Bossypants

Bossypants by Tina Fey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tina Fey is hilarious. I have never been a huge fan of the show 30 Rock. But seeing her personality come out in this book makes me want to follow it to see her next move. I always enjoyed her humor on Saturday night live and I found I could not stop laughing in certain parts of the book. Her laid back lessons on work-life issues and parenting were very informative. I particularly enjoyed the begining of the book but thought she jumped around near the end with less flow. This book lets you sit in on brainstorm sessions of writers and tv producers. It makes you appreciate how hard it is to produce SNL or 30 Rock week after week. I will never look at the men the same now that I know they pee in cups and leave them around their office.

View all my reviews

Painting that rocks!

For those of you that will be stuck at home this summer with screaming bored children running around on summer vacation I have an idea for you.  You may wonder what you are going to do on the first rainy day in June when the movies are packed and the beach is not an option.  Pick up some acrylic paints and paint brushes from Michaels or Hobby Lobby and a few rocks from us and your problems are solved.             Your kids will love helping you transform your outdoor garden into a work of art.  Have them label your new vegetable garden with the plant types or paint crawly creatures in your garden.  It doesn't matter what they are painting I guarantee they won't run out of ideas.     I am kind of obsessed with this whole rock project idea.  Check out the links below to see some more ideas.  Martha Stewart even gets in on the fun with her create rock projects.  Links: Martha Stewart ROCK Crafts Painted Rock Projects E-How to Paint Rocks

The Trouble with Brick

There is a serious debate going on in historic cities like ours about the code compliance of historic paving materials. Elizabeth Padjen addresses the problem in the June issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine. The article says that in historic cities like Boston, brick pavers are under siege. Stating, “ The dominance of the venerable paving material has been challenged by the decidedly more pedestrian concrete and asphalt.”

The commission for the Persons with Disabilities (CPD) does not think that brick pavers are code compliant with the ADA. “Bricks heave, sink, buckle and go missing,” says John Kelly the chair of the CPD. Landscape architects interested in historic preservation have challenged these arguments stating that “the brick sidewalks can meet the intentions of the ADA and can be designed to avoid problems such as vibration.” The article goes into detail about the proper installation of sidewalk paving materials being important. Stephen Sears of the Brick Industry Association (BIA) says, “It’s all about the base, brick is getting a bad rap for an entirely different issue, which is installation.” It is going to become more important for installers to follow proper installation techniques in order to preserve the paving products in historic cities. He bigger question I have is what about the bluestone sidewalks in Charleston. The article does not address other building materials than brick. Is bluestone more ADA compliant than clay brick? How do we ensure that the CPD does not challenge the materials used in the Holy City?

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reading the biography of Steve Jobs literally made me rush out and buy and iPad. Walter Isaacson’s portrait of the Apple creator isn’t picturesque. However, he does help us understand how and why Apple became the largest publicly traded company in the world. This book has everything from how to start a computer company in your garage to how to think outside the box and create totally new ideas. Apple has had its ups and downs, but whenever Steve Jobs was involved, success followed. The biography was very extensive in parts and slightly boring, but Isaacson felt every detail was important to paint the correct picture of Jobs and I respect that. Jobs as a person does not appear to be the heroic figure we always saw at a product launch. He is anal, reserved, “smelly,” and not the most friendly person. Jobs has one of the most bizarre personalities from running away from his first born kid to his vacillating food binges. The book does not hold back the criticism either. Steve jobs has a dark past, but somehow it is easily overlooked when he begins producing life changing products. Isaacson displays Jobs as an unbelievable creator of intuitive products.
I sat on the plane the other day pushing the touch screen in the head rest in front of me trying to scroll through the available music and movies. Immediately I became frustrated with the device. The touch pad did not work well and it took me ten minutes to figure out how to go back to the previous screen. Why did Delta not consult Steve Jobs. He would say that his airplane touch screen was “shit” and create a new version that worked and was intuitive. Or maybe Delta should just let you use iPad during take-off and landing and then I wouldn’t even need the stupid device. From Pixar movies to iTunes to my new iPad, Steve Jobs will be truly missed. I just hope there is a successor out there to fill the weird guys shoes because I hate new technologies that are “shit.” Until then I will continue to spend hundreds of dollars on new Apple devices, because I trust foundation Steve Jobs created of great intuitive products.


View all my reviews

Daniel Island Firepit

Artisans come in many forms. Jody Smith, owner of Overlay Solutions, LLC, prefers concrete, and uses his medium to transform just about any surface from something ordinary to an elegant focal point of your home or business. Smith is a lifelong resident of Summerville, SC . He has been trained by some of the top concrete artisans in the world

He also prefers to work hands on from start to finish on all of his projects. This insures that each and every project is completed with the approach of a true artist. The main goal of Coastal Rock productions is to create an ambiance that is fully customized to meet our clients style and needs.

Before Jody Smith started his own landscape design business over 17 years ago, he worked with some of the most elite landscape design and installation companies in the Summerville and Charleston area. Smith always enjoyed the reward of creating a relaxing and uplifting environment from the initial design phases. The design phase of his projects is what truly excited him most, putting his clients visions on paper and discussing the many options of detail for their project.

Smith decided to use his previous years of design and installation experience and implement his endless visions into decorative concrete.