Napa Earthquake

So I was going to write up a nice little pictorial review of our time in San Francisco and Napa, but because I experienced my first um... EARTHQUAKE... this morning, I'm going to put that off for another time.

Today's earthquake occurred at 3:20 a.m., was 6.0 on the Richter scale and originated south of Napa. We were asleep in the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, a highrise on the Embarcadero, on the 6th floor from street level.

I woke to shaking, with the building shifting abruptly back and forth and what sounded like lightning striking the hotel over and over every half second or so- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM. I knew exactly what it was and thought the entire building was coming apart.

Jeff was asleep and probably would have slept through the whole thing if I hadn't woken him up. (Wha???!) He says I "beat him awake," but I would say I "shook him" although perhaps rigorously. That's my story. Sticking to it.

Now, the only thing I know about earthquakes is to stand in a doorway, so I got up and headed for the door to our room. I was shaking like a leaf at that point and really freaked out. Jeff came over and stopped me and I was saying, "Aren't we supposed to stand in a doorway?" (Turns out he thought I was heading OUT the door. Where the heck would I go? He didn't know, but as I said-- I was freaking out, so he wasn't sure.)

He's lived in Cali and during the shaking he was all "it's fine" and "buildings are built to withstand these things here" blah blah. (He later said if that hotel was coming down, there was nothing we were going to be able to do about it. True, but yeesh.)

Finally it stopped. It was about 30 seconds. I realized I wasn't ever hearing any crumbling, so maybe the hotel wasn't coming down.

A couple of minutes later, Lauren texted us: Were y'all in an earthquake just now? (Ain't Twitter fast?)

Actually... YES WE WERE! And holy *#%&!

Over the PA, the hotel announced that there had been an earthquake. Everything was fine and it was safe for people to go back to their rooms. If anyone was uncomfortable sleeping in their room, they had pillows and blankets downstairs and you could sleep in the lobby.

I could never decide why people would think that was a good option. Jeff thought it would be better to be on the bottom if the building collapsed, rather than riding it down and perhaps getting trapped for days. I think he may be insanely calm about this whole thing.

A few minutes later they announced that the police were aware of the earthquake and people could stop calling 911. It was worded much nicer than that, but that was the gist.

Tourists.

Seriously though, a hotel was the best and worst place to be. The best, because those of us who aren't familiar with earthquakes had a place to ask questions and receive information we wouldn't otherwise have had (like on Friday when we spent the entire day outside in Napa Valley). The worst because it's an enormous crowd of freaked out folks with no experience with this stuff.

So honestly, thank you, Hyatt Regency SF, for the info and the calming announcements and most importantly for a building that withstands earthquakes!

I was positive I would not be able to go back to sleep, but I finally did. I woke up twice with nightmares about aftershocks (there was one actual significant 3.2 aftershock at around 5:45 a.m., but no noise and I didn't wake up from it, then several smaller ones which were imperceptible in the 1's), but managed to sleep most of the time until 7 to get up for our flight home.

Tracy said on FB that she would have packed her bags and I was so brave to stay. Ha! Thank goodness we were heading out this morning anyway, because that's as much pure panic as I can stand for one decade.

LOVED our second trip ever to the Bay Area though! I will have pics and the rundown later!

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Rant and a Meme

With every government group from Republicans on Capitol Hill to Democrats in Travis County bringing legal action against another, with both sides at the public's cost of course, we're going to run out of money to fund actual government activities.

Just sayin'.

My other comment on the national news front is about the uncivilized act of looting (continuing last night at Ferguson, MO businesses). Riots I get. Throngs of people are angry and things get out of hand and next thing you know, hundreds of folks are beating the crap out of each other. But what in the Sam Hill gives anyone the right to run through stores and steal stuff? Seriously? What does one thing have to do with the other?

When things get rowdy or there's a natural disaster or any other dip in the normal security level of an area, some people see this as a fine opportunity to help themselves to whatever they want in an impromptu personal shopping spree. Oh- and be sure to break things and set fires, while you're at it, idiots. Destroy your own neighborhood. Good job.

W. T. F.

Okay, I'm done. :)

On a totally rad note, the Totally 80's Sing-Along at the Alamo Drafthouse was bitchin'! They gave us lighters and glow necklaces and we danced in the aisles and sang at the top of our lungs for two hours. With drinks! Superfun! They do a different playlist every weekend. Get there if you love 80s music.


Saturday 9: Mine Would Be You
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) The lyrics mention his respect for "90 proof and Marlboro Red." What was your most recent drink? When was your last cigarette?
I had a Shiner last night. My last cigarette was probably a clove cigarette I "sort of" smoked at the community theater my junior year of high school.

2) They also reference "singing like crazy fools." What's the last song you sang?
Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" last night at the Drafthouse. Like a crazy fool.

3) Blake Shelton won a Grammy for his performance of this song. Crazy Sam won the award for "most improved bowler" when she was in third grade, and it's now in a closet somewhere. Do you have any trophies? If so, where are they?
I have ONE trophy- my Foundation award- which is on a wall shelf in my home office.

4) Blake is currently on tour. The merchandise sold at concerts brings in big money for the artist. Do you have any tour memorabilia (like a poster or t-shirt)?
I have a lot of things, from autographs to tickets to tour books (no t-shirts at the moment). On my office wall, I have a tour book signed by all the members of Daughtry.

5) In addition to The Voice, Shelton is on TV a lot with his Pizza Hut commercials. What chain restaurant is nearest your home? Do you eat there?
The nearest chain restaurant to our house is zpizza.  We eat there occasionally. It's pretty good. Their pear and Gorgonzola salad is awesome.

6) Shelton has a million-seller CD called Cheers! It's Christmas! What's the first Christmas carol to pop into your head this hot summer Saturday?
"Oh Holy Night." Best Christmas carol ever.

7) Shelton and Miranda Lambert were married in front of 550 guests. Do you enjoy weddings?
I LOVE weddings. Plus, it's one of the rare times I can get Jeff to dance.

8) The wedding took place on a big Texas ranch. Have you spent much time on a farm or a ranch?
Nope. My mom's mother's family in Wisconsin were dairy farmers until the current generations. I spent an afternoon at my great aunt's farm near Green Bay when I was a kid. That's about as close to farming as I've gotten.

9) In 2013 he helped organize a relief benefit concert for victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes. Tell us about a charity you support.
I support the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. They offer treatment, clinical trials, education for medical professions, patient programs... just an amazing place with so many great success stories!

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Saturday 9 on Sunday

Saturday 9: Super Duper Love
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) The lyrics say, "I'm as proud as a girl can be." Tell us about something you're proud of.
I'm very proud of Lauren! She's had to deal with some very serious health issues the past few years. For the past two, she's been in charge of her own doctor visits and medications and managed to whittle both down from an imposing number to the minimal effective few, all while completing her college pre-reqs for nursing school. This summer, she was able to move to her own apartment.

2) This song is from her first CD, The Soul Sessions. She's told interviewers that the first CD she ever owned was Aretha Franklin: Greatest Hits. So while we're talking firsts, do you remember your first CD (or tape or record)?
The Jungle Book soundtrack was my very first record. The first 45 I ever bought with my own allowance was the "Happy Days" theme from the TV show, when I was about 10. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was the first album I bought myself, around the same time.

3) Last year, two men were convicted of plotting to kill Joss Stone. Even though she had (fortunately!) never even met the men, she still had to testify during their trial. Have you ever had to speak to a judge?
I have never spoken to a judge.

4) Joss is frequently in the British press because of her friendship with Princes William and Harry. Who among your friends leads the most exciting life?
Tracy!! She travels for pleasure about 80% of the time. Last week she went to Berlin with a group of her high school friends for one of their birthdays. And that is why she is one of my Real Housewives of Austin.

5) Because of dyslexia, Joss had trouble in school and dropped out when she was 16. What's the last grade you completed?
I completed all coursework for my master's degree, but did not complete my thesis.

I always think of this xkcd comic when I hear the word "thesis"--

Hee!

6) She provided the voice of the villainness for the James Bond video game, Blood Stone. Do you have a Playstation or Xbox? 
Both, but I don't play either. I've always been a Nintendo girl.

7) Sam is especially crazy this morning because she can't find her phone. What's the last thing you misplaced?
My keys. Scary!

8) After composing this Saturday 9, Sam is off to Lowe's to pick up some heavy duty indoor/outdoor trash bags. Will you be in any stores this weekend?
We went to Lowe's to return Caulk Softener we didn't end up using. (Caulk. Softener. LOL. Moving on...)

9) Do you consider yourself more book smart, or street smart?
Book smart.

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Ultimate Last Call

So..... The new DM girls' entrepreneurial idea of the century is something we can't discuss in mixed company (although we've discussed it for two days in a row in the crowded courtyard of our building over lunch). It's an adult business called Ultimate Last Call that we're planning to take straight to Shark Tank.

Crystal: When Mr. Wonderful stops us in the middle of our presentation to say he wants nothing to do with this disgusting depravity, I'll wink and tell him, "I understand if you don't want to put your name on this publicly. We'll be out in the hall after the segment, if you wanna talk."

We just need a food truck, O'Leary.... if Mark Cuban doesn't beat you to the deal.

In other news... I'm going to England in November or December for work! The last best work trip I'd been on was to Scottsdale. Scottsdale is beauuuutiful. But England!

"Is your passport current?" my boss asks.

Yes!!

xkcd.com :)

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Baseball, Bad Boys (Whatcha Gonna Do?) and Sunday Stealing

The Williamson County A&M Club organized Aggie Night at Dell Diamond on Friday night. We (class of '89) went with Scott, Julie and Bruce (class of '88). So fun! SO many Aggies. They played the War Hymn twice- a very unusual occurrence at events in the ATX. The Friday night game fireworks out there are pretty awesome. The Express won in a very exciting finish!

Last night, Jeff, JeffC and I saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, which was really good and far better than I expected. When we emerged from the theater around 9:30, there were five police cars and an ambulance outside. Several officers were in the process of trying to get an unruly teenager, who they'd already tased and handcuffed, into a police car. Not sure what happened there, but it happened in or just outside the theater and we were glad we didn't see it. Yikes!

Sunday Stealing: Fun Fifteen

1. You have been awarded the time off from work and an all-expenses paid week anywhere in the United States. The catch is that it must be somewhere you have not been before. Where do you choose to visit?
Washington DC

2. Name your guilty pleasures.
The Bachelor, more than one Miley Cyrus song, Easy A and Grease 2, cheesecake

3. The best kind of milkshake is:
Alamo Drafthouse's espresso chocolate shake with chocolate-covered espresso beans

4. What do you value most in other people?
honesty

5. Be honest. Do you sneak some raw cookie dough when you’re baking cookies?
of course

6. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise?
I think most bad things are blessings in disguise. Things generally work out for the best.

7. What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?
Oh man. There are beaches, mountains, cities, wide open spaces... If I had to pick just one, I guess I'd go with Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

8. Are you more of a thinker or a feeler?
a feeler

9. Name three things you are thankful for right now.
fun, funny and fabulous friends; the work commute reduction from 30 minutes to 10; moving forward with our front yard landscaping

10. Have you ever participated in a three-legged race?
at many camps and several track and field days in my childhood

11. When you are at an event that plays the National Anthem, do you place your hand over your heart?
yep

12. Have you ever been on the wrong side of the law?
nope

13. When was the last time you unintentionally surprised someone else?
I have no idea.

14. When was the last time you deliberately surprised someone else?
Uh... I don't know. I guess it's time to surprise someone!

15. What was the last really funny movie you watched? 
Chef

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