The first, and, most popular, is that the saying originated from the old flintlock rifle. A flint would strike a plate, and the spark created would ignite gunpowder in a pan. This explosion would ignite the charge in the rifle, and “bang” the bullet would be expelled. It would appear as though this exercise was not always successful. The powder in the pan would “flash”, but not ignite the powder in the rifle. The expectation was there, nothing happened, therefore “a flash in the pan”
The second refers to mining, specifically gold mining. Gold miners in days of old would have a pan would swish water and gravel around in it, trying to separate the gold from the sand. “A flash in the pan” was what appeared to be gold, but on closer investigation turned out to be nothing of value. Again, an expectation that came to nothing.

Wished ‘Tortilla Tuesday’ a happy anniversary,

saw a cloud that looked like a sitting camel, then sang “Prince Ali” while in the car by myself,

The Beau got Limited Edition Confetti Pop tarts. Let me tell you a little something about pop tarts in our house. They are our dessert. Never a breakfast thing, so these confetti ones are right up our dessert alley. And let me tell you, THEY TASTE JUST LIKE FUNFETTI CAKE. It is uncanny!

Went with my mom, sister, and sister-in-law to see The Help. I liked it, very beautiful direction and the clothes were to die for. I’m still not sure about the story, I have heard so many conflicting views. But, I do know that watching it has made me want to read the book, and to find books about Civil Rights by black women in the South.

We watched this Spanish thriller-horror movie called ‘Eskalofrio’ (Shiver) and it was pretty good. We have watched quite a few Spanish language horror movies and they are all so much better than drivel that America seems to think is good.

Lastly, I saw this penpal gift idea on Design Sponge and am thinking that all my penpals will be getting these soon, they look like so much fun!

I also wanted to apologize for my lack of posting. With it being so hot outside, there is little I want to do except write the occasional letter and lie down on the tile next to tortilla and eat my pop tarts in frozen yogurt.

But I have a lot of things I’m working on, mainly in the vein of DIY and crafty things, so stay tuned!

I made a tumblr for best friend in honor of her birthday. She loved it – what Leo wouldn’t like all that attention?

Took my dad for surgery (don’t worry; he’s fine) and perused his bookshelf (look at those vintage bindings!)

Went to the dentist and it was a good visit. The high after a good dental appointment is like that of acing your final exam.

Lots of monsoons equal not only the best time of the summer (except the oppressive humidity), but also my favorite time to take pictures!

Tore through a lot of “Like You’d Understand Anyway” and it is amazing. Short stories you want to be longer, historical fiction that I crave, it’s all there.

It’s the first week of the month and I haven’t done a month review. I decided 6 months of that was enough. Finances? Meh. Books? Obviously need to read more, always more.

The week in review is much more enjoyable than a monthly one.

Also, the last picture above is The Beau’s concoction. He calls it the Quintuple Quatro. Those Neapolitan OREOs were gone pretty quickly in our house.

“23 Skidoo”

Meaning to “get out while the getting’s good” or being forced to leave by someone else.

The reason I love etymologies is sometimes you get a word or phrase that has a great backstory. 23 skidoo is one.

Perhaps the most widely known story of the origin of the expression concerns the area around the triangular-shaped Flatiron Building in NYC and due to the shape of the building winds swirl around it. During the 1920s, groups of men would allegedly gather to watch women walking by have their skirts blown up, revealing legs, which were seldom seen publicly at that time. Local constables, when sometimes telling such groups of men to leave the area, were said to be “giving them the 23 Skidoo”.

It is at a triangular site where Broadway and Fifth Avenue—- the two most important streets of New York—- meet at Madison Square, and because of the juxtaposition of the streets and the park across the street, there was a wind-tunnel effect here. In the early twentieth century, men would hang out on the corner here on Twenty-third Street and watch the wind blowing women’s dresses up so that they could catch a little bit of ankle. This entered into popular culture and there are hundreds of postcards and illustrations of women with their dresses blowing up in front of the Flatiron Building. And it supposedly is where the slang expression “23 skidoo” comes from because the police would come and give the voyeurs the 23 skidoo to tell them to get out of the area.

However, the slang expression “23″ was already in use before the Flatiron Building was built (1902), and Webster’s New World Dictionary derives skiddoo (with two d’s) as probably from skedaddle, meaning “to leave”, with an imperative sense.

Rap Sheet

Could mean a rap on the knuckles and what have you, but the formal police slang comes from the abbreviation for Record of Arrest and Prosecution. Easier to find out than I thought.

Very interesting tidbit…

Made some super tasty cereal bars,

relished in a to-die for strawberry chocolate-pretzel split made by The Beau (in a waffle cone!),

hung out on tv with one of my closest friends and her extremely adorable and well-behaved daughter,

Got all my books from the library!!! For some odd reason it was all crime and mystery for this library go ’round. I think our noir double feature in L.A. had a big effect on me.

Started putting together my “summer essentials:” bubbles and water guns. Not a bad start, but I need to add my hammock and some blanket forts.

kind of getting the itch for some super-cute short bangs. I even got heart palpitations making this collage!

My well-thumbed and cherished copy.

Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier

Today I learned that 42% of people who graduate from college never read another book. That is pretty mind-blowing to me.

Rereading this once or twice a year is always enlightening. I love reading it and renewing a sense of being a lady and being a badass.

What I have learned through this book:

+Only keep things that you adore and bring you joy. If someone gives you something you aren’t in love with, set it free. Give it to someone you know will enjoy it, or donate it to the salvation army or like place. Don’t sell it. But the fact is, things you don’t like are taking up valuable place for something you could enjoy.

+Also, holding back…in general. The author notes that it took her two years of being friends with a Frenchwoman for her to open up to her. I like the idea of not spilling over-information to everyone you meet. Not everyone is special enough to enjoy your company and life stories. Curate what you want to share.

+Lastly, all the notes on food in here are fantastic. Enjoying a meal with friends is a whole experience beyond just food or just friends. Choosing your food, not constantly thinking about calories but being mindful of your food, oh, it’s all good!

What is a non-fiction book you can reread every year?

Well, I didn’t get everything done I wanted to. But I did get a few things done just by having fun. The best part about my unaccomplished things? I am just going to turn them into a summer fun list!

LIST:

1. Another tattoo, or a beautiful touch-up of my existing ones

2. Get down to ideal weight (including some killer muscles!) I lost 18 pounds, felt good, and gained 5 back. Whoops. Gotta step up the healthy choices for bathing suit weather!

3. Make a vlog

4. Start a photo-folio

5. Begin writing my screenplay

6. Help out at a women’s shelter

7. Successfully grow a garden I managed to keep some annuals alive despite the ridiculous amount of spring heat we have had. I think I have gained enough confidence back that I might actually try some bulbs this fall!

8. Sew my own dress I made skirts, and I like to think that counts.

9. Babysit How could I not cross this one off with this adorable face?!

Photobooth Memories at work (not pictured: 2 more photobooth friends!)

10. Take pictures in photobooths with all my closest friends (though maybe not all at once) I didn’t get all of them, but I got a lot of memorable ones!

11. Do something for my mom she has been putting off doing herself

12. Having a significant amount of clutter released from my house and into the wild

13. Stay in a historic hotel

14. Have a girls night out

15. Road trip! Flagstaff, a couple of trips to Prescott, Disneyland! Definitely feel good about crossing this one off!

16. Have written a short story everyday for at least 3 months

17. Get all my craft hurricanes sorted and organized

18. Bake at least 3 new desserts and 3 new dinners Margarita Bundt cakes, Jerk Chicken, a totally different chocolate chip cookie recipe, cinnamon muffins that could be breakfast or dessert, whoopee pies, Chipotle-style lime rice and chicken (i helped make that with The Beau!)…I need to work on my dinner-making skills a bit still.

19. Photograph lightning

20. Watch a meteor shower

21. Bike to a destination (work, gym, store) Have biked to the library, grocery store (in winter!), to downtown holiday stuff, to buy flowers, to the post office, even to dinner the other day!

22. Not get into debt over Christmas I think the best way to do this is buy presents during the year. I in no way have that forethought, but it always seems like a great idea.

23. Visit friends in another city

That apple was straight Snow White evil. Photo by my cousin Ari.

24. Visit and help my grandma with yardwork and cleaning My cousin and I cleaned her fridge. I believe the oldest thing we found was 2005. I commented that some of our cousins weren’t even born when someone shoved that into my nana’s fridge. So odd.

25. Get my car running in tip-top shape (mostly) by myself

26. Shoot a short movie

photo via

27. Read a classic I have never read before I have re-read several of my favorites this year (Flight to the Mushroom Planet, The Outsiders) but a classic I had never read before was Red Harvest. Holy Cow I felt like my whole life had been a sham because I hadn’t read this!

Books I Read:

How Did You Get This Number? by Sloane Crosley. So, so good. A+.

Month by Month Gardening in the Deserts of Arizona. I found a couple of new plants to try out, but I probably should have got this and made notes back in October. B-

Donations to Charity:

Red Cross Japan. Bien sur. Another great place to donate? DonorsChoose.org. The Beau donated to this not only because he love to help education and learning, but also, to see/hear Stephen Colbert sing “Friday” with The Roots. Everyone wins.

Budget Analysis:

meh. I used my sister’s baby shower as a reason to go to joann’s and michale’s and I went a bit nuts. I have been saving up for a sweet new area rug though, and The Beau gave me the OK to purchase an awesome rug I hope is as awesome as it looks online…

Movies:

The Keep. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. So awesome and even coping with the frustrations of being a Wolfman, Lon Chaney is adorable and awesome.

American Rose audiobook $32

Why We Suck $11

I Drink For a Reason $9

My Custom Van $11

Kiss Kiss $16

Bedwtter Sarah Silverman $20

I Am the New Black $20

Wettest County in the World $10

St. Lucy’s $10

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake $14

Waking Up in the Land of Glitter $9 (although I will probably buy several copies as gifts)

There’s a Slight Chance I Might Be Going to Hell $11

Autobiography of a Fat Bride $11

These are just the books off the top of my head, and added up the library has saved me $184! That’s a whole lotta whiskey and truffles!

Granted, a lot of these I wouldn’t have bought if I had to pay for them. Also, some of these I would have been really upset if I had bought them because they weren’t particularly good. This should have been a Valentine post because Library, you’re my true love!