In a Very Unusual Way...

As promised... the story of why I hit Jon in the movie "Nine."

Once upon a time (probably either a million years ago or a few months, depending on the day of the week) I was 17. It was Christmas break from my senior year of high school. I was super-hyper and super-boy-crazy. I was also exhausted from spending the month traveling from place to place in my awesome black veil of a madrigal dress singing for Christmas, and my friends and I were making a CD.

These are the 1999 madrigals.  The dresses had yards of veil-like material.  I'm on the right.

See, my friend Bobella* had a recording studio in her house and we were putting it to "good use." We recorded fabulous songs, we recorded conversations we had. It was pretty darn funny and if I could figure out how to attach an audio file to the blog I'd let you hear some... maybe... (but, as I said, and would have said if you'd have asked me at the time, my voice was tired from singing all month :) )

As for the boy-crazy thing I had a crush on this dude I know named Mhen Argletts*. He was cute, ultra-talented and totally un-obtainable. And for me, that meant that it was ON! (show high school-Sarah a boy who couldn't be gotten and I would show you my new obsession...)

Mhen was one of the many fun friends making the CD at Bobella's house. Of course he was - did I mention the ultra-talented? And so, when it came time to pick more songs to put on our CD I was put in a bit of a predicament...

Predicament being that only days before the CD making festival I had mentioned to Bobella that whenever I heard Linda Eder sing the song "Unusual Way" (from the musical "Nine") I thought of Mhen. My little 17 year old heart went pitter-patter at the lyrics, and I would belt the song out in my car whenever I was alone (did I mention I was overly-dramatic? Like substantially more than I am now? okay... moving on). Anyway, I told this to Bobella, and she told JON McBRIDE. And together they had given me this ultimatum:

Sing "Unusual Way" on the CD with Mhen Argletts accompanying on the piano OR ELSE they were going to tell him about my unusually dramatic and totally embarrassing crush on him.

Whey wouldn't do that to me... but sometimes they did things they thought were funny and this might be one of those things... I couldn't decide which one they would choose if I didn't follow-through with this song. On the other hand, I knew (and I mean KNEW) that if I were to sing this song in front of Mhen he would hear me sing and know everything. Know I was a crazy stalker-person (Fashion Blvd? Who lives on Fashion Blvd?). Know that our friendship for the last almost 2 years had been based on a lie because what I had based it on was plotting to get him to fall in love with me. And know what I feared above all else... that I was a total loser.

Sarah and Jon in "Oliver" 1998

And in the end, I sang that song. The recording is horrible, breathy and I refused to do a second-take, but it was sung. But that day a grudge was born. Born against Bobella and Jon McBride for making me bare my soul to someone who wasn't listening. Born against them for humiliating me. And born against them for being jerks. Luckily I didn't think Mhen learned anything from my singing it. My secret was safe.

That was until the next summer when Bobella and Jon would "casually" let a flow-chart of "who likes who" in the cast of "Music Man" fall into the wrong (read: Mhen's) hands with everyone's names in a clever code word except mine and his... *social death*

And so when I was sitting in a darkened theater next to my good friend Jon and the song "Unusual Way" came on, I punched him. and laughed. and then gave him dirty looks for the rest of the song.

Years later I would learn a lot of other interesting tid-bits about what happened the day we made the CD, and who was trying to save whom from not finding out about crushes. And even more years later (like this one) Jon gave me a Glee-related Christmas present which I have promised him makes up for the certain humiliation. Plus, I still get to be good friends with Mhen. And with Robella.  And that makes me socially reborn.

So right now it looks like everyone could live happily ever after.

Sarah and Jon 2009.  See?  Still friends.

*These names may or may not have been made-up to protect the guilty, and the poor people who got in the middle. Jon's name wasn't changed because... umm... he has atoned for his sins and is now free.

Just you wait

I am having a fabulous time in the home state - and am taking LOADS of pictures, so expect photopaloosa once I get home.

Coming home for Christmas is a funny thing for me.  This is the first time I have ever needed to come home, for one.  It's nice being the visiting party and planning time to see all your people.  It's nice having people smile when they see you, and it's nice to come to a place where you have so many people you care about.

For two, this trip came at a very odd time for me.  It came (as relief often does), just when I didn't "need" it anymore.  Just as I was setteling into a rythem (however off-tempo) for my days and my nights, and just as I was resigned to my new everyday (boring) life... Just when I no longer needed to see my friends so much it hurt, and just when I no longer cried about not being around my mom. 

But now I am here!  And I am so happy to come home for a while.  It reminds me that I am a social person.  It reminds me that I have friends who I love and I can say anything to (and they won't judge me).  It reminds me that there are worse things than humidity (like snow), and that I need to re-learn how to make mashed potatoes because mine don't taste a thing like my mom's. 

It's good being home. 

PLUS, people make you dinner and you don't have to do a THING!

So, stay tuned for awesome pictures, and awesome storys.  And maybe, if you're lucky, I'll tell you why I needed to punch Jon McBride like 5 times during the movie "Nine."

Someday soon we all will be together...

It's time for CHRISTMAS MOVIE QUOTES!

Here are my all time favorite Christmas Movie Quotes.  Feel free to add some of your own.  It's begining to feel a lot like Christmas... right here on this blog.

#1) "Be Sure To Drink Your Ovaltine... Ovaltine?  A crummy commercial?  Son of a bitch."
{I'm not sure why children swearing is so funny.  In real life, not as much {espeically if it's your children or family}.  Take, for another example, my favorite quote in the movie Goonies. Chunk: "Soda?  Damn!"  It's just hilarious.}  Anywho, A Christmas Story is a Christmas Eve classic.

See?  Every year... 24 hours of A Christmas Story.  It's there to entertain during all last-minute wrapping and any and all time needed away from family.  

2) "Buddy the Elf - what's your favorite color?"  Elf Elf Elf... why is it so funny?  This blog could be litterally FILLED with Elf quotes if I didn't restrain myself "I like to smile.  Smiling's my favorite." "You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don't smell like Santa." "You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody! It's great to be here."  I could go on and on... but asking someone what their favorite color is when you answer the phone... that's holiday magic.

“Hey Buddy, you wanna go pick some snowberries?”
“Not now, Arctic Puffin!”
 (How cute is that Arctic Puffin!!!)

3) "And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!"  leave it to Dr. Seuss to say so much in one sentance.  Christmas isn't about presents, people can change, and you can be more than you thought you could be... (ooh my goodness, I think I might cry...)

4) "Let's just say we're doing it for an old pal in the army."  White Christmas is a classic movie that no holiday celebration should do without.  And although it took me years to understand why both of the girls didn't have dresses to go out in ("I wore the dress, while I stayed home.") I love the whole ridiculous story.

But, maaaaaan... look at that dress...

5) "Thank you. That will be nice. Yes is being my answer. Easy question"... "You learned English?" "Just in cases."  Love Actually DOES exist.  aaah... for those who don't know, this is from Love Actually.  My favorite game to play is to ask people which of the FABULOUS story lines they would like to see drawn-out into a full movie.  I find it to be quite a telling answer.

So now everybody... watch the movie and then tell me what you think. (mine is Liam Neeson and his little boy.  SO adorable.)

I love Christmas movies.  As my friend Becks said "One of the best parts about Christmas is sitting around watching movies you have seen at least 29 times - and still loving them."  *quel sigh*.

As Neil Diamond said "May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmasses be any color you like."  Merry Christmas.


I'm going to go stare at my tree for an hour, and then eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookiedough as fast as I can, and then I'll snuggle... with my dog, I guess :)

We Need a Little Christmas...

Friends, I have turned on the world's most perfect Christmas Album... John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together to create another famous Sarah-blog.  (and now I have turned said Christmas Album OFF because although WORK gets done faster if I listen to awesome things, insparation for creative GENIOUS does not.  I just wanted to blog about birds in trees and five gold rings {ba dum dum dum}.)

On the list of things that actually mean something to me, this is on there.  Sure, if there were no hot chocolate I'd be sad.  And if there were no fudge cookies or snow I would complain... but without this album Christmas would be lost to me.  Through the years we've owned this album on vinyl, tape and CD.  I've acted out "Christmas Is Coming" in my living room, and sat and pondered about Alphie, the Christmas Tree that just didn't want to change the show.  And now you can watch the entire Christmas special (complete with some very lame songs not included on the album, and some very awesome choreogrophy... and the most touching man/frog moment possibly ever recorded) on YouTube.
The my adult-favorite song (a small clip of it can be heard just to your right) is sung by Ralph the dog and John Denver. 
Link to the best song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWOvHqW3Nsg
Picture of best song being sung in case you can't bring yourself to click the above AMAZING link...

As I was wondering if I were going to go home this year for Christmas, I started listening to my Christmas mix on the old iPod.  It was full of Bing Crosby (Best Christmas Singer), Kirstin Chenoweth (Newest Album Addition) and two versions of "All I Want for Christmas is You" (Best Feel Good Song).  Although, be be honest, it's mostly oldies.  Anywho, so as I'm listening to the playlist, thinking about life and making cookies (delish, BTW) I realized that there are more songs out there about going home than about the baby Jesus. 

{Sure, maybe it's just my particular playlist, but considering the people singing on that playlist, I'm going to assume this has been a problem for a while.  But as a note... the point of this blog isn't to say "Let's get more CHRIST in CHRISTmas" (although we should) it isn't to ask for more songs for an expanded playlist next year (but send them my way), or to try to get more copies of "John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together" sold. (maybe we can start a revolution)}
 
What I did realize is that Christmas (as John Denver said) "is more than a special time, much more than a special day.  Much more than a beautiful story - it was a special kind of way."  It's the way of thinking more about what other people want than what you do.  It's the way of anticipation.  It's the way of sparkly lights everywhere and child-like wonder.  It's the way of wanting to be with the people who mean the very most to you.  It's the way of dreaming of a better place.  And, yes, it's the way of chopping down perfectly good trees to put them inside your house like a crazy person. 

don't stop me now...

I figured since I figured out this picture thing.  And, seriously, it's so much more complicated than I think it needs to be, and I still hate iPhoto with a passion.  For real.  The images go from my (Matt's) camera to the computer (so far so good).  And then into iPhoto when they're imported.  But I can't figure out how to EXPORT from iPhoto into my blog unless I use a mac blog, which is lame, so I export to facebook, and then download to my desktop from Facebook, and from my desktop I upload to the blog...

Anyway, I figured it out... so here are a few pics of my house because I promised them an age ago.  (and also, see what I mean about how the ENTIRE THING is covered in high school from the 70's tile?  boo...)

This is my living room.  See the blue wall I painted?  yeah... all by myself...  And that's my husband.  He is pretty cool.

This is... the other half of my living room  We don't have enough stuff to fill it.  But we do have space for the dog's bed (seen there). 

 

And now there's a CHRISTMAS TREE too!  (pictures to come, for SURE!)  In the mean-time, I leave you with a dog picture.

We're not here for living, we're here for Thanksgiving.

Dear Readers,
I'm sure you can imagine how difficult it would be to blog if you were easily distracted.  Now think about if you were easily distracted and if every time you sat down to type anything an adorable dog put his head on your lap, or your keyboard.  Don't you think that would make it harder to blog?  Because, seriously, that's why I haven't blogged in a while.
Luckily for you, and sad for everyone else, Barney is at the vet for a few days to get his heartworm taken care of (BOO!).  And that means less sad eyes telling me to stop what I'm doing and pet him, and more exciting blog posts from yours truly (Hooray!).
END OF EXPLINATION
-sett-

I just know you've all been waiting on the edge of your collective seat.  And, without further adieu, I bring you a blog (WITH PICTURES!!!???!!!) about the phenomenally successful and most favorite of holidays... Thanksgiving.

So, I'm sure you can all imagine what a horrible mess I made at Thanksgiving.  It was my first big holiday where I had to be in charge and make more than two things.  It was my first Thanksgiving without my mom around (although thank HEAVEN for talking for FREE on the mobile phones...), and it was my first pie.

This is the world's ugliest cherry pie.  The top crust doesn't even touch the bottom crust in ANY places.  And, you may be wondering, is that lattice work I put on the top to make it look so "rustic" and "definitely not store-bought?" no... that's me thinking that I'd make the over-processed pie dough less-processed by rolling it out less.  But don't mock because it ended up actually looking like a pie!  (which was KIIIINDA what I was going for...)

THIS, however, was NOT what I was going for.  This is me taking a "baby step" and making orange roll "monkey bread" instead of actually making orange rolls (which are more supposed to be shaped like cinnamon rolls).  And all of this is more supposed to be less dripping delicious orange goo all over.  But what it was was a big mess.

I mean a HUGE mess all over my kitchen.

But overall, I think I did alright for the day.

Check out all the awesome food groups.  And my first gravy ever.  Which turned out AWESOMELY as well... I don't mean to brag but apparently my mother saying "ooh you know how to do that.  You've watched me do it a million times" is like the think system from the Music Man.   You don't actually have to learn how to do it - you just think about it, and when the time comes it works like a frickin charm.

So, friends, what have we learned from this post? 

A) You really do learn things from musicals. 

B) Have Sarah cater your next party - you won't be sorry unless you care about having matching dishes to serve out of. 

C) If pie is eatable it passes

D) All of the above

Ooh, and by the way... everyone loved the pie.

Well, why are you telling me? (and that's my new philosophy..)

Open lettters to people who need letters written:

Dear my new dog,
I love you.  I love you for you sticking your head in peoples laps (even when they're standing up) to be petted.  I love you for following me from room to room all day just to be with me.  I love you for learning some things very slowly but surely, and I love you for helping me not go crazy all day long.

I also don't like you.  I don't like how you bark at Matt every time he comes home (until he changes out of a uniform).  I don't like how I'm waking up at 4 every morning now because you bark at Matt when he changes INTO his uniform.  I don't like how if you are in the kitchen alone nothing is safe.  And I don't like how you have heartworms so soon we can't even walk you (which is sad, but we'll get through it).
-sett-

Dear Adidas,
What is it with your Super Nova shoes (so confy and wonderful) getting squeaky after like two weeks?  ALWAYS!  I can deal with ugly colors every few seasons, and I can deal with changing out my insoles because the people at the running company tell me to, but I can no longer deal with your squeakyness.
-sett-

Dear Thanksgiving,
You are my effing favorite holiday and this is the first time I've ever had to cook the whole meal.  If I mess you up, I am sorry.  And you are DEAD TO ME.  So SHAPE UP! 
-sett-
(see how I use scare tactics to get what I want now?  It's new... since the dog...)


Dear Winn Dixie stores,
I went to you because you weren't the Piggy Wiggly (seriously?  it's a horrible store), I wasn't close to the post, and you looked clean...  and your people were stupid.  I asked for pie cherries and was given Marachino cherries, and asked for lard (making pie crust... don't judge) and was told "that's just a fancy word for vegetable shortening."  Ummm.... no.  Your workers are inept and I'd like a refund of my many dollars of money because I had to spend for freaking ever to get the stuff I needed.
-sett-

Dear Georgia Weather,
Your rain smells horrible and it sucks.  Ooh yeah, and would it kill you to be cold enough all day that I don't feel like an idiot by 2pm if I'm wearing a sweater?
-sett-

... and I am thankful.

it's 5am and everyone is awake in the Thompson house.  Yup.  All both of us.  Not exactly as I'd planned (although I have no issues with Matt waking up before 5 even if he does, I like to sleep until 7-ish and start my day when the normal people do...).  But I'm thinkin "not exactly as I'd planned" is about par for the course these days.  So i roll with it.

It's coming on Thanksgiving and people are Thankful.  It's my favorite holiday and time of year because it's a holiday about coming together with the people you love and giving thanks.  No presents needed.  It's simple and calorie-laden which are two of my favorite things...  And so, a list to look at to remind me of some of the things I'm thankful for this year.  (a bullet point list in random order?  Don't mind if I do...)

• The Cell Phone.  There was a time this year when I would have given anything to not hear a phone ring (work calls at all hours of the night will do that to a person), but now it's something I am most thankful for.  The cell phone is with you when you're not sure weather to buy marshmellows at the store, and you can call your husband.  The cell phone is with you when your husband has been training for days at a time and you need to talk to a human.  The cell phone helps you call people miles away to make sure they have something before you spend an hour to get there.  The cell phone will let you text someone when you don't want to call them.  The cell phone is magic and I'm thankful.
• The Automobile.  When is the last time you didn't have use of a car?  For me, it had been months since I gave up my car (even for the day), and let me tell you... even feeling you have the option of going somewhere is wonderful.  After weeks of not having a car, we got one this weekend.  A sporty little Nissan Rogue.  I sit up high, I don't have to know where my key is (honestly, as long as it's in my purse it doesn't matter... I just push the button and go), and there's room in the back for me to pick up my dog today.  The automobile is endless amounts of freedom and I'm thankful.
• The Family.  I have a large Utah family.  I know people's business, and they know my business.  If there's a problem, someone steps in to get it done.  I can call them when I need to make decisions and they give me advice.  I can call them when I need to talk, and they give no advice.  I can call them when I'm feeling the worst version of myself, and they still love me.  The family is a rock in the storm and I am thankful.
• The Family (part 2).  I got married this year, which means I have more family.  And they are understanding when I get depressed and don't call them back.  And they are worried about me in our new adventure, and they are there just waiting to be as supportive as I let them.  And so far, not one of them has said anything about how it takes me time to let people be supportive.  The second family is patient and giving and I am thankful.
• The Internet.  It used to be that when you wanted pictures of something, you would get pictures developed and printed, and if you wanted someone far away to see them, you would use the mail.  Well thank you internet, it is now almost instant!  I knew what my neices and nephews were for Halloween on Halloween.  It used to be that when you wanted to talk to someone, you had to call them (which is inappropriate when one of those people is at work and you call them all day).  No longer an issue, thanks to our friend the internet: IM all workday long...  The internet has hours of distraction, easy ways to tell everyone about something, and countless amounts of information.  The internet listens when I write about things nobody cares about.  The internet is informational and I am thankful.
• The Husband.  The husband doesn't like to be blogged about so this will be short (ish... as if I can do short...).  The husband is understanding and fun to be around.  He works hard all day long and is patient when he comes home to a wife who is having a breakdown.  He is funny and awesome, and litterally learns things overnight that others learned in training for weeks.  The husband is brilliant and kind, and I am thankful.
• The Oven.  Yesterday we got our oven fixed.  It was taking about an hour for the temperature to reach 350 degrees, and that wasn't okay with me.  The oven is useful for baking things when you want to drop things at the neighbors, the oven is useful when you want to eat chicken.  The oven is working and it gives me hope that I can pull off a Thanksgiving dinner if I have to.  The oven is useful and I am thankful.
• The Friends.  The friends are there for frantic phone calls from the grocery store, or IMs when you have a question about anything.  The friends keep you moving forward, or are there to vent to when you want to just stay where you are.  The friends tell you to stop being crazy.  The friends tell you to go ahead and be crazy.  The friends are priceless and I am thankful.
  
• The Present.  Okay, I may not be where I planned.  I may not be where I am confortable.  But I am somewhere that's a growing place.  And years from now, I will be more thankful for right now.  The present is growing and I am thankful (ish).

 What are you thankful for?

Didn't know what a good thing you had when you had it.

When I was a child, the two greatest things to ever grace my television (be it from PBS or the BetaMax machine, because we were too cool for the VCR until later) were "Mister Roger's Neighborhood"  and "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." I can distinctly remember being home sick one day and watching Mr. Rogers and when he sang "It's you I like, It's you. The way you are right now- The way down deep inside you.  Not the things that hide you.  Not your toys - they're just beside you." I found myself thinking "but Mr. Rogers, I am in my pajamas... and you still like me?"  And Winnie the Pooh... well, I watched it daily.  At least.  "He bidged, he badged, he budged!"

Later in life I found that the NEW and IMPROVED best thing ever to grace my television was "The Parent Trap"  Starring Maureen O'Harah, Brian Keith, Hailey Mills and Hailey Mills.  This show is CLASSIC, and can still make me happy when I am having the worst of days. 

Yes, friends... as the charming maid Verbena (who I now learn has a real name of Una Merkel... gross) said "you didn't know what a good thing you had when you had it."

Things I didn't know what I good thing they were when I had them: A list by Sarah Timms Thompson

• The ability to watch the same movie every day.  I love Winnie the Pooh. 
  
• Friday Sno-cone days.  At Woodstock Elementary during warm months, the PTA would have sno-cones available outside the lunch room for a quarter on Fridays.  And if you got there early in the year, they had tigers blood.  A QUARTER!  And practically on your way home...
• Sleepovers on the trampoline.  Or any sleepovers, really.  These days even if I'm out late with my friends I think to myself "I should go home and sleep in my own, confortable bed" instead of "I want to call my mom to ask if I can sleep over."  And although you had to be crafty with trampoline sleep overs (everyone winds up crushing everyone in the middle of the tramp...) they were the very best kind.
  
• Block Schedule.  I'm not the girl who wants to go back to High School.  I enjoyed my time there and politely decline to do it again.  Plus, I am way less of a nerd now... but the block schedule... it was brilliance in school form.  You don't have to do the same thing every day, you always know when lunch is going to be, and you have two days to do any homework.
• $1.50 for Lunch.  While we're on the subject of high school (or Jr. High)... let me just say that eating all of lunch for a buck-fivety would be a glorious idea.  And, by the way, most days I used that to buy a doughnut and every-other day I would get a lemonaid to go with it.  In High School this was changed to eating at Subway about 3 days a week with Becky and her Bitchin Camero.
  
• Musical Theater.  Talk about a time-sucker.  I envy and am amazed by my friends who still do it (and have those magical moments...) but every weeknight and in the morning on Saturday to have rehearsals?  And I was excited to miss vacations and camps so I could go to said rehearsals?  Really, Sarah?  And still, I would do it again.
• Schedules I Can Stick To and Plans I Can Make.  This is a relatively new one for me, and isn't so nostalgic as most of these... but it's true all the same.  I am a plan-planner and a list-maker and a schedule-haver.  These days those are all worth about the same as having a buck fivety for lunch... it doesn't get you very far, and you just get a quick sugar high and then a plans-got-nixed-again low.  
  

Aah well... back in the good old days...

Please stay tuned for pictures of our house in Georgia, and our new pet dog whose name may or may not remain Barney.  (The joy of buying a dog at a shelter where they didn't know his name either is that you can give him a new name... and the dog will still be happy.)

It's 'cause I'm short, I know...

Here is the update from my very exciting last couple of days...

Meet my new car...

ooh, she's pretty...

And meet my new dog, Barney

BAH!  Is this a great couple of days or what!?!?

ABC, easy as 123

AHHH!  Look how scary!  Hmm... what is this, I wonder.  Is it... a demonstration of what happens to your coffee table if you fail to use a coaster?  nope.  that's not that scary.  Is it... a child's learning activity?  Is it the beginning of me drawing a cookie?  Yes, friends, it could be all these things.  But those things aren't super scary.  This is a picture of the CIRCLE OF DEATH!  (duh, duh, duuuuuuuuuh.)  I'm sorry to give some of you nightmares, but it has to be put out there for the world to see.

You all remember the Circle of Death, right?  For those of you who've lapsed their memory, it's one of those vicious circles you can't get out of, no matter how hard you try.

Let's examine a few now... because it was Halloween recently and scary things have their place.  Even on my blog.


Circle of death the first: in which there is a battle between productivity and empty calories.

Today I ate almost an entire stick of butter.  I know this because I put an entire stick of butter into a batch of Rice Krispie Treats to take to my neighbors.  The Treats, however, ended up being a little bit crappy due to something called "stale marshmallows" and so I decided to save them for me... I mean us.  Me and my HUSBAND, who also eats food here (occasionally).  And when my husband was at work I ate... a lot of Treats.  Okay, most of the pan of Rice Krispie Treats.  I finally put the rest in the cupboard so Matt could eat the one I promised him this morning.  (Does it make me sound less like I have a problem if I mention that Matt is working for like 15 hours every day?) 

WHY DID I DO THAT?  I don't want to eat an entire stick of butter.  I know this because when I'm playing Greed and I think about losing, I think to myself "I hope I don't lose so I don't have to eat a stick of butter... or Bim's chest hair (etc.)"  (umm... because the standing dare you can do if you lose said game of greed is to eat a stick of butter, but other things like eating people's facial hair, or eating cheese fondue out of someone's beard come up too).  But instead of being productive, unpacking, eating well, exercising, drinking fluids, etc I just kept eating Treats.  Sure, a 1/2 inch here, 1/4 inch there - it was no big deal.  But then they were gone (minus that one piece I would be a bad person if I ate... so, for all intents and purposes it's gone).  And I had wasted my day and done nothing.  No unpacking, no productive... no avoidance of eating all that butter.  Because "nothing" is a bad circle to be stuck in.  Because you don't want to do ANYTHING if you're not already doing SOMETHING.

To further illustrate my point I forced myself to run about 6pm.  I had just realized how much I'd eaten and needed to punish myself.  (By the way, if you're interested in eating nothing but a pan of goodies in a day and then running up a hill - don't do it. )  When I came back from said run I unpacked 8 large boxes, moved furniture around (all by myself), made myself dinner, organized my clothing system in the new house and finished the laundry.  All in about an hour and a half.

And this is because doing nothing and eating crap all day is a vicious circle.  it only leads to more crap-eating and nothing-doing.  But being productive like running leads to more productivity and boxes getting unpacked. (did I mention I also broke-into the new Ben and Jerry's?)

Vicious Circle the Second: In which there is a battle between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

As many of you dear readers know, I don't do well with not having a lot to do.  I really enjoy being overloaded properly loaded down with tasks, activities and social engagements.  Right now I am the opposite of that.  There was a day last week where the biggest agenda item on my day was turning on the dish washer.  (which, for those of you wondering, I did beautifully.)

And this makes me not so easy to live with.  Again, that makes me want to sit and do nothing.  And that is counter-productive because I know that if I get out and exercise it will make me feel better.  Because exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy and happy people don't kill their husbands.  But it's a vicious cycle with myself.  Vicious.

So now do you see why this circle is so scary?  What's that you say?  You agree with me?  This should have been a Halloween post it's so scary?  Yeah, I totally know, right!?!?

SouthernTV... a glimpse.

If I really cared about my blog, I would have blogged at 1am this morming.  I say that because I was awake, and I had the most FANTASTIC ideas about what to blog about.  I was so excited about blogging... but I was also excited about not getting out of bed.  And, as is usually the case, I have no clue what I was so excited about this morning.  Curses!

A random thought this morning.  I've been trying to watch the local news while I was writing this.  And I have three things to say about local news in Columbus, Georgia.
  THING THE FIRST: why do I need an anteana to get local channels?  Honestly, I have DirecTV (as of yesterday... hooray) but needed to pay an EXTRA $50 to have an anteana installed for local chanels.  Was I high and just thought the WHOLE NATION went digital?  Also, I can't search for shows to record on local chanels either.  Which means when I wanted to record GLEE, my television couldn't find the show.  I'm working on a solution so I don't punch anyone.

  THING THE SECOND: your newscaster has a fat face.  I don't think she's a fat person... just one of those people with a chubby face.  How did she become the lead news anchor? (HA!  found a picture.  she's on the right.  Obviously she's not getting crowned anything...)

  THING THE THIRD: your bullet points SUCK.  They say stupid and pointless things.  Honestly, there was a (very sad) report about not finding a baby's body in a landfill (what?) and the third bullet-point (out of 4) was -from BlahBaleh police department.  As in, we got this information from the BLehBleh (obviously i don't remember the name) police department.  a) why does that get it's own bullet point and b) why is that bullet point 3 of 4?
  THING THE FOURTH (I know I said you only got three, but I am continually astounded): a guest on the news just said "you know what they say here in the South, bigger hair, closer to God."

Okay... this has to be it for now.  There is really nowhere you can go after that new catch-phrase.  This has been your glimpse into the South for the day.  And, yes, you're welcome.

When I up, down, touch the ground puts me in the mood... for food

And we're back to titles that are lyrics or movie quotes.  This one comes from my most-watched movie as a child: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

And we're also back to blogs about {HIGHS} and {lows}.  Mostly because it's fun.  And secondly because there is so much stuff to say.

{HIGHS}

- We got to Ft. Benning safely, and found a house quickly.  And it's huge.  4 bedrooms.  At first I was a little bit scared that I wouldn't be able to fill them with anything.  But our stuff got here in a timely fashion and... well... luckily, turns out I have a lot of stuff. 
- This is a house we live across the street from.  Isn't it adorable?  My house doesn't look like that.  But it's nice to run past houses that do.

(what's that you say?  You want pictures of what MY house looks like, and not just my neighbors?  Please wait for another blog.  A magical blog where I have actually used my camera.  Man, this no iPhone is really hurting everyone.  I have got to get ON that.)

- I feel just like a 1950s housewife here.  Children walk to school past my house, the plumbing here was obviously around then, wives walk babies around the block all day.  It's picturesque.  I need a big poofy skirt and pearls.

- The weather here is great.  Most days it is either mid-upper 60's.  On days it isn't that, it's probably monsooning.  (You know... monsooning... to monsoon?)  It's rain like I've never lived in before (having lived in Utah for most of my life) and it is strangely thereputic.  None of this is "fall" to me, but I'm working on "new normals."

{lows}

- the house is covered in what can best be described as tile from any given high school built between 1930 and 1970.  Covered.  The whole thing.  You'd be surprised at how much you wish for (even ugly) carpet to dampen sounds, absorb any trace-bits of leaves that come in on your shoes and not feel so cold.

- Once, again, I don't mean to point any fingers (US ARMY) but could you BE more of a jerk?  I think you'd really have to put real effort into it if you wanted to achieve a higher jerkiness scale level.  minus 150 points to Slytherin.

- I met someone in my neighborhood.  It's my mail man, Charlie.  And although I should be positive and put that on the {HIGHS} section of this email, he's the only person I've met.  Not to worry, though... I'm sure my charisma and shere needyness to talk to someone while Matt is gone for days at a time will draw them to me.  Or me to them.  Or something.  Did I mention training with the Army isn't everything we'd been lead to believe?  ooh... just making sure.

Well, friends, this is me... signing off from Georgia.  I think I'm going to run past the houses from "We Were Soldiers."  And walk where Mel Gibson walked... *sigh*

run little gingerbread man...

Today I went on a run through the woods.  Below is an actual picture of where I was (I was on the upper trail), but not actually taken by me... because currently it is a beautiful red/yellow/orange color.  So picture this but more fall-tastic.  Okay.  we're ready to go..

The following is a thought-dialogue for this below-average runner while running through the woods today:

Gosh, it's pretty today.  And the wind is cold. 

I wonder how far I've run?  hmm... 4:30 on my watch so almost .5 miles.  I can't be tired yet.  GO GO GO GO GO.

I'm glad nobody can hear my running music.  It just went from "Wham!" (wake me up before you go go...) to "Hairspray" (nicest kids in town).  Man, James Marsden is cute.  This is a good song...

It rained last night and there are wet leaves on top of this trail.  I wonder if it'll be slippery on my way down this hill.  Hmm... maybe if that happens it'll even out because at least I'll get a good bruise.

Gosh, this is pretty.  I can't be tired... GO GO GO GO




GO!




(Suddenly as I rounded a corner, I nearly ran-into a deer)
STOP!

The deer is 5 feet away from me.  This deer looks little... and cute.  I wonder if I could touch it.  I bet it would feel scratchy.  But cute...

OH NO!  It looks like a baby deer - where is the mommy deer?  Okay, don't touch the deer.  back away slowly and hope it walks away.  (man... i can't move to the right or the left because I'm still running through a FOREST.)

ooh good.  It walked away.  Now run fast, and look behind you.

Sarah: 0  Deer: 1

... then, on my way back, I saw the deer in the same place as before.  Luckily for me this time, I was further up the hill and saw it before we had another "incident".  This time I yelled, outloud (without remembering to look around me to make sure other people didn't think I was crazy) "SERIOUSLY, DEER?  SERIOUSLY!?!"  This time I won because he ran away.

Sarah: 1 Deer: 1

And I won because there wasn't anyone around to say "that chick is crazy."

I am a banana.

this post is short.  this post isn't fun.  and this post title isn't a song lyric, song title or movie quote.  to sum-up... this post is a little off.

Then again, I feel a little off as well.

For one, there will be no pictures (I know, totally the most important, right?  well, it might be to you, dear reader... and I care about you first).  so I will tell you what pretend pictures should be inserted.  Once I have more time, and possibly not matt's computer, and definately not a wake-up time of 6am I'll start having pictures again.

For two, I've left home.  And although I can believe for a small shiney moment that I'm vacationing, I have glimpses into "no, seriously... you don't live where your people are anymore" and that scares the hell out of me.  (insert make-believe picture of hell.  Or, if there is one, a bird flying out of the nest and catching on fire.  Don't ask me where I would find said picture, just believe it to be true, and it could happen)

For three... as I said before - this is short.  We're going to Scott Air Force Base in the morning to get our new (army) ID cards.  That means we leave before 7.  For those of you not paying attention, that is 6 MST (which is what my internal clock is set to) and it's almost midnight here.  For someone currently being paid vacation time at work, that is an awfuly early wake-up call.  (insert make-believe picture of a cartoon alarm clock trying to smash someone's head with a hammer)

Alright... if you're reading this and live in Utah, I probably love and miss you already.  Same goes for Seattle.  But not Georgia.   (insert make-believe picture of Utah with a heart around it.  Alternately an "I (heart) SL" logo (not unlike NY)).  Also, I don't know anyone in Georgia yet, so it's not like I'm offending anyone.

ooh yeah.  And for 4, this blog title goes out to Brit.  Thanks for the awesome venue for the going away party, and thanks for the movies.  (insert picture of Britney looking fabulous... this picture isn't make-believe, it's just not here...)

Adieu, Adieu to yu and yu and yu

One week from today is my last day at the Salt Palace Convention Center. 

It's been a learning and growing experience.  I've gotten more frusterated than previously thought possible, and I've seen some amazing things here.  I think my vision of what events could be has expanded, and my vision of people who work in events has broadened.  It's been a wonderful experience.  And although most people are wonderful and I can't wait to meet them again, there are some people who've come through here that I am just fine without ever seeing again.  Ever. 

Today one of the great ladies from housekeeping, Jeanette, said goodbye.  She's a nice lady.  In fact, here is a picture of her fom a company party.

(no, honestly, she is a nice lady.  but to be totally honest, this is the better of the two pictures I found of her...)

This is how the conversation went down:

*hug*

Jeanette: If I don't see ya, have a great time in Georgia.

Sarah: Thanks, I will!

J: It will just be such a fun adventure for ya.  I wish you all the best.

S: Thanks so much.  You too.  Good luck with everything.

J (as she's walking away): You're always so nice and sweet.  You know, we always liked you.  I know some other people didn't, but in housekeeping we always did.

S: ....

....

....

Thanks.

(and then I walked away laughing.)

Man... am I going to miss this place...

It's been kinda {HIGH}, it's been kinda {low}

My friend Ashley does this thing on her blog where she lists highs and lows.  I think it's an interesting concept.  In the great SarahTimms tradition of list-making... here we are.  Highs and lows.

{{HIGHS}}
-Matt and I hiked to the Timpanogus Caves last weekend.  It was beautiful and creepy... perfect for autumn.  Plus, it wasn't ever too hot, and it didn't rain on us.

-My person Elisha is getting married tomorrow.  HOORAY!

-I had dinner with my princess friends yesterday and had the most fun I've had at dinner in ages and ages.  (how nice to go so far back with wonderful people)

- Also yesterday, I finished a very long and very painful group of many appointments at the Dentist.

- My mother has started a painting class at a local studio.  I couldn't be more proud.

- I have heard the leaves will be many gorgeous colors when we are on our long road trip in 2 weeks.  (please note that the leaves in the below picture aren't that fabulous.)

- A week from today we'll be all packed

- We're moving to Georgia in a week and a half.

{lows}
- I need a night all by myself to organize so I don't freak out and kill everyone.  I am definately not ready for movers...

- my Thanksgiving plans are now up in the air, which is sad... because I love plans.  and I hate people who mess them up for me... I'm not going to point any fingers.

- Also re: Thanksgiving plans... I'm not going to see my beautiful neice get married...

- I blogged last night about my princess friends, and apparently it didn't save at all.  (AND I don't have another princess picture on this computer to post...)

- Saying goodbye to all my people (for now)

- We're moving to Georgia in a week and a half.  (and we aren't living here...)