This is one you'll Flip for...

Every once in a while something happens and you ask yourself a question.

Why?

That happened to me last night. 

The new version of blogger decided to un-follow me from all the blogs I had been following.  

Every. Single. One.

This in turn forced me to find a solution to the problem.  Yes, I could have just run back and re-followed every blog I had previously been un-followed from.  And don't get me wrong I did immediately do that with a few.  The ones that were currently stuck in my head.  But I realized that could take all night.  

Instead I got on my trusty iPad and started playing around with an app I already downloaded called Flipboard.  I liked this app before yesterday, but after my mini-melt down last night I think I kicked like to the curb and fell head over heels in love.  With an app no less.  

As a self proclaimed tech loving geek I feel no shame in admitting this.

Here's the description from the iPad store:

Flipboard is a fast, beautiful way to flip through the news, photos, videos, and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, Flickr, and Instagram. See your social media in a magazine layout that is easy to scan and fun to read. Catch up on the latest stories, videos and posts from popular publications and people such as National Geographic, The New Yorker, Wired, Rolling Stone, Oprah, Forbes, Robert Scoble, and Brain Pickings' Maria Popova. Share articles and photos, comment on posts, and like or favorite anything. Customize your Flipboard with sections created from your favorite news, people, blogs, and topics.

Your Flipboard is everything you care about in one place. It's your magazine. It's your Flipboard.

And keep in mind.  This one is Free!  If you have an iPad and don't have this app go and get it now.  If you don't have an iPad...um, sorry. 

I was able to go back and through Google Reader add most of the blogs I was following and now I can browse the content in a much more streamlined and cleaner way.  Plus I caught some postings I had missed the first time around and yes I can even comment form this app.  The downsize is it doesn't show me following your blog; but I just wanted all of you to know I'm still here and I'm still reading your stuff.

Thinking Thursday...see if this one doesn't make you go hmmm...

As you know on Thursday I like to give you guys some fantastic video's to look at.  

Okay, maybe I don't do it every Thursday.  So what if I not always consistent.  That's what keeps you guys coming back.  My blog is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get.  (In case you didn't know I totally ripped that line off. Scandalous.)

Anyway, yesterday, as I was surfing the tweets of my twitterati I stumbled upon one from @THansenWrites.  It blew my mind.  Seriously.  With a capital S.  

No, don't take my word for it.  Just go ahead and watch it.  

I'll wait.


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How freaking cool is that and where can I get mine?  

After watching this...what would you "print"???

Stuck between a wedge and a muffintop

I was spending some quality time in the office this weekend.  

Well I had to get my monitors installed.  Not for work.  So I can play the shoe sites against each other while I am shopping.  I like to save money while I add to my shoe collection.  Shhh.

Today is Muffintopmommy's birthday.  She turned 27.  

Again.  

I think this is like the fifth or sixth time.  I can't keep track.  Hell, I can't keep track of how many times I turned 27, so no way am I trying to keep up with hers.  That is too exhausting.  Kind of like when you want to stuff your fat butt into a pair of too tight jeans and have to use a clothes hanger to pull the zipper up.  E-X-H-A-U-S-T-I-N-G.  You know who you are.  And yes we've all done it. 

Well since today is her birthday and we are going to out to celebrate tonight.  No, not me and Muffy, me and the Captain.  In all actuality I have never met Janet AKA muffintopmommy.  Although she did come to Pensacola one time not too long ago.  She even had the nerve-the nerve I tell you-to ask me for directions to Destin, never once inviting me for a drink or anything.  

Bitch.

I couldn't have went even if she asked.  I was doing something that weekend. 

No, I can't remember what it was now.  But I am sure I was really busy.  

What were we talking about?

Oh, yes.  So this weekend in honor of my friend turning 27. 

Again.

I went shoe shopping.  Well, DSW did send me a coupon and I had like another $15.00 in free money to use on their site.  What's a girl to do.  Me?  I bought shoes.  (Aren't they fabulous?) Plus I got a great free tote out of the deal.  

So here's to you Muffy-wherever you are-and just know; tonight I will be strutting my stuff in my new shoes as we head out for dinner and drinks in your honor.  Okay, I may tell the Captain that tonight is your birthday or, I may not.  If I was a couple of years younger, and by that I mean 21, I would beer bong a couple just for you.  Since that is a big no-can-do my little muffintop friend, I feel like I am going to drown, how's about I just promise to lift a can in your honor?

Happy Birthday!

PS:  I did buy more than one pair of shoes.  I. Just. Couldn't. Help. Myself.

Reading...it does a body good

Recently I have been acquainting myself with GoodReads.  If you are not familiar with it, this site is for people who love to read.  

When I was first introduced to it I thought, "Oh, no.  Not another networking site."  But this weekend I spent some time going through it and was pleasantly surprised.  Yes it is another networking site, but this one connects me directly with peeps who like to read the sames types of titles I do.  Plus through some fancy footwork I stumbled across some stories I now want to go back and re-read.  And it allows me to keep track of what I have read and when.

Here's my question.  Am I supposed to log in every book?  Because I've gotta tell you that could take a long, long, looooooong time.  I am a book slut.  If I were a homeless person my sign would say, "Will work for books."  Okay, I'm not proud, I would work for money, but it would all go to books.  I can't imagine a world without them.  

Of course I used to be a proponent of only the written word and not the digital one.  I clearly remember when the Kindle first came out.  I scoffed at the idea of an e-reader.  Puh-leeze.  No way was I giving up my beloved books.  The feel, the smell of the paper, the sound of a new spine when it was opened for the first time.  For me these things were almost orgasmic.  I said ALMOST.

But then something funny happened.  I got a Kindle as a gift. 

It was one of those unfortunate situations you find yourself in when you are presented with something you swore-on a stack of books no less-that you would never own.  I would not be drawn to the dark side.  Along with the kindle itself I was also presented with a prepacked amazon gift card.  Enough to get me started.  That was what the devil said, "Enough to get you started."  No, the devil didn't give me the gift, but he was the hand that orchestrated my downfall.  Of this I am sure.

So there I was, practically forced to the computer so I could register my new device and purchase the first of many, many, many, and I mean many, e-books.  It was like a drug. 

One that I now have no intention of ever giving up.  Not only does my kindle take up less space, but I can actually see the words without squinting or using my glasses.  But that wasn't the most important thing to me.  I travel a lot.  And when I did I carried books in my overnight bag.  Packed in my suitcase, even in my purse.  Inevitably I would stop in a bookstore no matter where I was because I knew I didn't have enough to get me home.  Ergo, the drug reference.  Once I got my Kindle up and running, I realized I could take books with me wherever I went and they took up less space than my day-timer.  Don't worry, I finally went digital with that too.  

I swear I had a point when I started this rambling.  Oh, yeah, I know. Do I seriously have to go back and enter every book I have ever read into this website?  It could take years.  Literally.

Are you on GoodReads?  If so come and find me so we can be friends.  I want to see what you're reading.

Three really is a charm

Last week I was supposed to get my three monitors set up.  

I didn't. 

I needed a special video card or some such do-thingy that I didn't have.  Instead I had to wait another whole week while said do-thingy was ordered and delivered.

It came on Friday!

Whoo-hoo.

I was so psyched I couldn't wait for the Captain to get home and get it installed.  Well, I did wait.  So I guess that statement is a little misleading.  I mean, I didn't want to install it myself and since only the two of us live here (as much as I beg IT Guy, he won't move in).  I hate the hardware part of computers.  I'm much better with the software.

So Friday night the time arrived and the Captain did his job.  In the fairness of full disclosure I should admit that by the time he did get to it, I no longer cared that he was doing said install.  I was working my way through a bottle of wine and I was closer to the bottom of the bottle than the top.  

When he finished and couldn't make it work I called IT Guy who was MIA.  I had to wait until Saturday to get my three beauty's running right.  Not that the Captain didn't do a good job.  The computer could see the new monitor, it just wasn't recognizing it as part of my desk top.

Don't worry.  Don't anybody panic.  It's all working just fine now.  And see, I have the picture to prove it.

The side monitors are looking a little bright here because I haven't tweaked my settings, but overall I am really happy with this new set-up.  Plus it was about 1:30 AM Sunday morning when the I took the picture, that's why the room is so dark.

So what did you do on Saturday or should I say Sunday morning?

Yeah, its Friday...so what?

Today is Friday and all I got it...Thank you God!

Have a great weekend everybody!

I searched for a video to express how I feel and I couldn't find one.  So since I want to get the party started and was in the mood for a little teenage dream I am pulling this one out of the archives.

Or at least I was until I found out the video was no longer available.  What the f...?

I didn't think Friday could suck, boy was I wrong. 

So I have the music turned up really loud and Darren Criss is singing teenage dream...unfortunately I can't share with you guys today. 

From me to you...hope your Friday is fairing a little better.

Book Hungry...I'm on a different diet

Today I am supposed to be telling you about this months read.  

I'm not gonna do that.

My Gram always said if you didn't have anything nice to say you shouldn't say anything at all.  And since I don't want to bash any books because I love to read I'm keeping these lips firmly clamped.  Well not really, but you get where I'm going.  I was disappointed, but not surprised that this book didn't resonate with me.  So go check out the other book hungry reviews for this month.

Instead I'll tell you I've been reading like crazy this month.  I just found a new author that I'm really enjoying.  Shannon Stacey.  Well, new to me.  Her Kowalski trilogy is a new favorite.  I liked all three and they each would stand alone really well, but I love authors who write big families.  Especially when they do them well and Stacey does them well.  She is working on the next three from this family and I. Can't. Wait.

I discovered Marie Force last year and more of her books are being released in e-book format.  Good news for me, not so good for my credit card.  I just finished another trilogy about Ganstt Island and am now working on True North.  

With Lifetime's release of Nora Robert's Carnal Innocence I found myself going and re-reading that one again too.  I have the paperback, hardback and e-book.  I am a Nora junkie.  No help needed, thank you.

Catherine Mann had a new book come out this month called Cover Me.  I'm saving that one for this weekend.  Sitting in the pool on my float with my kindle.  *Happy Sigh* Best way to spend the day.  Ever!

Julie James is another recent discovery.  And I was finally able to download Practice Makes Perfect.  This was her first book and I enjoyed it as much as the others.  

I did step out of my comfort zone to read Bad Taste in Boys by my twitter friend and undead spice sista Carrie Harris.  I enjoyed the book, even though I am not a zombie loving girl.  I would never have read this on my own, and honestly bought the book to support Carrie.  Bonus for me that I enjoyed it.

I sucked down a couple of Maureen Child books, one was new and one, an older book re-released in e-book format.  That is the one thing I love about my kindle.  Books that I read years ago are being re-released and sold.  

I cut my teeth on Harlequin and Silhouette books. I wish they would release all of the older ones and sell them for like a dollar or two.  There are definitely books I would love to go back and re-read.  Why haven't they thought of this? 

So that's my reading list for this month and there are still a couple of weeks left.  What are you reading right now?

Reasons to be sad

Yesterday I got some pretty bad news.

Rocky, my "oldest" has been diagnosed with kidney disease. 

I'm heartbroken.  He has been with us since he was a kitten and found by a co-worker in a box in a Wal-mart parking lot.  

I just don't have it in me to try and be happy today.  I don't have it in me to be perky today.  All I really want to do is curl up with him and pet him and tell him everything is going to be alright.  Only it's not going to be.  His is pretty advanced and while the vet didn't give us a timeline, we had to make some changes to his diet immediately.  I can pretty much tell you I will be spending my weekend researching this to see what we can do to prolong his life.  

At some point yesterday I had a friend say to me, "He's a cat."  As if the fact that he is only a pet should have made me feel better.  It didn't.  He's my cat.  He has lived with me for 13 years and has been a trusted friend.  When I worked outside of the home he would meet me at the door everyday and tell me about his day as I headed into my room to change into comfy clothes.  His purr has quieted over the years going from a jet engine type of sound to a softer motor-boat putting around the bay, but when it is time to say good-bye to him it will be hard.

I am not going to spend the time left fixating on the fact that he won't always be here because that was inevitable anyway.  I am going to make sure I enjoy the moments we do have left and spend as much quality time with his as I can.

A Birthdays a good excuse for a Mojito

Saturday was my birthday.

Another year has sped on by.  

Where does the time go?  

In true Breakey tradition we decided to stay in.  Okay, decided is not the right word.  We were more or less held hostage by the Captains Job and the Rain.  

Since he pulled call he had to hang close to home plus it rained solid for two days.  My grass is really happy this week.

It didn't turn out to be too bad.  I got to spend a couple of days getting lost in someone else's stories, which is always fun.  I finished the Kowalki books by Shannon Stacey.  And I loved all three of them.  She has a knack for dialogue that I am totally envious of.  Magic Penis and all.  (You would have to read the books to get the inference.  But they were good.)

Saturday night we stayed in and had cocktails.  We had some friends stop over but they left before the cocktails got started.  I made up some of my now famous Mojito's.  Well, they're famous to me.  I think I have become pretty good at mixing these little darlings up.

Here's the recipe in case you want to give it a go.

1/2 can club soda

1 lime squeezed

Dark rum (to taste)

Sugar

Mint Leaves

Mottle the mint leaves in the bottom of a glass with a teaspoon of sugar.  You can use more if you like them sweeter.  Add the lime juice.  Add the rum.  I prefer the dark rum just because I like the taste better, but if you were to ask a Mojito Master, they would tell you that they are made with white rum.  Don't get me wrong, those are good too.  But when you are in the comfort of your own home you can do it however you want.  You should use about a shot or more if you want them stronger.  I think my Gram would have called that a jigger.  Add some ice to the glass and pour about a half of the can of club soda over.  Taste and adjust accordingly.  Oh,  yeah and enjoy!

How'd you spend your weekend?

More Cloudy Days

The week after July 4th we took some time off.  Vacation was lovely, and necessary.  Before I took the time off I was cruising the blogs and stumbled across one of my favorites.  Lenny's World.  He did a post on clouds which if you are so inclined you can find here.

Lenny is one of my favorite bloggers because of his shiny personality and upbeat take on life.  

In his post he talked about how clouds can inspire us.  Sometimes revealing themselves in ways that constantly surprise.  

I found myself intrigued.  And then I found myself wondering when the last time I had stopped to look up and check out the clouds.  It had been awhile.  So, me being me, I decided to accept Mr. Lenny Lee's challenge and spend some time chasing clouds on my vacation.

Let me tell you it was definitely the week for it.  We had perfect weather and even better...perfect cloud formations.

Here are a couple that caught my attention.  

We took a day to go have lunch and we did it via our boat.  The Captain told me we could go to one of my favorite restaurants for fish sandwiches.  The first pic here looked like a wolf to me and reminded me of when I was a child and got lost in The Call of the Wild, one of my favorite stories from when I was a child.  Do you see it?  


As we made our way back from lunch and moved through Perdido Key I watched as the cloud formation changed as the wind kicked up.  As we rounded back toward the bay the cloud changed and this was what it looked like.

This reminds me of a chicken and upon seeing it I could here my Grandmother's voice telling me the story of Chicken Little.  It seemed appropriate as I was looking at the sky and that story was about the sky falling.

The last one that I am offering up is another one that I snapped as we were moving through Perdido.  At the time I didn't recognize the formation as looking like a fish.  It wasn't until after I uploaded the photo's that I noticed this one.  Since I was on the water when I took the photo it seemed serendipitous.   

So in honor of my friend Lenny Lee I hope you all enjoy this posting.  What messages have the clouds sent to you?

In Florida we know how to Make Waves

I know what your thinking.  Not another book contest.

Okay, it' not another book contest.  

Yes it is.

I know, I should make up my mind, right?

Anyway, another tweeter that I stalk, Ms. Tawna Fenske and her first book Making Waves is coming out August 1, 2011.  Those in the know, and by that I mean the folks that follow Tawna via her blog and twitter are all a ga ga over this book.  We have been waiting a very long time.

When Alex Bradshaw's unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb after 20 faithful years as an executive with the world's largest shipping company, he sets out to reclaim his dignity and his pension. Assembling a team of fellow corporate castoffs, he sails to the Caribbean to intercept an illegal diamond shipment. None of them counted on quirky blonde stowaway Juli Flynn, who has a perplexing array of talents, a few big secrets, and an intoxicating romantic chemistry with Alex...

In honor of her book debut, our book club, BookHungry is going to be reading this one as our August selection and blogging about it on August 18.  Yes, shameless plug for the ladies of BookHungry.  In my defense they are an awesome bunch, so no, I don't feel bad.  We are always looking for new members so if you are interested just email us at bookhungry@googlegroups.com and we can send you the info on how to meet and discuss interesting and diverse books.  We choose one selection monthly and everyone is welcome.

But I digress.  I am bad about that sometimes. (Shut up Karla.) 

Anyway I am looking forward to Tawna's first book and know that it will be an instant success, probably shooting straight to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers.  But before that happens I want to offer a couple of copies for a give-away.  Rules are simple.  In the comment section you have to share your very own Making Waves story.

We don't care what they entail, just share.  A beach moment with the kids.  A boating memory with your hubs that may or may not include a bottle of wine, a faulty anchor...er wait, that's my story.  Just share something humorous below. 

Make them dark or funny because this month I am letting my hater-sister, AKA sourpuss and not Ms. Marshmallow Momma, Karla Nellenbach select a winner. Don't even go and think she's doing me some sort of favor here.  I will most definitely have to buy her a copy of the book as well.  She is always holding me hostage that way.  Heads up: she is hard to please and loves drama.  Contest closes on August 1, 2011 which just happens to coincide with the release date of the book. 

Good luck and thanks for allowing me to feed your need to read!

When ever you call me gets new meaning.

It's Thursday already and this week is flying by.

For serious, am I glad about that.

Today's posting is me sending a great big cosmic shout out to tweeps who make my day.  You know who you are.  But since not everyone else does...I am sharing.

Abby Mumford whom you can find here and here. 

Yesterday sucked for me, but Abby found a way to make my day when she tweeted this...

.@kbreakey on book clubs: "I love that at any time during a given month we are all lost in the same world. There is comfort in that." #AMEN

She wasn't the only one who made my day either.  

Karla?  Karla?   Are you in the house?  By the by, you can find her here and here.

YOU had to know I would mention this.  Ms. SourPuss who never has a nice thing to say to me sucked up yesterday and not in a little way.  She sucked up big.  She needs me.  Oh, I always new it would happen, and now it finally did.  She needs my *cough* computer expertise.  And she asked so nicely.  Well as nicely as she can.  It took me a little while to respond.  Mainly because I was basking.  But she elevated me from "biotch" to "friend".  I swear the sun was shining directly on my head yesterday.  Either that or I am in a coma and this really is all a dream.

Anyway, thanks ladies for dragging my ass out of the doldrums yesterday and making it, at least a bearable one.  And for the rest of you...if your not following them, why the hell not?  Hit them up on their blogs and twitter.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Thank God today isn't Monday

Well this morning has started off horribly wrong. 

My computer for work is not working.  Well how are you blogging?  I had to log into my laptop to post this today since I am pretty sure I won't have access to anything until my IT guru gets here this afternoon.  Yep, the husband did have to work today and I, unfortunately, have to wait until this afternoon to get some help in this department.

Makes me miss the days when all I had to do was pick up a phone and call IT. 

How I miss those days.

So if I don't get to say hello to you guys on twitter today.  Know I am here in spirit.

Happy BTIB release day!

My vacation is officially over as well as my social networking silence.  Go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief.  I know you missed me.

We have a great week ahead of us here on the blog, but first I have to figure out what the hell blogger did while I was gone.  Everything has changed and it is totally freaking me out.  I really don't like it.  Today.  Maybe tomorrow I will feel differently.

But since this is a new week I am just going to go with it.  And in starting this new week off I need to announce a couple of winners.  Yes I said a couple because at the end of the day we had a tie and then an extra one I through in just because.  I love  giving books away.

Okay so the BTIB giveaway goes to...drum roll please.

Mel Rob and Pokadots1121.  

Congratulations.  

And just because I love my undead Spice Sister Mummy,  I am going to send her a copy too! 

Rock on Carrie Harris and Congratulations on you Bad Taste In Boys release day! 

Happy 4th of July...Early

Today is Friday and once this week from hell is officially over I will be on vacation.

We're not going anywhere.  Hanging around town with some friends.  Going to a few cook-outs this weekend.  In fact we have an entire weekend dedicated to cook-outs with Monday's being on the beach followed by an amazing fireworks show that we will have a first row seat to right on the water.

I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday and find some time during the weekend to remember the men and women who are currently serving our country so we can enjoys these little things like fire works on the 4th of July.

If you haven't entered my BTIB contest yet...get over there an do it. 

Also if you have been keeping up with Grace and Harper...Karla finally found a cure to Lazy Writer Syndrome and some relief from her Sucky Writer Disease.  She posted yesterday here.  Check it out.

In the meantime have a righteous Holiday weekend and know I will be thinking of all you as I while away next week sitting on a beach sipping cocktails and stuffing my face with seafood.  Cheers!