Spring fever!!!! You have it? I know I do. For me, it started a week or two before the return to Daylight Saving Time. I was so sick of winter already….not that ours was that bad this year, but I was sick of socks and shoes. I hate wearing socks….I want to live in sandals and flip-flops, and I’ve started!! I’m tired of sweaters, and long pants. I want to wear capris. And blouses and t-shirts.
How did I know it was spring?
I switched purses.
I finally took the cover off my Adirondack chair. Sam always laughs at me, as I had it covered all winter, and even when it wasn’t raining, I had the cover on…but the covers off now.!!!!
I went back to the tanning salon. I know, some of you are cringing and yelling at me. Don’t tell my friends at Morphosis in Santana Row. They get so mad at me….but I love the tanning salon. If I had a backyard to sit in, I’d do that, but all I have is a porch…a nice porch.but it’s just a porch and the 15-20 minutes at the tanning salon, is heavenly too me!!!!
I started my diet again!!! I got off of it when Tori came home, because all we did is eat.but now…last year’s capris are a little snugger so here I go again!!!
I cleaned the BBQ.
I sent my raincoat to the dry cleaner…which means it’s tucked away in the closet now until next winter!!!
I took my umbrella out of the car
I’ve started to dream about summer vacation (and the fact that I need to lose some weight if I want to put my bathing suit on.)
I have my blinds open at home
I’ve started daydreaming again!!!!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 02.28.08
So is it called a vacation.or a feeding frenzy? Maybe both!!!!!!!!!!!
Victoria’s home from China for 9 days and all we’ve done is eat.
Actually, that’s not entirely true. When we’re not eating, we’re shopping.
But getting back to the eating. Remember that pound and a half I lost in my first month at Curves? It’s back….plus more. So I assume my lost inches are back as well.
Well, there’s always the post-Tori workout schedule. Every thing will be post-Tori.
My depression (ha ha)….my weight loss ( I hope)…. And my wining that both girls live somewhere else…...or would that be the same as depression. Tori will be in China until Xmas. So I’m hoping to meet her somewhere, other than China, this summer.
It’s been so great having her here. It was Team TLC (Tori, Lissa and Christina) all over again I was in heaven!!!!
Not so heavenly was our overnight stay in San Francisco. The shopping was great. The weather was even better. We stayed at the Palace Hotel and that was great. But do you know what they charge for hotel parking in San Francisco? Are you ready? $48 per night.
Let me repeat that….$48 per night.
As they say in China when you’re in the knock-off stores…..that’s a JOKING price!!!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 02.18.08
You wait and wait and wait for that special day, and it finally arrives.
It could be a son or daughter coming home from Iraq, or something as simple as Christmas, vacation, a birthday….even just a day with friends. Well, my special day is
finally arriving. Tori is coming home from China…..just for 9 days, but I can’t wait.
I know I saw her in December, but there was so much to see in China that we were always on the move…There will be a lot of that here too, but to familiar places without as much hustle and bustle.
Well..maybe not!! As soon as she arrives, we’re going down to Cal Poly to see Christina.
Will be lots of shopping in downtown San Luis Obispo. All the stores Tori used to shop at are now Christinas’s favorites. (Id better sharpen up that credit card)
And then, after a stop at home to watch the Oscars (Tori’s into stars as much as I am)
we’re going to San Francisco..to Union Square for a little more shopping. We’re going to stay up there for a night. She’s also using the week to go to the dentist, the doctor and oh yes, her favorite hairdresser.
Tori is as thin as can be, but she loves to eat. Weeks ago, she sent me her list of restaurants that we just had to go to:
In San Luis Obispo, there’s Firestone, Gus (sandwich shop) and Tahoe Joes.
In San Jose, It’s Morton’s (she loves steak), Willow Street in Willow Glen, California Pizza Kitchen, Chevy’s, Original Joes, Florentines (she loves their bread), Togo’s, Uno Mas and In-n-Out.
Wait!!!!There aren’t enough days for all of that. Guess, we’ll be doubling up…and I will be forgetting the DIET!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 02.11.08
It’s all about sharing this week!!!!
I just completed my first month of working out!!!!!.
I know its just 30 minutes at a time, but I did it three sometimes four times a week and when I checked my heart rate, I was almost always off the chart. And a few times I even
perspired. Not sure if that was a hot flash or from the workout, but believe me, it counts either way.
So here was my first weigh-in and measurement. I lost one and a half pounds, which too me is silly, since I’ve really been watching what I eat.plus working out…but I’ll take what I can get, plus I lost 3 and a half inches from hips, abdomen and stomach (thought those were the same) and I lost a little more than 2 pounds of body fat.. Slow and go it seems, but I’m okay with the workout now. I know I’ve got to do it for good health!!!!
Now, something or someone I would much rather talk about. Tori in China. She’s working for the Sheraton now, and just did a photo spread for their June Dragon festival.
Look at these two pictures!!!!!!!
She’s actually coming home for a week….I can’t wait….Team TLC will be together again. Yes, that’s what we call us…Tori, Lissa and Christina. We’re a Team of three
With tender loving care for each other!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 02.04.08
I feel I let you down on Friday, February First. For the first time in years, I didn’t give you advance warning, either in the morning or with my blog…about National Wear Red Day. I was so caught up with our live show in Saratoga; I missed the “red boat”.
Heck…I didn’t wear red either!!!! But it’s not too late. We’ve got the rest of February. I worry about heart disease. My mom died of breast cancer, but it’s heart disease that actually kills more women. …..460 thousand women each year, but it’s a disease that really is preventable. You can make yourself heart healthier with diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. And there are warning signs that your heart is in trouble:
• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
And when you turn 50 get a bone density test. I’ve actually had 3 of them now and this last one wasn’t as good as the first two. So I’m getting into the habit of taking calcium …actually those chocolate chewies that you can buy.
There’s a lot to think about as you get older, and as you rush around in this day to day life we call living.. Now that Mike’s gone, I know I need to take care of myself better for Christina and Tori. So for once, I’m taking my health seriously…
By the way…Marie Osmond is the national spokesperson for Go Red for Women. Both her parents died of heart disease…so kudos to her….. see I do have a heart!!!!!!!!!
And of course go shopping for RED!!! Like with shopping for pink to fight breast cancer, I know most of the money goes to the company not the cause, but it all adds up and some hefty checks go to the American Heart Association, and ever little bit helps..Mattel sends in 100 thousand dollars, Swarovkski 150 thousand dollars…and on and on…Go online to GoRedforWOmen.com….check it out!!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 01.28.08
So…who made the resolution to diet and work out in the New Year? You?
Me? Got to say yes to that one. I actually started the second week in January, because I didn’t want the regulars at the gym to look at me on January 2nd and think “Here comes another one”. Don’t think I fooled anyone though.
So here it is, about a month later, and according to the scale, I apparently haven’t lost much of anything. And my happiest time at the gym is still the time I’m walking out the door, purse in hand. But you know what, the truth is, it isn’t the worst thing you can have to do. I have to make myself go, but I do go…three times a week. One time, I made it four times. I know Big Deal!!!!
But for me, it is a big deal as I truly hate to exercise. The dieting part I don’t mind.
And I know, you look at me, and you think “What is she dieting for”. But, it’s all relative.
I’m a petite person and I like to weigh a certain amount, and right now I don’t. My clothes don’t fit me exactly the way I want to. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I bought a pair of Lucky Brand Jeans. I actually ventured out of the Petite Department. They go by double digit numbers, so I had no idea what to try on. But I guess for Moms like me, the inside label has the double digit and single numbers. So I got the size I normally wear, and they fit!!!!Well, maybe not. I thought they were slightly too tight. The sales clerk said “oh,no….they fit perfect” Do they ever say anything else? So without removing the tags, I took them down to Christina at Cal Poly. (I was going anyway) She said they fit, and I do believe her!!!!! So guess, what I’m wearing?
I’ve decided somehow, I’m not losing pounds, but I have lost an inch or two… I’ll soon get the official weigh in and believe me….loss or gain…I’ll let you know…
And I am going to continue to work out….It’s not that bad...
But if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it!!!!!!!!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 01.21.08
So just what is in your purse? I can’t believe it… no matter how big or how small my purse is, I can’t find a darn thing. And don’t you love it when you hear your cell phone ringing and you can’t find it and by the time you’re done freaking out and actually find the darn thing, the person has hung up. Yes, I know a lot of purses now have compartments for cell phones, but come on, do you really take the time to put your phone back in it every time you talk... NO!!!
Getting back to all the stuff in your purse… make a list…
Here is mine:
Wallet…stuffed to the brim
Smaller credit card holder…to hold what my wallet can’t.
Checkbook
Business card holder
Coupons…lots of them…especially for Bed Bath and beyond (you know they never expire!!!)
Make up bag
Bottle of Tylenol
2 pocket calendars – last year’s and this year’s
Pick (comb)
Gift card to Original Joes
Loose change
Gum and Mints
1 Pen
Movie stub from Juno
6 receipts
Cell Phone
They say the average woman has 25 things in her purse. So I’m not quite there…not this week at least.
Now, this is what the experts say you should have in your purse…along with all t he other stuff:
Water bottle
Small tube of sunscreen
Gym membership card (mines on my keychain)
A healthy low fat snack
Anti-bacterial hand gel
A relaxing book
And health records.
They’ve got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!! A lot of that stuff I have in my other purse…It’s called the car!!!!!
01.14.08
We all get them…those e--mails that say pass it on…good things will come to you and those you send it to. Here’s a confession. I never pass them on. Usually, I don’t even open them. But my friend Janette sent me this one…and I do want to pass it on, because even if you follow a few of them, your life will be happier!!!!!!
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Record your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to____ today."
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer . They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts .
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life .
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does .
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about .
24. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets, Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business .
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time .
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. So stop complaining about the weather, the job, the rents etc etc
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. Do the right thing!
37. Call your family often.
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: " am thankful for ___." Today I accomplished ____.
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
01.07.08
20 years at KBAY!!!!! I hope we didn’t bore you on January 3rd with the big to do, but I have to say I loved every minute of it. I knew the day was coming. Heck, I started reminding the boss a year ago, but I never expected what happened, and know I will never ever forget it. Once the morning show was over, there was a surprise party and roast at Morton’s Steakhouse. It was the very best day in all 30 years of my radio career. Yes, the first ten years, I was at KLOK 1170 and they too were great.
I switched to KBAY because KLOK went Spanish.
I never much thought about being at the very same place for 20 years although few in radio get to do it. Owners change, G-M’s change, the music format changes or you say or do something you probably shouldn’t have.
I’ve lived through the first three. So far so good on the fourth.
I hope you have a job you love. I love everything about my job, even the hours. That’s how I’ve been able to be a full time D-J and a full time Mom. When Tori and Christina were young, Mike was there in the morning. For seven years, we did have Rosie, our Nanny, who would come to the house when Mike was going to work, but I was always home in the afternoon. The only thing I ever missed was morning field trips.
I love the perks. And no I’m not talking about free tickets, because there’s not as much of that as you think. Oh, yes, we get to go to Disneyland and I’ve done some great trips with listeners, but I’m talking about being involved with this great community. I enjoy every single event I attend. I get a thrill out of being part of “good things”, helping others and hopefully making a difference, because as corny as it sounds, you have made a difference in my life.
And then there’s Sam!!! I’ve gone through several morning show partners. I never thought there would be anyone who could top Don. We had an incredible five years but Sam and I really have something special. We think alike, even if it doesn’t sound like it on the air, we share the same love for the community, we respect each other, we count on each other, and as he showed me the last year, we look out for each other.
Mushy I know…sorry about that….I’m blessed with my two daughters. I’m blessed with my KBAY partner. Actually, I’m blessed with a great station, and that I truly mean.
Well, here I am 20 years later. And I hope I’m here for another 10. 20 is simply unnecessary!!!!
12.28.2007
You ever go on a trip and when you get home you say to yourself “That was incredible, what an experience!!!” That was China .I would never have gone, had it not been for Tori living there, and to be honest, I would not go again, but who knows as Tori has decided to stay in China for the next year which makes me totally sad however she is coming home for a week in February. Sometimes I wonder where she came from. She is so unlike me, although so like her father. I am so overwhelmed by her adventure, her spirit, her adaptation of such a different culture, her ability to speak Mandarin and live in a whole different world.
And yes, China is a whole different world. I’m sure you heard from Sam that I never adapted to the food. After just a few dumplings, and what I call very gross Chinese food (you don’t even want to know), we started eating at Western-style restaurants. Christina was so much more adaptable than me, but even she was relieved that we got to eat in places that had bread and steak!!!! Believe it or not in Beijing, we even ate at an Outback (wasn’t nearly as good as the ones here) and also at a Sizzler’s (also not as good as here) but certainly good enough for me!!!!
China is like Mexico. You can’t drink the water. We didn’t even eat lettuce or unpeeled fruit that needed to be washed. Tori eats it, but said our stomachs might not be used to it. And yes, those squatting bathrooms you’ve heard about (no toilets) are everywhere, but we managed to go only in Tori’s apartment, a shopping mall or restaurant, which always had both kinds of stalls. And you take the toilet paper from a machine before you go into the stall. Tori lives in a great high rise apartment with security guards, even a gym, but there are no dishwashers, disposals or dryers. So everyone always has clothes hanging in windows and on balconies. I assume the very rich sent their things to dry cleaners but everyone else seems to have everything hanging to dry.
Crowded? You have no idea. Our commute is nothing compared to their drive and at any time. Plus you have to maneuver between bicycles, scooters and buses. In Shanghai no one stops for you. You run across the street and dart in and out of cars. Ever inch of street and sidewalk is mobbed. And it’s as if the locals have never seen Americans. Everyone stares are you and with Tori being blond and Christina auburn, those at the tourist sites always wanted to take their pictures.
Yes, there are tons of knock off items…Wherever you go someone is trying to sell you something. You bargain and bargain, which Tori was great at. It helped that she could speak Mandarin. They were often surprised and more willing to agree to her terms. She knew when to walk, and they would always chase after her, and give in to her price.
And sure enough, we did have many of my infamous “I Love Lucy “moments. Like when we took the overnight train to Beijing in a sleeper car. Even though I packed light, we were schlepping 3 suitcases. A 4th I had to buy in Beijing. And then there was the trip to the Great Wall with a tour guide we had hired. As soon as her driver parked, the police swooped in and held us in the van for an hour. That was scary!!!!! It turned out that our guide had a tour license, but the driver (her boyfriend) did not, and once they let us go after much interrogation, we found out they took the van, and beat the boyfriend, leaving him seriously hurt on some back alley.
It was a great 10 days with Tori. I would have never gone to China. I wonder how Americans and others will fare during the Olympics as the locals truly don’t know our language and even those in the tourist trade seem to be lost when it comes to helping with directions and things like that. There were times when it was like the Amazing Race. I still don’t know how we made it to the Great Wall. We took so many twists and turns to get there!!!! Most locals don’t seem to have any desire to help. If it weren’t for Tori or her boyfriend Ryan who is also from California, Christina and I would have been “lost in the translation”.
But did I tell you how great it was to see Tori? Yeah..I think I did!!!
12.07.2007
Christmas in China….never thought I’d be saying that, and actually we’ll be home by Christmas. I plan to work on Xmas eve morning as Sam is taking the day off. But yes, Christina and I finally get to see Victoria who has been in China since August. She has learned to speak Mandarin and apparently very well, and has learned the culture. She loves being there, but I so miss her. I remember when she said she was going, I said why not London. I would love to go back there, but it’s China and I am so excited. In fact, I started watching Survivor to see what I could before we left, but after the first few weeks, I got bored with the river they kept showing and with the show itself, so that was the end of that. It was certainly no Dancing with the Stars!!!
So Christina and I will be in China for 11 days. We’re not bringing much because Victoria already has claimed our suitcases for herself. She’s sending a lot of things home, plus she says we’ll want to buy a few things. She has reportedly become quite the bargainer.
We’ll be spending the first few days in Shanghai at her apartment. If you’ve ever been, she’s taking us to some museums. She’s got a thing for museums. We found that out in Paris. Then we go to the French concession area, take a river cruise. She even has coffee breaks planned (lucky us) There are many shopping breaks (that’s my daughter) She has us going to good markets and cheap markets as she calls them. We’re also going to the Yu yuan bazaar (more shopping), the acrobat show and the Yu gardens plus the Bund. And for some reason, she has us going to a cooking class. Dumplings I think. Being away from home, she’s obviously forgotten I don’t cook. We’ll humor her!!!!
And then there’s Beijing for 4 days….the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City………
And then all of a sudden it will be the last day….and Christina and I will be coming home and Victoria will be staying in China. We’ve been quite the threesome since Mike died. My girls have been my rock…my inspiration….Our nickname is TLC.. Tori, Lissa, Christina, but the T won’t be on the plane with us. Well…that’s the circle of life I guess….Your kids grow up. (I hate it!!!!!)
Happy Holidays…..Have a great couple of weeks. Take care of my Sammy. See you on the 24th….
11.27.2007
It’s early. but how many of you are already sick of the holidays?
Not me…through happy or sad times, I do love this time of year.
And I am determined to enjoy most every minute of it, if not for me than for Christina.
I love going to the mall, whether or not I’m buying anything. Hustle, bustle, crowds, noise….it’s all good!!!! Well, almost all good. I make no secret of my annoyance with KIOSK workers. How much are they paid to harass you as you walk by?
And why can’t you just buy one of something. Why is there always a second part to your purchase?
But about the shopping…. This caught my eye on AOL…the list of what not to buy for that special someone!!!!
1. Never give a scale---no explanation necessary!!!
2. Don’t give anything with a plug unless someone has specifically asked for the particular item. Household items like blenders that are not asked for are never wanted.
3. Don’t give a gift certificate for a make-over. Not a good idea. Buy some make up, but don’t offer up an entire makeover!!!!
4. Don’t give something that is really for you. He or She will see right through you.
5. Never give fake diamonds and pretend they’re real. You will be found out, I promise!!!!
6. Never re-gift. It’s hard to remember who you got things from. And you may be giving the item to the original giver.
7. Don’t buy gag gifts. They’re never silly when they’re the main gift.
8. Skip the shirt. I don’t necessarily agree with this one. If it’s a nice unusual shirt, why not buy it, but if it’s just your standard white or light blue one…skip the shirt!!!.
See you shopping!!!!
11.12.2007
We know what’s for dinner on Thanksgiving, but where will you be
eating? At friends, family, a restaurant, or at your own home?
This will be our first Thanksgiving without Mike. It was March that he passed away.
So I’m not sure how the day will be, but I do know it will be very different, and I know there will be times when Christina and I will go from crying to laughing. Victoria is in China which is why she won’t be joining us. But we’ll have my dad Marty with us and we will be OK!!!!
Holiday dinners though can be tough. Oh, sure they can be great fun and hopefully they usually are, but you can easily mess up, which is why Miss Manners aka Lissa Kreisler is here to help.
Here’s a list of 11 things you Don’t want to do….. (If you want to get invited back next year)
1. Get involved in a conversation with your mouth full.
2. Use your knife or fork to clean the food out of your nails. Someone always sees.
3. Use your nail, knife or fork to get food out of your teeth. Not even a toothpick is acceptable at the dinner table. Even worse, look at what you’ve found.
4. Tuck your napkin into your collar, belt or between the buttons of your shirt.
5. Rock back in your c hair, so just the back legs are touching and you need to grab onto your neighbor so you don’t fall.
6. Pile as much food onto your fork as possible and then stuff it into your mouth.
7. Cut your entire plate of food into tiny pieces…and then start to listen.
8. Leave food on your fork, and then start waving it around like a crazy person as you talk.
9. Blow your nose into your napkin or cough without covering your mouth. Go to the bathroom for that.
10. Yell out “I’m stuffed” or “I shouldn’t have eaten all of that while holding your tummy or unbuttoning your pants.
11. Lick your fingers and smack your lips and say “that was finger-lickin’ good”!!!
11/06/07
Here’s Part two of eating out…..which you know is the new eating in.
Yes…eating out is the new eating in, and not just at my house. It turns out eating out at a restaurant can be cheaper than buying and cooking your own food. I’m not sure I’ll go this far….but the restaurant association claims that restaurants are extensions of the home and that people actually want to see table top TVs installed at their favorite eateries. All I can say about that is it would probably be like my favorite Johnny Rockets…the miniature juke box player on the table never works.
Last week I listed the best and worst fast food chains, now I’ve got the Fast Food Items Most Likely to Kill You: (based on things like portion size and Trans fat)
They include
McDonald’s large fries (but oh so yummy)
KFC’s Chicken Pot Pie
Burger King Hash Browns
Jack in the Box Fish and Chips
Jack in the Box Bacon Cheddar Potatoe Wedges
Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Basket
And if you’re traveling back east….watch out for White Castle fast food…much of their menu including their French Fries, Clam Strips, Chicken Rings, Fish Nibblers and Onion Rings.
Not on this list at all:
In-N-Out
Subway
Taco Bell
Wendy’s
Pizza Hut
Popeye’s
Papa Johns
Finally… my Fast Food Tip of the Day
If you blot your pizza with a napkin….you will soak up around 30 calories and 3 grams of fat..and that is per slice….
Now, you can have another and another…and another!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
10/31/07
May I take your order, please?
You know me and fast food places. I love them, although I don’t eat at them as often as you might think. This list sure caught my eye. The Zagat Survey on the best fast food and chain restaurants in the country.
Best Mega-Chains: (over 5000 locations in the U-S)
1. Wendy’s
2. Subway
3. Pizza Hut
4. Dairy Queen
McDonalds (should be one, if you ask me)
Best Fast Food Chains (big and small)
1.Panera Bread
2. Chick-fil-A
3. Chipotle
4. Quiznos
5. Sonic Drive-In
Worst Fast Food Chains
3-way tie for first…Burger King, Dominos and Little Caesar’s
3 way tie for second. Sbarro, Taco Bell and White Castle
Best Burger- Wendy’s (I demand a recount!!!)
Best Chicken- Chick-fil-A
Best Fries-McDonalds
Best Shake- Dairy Queen
Wait..there’s more…
Best Chain sit down restaurants - "Outback, Red Robin, Olive Garden, Chili’s
Worst Chain sit down restaurants- Denny’s, Chuck-E-Cheese
Want to “weigh-in”?. Next week, I’ll give you the Fast Food Items “Most likely to kill you”. Would have done it this week but I couldn’t put down my burger and fries long enough to list them. (ha ha)
By the way, do you have any extra napkins?
Lissa's Blog - 10/23/07
You know how I love magazines?…..which has been a good thing, for me and for Presentation High School which for 8 years had one of my daughters selling during the annual magazine subscription drive. Off the top of my head, I can list Weight Watchers, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, Health, People, Oprah, and then for the girls, Glamour, Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, Allure, Glamour, and 3 different Horse Magazines. Yes, Presentation always did quite well just off of my home. In fact, I’ve renewed some of these magazines so many years, that a few of them have an expiration date of 2010.
But what I’ve noticed about me and magazines is that I don’t read many of the articles, not unless it’s People Magazine. Yes, that one gets read from cover to cover, but not the others. You know what I look at?...the ads which sometimes take up most of the magazine. Have you ever counted how many ads some of these magazines have?
Well, I have for you. Oprah’s magazine, which is one of my favorites, this past month was 352 pages. 197 pages were ads. These were full page ads. I didn’t even count the half or quarter page ads. That’s over half the magazine and even some of the so called articles are really just ads….like Oprahs favorite things that you could buy too…if you could afford them. I noticed most of the actual articles are towards the back of the magazine. I’m not sure what the reasoning is for that….
I also counted the ads for the latest issue of Good Housekeeping. The magazine is 268 pages. 139 were full page ads. So again..about half of the magazine.
Any significance to this….? Not sure…it won’t stop me from getting the magazines because as I’ve said I love the ads. I love to look at the pictures, the clothes and the people who wear them. It’s my escape from the rest of the day.
Do have a suggestion for Oprah though and her magazine. She might want to change the O in Oprah to A for Ad.
Lissa's Blog - 10/15/07
How do you know you’re old….You look at this list of items and see how many you remember because you yourself bought or used them.
How do you know you’re young…You look at this list and say “what the heck is this all about.
I’m thinking the best age would be somewhere in between and I’ll let you decide if that’s you!!!!
Candy Cigarettes
Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside
Plastic Army Men
Vending machines with glass soda bottles
Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes (Could be Johnny Rockets but theirs never work)
Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum
Home Milk delivery in glass bottles
P.F.Fliers
Howdy Doody
45 RPM records
Green Stamps
Metal ice cube trays with levers
Car Hops at the drive-in restaurant
Topo Gigio
The Fuller Brush Man
Sky King
15 cent McDonald hamburgers
Penny Candy
Jiffy Pop Popcorn
25 cent a gallon gasoline
5 cent stamps
Gum wrapper chains
Chatty Cathy dolls
TV Test Patterns
Chef Boy-Ar-Dee
Timmy and Lassie
Aluminum Xmas Trees
If you remembered most of these, you have really lived!!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 9/19/07
October is our pink month. It’s breast cancer awareness month and everyone it seems has something pink to help raise money for research. And that’s a good thing!!!!!!
One of my favorite “pink” events is actually a “blue” event …a “blue-jean” event.
Friday October 5th is Lee National Denim Day. For the 12th year in a row, Lee Denim uses one day to raise a ton of money for breast cancer. In fact it is one of the largest single day fundraisers, and by far the most comfortable. You wear jeans and make a five dollar donation to support the fight against breast cancer. And just not you, but your colleagues, your friends, your relatives, and on and on and on.. You spread the word, and get as many $5 donations as you can. The money goes to early detection and treatment research at top cancer centers and also provides educational services to communities.
Now, since Lee sponsors this wonderful day they would love you to wear Lee Jeans, but you certainly don’t have to. I do hear though that they are great jeans, very slimming and very affordable. Doesn’t Wal-Mart carry them? Maybe Target and Mervyns too!!!
And heck, they’re raising millions of dollars for breast cancer research!!!
So whatever jeans you wear, and gee they’re must be about 200 different brands, wear them proudly on Friday October 5th, and spread the word!!! Go online to www.denimday.com or call 1 800 521-5533. Let’s make a ton of money to save the lives of our moms, our daughters, our friends and ourselves!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 9/19/07
Are you like me? It’s tough to “let it go”. You know what I mean, something happens or someone says something, and you can’t get beyond it. I sometimes think it goes with being a Mom. I can remember the girls would misplace something and I would not stop looking for it until I found it. I wouldn’t give up. Actually, I’m still like that and for anything I misplace, so I guess that’s a different issue. But sometimes, a listener will call or e- mail and was unhappy with something Sam and or I said, and if I think they have a valid complaint, I don’t let it go. I feel bad and bad and bad and bad!!!! But that’s minor to other things I can easily obsess about. Or is it worry about? I am a true-blue worrier. Ask anyone who knows me. Perhaps that’s why I currently have three ulcers.
So there I was trying to relax the other day….reading my new Oprah issue when I came across pages and pages on how to calm down, cheer up and sooth your mind!!!!
Even more specific, there was a section on how to “let it go”. 6 ways to Stop Dwelling On It, written by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, who wrote a book called Women Who Think Too Much. (That’s me and maybe you too)
1. Distract yourself - "Do anything - "for at least ten minutes. Or choose something to focus on - "Young and the Restless, the way the books are arranged, anything that breaks your cycle of thoughts. She says ten minutes usually works.
2. Make a date to dwell - "Give yourself an appointment to dwell. Let’s say 6-7pm. Hopefully by the time it’s 6, you’ll be thinking more clearly.
3. Take a 3-minute dose of mindfulness. The first minute your eyes are closed, and you have your thoughts going through your mind. The second minute, you think about your breathing. The third minute you expand your awareness from your breath to your entire body (OK, that sounds weird)
4. Ask yourself - "You’ve got two questions here. What’s the worst that could happen? And how would I cope?. Think the worst, think the best. (This one makes sense)
5. Call a buddy - "I’ve done a lot of this. Get a good point person when things seem to be spiraling out of control and walk through it. Try my best friend of 28 years - "Janice - "She’s great for this!!!! MY two other closest friends Anna, Jeanette and Sam work too!!! I’ll share!!!!
6. Say “oh, well” This is the hardest one to accomplish. Accept you’re human and make mistakes and then “LET IT GO” I’m working on it, how about you?
Lissa's Blog - 09/04/07
So have all of us with college age kids taken them back to school by now?
I was at a meeting the other night and a Mom said to me “it’s way past time to get her son back to school… he’s way overdue”. I think it’s a gender thing. Moms in most cases can’t get enough time with their daughters, but son’s…well that’ a different matter. Pack
em up and ship them out, and before summer is over.
I actually wasn’t as bad this time around when I took Christina back to Cal Poly. I’m not sure if it was because she had been down there for summer quarter, and had been home for just 2 weeks before it was time to take her back . And what a pain that is…moving everything out and then moving everything back in.
We did have it down to a science this time around, and I found myself laughing at some of the other “Freshman” parents who don’t realize how small the dorm rooms are. We seemed to have a lot…after all girls just have tons of stuff, but I didn’t bring down tons of storage bins that cant fit anywhere, big office chairs that don’t even fit under the desk
and pictures that could never be hung on a cement wall.
I think I cried just 3 times, which is a big improvement from last time and also the years when I was dropping Victoria off at school. Cry number one was while we were driving down to school. She in her truck full of stuff in the back… and me following behind with more stuff. Time number two was in the dorm room once we got her new comforter on the bed. (not sure what that was all about) and then of course when I returned Sunday morning to pick her up for breakfast. Oh, and then when I drove off to come home. Okay, so that was 4 times. And then I forgot, Saturday night when I was alone in the hotel room. So, let’s see we’re up to five. And there were the few times I got my eyes all watery when I was watching other Moms say goodbye to their kids. But are misty eyes the same as crying?. Not sure on that one…So maybe, we can quit counting at 5 good cries. And that for me is a record LOW!!!!!
p.s These were just cries during the trip to and from Cal Poly. I haven’t counted what happened when I got home. Nor should you!!!!!!!!
Lissa's Blog - 09/04/07
Can you believe summer’s over? Where did it go, although don’t we ask that every summer. It does go by fast, doesn’t it? So I did Hawaii with Tori, before she left for China and now, as you probably already know if you listen to Sam and Lissa, I took Christina and her boyfriend Kent to Cabo. (Pictures included)
Actually, we went to an all-inclusive resort near San Jose del Cabo which is a $35 taxi ride to Cabo. The place, Royal Solaris, was nice enough and fairly inexpensive as well, but it did have its drawbacks, and not just the $35 dollar cab ride to Cabo. All inclusive means lots of food (not always great) but unlike a cruise ship, there were times when you couldn’t find a bite to eat.. There was one afternoon, about 5, when I was absolutely starving, but the buffet area was closed and our dinner reservation wasn’t until 8. Yes, they did have 2 reservation only restaurants and they were delicious!!! So for 2 hours, I was not a happy camper. And besides all you could eat for no extra charge, it was all you could drink. I’m not a big drinker, so didn’t really drink more than I would have, but others sure did!!!!!
The pool was great. Christina and Kent were in it all times. My place was the chaise lounge looking over the ocean and the row of locals who showed up early and stayed until late every day, hoping you would buy their jewelry, their lead-painted dishes, their sunglasses, their $15 sundresses or their Cuban cigars. They were the nicest people and when you said no. they still smiled.... Now remember that line…they still smiled when you said no… Because here comes the worst part of the vacation, and it was bad!!!!!
I didn’t realize that the reason why I got such a great deal at this hotel was because I had agreed to a time- share presentation. When we checked in, we were greeted warmly and taken into a special VIP room. They couldn’t do enough for us…called us every morning to see how we were...and if there was anything we needed. That all changed the morning, I got the call that I was late for my “presentation”. Even though I was late, they were happy to see me. (ha ha) The tour went fine; although I made it clear I had no intentions of buying. They were still nice….and then out came the calculator...and the questions…You go on how many vacations a year? You spend how much on a room? You like to go where? If you buy now, you’ll save this much….and we’ll give you an extra week...and on and on.. All of a sudden they weren’t so nice anymore. I kept saying no… and they kept refusing to hear it. I even told them that Mike had died earlier this year and I am not making any major decisions for a year. This, they said wasn’t major…it was about fun and saving money. Finally, a second agent was brought over, and when I stuck to my guns, a third agent came over. I was no longer nice. I was mean!!!!I said NO…Then they basically showed me a quick exit. I by then was so upset; I was ready to check out. But I didn’t, and Christina, Kent and I continued to have a great time, but it was a funny thing. I never got any more phone calls asking if I was having a good time and was there anything they could do for us?
Lissa's Blog August 23, 2007 I was thumbing through the September issue of O…
Yes, Oprah’s magazine and she had a whole section on shopping.
Actually, have you noticed Oprahs magazine is always about shopping? It has more ads in it than any other magazine I read. One of these days I’m going to count how many pages are advertisements and how many pages are actual articles. Either way, I love looking at this magazine, although I will admit I read very few of the articles.
So, here’s what caught my eye on shopping. The Oprah style poll. Over 17 hundred people took it. See how many describe you.
22 percent admit that shopping has put them in debt.
1 percent spent more than $10,000 on clothing last year (I think their names are Paris, Nicole and Jessica Simpson)
64 percent go shopping with a checklist (sure keeps you from buying what you don’t need)
41 percent would never spend more than $50 on a pair of shoes
6 percent would spend $500 or more on a pair of shoes. (Paris, Nicole and Jessica)
33 percent won’t buy something that isn’t on sale (That’s almost always me)
69 percent will spend no more than $50 on a purse
4 percent will spend more than $1000 on a purse (Paris, Nicole and Jessica)
51 percent believe in retail therapy (Paris, Nicole, Jessica and Lissa)
49 percent don’t believe in retail therapy (not Paris, Nicole, Jessica and Lissa)
50 percent lie about an item’s price or hide the item from their spouse
38 percent spend money on clothes for their family faster than for themselves (Lissa)
62 percent say “We all deserve new things every once in a while” (Paris, Nicole, Jessica and Lissa)
I think the “once in a while” is now…Gotta Go…see you at the sale rack!!!!!
Lissa's Blog July 23, 2007 Is this not true when it comes to vacation? You save, you plan, and you work hard
to get your job done so you can leave with a clean desk, or in my case, a clean microphone (ha ha) and then you’re on the plane coming home. It goes that quick!!
Coming home, minus the sunglasses of course. At least, I didn’t lose those until the last day. The airplane I’m guessing. But isn’t that the truth about vacations? You pack way too much and you almost always lose your sunglasses.
Maui was great though. Although, I came home not having stepped into the ocean once.
I know, shame on me!!! But I don’t know how to swim well, and I prefer the lounge chair at the pool to the sand. But I always face the ocean, so that counts, doesn’t it? And Victoria and I did a lot of chaise-lounging. I am actually so brown; I have put a “freeze” on my tanning salon.
I love Maui, and part of the reason I think is because of the familiarity. We’ve gone so many times over the years that I know the area. I thought that this year, with Mike gone, that it might be a bad thing…returning to our “old” stomping grounds, but it was comforting to be in familiar places, and friendly places. We ate at Kimos, Hula Grill, Lahaina Fish Company, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Ruth’s Chris steakhouse (I know that’s not Hawaiian, but we love the food, and the restaurant is on Front Street overlooking the ocean. We also ate at Napili Bay - "Seahouse Restaurant which was also great. And since my birthday is coming up, Victoria told all the waiters it was my birthday so free deserts each night…..no wonder I gained 4 pounds….or was it the daiquiris?
And did I mention Lapperts ice cream? Made in Maui and soooooo good. I guess there are a few places that sell it here too!!!! Besides lying on the lounge chair, and looking at the ocean, and eating…and eating.and eating, we did go on the Pineapple tour for Maui Gold. That was the one thing we had never done. After the 2 and a half tour, I was done with pineapple for at least a day!!! Maui Gold is definitely gold though. It’s the best pineapple I’ve ever had. Just look in my refrigerator. We brought home 6.
So here are a couple of photos. Victoria looks great. I have that Maui “thing” going, where the hair is flat and funky from the humidity.
Part 2 of summer is still to come. Victoria is going to China for 5 months starting on Monday. She uses the word “moving”, but I don’t. Moving I tell her means you’re taking a couch, and she’s not…just a suitcase. But as soon as Christina finishes summer quarter at Cal Poly, I’m taking her on vacation. And to another tropical place….Cabo. I think I’m brown now….oh boy!!!!!!
Lissa's Blog July 14, 2007 So have you made your summer plans? TripAdvisor made a list of the top ten tourist attractions in the U-S. (just in case you need an idea) But I’ll warn you right now, if you pick any of these, you will not have a lot of “alone-time” unless you hide out in your hotel room. These places by the way make the top ten because they are the most searched on the internet.
1. Orlando’s theme parks - "Walt Disney World, Sea World, Discovery Cove and Universal Studios.
2. Cirque Du Soleil, Las Vegas - "Can you believe it? A show - "a circus show - "is number two on the vacation list. There are a bunch of “Cirque” shows now, and at almost every major casino. Chances are if you’ve seen them, there’s a new one you have not. They’re working on an Elvis one now. My favorite so far at least “O”.
3. Hana Highway, Maui. This highway is a 60 mile drive connecting Hana to Maui. It’s got the best views you could ever dream of seeing, if you can last the 60 miles. It took us several tries. And when you finally make it, all you’ll find is a little store, T-shirts that say you “survived” (you can buy knock-off ones in town) and some picnic tables that bees love!!!!
4. Grand Canyon, Arizona - " I haven’t seen the new glass walkway yet!!!
5. Central Park, New York - "Don’t forget to stop by Tavern on the Green!!!
6. Alcatraz- San Francisco - "Haven’t done this in years and it’s just a drive away.
7. Observation Deck, Rockefeller Center, New York. Been there many times, but don’t remember ever going to the Observation Deck!!!
8. Monterey Bay Aquarium-Monterey. "Yes, a treasure in our own backyard.
9. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas. You can combine a Cirque show and this and save yourself a second trip!!
10. San Diego Zoo - "Yes…it is a great place!!!
So, what’s your tally? How many have you visited? I’ve actually done them all, if you
let me count Rockefeller Center without the observation deck.
And actually, we’re going back to number 3, without the drive on the Hana Highway. Making it the entire distance once was enough for me. In fact, that’s where Victoria and I are right now!!!!!! We’ll share stories, when we get back!!!!!!!!
Lissa's Blog July 6, 2007
YIKES...DON'T TOUCH THAT!!!!
Grab your Lysol and read Lissa's blog
(and then clean your keyboard)
So are you a "germ phobic". I don't think I am, nor Sam but our Traffic gal Robin definitely is. So when I saw this I thought of her and You!!!
This is for all of you who have been in a bathroom and used your FOOT to
flush a toilet, (okay that's me)...or your elbow to turn on the hand dryer (I don't even use those. I go into the stall and grab some TP) or completely cover the seat with toilet paper before you sit down. (I'm not that bad) But according to this survey, it's most of you!!!
9 out of 10 of us will do whatever we have to keep our skin from touching anything in the public bathroom.
6 out of 10 use our feet to flush the toilet. 4 out of ten use an elbow to turn on a hand dryer. 4 out of 10 use a paper towel to turn on the water before washing their hands.
6 out of 10 put toilet paper on the seat before they sit down (Gee, why isn't that 10 out of 10)
So here's why we do all of this... 2 different types of dangerous bacteria are found on 10 percent of the surfaces in public bathrooms. (well, that's not too bad)
Oh, and do I need to remind you of these stats...that only 8 out of ten wash their hands after they use a public bathroom. Women are better than men. 90-75 percent.
Did I tell you who did this clean survey? Dyson. Who? Dyson which makes really expensive vacuum cleaners. And they're about to come out with bathroom hand dryers,
The Dyson Airblade, that dry your hands in 12 seconds flat (Then, I will start using them) They're being installed in AMC Theaters. I guess so we'll be willing to share our popcorn boxes.
Lissa's Blog June 27, 2007 Meet Elwood...he’s a 2 year old Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix…
And in Petaluma the other day he was named the World’s Ugliest Dog.
The owner got a thousand dollars.
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Isn’t it true though, we love our pets whether they’re ugly or cute.
This year, we will spend 40 billion dollars on our pets. Six out of ten
homes have a pet. Hal
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