form, you choose the area where you want to stay and type of hotel you want. If you like knowing where you are going at the time of booking, do not use Priceline.com's name your own price function. If you have a specific area where you need to be located, DO NOT use Priceline.com's name your own price function.  You will not know the address of the hotel until you have completed the booking and they have found a hotel willing to meet your price. The same is true for plane tickets.

The whole point is that you are hoping to get a nice room for a cheap price. When I use Priceline, I limit my request to 3 or 4 star hotels only. Including 2 or 2.5 stars means you will probably end up in a hotel that would not have chosen on your own. Some of their 2 star hotels in Days Inn, Comfort Inn, etc. Since I like Renaissance, Marriott, Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Hilton, it is better that I limit to the highest rated hotel properties.

Then I do my research and by going to the website of those properties and bid half of their advertised rate. If there are no takers, I may increase my bid. If I don’t want to increase my bid, I will wait 24 hours and try again. Priceline tries to be helpful and suggest ways to get a “winning bid” but it usually includes choosing lower rated hotels. I work too hard to try to save a dollar by staying in a grungy motel. Most of the time Priceline does not accept my price for hotels. The few times that it has worked for me, I ended up at very nice hotels (Doubletree, Holiday Inn, Renaissance).

The cheapest flights are usually going to red-eye or multiple stops. Decide how much you want to be inconvenienced in your travel and then bid accordingly. Keep in mind, that the cheapest flight could be on multiple airlines or have crazy layover times (like 30 minutes between flights) in which case you could miss your connecting flight and end up spending more to get out of your connecting city than if you booked with a different travel agency.

Overall, using Priceline takes a lot of patience. It pays off if you are able to save money on your hotel room, rental car, or plane ticket. Other times, you are better off trying to find a deal another way.

Courtyard by Marriott Cary NC

I love Marriott locations because their service and quality is consistent. Courtyard in Cary NC was no exception. The rooms were nice and the beds were comfortable.

The waitstaff was attentive and accommodating.

They recently opened Bistro restaurant. The Bistro is breakfast nook in the morning and bar in the evening. In the morning they serve eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, fruit, scones, coffee, tea, and juice. In the evening, they serve a variety of alcoholic beverages including beer and wine, wings, spinach dip, flatbread sandwiches, and pita chips with hummus. The prices were not too expensive- more than McDonalds, but on par with Panera.

 

I took this picture of their flower outside in front of the entrance. They had taken such care with the exterior of the building, I was confident that the interior would be just as nice. I was not disappointed.

 

I would recommend that anyone coming to the area, stay at this hotel. Since it is located off of a major highway, there is easy access to the facility without traffic difficulties. And it is also close to the airport.

Fox Rent A Car - review

Fox Rent A Car (Las Vegas Airport)

Note: despite what they lead you to believe, this is not on airport premises

You have to take the shuttle from the terminal to the Rental cars. Then you have to take another shuttle (10-15 minute ride) to Fox.

It is a hassle to get to the place. When I was there, they have 2 working shuttles. So depending on your timing, you might have to wait a while to get the office to rent a car.

Completing paperwork was okay. The guy asked me if I wanted to upgrade. Considering all that happened next, it is good thing that I said no.

The problem started when I went to get my car. I was told to choose any car in Section 4. The PROBLEM was there were no cars in Section 4. I went inside to complain. They told me to talk to the attendant outside. I went back outside and had to search for someone. It seemed that everyone was on break or in  hiding. When I finally found someone, they told me I could wait until the finished cleaning a car for me. I told them that was not an option. Since it was confirmed that I was NOT waiting so they gave me another car- essentially a free upgrade. I was not appreciative, since that was the least they could do considering the aggravation.

Since I knew they were so far from the airport, I allowed extra time for the return. Again, smart move on my part. They were not quick in checking me out. Meanwhile the shuttle arrived. The guy finally checked me out just in time for me to catch the shuttle back to the airport. Their shuttle took me to the Rental car terminal. I then had to take another shuttle to the terminal for departures. I thought that they would have at least dropped me off at departures. But I guess that is what cheap rental car service entails.

To top it all off, when I checked my credit card statement later, I saw that they charged a deposit which took 2 weeks to clear from my credit card.

Car rentals prices = Cheap (I only saved $3 a day and the inconvenience was not worth it)

Service = Bad

Location = Bad

Cozumel - Mayan ruins

If you go Cozumel Mexico, you might explore the 2 sites of ruins in Cozumel: El Cedral and San Gervasio.

Both sites are easy to find. Most of the tour guide books and brochures included maps that directed us to the sites. On my last trip, we rented a Jeep and drove to both of these sites. It took about 20-30 minutes to travel between each site. We were on a cruise and had the whole day in Cozumel. There was plenty of time to sight see, go to beach, drink a few margaritas, and go shopping downtown.

El Cedral consists of a small church and a monument. It was not the most exciting excursion, but it was interesting to learn the history of the place. During the day that we went, there was not much happening. There were a few tourist shops and a store that sold drinks and snacks. I thought that the tourist shops were too expensive because I got better deals in town. I could not complain too much since it did not cost anything to have a look around and see the sites.

On the other hand, the ruins at San Gervasio Mayan ruins required an entrance fee. It is best to have pesos to pay the entrance fee. With the exchange rate, I paid the equivalent of $7. San Gervasio Mayan ruins consist of structures built years ago. There was a house and kitchen structure. It was a bit of stretch of the imagination to visualize the ruins because most looked like piles of rocks.

The history of San Gervasio was lost on me because the place is a mosquito farm. I guess I went during the rainy season. The place was wet from rain and mosquitoes were everywhere. I am sure that is not what the locals call it, but I got numerous bites in the short time I was there. I stopped counting after 50! I had not seen all of the ruins, but I was ready to go. In retrospect, I am glad that I did not get malaria or one of those other mosquito-borne sicknesses.

If you are feeling adventurous, check it the ruins. Do not expect to be “WOW”-ed though. It is a low cost activity on the island as long as you do not get suckered by any of the locals selling overpriced souvenirs.

If you go during the rainy season, take plenty of bug spray and lotion.

Overall, I have to stress that it is something to do on the island, but do not feel that this is something you have to experience before you die.

Pho Noodleville

Pho Noodleville – Orchard Park Dr, Greenville SC

864-288-8809

(healthy Vietnamese cuisine)

I have passed by this restaurant so many times but I decided that I wanted to try it. I don’t know what Vietnamese food is supposed to taste like. I did not take any one with me who was Vietnamese for them to explain the dishes to me. So I cannot say if their food is authentic or even explain what the ingredients are in the dishes that I ordered. But I can say there were a lot of people there that I am guessing are from Viet Nam.

The lady that took our order spoke some English. I don’t think that she really understood all the questions we were asking. She kept nodding and saying “Yes” but our questions required more than an affirmative statement. So we just decided to choose menu items that we hoped we would like.

We ended ordering the spring rolls ($4) as an appetizer and the pork chop rice platter ($8) for main course

Spring rolls  - I really liked the spring rolls. It would be worth another trip just for those. The spring rolls were stuffed with all kinds of good stuff, the most noticeable would be the noodles. The sweet sour dipping sauce was thin like water but provided enough flavor for me.

Pork chop rice platter – the pork chop (yes only 1) was flattened and I am guessing sautéed. It came with rice, lettuce leaves, sweet vinegar carrots, and some other sort lightly pickled vegetable. The pork was a little tough to me but it was well seasoned. The flavors were light but fragrant. After eating, I was full but not feeling overstuff.

My husband’s only complaint was that there was not enough meat on the plate. I was fine but I can eat rice as a main dish. He, on the other hand, has to have copious amounts of meat.

I would definitely return and order the spring rolls. I need to find someone who can explain the menu to me so that I know what to order the next time.

Bodies exhibition

If you are fascinated by the human body, YOU have to check out this
exhibit. If you are studying to be in the medical field, YOU need to see
this exhibit.
You will have a whole new appreciation for bodily functions and motions
that you took for granted. Examine the body from the inside out-
circulatory, digestive, muscular, and all the other systems. I
thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Although, it was difficult to go
through the section about unborn bodies. It is sad to know that a life
ended before it really got a chance to start.
I was inspired to exercise after seeing this. I heart my body and I want
to take care of myself the best way I know how.
And in other thoughts, I do not know how someone can study the body in
detail and not be convinced there is a Creator. The intelligence that
was needed to make our body is definitely out of this world!

Genie bra

I tried the Genie Bra www.geniebra.com  (yes I bought into the hype). I was disappointed. And don’t believe the hype about the price on the commercial. You can buy it for the same price at CVS.

This was supposed to be a wonderful bra that supports with no wires and has comfortable straps. I am a buxom girl (36F/36DDD), so I am constantly searching for a good fitting bra. It is normal for me to spend $60+ on an undergarment because I want support for my girls and comfortable straps. The Genie Bra is supposed to be both for only $10 a bra.

Hmmmm, sounds too good to be true.

Well, it is comfortable like a tight fitting t-shirt but did not provide any of the support for me like the touted in the commercial. I even has boobage coming out of the sides and THAT is not a pretty look.

Then I thought to myself that if it was really so good, it probably would not be on a commercial on late night TV. To me, this bra is like a more form fitting sports bra. But I am not going to exercise. So I got a refund for the bra and put that money towards a real heavy duty bra from Peek Intimates in Greenwood SC.

That time, the money was well spent.

If you are already flat chested and like the feel of sports bras, buy the genie bra. It is cheap. But then if you are flat chested, you can probably buy cheap bras anywhere (Dollar General, Kmart, Walmart, etc). Not trying to offend, but you know it is true.

If your chest is bigger than a D cup, don’t waste your time buying this and trying it on. And if you want to ignore my advice and buy it, save the receipt so that it will be easy to get your money back.

This was really a big disappointment for me because I wanted the Genie Bra to work. I was looking forward to it, only to be let down.

Woody's Famous Philadelphia Cheesesteaks

I thought that one of the main ingredients for a cheesesteak would be the meat. The carrier for all that deliciousness should be bread. But early one Sunday afternoon (about 12:30pm) it seems that Woody's (located in Midtown ATL) let that one missing ingredient spoil the whole show. Yep! So early in the day and they were out of bread. People were standing around like they had been punked. 


It was like "Really? You are out of bread? Seriously? Where are the cameras?" "Surely you cannot be out of bread when your main menu item is a cheesesteak?" "So they are serious?"


"WTF?" "This blows" 


Good thing they said that in 30 minutes they would get a shipment. Ummm. I am hungry now. Blood sugar was dropping and I was getting light headed. I was not waiting for them to figure out what they needed to run their restaurant. So I decided to go about a block and ended up at Jersey Mike's for a chicken philly. It was disappointing too since the chicken was overcooked and dry, but at least they had bread.

Couponing

I went to CVS the other day, sales paper and coupons in hand, to rack up some savings. Couponing has become a trendy new activity because of the recession. I remember the good old days when couponing was not so popular. Back then, the coupon values were high. During the last year, I would say that I had grown disillusioned with coupons. The coupon books in the Sunday newspaper had less coupons for the popular brand products and many of the values were lower and lower. A coupon that used to have face value of $1 off one, is now $1 off two OR $.40 off one. Since I was not using coupons, I did not even bother with brand name items either.

What was the use of paying more for a product with a coupon that has less face value?

But I have been reenergized. It happened by accident. I was at my sister-in-law’s house one Sunday morning. She finished reading the paper and threw the coupons in the recycle bin.

I said, “What are you doing? That is like throwing money away.”

She told me that she does not use coupons, so why keep them?

After fishing the coupons out of the recycle bin, I decided to cut them out and see if the savings would be worth it. I knew I would have to pair the coupon up with additional saving (product already on sale) to compensate for the fact that the coupon value is lower.

Deals of the WEEK

***Hydro razon (regular price $10 on sale for $8.49 AND received $5 CVS bucks) with $2 off coupon = paid $1.49 (total savings $8.50)***

Fig newton and Chips Ahoy (reg price $8.28 on sale 2 for $5) with $1 off coupon = paid $4 (total savings $4.28)

In total, I spent $20 for $50 worth of goods. Granted I think the stores have marked up the prices of good so I do not know if the goods are really worth $50. In any case, if a person went to the store and paid regular price for the same items that I purchased, they would pay more than double what I paid. THAT makes me feel good about couponing.

THANK YOU!

THANKS to CVS in Greenwood SC on 72-25 Bypass for finding my coupons and check and holding it in a secure place. They did not have my phone number to contact me and it would have been easy for someone to forge a signature and cash the check. There are so many dishonest people in the world. But at least the people on staff at CVS have not fallen prey to fraudulent ways.

I am so grateful that I want the whole worldwide web to know!

50 foods you have to eat (or at least try) before you die

In 2005, I saved a list of the 50 foods you have to eat (or at least try) before you die. I revisited this list and was surprise about how many I have tried and really like.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/50eats_index.shtml

LOVE IT – means I would order if on the menu

LIKE IT – means I might order but not my first choice

ITS OK – means I would probably not order, but would eat if put in front of me

1. Fresh fish – love it especially grilled ahi tuna (King of Prussia, PA) or fried red snapper (Belize)

2. Lobster – it’s ok

3. Steak – it’s ok

4. Thai food – love it (Fusion; Greenwood SC)

5. Chinese food – love it, especially egg rolls

6. Ice cream – love it, especially butter pecan (any Brusters)

7. Pizza – love it, especially pepperoni (any Papa Johns)

8. Crab – love it (Dave cooks the best)

9. Curry – love it, especially goat or lamb curry (Jamaican restaurant in Bronx, NY)

10. Prawns – love it

11. Moreton Bay bugs – don’t know what this is

12. Clam chowder – love it, New England style (Boston, MA)

13. Barbecues – love it, especially pulled pork (Festival of Discovery, Greenwood SC, during July)

14. Pancakes – like it

15. Pasta – love it, especially angel hair

16. Mussels – it’s ok

17. Cheesecake  – love it, especially NY style with strawberries on top (Juniors, Manhattan, NY)

18. Lamb – love it, especially lamb chops grilled medium rare (Sullivans, Raleigh, NC)

19. Cream tea – it’s ok

20. Alligator – surprisingly it is ok, tasted like chicken

21. Oysters – it’s ok, not big on raw oysters, but steamed are ok

22. Kangaroo – have not tried

23. Chocolate – love it, especially milk chocolate with hazelnuts (Godiva chocolate)

24. Sandwiches – love it, especially with good quality honey ham, mustard, and heirloom tomatoes

25. Greek food – love it, especially gyros with tzakiki(don’t know how to spell that) sauce (Milanos, Pelzer, SC)

26. Burgers – love it, especially turkey burgers with Caribbean seasoning spices (Kickers  in Greenwood SC)

27. Mexican food – it’s ok, a quesadilla with un caldo de pollo is good comfort food

28. Squid – like calamari with marinara sauce

29. American diner breakfast – like it, my order 2 eggs fried hard, 2 strips bacon, whole wheat toast, and orange juice (Crave, Charleston SC)

30. Salmon – love it, especially grilled medium rare

31. Venison  – love it, especially in hash

32. Guinea pig – have not tried

33. Shark – have not tried

34. Sushi – love it, especially anything with ahi tuna or crab

35. Paella – like it (Lazy Goat, Greenville, SC)

36. Barramundi – don’t know what this is

37. Reindeer – have not tried

38. Kebab – love it, especially (street corner in Manhattan, NY)

39. Scallops – love it

40. Australian meat pie – have not tried

41. Mango  – love it

42. Durian fruit – have not tried

43. Octopus – it’s ok

44. Ribs – love it, especially baby back pork ribs (Dave makes the best)

45. Roast beef – it’s ok

46. Tapas – love it, especially machego cheese with pancetta (A little Spanish restaurant in Miami Beach, FL)

47. Jerk chicken/pork – love it, especially jerk chicken (Jamaican restaurant in Bronx, NY)

48. Haggis – have not tried

49. caviar – it’s ok

50. Cornish pasty – liked it

THANK YOU!!!

Good customer service THANK YOU goes to Raul at the Advance Auto Parts on Jesse Jewel Parkway in Gainesville, GA

He helped me when I had a problem when my car’s check engine light November 21 2010. He did a little tinkering and resolved the issue.

I was so worried because I had a 2 hour drive home and it was a Sunday evening. I hoped that everything was going to be okay and that it was nothing major.

A little good customer service can go a long way and still I remember what he did so I knew that THANKS was long overdue.

This is why I like Advance Auto Parts.

Sharpie liquid pencil review

I went to Staples for their back to school specials – 10 cent notebooks, $1 pens, and more. As I walked down the aisle, I saw Sharpie Liquid Pencil. I was intrigued. There were two “pencils” in a pack for $5. Normally, I do not buy the new trendy stuff because I like to wait until it is on sale. But for some reason, I was in a buying mood.

Once I got out of the store, I ripped open the package to try out my new liquid pencil. The feel of writing was not anything special. It felt like I was writing with a pen. And that is when it hit me. I fell into Sharpie’s marketing trap, this liquid pencil was nothing more than a erasable pen! I could have bought 5 of another brand of erasable pens for the price of these 2 Sharpies and I would have not noticed a difference in quality.

I had to shake my head that I let myself be suckered into the hype of a “new product”. I was so disappointed that I almost returned the pens since I was still in Staples parking lot. The sad part about it is that I do not even use pencils normally. I have to chalk the whole experience up to being in a mood to buy whatever they were selling. The emotional payoff was not worth it though.

This is why I need to stick to only buying those office supplies that are on my list.

What do I think about this product? FAIL (nothing special for the expensive price)

What do I think about their marketing? PASS (they got me and I am usually so up on these marketing ploys)

More Haiku poems about Green living

Plea for Bees

Less buzzing around

Earth’s honeybees are dying

Let’s work to save them

Free Range Chickens

Chickens roaming free

Happily can lay their eggs

Content Urban Farm

Flower Garden Patience

Bulbs planted in fall

Summer brings pretty flowers

Amaryllis blooms

The Lazy Goat - Downtown Greenville

The first time that I went to The Lazy Goat was for an anniversary party. It the following items were served.


Harissa Spiced Hummus - crisp veggies and warm pita
Moroccan Lamb - Braised shank, warm pita, cucumber yogurt, plantain chips
Fried Goat Cheese - pistachio dust and honey drizzle
Lazy Paella - calamari, prawns, mussels, chorizo, “bomba” rice, haricot vert, sofrito broth

I then knew that I had found my favorite downtown GVL restaurant spot. The food has Mediterranean flavors along with other global influences. You can see from the mix of ingredients that it is an eclectic culinary mix. And the result is delicious. The food and flavors are fresh and different. Their drinks were good too. It is worth a visit to try it. You just might like it.


http://thelazygoat.typepad.com/site/about/

Riots in London prove that civility is dead

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/11/ukriots.accused/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

People assumed erroneously that the ones who were looting had to be the poor, uneducated, intent on taking from hard-working citizens. But then when the looters were arrested, there was a different story. These people were ones that would have been considered to have class and decorum. One girl even was the daughter of a millionaire.

It just goes to show that some people have desires within them to act in a lawless way. They do not act on those impulses if they think that they will be found out. But in situations like what happened these last couple days, when people think others are not looking, they allow their true self to come out. Stealing, looting, destroying property just because they can.

It is senseless. There is a general lack of consideration for others.

The point that stuck with me is that it is a shame that people automatically think when something like this happens, it has to be the poor people that instigated it.

poem - price of freedom

wispy branches attempt to hold

like an overprotective mother

trying to shield her child eager for independence

in the end, it is to no avail

efforts of mother tree are useless

cool convincing wind whispers enticing invitation

coaxing leaves to depart

the comforts of home for promises of greater freedom

leaves fly away only to be left to fall

when the wind decides not to carry them anymore

no longer feeling mother tree’s caring embrace

shivering on their new home the cold, wet ground

and reminiscing of the warmer, better days

Freeds bakery

There are days when I crave the desserts found at Freed's Bakery. I
found out about this place from my favorite channel "The Food Network".
It was featured a few times, most notably by Rachel Ray on $40 a Day. I
do not usually pay attention to where she eats because I think she would
rave regardless of the location. But I am a sucker for desserts. Since I
was going to be in Vegas, I decided I NEEDED to see if as much of a
culinary experience as I had imagined from watching the show.
I can honestly say "YES!". It is definitely worth it. These desserts
will haunt your dreams and encourage your subconscious to justify trips
to Vegas to eat dessert.
They are known for their most popular wedding cake which is also called
Bavarian Rhapsody (White Cake with Freed's Signature Bavarian Cream
filling) topped with a buttercream. Mmmmm. Just thinking about tempts me
to want to plan a trip...but I digress.
The fruit tart was also a delectable treat. The tart shell was a flaky,
buttery pastry. The inside of the tart shell was coated with chocolate
and filled with their signature Bavarian cream. Sigh. So good. Their
Bavarian cream was thick but light at the same time. I know that sounds
like a paradox, but you have to try it and you will see that describes
it perfectly. Very creamy with hints of vanilla flavor. In other words,
imagine the best vanilla pudding you ever tasted and multiply that times
100. Then you will be close to what their signature Bavarian cream
tastes like. And each tart is topped with fresh fruit. That topping
makes it healthy and guilt free eating in my opinion.
I just saw on their website that they have changed locations to 9815 S
Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV
Check out their website for more information www.freedsbakery.com/ and
if you are in Vegas, you owe it to yourself to drop by. In a town where
nothing is guaranteed, this is a sure bet!

Westin Buckhead review

Westin Buckhead 3391 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Phone: (404) 365-0065

The Westin in Buckhead was pricey and that is because of the location. The room was standard for the hotel type. Everything was up to the level that I expected for a Westin room. The bed was comfortable but I was not moved by the “heavenly bed” experience.

Checking in happened without incident. The front desk personnel were friendly and helpful.

Valet parking was $30 a day. I thought that was very expensive. Again I decided it must be because of the location.

Since my meeting was located in the hotel, I ate at the Palms for breakfast every day. In my opinion, that was a rip off. The breakfast was overpriced for what they offered.

The first morning I paid $30 - $16 for food, $7 juice and tea, plus tip. I thought (error on my part) that the juice and tea would be included in the price of the buffet. That is how it is at every other restaurant breakfast buffet. I think once a certain price point is exceeded, the drinks should be included.

The best part of the breakfast bar was the bacon. It was crispy, but not overcooked. On the other hand, the fruit was not sweet, the bread was stale, and there was not a good selection of danishes. Considering I was eating at the famous, well known Palms restaurant, I expected better.

The only other plus for the Westin was that it was walking distance from Lenox mall.

In all, I probably would not stay here again since there are other hotels in the area that have better prices. The room rates are about the same, but valet parking and restaurant prices are less expensive.

I am not a Starwood Preferred Guest (prefer Marriott) so really is not any incentive for me to choose Westin.

Growing a Greener Haiku Contest!

I entered the following two Haiku poems into the Growing a Greener Haiku Contest

The concept was to use any topics from the show as inspiration for the poem. I actually had quite a few different poems, but these two are the ones that I entered into the contest.

Who knows if I will win? But at least I made the effort by submitting my entry.

HAIKU 1 – No GMOs

Corporations claim

GMOs benefit us,

I do not buy it.

HAIKU 2 – Save the Bees

Dying honeybees

Pesticides are killing them

Save bees, plant flowers

If you have an idea for a haiku for this contest want to submit an entry before contest closes on Aug 5, here is the link http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/growing-a-greener-haiku-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-7649

Topiary flamingo

I often wonder why I like topiaries so much. In simple terms, it is just
plants, moss, and flowers put together. I think it is because I like the
idea of using something pretty to create another something. Having
pretty flowers attached to a wire frame design creates a sweet smelling,
arrangment. It is also interesting to see what plants are used for
particular features because of their colors or textures. It is not
enough to plant flowers on to the wire frame, but it takes a certain
amount of design ability and coordination also.
I wish that I had the talent to create topiaries and take care of them.
I have a difficult time just trying to keep a plant in a pot alive so I
know that the topiary expertise is probably out of the question.
Although I cannot maintain one, I do admire its beauty and commend the
hard work to create this temporary masterpiece.

If  you are ever in Greenwood SC during the month of June, you should take the topiary walk. To know more about it, check out http://www.scfestivalofflowers.org/

Breck's - North Charleston dive

To see the exterior of this restaurant, I was a bit skeptical about going inside. Is this a honky tonk bar? Oh well, I was in North Charleston and did not know where else to go. 

Inside, was a different story. Instead of seeing a dimly lit, smokey restaurant, it was well lit with tables and chairs. It was more family restaurant than a bar. Hubby and I seated ourselves and a nice waitress brought us menus. There was so much that I wanted to order but I decided to go with the special Seafood platter. Good choice! The fried fish had a few bones that I had to look out for so that I did not choke. Other than that, it was delicious. The light breading had just enough seasoning so that it was not too salty. The crab cake had more stuffing than crab, but that was okay because it was flavorful. And the fried shrimp ... were perfect.

And it came with salad and a vegetable side (I ordered cabbage). The blue cheese dressing (on the right) was homemade with major chunks of blue cheese. And the other creamy dressing was peppercorn. Both were really good, transforming ordinary iceberg lettuce into something that I wanted to eat.

  

By the end, I was stuffed, sated and ready to go to sleep.

Joseph of Charleston

I went to Charleston last weekend and wanted to visit some of the places
featured on Food Network programs. For breakfast Sunday morning, I
decided to go to Joseph's of Charleston that was featured on Anthony
Bourdain's No Reservations. Since the restaurant is on Meeting Str and
it is somewhat difficult to find parking downtown in that area, I spent
about 15-20 minutes circling the area to find a parking space that was
not too far out of walking distance. So after I spent considerable
amount of effort to get there, it was disheartening to walk up and see
the sign saying the establishment is closed.
That was not enough.
They want me to visit one of their sister locations. At this point, it
does not matter how good the food is at their other restaurants. They
are obviously paying the web hosting for the www.josephsofcharleston.com
website which gives people false hope of being able to enjoy a great
breakfast at that specific location. The least they could do was to have
a note on the front page of that website that is the same as the sign on
the door.
This restaurant group lost my business because I did not want the
headache. I am not walking all over downtown, especially in this heat,
to find their restaurants. Marketing Lesson 101 - Update your
website!!!!
After that fiasco, I went to a restaurant that was not on Food Network
but came highly recommended by a friend - Crave in Mount Pleasant. Great
restaurant with ambiance and killer brunch menu. But more on that in a
later post with pictures to match. Yummm!