NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXX

Took 40 books to the office this morning. Every single last one of 'em ~ including 3 Jackie Collins novels ~ were taken. Yay! Lots of thanks from those looking for summer reads; and a few comments about how I'm a well-rounded reader. Nice to know the Jackie Collins books were overlooked.

It's been 30 days...30 days of struggle, 30 days of rolling emotions, 30 days of tears, 30 days of sorting and disposal and cleaning and purging and learning and growing.

It's been 30 days of hard work, determination, changes. 30 days of successes.

Thank you thank you a million times thank you for your words of support, encouragement, private "way to go!" messages; and thank you for following me this month and throughout this process. xoxo

Ladies and gentlemen...I present to you all my apartment!

I feel for you...I think I love you

No matter what my girl Lys says about me + fashion, that girl has a fabulous eye! Not to mention equally fabulous fashion taste.

The other day, she blogged about a Christian Louboutin clutch.

Oh. My. Heavens. Take a look at this:

~ Helloooo Lover ~

How delicious is this clutch?! How absolutely gorrrr-juss is this clutch? I know, I know - it's a flippin' clutch; it's a little purse. Tis true. It's sexy and luxurious and totally worth the $795.00 price tag. I'm serious. In my mind, it's *totally* worth it because I can't fit into CL shoes (well, at least I can't until I have the 'surgery') and this bag has the classic tell-tale 'signature' ~ the red! ::shiver:: Did you look at the clasp? Did you? Look at it. I'll wait. G'head...

Uh huh - it's a pair of shoes! How darling is that?! Holy crap!

I want this bag. I crave this bag.

Dear Christian Louboutin clutch - I feel for you...I think I love you.

Girl of 100 Lists ~ 7 songs (II)

In her recent blog, my girl @Moneke tagged me. And you know me ~ never back down from a tag! Funny thing is, I filched this particular meme in May and now it's back.

Instructions:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

I am so random and weird when it comes to listening to music. What I'm listening to isn't necessarily 'shaping' my spring/summer; it's just stuff that sounds good, puts me in a good mood or is seriously rockin' my world.

May I present to you, My Seven (Prince is ringing in my head: "Oh seven and we'll watch them fall..."):

"Crazy" by Ray LaMontagne ~ I am in love with this cover! Thanks to E-Rich for turning me on to this song. I've known about Ray LaMontagne for a little while...and this cover of the Gnarls Barkley hit is so powerful and poignant. (hit the 'play' button next to the song to hear it - worth it)

"I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry ~ '...the taste of her cherry chapstick...'

"Tears of a Clown" by the English Beat ~ one of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite bands! This song is so much fun when played live :)

"Everybody Get Dangerous" by Weezer ~ I can NOT stop listening to this damn song! It's Weezer! WTH?! I know. I don't care. This song rocks my face off!

"Hypnotize" by Notorious B.I.G ~ Ever since I heard this song in PhilaPA hangin' with Rome and Lys, this song has been in my head, on my iPod, in my ears. Something so incredibly smooth about this song...and, of course, my favorite line: "Timbs to my hooligans in Brooklyn" and I don't even know why!

"At Seventeen" by Janis Ian ~ I heard this a few weeks ago on Yahoo radio. I've always been attached to this song, related to this song. I think it's incredibly heartbreaking to those of us 'lacking in the social graces' and perhaps a bit silly to those who don't. I'll admit to having this on my iPod and to sniffling a bit each and every time I hear it.

"I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab For Cutie ~ is this emo? I don't even know WTF emo is! But if it's this song? Damn skippy I'm with it! This song...I don't even know what to say! I love this song! Totally on par with the She Wants Revenge song "Tear You Apart".

There ya have it!

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXIX

:::sharp inhale:::

I can't believe I'm doing this.

:::slow exhale:::

Before...to the right of my front door, the view as soon as you walk in the front door and the middle of my apartment...

*These are the only pictures I'm comfortable sharing. Well, that's a lie. I'm not comfortable sharing these at all.

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXVII and XXVIII

Aww crap! I did it again.

I went out and forgot to post for the day. Crap! However, I have a good excuse.

The English Beat! And, of course, Dave Wakeling.

They played at the Hollywood Park Racetrack last night. Good times, good times. $1 beer before 9 o'clock. $1 hot dogs all night long. A lot of people out at the track enjoying the races and the gorgeous June evening.

Upon my arrival, I ran into Antonee and Fernando (toaster and sax, respectively) - one was waiting for the 5th race, the other in line for beer. Antonee bet on the race, choosing a couple of good horses; but he went exacta and lost - even though the horses he chose won and placed. We almost convinced ourselves to walk over to the casino...

Show was good - always a good time with the English Beat. Reggae singer Eek-a-Mouse came onstage and performed a grrreat reggae/ska jam with the guys. Totally fun! Afterwards, talked PR and such with Dave Wakeling; talked life and such with Wayne; then said my good-byes to one and all. I won't see them until the end of July as they embark on the Rockin' the Colonies tour with the Alarm and the Fixx.

Today. Ah, today. I took two huge boxes to the shred bin at work. Damn, I had a lot of paper in this place! Then I hit Target, K-Mart and Anna's Linens looking for new sheers for my front window, cafe curtains for the bathroom and other assorted goodies for my apartment.

K-Mart had the sheers I wanted - sheer voile bright white and sheer box weave ivory - but not in the length I needed. Turns out, that size is no longer available. This boggles the mind! The 63" panels are the shortest any store carries (2 Targets, K-Mart and Anna's + target.com and kmart.com) - grr. I bought the longer length, will try to adjust somehow. The combination of the box weave and the sheers looks very nice. I like the muted tones...the color splashes will come later.

I've been looking for the flatware my Mom had when I was younger. I have one spoon from the collection - Escapade; would like to add to it. I found 2 sites with the pattern but not enough to make a setting for 4. No matter - I bought the pieces anyway! I have a set of flatware from Martha Stewart's collection that I abhor. The handles are cheap; well the whole set is poorly crafted as the handles pull away from the metal, which bends much too easily. This prompted me to look for the family flatware from years gone by...

Going out tonight with my work buddy, CJ - dinner, margaritas and a show - "A Tale of Two Sissies" starring THE Micah McCain, whom I love and adore.

It's almost over :::squeal:::

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXVI

Been looking at mattresses and beds online for over two weeks. All the description info is a foreign language - blah blah coils, yada yada foam, blah blah something something something. Light bulb finally went on: hey Einstein, can't buy a mattress online.

Stopped at Leeds Mattress on the way home tonight. Hooked up with Spencer the Salesman and dude totally took care of me!

"OK. I may be unrealistic - not sure. But, here it is: I need a mattress, box springs, bed frame, delivery, removal of my mattress & box springs, I'm a side sleeper and want to spend $800 or so. Unrealistic?"

"Not at all!"

Spencer the Salesman showed me four mattresses; I loved 2 of the 4. He shows me the differences in each mattress, explains the coils and foam and something something something. Ever the dutiful customer, I nod and say "Mm hmm" at strategic points in his conversation.

He shuffles off to his computer, tap tap tap, laughs and comes back.

"I can do that one for $785. I can do this one for $1,000 out the door."
"Shut up."
"$1,000.00 done."
"Mattress. Box springs. Bed frame. Delivery. Set-up. Removal of my mattress and box springs. $1,000.00."
"Yes."
"Done." Yay!

It'll take a couple of days for it to be brought from the warehouse ("There won't be any snakes in the box springs or mattress will there?" He laughed. I was serious.) and delivery could be made for the 4th o'July weekend. But, I'll be in Santa Barbara at a wedding. So, delivery is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8. Yay!

I already have brand new sheets.

And I'm ready to break it in.

Yay!

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXV

Beautiful note & flowers from apartment building owners & manager regarding the progress I've made on my apartment, decluttering and hoarding problem. ::sniffle::

I have two boxes of stuff to take to work, toss in the shred bins. I also have tons of books to take to the office, labeled "Summer Reading" and hope someone takes 'em. If not, Plan B - donate to the public library.

Pluggin' along...still need to get rid of more clothes. I know, I know. I really do have an insane amount of clothes. I'm a hoarder, people! It's what we do.

I am proud of myself; and still harbor some of that shame and embarrassment. It is dissipating. It is! I am not allowing myself to keep it; I'll feel it...then let (some of) it go.

Thank you all for your support, encouragement and everything. Seriously. xoxo

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXIV

Ohh, you'll like this one...

I scheduled an appointment to have 'We Clean America' clean my apartment this morning. They were due between 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Finally jumping out of bed at 6:30, I was convinced I had 30 minutes to shower, shampoo and shine. I was completely finished by 7:02 a.m. - not bad! At 8 o'clock, I get a call: "Hi, we're about ten minutes away." Of course you are! Ugh.

Now, most people I know who use a cleaning lady/person/crew typically clean the house before the housekeeper shows up. I don't get that. If she's coming to clean my house, she's coming to clean. my. house.

Crew C6 showed up, ready to go. I gave them specific instructions (clean windows, leave radio on, leave A/C on, leave fans on, keep dressing room and bathroom doors open, front door closed) then left for work.

I get home, take a look around: windows clean, window sills not clean; A/C off, fans off, radio off (switched to a Spanish-language station, I might add); doors closed. *sigh* I'm on the phone with The Princess, telling about the cleaning crew, walking through the apartment opening doors, turning on fans, etc. I sit on the bed, listening and surveying. I gasp. "Ohmygawdohmygawdohmygawd!" I say it over and over. The Princess is thisclose to driving over. Then I start laughing. Laughing hysterically: hahahahahahahahasnorthahahahahaha *inhale* hahahahahahahahahahahahasnorthaha. "What? WHAT?! Are you okay??" I tell her...

"I keep five things on my nightstand: 2 remotes - TV and stereo, my eyeglasses case, the digital alarm clock and a lamp. The remotes are on the dresser, next to the stereo. The eyeglasses case, clock and lamp are here; but something looks weird. I'm staring at it...staring at it...staring at it...and realize I'm looking at my Winnie the Pooh vibrator on top of the nightstand!" I thought The Princess was going to hyperventilate from laughing so hard. "You can never use them to clean your place again. And you have to boil Winnie then let him soak in alcohol overnight."

Mom was right - I really shouldn't leave my toys laying around the house.

hahahahahahahahasnorthahahahahahaha

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXIII

Rissa's Top Ten Family Reunion highlights:

10. My favorite cousin dancing a hula in a shirt our Grandma gave her. ::sniffle::

9. Seeing baby Lili for the first time. She's adorable - and she's my favorite!

8. Favorite story Number 2 ~ When my Grandma discovered my favorite uncle had started smoking, she put him in the closet and wouldn't let him out until he smoked the whole pack.

7. Favorite story Number 1 ~ Even back in their day, low trou was the style. My favorite uncle followed the trend, much to my Grandma's dismay. "Fine. You want the neighbors to see your underwear?" She made him walk around their neighborhood in his chonies!

6. Non-family member: "I'm going to get my Super Soaker gun." Me: "No, that wouldn't be fair. We all should use the little water guns." N-FM: "Right. *I* would have the advantage." Me: ::low gravelly voice:: "You are a guest here." He walked away, sulking. ::dusting off hands:: My work here is done.

5. The water guns! Don't know who thought of it, but having the water guns was sheer brilliance. Brilliance, I say! Aunt Patricia passed 'em out during the magician (yes, I said 'magician') and it was ON. How lucky to have my favorite cousin sitting right in front of me! She couldn't figure out who was shooting her. :) Later, we teamed up to fight a couple of N-FMs. Oh what fun!

4. The food. We had a traditional Hawaiian luau ~ including kalua pig. Mmmm mmm!

3. Mom singing my grandparents' favorite song "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" ::sniffle:: But doing so without my favorite uncle ::sniffle sniffle::

2. Looking at all of the family photos, reminiscing, telling stories, laughing and marvelling at the fashions/hairstyle choices (mullets and puka shell necklaces were quite the hit in this family).

1. Spending time with my favorite cousins ~ many of whom I haven't seen in forever (!); all of whom have grown up to become good and good-hearted, fun and funny people.

NaBloPoMo ~ Home XXII

So exhausted, I can barely type this out...sorry, kids ~ I'm finally home and going to bed

::yawn::