Superstar

2011-03-21T07:01:00.001-07:00

http://prdouct6uy.uk.pn/c2h2u8

Rocktober.

2009-11-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how it happened, but Rocktober just wrapped up another fantastic situation in a big red bow and handed it to me on a silver freaking platter. Last week went from mediocre to exquisite within a 90 second phone call last Sunday night. Plans were made, tickets purchased, costumes obtained. This Halloween was nothing less than spectacular as it was spent with some of my most favorite human beings. A calm balance returned to my soul when the tri-force of greatness was on the left coast at the same time.

It's a bittersweet drive home from the airport each time we all part. Singing hand-puppets, action figures and alcohol are a sure mix of hilarity, however that will take place no matter how much distance we place between ourselves. The hard part is knowing that I won't see someone I love so dearly and consider my family for a few more months. Not gonna lie, it's difficult to force back tears. All in all, we had a blast. I truly love being us. We. Are. Funny.

The last few weeks have filled to the brim with Tom Foolery, Hi-Jinx and Serendipitous events. Life seems to be answering questions, filling in the blanks of my mad-lib of a life and I'm strangely okay with all of it. In fact I say, "bring it ON!" with unparalleled enthusiasm. Things are shifting and changing and I'm stupid excited for what's around the corner. I just have to keep telling myself to hold on and ride it out. I've been through a lot in my lifetime and things always end up as they should. It's funny how life is a lot more fun when you throw caution to the wind and stop worrying. Good things keep happening. I'm not sure what I've done or what bank seems to be cashing my karma cheques one after another, but I'm thankful.

*****

Is it possible to love someone and completely DISlike them at the same time? I've learned that the answer to this is a resounding YES. This problem has popped up on me twice this year so far and it's really quite unsettling. At first I thought it was a lack of care, but upon further investigation - it's the opposite. Things wouldn't bother me if I didn't. It's a delicate balance of walking away quietly, keeping a silent amount of hope for them as individuals and leaving enough distance to not become rage-filled with annoyance by a single word that escapes their lips. I know it's a character flaw and it's something I have to address, I just don't know if I have the energy to tackle it yet. But it's definately on the list.

Aligned

2009-10-20T09:59:00.001-07:00

This last week has been nothing less than topsy turvy.
I started to write a post last week about taking chances and leaps of faith and decided not to post it. To my surprise, God and the Universe smacked me in the face with my own words just a few short hours later. I've been presented new possibilities which are both exciting and scary at the same time. My heart has been telling me for awhile that something is just around the corner, something huge and new. After the past few days things are finally settling into my mind not so much as fanciful ideas but quite possible realities. I've managed to keep my head about me and the excitement minimal as nothing is ever promised to us; however the sheer idea of new endeavors makes me giddy.

Along with this, I think the universe is also trying to get me to look past myself. Friday evening, I found myself smack dab in the middle of serial killer weather, headed south and stuck in traffic for two hours. I thought about turning around several times and just heading home in such miserable weather when all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball on the couch and drink hot chocolate while watching a movie I've seen a thousand times. But I pressed on. I made it to the party. Just moments after arriving, I knew that I was exactly where I needed to be at that moment. It was nice to be around a real family that exudes love for one another, celebrating friends with yummy food and good wine. That night as I drove home, my mind went down a really odd path, but in the end I came out feeling much better about things. I realized most of the time in life, I'm my harshest critic. I deserve a lot more than I give myself credit for and most of the time I live in the isolation of my head. When I think about death (and I do), the actual event doesn't seem to bother me, it's not knowing if I'll be remembered. I mean sure, the people I love the most will remember me and my insanity but - will anyone really care after a few years, if I died tomorrow? And then, I have evenings like Friday night which remind me that there are good, genuine people that truly care about me, that I don't necessarily see in my daily life that want the best for me because they love me. When that finally sinks into my head from time to time, I feel like the luckiest person in the world.

I think what God is really trying to teach me this year is that I'm not alone in this life. In all of my life I've never laughed to the point of exhaustion or cried myself to dehydration as I have this year. Despite the twists and turns, smooth and bumpy roads, or the lack of "family" that any of us might have, we are so incredibly blessed with the people we have in our lives. "Family" is who we make it whether it's blood or a bond that surpasses it.

This year as we enter the season of thankfulness, I can't think of anything I'm more thankful for than the people I have in my life. I'm surrounded by some pretty incredible individuals who are smart, funny, witty, sympathetic and empathetic. Those who will roll up their sleeves and kick someones ass for me without batting an eye or tell me when to pull my head out of my own. Those who will be by my side in an instant. They are my support. They help me be a better me. For that, I'm grateful.

As my horoscope informed me this morning, I plan to rigorously figure out my intentions, formulate my desires impeccably and express myself precisely.

:The Next Big Adventure:
On Sunday, in a stroke of genius - a plan was hatched. Timing seems to be on our side and things are falling into place. The next big trip will hopefully take place this up-coming spring with two of my favorite people, in an adventure of EPIC proportions. When I think about it, my mind gets so overwhelmed that my body's only natural reaction is to instruct my eyes to swell with tears. THAT'S how much fun this will be.

Q3

2009-10-12T14:18:00.001-07:00

It was a ridiculously busy quarter for me.

It started off with a trip to the peninsula on the 4th of July with Kitty - for a day of sunshiney fun and grave pictorials, finished up with a view of the fireworks on a rooftop deck. A good forth indeed.

I managed to squeeze out as much fun as I could from this ripe summer and saw some great shows not only at home, but in Canada, Portland and Atlanta. New Kids, Jason, G. Love, Dave, Patton... A good summer for shows, that's for sure.

The great living room overhaul twas a success. Oh, how I love it. I spend even more quality time there now - as it's the perfect set up for board games, movie watching and general evening laziness. I'm ready for you Fall even though Winter seems to have over-stepped it already.

I managed to have an INSANELY fun trip to Georgia in July and September brought more adventures that one could hope for. The mixture of a week off of work, a fast car and a handful of insane females crossing state and country borders with an action figure and a camera, bellinis, trespassing with no arrests and a new tattoo. There are no words to describe the amount of side splitting laughter that took place.

Looking back, I have amazing memories and photos to prove them. I spent quality time with those I cherish - new friends and those that I couldn't imagine life without. I've moved on, grown and learned some powerful lessons. Some situations were put to rest and I'm finding I'm more open to new adventures now than I have been in years.

I'm excited to find out what the next quarter will bring... And as shocking as it sounds, I seem to be filled to the brim with excitement for the impending holiday season!

It amazes me...

2009-07-29T18:37:00.001-07:00

"If you ever utter the words 'is that a shark?' odds are, I'm not gonna be there."

The amount of fun I've had in the last few days should have been illegal.

It really amazes me that the more time I spend away from home, the less I miss it. Maybe it's the ridiculously intelligent folk I visit, maybe it's the immeasurable amount of side splitting laughter, but as the trip winds down - I find it to be bitter sweet. Sure I miss my people and pickled corn, but I can't help thinking I could be just as happy elsewhere. Of course, this will change as soon as I step foot back in Ballard and stomp around my usual path but for the present moment, these thoughts take flight in my head like the plane I wait to board.

I consider myself the luckiest of individuals. To be surround by such remarkable people so far from my normal day to day experience and still feel right at home, is a happy spot to be in.

I felt a shift this time. It started sometime on Sunday. Its hard to describe, but something is morphing and brewing up to the surface of my core.

Change is good. Life is fleeting. Embrace the insanity.

In the great inspiring words of Minda, "Turn off your phone and be where your feet are."

With that, I'd like to thank one of my dearest friends for a very memorable trip of amazing proportions. May our next adventure bring us as much hilarity...

Ahhh

2009-07-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

There's nothing better than walking out of the office for a week and looking back at a freshly cleaned desk.
It's a good feeling.

The Living Room Situation.

2009-07-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

Anyone that knows me, knows I enjoy switching things up...
I woke up one day and my living room just wasn't cutting it for me and I needed a swift change. It took me awhile to find exactly what I wanted and when I saw it, I pounced - much like Charlie on the new couch.

I managed to sell my old set in just a few measely hours curtousy of craigslist and had the new bad-boy delivered in no time at all:

Of course, with this - all of the art had to come off the walls for re-positioning and this weekend is the great hunt for new throw pillows and accessories to luxe the place up.

I plan on having a lot of comfy situations take place on this new found piece of glory.

Q2

2009-07-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know how it happened, but the second quarter of the year BREEZED right past me. After being almost a week fully entrenched into Q3, I gasped in shock this morning when I realized that I hadn't done my Q2 wrap-up blog.

The fourth, fifth and sixth months of this year brought much chaos. There was a party at every turn and a outlandish number of birthdays to be celebrated, well into the double digits. (We're talking close to thirty) Clearly I need to reduce my friends and family count. Either that, or learn to make friends who are born outside of these crazy months. Apparently, crazy begets crazy and I draw them in close.

I managed to throw myself into some things and detour myself from others in this time span. I learned the true meaning of laziness and enjoyed it heartily. There were a few recurring issues I let fall to the way-side. It's nice to know as time goes on that I can revisit certain parts of myself that I need to change and tackle them from a different angle. Ever-evolving and growing. I like to feel myself change for the betterment of myself, without force.

Along with birthdays and celebrations, adventures were had. San Diego was greatly needed and much appreciated by my soul. I think it recovered a bit there.
One of my favorite bits of birthday business was an amazing evening that was spent with Bean at Spa Noir followed with delicious drinks and then wrapped up the night with the dazzlement of the Flight of the Conchords.

My birthday weekend at the beach was amazing. I had a great time and it made me realize what fantastic individuals are in my daily life.

I'm still in love with my new car. It makes me giddy every time I get behind the wheel.

The newest collection from my gadget whoring ways is the new iPhone 3GS, which has been named Jax. It's black and spectacular.

I not only farmed, but became a farm town elder. My village is complete and thriving.
(Yes, I become addicted to things to a fault.)

I have great goals for Q3... starting with another trip south filled with hilarity and fun. Oh yes, mascara will run and tears will fall, making it nearly impossible to breathe through the laughter. Like always.

2009-07-06T00:17:00.001-07:00

After a big deep sigh, I decided I was going to okay with life this last week. Surprisingly enough, it worked. I highly recommend going with the flow.

The one thing I'm really trying to drill into myself this 32nd year: Avoid overthinking. It's a hard undertaking for me, but I'm working on it. For now, I will continue to remind myself to make things happen and remember not to get married to any specific outcomes. Life morphs itself too quickly to let the little things get in the way.

Excerpt from the x-files:

2009-06-24T18:12:00.001-07:00

Sarah: Are you singing along with them?
Cat: yes.
Sarah: you know the words?
Cat: no, I was just singing "your mother is a whore" and it happened to work well with the song. Did they put opiates in my margarita?

.

2009-06-24T18:11:00.001-07:00

I just took a moment and mulled over the day I've had. The only thing I could feel, down to the core of my bones was an emphatic and resounding "ha."
No question.
No exclamation.
Just a statement.

Sometimes life has a funny and odd way of presenting itself.

Duality.

2009-06-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

After realizing how intensely strange most of our conversations are - I had to post this:

Kitty: I just got the: "I will sign your chest"
iamsarahsuperstar: um
Kitty: from Phil
iamsarahsuperstar: WHAT?
Kitty: well he recorded a little guitar
Kitty: and now thinks he's a rockstar
iamsarahsuperstar: oh and now you're his fan base?
Kitty: yes apparently
Kitty: and to thank me he'll sign my chest
iamsarahsuperstar: wow
iamsarahsuperstar: that's hot
iamsarahsuperstar: and then you could get it tattooed
Kitty: Ewww
Kitty: his signature is terrible
iamsarahsuperstar: ha
iamsarahsuperstar: i love that that is the issue you take with this.
iamsarahsuperstar: i don't like being a gemini
iamsarahsuperstar: i think i'm going to adopt a different sign
iamsarahsuperstar: and then move my birthday
Kitty: really?
Kitty: maybe I should slut out
iamsarahsuperstar: i think you should
Kitty: which sign shall you adopt?
iamsarahsuperstar: well that's just the thing
iamsarahsuperstar: i take issue with most of them
Kitty: of course this is impossible, as any other sign would be so against your inheirant Gemini nature
Kitty: so you might as well just embrace this
iamsarahsuperstar: no
iamsarahsuperstar: i embrace nothing
Kitty: yes
iamsarahsuperstar: for i am black heart
Kitty: Blackheart
Kitty: ONE WORD
iamsarahsuperstar: and i shall create mine own sign
iamsarahsuperstar: BLACKHEART
Kitty: oh I'll create a logo for you
iamsarahsuperstar: but i'll have to name said sign
iamsarahsuperstar: but if i do that, then i'll just look like a gemini freak
iamsarahsuperstar: and i'll have to have my birthday fall in the middle of a month somewhere inbetween signs
Kitty: nay
iamsarahsuperstar: like june 20.5
Kitty: there's no other sign you could POSSIBLY be
iamsarahsuperstar: between gemini and cancer
Kitty: GOD
Kitty: a Cancer?
Kitty: are you serious?
iamsarahsuperstar: NO NO make a sign of my own
Kitty: you might as well just turn your spine in
Kitty: and start crying
Kitty: for no reason
iamsarahsuperstar: a THIRTEENTH if you will
Kitty: nay
Kitty: that is a BAD idea
iamsarahsuperstar: it doesn't have to be there
Kitty: don't even joke about it
iamsarahsuperstar: it could be between libra and scorpio
Kitty: there you go- letting demons in
Kitty: GAWD
Kitty: that's even WORSE
iamsarahsuperstar: DAMN IT
Kitty: you know who are Libra's?
iamsarahsuperstar: why WHY must i be a curse-ed GEMINI?
Kitty: you know who's a Scorpio?
iamsarahsuperstar: granted it is superior than most signs, HOWEVER I want to rid myself of it
Kitty: NAY
iamsarahsuperstar: maybe i'll be a leo
iamsarahsuperstar: yes
Kitty: be happy with what you have
Kitty: incedentally
iamsarahsuperstar: i'll just switch to july 25th
Kitty: what happened to spurn you onto this?
iamsarahsuperstar: push back my birthday a couple of months
Kitty: gross
iamsarahsuperstar: oh leos are fine.
iamsarahsuperstar: actually i hate most leo females
iamsarahsuperstar: so i can't do that
Kitty: you're failing
Kitty: on all accounts
iamsarahsuperstar: i'm back to square one with creating my own
Kitty: what about a nice earth sign?
Kitty: you could be a Capricorn
Kitty: they're the crazies
Kitty: of the Earth signs
iamsarahsuperstar: NO
iamsarahsuperstar: i dislike capricorns
Kitty: however, you're not caught up enough in social standing
iamsarahsuperstar: i think i have a leo moon
Kitty: mostly
iamsarahsuperstar: so maybe i should stick with leo
Kitty: maybe that's why you don't like the female leos
iamsarahsuperstar: DAMNIT
Kitty: Virgo?
Kitty: nah
iamsarahsuperstar: NO
Kitty: you're not anal enough
iamsarahsuperstar: danita is a virgo
Kitty: you could MAYBE
Kitty: do Aquarius
Kitty: that's Air at least
iamsarahsuperstar: I WAS just going to say that
iamsarahsuperstar: and i really don't know that many of them
Kitty: the aquarius are the SANE ones of the Air signs
iamsarahsuperstar: maybe that would draw a whole new type of personality
Kitty: I know tons
Kitty: Paul is one
Kitty: they tend to be thinkers
iamsarahsuperstar: oh that's me
iamsarahsuperstar: that's it
Kitty: they're usually smarter than me
Kitty: so that fits
iamsarahsuperstar: i'm an aquarius from now on
Kitty: but you're clearly not
iamsarahsuperstar: oh i am
Kitty: Aquarius' dont scheme
iamsarahsuperstar: i just called it
Kitty: or plot
iamsarahsuperstar: i have ceased my scheming
iamsarahsuperstar: and ended my plotting nature
Kitty: they sort of just think about everything, ALL the time
iamsarahsuperstar: this is what i will do
iamsarahsuperstar: i will just THINK about things
Kitty: riiiiiiiiight
iamsarahsuperstar: no action.
iamsarahsuperstar: no plan.
Kitty: Justin MArx is an Aquarius
iamsarahsuperstar: i'll just think
iamsarahsuperstar: i'll think and ponder
Kitty: you'll drive yourself crazy(er)
iamsarahsuperstar: and write books about what i'm thinking
Kitty: well you SHOULD do that
Kitty: regardless
iamsarahsuperstar: nay
iamsarahsuperstar: no one needs to dare enter my crazy mind
Kitty: yes, yes they do
iamsarahsuperstar: when i'm a gemini
iamsarahsuperstar: but when i'm a nice aquarius, why not?
iamsarahsuperstar: who wouldn't want to know me then?
Kitty: who doesn't want to know you now?
Kitty: god your crazy
iamsarahsuperstar: no i mean "know the inside of my head"
Kitty: I'd rather read the Gemini version
iamsarahsuperstar: i feel like this is a good plan
iamsarahsuperstar: it's still an air sign
Kitty: As FREAKISH as it would be
Kitty: you're nuts
iamsarahsuperstar: no no
Kitty: i wouldn't trade being a Taurus for anything
iamsarahsuperstar: well, maybe I AM
iamsarahsuperstar: maybe i'm so nuts that i can't be a gemini anymore and this will calm me down
Kitty: Bahahahhahahaa
iamsarahsuperstar: oh you just hush it
iamsarahsuperstar: YOU HUSH THAT MOUTH OF YOURS

Edit:
What is even more distrubing, is the fact that this was THE SANE portion of the conversation. Things took a bizarre and more twisted turn during the phone call wrap-up of the above conversation later on in the evening.

And of course after going through all of the signs, the good and bad points of each -I really don't think I can adapt myself to anything other than the Gemini way. However we did come to the conclusion that I should try to work on some Sagittarius traits this year as a social experiment. Which then, as the Gemini I currently am, I have decided to nix that idea this morning and go more for a nice Auquarius sign to mold myself to. In the end though, I don't think I could completely give up my constant internal chaos. It's part of who I am. Most of the time there are two different paths of scenerios forming in my head. On top of this, I'm also a head case, which in the end will turn me into a batshit crazy hot mess one of these days.

And just think, I'm one of the "good" Geminis.

Ahem.

2009-05-31T11:34:00.001-07:00

I think I have some rage and biterness issues I need to work on.

thirty two.

2009-05-25T23:58:00.000-07:00

I have had a fantastic last few days of my thirty first year. I can't tell you how glad I am that this last year is over. It was a hard one.

My hopes are high this time around and I plan to apply the hard lessons I've learned in the past twelve months to the upcoming dozen.

I can't think of a better way to end a ridiculously bumpy year and break into a new untainted and less jaded one, then spending quality time on the coast with my amazing friends, who I love. We ate delicious meals, played games in the sun, drank till the wee hours of the morn and brought my new year in with tears of laughter. To be quite honest, it was the most perfect birthday weekend I could ever imagine. Each individual who was there truly helped shape this last year for me, gluing my sanity back together when it was falling apart at the seams.

I'm a firm believer that people come and go in our lives for reasons and I know this next year things will change yet again, shaking us all up. They always do. I hope they each know how much I will always appreciate them.

Thank you, to each of you. Being surrounded by such amazing, witty, intelligent, thoughtful humans, makes me want to be a better me.

Here's to you, thirty two. I'm here. Show me what you got.

Day one wrapup.

2009-04-30T22:30:00.001-07:00

Beaches. Pictures. Delish food. Good coffee. Beautiful people. Continuous laughter. Lovely day.

Changed hotels after seeing the first ridiculous excuse for the original one we booked. One too many busted lamp shades. We are now safe and fabulously comfortable back in mission valley.

After much running about and general loitering on the beach, which included flip flop purchases, pictures were taken of the phenominal ocean.

We ended up at a great bar for dinner and somehow got emotionally involved in a celtics game. Clearly we're on vacation.

It's been a long day so we're having an early night and will embark on yet another adventure in the morn.

The adventure begins.

2009-04-30T10:29:00.001-07:00

Day one: The morning has gone fairly well. Timed perfectly. We thought we saw Lou Miller at the airport, turns out no.

Coffee was purchased and I managed to stomach a danish, which was a miracle after cat flaunting her disgusting excuse for a toenail. (refer to peeing in the bushes story)

Excerpt of airport conversation:

Sarah: did you print the intinerary?
Cat: sure. I don't know where it is though.
Sarah: aren't you glad I know you well enough to print it myself?
Cat: pffft.
Sarah: we're in row 20, A and B.
Cat: no I swear it was A and D.
Sarah: well clearly youre wrong. (thinking she's obviously thinking of A&D ointment yet kept it to myself)
Cat: the flight is late. She said it leaves at 8:10.
Sarah: no. The flight is on time. It's at gate A-10. You're going deaf.
Cat: what row are we in?
Sarah: Omg! I Just told you and FYI, you're holding your boarding pass.

She proceeded to "take a pill".

Once on board, despite my best efforts, I was unable to find her "off" switch. A sleep deprived kitty apparently means the volume of her voice is turned up to an eleven while debating that the second ghostbusters movie was in fact funny, followed by a very rough reinactment of the bobby brown song used in the end of the movie as well as an impersonation of the mark wahlberg talking to a goat sketch on snl.

We then attempted to make hand puppets from our barfbags.

The surrounding passengers love us.

Cat was then soon intriuged by jet blue's alleged "cleanest pillow in the world" option, yet does not buy one at the cost of $7.

Then in a flash, she fell asleep.

We will land in approx a half hour and I'm told I must drive once we are in SD, as she is directionally challenged and insists that I " know my way around".

The adventure begins, indeed!

Clarity.

2009-04-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

I wish I could find the words to describe how hilarious my life is.
There are times when I find myself sitting in my office laughing so hard, I can't breathe. I'm fairly positive that I'm surrounded by some of the worlds most comical human beings and I'm proud to be among those ranks.

I'm having one of those days where nothing will really phase me and it's glorious. If only every day would be so kind... Life is bold, clean and sharp with color.

I'm happy to be feeling like my normal self again. I can feel things falling back into place after my mishap with March. I've got the tunes cranked and I'm bustin' things out left and right. It's refreshing to have 17 things going on at the same time and be in complete control over all of them, rather than to be completely thrown for a loop by a single question.
It's nice to know that I can still bounce back this quick with minimal long term mental damage (I hope).

Maybe it's the impending spring/summer that is upon us, maybe it's a renewed zest for life. All I know is that it's been refreshing to spend a good chunk of time with people I love. Reconnecting and fusing back together, eating delicious homecooked meals made with love and laughing to the point of lung exhaustion are nightly occurances.

In other news, I'm in love with Jasper. Sure, I thought I couldn't love an object as much as the coveted ipods, iphones or kindles...not to mention Katrina the Mobile Dance Party. HOWEVER, come to find out the love I have for Jasper, surpasses them all. He's Badass and holds adventures untold.

This last week has been jam packed as the "busy" season begins. Birthdays, plotting, schemeing and another amazing show to kick off the spring/summer season of music.

After crime fighting in Canada and stalking with the help of border patrol, this weekend should be a little more low-key as we make preparations for the trip South. I have visions of the beach dancing in my head...

I win.

2009-04-01T22:02:00.000-07:00

Up till this point I was blaming Q1, now I feel bad for both Jan and Feb. It wasn't their fault, it was March. March came roaring into my life like 31 Mondays back to back.
Thankfully I can look back now and say that not all three months were a complete waste.

In fact, Q1 was CHALKED full of good things.

* Two words: Puerto Rico. The amount of side-splitting (both sober and drunken) laughing that was had gave me a new found respect for my ab muscles and should have been illegal.
* Pedicures while sipping wine in Georgia? Amazing.
* Touring the Bacardi distillery while completely tanked? Ridiculous.
* Coining the phrase "Humorless Ramon"? Hours of entertainment.
* Eating scrumcious food made by people you love (including the rainbow cake of life)? Delicious.
* Re-bonding with Cat? Proves life can still surprise me.
* Getting a new tattoo? Fulfilling.
* Spending time with Uncle Bill? Wonderful.
* Discovering state-side Bellinis? Perfection.
* Piercing my Tragus? Huge endorphin rush.
* Popping the quarter and getting an unexpected bonus? Awesome.
* Getting Rear-ended by an idiot which then led to a needless pursuit of a new vehicle that fulfills some of my wildest dreams? Brilliant.
* Getting paid for car damages in said accent? Excellent.
* Busting yourself up in said accident which leads to free weekly massages? Fabulous.
* Perfect seats at the Burlesque Alice in Wonderland show? Delightful.
* Planning a trip to the sunshine- to bum around the beach, drink coffee and generally loiter while shopping in surf shops for coveted flip flops? FANtastic.

And these are only the highlights...
Sure, I'm not even going to go into the amount of pain I've been in or the complete emotional and mental breakdowns that weaved themselves in and out of Q1 09's fabric for my life. I won't lie. It was a rocky one. But I'm entering April with a new and improved outlook.
Things will right themselves, I can feel it.
Not all is lost.
I make no apologies and I enjoy being me.
I win at life.

Ha!

2009-04-01T12:12:00.001-07:00

Let it be known: I win at life.

battle scars.

2009-03-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

I've been caught in my head a lot lately, which is never a good thing. I try to avoid it.
It's a scary, dark, cavernous place sometimes.

I tried to put up a good front for awhile. That's what I do. It makes things easier at first yet much worse as time progresses. I should know that by now. But nay, I insist on continuing down my tried and true path of ridiculous denial. Then out of the blue one day, it hits me. Bubbles up and spills out onto everything and I shut down. My first instinct is always to run and hide or at the very least, get the hell out of dodge. When that is unfortunately not an option, I find myself in my current state of mind. I can usually just hit the pillow and fall asleep, which I've always loved about myself. But not now. I struggle. My head is in a thousand different places at once and my brain is on overload. I keep looking for an escape route and it's not there. My stomach has been churning. I can feel the beginning of an ulcer forming if I don't get this under control and fast. Honestly, that's the LAST thing I want to deal with again at this point.

I got a new piercing in my ear this last weekend. I've wanted it for awhile and tossed the idea around but never bit the bullet. I caved this weekend when I needed it. I needed to feel something. A distraction. A reminder that pain is very real, that I'm not indestructible and things take time to heal. Just like life. I'm glad I had it done. It will always be a reminder to me of how I got through this.

I was happy at one point. Now that I acknowledge it was there, it makes it worse. I have something to measure against what I'm feeling now. I want it back. It's a little cloudy now, but I can remember it. It wasn't that long ago.

Things have gone Topsy Turvy, bitter mixed with sweet this last month. I think I need a day to just sit with all of my emotions and feel them. I don't like doing that and I'm the first to admit it. I know that I have to acknowledge and release them, convince myself that it's okay and that I'm worthy of feeling them, it's the only way. I'm taking one situation at a time, nothing good can come from managing several problems at once.

It's okay for me to be hurt, angry and filled with rage against situations that are out of my control. It's hard to watch one of your favorite humans on earth go through so much and not be able to do anything about it. It makes me want to break things, to curl up in a little ball and sob until I'm dehydrated. I can't protect the person that I always felt safest with. He's the only one that I've ever really connected to, throwing unconditional love at me. I feel like I'm being robbed. The door was kicked in and all the drawers have been turned upside down and rummaged through.

When I was young, I honestly felt like he was the only one that loved me, or rather knew what kind of love I needed. It wasn't selfish, there was no agenda or obligation. He just loved me. Me for me. Although I'm jaded by many things, he's still the only one that I've ever really had that connection with. Every "good" memory of being young, he was in it. We have the same personality, same humor, same outlook. He is my person. Over the years, his spark and glimmer were wounded by outside sources and he's been through a lot. But let me tell you, February 14th, 2009will go down as one of my most favorite days of my life. My soul felt filled at the end of that day. If he doesn't make it through this, I will always enjoy that memory.

There's this rage. The family rage, that burns through my veins. I have no problem at all keeping it at bay, in hopes that I never turn out to "be like one of them". But there are moments in life, fleeting as they are, where that rage takes over. I toy with it. I think about it. I play with it. Then I lock it back up. This is one of those moments. The "hide the shot-gun and sharp knives" moment. It's been hitting me at full force about twice a day. I've been shaking it off, that seems to be working. I hate that it's in me. The insatiable need to harm something that is harming something that you love. In the end it doesn't get me anywhere and it passes. I'm just glad I can control it.

What IS throwing me over the edge though at the moment, is the notion that I know how to solve this. I'm not sure at what point in history that I became the "fixer", but I'm not. I'm at just as much of a loss for words as everyone else here, but that doesn't stop it. I'm the one that gets the phone calls 6 times a day, trying to calm down a hysterical parent. It's not fair to think that of me. I'm done being the one with the answers, the one who calms everyone down. Who has answers for me? No one, that's who. It's been that way all my life. Since I was little, I played the hand I was dealt with and tried to keep most family members out of it. I've made my way through every situation in my life with sheer will, determination and thankfully as I got older; with some amazing friends.

Today I finally uttered the words to my mother: "I don't know what to do either." There was a strange triumph in giving in to that. She kept pressing, but I gave her nothing. No advice, no words of encouragement. I don't have any more brain power to disect the situation other than the feelings I have about it. Just knowing that the burden of staying grounded in this, is my job - just to keep my mother sane, is enough to send me spiraling.

In other news, I ripped off the band-aid this week and surprise surprise, my heart fell out.
Gone. Disappeared. Rolled underneath something.
If you find it, let me know. If I can't find it this time, maybe it's for the best.
There I go again, high-fiving denial like we were old roomates.

It's kindof comical, that with my recent desire to become more centered and focused, utter chaos breaks out in several circumstances all at once.

Honestly...

2009-03-12T17:40:00.001-07:00

Its ridiculous how much fun I have everyday of my life. Is it the amazingly funny people I know? The wicked sense of humor I have? Or just the insane things that pop into my head and spill out of my mouth? Yes, to all of the above.
It should be illegal to be me.
Life is certainly good.

Finally.

2009-03-11T17:43:00.001-07:00

I finally got my app working on my phone. Now there's no excuse for lack of random posts.

The last few weeks have been anything but boring. Sometimes it's enjoyable, sometimes I fight the urge to scream and mixed in there are a few moments where I want to pack my bags and make a run for it, starting over. I just try to keep in the forefront of my mind what I know to be true: Life is an unexplainable and somewhat serendiputous series of moments. I'm just along for the ride.

So why run from it? Why scream and cover your eyes? Rip off the band-aid and push yourself through. Soon enough this too will change. But in the middle of everything, don't settle for mediocrity. Life is far too short.

Just a few nights ago I found myself making a conscious decision to do what was best for myself in the long run, turning away from what I wanted in the thick of it all. I walked away dissappointed for a brief moment and then empowered by the fact that I had my own best interests in mind. If I don't, who will? I was flabbergasted by my own strength.

I hope this is a sign of my emotional metamorphosis.

Everything happens for a reason. As a wise person once told me, make things happen and don't get married to the outcome.

Test.

2009-03-11T17:08:00.001-07:00

.

2009-01-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Stunned. Speechless. Enraged. Bulldozed.
Enlightened. Flabbergasted. Hurt. Down right baffled by life.

I'm vexed. Terribly vexed.

I'm kidney deep in the middle of three situations at once.

One: There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just hoping that I don't get too consumed or claustrophobic in the meantime.

Two: Unbelievable. Stunningly baffled by the recent curve ball that's been thrown at me, but moving at a slow and steady pace with hope that the outcome will prove to be a good thing for all. It will take time to see. Never say never.

Three:
I should have known. I should have held my eyes open with toothpicks and fought to be treated as the valuable person I am. I'm stumped by how I allowed this to happen. I can only hope that the lesson I'm to learn from this will be carried with me always. My heart is broken. There. I said it.
I took it out and let the ice chunks melt, the one time I should have kept it in the freezer. It's out now though. It may be in pieces, but it's thawed. I've decided to keep it at room temp so that has to say something.

I need to get some duct tape and put it back together with hope that in time it will adhere. Right now that seems nearly impossible. I think I gave out too big of a chunk this time. I just need to get past the burning desire to break something.

No regrets. Only lessons to take with me on this curvy and slippery road of life.

Lazy.

2009-01-14T12:53:00.001-08:00

Today was a generally glorious lazy day. Woke up late to sunny skies. Lounged about... Checked email. We went tanning, hit the bank and had a great lunch at zaxby's where the cherry fanta runs straight forth from the fountain with perfectly crushed ice. I worked for a bit while watching "i am legend"... Now we are setting off for our pedicure expedition, trip to the liquid store and a quick run to super target. Tomorrow brings Puerto RICO. Giddy.

Posted with LifeCast

Paper Straws.

2009-01-13T21:32:00.001-08:00

They aren't as cool as they sound. In fact they are ridiculous. But not nearly as ridiculous as a small papaer envelope that thinks its a drinking cup and described as a "innovative idea".

Shopping? Check.
Speaking in unison? Check.
Swooning? Check.
Shots? Check.
Laughter? Dying from it.

Posted with LifeCast

Vacation

2009-01-13T21:27:00.001-08:00

6:40am The morning started well with only a few snafus. I almost always run into some so I can't completely complain. I'm nowhere near the office and I'm on my way to have an insanely fun trip. Life is good.

6:48am Note to self, apparently when flying to Atlanta you not only need big hair, but also fake ponytails that don't match your overall hair color with large leopard print hoop earrings. Classy. Idiot 22 year old crumpled up his boarding pass and is holding up the line. Now he's decided to sit on the breezeway. just sitting there making comments about how he's sitting in row 34d and giggling.

7:07am omg! I'm sitting next to the big hair!!! Hahaha! Update: at first I was potentially glad that the flight was full and that someone would be sitting between big hair and I. Turns out the only open seat on the plane is between us. So being positive, I think "yeah... Extra room!!!" and I decide to make nice with big hair. TURNS OUT- the empty seat is actually FOR HER CAT. Oh yes, there's a cat next to me on the plane. It's all jacked up on sleeping pills given to big hair by her vet. Apparently she and mr whiskers are moving to atlanta. she's now unzipping his carrier and petting him. I find this slightly creepy.

8:49am somewhere over Montana...
Sure, I've been excited about this trip. This last week was so busy however, I didn't have much time for a lot of anticipation. Now that I've drank my coffee and eaten a bagel, I somehow just woke to the realization that I'm on A PLANE and on my way to have more fun than I think I can fathom at this point. No family. No obligations. No agenda. Rum. Beach. Laughter. Having a great time with a great friend. Thank you, life. Thank you.

Posted with LifeCast

Done.

2009-01-09T19:28:00.001-08:00

I've never been so happy to be done with a week. Be gone with you week. Scurry.

Posted with LifeCast

Puerto Rico

2009-01-03T00:53:00.001-08:00

I can honestly say I haven't been this excited for a trip in a decade. It's hit me in spasms up until this point. But as of tonight the excitement has overcome me in the form of giddyness. I can't contain it. I actually just screamed while I was driving.

Posted with LifeCast

2008-12-31T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I must say this year has brought me many adventures as well as a very long insane roller-coaster of emotions. I'd like to think that I did some growing this year, in fact I'm sure there's no way I squeezed through the last twelve months without it changing me.

This was my first year as a Superstar. Let me tell you, that was one of the best things I've ever done. I'm fairly positive it will never lose it's awesomeness.

In 2008 I became a little more of a homebody and I found that my heart does belong there. Up until this now, I've never felt at home anywhere really. This year, I made my own. It was a huge emotional sigh of relief and it took a lot of getting used to. I've had many amazing moments here filled with contentment. I couldn't imagine being anywhere other than Ballard. I'm surrounded by amazing people and some of the greatest friends I've ever had.

I find myself with new ink this year. Two new tattoos. The one was a whim that I adore, the other was well planned and thought out by someone I am proud to wear the art of. Of course, this just leaves me with the desire to add more. My mind has been mulling it over since I walked away from Ruby in September. I'm sure she'll bring me more beautiful work with her needle near in the future. I'm hoping my upcoming trip will give me some inspiration.

Speaking of vacations, I rewarded myself this year with the "Superstar's Hotter Than Hell Tour, 2008". It was a long time coming and I had an enormous amount of fun seeing old faces, laughing uncontrollably, laying in the sun, visiting missed places and discovering new ones. My heart needed that.

The year of music was a grand one. I must say, some of the shows I saw this year left me feeling as though a little piece of me changed during the performances. Now, this may sound ridiculous - but anyone that really knows me knows how I get when it comes to music. Some of the highlights were: Anniversary night with Glen Philips and Jonathan Kingham; a night of champagne and amazing music, DMB weekend; amazing and emotional this year, and the highlight of the year for me musically was Deck The Hall Ball; Shiny Toy Guns, Cold War Kids, Death Cab and The Killers; an incredible night that is definitely in my top 5 all time favorite shows.

I fought with change this year. It beat me up and I took it, eventually caving in to its brutality. It's never been a friend of mine, especially when I'm enjoying life as it is. But as with all change, we adjust somewhat to the newness of the scenario and learn to appreciate what we have. It's a great reminder to not take any little fantastic aspect of life for granted.

The biggest change I went through this year was understanding and realizing that I am who I am. The past few years have led me to this point and I know I don't have to be anyone else or pretend to be anyone else, for anyone. I find that my life is filled with individuals who embrace me for who I am and love me more for that, no questions asked. It's an awesome space to be in. Now that I've accepted myself, I can allow others to do the same. For once, I feel loved. No drama, no negativity. My relationships morphed this year because of it.

2007 proved to be the year that shook everything up and challenged who I was. I purged the old and uncovered a new uncomfortable state of mind. That lead me right into a year that was definitely designed to hunker down, look at circumstances from a different view and distinguish love in this insane world of chaos. I found it. It's there. You just have to know where to look. I had to decide if I was going to do anything with it, be hurt by it, or just let it stand and be still. There's not enough love in this world, so I chose the latter. Just knowing it's there is enough for me to sleep peacefully at night and be excited for the day to come.

I'd like to thank 2008 for all it has given me. I needed this year to happen. It began with changing my name and it will soon end with yummy drinks, amazing food and with people I call my own. There were tears, babies, sunshine, the inability to breathe, elation, deaths, excitement, hyperventilating, snow and fits of drunken laughter in between. Honestly, I wouldn't change one. little. thing. No regrets. None.

2009, I welcome you and all of the new exciting things you have to offer me. I hope you keep things lively and ever changing. I hope you scare me in new ways and teach me unimaginable things. You know how I love surprises.

With that, I've given you the slogan:

"Drink More Wine In 2009"

thanks.

2008-11-29T00:26:00.000-08:00

According to wikipedia: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

I would like to express my gratitude for the the turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie that is currently hiding in my tummy. Besides this, I have several laundry loads of things to not only be thankful for this year, but in life in general. A lot of this will of course be included in Sarah's official 2008 wrap up in the next few weeks, I'd like to highlight my top ten favorite things in the spirit of Thankfulness.

1) Old friends that come back to visit. Sometimes it's nice to reconnect with people who played a vital role in who you've become. For that I am thankful. Sometimes they also show you just how much you've changed and how much you should appreciate your current posse...which leads me to...
2) Best friends and surrogate sisters. I thought I was lacking in this category, then life slapped me upside the head and woke me up. I'm surrounded by people who know me better than I think they do, who care for me more than I could ever imagine. For that I have a renewed love for this crazy world.
3) New friends. People enter our life and sometimes leave just as quickly as they came. Yet, we more than likely learn something about ourselves from them in the meantime.
4) Having an awesome place to call home(Which includes my cat and tv), never going hungry unless it's my own fault for not eating and having everything I need to survive.
5) Having a job. Not everyone does these days and despite the recent metamorphosis, I'm thankful that I have a paycheck, the amazing hours, the perks, the countless belly-aching laughs and the opportunity to spend at least 40 hours a week with phenomenal human beings that enrich my life.
6) My family. Whether it's those who are related to me or the ones I consider family. Thank you for all you do.
7) The experiences that I've had. The good, the bad, the incredible and the inebriated. (Esp Wednesday night and the movie we never did get to see.)
8) My glasses/contacts. Without them I wouldn't be able to see.
9) My iphone. NO seriously. Thank you for making me happy daily, apple. Thank you.
10) Lastly, I'm grateful for my newest friend - Change. I looked up your definition today as well and I must say - I enjoy it: The process of becoming different. This actually made me smile a little, since all we ever are are works in progress, constantly morphing due to our experiences and circumstances. I'm trying to embrace you. I really am. I enjoy the thought of you, I just don't like you hanging out. I'm determined to alter my attitude towards you before the new year.

I can not lie, I'm excited for November to be over. December approaches in a few hours and brings with it a whole new box of worms, leaving November a distant memory. Just around the corner a new year is springing forth and that my people, is what I'm really excited for.

I decided tonight that these will be my song lyrics of 2009:

You gotta give a little,
Take a little,
and let your poor heart break a little.

You gotta laugh a little,
Cry a little,
until the clouds roll by a little.

You gotta win a little,
Lose a little,
yes and always have the blues a little.
that's the story of, that's the glory of love.

ha.

2008-11-25T14:44:00.001-08:00

I love my people.

Curtis.

2008-11-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

The kid stole my camera yesterday.
It's always interesting to see what a five year old thinks is cool enough to take pictures of...

Curtis' Photography

OH CHANGE.

2008-11-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Change,

Even though I wrote a little note to you the other night of thanks for all the things you've forced me to endure for the cause of shaking things up, you may have mistaken me. I think you may have taken that as an open invitation. It wasn't. I don't want to hear that you're doing this to make me "grow" or "be a better person" or "force me to deal with things" that I try to pretend don't exist, even if that is the reason. I'm going to try to have faith in you, because you always put things right in the end. Despite my efforts to panic wildly, I've decided to just let you do your thing. I am not in the position to ask anything other then the obvious questions, so I'm going to take off my jumping shoes and cease searching out seventeen new conclusions to tackle. For the moment, I've taken a deep breath and made it through the most recent panic attack, yet I'm still mentally flailing about. Please make this quick and rip off the band-aid.

Thank you, The Management.

I'll take turkey, with a side of change.

2008-11-18T20:08:00.001-08:00

Last night I hosted my first official Thanksgiving (Pre-Thanksgiving that is...) and a good time was had by all! The turkey was d'lish and the special kick in the punch was perfect.
I was very thankful to be surrounded by people who are important to me, who are as dorky as I am and who enjoy making the talking gnome say indecent things and laughing wildly at it.
Bean and I both bailed on work early, came to my place and started cooking. I finished up working and we watched White Christmas, like on Thanksgiving past. Sipped punch and had a great afternoon.
I had almost completely forgotten that it's the week of the anniversary of Randa's passing, but this definitely made me remember. Thanksgiving will forever be bittersweet. I'm just glad that Bean and I were able to do our traditions this year together.

Tonight I had a wonderful impromptu dinner with Nance and Ruta at Senor Moose. I love that. It was good to see her, I miss our mornings together. Its nice to know that she's still in my life and that you really can be friends with your boss even when they aren't your boss anymore. She was a fixture in my life for 5 years and it's foreign not to talk to her everyday. That is surely a change that will take me a very long time to get used to.

Even with all of my griping and moaning over the last month, I think I need to make amends with "change". It's not your fault, change. I get that now. You and I wrestled a lot 16 months ago and you won that battle. I put up a huge fight, kicked and screamed and finally gave in and I'm better for it. Then in the last few weeks you showed up again. You almost gave me a nervous breakdown. But I dealt with you differently this time, I gave in early and I'm trying to work with you not against you.
I found myself at Ruta's table a few weeks back with Debbie, Ken and Beth. We had an amazing Sunday night "Family" dinner together. Great food, wine and many laughs. And as I thought about that tonight, I realized not even a year ago would I have found myself at a table with any of those individuals let alone all of them. It just goes to show how much can change can do in 365 days. I am thankful to have each one of them in my life. I have to remember that when I hit the reoccuring wall of thinking my life is stagnant. It is definately far from it. I'm rich in blessings right now and I want to appreciate all of them - because as I know, change operates swiftly and sometimes brutally.
So I thank you change, for cleaning up my life once in a while. For starting new friendships and for altering established ones and moving them in different directions.

Other reasons to rejoice: My table will be here before Thanksgiving. I thank you Pottery Barn, I thank you.

If you are what you eat...

2008-11-17T10:05:00.001-08:00

Then Melody and I are total Nerds:

Wrap up.

2008-11-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Something hit me today.
I've been so busy living, I haven't posted anything in a ridiculously long time.

October was a nerve racking, emotional and mental rollercoaster ride for me. I think I felt every emotion possible during that month.
The world got flip-turned upside down and I've spent the last few weeks recovering/attempting to get used to the newness of things.
My office family was disbanded and I wasn't, nor am I "okay" with it. When things are great, I don't appreciate change. Despite my love for (some) of the remaining people here, I felt like someone punched me in the chest. I still have horrific days where I can't believe they are both gone and I feel like running and screaming from the buildling. However, I'm trying to remain calm in these economic times and remember all of the fun people I'm blessed with that are still here. Grass may be greener, but right now I need the funny people I love around me daily, rather than mowing a new lawn. (Unless something happens that's too good to refuse ;-))
I know in my heart that I will work with both of them again, however even if I don't - I love them both dearly and they will be in my life always.

Thankfully I've had Ken, Beth, Debbie, Mel and Christine giving me the daily shove I need without Steven's constant abuse at my doorway or Nance's happy dance when the money comes in. I heart my people.

Halloween was a great one this year. Christine and I headed down to the Tractor for a night of awesome music and great people watching. Opening band was "F*ck You, we're Lynard Skynyrd" and they were surprising REALLY good. Headliner was the queen cover band, "HallowQueen". Perfect for Halloween. We rocked out and we conjured the soul of Freddie Mercury that night, I'm sure.

In other news, after my stomach created four ulcers with the sheer thought of Sarah and John leading the country - Obama came through like the pepto I needed. Honestly, I can't remember a more exciting election night in my life. I was surrounded by amazing people with a common belief that we need change in this country. There was laughing, drinking, crying, dancing, drinking, eating and more drinking. I will always remember who I spent that evening with on that momentous, history making night. (Nor will I forget the Obama cupcakes that turned out slightly pornographic.)

In other, other news - I've done some redecorating and a little splurging. Redid the bathroom, started in on Chrsitmas presents, ordered a new table for the livingroom. I actually love my livingroom now and the more time spent there playing doctor mario and drinking hot cocoa, the better.

Oh, also I managed to buy myself the most adorable ring and amazing gloves last night from Urban Outfitters.

God Bless America.

We win at life!

2008-09-03T20:45:00.001-07:00

Which is more than I can say for this cycle of ANTM.
Okay so first things first.
Georgia was amazing. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to visit. I came back feeling relaxed with a solid soul.
The homes there were amazing, the food delicious and the stormy weather was a nice retreat from the Arizona and Nevada sun. It was truly hard to get on the plane to come home.

I however had a couple more things to look forward to. Dave at the Gorge this year was nothing less than mind boggling. The whole adventure to Thorp to visit the horses and the kids before the Broke-Back Ellensburg Rodeo was a blast. The show itself was emotional and one we will never forget. I'm so glad we got to be there.

Its been good to be back in the office, I missed everyone. It was good to be home and see Charlie. He hasn't left my side.

Then, today has been a day of greatness.
I got my tattoo right after work today. I had myself worked into a frenzy, but managed to calm down once I got there. I ended up falling asleep on the table. I'm sure the after care is going to be the hardest part of this one. It turned out fabulous and I heart Ruby. She was great.

Bean picked me up and we had dinner before I heard the news. Shortly after I received a text confirming that the Crumb Society has taken over Ballard. Melody and Kris are moving two blocks from Christine and I. I can't even STAND IT. Oh the fun this will bring. Fliers should be posted warning the other Ballaridians. I'm not joking.

Ugh. I can't even stand it. I'm celebrating with a shot of Jager. RIGHT THIS SECOND.

If you think you're in labor, go to the hospital.

2008-08-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

This trip to Vegas has been such a huge big deep breath for me. So much so I have barely taken any pictures as I had planned. This area has always been a strange confort to me. And gawd I missed those crazy kids. Just spending time with Patti and Bob, meeting Makoto and relaxing has been awesome.

Wednesday night we hit the strip. Dinner at Planet Hollywood with an adorable waiter named Todd (What are you, Cherokee?) who made the most delicious table side guacamole ever. Walked across to the Belagio and watched the fountains from the very same spot as the smokin' hot boys did from Ocean's 13. We then walked through Paris and had an incredible dessert, making the night complete.

Yesterday, we had a lovely relaxing day at home with big plans to go to the New York, New York and the M&M World. Patti however looked as though something was stirring. Adamant about going out, Bob and I both were slightly worried about her current pregnant state yesterday. He finally convinced her to have dinner with me a little closer to home.

So we go out for the most DELICIOUS pizza, yummy yummy. We order dessert (trying to keep the conversation off of babies to distract) when Patti says "um, yeah we make want to get the cheesecake to go. I've been feelin' a little bit of pain over here." And laughing hysterically.
Luckily, we're right next to the hospital, as is my hotel. So we have Bob meet us there, against Patti's desire to go home for a bit first. She called her doctor's number to see if she might be over-reacting and the message clearly stated "if you think you're in labor, go to the hospital." Which I personally thought was sage advice.
It may have been the peppers on the pizza or the uncontrollable laughter, but that baby started things up.
Patti has been texting me - keeping me in the loop as of the goings on all night. I'm so glad my hotel is this close. That way they can have their "birthing privacy" but I can still be close enough to meet her when she comes out!!!
Funny thing is, I've been telling everyone - I get into Vegas Weds, Patti will go into labor on Thursday, I leave on Friday and if I don't get to meet that baby girl I'm going to be SORELY displeased.
Well, this just in - Patti should be pushing her out right about NOW.

So I get my horoscope sent to me and I rarely read it. Today I just opened it up for funny.... look at the last line:

Dear Sarah,
Here is your horoscope
for Friday, August 22:

Try to make sure that you're not just winging it today -- you need to keep checking with your lists and notes, or you may end up having to chuck the day's progress. Kids might be pretty distracting.

Baby girl will be born on a very nice date 08/22/08. Clearly, just another sign I'm in the right place at the right time.

More to come after I meet her... must take shower and get over there!

Leaving Arizona

2008-08-20T13:05:00.001-07:00

I'm tan and happy, that's for sure. Arizona has proven to be a fun
experience as it always has in the past. The past few days have flown
by. Mahlika and I shared many laughs..
And although it never ceases to amaze me how strange it is how our
mothers seem to be separated at birth, I've come to realize I've come
a longer way at snipping the strings. She may be my mother and this
week has been fun, but honestly I'm Nothing less than ecstatic to be
getting on separate planes in 45 mintues. I need space. Speaking of
space, I've somehow scored a first class flight to vegas! I can't wait
to get there. The resort was amazing, but seeing Patti again will be
fanastic. She's very close to popping.... So the plane better take off
soon. More pictures to come!
I'll start blogging about the memorial on the plane...

--
- Sarah Superstar
Fabulous since 1977

Day One/Two

2008-08-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Although I have a strong desire to rehash the tale of "hill billie festival 2008" unfortunately it will have to wait until I have enough energy to even think about what transpired on Saturday.

Sunday morning, after staying out way too late and several snafus at the airport, I'm happy to report turned out to be a fabulous day. I was seated next to a hilarious snarky individual named Mary-Anne (my deaf mother kept calling her Pam. No idea why.) which fueled my fire. We made up several rumors concerning our male flight attendant that seemed to be a robotic possible cousin of George W. Bush. On top of this, he was so cool, he had two first names. John-Ross. John-Ross even offered to finish off my new friend's Starbucks drink. Maryanne and I swapped recipes and had a blast laughing the whole way, mainly about the airline picnic pak I purchased which graciously included "hard sausage" which gave us much ammo.

After landing, it felt awesome to be back in the 602 hood. I've missed it terribly. I could hardly wait to see Vicki and Mimi. We had an amazing lunch and laughed uncontrollably for the entire day. Talk about having a flashback of being in junior high school. Our mothers haven't changed one bit and apparently neither have our jokes. Oh did I go to bed with sides aching!!! The hotel is nothing less than amazing. Made friends with one of the guys who we toured the grounds with and showed us this immense property. We actually have a driver. I have no idea how we scored this place.

This morning I woke at dawn and decided to check out some of the pools. TALK about craziness. By 11am, I had tried out 5 of the pools, been in the waterfalls and befriended the barista at the hotel. This is truly a vacation spot.
The cabanas are amazing and the beach pools are indescribable.

I managed to pry myself away from the pool with the swim up bar, to change and have lunch with mom. We had a very leisurely afternoon which continued with a nice nap, getting up just in time to get ready for dinner with Amy. It was so good to see her. I've missed her terribly. It was nice to catch up on the fam and the happenings down here in the Vegas/Phoenix sector.

Just got back to the room and I'm going to attempt to settle in and watch a little tv while it's still sweltering outside. But don't think I'm not going to go swimming at midnight.
For pictures so far, go here or click on the blog title.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sarahitune

There's a Seagull in my office. SERIOUSLY.

2008-08-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, this morning in attempt to kill me via bird flu, Steven insisted that I help him "Save a Seagull". We traipse out onto Western, trap aforementioned wounded bird and bring it back to the office until animal control could come pick it up.

I named him buddy. Chaos ensued. Bananas were force fed to him. The duck ring tone on my iphone was used in attempt to communicate with him, however he did not speak "Quack-ish".

Melody made a lovely rendering of the situation. I must post that as well.

Here's a snippet of the crazy.

Cuteness.

2008-08-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Meet my new best friend

Even though slightly tuckered out, Chewy is my new favorite being in the office. Beth is so lucky to have this little guy! I heart him.

Vacation is approaching and I'm starting to get a little fidgety.

I've seen Jason a few times this last week and I love those moments where you laugh so hard you have tears streaming down your face. Gawd I love him and his respect for the white trash in my extended family.

Alright, back to work...

Things that are good about 8/1

2008-08-01T12:53:00.001-07:00

The new coffee machine in the kitchen on 5. I can't tell you how much use I'm going to get out of this thing.
It may actually turn out to be sunny.
Ken just made the aforementioned coffee come out of my nose.
The sentence "I just googled your mom." was just written on my office wall by my new NEIGHBOR Christine.
Tommy Spice got a job!!
July is over!
Dappy Hour begins in 2.5 hours.
Blue Angels are overhead.
Chris just made me touch his "rear hub mechanism".

I'm honestly shocked that I could come up with that many.

The end.

Honk If You're Swedish

2008-08-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Recent discovery: What's one of the best things in life? A drunken phone call from Bean.

It reminded me that you can't pick your family. But if you're one of the lucky few that has a soul sister in the world, she'll find you. Thankfully for us, it happened early on in life. With my Beana, I get through the insanity and take comfort in the fact that she is a forever constant in my world of uncertainty. Thank you for being my family Bean. I can't imagine a life without you in it. 17 years of joy, tears, triumphs and great loss. I heart you.

375

2008-07-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

375 days later I find myself in the same space.
It's overwhelming and tripping me out. I may not be able to stay at work all day. We'll see if I can calm myself by taking a bit of a jaunt outside.
More to come.

Ants In Pants

2008-07-23T18:39:00.001-07:00

I haven't been this excited on years. I can not wait for my vacation. Preparations are underway and just about everything is lined up and ready for the days prior to take off of my hotter than hell tour 2008. I'm so ready for my lone excursion across the states and the adventures that lie ahead. I miss this.

Posted with LifeCast

Sick At Home

2008-07-15T15:25:00.001-07:00

I hate being sick. I feel weak and about to pass out every time I stand up. This can't be good. I'm taunted by the sunny weather outside my bedroom window. Alas I have Charlie by my side, jerry springer on the tube and sorbet in the freezer if the need arises. Think I'll pop another 222 and call it a day.

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Posted with LifeCast

Happy.

2008-06-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

The month is only half over and it's been a superb one already.
Maybe its the constant feeling of world domination within my grasp due to my iphone, but things are just feeling like they're falling into place.

First off my bed. My bed needed to be thrown out about 2 years ago. Finally, this month a major purchase was made and I'm happily typing from my Macbook on my new tempurpedic. Charlie and I have been both enjoying it immensely. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to wake up in the morning and feel like a human again, functioning without pain.

Secondly, one of my most favorite people may very well be moving into the apartment next to me. Keeping my fingers crossed, I find this very exciting.

Thirdly, financially I think things are finally panning out and going in the right direction. Even though I still owe money, I'm sleeping much better (and not just because of the bed).

Lastly, my trip. That's right. I used to travel a lot more than I have been lately, which I completely blame on lack of money. But the last real trip I took was over 3 years ago. Sure, I've taken piddly long weekends here and there - but it's long overdue for some real vacation action to take place. I have a TON of vacation time saved up and I've managed to put together the "Hotter than Hell Superstar Tour 2008" taking place in August. First off, I'll be hitting up a resort in Phoenix, full with Poolside cabanas and waitstaff:

Not to mention roof top dining, the suite, or the geyser pools inside the mountain...
From there I go on to Vegas to visit some of my favorite people in the world that I miss so much my heart aches. I'm so giddy, I can't wait. I found a screaming deal at a hotel nearby them and I can't wait to be back in Vegas. It's sick, but there's a part of me that really misses going there as often as I used to.
Here's a picture of what my King Suite room will look like there for $35 a night:

I think I can manage there for a few days.

From there, I hop on a flight to Atlanta and spend six days in Atlanta which I'm REALLY excited about. I can't wait to spend some time with Andrea and invade the South. I've never really had a chance to explore Georgia, so I'm looking forward to it, along with the heat.

Then I come home for about 24 hours, perfect for laundry and sleep... then hop in the car and head to the Gorge for Dave weekend. Luckily this all came together so that I'll have 3 days of labor day weekend to relax and recover.

Ugh. I can't wait. Can.not.wait.

thankful.

2008-04-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend is leaving me with many things.

A wonderful Saturday morning with my most Melodious friend.
A fabulous new chandelier.
A rash curly haired decision, with a crazy Korean woman in Chinatown.
An empty gas tank.
And last but not least, a new found thankfulness for the wonderful friends I have surrounded myself with. They're fun, respectful (when they need to be) and know how to have a good time. Unpretentious and laid back, free spirits who are the true gifts of life. I'm thankful for all the personalities, the mish-mesh of hilarity and they're inability to be snobbish and uptight. I love you all. Thank you for inspiring me.

Three sheets to the wig.

2008-04-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like crawling into perfect sheets. A clean oasis of comfort. It's a wonderful feeling to be in that space between conscious and meditation, almost a dreamlike quality right before you doze off...
THEN THE PHONE RINGS.
Jason woke me up just in time. If I had past that point, there would have been NO waking up. I hopped up out of bed and threw clothes on, tried to make myself presentable.
We dined on mexican delights and laughed heartily.
After dinner we took a little trip to costume display... and hilarity ensued.

You really should have been there. So many many pictures...

One down, three to go.

2008-04-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

So Q1 2008 was a good one for me, to say the least.

New tattoo, new friends, purchase of a slurpee machine, bowling and boozing 08, shot gun trip to V-town for Bellinis and Crepes, the new bad ass flat screen TV-extrodinare, rockstar credits on one of my best friend's album covers, not to mention some amazing shows thrown in the mix. All in all Q1, you done me good.

Q2, I look forward to our future together but you've got a lot to live up to.

This is my life.

2008-03-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Things this good just don't come often enough in life: That's right. It's Melody's love cloud striking down on my ass with bolts of flowers and hearts. I'm holding a bellini with an awesome straw and giving the thumbs up. Just another typical day in the office.

This sums up my life completely. I'm framing this bad boy and hanging it in my living room.

(Side note: the other side of this has a portrait of ken in a heart dress.)

60 years of insanity.

2008-03-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

The mom turns 60 next week. The party was out of control, filled with chaos, LARPERS and a character artist. (He had a lot of characters to draw, let me tell you.) Not to mention the 100 guests.

The Yakimaians came into town for the whole weekend and it was insanity pure and simple. I will say this: I often find myself wondering how I fit in - in this family. Switched at birth? This is a possibility. However, when everyone gets together it becomes clear that I am related to these people even if the only link is the sense of humor that is shared between my uncle, his eldest son and myself. It gives me a strange piece of mind that will slowly fade until the next time we're in the same room.

Here are some pics from the party...

Reason.

2008-02-27T16:13:00.001-08:00

“I believe that when you are lost, you find yourself. When you are at your weakest, you find the most strength. When you are scared, you have the most courage, and when you are confused beyond all reason you can reason beyond all confusion.”
-Melody Ann

That just about sums it up. Melody has a way of wrapping feelings up in a nice little perfect box, slapping on a bow and then proceeds to serve it on a sliver platter for your soul to eat up.

Danita and I wrapped up Feburary with a big red bow, by celebrating the 10th anniversary of our friendship by seeing Glen Phillips and Jonathan Kingham at the triple door. Dinner was divine and the music was amazing, not to mention the front row seats.

Seeing Stars.

2008-02-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

On my quest to enjoy life to the fullest this year January has brought me a tattoo.
I thought of a great tattoo idea while slaving away at work yesterday... and I thought, what better way to a) spend a little of my income tax return before it gets completely wasted on debt? b)celebrate my record breaking month at work? And c) generally enjoy my fabulousness?
So I decided I would do it this weekend.
While we were making dinner I decided to gives a lil callzy to the tat shop close to my house. After all, I'd have to wait a few weeks to get into Slave, so I thought I would bite the bullet. Creativity wise, little is needed for this.
So I call the dude down at Anchor to see if he can get me in this weekend. He basically says "Not really, how soon can you be here tonight?" And that was that.

I'm now wrist deep in stars.

Benihana.

2008-01-15T14:16:00.001-08:00

sarah and grace, originally uploaded by SarahSuperStar.

I found this picture today. She was so little.

Regan Osias...

2008-01-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

We welcomed Regan into the world yesterday. He's quite possibly the cutest little thing ever. Perfect skin, tons of hair and quiet as a mouse. He was surrounded by aunties just waiting to pounce and take care of him.
One more baby in the world to mold into a mastermind...

Rest In Peace, Rahjah Lou

2007-11-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

Rahjah Lou
1991-2007

Rahjah came from a long line of English cats. His oldest known ancestor, Digby was smuggled via plane from Nova Scotia, Canada in 1986.
His humble beginings were just as adventurous as his Great Great Grandmother's, as he was found clutching a 10 foot drop hanging only by his claws at 4 weeks of age. His unique eyes were crystal blue, with random large gold spots and human pupils.
He was taken in, cared for and raised as a little man, not as a feline. He was named Rahjah as he moved like a stealthy regal kitty, such as that from Aladdin. Despite his love for wrestling and pouncing, he was very much a lap kitty. He loved affection and you could hold him like a baby. He often would touch his paw to your face and pet you as well.
Up until his last year of life, Rahjah would not sleep at night unless he received what he referred to as "lovins" which consisted of several kisses and many hugs and would often times fall asleep with his head on the pillow and body under the covers.

Rahjah saw me through highschool, college and many tears. He was a loyal and kind sweet little man.
I feel blessed to have had him spend his kitty life with me. I may be a bit biased, but he may have been the coolest cat ever.

It was an honor to love you Rahjah Lou. You will be missed forever. Thank you for being my friend.

Love at first sight.

2007-11-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

I walked by them for months. Eyeing them. Looking them up and down. Giving them the once over. Too bold? Maybe. MAYBE NOT.

Last night I broke down and bought the drapes that dreams are made of.

Some may scoff at my idea of love. To them I say, you've never seen my drapes.

A failure pile in a sadness bowl.

2007-11-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

After I moved out of my old office and realized I couldn't take my wall writings along with me, they had to be written down somewhere a bit more permanent before they're painted over.

And here they are:

Bobo:
You've got my head in my ass.

John:
It burns, it burns!!

Mike:
So, is everyday like Halloween here?

Rob:
Welcome to the island of "I don't know Sh*t." 9.18.07

Adam:
She doesn't do good math.
What is this? Like a fiddle?

Robin:
I like genocide. 10.18.07
Geminis are trashy like that.
I'm in your ____, _____ing your ______s.

Erin:
Just tuck it in the crack. 8.12.07
It was under my pants. (reffering to ice)
I think I stepped in deer poo. (Sarah's response: "It was probably goat.")

Nicole:
He asked me if I wanted coffee and I drew a snowman.
Where the hell is Robin when I need him?
Sarah: Working from home.
Wow Broyles, you're really big! (overheard at executive offsite meeting)

Melody:
I'm gonna take a 40oz, break it over the crumb and cut a b*tch.
They are great in small doses and small in great doses. - Crumb Master
I gave it all I got.
Is anyone else's foaming??
Person is smart. People are dumb.
EAT THE CRUMB.

Tom:
I'm a tidy beaver!
I found it under a can of yuban. (reffering to his blackberries agedness)
Tonight: I'm gonna drink. I'm gonna dance. I'm gonna makeout with somebody. Preferably a stranger.
Asbestos on the brain.
The cloak of modesty has been removed, revealing the dangly bits.
I drip chocolate like a dirty snail.
There's been no cheese in the house for two months! (tom's impression of an italian jewish woman)
Hard to lick, go feel it!

Steven:
Can I put my pants in your office? 8.17.07
Wow, does my butt ache.
I'm percolating in the hot tub.
You're looking at the boogie all-star.
If I say too much, I'm going to hell.
I just don't want any man-hole in my personal bubble.
I'm like wolverine.
I don't know any hebrew.
Greg May can do anything.
If you don't air it out, it'll turn into a big stinky problem. 7.17.07
It's as rare as a unicorn siting. (Steven venturing to Fado with us)

Doug:
She doesn't look happy. She looks constipated.
That's what people say. The people in my head. Has costco come yet?
At least you don't have to fart all the time.
I think it's the low carbedness that makes it not as good. (referring to string cheese.)
I burp a lot now.
Darren is a stud.
Wow necks feel cool! (while rubbing his own neck)
I wonder how far you'd have to walk in the city to be in a new zip code.
I loved it more than most things that go in my mouth.
Did it buh-gawk at you? (inquiring about darren's chicken in a tree)
I found the perfect pitch for this corner. (Doug while humming to the corner)
Europe in general doesn't shave. 11.5.07

Sarah:
Chris Broyles voted Sarah's favorite person of 2007.
Greg's phone is from 1982.
And people wonder why I'm snarky. - S. Crumb
I don't know if Nicole gives 10% off her services or not.
Who doesn't want to lick that?
But inside is a crying, weeping cartoonist! 9.19.07
Are you saying that only men are hot? 7.18.07(asked to Darren)
Don't drill my gnome. 7.25.07
Tim raves about the burrito hole. 7.13.07
Don't write in the crevice!! 5.22.07
Everyone knows about my life. Front and back. 7.17.07
Why no "yo"? 10.12.07
Erin gets around in the middle of the night.
You'd LIKE to know what I have up my sleeve. 8.16.07
They're digging your hole?? 8.13.07
I hear it in my head. 7.30.07
No crumb, no cool. Know crumb. Know cool. Born with it.
If you don't know the crumb, you're not making #1.

And my favorite:

"Don't write that on the wall!" - Common remark following one's own stupid comment.

Apple. How I hate you.

2007-09-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

You taunt me with the pretty.
You release new ipods, dropping prices here and there. I hate you for the turmoil you put me through.
Alas, I must be happy with what I have. Maybe this is a life lesson.

I laugh at you - Apple. I will not be pressured into making another purchase.

Afterall, I did just buy a wii. :-)

Or-an-ja'-llo

2007-08-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

My. New. Toy.

I love it. It's orange. It's fabulous. It works.
I named it "Orange Jello" pronounced "Or-an-ja'-lo"

Click on the title of this blog for an upclose and personal view.

The 6 Hour Oil Change and why I'm bleeding profusely.

2007-08-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I got a little gung-ho and took a walk the other day. It was nice out, what can I say? Not realizing what happens when I take walks... I wake up yesterday with a throbbing ankle and shooting pain in my bone. Oh, I love me my joints.
So I'm gimpy, right?

I take the express bus home from work yesterday, which drops me off 4 blocks away rather than ON my street, so by the time I get to my car I'm even more limpy. I have to get my oil changed though so I press on. I turn my car on and look in my purse for my Jiffy Lube coupon book that I bought last time I was there. And it's gone.
I saw it two days ago, so I know it's around here somewhere.
So I go upstairs and search the apartment to no avail. Then I decide "well screw it, I'll pay the extra ten bucks." So I go back down to my car and get in. Just then I realize that the friggin' coupon book was in fact IN MY MIDDLE console of my car. I then drive the 2 blocks to Jiffy Lube. I park. I wait. I hear "whoa... what the?" when they pop my hood. I go out there. My oil cap is missing and my engine is covered in oil. They ask me where I had it done last time and that I have to take it back there cause they won't touch it. So I call jiffy lube at northgate and pre-warn them of the scenerio. They tell me to stop on my way there and pick up a new cap and they'll reimburse me. So I do this. I finally make it to Northgate and there's a line of 12 cars. I wait. I wait. I wait.
They begin the process, they clean. They change the oil. They come and tell me that the cap doesn't FIT. SO I call schucks. They say that's the only cap for my cars year and the surrounding years, but yea it DOTH NOT FIT. I then get smart and call VW. I know they're open for another hour. The nice boy at the service dept told me to swing by and grab one.
I leave Jiffy Lube. Trying to make up some time, I decide to go across the street and fill my tank up before I go to VW. I get out of the car. I open the gas tank. I take out my debit card, I go to the kiosk. "Out of Order." So I go inside. I take a long look at the other 4 people standing in there with their respective debit cards in hand. The nice man named Apu was declaring that the "network was down." I go back to my car. I LEAVE.
I get to VW. I buy my new oil cap. I go to put it on my car. ITS TOO LOOSE.
I go back in and the nice boy at the counter says "ohhhhh you need a seal. hang on." 2 mins later he returns proclaiming that he sold the LAST SEAL to the idiot who came in 3 mins prior and that he really wished he had sold it to me since that guy caused him nothing but grief. I sit down and start laughing hysterically. I relay the story of my day to him and the receptionist, they're both having a good laugh. Which is when I tell them I have to drive to LEAVENWORTH today and I need a FRIGGIN SEAL. So he calls around. Oh sure Carter's got one. They're closed. Auburn has 9, but they'll be closed by the time I get there. Best case scenerio, I swing by to pick it up on my way out of town the next day.
I'm ready to cry.
SO I go back out to my car to at least SET my new oil cap on my engine. When as though a beckon of hope, a beam of light hits me. Wait... what is that resting UNDERNEATH my FRIGGING ENGINE?? Oh.. that... THATS MY ORIGINAL OIL CAP.
I reach down and the clouds part. I may be covered in oil, but I do a little dance. I go back into VW return the new cap and have ANOTHER chuckle with the kids inside.
I leave. I go get gas. I return the FIRST cap I purchased at schucks.

I go home. Plop on the couch and realize I have to pack and eat something. SO I think, I'll make a quesidilla from all the left overs. OH boy does it smell yummy. As I'm looking for my pizza cutter, my phone rings. It's Jason. We start yammering on while I'm trying to take the blade guard off the cutter. I failed to realize the guard was only on partially so when I reached for the little plastic life saver, the flesh on my finger met it's doom.

Serrated Edge.
Finger tip.
Bone.
Blood everywhere.
Screaming profanities.
Drop phone.
The world slows down.
I'm gonna need stitches.
Double over in pain.
Everything gets quiet.
Reach for phone.
Mubble "must. go."
Must. Stop. Bleeding.

THAT WAS MY THURSDAY.

I caved.

2007-08-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm attending BIAC - 2007 (Bitches In A Cabin - 2007).
Leavenworth. Cabin. Coworkers. Friends. River. Food. Drinks. Hilarity. Sun. (Hopefully)

We leave at the crack of 3 pm tomorrow and set out for our adventure.
I must charge up the camera and get things rolling tonight.
I can only hope that this year will bring as many good pictures as the event did last year.

Will Tom bring more stuffed woodland creatures to life? Will some idiot drop peppercorn all over the kitchen floor? Will Greg get another sunburn? Will Tom do his Christina Dance moves? Who will stumble into the woods this time???

Only time will tell.

home. sweet. home.

2007-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, I can hardly believe it myself.
It's so nice to "come home" and actually feel like I'm at home.
I haven't had this in a really long time.

I love it. Everything about it. It's comfy and perfectly sized for me.

I look forward to becoming a hermit and lounging on the couch endlessly.

less than 2 days...

2007-08-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

I will be well on my way of putting furniture together and unpacking.
The big day approach-eth. More than anything I'm excited to play with all of my new found fabulous purchases.
Packing is almost complete. I have probably 3 more boxes to do of odds and ends, things I'll be using in the next 48 hours. But so far, so good.

We'll see how smooth this move can be.

I'm releasing. It feels wonderful.

6 days.

2007-08-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

"I think a brain freeze is caused by your cartilage getting cold. Cause it makes my nose run." - Jason 8/1/07

Okay. So the past couple of weeks have been NUTS. I've been packing and purging crap like a mad person. I have approx 2 days to have the majority of everything complete for the move. This weekend is time for some good cousinly bonding and I don't want to be packing through it.

The finishing touches should be complete by Monday, Tuesday a walk through at the apartment and Weds morning - Mission: Invade Ballard, which co insides with OPERATION: Zen Sarah 2007. Everything is coming together as planned. New furniture, fabulous place to call home and the people I love around me. What else can I ask for?

ahhhh....

2007-07-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Mentally? In a better place this week, I think.

The move prep-ing is coming along. Somewhat daunting, but going well. Weeding out the old, sprucing up with new. Good things ahead.

Fact: I have WAY too much stuff.

Dear...

2007-07-18T13:07:00.001-07:00

Diary,
I have everything I need in life - with one exception. A Wii. If the fates would have it, I would really like to have one.

- The end.

Out = Old. In = New.

2007-07-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

So much is going on.
Slowly packing. Waiting to hear back about the apartment. Should find out in the next couple of days.
If I don't get this one, I do have a couple more lined up to look at this next weekend, so not all is lost.
*****
Dad turned 60. Had a very fun talk with him and my seestar on Sunday.
*****
Furniture? Yes please.
I found an entire set of goodness that I want. I think I may need it. Mildly aggro about the mode of transportation of said furniture and ability to store it before the move, but these things will get worked out.
And, on a good note - I think I found movers.
*****
It's hot. I love it. These are the two days a year that I look forward to.
*****
The wedding this weekend was hilarious. I had such a good time despite the three days it took us to get there. More to come on that.
*****
Currently on a mission to name the new apartment. Must start with an "L". Don't ask.
Suggestions are welcome.
*****
I'm getting rid of the "old", in all senses of the word. Sometimes a little life spring cleaning is what we need to make things better. This will be yet another adventure...

Why?

2007-07-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Why must the 4th of July always turn out badly?
Eh. Oh well. Decisions to be made. Crap to deal with.

Aren't things supposed to get easier?

Oh Jackson, how you entertain me.

2007-06-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

So I get a random text yesterday that says:
"wat are you up to today?"
I say "who is this?"
They say "jackson"
I say "you have the wrong number..."

Then, today - this text message conversation happens:

J: Should I bring max
Me: who is this?
J: Jackson
Me: who do you think this is? you have the wrong number.
J: Kisa, I hope that's who i was texting. Stop jk around.

At this point, I realize this guy is a complete dolt. So I start messing with him.

me: yes, please bring max. get there early. i'm bringing the goods.
J: what goods
me: you know what i'm talking bout. just be there. coo?
J: I will.
me: what time will you be there? is it just you and max?
J: I'm not with him yet i was gonna call him in a bit, i don't know when should we meet?
me: i'm ready now. How about in an hour? Where should we meet?
J: I'm confused.
me: about?
J: what are you talking about
me: tonight.
J: Yes but what were you talking about when you said ready now where do you want to meet and goods
me: You'll find out. It would be coo to do it now.
J: do what now?
me: Nevermind. what time are we meeting?
J: haha um, i don't know when?
me: Up to you.
J: No, it's up to you.
Me: 7. Be there early. where are we meeting?
J: I'm at my house and about to walk up the block to connor's. where you want to meet?
me: safeway parking lot. 10 til.

JACKSON THEN CALLS ME. I send him to vm.
After listening to my voicemail, he still doesn't get the hint.
I get another text...

J: call me I ran out of text, 10 til what?
Me: ten till 7. see you there.
J: aren't you going to rachel's tho?
Me: no. plans changed. she pissed me off.
J: what happened?
me: I can't talk about it now. I'll tell you when I see you. Don't bring it up in front of Rach.

6:45pm:
J: I'm not gonna make it to safeway. just come to rachel's.
me: ok. see you there.

Seriously.

2007-06-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

From time to time I really wish someone else lived in my head with me. Oh, I'm not saying it wouldn't be crowded. I just wish someone knew how funny it is in here. It's a non-stop party up here and it's a shame that others can't get in on it.

Candy Mountain.

2007-06-13T15:55:00.001-07:00

This video brings a strong message.
The good cynical people of the world should always follow their instincts.

Summer.

2007-06-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

Summer visited us briefly this weekend.

The many faces of Curtis:

Pictures.

2007-05-30T08:19:00.001-07:00

Klaus had a bit of fun too...

29? Who Dat?

2007-05-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

"Life rarely happens in an organized fashion. Learn to deal with the haphazard and practice thinking on your feet. Yes, it sounds like a paradox, but that's what existence is -- the reconciliation of opposites. "
That's right.

It's been a long time since I've had this much fun. It's almost indescribable.
I kicked 29. It cried. It whimpered. I laughed. It died.
I mourned it for the morning on Friday. And then I realized that blasted decade stole my voice and I wasn't going to let that stand in my way.

Friday was fabulous. I woke up, poked around the house, rocked out to good music and got ready. I was out of the house for 10 mins and I had a free lighter in my pocket and a free latte to start my day. Bean came over and we headed to Redmondo for lunch and an afternoon of hair filled fun. I was glad Heidi got to be apart of my day.

After this: Erin, Rusty, Nita, Anna and I went up to my sister's to spend the evening with the fam. Lasagna. Presents. Ice Cream Cake. Horrible movie to make fun of. Fabulous.

Saturday morning I lounged about and had some lunch with the mom. Following this, I went home threw some stuff in a bag and headed to Cat's for "Set-up". The party was in full swing - mid evening, tons of people, food and cocktails... and didn't end until the wee hours of the morn. And then some. (if you want greater details, you'll have to ask)

Sunday, I woke up and headed home for a bit to get cleaned up. I headed back to Cat's for dinner and the Killers show with her and Angela. I sang. I danced. I rocked out.
Reeling and hystercially tired I was up half the night again.
Monday I attempted to sleep after getting home mid-morning. But that plan failed. Anna and I went out to lunch, then to the village, then to a movie with Kaludy. We then lounged about at starbucks and cheered the drama of our lives. I finished the day off with ice cream cake.

Stick a fork in it. The weekend is done. Gone, but not forgotten easily. That's for sure.
Pictures to come.

I made a diagram of the fun that I had this weekend:

My 20's stole my voice.

2007-05-25T07:08:00.001-07:00

30 is here. But when 29 took off, It took my voice with it.
Is there some unwritten rule in the handbook of life that states if you go to more than your fair share of concerts/shows in your 20's that you don't get to speak in your 30's due to all of the screaming and rocking out?
Do you have a certain surplus of voice usage that just empties all of a sudden?
Maybe God is giving me a rather blantent sign that I should shut up for once in my life...
Or maybe it's my allergies.

Up till 1:30 in the morning, assisting my mother with the two large pans of lasagna, I find myself more than tired this morning. However, I'm determined to enjoy this first morning of my new decade, with or without a voice. I'm lounging about the livingroom in my green "superstar" sweatshirt, hopped up on allegra and drinking mango celon tea. Hoping that somewhere along the lines I'll regain my speaking strength.

And now - I'm going to return to bed. Why? Because I can do whatever I want. I'm 30.
Well, that and I don't really need to be up for a couple more hours.

Today is a big one and I need some rest. Good times and photos are to follow.

Remind me to thank Tom for leaving the keys to the perverbial house of 30 under the mat. Other than the lock sticking a bit and having to jiggle the handle, I'm in. It's fairly comfortable, but some work needs to be done.
Gawd, am I gonna have to redecorate?!?!

The best present EVER.

2007-05-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

Cat has been acting shifty lately and NOW I know why...
Now, I know she's making signage for the bbq and I'm taking it with a grain of salt. That's kitty. She designs incredible things...

HOWEVER I had no idea that last night under the guise of "meeting up with her old boss after work" she actually came to my office after I left for the day and went crazy. After "going crazy", she met up with me for phase 2 of the bbq - "planning stage". She was acting all quirky and I was getting suspicious. APPARENTLY FOR GOOD REASON. I walk into work this morning and her plan came into fruition.

There are 11 posters of ME, on my wall.
There are 5 posters of me in the lobby.
They were even on the bathroom doors.
She even signed my wall.

I feel loved. I feel like my best friend is a nut, but I also feel loved.
:-)

Having fun with crazy people.

2007-05-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

My daily morning laugh is now being given to me by my new friends at my little espresso stand by my house. The girls are hilarious. This weekend, I walked out of there with my cup stating "Why is Kitty sad? Probably because of you." Then, just this morning, my latte says with pride "Once upon a time, there was a Grande Irish Cream 2% Latte, The end." I laughed the whole way to work. Yes, apparently when your 20's wind down, it's the little things that make you laugh.

Speaking of 20's...

Melody kicked her 25th year to the curb this last weekend.

The next day, Tom's birthday bash was held on a fabulous houseboat down in Fremont. Walking down the dock, it seriously looked like a little village. I want one. Not a houseboat (as we proved that with large parties they clearly get off kilter, people screaming - partygoers running amuck) but a Village.

In other news: Birthday Shannegins have taken off!

Last night, things were kicked off by a dualing birthday dinner for Andrea and myself. Good yummy things were eaten at the Macaroni grill and fabulous presents were given.

I'm sure this weekend will prove for interesting blogs...

10 days left of this decade.

2007-05-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

With ten days left, plans for domestic and international Sarahpalooza are coming along nicely.

I'm ready to wave goodbye to my 20's at last. Seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my 21st year... my how time flies.

Tom will be leaving his 30's just two days prior to me entering it. We had a insightful discussion about this - this afternoon. I'll be standing on the front door of the house of 30, knocking & knocking... just then I'll hear a "click". That's Tom, running out the back door.
He'll be gone by the time I make it in the house two days later. He won't be able to give me a tour or show me where the napkins are.
LUCKILY, we'll be neighbors and he's only a phone call away.

I tell you - we have deep discussions. So deep in fact, less talented swimmers would drown.

Who wants less spice? Only people we don't hang with.

"I'm so dirty... I can't get clean."

2007-04-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

That's what Katrina the MDP (Mobile Dance Party) told me this morning.
I don't know what sort of insane dirt I drove through over the last few months, but apparently it's the kind that will take a substance along the lines of "Dirt-B-Gone 3000". If someone could get on creating that, that'd be smashing.

Granted, its not the best of car washes... but the little one at the corner usually does the trick. Sure, its cheap - but come on'.

Saturday morning I decide to pop in the store and say "hey, gimmie the super wash!" and for $7 I was smiling and walking back out to Katrina to drive 'er through.

THEN SOME CRAZY WOMAN CUT ME OFF AND GOT IN LINE FOR THE CAR WASH AHEAD OF ME.

I spiraled into annoyance.
Any sane person would have marched back in the store and demanded a refund at this point. But we're not talking about a rational human, we're talking about me.
I decided that this crazy woman wouldn't put a damper on my car wash dreams. So I went to my cafe next door and ordered me up a latte and had a nice little chat with my coffee girlies there. I head back over and now there's A LINE UP. So, I patiently get in line, cursing my coffee needs under my breath. WHEN CRAZY WOMAN #2 IN FRONT OF ME BACKS UP INTO MY CAR.
Flames. From the side. OF MY FACE.
Luckily no damage was done and somehow she was angry at ME for the incident.
Needless to say, 20 mins later I finally make it through the car wash.
Phew. A sigh of relief Katrina took. She was soooo dirty and felt so much better once she was shiny - UNTIL...

A couple hours later I walk around the back side of my car. HER butt was still dirty. Raising clenched fists to the sky, I screamed - WHY!?!??!? WHY!?!?!??!?!?!?!!!!!

Katrina was embarrassed driving around like that all weekend.

So, this morning when I went to get gas - I walked in the store and I said to the guy "um, yeah.. I went through the car wash this weekend and half of the back of my car didn't get washed. Has this ever happened before?" A blank stare was the response. He then handed me a code and told me to drive through again.

So I did.

Happy as a clam, I drove to the cafe to get my coffee.
I got out of the car, walked around the side and BAM! DIRT STILL LIVES THERE.

I don't know what sort of terrain my car has been in to accumulate dirt like this and right now I'd love to blame the Crazy Woman, but is it a faulty wash or is it space dirt that can not be lifted??????!??!?!??!

Clearly I must wash Katrina by hand. Sigh.

12th Anniversary of my first tattoo

2007-04-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's covered up. Permanently. It was a rash decision.
What covers it now is a much more fitting replacement of ink.
I was 17 (almost 18) and I snuck out of school for the afternoon.
It was Heidi's 18th birthday...

Ahhhh the memories.

Speaking of tatts - I may opt to get one the afternoon of my birthday.
We'll see if Erika can fit me in. I figure, something should be done to commemorate such an occasion. I need to add on to the one on my neck. Yes, that's it...

SarahPalooza plans are coming along nicely.
More to come.

A note from "Shades"

2007-04-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

I sent this out to our company on Tuesday after a pair of sunglasses had been left in the lobby for over 24 hours. The emails that followed took far longer to respond to, then the incident took itself.

Recently dumped, through no fault of my own, I once again find myself single.
I was left in the lobby yesterday and I’ve done a lot of self reflection since.
I’ve been used, it’s true. But if you can find it in your heart to look past my scratchy exterior, you’ll see through me.

I’m hard working…

I enjoy long walks on beaches and just lying around in the sun.

I love the guitar…

I take care of my body…

I take my table tennis seriously.

If you are interested in taking me out sometime, you can find me at reception – waiting for someone to love, who won’t neglect me like others have in the past.

People Matters.

2007-03-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Dear ABC, (if that is your real name)

I’d like to make a formal complaint concerning the lack of new episodes this season. I’m not saying it’s a nightly annoyance, in fact there’s only one day in particular that truly has been looked over.
As you know, Thursday is a well known as “the night at home” evening. Once, it was the night that “Friends”, “Seinfeld” and “ER” were cherished. NBC had complete control of the Thursday night line-up and everyone was okay with that. “Friends” came to an end, we all wiped a tear when “Seinfeld” came to a close and “ER” lost everything good that the show was based on, close to 6 seasons ago.

Then, one glorious Thursday night just a few seasons ago – the clouds opened and from heaven fell a show that America as a whole has embraced. We sit on our couches, under blankies or wearing our own personal scrubs. We order in dinner or pick up take out to ensure that cooking doesn’t interfere with the opening recap of last week’s episode. We make sure our drinks are full and the phone is turned off.
We have become personally and emotionally involved with the characters and their lives, not to mention the lives that they save. We don’t care that there really isn’t a hospital in Seattle called “Seattle Grace” or if George is gay. Every Thursday they enter our homes as old friends, giving us a glimpse of what’s happened in their world in the last week. It doesn’t matter what night it is – you know Thursday is on it’s way, soon enough. The final hurrah, that pushes you into Friday.

So, please tell me ABC, why for the last 2 months do I get all comfy, with my pink fuzzy Steve Madden slippers…lifting that glorious first bite of teriyaki take-out to my mouth… when my jaw drops SUDDENLY. Paralyzed and unable to place the kabob back into the Styrofoam home it’s come from – The grim truth rips through me.

GREY’S ANATOMY IS A RERUN.

I clench my fists and scream to the heavens – “WHY!?!???!! Why do you toy with my emotions ABC?”

Oh, I remember just last week when you told us it would be a REPEAT and then it WASN’T. Yeah, really funny – ha FREAKING ha. I found myself pissed off and loathing you. You knew I would make other plans if you notified me ahead of time that a rerun would air. You played on my emotions. I missed the episode and was forced to watch it – ONLINE. It was a good episode, I’ll give you that. I took a sigh of relief and forgave you for wronging me.

ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT TONIGHTS EPISODE AIRED SO LONG AGO that I can barely even look you in the eye.
You disappoint me. I realize that there’s not much I can do to change you. But know this – I’m not the only one you’ve pissed off. There are millions in this society that are crushed by your blatant disregard of our feelings.

I’m warning you – the summer better be filled with all new episodes or this isn’t the last you’ve heard from me.

Seriously.

10.24.02

2007-03-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

It took me a long time to disassociate my Dave memories from him we do not speak of (HWDNSO). Only recently have I decided to embrace those memories for the magic of what was unfolding in front of me and the feeling you only get when Dave takes the stage. This of course has nothing to do with who happens to be sitting in the seat next to you. It took me awhile to do, since 99.9% of all of those crucial Dave moments were spent with HOWDNSO. But alas, when I stumbled on this today - I almost started crying. Not because of HWDNSO (because honestly I could care less now), but because of what an insane emotionally charged three hours I had that night. I say, the best money I've ever spent.

After watching this one, I've decided I'm devoting the next week to Dave. All DMB. That's all I will listen to. Here's why:

Because it's IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE. That's why.

And the 1st min of this one, is a huge part of what makes Dave - well.... Dave.

We have issues. Pick one up.

2007-03-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

I'd like to start this photo blog - by stating this was the fabulous rollercoaster, the California Screamin'.
And these were the screaming passengers who were stuck on the ride.

Doesn't it look quaint?

Now Disneyland really needs to improve their food options.

The following fork was given to mom by a crazy woman who was sitting next to us, who brought an extra fork with her into DL. It broke as soon as it saw the turkey leg it was up against.

The beast.

On the brightside, the treats were good.

And the award wieners in supporting rolls looked good too.

Danita and I did a side trip while we were there.

Santa Monica:

We had to stop in L.A. and pick up our awards.

The question remains... Who IS Sid Blackeye?

The Boardwalk.

Crazy people climbing the Matterhorn.

The tower of terror that I survived.

Waitng for our ride...

Can one be more in awe of the Disneyland Express?

I squish your head.

Her people need her.

Curtis checking out the plane.

She came. She swam. She conquered.

Jungle Crusin'.

Awaiting the monorail with blistered feet.

One of the four hallways we had to walk down to get to the suite.

Our view from the balcony.

Doesn't mind the lines at all.

But doesn't like to be bored.

In fact, he may flip off the mad hatter if the feeling strikes.

White water rafting FUN!!!

Home again, home again - jiggity jog.

Please note the "Heavy" sticker on Sabrina's suitcase.

This is after the water has been taken out.

Can-Can you have fun at the Can-Can?

2007-03-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

Why yes. Yes you can-can. Bean's birthday was a hit...
Here's the proof:

This is what happens when you give Erin the camera:

This was right before Bean passed out at the table:

That's right... they're on stage:

I'm really not sure what prompted this:

And the picture of the night, goes to the birthday girl...

Sidetracked...

2007-03-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

I'm diverting from the much needed Disney postings to make a statement.

THIS WEATHER MUST STOP.

The temperature is plummeting, the snow has dumped on us, YET again and it's not melting. Have I mentioned that it's MARCH!??!?!
Come on. This is insane. I see blue sky, sure - but it's FREEZING out and there's four inches of snow on the roof of my car. It's just not fair.

The weather had BEST be nicer this weekend or someone is getting a strongly worded email. Cat and I are conducting research in Canada. We're leaving at precisely 10:37am on Saturday and heading North. Trying out a new hotel, which looks rather mod and fabulous. The world's best Bellini will be drank in large quantities and there is some major birthday shopping to be accomplished.

For now, I must get back to what I was doing, which includes gloves, a space heater and 17 layers of clothes.

Disneyland? Check.

2007-02-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

After seven blisters on the bottom of my feet, a joint thats causing immeasurable pain and a week of hacking up my right lung, I've decided to make the first post of many.

Operation JSMN was a success.

The night before we left - Grace, mother and I had our nails done. It was Grace's first real pedicure. She enjoyed the chair immensely.

The ride to the airport was interesting at best. This is the van we piled into. It took all 7 of us, all 11 pieces of luggage (counting the stroller) which included 2 gallons of water my sister packed.

7:32am
Mom: I don't know where I am.

7:33
Mom: My bra is my pocket.
Sarah: Please take your phone out of your pocket before you go through security.

7:34
Mom calls Knott's berry farm "Knock's" berry farm.
Then tries to cover it up with the following bad joke: "Well, if anyone knocks, we'll hear them, that's for sure."

7:35
Mom chokes Sabrina with seatbelt, shortly after this incident we learn about Sab's never ending desire to pack water wherever she goes.

7:37
Mom: I need to find my glasses cause I can't see what we're talking about.

Once we're at the airport...

8:35
Mom: What if someone sees you and puts you on the wrong plane?

8:42
Mom: I have lots, I don't know where they are.

Here are some snap shots of the group that morning:

More to come, oh so much more to come...

VD 2007

2007-02-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

I did a little pre-VD celebration last night with Jason at Charlie's. We laughed, mocked the waiter who really needs to change professions and had a good time.

The one thing I've never been able to understand, is that when we go anywhere - about 3/4 of the way through the evening one of two things happens. We'll both slip into either a 1) Jersey or 2) British accent.

Last night apparently was Jersey night. Once we get started, we literally can't stop. The accents even lingered with our walk through Rite-Aid on a mission for baby wipes, (don't ask- Jason was having issues yesterday). Unfortunately baby wipes were not found. I approached him on an aisle, where I found him crouching down investigating some sort of feminine wipe. I took a photo.

Life is never dull with Jason.

Gwen called. I holla-ed back.

2007-02-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Gwen and I talked this weekend. She invited me up to see the show in Vancouver this summer.
I'm all over it. Good news is, Tom apparently was able to nail down some sick balcony seats as well. Granted, it's not an all expense paid trip to see her in Cali like it was last tour, but hey, the drinks will be fabu.

Oh sweet Bellini of Life, how I look forward to drinking you up and sneaking you into the concert inside my tummy...

*****

So everyone knows I'm a slut for music award shows. Imagine my horror when I had to decide between Desperate Housewives and the Grammy's last night.
I watched the first hour, and decided to rely on the "flip" technique. I'm fairly positive I missed something spectacular, but I suppose I'll live.

This morning I find myself starving. My nap yesterday evening infringed upon my set aside time to acquire something to eat before the shows began. My Sunday ritual was thrown for a loop. So, it's 10:20am and I'm about ready to start gnawing on my arm.

Must. Find. Food.

I know the lack of food had something to do with the insane prego dream I had about my sister last night. I woke up laughing...

*****

Besides prepping for the impending trip, my biggest goal for the week is to get Katrina, the MDP (Mobile Dance Party) washed. Right now she's at "Dirty Hippie" status. Her doors and back end are all nasty and grimy. Something must be done before someone throws a bottle of patchouli on her or Cat starts refusing to get in the car.

JSMN Post #4- Less than a week away.

2007-02-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

Operation Just Shoot Me Now is only a few days away - and yet there is something wrong with almost every individual going on this adventure.

Last night I was informed by my barely able to speak "mother" that she was in fact, ill.
This morning, I woke to horrific back pain - I attribute this too my cat only allowing me to sleep in specific positions last night.
Then comes the phone call from my sister. Curtis is sick and Brent hurt his back yesterday.
A few short hours later - a text from Danita, who is also CONGESTED.

"PEOPLE PEOPLE!!!" I cry... How can we let this happen?? We have less than 6 days to be on the mend.

THEN... I find out that our dear mother has yet to aquire our airline tickets. Yes, I can see it now - 7am, we all pile in the shuttle, make the trek down to the airport from Everett. We get to the ticket counter and mom tries to hand the lovely airline employee what she thinks is our tickets - which clearly states in bold on the front "NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL". Only to have aforementioned employee state "sorry mam, these aren't tickets."
Then the kids start crying... Brent is annoyed... we're stranded at Seatac and I'm searching for a flask and it's barely 8am.
Yes, I can see it now.
I think I've convinced the mother to call and check on the tickets, however with her memory loss, I'm not entirely positive she even remembers the conversation we had an hour ago.

Good times will be had.

In other news, I found the giant pink suitcase of dreams :-) She makes me happy. She's a bit rough around the edges after her trip to New Orleans in the rain storm - but she's holding up nicely. Already embracing several packable items that won't be used until the trip, she's happily sitting, just eager to find out what she gets to hold next.

Fabulous random moment of the weekend:
Free lotion!! Aleanna and I went to a movie last night - and the Nivea girls were there! (Who knew Nivea had girls) We both scored a few of the fabu tin containers of lotion. Perfect package for pocketsized lotion needs. For like say, a TRIP??

JSMN Post #3 - Codes of Conduct

2007-02-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

We'll all be lucky after the conversations we had with the "disney people" yesterday if we even have a suite still available for us when we arrive.

My sister and I call the "disney people" to make sure that our suite was facing priderock. Silly as it sounds, I'm hoping to hold Curtis over the balcony while singing "circle of life" for a photo montage, while Grace does the background tribal vocals.
I digress, however, upon investigation with someone we will loosely refer to as a "customer service representative", they had us placed in two conjoined rooms - one with a kingsize bed, one with bunk beds.
Now, you tell me - how are we fitting SEVEN people in that? HUMMM???
So, after a family meeting and 7 phone calls later to a girl named Erin - who was the supervisor du jour... we're hoping things are settled.

I'm still sticking by my "let's stay at the hampton for a 4th of the cost and split up the money and go shopping." stance on the whole thing.

But, alas - this won't be the first time I haven't been listened to.
_____________________________________________________________

The following codes of conduct may be changed at any point before 2.17.07 by the author.

Code Of Conduct for Operation JSMN:

No unauthorized luggage assistance.
No supervisory of anyone under the age of 21 at any given time, without express offering of such services.
Guilt trips will not be given a response (i.e. "Fine Sarah, Go without the rest of us... " or "Well if SARAH had helped me with the luggage... " see #1.)
Coffee-at-will statement. This statement gives me the right to leave and fetch coffee at any given time without the knowledge of others or requesting if others want coffee as well. Waiting time for someone who wants to tag along is subject to how badly I want the coffee.
Freedom Clause: Gives rights to leave group at anytime w/out disclosing destination or re-entry time to group.
No bathroom rendevous unless offered.
Nightime/evening outings will not be questioned.
Smiling may not be required during photo ops after hearing screaming children for upwards of 8 hour durations.

Now before everyone gets their panties in a bunch - I'm not saying I won't DO any of the above, I would just like to have the option to NOT do them if I do so choose. I'm just sayin'.

Purple.

2007-02-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Purple. So yummy.
I highly recommend the grilled chese crostini. Actually everything I tasted was good.
Fabulous dinner company doesn't hurt either.

Grace makes a statement.

2007-01-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

JSMN Post #2 - Preparations Continue

2007-01-29T08:04:00.000-08:00

I went on a voyage this weekend. The voyage for the perfect travel camera. Yes, I know - I have a great digital camera, an even better SLR, but who wants to travel with bulky objects, I ask? Sticking to the "Zen Sarah in 2007" plan, I must downsize. So I went on a mission.

After stopping at several stores on Friday night I found nothing. (Nothing but some clothes, makeup and cd that I purchased.) This continued on into Saturday - store after store, filled with overpriced cameras.

Sunday, I managed to hit up three more stores. One - of which I had already been to two days prior. Looking them over, playing with them, taking pictures of staff as well as videos of the passerbys, my heart became sad. Nothing I could afford that fit my requirements was found.

I rounded a corner and BAM! There it was. Sitting on an end cap, in all it's glory: The perfect travel camera. I played with all the features, consulted the employees, did some comparisons... it seemed to have everything I was looking for. Then, I noticed the price.

IT WAS ON CLEARANCE.

(Not to mention, it's the breast cancer limited edition, so really I'm donating to an awesome cause by purchasing this camera. I even checked with the store to make sure the normal amount of proceeds would be donated even though it was on clearance.)

So, my fabulously cheap, adorably small, perfect pink travel camera - came home with me. As you can see from the picture below, it's about as tall as a key.

At least I know that my pictorial of operation JSMN will turn out wonderfully.

*******

In other news, I managed to go through half of my wardrobe, seeking out appropriate California wear. In doing this, I have also compiled an entire bag of clothes to give away. (In accordence with the "Zen Sarah in 2007" plan) I'm happy to report several wearable outfits have been found.

*******

Danita's gone mad.

I mentioned in the first JSMN post that Danita is coming along for the adventure. I've recently learned that she has purchased a "Disneyland GUIDE". Much to my horror, I've decided to let her have her fun of plotting things out. Afterall, she has no clue what traveling with my family is like or how her charts and graphs will never be utilized. I won't burst her bubble.

Anyway, who needs a GUIDE TO DISNEYLAND??

The chaos continues.

Any Mouse party of one? Your table is now ready.

2007-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Any,

There's no way you could ever take my job. You have no idea what the requirements are. That alone would make you cringe.

No, you will not meet the other leaders (none of them fall under those colors), that is classified league information. However, if you come across a leader and they offer their personal color information to you- that is acceptable.

I hope this clears up some confusion.

toodles,

-SSS aka RL

If you like Pina Coladas...

2007-01-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

Go here: Luau Polynesian Lounge
They make a good one.