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.