Twenty Four At Heart

Where's 24?

This game is sort of like Where's Waldo?, but instead we're playing Where's 24?

Assuming I have a decent Internet connection at my hotel, I'll be updating from the east coast for the next several days.

© Twenty Four At Heart 

A Medley

** The giveaway on the beautiful Stella and Dot bracelet is still open.  And YES, I will ship it to international locations.  The more times you enter, the better your chances are to win.  You can enter to win by clicking here. **

I've been running from one thing to the next pretty much nonstop the entire month of August.  I don't think things are going to slow down for a few more weeks.  In between all my running around, I've been trying to edit the bazillion photos (not brazilian photos!) I've been taking along the way.

I thought I'd share just a few more today from NYC.  

These will be the last from New York - I promise.  

Then I'll get back to business as normal.  You know, normal for me:  Orange County, beach, nipples, stranger danger (!), phantom panties, more beach (because who can ever get enough?), embarrassing personal incidents which are so embarrassing I even astonish myself, etc., etc.

That is, I think I will get back to normal.

I mean, unless I find a real gem of a NY photo hidden away that I forgot about.

Or unless, perhaps, I take off for the east coast again really soon.

(Because I hate traveling cross country so why not do it twice in one month?  Especially the one month out of the year that is guaranteed to be hot/humid/miserable on the east coast?)

Anyway .... more about THAT later.

 

Marmaduke (from the movie) was in the expo hall at BlogHer and I was thrilled to have my photo taken with him.  I love animals and he was SO well behaved.  I just wanted to scrunch up his ears and play tickle-your-tummy with him, but his trainer said (a bit sternly), "Please keep your hand just on his back."  

So I, mostly, did.  

(Except for sneaking in a little ear rub, because who could resist?  And Marmaduke enjoyed it - I could tell!)

I don't think his REAL name is Marmaduke.  That's just the part he plays in the movie.  I forgot to ask him what his real name is.  

As you can see by all the other photos, a lot of what was important to me at BlogHer was seeing people I know and meeting new people.

And pizza.  

Pizza was also very important.

 

This is where I'm supposed to name every single person in the above photos and link to them.  And, um ... yeah - did I mention I'm on pain meds?  You can probably tell by the general rambling tone of this entire post.  (Blame it on my new straitjacket!  Boo!  Hiss!)

If I tried to link to all those wonderful people right now, I can guarantee you none of the links would go to the right person and people would get mad at me and I'd make a Blogging.Disaster out of it.  

I might even get fired as a blogger.  

It could happen.

In fact, I'm actually really surprised it hasn't happened yet.

Never try to put more than one or two links in a post while under the influence of pain meds.  It's a famous Twenty Four At Heart rule of blogging. 

Suffice it to say, all those people pictured above?  

ARE REALLY, REALLY, NICE!

© Twenty Four At Heart

The Statement Bracelet - A Giveaway!

Men - don't run away!  

Today is for you too.  I'm sure you have a female in your life.  If not a wife, lover, sister, or mother ... than surely a friend?  Today's giveaway item makes for a perfect gift!

Big, fun, chunky, jewelry is "in" for the fall season.

If you wear one big, chunky, piece of jewelry it's called a "statement" piece and you don't need a whole lot else to go with it.  (Maybe clothes?)

One of my local, Orange County, readers sells Stella and Dot jewelry.  She recently contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in choosing a piece of jewelry from her collection to give away here on Twenty Four At Heart.  (And no, I'm not being compensated in any way for this post.)

"I can pick out any piece I want to give away?" I asked.

She replied, "Any piece you want!"

We set up a meeting at the Money Town Starbucks.  She brought boxes and boxes of jewelry to show me.  I oohed and I ahhed as I looked at all the pretty, sparkly items.

I kept coming back to ONE bracelet, over and over again.  (Surprisingly, it wasn't the most expensive piece of jewelry I was looking at.)

"I want this one, but I want it for ME," I told her.

She laughed.

(And no, I haven't yet ordered it for myself but oh, how I want to.) 

** Hint, hint Briefcase! **

 

It's just so fun to wear this bracelet. 

 

It's full of baubles and sparkles and joy.

My daughter (21 years old) tried it on so I could photograph it.  She instantly fell in love with it.  She was on her way out with some friends and asked if she could wear it for the evening.

"No," I answered.  "It's not mine, you can't borrow it."

The bracelet is perfect for fall. 

It's perfect for the holidays. 

If you don't wear jewelry yourself, it makes a perfect gift.

The Audrey Cluster Bracelet normally sells for $69 plus tax and shipping charges.  I have ONE to give away this week for free.

This is how the Statement Bracelet Giveaway will work:

1.  Every comment left on this post counts as one entry.

2.  You may enter as many times as you'd like.

3.  I will accept entries until Thursday night (August 19th) at 9 p.m. Pacific time. 

4.  The winner will be selected by using the Random Integer Generator software program.

5.  The winner will be announced on Friday, August 20th.

I'm sure it goes without saying, if you don't win this bracelet in my giveaway, you are able to purchase it (or any other Stella and Dot piece) by clicking here.

**  Additional note:  Yes, I will ship this to you for free including internationally.  If you order Stella and Dot products on your own, additional shipping charges will apply if you live outside of the United States.  **

Good luck!!

© Twenty Four At Heart

New York, New York!

In addition to the blogging conference last week, I also had the opportunity to enjoy New York City a little too.  I've been to NYC before, but this time was a little different.

It was August ....

The weather was, at times, unbearable with its heat and humidity.

I love New York, though ... regardless in spite of the weather.

One of my friends captured my photo, in my most natural state, and it accurately reflects how I look a great deal of the time.

So what was I clicking the shutter at while in New York?

The New York City skyline as seen from the top of the Rockefeller Center.

Oh, and I was also capturing people - individually, and in groups.

There were a lot of people in Times Square, and everywhere else too.  Honestly, I love people watching more than just about anything else.

I spent a morning at MOMA where I admired art by Picasso and Matisse.

And sculptures of naked women ...

Why are the women always naked?

I went to the biggest (and in my opinion, the best) photography store in the world.

I bought a new diffuser for my flash and the most fantastic camera strap ever invented.  (More about the camera strap later.)  The new strap will make photography much (!) more manageable for me with my bum arm.

I love B & H Photo.

There were also big, loud, noisy, joyful parades.

This particular parade was in celebration of Dominican Republic Day.

I meandered through Central Park a few times.

I wish I'd had more time for *just* photography.  Instead, I was snapping photos on the run everywhere I went.

I even took photos of buildings.

I love this one especially.

Can you see the clouds reflected on the buildings?

© Twenty Four At Heart

The Conference: BlogHer '10

I've been asked a few questions about the BlogHer conference by some of my non-blogging readers.  I thought I'd try to answer those questions and give you a recap of the conference all wrapped together in one post. 

Sounds easy, doesn't it?

(Except ... I'm on new pain meds as I write this, the room is all swirly and whirly, so ... um, maybe not so easy.)

There are somewhere around 55 million blogs in existence.  About 2,400 bloggers met in NYC for the BlogHer 2010 conference.  

Wow, don't I sound so official, and professional, sharing that with you?

People attend BlogHer for different reasons.  Some people are at the conference to get as much free stuff (swag) from the sponsors as possible.  

Did you know, SWAG stands for Stuff We All Get?

And yes, I was given an awful lot of free stuff at the conference.  

[The above photo is just a small portion of the swag I was given while at BlogHer.]

Some people participate in BlogHer because they want to gain a sense of self-importance (As an example, Mr. Ego Blogger might say: "I was invited to TEN parties in ONE night, I must be a Very Important Blogger!).  

Other people don't care about the conference at all and only attend as an excuse for a party, getaway, weekend.  

Still others, are determined to make a lot of money from their blog and see the BlogHer conference as a step towards monetization.

My point is, there is no right or wrong reason for attending BlogHer.

The conference exists, and each person attending it can take from it what they want.  

For me, the joy comes from spending time with other bloggers.  BlogHer is an opportunity to reunite with blogger-friends I wouldn't otherwise have much opportunity to see. 

[VodkaMom]

[Momo Fali]

[Margaret and Neil]

It's also a chance to meet friends I've "known" online, but not yet met in person. 

[The Bloggess]

In addition, each year I make brand new friends - people I knew nothing about when I set off for the conference. 

[John and Di]

[Jason]

[Pillsbury Doughboy]

These new friends are like unexpected nuggets of gold (or dough?), discovered in the crowd.

This was my second year attending BlogHer, and because of that I was a little more relaxed about the experience.  Doing every.single.thing, and attending every.single.party, was not important to me.  I did a LOT, but I paced myself so it was enjoyable.  I'm an introvert and scheduling down time, and small-group time, was critical for me.  

Really, what I enjoy most at BlogHer is one-on-one, or small group, time vs. the large parties.  For me, that's when the personal connections happen and the personal connections are what I love about the conference.

Was there drama at BlogHer?

Probably - after all, there were 2,400 people there.  The thing is, I wasn't aware of it and therefore it didn't exist as part of my BlogHer experience.

Were there some bitchy bloggers there?

Well, yes there were.  Or should I say, I encountered a few bloggers who were bitchy to me?  Based on my experience with these very same people online, I expected them to be quite nice.  They weren't.  I didn't let it faze me.  If you put 2,400 people together at a conference, you're not going to like all of them and all of them are not going to like you.  I didn't give it more than a seconds thought and I moved on to other people.

And guess what?

There were a few bloggers I *expected* to be aloof and they were actually warm, wonderful, people.

One of my favorite sessions at the conference was on Humor Writing.  Jessica Bern was one of the speakers.  I enjoyed it immensely.  However, it was even better to spend an hour sitting on the floor, in my party dress, outside of the Sparklecorn party chatting away to Jessica and Stacey (Any Mommy) one-on-one.

One of my favorite "small-group" opportunities was lunch at a pizzeria on Saturday.

Or taken from the other end of the table:

 

In the end, the BlogHer conference is whatever you choose to make of it.  I took it minute by minute, stayed flexible with my plans, and had a fantastic time.

Because ...

Isn't it true ...  

Ultimately, each of us is responsible for whether or not we have a good time no matter what we're doing?

 

By the way, next year's conference will be held in San Diego.  I'm so excited!

© Twenty Four At Heart

California - Here I Come!

I'm headed back across the country today.  I won't arrive back to The OC until fairly late tonight.

I hate traveling.

I hate traveling all the way across the country even more.  It makes for a very long-ass day and a lot of exhaustion.  Making today's trip even worse, I seem to have come down with my son's stomach/fever bug last night ... just in time for the trip home.  Is there anything worse than being sick and having to stand in lines at airports, or sit squished like a sardine on a plane?

Bleh!

BUT ...

I've had a great trip to New York.

Great!

I have forty bazillion photos to go through when I get home.  I have so many stories, events, sights to share with you.  It will probably be Wednesday before you see what I consider a "normal" post from me.  In the meantime, I'll be filling in with some New York photos with a little drivel on the side. 

I hope you'll be patient.

Have I mentioned my feet hurt even when I'm not on them?  I haven't stopped walking in days.

Also, can you believe I've had to act like a girl sometimes while I was here?  I couldn't wear my usual jeans, tee-shirts and flip flops every moment of the day.  (I did sneak them in a lot though!)

At one point, I had to return to my room for a boobage adjustment.  My daughter snapped this rare photo of me in a dress.  I just HAD to share, because I never, ever, wear dresses. 

See?!

Proof I really AM a woman!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Top of the Rock

On Thursday my daughter and I went to the top of the Rockefeller Center.  I don't usually post pictures of my kids but I asked, and she gave me permission to share this photo.

It was (so) hot and humid that day ... we look a bit wilted.  It was a lot of fun anyway.  The views were incredible. 

I went a little nuts with the photography while I was up there.  (And yes, I AM living with my arm taped up and covered with pain med patches ....  Why do you ask?)

I can't wait to share more about this trip, but I barely have time to breathe - I'm nonstop busy.  I'm having lots of fun and meeting some amazing, interesting, people.

Smooches to all of you!

© Twenty Four At Heart

I've Arrived in NYC

I got into NYC around 8 p.m. last night.

I woke up at 4 a.m. yesterday morning to begin the travel process.

I'm tired.

I had a layover in Dallas where I heard a lot of cool Texas accents and saw people in cowboy boots and cowboy hats.  I don't see a lot of that in The OC.

I love New York City.  I haven't been here in four years and there's no other place in the world like it.  It's hot, humid, dirty, bustling and vibrant.

The process of getting here was long, but also painful.  I had one large (!) bag on rollers which I checked.  I put some camera gear and my laptop in a backpack to carry on, thinking it would be easier on my arm than trying to carry a tote.  The backpack was very heavy because I have a big ass camera plus my laptop was in there. 

Well, the thing about backpacks is they pull BACK on your shoulders.  Pulling BACK on my bum shoulder HURTS.

A.lot.

Some very nice men helped me get the backpack in and out of the carry-on bins, but I still had to walk around 3 airports with it.

My pain was through the roof by the time I arrived.

The good news?

I saw Dr. Painless the day before I left to come to NYC.  He gave me some pain patches that go directly on my arm/shoulder and work for twelve hours.

They're like a miracle drug ... instant relief!

Where have they been the last four years?

I'm so thankful Dr. Painless is in my life.  Honestly, I don't know how I'd be able to handle this trip without his help.

Here's the view from the window in my hotel room:

 

I'll have more for you soon, but I have to warn you the Internet at the hotel is painfully slow.  (Probably because there are nearly 2,500 Internet writers here creating an unbelievable demand for it!) 

If you don't see a post up for awhile you'll know I've given up in frustration!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Getting Ready

I can't even fake it - I'm busy, busy, busy getting my act together to go out of town.  

I ended up caving in and using the BlogHer conference as an excuse to shop just like a zillion other women do every year.  I wasn't planning to, but I've lost some weight over the last few months and as I pulled stuff out of my closet, nothing fit.

I picked up some skinny jeans (even though I'm NOT skinny), a few cute tops, a pair of flats, and a few much needed dresses for all the parties and events I'll be going to.

I haven't even departed for the conference yet, and this year is already a much different experience than last year.  The PR/marketing folks are out in droves with all sorts of invitations and offers.  It's flattering and overwhelming at the same time.

Ming Wang was even kind enough to gift me with an outfit for BlogHer.  I haven't had a chance to take a photo in it yet, but here's a pic with their model wearing MY outfit.

 

They were kind enough to send me both the jacket and pants.  I will be supplying my own top - and I have yet to pick which one I'll wear.

I guess I'll have to pick a color that will look good with my purple hair.

Any suggestions?

© Twenty Four At Heart

Purple, Purple, And More ... Purple!

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.

I spent the last couple days taking care of a very sick kid.  Apparently there's some type of summer stomach flu going around.  I thought we were going to end up in the ER at one point, but he's doing much better now.  Poor kid - it was a tough few days.  He was really, really, sick.  Please keep your fingers crossed I don't catch it this week as I get ready for, and depart to, New York.

The BlogHer conference is a Big Deal in the Internet world.  A lot of women dress to impress.  They're attending the conference looking for the biggest and best opportunities they can find.

Don't get me wrong, I like opportunities too.  The car accident just changed my perspective a lot.  Life is short and can change on a dime.  I'm at a place in my life where it's also about having fun and, most importantly, being myself.

With 2,400+ people hanging out together, I figured purple streaks in my hair would help me stand out in the crowd.   Last year I put in pink/fuschia streaks, but this year I'm feeling purple.

What do you think?

 

The purple will wash out in a few weeks and then I'll return to my normal blonde locks.

I have to say, I don't think there are any other women with purple hair around here.  It isn't a popular look in the Money Town area.  Most of the women where I live look a lot like The Real Housewives of Orange County.  Oh wait, they ARE The Real Housewives of Orange County.  How could I forget?

Is it any wonder I don't fit in?

On Sunday I ran a few errands and then stopped into a Money Town salon to get a pedicure.  (The talons growing out of my feet were getting a little dangerous, and besides, I HAD to get purple toenail polish to match my purple hair, right?)

In any case, my purple hair caused quite a stir everywhere I went.

The thing about having purple hair, is - I keep forgetting I have it.

People stare at me and I think, "What are they staring at me for?"

Later, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a window and think, "Ohhhh, THAT!"

It's become an interesting study in human nature.  Some people stare, some comment, some send me scornful looks.

Sheesh!

Hey you, Money Towners ....

Have a sense of humor!  

Lighten up!

Laugh!

Life is short ... why not have some fun?!

© Twenty Four At Heart

The Insecure Woman's Guide to BlogHer

**  To my non-blogger readers, todays "regular" post is right below this one.  Scroll down and enjoy!  **

So you've decided to attend the BlogHer10 Conference in NYC.

Congratulations!

Going to a conference with 2,400+ other women/people can cause insecurities in anyone, but especially for us writer/blogger types.  (We do like to hide behind our laptops, don't we?)

I thought I'd provide you with some helpful tips to assist you in overcoming your insecurity.

What the Insecure Woman Does in Preparation For BlogHer10: 

•  Go on a crash diet - immediately!

•  Become a Shred-Head or commit to some other exercise plan to lift your ass ASAP.

•  Get botox and/or fillers or whatever you have to do to look better.

•  Buy new clothes, nothing in your closet is remotely adequate.

•  Buy new jewelry, nothing you have sparkles quite enough.  Sparkles are a must!

•  Feel bad about the parties and brand events you haven't been invited to, it's probably because no one likes you.

•  Get a fake tan so your legs look good better in a dress.  (Turn orange like everyone else, you will be in room after room filled with many other orange women!)

•  Whiten your teeth until they nearly fall out.

•  Get a pedicure.

•  Get a manicure.

•  It is definitely time for some new makeup and perfume.

•  Change your mind about the nail polish color you picked and re-polish your nails again.

•  Fill your prescription for Xanax, Zoloft, and/or any other mind altering drugs you can get your hands on.

•  Buy a couple push-up, cleavage enhancing, bras.

•  Start packing days ahead of time and bring more clothes than you can possibly wear "just in case."

•  Pack a flask.

•  Wax your vagina.  (Just ask Avitable!)

•  Buy a net-book because your laptop isn't good enough.

•  Buy a camera so people think you know how to take great photos.

•  It is all about what people think of you, isn't it?

•  Buy Spanx at least one size smaller than you should with the hope it will shrink you down to the size you dream of.

•  Plan what sessions you'll attend, then change your mind at least twenty times before you even arrive at the conference.

•  RSVP to every party you can, even though you can't possibly attend all of them, in an attempt to be "seen" in the company of Very Important Bloggers.

•  Bring a separate suitcase just for your shoes.

•  Tweet repeatedly about everything you think makes you look like a Very Important Blogger yourself.  (This just might make other people admire you more and mask your insecurity.)

What Everyone Should do at BlogHer10: 

•  Be flexible.  No matter how organized you are, or how well you plan, things happen and plans need to be changed.

•  Take lots of showers - NYC is hot and humid!

•  Keep a schedule that works best for YOU.  You have a lot of options. 

•  Pace yourself.  You don't have to go to every.single.thing.

•  Force yourself to step out beyond your comfort zone.  You won't regret it.

•  Get some sleep.  If you run yourself into the ground during the first 24 hours, you won't be able to get the most out of the entire experience.

What NOT to do at BlogHer10:

•  Do not sit down at a table of bloggers and confide to them about that ONE blogger you think is a bitch.  They, most likely, consider her a friend and will immediately tell her what you said.  You will only make yourself look bad.  

•  Do not act like you're still in high school.  You're an adult now.  If you want to be treated with respect, act like one.

•  Do not assume everything is all about you, because guess what?  It's not.  Be flexible, make do with whatever is happening around you at the time, and you will be on your way to a much more enjoyable experience.

•  Do not let yourself get sucked into drama of any kind.  Just say no!

•  Do not kid yourself into believing this conference will make your blog world famous in a weekend.  Instead, take from it what you want/find helpful and most importantly, have fun.

•  I realize you're insecure (that's why I'm writing this post for you), but you must suck it up and actually leave your hotel room if you want to interact with other bloggers.  Interacting with other bloggers is actually quite fun.  Most of us are very nice people, but just like any huge group of people - not everyone in it will be a perfect friend-fit for you.

•  Do not push, shove, run, or act like a greedy whore in your attempt to snag-the-swag at events.

•  Do not convince yourself the goal of BlogHer is to rub elbows with Very Important Bloggers in hope their fame rubs off on you.  

Networking and talent are two separate entities.  

•  Do not bitch/whine/complain because, honestly, no one wants to hear it.  An incredible amount of work and effort goes into a conference like BlogHer.  If everything isn't 100% to your liking, keep it to yourself.  If you want to see changes, volunteer to help next year so you have more input.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Off to the Races!

For several years I've been meaning to get down to the Del Mar Race Track in San Diego County.  Just about everyone I know has gone to the races, and has reported back on how much fun they've had.  For some reason, my plans have never come to fruition.

Because of that, I was absolutely THRILLED to receive an invitation from Del Mar Race Track to come down and join several San Diego Bloggers for a family day at the races. 

My very first trip to the races!

This is a photo I took with my webcam as I was headed out the door:

The laundry basket in the background is a nice touch, don't you think?

I picked up my friend Nike and we began the drive towards Del Mar.  I live about an hour north of San Diego so it was an easy drive.  (Also?  Nike and I can talk for hours and drive time makes for a great chance to get caught up!)

Here's a photo of Nike once we arrived at the track:

I hope each and every one of you is lucky enough to have a friend like Nike during your lifetime.  We've been friends for about 16 years I think and she's the greatest. 

Nike took this photo of me shortly after we arrived:

 

Do you think having my hands on my hips hides their largeness?

No?

The horses were so beautiful.  They took my breath away.

I got to meet a lot of wonderful San Diego bloggers including my long-time Internet buddy, San Diego Momma.

I can't wait to spend more time with her when we go to New York in a week or two.

Oh, and did I mention the actual races?

The races were fun, exciting ... and the horses were majestic.

It was such a fun experience!

I only bet on two races.  During one race I bet on Talktoomuch and won $4.00.  In the next race I bet on Winsome Charm and won around $11.50.  I know nothing about horse racing and I placed my bets based entirely on the horses names.  I was SO excited to win even though it was only a small amount of money.  

All in all, it was really a fun day.

Nike and I drove back to Orange County and then stopped for a margarita and some ceviche for dinner.

Margaritas are their own separate food group, aren't they?

Well, if not, they ought to be.

I had such a good time, I'm really (!) looking forward to going back for another fun day at the race track soon.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Dear Facebook: You're Being an Asshat

Dear Facebook,

I admit, I'm not your biggest fan user.

Oh yes, I have an account with you and I do pop in to visit now and again.  I don't, however, spend much time with you.  

I have other, bigger, social media outlets.

For instance, I love Twitter!

I've made some great "real life" friends on Twitter.  

Not only that, but Twitter has allowed me to get to know some of my 24 readers and for them to get to know me.  

Twitter is also the new Google.

Sort of.

I ask Twitter questions and I get (fast) answers.

And of course, in addition to Twitter ...

There's Twenty Four At Heart.  

My heart and soul are here on 24.  You might say I have an intimate relationship with my blog.  Who knew this little ol' space could become such a huge, important, part of my life?  Twenty Four At Heart is, in many ways, my soulmate.

Maybe that's where the problem came in, Facebook?  Maybe you're jealous of my other relationships loyalties and decided to pout and make my life miserable?

Please let me know when you're over it, and ready to resume a more positive relationship.

Yours truly,

Suzanne/Twenty Four At Heart

You can imagine my surprise when I stopped into Facebook for a peek the other day and was told I'd been reported for linking to "abusive content."

Um, what the hell?

With a little more digging, I was told someone had "reported" Twenty Four At Heart for containing "abusive content" and I was notified I would not be allowed to link to my own blog again.

Now, let's think for a minute ...

What would be "abusive content" on Facebook?

Well, an example might be a male pedophile posing as a 12 year old girl and then using Facebook to lure young girls to meet him.  Certainly, I can understand Facebook shutting someone like that down.  Lying about who you are, and representing yourself as something you're not, would be considered abusive content.

I was shocked, absolutely floored, when I began researching Facebook's procedures on reports of abusive content.

If someone reports another Facebook user as abusive, Facebook just BAM! shuts the accused person/website down.  Facebook apparently doesn't CHECK to see if the content by that user is, in fact, "abusive."  Facebook just assumes there's a reason to censor the person, and does.

There is no way to "appeal" the situation if someone reports you for abusive content.

Let's look at a hypothetical example ...

Let's pretend I'm a Money Town woman and I absolutely hate that damn chick who writes Twenty Four At Heart.  After all, she makes fun of people like me.  I have plastic boobs, veneers for teeth, a butt implant, a chin implant, cheek implants and enough botox injected into me to last a lifetime.  I make Heidi Montag look like a novice with the number of plastic surgeries she's had.  I tell Facebook Suzanne is posting abusive content, and BAM! she can't link to Twenty Four At Heart ever again.  I'm a liar and a bitch - but Suzanne can't do anything about it so I win.  (I've just put her in the same Facebook category as pedophiles!)

Woo hoo!

Can you imagine how much power this gives to General Asshats, friends/relatives you've had a falling out with, or your exes?  Anyone with a personal vendetta against someone else can create Facebook chaos for you very easily.

I went to Facebook's "Help" link to find out how to correct a bogus report of abuse.

Facebook says:

"If you believe there is no abusive content on the specific website you are trying to post, unfortunately, the web domain that hosts the website has already been identified as abusive."

I'm not convinced the above sentence even makes sense?

The meaning, however, is clear.  You can't do shit about a report of abuse, even if the complaint was completely unfounded.  Someone cried "abusive content" and therefore, you *must be* responsible for abusive content.  Just like that, you're banned from linking on Facebook.

Seriously, Facebook?

Of course, I was very pissed off at this point.  

I researched further by googling people who have experienced the same thing.  I read reports from other Facebook users who were falsely accused of abusive content.  I learned Facebook sometimes arbitrarily removes the restriction without notice or explanation.  (The same way, as a matter of fact, they begin censoring their users.)

Sure enough, about 48 hours later my account was restored back to normal.

Why?

Is it because of the rant I let loose on Twitter about the situation?

Or did my rant have nothing to do with it?  

Did someone look into the situation on my behalf?

I will never know.  

I do know, however, this is a Facebook policy that MUST be changed.  The way accusations of abusive content are handled right now is wrong on so many levels.  

In fact, I think all Facebook users need to be aware of this situation.  

I'm going to go put a link to this blog post on Facebook right now.  

I wonder if Facebook will censor THAT?

© Twenty Four At Heart

Waving!

I'm working on a technical problem with 24 this weekend.  I hope to be back up and running for Monday's post.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I Don't Love Vampires

Well, yesterday's post set a record for "fuck you's" in my comment section.  

Getting so many fucks in one day will most likely make me ineligible for any blog awards during the year 2010.

That didn't sound right ...

Also?

That big corporate sponsorship I was recently contacted about probably just disappeared, but that's okay!  I haven't had a big corporate sponsorship previously, and I never intended to have one when I began Twenty Four At Heart.  If Corporate America thinks I've had too many fucks from my readers then ... oh well.

(Wait .... that didn't sound right either!)

I think I'd better change the subject before I make things even worse than they already are.

Apparently another Twilight movie just came out.

I'm sorry, but I don't get it.

I can understand ten and twelve year old little girls squeeing over vampires and werewolves, but grown women?

I tried, I really did try.

I downloaded the first Twilight book to my Kindle awhile back and I forced myself to read the entire thing.  I thought the writing was incredibly weak and the story juvenile.

**  Ducking from thrown objects **

I couldn't bring myself to go see the movie or, for that matter, to read any of the other books.

I realize my opinion is not a popular one.

I realize my opinion will probably create fuck yous in my comment section again today, except this time they will be directed at me.

Why would a grown woman wait in line for four hours to see a movie written for 12 year olds?  Why, why, why?

Why would a grown woman fantasize about a pasty white man with fangs sucking blood out of her neck?

Why would she find it titillating to think a werewolf would compete with a vampire for her?  (Yes, a hairy beast of a man who likes to howl at full moons.)

It's no wonder so many men say they don't understand what women want.

I don't understand either.

I, personally, like a real man.

You know, a warm bodied man with real flesh, kind eyes and ... ok, maybe a talented tongue.

Did I just say that?

I believe I did ....

© Twenty Four At Heart

So, I've Been Thinking ...

It seems like I've been doing a lot of random assortment type of posts lately.  I think it might be because it's hard to put more than one, (1, o-n-e), thought together at a time on this medication.  (Be patient with me .....)

Here's a look inside my brain gone ADD-ish:

•  Today's the last day of school for my youngest son!  Woo Hoo!

•  Tomorrow morning I'm going to sleep in past 6 a.m.

•  This is the first time in three years, all 3 of my kids have been living (not just visiting) at home.

•  Kicking my way through several laps in the pool is much more difficult than when I also use my (one and a half) arms.

•  Where is the best pizza place in New York City?

•  My house is constantly messy with my kids all home.  We have a chaotic, but happy, household.

•  Why are my teeth, which have been perfectly straight since I had braces in 6th grade, suddenly getting crooked?  And does Invisalign work?

•  I hate summer league baseball.

•  Why am I all of a sudden craving carbs?

•  The aesthetician at my plastic surgeon/friends office has offered to do facial-ish stuff to me and I might let her.  Just call me a lab rat.

•  Will anyone else want to go visit B&H Photo in New York while I'm there?

•  Why haven't I done a blog contest lately?

•  I've never gone this long without chocolate.

•  What type of blog contest should I do?

•  I'm thinking about getting my first tattoo towards the end of the summer/fall.

•  Maybe I should have a contest to see who can design the best tattoo for me?

•  The (possible) tattoo might be indicative of a midlife crisis?????  I've never even remotely wanted a tattoo before and now I do.

•  I almost fell over from shock when uber-conservative Briefcase said he thought it would be sexy if his uber NOT conservative wife I got a tattoo.  

•  I've been sort-of planning the tattoo in my head for the last year but I had never mentioned it to anyone until about two weeks ago.

•  Maybe I should put the tattoo near my ankle?  Or my hoo haa?

•  My nipples are still bionic.

•  I'll be in Boston later this summer what should I do/see there?  I've never been.

•  Do you have any tattoos?  How much did they hurt?

•  My long-time next door neighbor (the very best neighbor in the entire world!) just moved.  I'm so sad.

•  I could wear my Gap workout/yoga-ish capris every day of the year and be happy.

•  Maybe I should have a big plate of carbs and see what happens?

•  There are way too many extremely expensive cars around here.

•  My (possible) (not-too-big) tattoo is going to be tied to my blog name.  Not because I want my blog name tattooed on me.  Instead, I chose the name Twenty Four At Heart because it's significant to me, and it will continue to be regardless of whether or not this blog ceases to exist tomorrow.

•  I'm not saying this blog WILL cease to exist tomorrow.

•  If you haven't tried Tuscan Cantaloupe you have no idea what you're missing.

•  I've been indulging in a little retail therapy lately.  I should feel guilty, but when life is shitty ... why not?

•  So what are YOU thinking?

© Twenty Four At Heart

The Countdown Begins!

Towards the beginning of August, I will be headed to New York City for a women's blogging convention called BlogHer.  Some of you will also be there, others of you may remember I attended this same event last July in Chicago, and still others of you have never heard of it.

Regardless of whether or not you're familiar with BlogHer, I have a feeling some of you will be able to help me plan for it.

But first ... a little background.

A lot of other blogging conferences have sprouted up, but BlogHer is the biggie.  I believe there will be over 1,200 attendees this year.  Despite the fact it's called BlogHer, there will also be a handful of male bloggers in attendance.  The vast majority of attendees, however, will be women.

What happens when you get 1,200 women together?

Well, there's a lot that goes on at the actual conference, but let's be honest ...

There's a lot of hugging and squeeeeeeeing and checking each other out too.

Women do shit like that, you know.

This will be my second year attending, so I don't have as much anxiety about the event as I did last year.

I do, however, have some.

The anxiety I have regarding BlogHer comes down primarily to two areas:

1.  I hate to fly.  (I was involved in a near miss on a flight into Dallas years ago and have been an anxious flyer ever since.).

2.  I'm actually very shy "in real life."  Social settings with lots of people I don't know are pure torture.  I have to force myself out of my hotel room, and force myself to talk to people, and force myself not to stand in the corner of a room hiding.  I know you might find this hard to believe based on my writing, but it's true.  I'm not shy once I know someone and I'm not shy in one-on-one situations ... but a roomful of strangers?  Egads!  I want to flee as fast as possible.

And yet, I had a lot of fun (!) last year in spite of myself.  It's good to force yourself out of your comfort zone now and then.  Attending a conference like BlogHer is definitely out of my comfort zone.

Regardless - I'm, in fact, starting to get excited.

My excitement began yesterday when I suddenly realized the conference is not that far off anymore.  I go through business cards at a rapid rate year round, and knew I would need to order more prior to BlogHer.  I decided to order them from Moo again because they allow me to upload my own photos to use on the cards.  I selected ten beach photos I've taken in recent months and designed my own cards.  (There will be one photo featured on each card, a variety of 10 different "looks" to my cards.)

I like having my own photos on my cards because more and more people are buying my photos now.  It makes for good advertising.  (Moo is not the cheapest place to get cards, but I think it's awesome if you're a photographer!)

I will, also, need to purchase a few other things for BlogHer.

I hate to shop.  I'm not a girly-girl.  

This is where some of you come in.

No, I'm not asking you to go shopping with me (although, that's actually a great idea!)

Instead, I think you're probably a great resource for ideas.

For instance, I know from last year, it would be very helpful to take a lightweight, but big (and strong) handbag with me.  I don't want anything expensive either.  The expensive handbags can stay put in The OC with The OC bitches ladies.  I will want enough room for my wallet, a pocket camera, a flask, a notepad, advil (to counter the effects of the flask), etc.

Yes, I said a flask.

No, I'm not joking.

If any of you have, or know of, handbags that might work I'd love to hear about it.

I'll also need a couple dresses.  I don't wear dresses, but I'll need to for this.  (There are lots and lots of cocktail parties at BlogHer!)  I'm curvy.  I have big boobs with bionic nipples.  I have no idea what design/style of dress works on my body-type.  Do you?  I need something that won't make my boobs look bigger, and also won't make ME look bigger.  (By the way I think EVERY woman at BlogHer wears Spanx or an equivalent.  Do you know how seriously sweaty that will be in NYC in August?)

Lastly, I've been to New York City before, but I don't know New York City.  I've built in some extra time to enjoy the city.

What are the things I HAVE to do while I'm there?

Where should I go?  What should I see?

What are the "must eat at" restaurants?

I have so much to learn and I'm counting on you to help!

© Twenty Four At Heart

I Feel So Violated!

I'm in the midst of fighting my way out of some pretty hefty technical problems so I don't have much of anything for you today.

I've spent the last 24 hours, or so, trying to repair and rebuild from a hacker.

That's right - I was hacked.

Really, WHO DOES THAT?!

Assholes with a lot of time on their hands, that's who.

I apologize to the many of you who got spammy emails from me (but not-really-me) yesterday.

My thanks to the many of you who took the time to inform me something was wrong.  I'm sorry if I didn't get back to each of you individually.  I was probably too busy pulling my hair out.  Also, I heard from a zillion of you and it's difficult to respond to a zillion people in a timely manner!

To make matters worse, the hard drive on our home PC (not the MacBook I use) crashed yesterday also.  

To make matters even worse, I am dealing with the biggest billing nightmare in medical history and the whole situation escalated to the point of exploding my head into four hundred zillion pieces yesterday.

Don't you love when a company is completely incompetent, bills you incorrectly for months, fails to fix the problem when you make repeated phone calls requesting they do (despite saying the situation will be remedied "immediately") ... and then reports YOU to a collection agency?

Because, isn't that exactly what you need to have happen on a day when you're fighting a technological nightmare?

On a positive note, after hours of work and very little sleep - my technological life is now back in order.

I think.

On a negative note, if you've emailed me in the last few weeks I most likely "lost" your email correspondence in the hacker nightmare.  SO - if you are waiting for a reply from me (and many of you probably are because I've been behind on email replies with the going out of town, graduation thing, going on) then please feel free to re-email me.

On another negative note, today I have to re-tackle the incompetent medical billing company.  I'm sure that will be a very unpleasant experience.

I think I need a few hours at the beach to de-stress.  Or an hour in my pool swimming.  Or a cocktail.  Or ....?

Come to think of it - let's go with that theme - 

What do you do to de-stess after a hellish day or two like I've had?

© Twenty Four At Heart

Lunch With Neil

I've mentioned my friend, Neil Kramer, on Twenty Four At Heart a few times.  He writes a blog called Citizen of the Month.  Many of you know Neil ... or know OF Neil.  If you've been reading here long enough, you may even remember Neil guest posted for me once upon a time while I was away on a trip.

Neil is a big, famous, screenwriter in real life.  Sometimes he lives in New York, and sometimes Neil lives in the Los Angeles area.  He's bi-coastal.

Neil was one of the first "big" bloggers to acknowledge my arrival in the blogosphere.  I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow we became friends.  Last summer we spent a lot of time hanging out together in Chicago.  Since then we've continued to stay in touch.  You might remember, I saw Neil not long ago at a bloggers meet-up in Laguna Beach.

In any case, Neil is living in L.A. at the moment.  Yesterday I drove up to meet him for lunch.  We were going to meet at a Japanese restaurant.

Um ...

Except - I got lost.

Yes, I've lived in Southern California my entire life.  And no, Neil has not.  That's why I offered to drive up to see him.  So, ya know, he wouldn't get lost.

* Ahem *

And yes, I do have a navigation system in my car.  And no, I didn't program it because I didn't think I needed to.  And then once I was lost, I couldn't program it because I drive with one working arm and .....

Anyway -

I called Neil from the car and he got quite a laugh at my expense.

He had me get off the freeway at the next exit (I had already driven well past the exit I was supposed to take) and directed me to meet him at a coffee shop a few blocks away.  He said he'd be about ten minutes behind me.

I found our new meeting spot, no problem.  I'm a smart driver like that!

L.A. is so L.A.  If you've never spent time in Los Angeles, you won't understand that statement, but if you have - you will.

Pann's was built in 1958 and it still has a 50's feel to it.  

Let's take a closer look at their sign:

  

After a short wait, Neil arrived.  We, of course, chatted nonstop.  There was a lot to get caught up on even though we seem to be in constant, daily, communication.

For instance, Neil told me about researching professional, Orgasmic French kissing which is supposed to be much more exciting than nonprofessional, non-orgasmic French kissing.  Mind you, Neil has only been researching it so far, he hasn't yet gone into PFK (professional French kissing) training.  

Did you click on the Orgasmic French Kissing link?

Neil is a thinker.  Neil thinks about things I would never think about and he thinks about them in a way I would never think about them.  (And I mean every word of that as a compliment.)

All in all, I think Neil is a very interesting person, which is why I enjoy his friendship so much.

 

My lunch reminded me of what I love most about blogging -

Friends like Neil.  

Friends I never would have met if not for the Internet.

Technology has brought some wonderful people into my life.

Like you!

And you ... and you ... and you!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Woo Hoo!

I was really excited last week to discover Twenty Four At Heart was listed as one of the 10 Best Blogs For Baby Boomers.  There are tens of millions of blogs written.  (The last count I heard was 76 MILLION and it's probably much higher by now!)

I was squealing with excitement at the honor of being on this list! 

I was so excited, that is, until I thought, "Wha ... ????  DO PEOPLE OUT THERE THINK I'M A BABY BOOMER?  Don't they know I'm only twenty four?"

And then a friend reminded me I'm not really twenty four, which totally messed with my psyche.  And then another friend told me anyone 40 and up is considered a Baby Boomer.

Is that true?

Have I become ... a Baby Boomer?

Something about it sounds sorta ... old.

At twenty four, am I ... oh dear God, OLD?

Are you old too?

Because I don't think of any of you as being old.

Also, as much as I love and welcome all my "baby boomer" readers, I have readers of all ages.  I get comments from college students. and single men, and young moms, and well endowed men, and mid-lifers, and grandmas and grandpas.  I love all of you and all of you seem quite young at heart when you write to me or leave comments.  In fact, one of my youngest-at-heart readers signs her comments as "Old Woman" and yet, I think her heart is one of the youngest I've ever encountered.

And isn't that really the only place age matters?  

In our hearts. 

I am putting the thought of being old entirely out of my head and going right back to my mental age of twenty four.  At the same time, I would like to say I was thrilled to death to have Twenty Four At Heart recognized on such an awesome list.

I want each of you to know I'm sending you a huge virtual hug today.  I'm so happy you come to visit and spend time with me.  I'm so honored you've helped make Twenty Four At Heart grow into such a great little community of its own.  

Really, I'm tremendously touched.

xo

© Twenty Four At Heart

Bloggers at Las Brisas

There's a restaurant called Las Brisas perched on a bluff in Laguna Beach.  They have a very popular outdoor bar, in addition to a fairly swanky indoor restaurant.  It's a favorite place for Orange County folks to bring out of town guests.

Why?

Well, the view has a lot to do with it. 

Las Brisas could not be more "Orange County."  The people-watching there is always incredible too.  (Particularly in the summer when no one in the bar wears much in the way of clothing.)

Last Wednesday night, I arrived at Las Brisas to meet up with a few other bloggers.  The event was organized as part of Bossy's No Book Tour.  (For the two one of you who don't know Bossy, she is a humor blogger.) 

Humor.  

As in, she is funny all the time, whereas, I just think I'm funny some of the time.

This is what Las Brisas looks like from inside the restaurant at night:

 

This is what our group looked like after everyone had drunk a little wine and/or a few margaritas.

I stole borrowed this group photo from Bossy.  I'm sure she doesn't mind I wrote all over it. 

Isn't Bossy gorgeous? 

I was the last one to arrive.  I had been sitting in the cold and rain for three hours watching my cold turn into pneumonia son's baseball game.  Why they didn't call the game is beyond me.  It was nice to arrive at Las Brisas and see the ocean storming though.  I love the beach during a storm.

Despite arriving late, and feeling very rushed and flustered, I quickly settled in and had fun.

 

Who, me?

Can you imagine me having fun?

By the way, I'm not sure who I stole that last photo from.  It might have been on Bossy's camera too.

What could be better for a stormy night by the sea than a bowl of soup?

Ok, I admit, it does look like something one of my dogs yakked up.

It was some sort of hominy something-or-other, and also, sort of Mexican-ish.

Guess what?

It was delicious.  Absolutely fantastic!  I would order it again in a minute. 

I really enjoyed meeting some new people and also getting caught up with a few old friends.  Bossy will have to come visit Orange County more often so we have an excuse to celebrate again.

© Twenty Four At Heart

And This is What You Get Today

I'm apologizing in advance for not making much sense today.  I may ramble too, but you're used to that, right?

I'm not feeling quite as badly as I did a day ago, but this "thing" I've caught has turned into a bad head/chest cold.

** I can't breathe **

I'm definitely suffering from cold medicine induced brain-fog also.  I've been doing things like forgetting what I'm talking about mid-sentence, pee-ing a little each time I sneeze, coughing with a mouthful of soup and spewing it all over myself.

I'm so much fun!

And yet, in spite of it all - I wanted to give you at least one update I promised would be forthcoming.

Before I do?

(Prepare for tangent ....)

My chocolate lab is really jealous I always show you photos of my golden.  The golden is more photogenic, but try explaining that to a lab with hurt feelings.  In the interest of being fair, here's a picture of Mocha, my female chocolate lab:

Her eyes are two different colors, did you notice?

She's not as smart as my golden, but her heart is filled to the brim with love and kindness.

By the way, never take a photo of a brown dog with a brown couch behind her.

I've OD'ed on cold meds, can you tell?

And on with today's update .... 

I won't be going to Cambodia.  I was working on details this week and there were a lot of complications.  In fact, there was one complication after another ... to the point where it finally just seemed like this trip was not meant to be.  The biggest factor was I didn't have enough time to complete all the required immunizations.  I could have traveled only 90% immunized, but Briefcase, who works in the medical world, was not comfortable with that at all.  Especially since I would be working in a hospital, and therefore, most likely exposed to very sick people.  Some very serious diseases (hepatitis, cholera, typhoid, malaria, dengue fever) are prevalent in Cambodia.

There were other factors too.  The timing was not compatible with some big family stuff we have going on in June, the cost would be well over $2,000 and we're on a strict two-kids-in-college budget right now, etc., etc.  

There was also concern over my limitations with my arm.  That concern, in relation to the Cambodia trip, is an entire blog post all on its own and I won't bore you with it.  (Because, blah, blah, blah ... I have a really fucked up arm.  The end.)

I was really honored to be invited.  I hope sometime in the future all the pieces will come together so I might experience a trip like this, but this particular one will not work out for me.

In spite of being sick, I had a very chaotic, busy, day yesterday.  It involved, among many other things, sitting out in very cold weather and pouring rain to watch my son's baseball game.  The game went into extra innings because, of course, a game in pouring rain could not end early or on time.  

That is exactly how a person goes about getting pneumonia, by the way.

It also involved mixing this:

 

With cold meds.

Which I don't recommend.  

Especially when you double triple the recommended dosage of cold meds so you can attend the event without coughing and sneezing on everyone.

I'll tell you more about that soon.

For now, I hope you'll excuse me while I go make some tea and ... 

** Cough ** 

** Cough **

ACHOOOOOO!

. . . .  Excuse me  . . . .

Where's the Kleenex?

© Twenty Four At Heart

iS Clinical Product Winners

I'm happy to announce the two winners for the iS Clinical products today.

The winner of the Youth Complex is comment #99: 

 

Comment #99 was submitted by Kelly!
 

The winner of the Youth Eye Complex is comment #8:

Comment #8 was submitted by Middle-Aged-Woman!

Kelly and Middle-Aged-Woman please contact me with your mailing addresses and I will get the product sent out to you as soon as possible. 

Congratulations to both winners and thank you to everyone who entered to win!

Thank you also to iS Clinical for donating the product to make this giveaway possible!

© Twenty Four At Heart

iS Clinical Product Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Back in March, I attended a Plastic Surgery Party and won a raffle for a product called Youth Complex made by iS Clinical.  (iS stands for Innovative Skincare.)  I blogged about it at the time, and iS Clinical then contacted me and arranged a meeting.  They asked if I would be interested in reviewing their product, and I agreed with the understanding I would be brutally honest with my review.  There was also the added condition they provide product for me to use in a giveaway for my readers.

Hey, I'm all about you.

In the last month, I've been faithfully using Youth Complex every day.  

 

In addition, I've also been using the iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex they provided for me (at no cost to myself).  

iS Clinical is not compensating me for this review.

Both products are only available through doctors offices (dermatologists and plastic surgeons).  

There's a lot of science behind the iS Clinical products.  iS Clinical is on the leading edge of anti-aging technology.  The products are made from botanicals and actually stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in your skin.  There's a dose of antioxidants, which are very healthy for your skin, in every application.  

Men, these products aren't just for women.  Anyone who has skin can use them.

Do you have skin?

That's what I thought.

I also think you should know a little about my skin before I blab on and on.  I have uber-sensitive skin.  The majority of fancy skin products make me break out in a rash or get itchy.  I've gravitated towards simple fragrance-free products as a result.  My biggest concern about agreeing to this review was the worry of how my skin would react to new products.

And here's the thing ...

I unequivocally love both the Youth Complex and Youth Eye Complex products.

Love them!

(And you know I wouldn't say that unless I meant it!)

My skin seems to positively glow since I began using these products.  The products aren't at all greasy.  They hydrate my skin without making it break out - and I know it sounds impossible, but I swear they make little, fine, lines less apparent.  Also, there just seems to be an added tightening, or firming, to my skin.  I particularly notice this benefit under my eyes where all my crows feet live.

It's like magic.

I've become addicted.

(Briefcase grabs his wallet and runs ....!)

Apparently, I'm not the only one with great results.  The list of celebrities using iS Clinical products reads like a Who's Who of Hollywood.  (Yes, iS Clinical sent me a press packet so I would realize I'm in the company of people like Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston and many others.)

Did someone say I'm in the company of George Clooney?  I've been meaning to be in his company for quite some time ....

I've been using Youth Complex on my face, neck, decolletage and (shhh!) a tiny little dab on the back of my hands.  I use Youth Eye Complex around my eyes including my upper and lower eyelids.

I've mentioned before, one of my biggest gripes about my own body is the fact my hands have aged so much faster than the rest of me.  I would love to see iS Clinical come out with a product specifically for the hands.  (An affordable product for the hands!)  In the meantime, I'll probably continue using a little dab of the Youth Complex on the back of my hands because I've seen a dramatic change in my skin from using it.

One other thing I want to mention ...

iS Clinical is very involved in helping cancer patients with skin issues which arise as a result of radiation and chemotherapy.  Their products have such powerful botanical antioxidants, they help repair the skin against the free radical damage caused by cancer treatments.  I'm a big believer in supporting companies which involve themselves in the betterment of society.  For me, the iS Clinical work with cancer patients is just another reason to support their company.

Youth Complex runs around $135 before taxes and the Youth Eye Complex runs around $85 before taxes.  It's expensive stuff, but the high cost is the only fault I've found with either product.

iS Clinical has been kind enough to provide me with one Youth Complex and one Youth Eye Complex to give away to my readers.  

Here's how it works:

1.  Leave a comment, any comment, to enter.  (ideas:  skin/health care/beauty products - or anything else!)

2.  You may enter as many times as you like.

3.  Comments/entries will remain open until 9 p.m., Pacific time, this Friday, April 16th.

4.  There will be two winners, one for each product.

5.  I will pick the winners using the Random Integer Generator.

6.  Winners will be announced on Saturday, April 17th.

These are truly great products!

Good luck to all of you!  

© Twenty Four At Heart

From Germany With Love

** I will be hosting a giveaway, tomorrow, on Wednesday!  Please make sure to stop by! **

Awhile back, one of my readers, Anne (who lives in Germany), contacted me.  She'll be in the United States in May and was wondering if we could meet.  We've corresponded a few times trying to work out the details.

I was delighted when she emailed me about two weeks ago to inform me she had sent a package to me.

I'm not much better than a child as far as surprises (!) and packages (!) and presents (!) go.

I've been waiting, and waiting, and waiting, to see what my surprise might be.

Finally, this arrived:

Inside I found this:

There was a very nice letter in the pretty flowered envelope.  

Also?

There was German chocolate.

And then?

There was more chocolate.

But what's in the pretty box?

Well, do you remember awhile back, I shared with you some Fun Facts?  One of them, was about rubbing your hands on stainless steel after cooking with garlic or onions to make the strong odor completely disappear from your skin.  (This was a tip from my friend MrLady.)

Shortly after reading my post, Anne found Stainless Steel Soap in one of her local stores and thought of me.

How clever is that?

You set the "soap" in it's little black soap dish in your kitchen.  I put mine right by my sink.  After cooking with garlic or onions, you rub your hands on the "soap" and it eliminates the smell from your hands. 

This means I don't have to get all friendly with my stainless refrigerator anymore.  (Or rub my hands on a knife (!) as some of my readers mentioned they do.)

Better yet, unlike real soap, the stainless steel soap will last forever.

I'm thrilled with my surprises.

(I know some of you might be interested in purchasing Stainless Steel Soap also.  If you are, you can find a few brands to choose from on Amazon by clicking here.)

Thank you, Anne, for your thoughtfulness!

I hope everything works out so we are able to meet in person in May.

xo

© Twenty Four At Heart

Welcome To My Non-Post

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to leave comments, and/or sending emails and tweets yesterday.  I was busy most of the day and didn't get home until late in the evening.  I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to respond to you individually yet.  I really appreciate having so many people weigh in with their thoughts on my post.

It's a hard topic to follow.

I thought I should come in today with something light and funny.

Maybe I could dazzle you with my bionic nipples (they really are quite dazzling), or tell you about the Barbie Woman I , literally, bumped into at the Money Town Starbucks yesterday ...

But I can't.

I'm not feeling the funny today.

I'm still digesting all the comments from yesterday and I'm wiped out from a very long, exhausting, day.

Did you know baseball events can last over six hours?

Also, my pain levels are way too high to feel funny right now.

I've been going through a rough time with my bum arm lately.  It's like that sometimes.  It rebels for no reason at all, or for a reason I don't understand.

Whine, whine, whine ....

But I also have some really exciting, great, news.

I have a reader named Shay.

She's a professional photographer.  I've seen some of her photos and they are truly astounding.  She has such a gift.

Shay will be hosting Photography Friday right here on 24 tomorrow.

I'm so honored and thrilled.  Really, I am.

I wish Shay lived closer so I could follow her around and ask her photography questions all day long.  I think all of us will be able to pick up some tips from her tomorrow, even if we only pull our cameras out now and again for a few quick snapshots.

I hope you'll forgive me for this "non-post posting" today.  I'll make up for it next week with an exciting give-away.

I also hope you'll come back and visit tomorrow when Shay is here.

You will be so glad you did!

© Twenty Four At Heart

An Abuse of Power or Freedom of Speech?

This is going to be a long post, but I need to address some things.

I began Twenty Four At Heart as a result of a terrible car accident I was in.  Writing has helped me cope with the struggles I've gone through.  It's also allowed me to look outside of my physical pain, and limitations, to find the humor in the small every day things surrounding me.  For me, writing has been tremendously healing.

As dramatic as it sounds, writing is truly my oxygen.  I don't know if I could have managed to get through such a hard time in my life without it.

In my short time in the blogosphere, I've intentionally avoided Internet drama to the best of my ability.  I've got real-life physical challenges to deal with every day, I don't need to get caught up in blogging dramas on top of it.  (And for those of you who don't live in the blogosphere, there is always plenty of drama going on.)

That being said, apparently I've unintentionally stirred up some shit this week with my post, Lately, My Life Has Been a Whirlpool.  My intention, of course, was just to vent about a situation in my life (just like I vent about so many other things here on 24).  I received some heated comments on my post.  I also received several Tweets regarding it and some direct emails also.

Emotions ran high.

Accusations ran high.

Support ran high.

Anger ran high.

To be honest, I never expected the Whirlpool post to receive the attention it has.  I didn't realize a broken washing machine would create such a fuss.

But I guess, I should have.

I've had every major appliance company imaginable on 24 since the Whirlpool post published.  I've also had some of the biggest public relations companies in the world visiting.

** Waving to all the nice folks  **

(Some of them are pissed off at me, I think.)

I know I have some readers who have never read any blogs other than 24.  They aren't aware of the washing machine "issue" which preceded mine.  For them, I will try to explain briefly.

There's a woman named Heather Armstrong who writes a very famous "mommy blog" called dooce.  She has over a million followers on Twitter.  A lot of bloggers love to hate her because they either a) Don't like her personality b) Disagree with her lifestyle or c) Have all sorts of jealousy issues about her success.  Personally, I enjoy her humor and like to read her blog, although I don't follow it every single day.  I met Heather briefly on the Dr. Phil show last summer and I thought she was very nice.  (Remember?  I spoke on Dr. Phil?  And the back of my head became famous for five minutes or less?)

In any case, Heather had a washing machine issue awhile back (with a Maytag which is the same company as Whirlpool).  When customer service repeatedly didn't handle her problem she became frustrated and sent out Tweets telling her million plus followers not to buy Maytag.  Needless to say, her washer got fixed promptly.

Her situation created a controversy in the blogosphere.  Some people applauded Heather for forcing a corporation to take action and be accountable for their customer service.  Other people condemned her for "abusing her power."

To be honest, I didn't know much about Heather's whole situation.  It just wasn't a memorable thing for me although I did remember there was some big controversy over an appliance.  (On many days, I'm doing well if I get a post up on 24 and I tend to be a little oblivious to the rest of the blogosphere.  Maybe that makes me self-absorbed, but more likely it has to do with the fact I'm living with intense pain and just can't deal with much else.)  

Then I started getting dooce-related comments on my post.  I had to google "Heather Armstrong appliance problem" and go back and read about it to get the details.  That's when I found out Heather's appliance issue was ALSO with a washing machine, and ALSO with the same company since Whirlpool owns both the Whirlpool and Maytag brands.

One of my readers, Lisa, left the following comment on my Whirlpool post and also unfollowed me:

Ok seriously? Am I the only person who thinks you may be looking a gift horse in the mouth a bit? The fact is you didn't buy the extended warranty and Whirlpool doesn't HAVE to do anything. They are because you threw a hissy on Twitter and tried to pull a Dooce. The whole "I'm a blogger and you better give me special treatment" act leaves a sour taste in the mouths of people who see real need every day because of skyrocketing unemployment. You are not shy about talking about all of your financial advantages, leaving us to believe you can well afford the cost of a new machine. The rest of us would have to make the best of this very same situation. Come on.

One of my other readers then responded:

Lisa, Ok Seriously! If you or I had spent $1000 on a washing machine and it broke, I think you or I would do everything in our power to right the wrong that is a lemon! No matter what anyone makes, Whirlpool made a shitty product and it shouldn't break in 3 years. I'd yell it out over the mountain tops but heck there's the internet, baby, I'd use that and make a strong statement!

I don't mind people calling me out if I deserve it.  In this case, I don't think I do.  Also, Lisa was making some big assumptions about my life that really pissed me off.  I replied to her:

Lisa,
I'm "not shy in talking about" all my financial advantages? When have I EVER talked about my finances?

Never. Not once.

I don't discuss my finances, my marriage, my family on 24.
I live NEAR an affluent area I refer to as Money Town. I don't live IN Money Town.
Your perception of my financial status is very misguided. I can't afford to buy a new washing machine every 3 1/2 years.

Even if I could, I shouldn't need to ... nor should anyone else.

I think I was quite complimentary of Whirlpool's efforts to stand by their product in today's post. Do I still have a dilemma? Yes, I do. I am physically incapable of carrying laundry baskets. I have no laundromat in the vicinity of my home. I have a problem.

Does it make me an Internet bully to discuss my problems/issues/concerns on my own blog? I don't think so ... that's what bloggers do EVERY DAY.

I appreciate being compared to Dooce, but I am a small blogger. I don't have anything close to her power. Also, I didn't get on Twitter (or my blog) and tell people not to buy Whirlpool OR ask for special treatment because I'm a blogger. Nonetheless, I can certainly understand why she got so frustrated that she DID shout out on twitter. There are few things as frustrating as dealing with a broken appliance which we, as moms, are very dependent on.

I did VENT on Twitter ... just like everybody else does EVERY DAY about the issues going on in our lives. Is venting "throwing a hissy fit"?? Then take a look at twitter and you will see people throwing hissy fits over various issues in their lives ALL DAY LONG.

Whirlpool responded to my venting ... and as I wrote in my post, I was quite impressed that they did and also with their response. I don't see anywhere in this post where I complain about Whirlpool's response to my problem or ask for "special treatment" because I'm a blogger.

On the other hand, consumers have every right to stand up for themselves and to request good customer service from the companies we purchase products from.

Another commenter wrote:

I am glad they are fixing your problem and I would be irate if an appliance broke down in 3 years! I had my last one for FIFTEEN!!! That is absurd and a quality issue that is the problem of the company. I am glad to see that they are doing something to resolve it. If everyone's washer broke down in 3 years and they just said, "Sorry, you didn't buy the warranty" as the previous poster suggested, how many do you think they would sell...not many I would think. I also think that even if you do have money, or not, is irrelevant in this issue and people need to quit hating. A customer is a customer no matter what their economic status and I expect to get a quality product when I spend my money as everyone should. Perhaps people like you and Dooce using your "voice" will make customer service better for everyone and it is certainly a good move on Whirlpool's part to correct the issue.

In a direct email, another reader wrote:

You have a strong voice in the blogosphere and although I understand your frustration, you are abusing your power by writing about your broken washing machine.  When my washing machine broke, I had to call customer service lines and wait around in frustration for days.  Why should you get better treatment just because you write 24?

I've read every comment, every Tweet, and every email I've received regarding my Whirlpool post.  I've also thought long and hard about all of them.

When I tweeted my frustration over my washing machine I wasn't "trying to pull a Dooce" because I didn't even know the dooce/washing machine details at the time.  I also wasn't trying to get special treatment.  I was surprised, but pleased, when Whirlpool responded on Twitter.  As I wrote in my post, I was impressed with their response.  I don't think they knew at the time, I'm the author of 24 and I certainly didn't Tweet "my machine broke and I'm a blogger so you better fix it."

A decade ago a frustrated consumer might go to their local newspaper or news station with a tale of woe.  Were they abusing their power by doing so?

Now, consumers use social media to voice their opinions whether they be positive or negative.  Savvy companies are aware of this and have a strong social media presence.

The issue of "power" and "abusing power" is really troubling me.

Do I, a relatively small blogger, have power?

I've never thought about myself, or 24, in those terms.

I don't have millions of followers like dooce, but I do reach thousands of people.

I suppose I do have some influence/power, but - not much.

When Anthem Blue Cross changed their payment policy towards physical therapists, I lost treatment for my injuries.  I blogged about it.  No one accused me of "abusing my power" for writing about a situation, created by a greedy disgusting corporation, which influenced my life in a very negative way.

Why not?

To me, that was a way bigger issue than a washing machine failing in three and a half years.

Why am I being accused of "abusing my power" now?

Am I irresponsible if I write about a situation/company/product in an unfavorable light?  Is it irresponsible if it's my honest opinion or experience?

When I write about a book I like, or a product or business I love ... and those comments are my honest opinion, no one bitches at me about abusing my power, do they?

Is it freedom of expression if my opinion or experience is positive and an abuse of power if my opinion or experience is negative?

Isn't it a positive thing, for all consumers, for us to demand our corporations stand by the products they make?  

For many years, I worked as a manager for a top Fortune 500 company.  Every single thing we did was about and for the customer.  We wanted to keep our customers for life.  When things occasionally went wrong, as things sometimes do, we did everything in our power to remedy the situation as fast as possible. 

I expect the very same treatment from the companies I deal with.  

I expect it, not because I'm a writer, not because I'm "powerful" (which is questionable), but because it's the right thing to do.  If I think highly enough of a company to purchase their products, they should think highly enough of me, as their customer, to stand by the product or service they sell.

And now I'd like to hear your thoughts ...

© Twenty Four At Heart

Lately, My Life Has Been a Whirlpool

** A huge thank you to all of you who contacted me with concern over yesterday's earthquake.  I'm fine; my family's fine.  I live pretty far south and the quake did cause significant shaking at my house.  (The epicenter was in Baja California.)  Our nerves were rattled, but we are okay.  **

If you follow me on Twitter, you already know a little about today's topic.

In August of 2006, I purchased a top of the line Whirlpool front loading washing machine for just over $1,000.

Expensive, don't ya think?!

I'd never spent that much money on a washing machine in my life.

I've been very happy with my washer (and the Whirlpool dryer which I bought at the same time).

I love the large capacity of the front loaders.  I have three kids; there's never a shortage of laundry at my house.

In fact, I do several loads of wash every.single.day.

My washer has done a great job cleaning even the toughest clothes.  I've been extremely happy with it.

My boys both have participated in sports.  Currently, my youngest son brings home filthy baseball uniforms each evening for me to launder.  They need to be washed and re-packed for practice or games the next day.

A few nights back, on April 1st, I was washing my son's high school baseball uniform when my washing machine began making a beeping noise.  I went to take a look at it, and you can imagine my surprise when I discovered the washing machine door had locked itself tight.

Inside, my son's uniform was being held hostage.

Visions of an angry coach immediately began dancing through my head.

I turned to Twitter for help.

I tweeted my problem and I was pleased to get some advice on how to unlock the machine.  I followed the advice, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

The following day an appliance repairman charged me $53 to look at my three and a half year old machine.  The repairman was able to unlock the machine and free the hostage uniform by using some magic repairman tricks.  He also told me the "inner tub" of the machine was separating and that my "machine is failing."  He told me I might be able to wash small loads temporarily, but I need to buy a new washing machine.

I was upset.  

I was livid.

How can a "top of the line" washing machine "fail" in only three and a half years?

The repairman told me it doesn't happen often, yes - he does like and recommend Whirlpool machines, and it's too bad I didn't have an extended five year warranty.

Seriously?!

No one buys a washing machine thinking it will DIE in less than five years.

No one, especially, buys a "top of the line" washing machine for a thousand dollars thinking it will only last three and a half years.

I began venting on Twitter.  I was not a happy Whirlpool customer.

To my surprise, Whirlpool responded via Twitter.

They asked me how old the machine was, and then asked me for my "information."

I sent them a direct Tweet (like a private text message) with my first name and phone number.

The next day I got a call from Whirlpool.  Based on the small amount of information I had provided, they knew my full name, address, and all the registration information about my machine.

I was impressed.

It also creeped me out a little, in a big-brother type of way, but I was mostly impressed.

They informed me they would send out their own serviceman to look at my machine and see if it could be fixed at no cost to myself.

I was, again, impressed.

Clearly, Whirlpool cares about their reputation.  Clearly, they understand the power of the Internet.  Clearly, they are trying to stand by their products - right?

Last Saturday, the Whirlpool serviceman arrived.

First, he informed me the water pump on the machine was bad and he had already replaced it.

"That's nice," I responded, "but I thought the problem was with the 'inner' tub?"

"I'll check that next," he said.

Sure enough, he determined the machine needed a new inner AND outer tub.  He told me Whirlpool would be covering the repairs.  

Those repairs?

They would have cost me $1,400 if I were paying to fix the machine myself.  (More than an entirely new machine would cost!)

I asked the repairman why Whirlpool wouldn't just let me get a replacement machine.  It would be cheaper for them, and more convenient for me.

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "They won't.  This is how they take care of it."

I'll be honest, my initial reaction was one of relief and thankfulness.

I felt relief Whirlpool cared enough about their customers to stand by their product.  I felt thankful I didn't have to spend $1,000 to buy a replacement machine.  (If I had to buy a new machine after only 3 1/2 years you can bet, in my anger, it would NOT have been a Whirlpool.)

Whirlpool was making me happy.

Really, what a smart company - don't you think?

I reach thousands upon thousands of people with my blog and Twitter ... Whirlpool is smart.

Big corporations are learning ...

Take care of your customers, and your customers will be your customers for life.

Also?

If your customer is a blogger?

You can reach thousands of people in a positive way by having excellent customer service.

Whirlpool is smart.

But I still have a big problem and I'm not sure what to do about it.

Whirlpool is sending BIG boxes with replacement TUBS and other things to my home.  When they arrive, I'm supposed to open them and check for damage.  Apparently they get damaged a lot in transit because they are big and heavy.  Then I'm supposed to call the service company and let them know if my replacement parts are good, or need to be ordered again.  If everything arrives undamaged, the service company will be out on April 15th, with two men, to spend almost an entire day re-building my washing machine.

If the replacement parts arrive damaged, the whole process begins again with them re-ordering the parts.

Do you see where this is going?

If the very best scenario takes place, I will be without a working washing machine for a total of fifteen days!

FIFTEEN DAYS!

I do several loads of laundry EACH DAY!

Now, you're probably thinking, "Go use a laundromat, 24."

Of course, I already thought of that myself.  The problem is, there are no laundromats near Money Town.

None!

(Rich people never need laundromats?  Inquiring minds want to know!)

In addition, my son gets home from high school baseball around 6:45 each night.  His uniform has to be washed at night for the next day of school which he departs for at 7 a.m.  I usually wash his uniform while I'm getting him his dinner, etc.  It's not a time of day where I can be driving thirty minutes (or longer) both ways to a faraway laundromat.  I can't be away from home for a couple hours every night.  It won't work.

There's another, more difficult, problem also.

Whirlpool doesn't know this, but you do.

I'm *disabled* .... 

(Oh, how I hate that word.)

Laundry is difficult for me under the best of circumstances.  When I do laundry at home, I drag the baskets across the floor with my left, non-dominant, arm.  I drag them downstairs, one at a time, in the same manner ... and then I drag them one-handed to our laundry room.  If Briefcase is home, he helps me by carrying them, of course - but his job involves extensive travel and he isn't home very often.

I do a lot of dragging.

I'm not physically capable of lifting laundry baskets, carrying them to my car, lifting them in and out of the car and carrying them into a laundromat.

(If I even HAD a laundromat nearby - which I don't.)

In the meantime, dirty laundry has already begun taking over my entire house.

In a perfect world, Whirlpool would have a replacement machine delivered to my house in the next 24 hours.

And yet, it isn't a perfect world.  Whirlpool has committed to fixing the machine I have, and I appreciate that - very much.  It just isn't going to happen quickly.

What do I do?

I mean, other than trying to rub the clothes against a rock in the backyard with one arm in an attempt to clean them?

Your suggestions are welcome ....

**  Controversy over this post warranted a further discussion which you can find by clicking here.  **

© Twenty Four At Heart

Life's Little Twists and Turns

I'll be honest, I've got a whole lot of nothing in my head right now.

Actually, I've got a whole lot in my head, but just not in bloggable form.

This is possibly because I'm exhausted.

So I'll ramble a little and who knows, maybe you'll enjoy the rambling.

Why am I exhausted?

Well, there's a few things going on.  Briefcase has been traveling nonstop.  That's nothing new, of course, but his travel has included most of the last two weekends.  It means I haven't had any down time for awhile.

There's also the whole my arm hurts like hell and I can't sleep thing.  That isn't really new either, but I've had a bad flare up lately so boo hiss on living with chronic pain.

I took two pain pills this week.  I took both of them at night (two separate nights/one pill each time) with hopes of being able to sleep.  I haven't taken any pain meds for nearly two months and it made me angry to need them.  

My increased pain level is camera-related.  

I'm not giving up photography.

Some of you have inquired, and no, I don't have a new physical therapist.  My PT days are probably over for good.

The Torturer has re-signed with Blue Cross and is taking Blue Cross patients again, by the way.

I don't feel like I can go into more detail on those last three sentences, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

My daughter is no longer in Russia, but she's still in Europe.  She's traveling on her spring break.  She's worked three jobs while going to school and is paying for her trip herself.  I may live in Orange County, but I'm not a typical Orange County parent.  If I was, she wouldn't be working three jobs and paying for her own vacations.

My apologies to the responsible parents of Orange County.  I know not all of you fit the stereotype.

There's a possibility I might be going to Cambodia in June.  It's only a maybe-thing right now, but it's directly related to 24.  It's amazing how Twenty Four At Heart keeps providing twists and turns and unexpected opportunities in my life.  I had no idea, when I began blogging, 24 would end up having such a profound affect on my life.

Do you remember, I told you I won the magic potion lotion called Youth Complex at the Plastic Surgery Party?  The company that makes Youth Complex saw my post.  They've asked me to review their product.  I don't agree to product reviews most of the time, and I do get a lot of companies requesting them.  In this case, I agreed because I'm, so far, loving (really, really, loving!) the product.

However, I agreed with the following understandings:

1.  I will be nothing but candid and honest when I do my review.

2.  They must provide product for me to give away to YOU, my readers.

A box arrived with product on Monday.

I'm going to use Youth Complex (and the eye formula which they also sent) for a couple weeks longer to get a better feel for it.  Then I will let you know what I think of it in a combination review/giveaway.  If I end up disliking the product, I imagine no one will enter the giveaway.

My house is really LOUD right now, and it makes it next to impossible to write.

I can't wait for Friday!  I hope each and every single one of you who has ever taken a photo will join in on the very first Twenty Four At Heart Photography Friday!  

Woo Hoo!

I'm so excited!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Photography Book Winner!

Happy Saturday everyone!

I ran the Random Integer Generator software program and it came up with this:

Congratulations to Liz Tee for entering the 41st comment!  Liz, please email me with the mailing address you'd like your new book sent to and I'll get it off in the mail to you as soon as possible. 

A lot of you left really good questions in the comment section of the contest post.  I realized pretty quickly I can't address all of them in one post.  

As you know, I love photography.  Many of you love it also, but I realize not all of my readers share this interest.  I've decided to try out "Photography Friday" for the next few weeks.  You can send in questions, tips, suggestions ... and I'll pick one (or more) each week to open for discussion.  It would be fun if we all could learn and share together ... everyone from beginners to more advanced photographers.  We can start with some of the questions you've already sent in.

Sound good?

For today, I thought I'd take on one of the quick questions Tami and Judi (and perhaps more of you?) asked:

My question is this: What book do you suggest for a beginner?

Personally, I think Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book, Volume 1 is awesome.  Scott writes in a very conversational, easy to follow, style.

There are also subsequent volumes for those of you who are further along in your photography knowledge.  

If you have other suggestions for a beginning photography book, feel free to leave the title in the comments section so we can share ideas.  We can also discuss some photography basics on upcoming Photography Fridays.

Congratulations again to Liz Tee on winning the landscape photography book!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Pretty Trinkets

** Today is the last day to enter to win the landscape photography book.  The winner will be announced tomorrow, Saturday.  You may enter more than once, but entries will be closed this evening at 8 p.m. Pacific Time. **

The favor bags at the Plastic Surgery Party had lots of stuff in them.  

I was delighted to find a fun little necklace in my bag.

It looks cute with the standard v-neck t-shirts I wear all the time.  It would look pretty too dressed up a bit (since I'm sure you probably dress nicer than I do).  I've worn it with a very simple white t-shirt, a brown t-shirt and even a black one.  Yes, I do spend most of my life in t-shirts.

What?

They aren't big, baggy, t-shirts - they're the fitted, slightly nicer ones.

* Ahem *

A week or two prior to the party, I was up at the plastic surgery office working on the details of the discount they've extended to all of my readers.  The staff had just gotten the necklaces in at the time.  They were getting ready to stuff the goody bags.  In the general excitement over the necklaces, they offered me one right on the spot.  It's also heart shaped.

I've worn this one even more than the first.  It has the appearance of a carved, and slightly crooked, piece of thin granite.  I love it.

Lucky me, to get two necklaces!

There was a huge assortment in the look of the necklaces.  They came in all different shapes and colors.  (Although, hearts are probably very appropriate for Twenty Four At Heart, right?)  I saw a beautiful purple necklace, a red one, and a round circle in varying brown tones. 

One of my friends got this blue one in her party bag:

 

I actually borrowed it one day to wear with jeans and ... you guessed it, a white t-shirt.

Hmmm.

Jeans, shorts, flip-flops and t-shirts.  

That's what's in my closet.

Somebody should help me with my wardrobe. 

Seriously.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Picture Perfect Giveaway!

I have so many things to share with you!

And yet ... I'm not going to.  Well, I'm not going to share them with you today.

I will soon.

Have I mentioned lately, it's absolutely beautiful in Orange County right now?

Our weather is hovering around 80F/26.6C with a little breeze.  I've been out walking a lot lately for exercise.  It's just too pretty to stay inside.

You know what I hate?  I hate when I upload beautiful photos to Twenty Four At Heart, and they no longer look beautiful because pixels are removed to make them Internet-friendly.  I really, really, hate that - how about you? 

Today I'm having a small photography-related giveaway.

If you're not interested in photography, you probably won't care about my little giveaway.  If you are?  You might be.

One of my favorite landscape photography books is the National Audobon Society Guide to Landscape Photography.  It's a stunning book with breathtaking photos and lots of great how-to information.

I bought one copy of this beautiful book to give away this week.

This is how the giveaway will work:

1.  Leave me a comment on today's post.

2.  Every comment equals one entry.

3.  You may enter as many times as you'd like.

4.  I will use the Random Integer Generator to pick the winner.

5.  The winner will be announced on SATURDAY.

6.  Entries will be closed at 8 p.m. Pacific Time this Friday, March 19th.

7.  Yes, you may enter even if you live outside of the United States.

You may leave any comment you wish, but I would love it if you left a photography-related question.  If you do, I'll try to answer as many questions as possible when I announce the winner on Saturday.  (If there are a ton of questions, I may use some for future posts/discussions.)  

For example, is there something you've been wondering when you take your photos but you've been too embarrassed to admit you don't already know?  Or maybe you have a question about a particular technique?  I certainly don't know everything about photography, but I'm happy to answer what I can.  

If you don't have a question, perhaps you have a photography tip or suggestion to share with other readers.

I so love this book!

I can't wait for one of you to win it.

Good luck ...!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Revisiting the Well Endowed Man

** If you will be in Southern California THIS THURSDAY, March 11th, and you're interested in attending the Plastic Surgery Party, you can click here for details. **

There's a saying in the Internet world, "Don't feed the trolls."

A troll is someone who stays hidden behind the anonymity of the Internet while casting stones (negative, hurtful words) at Internet writers.  If someone disagrees with a post or an opinion they're not a troll if it's done in a respectful manner.  If they spew hate, and hurt, and venom just to get attention they are.

Sometimes the term "troll" is used more loosely by bloggers to refer to anyone sending us weird shit just because they can.

I say all this, because surely someone is going to read today's post and then write and tell me I shouldn't have written it because by doing so I'm "feeding a troll."  (Giving a troll the attention he/she craves.)

I've thought about this very thing for a few days, however, in this case I don't consider the person involved to be a troll.  Also?  The story is just too funny not to share.  Lastly, the person involved in this situation isn't a regular reader so I think it's okay to share the story with all of you.

Every morning I check my email inbox just like millions of other people.  Writing Twenty Four At Heart guarantees I never know what I'll find when I do.  Last week I received an email from "just a regular guy" in England who had read my post on Well Endowed Men.

As background, I wrote that post originally strictly for the laugh factor.  It made me laugh, and I knew it would make many of you laugh.  A funny thing happened, however.  It has become one of my most widely read posts.  Tens of thousands of people all over the world have read my Well Endowed Men post.  I certainly didn't expect that to happen when I wrote it.  

In addition, I've gotten a lot of emails from people regarding its contents.  Most of them are from Well Endowed Men wanting to agree or disagree with points (ha!) made by the men interviewed.  Many of them want to share the ups and downs (ha again!) of being a Well Endowed Man with me.

These are serious, very sincere, emails I receive.  It will give you some idea of how many I've received when I tell you I've become very accustom to Well Endowed Men writing to me.

"Oh, it's another email from a Well Hung Endowed Man," I think when I open them to read.

Ho hum.  Just another day in the life of Twenty Four At Heart.

Come to think of it, maybe I should start a dating service?  Who else hears from Well Endowed Men as often as I do?

All of that being said, I was not surprised to get yet another email from a Well Endowed Man last week.  He wanted to give me feedback on my post and share with me some of his experiences as a Well Endowed Man.

He told me of experiences like neighbors and teachers and "mums good friends" pursuing him due to his ... natural assets.  Like the men I interviewed for the original post, he explained the difficulties of finding appropriate fitting clothing and condoms.

He also sent photos of himself so I could see he's just a "regular guy."  The photos were of himself, clothed.  Yes, there was a quite visible bulge in his pants, but for all I know it was a sock he stuffed in there before having someone click a few photos.

Intriguing, nonetheless.

(Oops, maybe I shouldn't have admitted written that?)

I've cropped his face out of this photo (to protect his identity) just to give you a general idea of what he was referring to.

The humor really kicked in when I took the situation to Twitter.  Honestly, the reason I love Twitter so much is because of the laughs it gives me.  People can be so witty in 140 characters or less.  

I haven't asked for permission to share tweets here so I'm going to leave the authors quoted below anonymous.  Here's a sample of some of the Twitter conversation regarding the correspondence from my Well Endowed reader.

TwentyFour:  Some guy in England just sent me an email about his 12 inch .... Why did he think I needed to hear about that?

TwentyFour:  He even sent photos of himself (clothed) to prove he's just a "regular guy"  Why, why, why??

TwentyFour:  And yes, there is a big bulge in his pants, however it might just be a SOCK.

Tweeter#1:  Or a sausage.  Sausages are big in England.

Tweeter#2:  Dude.  Ask him for a penis shot.

TwentyFour: @Tweeter#2 I hate to encourage him. I don't want him mailing me a free ticket to England. Altho it has been a long time since I visited

TwentyFour:  Visited England that is ... not a 12 incher.  That's nobody's business now is it?  : )

Tweeter#3:  What the heck are you talking about, woman?  I'm afraid to look at the thread.

TwentyFour: @Tweeter#3  You'll have to look at thread on this one.  It's an *ahem* loooooooong story.

Tweeter#4:  (A man)  Tell him to bugger off.

Tweeter#2:  Hey you're just asking for a photo of his 'little man,' it's not like you're proposing or anything.  heh.

Tweeter#5:  Email him about your bionic nipples!  They don't shrink to nothing in the pool! Lol!

Tweeter#6:  Just caught "12 incher" ... thus attracting my complete attention.

Tweeter#3:  Got it ... Apparently we are going to England to check out a dude that wants to show @TwentyFour his ample natural asset.

Tweeter#6:  If you insist. RT @Tweeter#3 We're going to England to check out dude who wants to show @TwentyFour ample natural asset.

The funny thing is ....  The women who are Tweeter#3 and Tweeter#6 have not been heard from since.  I do believe they might really be on their way to England to meet him.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Look! Look! Look!

I made myself a new header for Twenty Four At Heart this weekend.  I took the photo at Crystal Cove which is in Newport Beach.  If you're one of my subscribers I hope you'll take the time to click through your reader to see it.  

Let me know if you like it.

If you don't like it?  You can just keep your opinion to yourself.

Kidding!

But if you don't, don't worry.  I'll get bored in a few months and change it up again.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Random Like That

I've been pretty low-key, just letting my eyes rest, and staying home a lot this week.  It certainly cuts down on my blogging material when I'm not out embarrassing myself and about as much as usual.  Never fear, though, I'm seeing much better and although my eyes aren't entirely back to normal, I think life will be back to its usual craziness this weekend.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share these little snippets with you.

1.  Proving once again, I have the greatest readers in the world, it turns out (at least) one of YOU is an opthamologist.  (You know who you are!)  It is just amazing to write about a situation and have a reader reach out to me with knowledge, advise, and comfort.  It makes me love this online world even more.

2.  Proving, however, nothing is perfect ....  I found one of the strangest reader emails of my life in my Inbox this week.  Some of you people out there?  Are bizarre.  I'm still shaking my head and asking myself, "Who takes the time to write such a long, rambling, email like this to a writer on the Internet?"  The person who sent it, clearly is in need of some psychological help.  It was not from one of my regular readers.  I know my regular readers are fantastic!

3.  I ran into Trader Joe's (a market, for those of you who aren't lucky enough to have TJ's where you live) to pick up enough food for my constantly starving 14 year old son.  I debated wearing sunglasses inside the store because my eyes are still uber-sensitive to bright light.  It would not be an unusual sight to see a person with sunglasses on indoors here.  I do live in Orange County, after all.  I opted not to.  

Five minutes into my shopping trip, a total stranger looked at me and said, "Have you been crying?  Your eyes are so red!  What's wrong?"  I mumbled something about eye allergies and moved on.

But really?

What if I HAD been crying?  What if I was going through some type of tragedy?  Would I want a total stranger to approach me and ask about it?  If you saw someone in a store with red, swollen, eyes would you approach them and ask about their life?

4.  I owe a bazillion people return emails right now, I'm sorry.  I know you understand, but I feel terrible when people email me with questions, etc. and I don't get back to them in a timely manner.

5.  I no longer have a physical therapist and that makes me euphoric, frustrated and sad all at the same time.

6.  I think my treatment for my arm has reached its permanent end.  That realization also makes me euphoric, frustrated and sad all at the same time.  

7.  For the record, I think Anthem Blue Cross (part of WellPoint) is a greedy, disgusting, medical insurance company.  Our economy sucks and people are really struggling to maintain health care.  At the same time, the WellPoint CEO was discussing her million dollar plus salary, and her eight million dollars worth of stock options, in congressional hearings this week.  All the while, Blue Cross/WellPoint is raising their insurance premiums for all of us "normal" people and paying their providers, the people we depend on to take care of us, way less.

Shame on you Blue Cross!

** Hopping off my soapbox now **

8.  Since I've been stuck in the house so much lately, I find myself very bored and perusing online sites.  One of my all time favorites, is B&H for photography related stuff.  I called them the other day and spent forever talking photography with one of their sales guys.  (Honestly, their sales people are SO nice, SO knowledgeable, and gush, gush, gush!)  I feel like I can call anytime just to ask questions.

But, of course, I wasn't calling just to ask questions.  I ordered a lens on my photography-related wish list.  It should arrive today.  Guess what I'll be playing with if I can find a few spare moments this weekend?

9.  I've been shooting a few photos again in the last day or two.  I'm ecstatic and will have a few to share with you over the weekend or next week.

10.  One of the women on The Real Housewives of Orange County really is the bitch she appears to be on TV.  I bet you can guess which one.

11.  I have my first treatment scheduled with the Fat Melting Machine (I'm a "test" subject for the machine) on March 1st.  My expectation level for results is at zero, but I still think it will be an interesting experience.  I'll have details on the March 11th Plastic Surgery Party for you at the beginning of next week.  Mark your calendars!

12.  I might be watching American Idol and Tweeting while I type this, so please excuse any typos.  I feel a strong responsibility to be a Twitter Judge whenever Idol is on.  Maybe it's my extreme love for music, or maybe it's just fun to act like I know what I'm talking writing about.  In any case, I take my Twitter Idol Judging responsibilities very seriously.

13.  I could make a list like this go on for days, but I won't.  (You're welcome.)

14.  One of my readers, Queen of Chaos, called her local Cole Haan store two nights ago to inquire on my behalf about the jacket I'm searching for.  How nice is she?  They informed her, and she informed me, it will be released to stores in 2-3 weeks.

Did I mention I have the best readers in the world!?

© Twenty Four At Heart

An Update on 24

Hi

I'm a friend of Suzanne's and I wanted to give you a quick update on her well being.

She had a severe allergic reaction to some medication.  The reaction was so severe it, in essence, created a burn effect on her skin and, unfortunately, also on the corneas of both eyes.

Think of it as a chemical burn.

She will be FINE, but obviously this has been very painful and scary.  She can't do much other than sleep and/or sit in a dark room until her eyes heal.  She is able to see a little bit now, but is unable to read.

If you have sent a text message or comment or email it is appreciated, but she is unable to respond right now.

She has been seen every day by a wonderful eye doctor and he expects a full recovery.  He thinks she will be doing much better in a few more days.  In the meantime, she has a ton of medications working to make her better.

Her eyes simply need time to heal.

I know you join me in wishing her a speedy and pain-free recovery.

LOVE YOU 24!!  xxxxxxxxxooooooooooooo

Answering Your Questions

Many of you choose to email me directly rather than leave comments in my comment section.  I don't mind at all, and it's perfectly fine with me if you do so.  I do think a lot of readers enjoy reading the comments, however, and seeing what other readers think about certain posts.

I try to get back to both commenters and those who email me, but I'm often a big huge failure in this area.  It isn't because I don't care or don't want to communicate, it's just that there are many days when I'm using every spare moment just to get a post written.  The next thing I know a week has gone by and the list of emails I need, or want to, respond to seems endless.

I'll keep trying to do better in this area.

Anyway, I thought I'd list out some of the recent questions I've received and answer them in a public forum.  Many of you may have the same questions and appreciate the answers. Either that, or perhaps I'm about to bore you all to death.

1.  I heard you are going to stop writing Twenty Four, is that true?  No.  I'm sure there are some people who wish I'd stop writing 24, but I have no plans to stop writing.

2.  Are you going to turn Twenty Four into a photography website?  No.  I will continue to use photos in many of my posts just like I always have, but Twenty Four At Heart is a reflection of my entire chaotic OC life not just one aspect of it.  (I often post just photos on the weekends because those are my days "off.")  

3. I'm wondering if there will be a new little section on 24.  Photography.  Tips and tricks and stuff.  A little cadre of piksher taker wannabes hanging on your every utterance.  Ha!  I would love to devote a separate section of 24 to photography eventually, but I think I would want it to be more an area of collective input ... where readers who share this interest could come and discuss what they know and what they're learning.  We'll see - let me think over the possibilities and logistics.

4.  Who do you think you are trying to sell your photos?  Um, my name is Suzanne and I live in Orange County, California?  (And by the way, I've made them available for purchase at the request of readers, it isn't something I came up with on my own.)

5.  What did Briefcase think of Roxxxy?  I haven't asked him.  I've been fighting the stomach flu all week though so right about now he probably thinks she's looking damn good.

6.  Do you make up your crazy stories like the one about your bionic nipples?  My nipples are pretty bionic.  Just sayin' ...!  All of my stories are based on my real life and based in fact.  I am, however, a writer.  I use creative license to make the retelling of my stories more interesting or amusing.  (I also change facts to disguise identities if I feel I need to.)  As an example, when I wrote in one posts, "My nipple-erections were protruding so far out of my chest, they would have put any well-endowed man to shame," the exact degree of my nipple protrusion was not intended to be taken literally.  Were my nipples at full attention?  Yes, they were.  I think most of my readers understand my intentions when I write something like "her tits reached clear across the room."

7.  Why don't you tell us as many stories about The Torturer as you used to?  Unfortunately, as 24 has become more widely read, The Torturer has become concerned about how he is portrayed here on 24.  I don't use his real name, and I never give out identifying details about him or his practice.  Nonetheless, he worries someone might figure out his identity.  He's worried my joking and teasing about his antics might be misconstrued by some as unprofessional behavior on his part.  If someone managed to connect enough dots, he's afraid Torturer stories could adversely affect his business.  

In truth, I think most of you know I owe the man my heart and soul for all he's helped me through.  (Which does not change the tumultuous nature of my relationship with him one bit!)  However, I would never want to hurt anyone in any way, intentionally or not, with 24 ... especially someone who has been there for me through so much.  Thus, fewer Torturer stories out of respect for him and our friendship.

8.  How did you learn so much about taking pictures since you've only had your camera a short while?  Photography has been a hobby of mine for twenty years.  I was not able to lift a camera the last few years since my car accident.  I don't consider myself an expert, but I do have many years of learning behind me ... and hopefully many more years of learning about photography in front of me also.  There is always more to learn.

9.  Are you in pain all the time?  I live with pain too and I find your story inspiring.  I'm sure your situation is much worse than mine.  Yes, I am in pain all the time.  I have not slept through the night one single night since the accident.  It sucks.  My pain levels are much better than they used to be though, and for that I'm very grateful.  Some days are better than others.  The Torturer is forcing me to consult with a Pain Management Specialist in upcoming days.  He feels we need to get my pain more under control in order for me to make any further progress.  

(For those who have asked, yes, I have also consulted with an accupuncturist.  He said I've been "anatomically altered" too much by all my surgeries.  Apparently, accupuncture isn't very successful in cases of multiple surgeries.)

I don't know if anyone's situation is better or worse ... living in pain is never a good thing no matter what.  I'm sorry anyone has to live their life suffering.  I don't think anything I'm doing is "inspiring."  I'm just trying to get my life back to normal to the best of my ability.  If sharing my struggles - my many ups and downs - here on 24 helps anyone, I'm glad.

10.  Will you be in New York this summer for the BlogHer10 Conference?  Yes!  I'm looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible.  

11.  What lens do you shoot with?  I have several different lenses I've acquired over time.  The lens I use most, on a day in and day out basis, is my Canon 24-105.

12.  How old are you really?  Twenty Four ...?!

If I didn't answer your question today, feel free to email me with it, or leave it in my comments section.  I will try to get back to you individually and if I don't, maybe I'll do another post like this again sometime soon.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Squeeeeeee!! I'm So Excited!!

Perhaps those of you who have followed Twenty Four At Heart for awhile will be able to understand, at least in part, what today means to me.  I've fought long and hard these last few years to regain use of my arm post-car accident.  I've had to give up so much of my old life in the years since the crash.

One of the things I loved dearly, and I lost, was photography.  These last few months I've grit my teeth, learned to use a camera primarily with my left, functional, arm and accomplished more with a camera than I ever dreamed would be possible post-accident.  It hasn't been easy ... but the joy - oh how can I explain the joy?

My heart soars behind a lens.  Somehow, I think my camera knows how much it's loved - how much it means to me.  I don't think I even knew how much I loved photography until I could no longer take photos.

And now I do. 

  

I cherish every single click of the shutter. 

Several of you have asked if I would be willing to sell the 2010 calendar I made, or sell individual photos from the calendar.  At this point, I don't intend to order more calendars but I will try to have a 2011 calendar more readily available to those of you who are interested next year.

But ...

The big news is, I've set up a site where you can go peruse photos and if you're interested in purchasing any of them you can.  So far, I've only made a handful of shots available.  I've uploaded my most requested photos first.  I will gradually be adding more photos.  If there's a particular photo you want and it's not listed in my gallery, you can email me and I'll try to make it available for you.

I will be adding a permanent link from Twenty Four At Heart to the gallery within a week.  My goal is not to make a fortune on photos but I do have to charge enough to cover the costs involved in "owning" the photo gallery.

If hundreds of people start buying photos, I'll be able to drop the cost of the photos.  

Not likely, eh?

Why am I doing this?  People have been asking for it, that's why.  (And I'm so thrilled they did because yay - photography!)

Oh, and guess what?  I'm very excited because if you're interested you can also order note cards, mugs and other items with photos printed on them.  I've been using photos from Twenty Four At Heart on my own personal note cards for quite some time, and now you can too. 

Yes, I really am most excited about the note cards!  (I looooove note cards!)  And they're cheaper than most individually purchased store bought cards too.  Note cards make me so happy!

Until I get a "button" added onto 24 linking to the photo gallery, how do you find my photo gallery?

You can click on this link.

Once you've done that, click on the 2009-2010 Album and you can view the photos. 

Again - I'll be uploading more photos as I have time.  Most, but not all, of the photos in my gallery have appeared on Twenty Four At Heart.

Some of you have been waiting very patiently for me to get this project completed and I appreciate it.  Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in my photos!

Hugs, Kisses (with lots of slobber), and lots of Loooooooove to all of you!!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Calendar Winners! (And A Palm Tree)

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a 2010 Twenty Four At Heart Calendar.  I used the Random Integer Generator to pick the twelve calendar winners.

They are:

 1.  Donna in VA  Comment #9

 2.  Pam  Comment #14

 3.  Alan  Comment #17

 4.  Momma Sunshine  Comment #31

 5.  Yvette  Comment #41

 6.  Sandra  Comment #44

 7.  Holli Buchter  Comment #56

 8.  Jason  Comment #63 

 9.  Tina  Comment #73

10.  Mad Woman  Comment #78

11.  Middle-Aged-Woman  Comment #97  

12.  Kim@BeautifulWreck  Comment #103

Congratulations to each of you!

If you are one of the twelve winners, please email me (via the Contact tab at the top of the page) with the mailing address you'd like your calendar sent to.  

For all of my readers ...

Many of you have heard about, but never experienced, the Santa Ana Winds of Southern California.  These winds are particularly fierce in our foothills and canyons.  As many of you know, I live in a major wind tunnel canyon.  

Thursday morning I was woken up by the sound of our (very heavy) patio furniture being blown around on our upstairs deck.  It's hard to describe the Santa Ana Winds but this picture of my palm trees might give you a little feel for what they're like.

© Twenty Four At Heart 

500th Post and Giveaway!

It's amazing.  One day, about a year and a half ago, in total misery and pain - I stared at my blank laptop screen and began typing.

I had only read one blog, ever, in my entire life.  I knew nothing about blogging.  I knew nothing about the world of Internet writing.

I wasn't looking for readers, I wasn't looking for a career, or power or fame.  (Good thing for that, don't ya think?!)

I just knew I needed to write.

I needed a distraction from my car accident recovery.  I needed a distraction from breathtaking pain.

Today is the 500th post I've written for Twenty Four At Heart.  This blog has brought me so much happiness, so much joy, and so much peace.  Most of all, this blog has brought thousands upon thousands of wonderful people into my life.  (And one or two assholes also, but shhhhh - they've taken up enough of my time already!)  

It's amazing to me how many readers I've now met "in real life."  Others of you, I may never meet, but I've come to know you anyway - thanks to the comments and emails you send.

As a small thank you to my wonderful readers (the very best in the entire Internet world!), I'm hosting a giveaway today.

I have twelve Twenty Four At Heart 2010 Calendars to give away.

Here are the monthly photos, in the order they appear in the calendar:

January:

 

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

 

July:

August:

 

September:

October:

November:

December:

    

All of the photos have appeared on 24 in the last year.  They were taken in Orange County, Saint Lucia, Hawaii and Santa Barbara.

Here's the deal:

The contest is open until this Thursday, January 14th, at 8 p.m., Pacific Time.

You will receive one entry for every comment you leave.

You may enter as many times as you'd like, but you're only eligible to win one calendar.

Twelve winners will be selected using the Random Integer Generator.

Contest winners will be announced on Friday, January 15th.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment.  Don't know what to say?  Tell me which photo is your favorite.  Or why.  Or really anything you want.

Good luck!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Black and White

If you're reading this today, it means I'm still having computer/technical problems.  I've pre-written this and scheduled it to spit out in the event I don't have the opportunity to write a "real" post.

I never write real posts anyway, right?

The good news is, I have "Apple Care" on my laptop so repairs will be free.  The bad news is ... I will have to abscond with other people's computers to write posts until my laptop comes home from the hospital.

I've been told it could take up to TWO WEEKS!

(I get the shakes just thinking about it!)

And didn't I just say I was going to try to get caught up on email, etc?  

Hmmm.  Maybe I can get some of it done.  (By the way - I will still see all emails and comments via my Blackberry.  How many emails I can respond to on that little tiny screen before I throw it against a wall is an entirely different subject, isn't it?)

Also, apparently I'd be better off with More RAM in my life.  I felt slightly violated when the Apple man suggested it.  Seriously, his eyes met mine and then he asked, "Would you like more RAM while we're at it?"

A little forward of him, don't you think?

I'll try to get back to nipple stories as soon as possible.  (The comments and emails yesterday clearly indicate a great love of nipple stories from both my male and female readers.)

By the way, the comment from Mama Llama yesterday made me snort out loud.  It said (in part): And my curiosity is piqued...did the nipple story have anything to do with The Torturer?  

Ha ha!  

*snort*  *snicker*  *guffaw*

And that's all I'm saying about that ....!

For now, I thought I'd share this photo.  

Some of you may have already seen it via Twitter.  I don't take black and white photos often, but once in awhile they seem to deliver a stronger visual impact than color shots.  As I left the beach last weekend I stopped mid-track as I crossed the railroad tracks.  (They run just a few feet from the beach itself.)  I glanced down the tracks and thought, "Wow!"  

A quick click later, I was on my way.

 
© Twenty Four At Heart 

Drugs and Flashing Lights

Omigod!

Which came first - the drugs?  Or the flashing lights?

I have so many things to share with you, (like my nipples!) but my MacBook has gone bonkers and the middle of my screen has turned into an Alien Being composed of rainbow-colored flashing lights.

I am emotionally, and most often physically, attached to my MacBook so I'm freaking the hell out ... it's about to DIE on me.

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a MacBook (Pro because it would be nice to step up a level as long as you're stopping in)  TODAY  NOW!

And yes, all my data on my possessed laptop is backed up.

If you don't back up your computer you should.

Because the aliens are coming!  

And they've come to my laptop first.

Which is really no surprise when you think about it.

But I can't think about it because STOP THE FLASHING LIGHTS!

Also?  

I didn't mean, just a minute ago, to say I intend to share my actual nipples with you.  I meant - I have a funny story about nipples to share with you.

My nipples.

The story, I mean, is about my nipples and a funny situation they found themselves in.

Also?  

A computer-savvy person told me my laptop most likely "only" needs a new video card or something like that - which made no sense to me because I don't watch many videos.  However, I don't think I've turned my MacBook off for more than five minutes since the day I got it.  Maybe I used whatever is inside it all up by now.

Who can say?

I'm not even understanding myself - how about you?

Someone stop the flashing lights!

Pleeeeeeease.

Ok, and then there's the deal with the drugs.  Because - are the lights really rainbow colored or is it a figment of  my imagination  the pain meds?  Are there even flashing lights at all?  I feel like I'm on LSD (which I've never taken) but I'm quite sure taking LSD feels exactly like Flashing Rainbow Lights In The Middle of A MacBook Screen.

By the way, for Christmas, The Torturer gave me quite a bit of time off.  (Yay!)  But when I went back to PT yesterday he decided to make-up for all the time off by turning me into a weightlifter/body builder in just one three hour session.

Yes he did!

With real weights!  The Torturer made me do things (sounds naughty, doesn't it?!) with a half pound weight, a one pound weight, and a two pound weight ... which I can't lift without his help.

I know I'm pathetic, but I'm way less pathetic than ever before.

He's trying to kill me, I'm sure of it.  Or make my arm fall off which would really be a blessing, I think.

Which is why I ended up taking pain meds.

I'm writing a lot of fragmented and run-on sentences today? 

I'm trying to rush, ya see - in case the entire computer dies this very second from the flashing lights   aliens.

Also?

Did I mention the Aliens  flashing rainbow colored lights  are making it nearly impossible to look at the screen?

Which means I'm typing with my eyes closed.

I'm a really good and incredibly fast (!) typist though, so it's probably okay.  (?)

Also?

Calendars!

Several of you requested I make Twenty Four At Heart 2010 calendars available with lots of pretty beach photos.  I've been busy.  I thought it was a great idea, but I've had no time.  I decided I would make ONE and see how it came out.

Beautiful!  

It came out fantabulous!  I'm so excited because it looks like a REAL calendar.

By now, most of you probably already have 2010 calendars?  I'm ordering just a *few* more to have on hand.  Maybe for a giveaway?  The photographs I selected look so pretty blown up all big-ish for a calendar.

I'll tell you more about it when they arrive, but what do you think?  Is there anyone out there who still needs a 2010 calendar?

© Twenty Four At Heart

There I Was, Just Walking Down The Street ...

Singing do wah diddy diddy down diddy do ...  

Snapping my fingers and shuffling my feet ...

Singing do wah diddy diddy down diddy do ...

Sorry.

I apologize.

I've had the lyrics to that song stuck in my head for the last 24 hours.

I also *might* be under the influence of pain meds as I write this.  Not a lot of pain meds, but just enough to really not be responsible for anything I write.

Blame The Torturer, he's mean.  ("It's my job to push you, 24!")

I'm feeling better, by the way.  I mean, sickness-wise.  I had some sort of 24 hour plague, but now it's gone.  I tweeted that very thing yesterday and look what happened:

Hi, Twenty Four At Heart.

The plague (TheRealPlague) is now following your tweets on Twitter.  You may follow The plague as well by clicking on the "follow" button on their profile.If you believe The plague is engaging in abusive behavior on Twitter, you may report The plague for spam.

My 2,016 Twitter Follower is THE PLAGUE!

I'm moving up in this Internet world - oh yes, I am! 

How many people can say The REAL Plague is following their every move?  I'm nearly a celebrity.

So listen, when I first started writing Twenty Four At Heart I wanted this to be an anonymous blog.  I've been "outed" so many times now, I've totally given up all attempts at anonymity.  I never used to post any photos of myself and now I do, once in awhile, because I figure it's only fair you see the person behind the voice.

Here I am last weekend on my way to the Plasticos party I told you about:

My son took this photo as I was about to walk out the door and share my bionic nipples with a room full of strangers.

I'm glad the picture is so pixelated because it kind of blurs my wrinkles.  Who knew pixelated photos could be such a positive thing?!

(I need a haircut.)  (Really badly.)  (It will have to wait a few weeks, I'm busy.) 

Should I not be posting photos of myself?

Anyway ... I'm still trying to get to the point of this-here post. 

Yesterday, I was out and about running errands ... "just walking down the street."

Snapping my fingers and shuffling my feet ...

Singing do wah diddy diddy down diddy do ...

I saw a woman look at me and kind of do a double double-take.

There might have been a little "Squee!" involved.

Then she said, "Are you?  Twenty Four At Heart?"

Since she didn't have a gun in her hand, and she did have a big smile on her face, I nodded.

Ok, isn't it weird?  I'm the shyest person on earth and a total stranger recognized me on the street? 

She ended up being very nice.  

Hi Kathy!  (waving!)

Or is it Cathy with a C?

Kathy/Cathy might end up being my next best friend.  Who can say?

We talked for quite awhile.

Her son used to work at the Money Town Starbucks and she said she "just knew!" it was the exact one I write about because her son would come home with incredible stories just like the ones I share with you.

Things like this have been happening more and more lately.  Everyone I've met has been very nice, which isn't surprising because I've got the best readers in the entire world.  At the same time, wow - it's such a weird feeling.  I sit alone with my laptop and I write.  Then I walk out into the world and ... there you all are!

Singing do wah diddy diddy down diddy do ...

I still can't get over it - amazing!

© Twenty Four At Heart

A Trophy Woman Update

Before I get started, I'd like to congratulate Joanne "I want that book" (comment #123)  who was the winner of The New York Times The Complete Front Pages book yesterday.  Joanne please contact me with your shipping address and I will get the book sent right out.  A huge thank you to everyone who participated! 

Today I'm going to give you a quick update on a woman I wrote about back in June of 2008.  Because the original post was written so long ago, I'm reprinting it for you today.  At the end of the original post, I've added an update for those of you who have been curious about this woman for the last year and a half.

The original post was titled High Maintenance Trophy Wife and here it is:

I know some very nice Money Town residents, but it's so much more fun to share with you some of the bizarre ones.  There's no shortage of strange people around here.  I guess that's fortunate for me because it provides an ongoing supply of writing material.

About a week ago The Torturer was delayed one morning.  He finally arrived grumbling about a "high maintenance" patient.  Of course, being the consummate professional, he did not say if the patient was male or female nor did he disclose any other information.  

A few days later I found myself out in the clinic area of PT next to a woman who I knew instantly must be Ms. High Maintenance.

She was dressed in skin-tight workout clothes for her physical therapy appointment.  Her appointment was for a sore shoulder (meaning she had no need for workout clothes at all).  She was sporting a wedding ring that was a minimum of a 6 carat, emerald cut diamond surrounded by a zillion other diamonds.  She is about 25 and married to a gentlemen no less than 55.  Her hair was perfectly highlighted and styled (for physical therapy?) and everything about her was perfectly groomed ... nails, skin, makeup, etc.  She is attractive, but the minute you see her you think it must cost thousands each month for all that maintenance.

She saw me from across the room and chose to come over and sit at the table next to me.  She was friendly and said hello and introduced herself.  She did not ask my name or even give me the opportunity to provide it.  She clearly had come over just so that there would be someone nearby to listen to her. 

She instantly began talking.  

And talking.  

And talking more ... all about herself, of course.  

She lives, needless to say, in Money Town.  Her shoulder hurts "a little" when she bends her arm really far back, "like this".  I have become very empathetic toward people with injuries since my car accident.  However, do you know how hard it is to appear sympathetic to someone who is whining about how it hurts "a little" when they contort into pretzel positions?  She kept playing with her hair as she talked, all the while looking at her ring.  She never seemed to stop to take a breath.

Her "biggest concern" with her sore shoulder was how it might affect her "ass".  No, I am not kidding.  I heard every detail of her ass, her efforts to keep her ass in shape, and her concern that being at PT two days a week (for 45 minutes each time) might have a negative impact on her ass.  She actually started doing "ass flexes" as she talked to me. 

Maybe that's my problem?  My surgeries?  That's what gave me a fat ass!  Brilliant!

As she prattled on my mind began to wander.  

I thought about her husband and wondered if having her on his arm as a trophy wife makes up for having to listen to her?  I was going out of my mind and I was only with her for 20 minutes.  I can't imagine anyone living with her.  How do men put up with their trophy wives?  Why have them in the first place?  (I know what you're thinking, but how could anyone who is singularly focused on themselves be any good in bed?)  Her narcissism topped anything I've ever encountered.  Honestly, for the 20 minutes she talked, I don't think I ever said a single word.

After she left, The Torturer returned from working with another patient.  I said, "So I guess I just met your high maintenance patient?"  He nodded, and said, "Yeah, she's here for her shoulder but all she does is talk about her ass the entire time she's here."  

Oh really?  She talks about it with him too?  

What a surprise! 

Trophy Wife Update:

I ran into this woman yesterday at the grocery store.  For awhile she was in and out of PT, but I haven't seen her there for awhile.  

She instantly began talking to me as if we were long lost friends.  Once again, she talked and she talked, and she talked some more.  It took a long time for me to extrapolate myself from her presence.

This is what I learned.  She's taken several months off of PT to "take care" of herself.  I'd like to remind you that she looked like a perfect plastic Barbie to begin with.  Her appearance when I'd last seen her was pretty much flawless.  

Since I saw her last she's had a nose job.  This floored me because she was very attractive already.  There was absolutely nothing unusual or noticeable about her original nose.  She also underwent a tummy tuck about two months ago.  (This shocked me even more because ... I swear to Gawd she had a perfectly flat stomach.)  Her lips have been inflated to clownish proportions, and I think she's done something surgically to give herself more prominent cheek bones.  

I was dying to know if she got ass implants since they're the current rage here and she always voiced so many concerns over her ass.  She didn't mention her ass once to me yesterday.  (Highly unusual!)  She was, however, very open about the nose job, tummy tuck and lips.

How much do you want to bet she had liposuction while she was at it?

Would it have been rude if I had suddenly walked behind her to peer at her ass?

Clearly this is a woman who will never, ever, be satisfied with her appearance.  She's also a woman who never, ever, stops thinking about her physical appearance.

In other words?

She's a stereotypical Money Town woman.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Gift Idea - And Giveaway!

I told you I'd share a few of my favorite things with you, now and again, as the holidays approach.  I'm always interested in hearing about gift ideas and I would assume many of you are also.

I have two disclosures to make prior to discussing today's gift idea.  First, the FTC has new regulations on bloggers and basically it comes down to this:  Did anyone pay me to write this?  No, they did not.  I also did not get anything for free.  This post is just me blabbing on (and on, and on!) as usual.

Second, I'm a nerd.  I love books.  I love computers.  I love the written word.  

I am a nerd.

OK, then .....

For the person that has everything or is impossible to buy for (I'm thinking grandparents, history buffs, the other nerds in the world, etc.) I'm suggesting this book:

 

When I last looked, this book (and the 3 DVDs that accompany it) was about $37 on Amazon.

It's a big (15" x 12"), heavy, coffee-table style book.  It covers over 150 years of key historical events as viewed on the front pages of the New York Times.  It even includes coverage as recent as Obama's election.

Inside it looks like this:

 

And this:

 
 There's even OJ Simpson:

Along with other, more important, historical issues:

  

It's a beautiful book.  Obviously, it's not the type of book most people would sit down and read cover to cover.  It is, however, ideal for picking up and perusing when you just have a few minutes here and there.

I find it fascinating to flip through The Complete Front Pages and get a glimpse into the past.  

I have ONE copy of this book to give away today.  

If you're interested, please leave a comment in my comments section.  You may enter as many times as you wish.  Each comment counts as one entry.  I will use the Random Integer Generator to pick a winner.  Comments will close at 10 p.m. Pacific time tonight.  The winner will be announced in tomorrow's post.

Good luck!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Happy Thanksgiving!

It seems to be an appropriate time to thank all of you who take the time to visit here.  You are more appreciated than you will ever know.  

I hope each of you finds yourself today, and every day, with many blessings in your life to be thankful for.

Wishing you the happiest of Thanksgivings!

© Twenty Four At Heart

Hobnobbing With a Famous Blogger

If you're not in the blogging world, you may not know Ree Drummond (better known as The Pioneer Woman).  

Oh wait, maybe you do know her.  She's been on TV, she's written a bestselling cookbook and she entertains millions with her stories of life on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma.  She is the ultimate blogger success story.

She's also very pretty, don't you agree?

Last Sunday Ree was in Southern California doing a book signing for her cookbook.  My friend, Sandi, suggested we make the event into a girls afternoon/evening/night and attend.  

Every time I see Sandi it turns into an adventure so I jumped at the chance.

Sandi drove us up to L.A.  I'm letting you in on this important fact because, as you may recall, I've been having a tough go with my arm and my pain levels lately.  I needed pain meds on Sunday.  Because I took pain meds, I couldn't drive.  Being drugged up also meant I was (apparently) very entertaining as I happily chatted away.  I changed thoughts midstream rather abruptly several times during our conversation which caused Sandi to burst into giggles.  

I'm sure she was laughing WITH me and not AT me, right?

This is a very unflattering picture, but at least you get to see Sandi and I hanging out while waiting for our turn to get our books signed.  You also get to see how horrible I look when I'm under the influence.  

Your welcome.

By the way, Sandi is very perceptive.  As soon as the drugs began wearing off she saw the pain in my eyes.  Before I could protest she was carrying my cookbook for me.  

Yes, my arm is that weak.

There were a few hundred people at the signing, but we (fortunately) were in the first hundred to get books signed.  We didn't mind the wait because Sandi and I never, ever, run out of things to talk about.

When it was my turn to meet Ree, I found her to be nothing less than charming.  One of the Borders employees took my picture with her.  Unfortunately, he put my camera on video instead of taking a still photo.  I managed to salvage a little bit of proof I actually met her.  

After the signing, Sandi and I decided we needed just a little more time together.  We hadn't come close to running out of things to talk about yet.  We headed south towards Orange County and eventually made a stop for dinner.  We needed more girl time.  

I was in charge of navigating as Sandi drove us home.  That might not have been such a good idea since I have absolutely no sense of direction under the best of circumstances.  Adding pain meds into the mix made for ... um, a little confusion.  It was okay though, we really enjoyed touring the back streets and parking lots in Torrance.

Oops!

Oh well, eventually we Sandi found our way home.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Reminder: Secondhand Radio

Just a last minute reminder ....

I will be interviewed by Karl Erikson tonight at 7pm Pacific Time/10 pm EST on Secondhand Radio.  

Karl and I met in Chicago last summer and we really hit it off.  I hope you'll be able to tune in and join us for *about* an hour of fun conversation.  You are also welcome to call in to the show with questions or join us in the chat-room.

You can find out more about tonight by clicking here.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Birthday Wrap Up

I will be back to regular posting (whatever that is!) tomorrow.  Today is a hodgepodge post in the wake of my 24th birthday celebration yesterday.

First things first ...

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday's birthday celebration.  There were two hundred entries in my contest.  I really enjoy giving things away.

#1  The contest winners are as follows:

$100 Amazon Gift Card = Jan

$ 60 Amazon Gift Card = Dogmother

$ 40 Amazon Gift Card = Lorna

$ 40 Amazon Gift Card = Ballerinatoes

Congratulations to all four winners!  Please email me with the email address you would like your gift card sent to and I will get them sent out to you in the next 24 hours.

#2 I had a very nice birthday.  My family surprised me in the morning with this:

That funny looking thing on the seat is a bow.

I was so excited about my new bike!  First of all, it is RED!  Second, it is an Electra Beach Cruiser ... which I've wanted for a few years now.  Third, it has an old lady basket!  I plan to still be cruising the beaches on it when I turn 80 ... and since I'm only 24 now that means I have a lot of bike riding years ahead of me.  The only thing missing is a bell and I plan to buy one this week.  Yes, I will be that old lady on the bike at the beach!  The very thought makes me smile.

Isn't it pretty?  (And it's RED!)

#3  PR had his post-op appointment yesterday with the orthopedic surgeon.  They took X-rays which were very ... sobering ... to look at.  However, the doc said all the bones are now lined up "perfectly" in PR's ankle.  He also said PR should be 100% for baseball season this year (which is his passion).  I can't even tell you the sense of relief the appointment gave me.  It was the best birthday present I ever could have gotten.  

My kid is going to be okay.

#4  I lifted TWO POUNDS at physical therapy yesterday!  Well, if I'm being honest The Torturer moved my arm for me while I laid on a table with two pounds in my hand, but I sorta did it!  I know it sounds incredibly pathetic to all of you, but it has taken me three and a half years to accomplish this!  I felt happy and proud and excited ... even as I swore at The Torturer for the very idea of it.  

I believe I might have said something like, "What's the point of doing this when you are moving my arm for me?"  All the while, inside, I was thinking, "Oh my God, I'm doing it ... albeit with help, but I'm doing it!"

Small steps ... small steps!!

Go me!

#5  I came home to these after physical therapy:

Pretty, aren't they?

#6  I had a nice afternoon.  I got a lot of birthday phone calls, cards, and emails from friends and family.  It made me feel loved.  Sometimes it's nice to know people are thinking of you.

#7  Briefcase, PR and I went out to dinner.  It was PR's first real outing since his surgery.  Right before we left I noticed the full moon rising over my mountains.  It was beautiful.  It seemed like a perfect ending to a wonderful day.

© Twenty Four At Heart

24th Birthday Contest & Celebration!

Yippee!

I'm 24 today!  (Again!)

I love birthdays!

I can't tell you how much I enjoy writing Twenty Four At Heart.  All of you who take the time to stop by for a few minutes each day make me so happy.  There doesn't seem to be a better time to say thank you than on my 24th birthday.

To show my appreciation I am giving out $240 worth of Amazon gift cards today.  (24 with a zero behind it!)  It seems like Amazon has something for everyone, right?  And just in time for the holidays too.

I've made this as simple as I can.  

This is how it works:

You must leave a comment (any comment) to be entered to win.

You may enter as many times as you like.

Each comment equals one entry.

I will pick the winners using the Random Integer Generator.

The first winner picked will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

The second winner picked will receive a $60 Amazon gift card.

The third and fourth winners picked will each receive a $40 Amazon gift card.

That's right - there's $240 up for grabs!

Comments will be closed at 9 p.m. Pacific Time tonight.

Winners will be announced tomorrow.

Good luck to each of you and Happy Birthday to me!

© Twenty Four At Heart