Mourning For the Beavs

Everyday, my friend and coworker Megan puts up a joke of the day...except today. Thanks Megan for recognizing this very difficult time for Beavers fans everywhere. As a fellow Beaver, your sympathy is deeply appreciated. Okay, really, this just cracked me up.

Top 40, Sun, and Softball

Nothing deeply philosophical or mind bending from my mouth tonight...all I want to write about right now is...my bad taste in music week. The top 40 bug invaded my body early on in the week. Maybe it's because I have been in a particularly good mood as of late, maybe it is because the sun brings out all of those needs to roll down the windows and blast music. Anyway, I actually bought No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, and Sexy Love by Ne-Yo. And now, I feel a little like I should roll the windows up when I am blasting these songs.

On a genuinely good song note...Hollow Man by REM and Come On Get Higher by Matt Nathanson made the list too.

Alright, so back to the top 40. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I guess it is completely acceptable to buy this stuff every once in a while...I mean, maybe some of these songs actually become hits for a reason, right? Honestly, I really like Sexy Love. Every time I've heard it in the past two years, I stand up and start shaking my booty. It's a cute sexy song, and it reminds me of when Michael Jackson was actually talented/cute/not made of plastic. Overall, I am not anti-radio...I just think they should diversify their playlists and create a broader base of acceptable radio tunes. We are missing out on a lot of good music because few channels will adventure out and play it.

On shaking my booty, since returning from Vegas, anytime I have heard a hip hop song, I want to get up and dance. So, send me suggestions for some good hip hop, because I'm not feeling my gym right now and would much rather be dancing around my house to music at this point. And, they dug up and blocked off the track and field at the highschool by my house, so I can't even run bleachers anymore. That's a great workout...hurry and finish the project guys.

Otherwise, congrats to my sister Lauren for getting two huge awards in her softball conference and to her softball team for taking 2nd place in their final tournament over the weekend. I got a few lovely shades of red (and some cancerous tan) from it, but also had a great time watching with the people who are important in my life.

Song of the moment...Did You Ever Look So Nice by The Samples. It is a great summer song and reminds me of driving down the canyon in Park City, Utah on a sunny afternoon...with the windows down of course.

Night.

The Nuprin Diaries, Part II

Back in 2005, my friend Ryan was teaching English in Korea and logging his stories on this blog he referred to as The Nuprin Diaries. As the adventure came to an end, so did the great stories...leaving me hoping that one day, he'd strike up some new tales on a keyboard. Well, Ryan's headed out on another adventure to Germany and decided to start sharing some stories with us again. So, here is the new installment of The Nuprin Diaries. I'm sure there will be some good stories to come.

That's all for now. I think that you should go listen to this new song from Portishead called Plastic...and this old song by The Roots called Without a Doubt.

People in the Sun

Every once in a while, I remember to check in on the blogs I have listed as favorites on my own blog. Go read anything on People in the Sun. I've mentioned how good this one is before, but hadn't been to it in a while. Everything he writes is fabulous.

My favorites in catching up are actually videos of his baby laughing and another kid on You Tube laughing. If we could all be that happy, life would be pretty damn good all the time.

Oh, I actually really liked Vegas this time around. It was nice to get away from reality for a while and just have a blast under the hot sun. Coming back to reality last Sunday as the airline staff announced over the loudspeaker that it was 34 and snowing in Oregon wasn't so great, but I'm here...I'm doing alright...and I'm thankful for all I've got.

A Few Lines of 'Stuff'

This is a useless post of 'stuff I'm doing' so if you are looking for a political or social rant tonight, well, all I can say is that we are pretty much screwed with all this inflation...and I CANNOT wait for Mr. Bush to leave the office.

Oh, and a year after the Virginia Tech shootings, did anyone notice that all that fanfare about gun laws that happened in the wake of the tragedy fell flat in about five minutes? What happened? Come on media! I still just hope that 'being green' actually stays an important issue after the celebs drop it and, oh wait, they still have huge mansions, private jets, and more excess than a Biggie Sized Value Meal? Oh, riiiight, they just like to look good in all those glossy ads and commercials touting green living. Not that I am a saint, but eeeegh.

Actually, I looked back at posts I have written and realize, sometimes, I can be too harsh. For example, this post, written back in 2005, that bashed The ONE Campaign. I guess I had a point, but maybe I should realize that a little effort can go a long way instead of slamming the cause. So, maybe I will feel bad about making fun of the 'trendy green' celebs eventually too...because they are just trying to make a difference right? But then again, it still frustrates me that P Diddy ever drove a BENTLEY through poverty stricken streets. Idiot.

Okay, so that wasn't supposed to happen...this was supposed to be about useless 'stuff'...soooo...I head out for Vegas on Thursday morning. Besides a short weekend in Ashland in February, this is my first actual trip since returning to Oregon. So, I'm looking forward to the 85 degree forecast, some real downtime, and quality time by the pool. Life'll be pretty simple until that 8:30 am flight back home on Sunday morning. If I decide to get on it, that is.

In other news, my half-sister is due in late July with new baby niece, who remains nameless. Right now the arguments surrounding her birth is whether she will be a Duck or a Beaver. All of us smart ones know which one she will be...the one wearing the Beaver booties.

I got invited to a trailer trash party in May. Send me some suggestions on what to wear, and remember, I like to wear clothes.

And lastly, most know I have been touting the 'single' title again for a while (but that is about all the detail you will get about that subject, ever). So, I am in the store the other day, listening to these two 19 year old girls talk about marriage. They start to say, "Oh my gosh, I want to get married before I turn 30 because if I wait until I am thirty and then have kids, I am going to be soooo old." So, I just wanted to say, thanks girls...thanks for the reminder that I am soooo old, and on top of that, soooo not married, and on top of that, apparently going to be soooo the oldest mom by the time I have kids. Thanks. You girls are soooo sweet.

Music time...Sun Kil Moon have a new CD out called April. It's great. Go buy it and get the bonus disc, or download it off iTunes...just make sure you actually pay for it so that they stay afloat because they are fantastic!

Fixed Lamp, Aggravating News, & Vegas

So, the lamp from the last post has been replaced by a nice, unbroken, new one. Congrats to me.

My mother recently tried to contact my sister through a friend of hers. I don't like this at all and it's been making me wonder if I am next. Most who know me well understand why...though if you don't, feel free to go back and read this before you question why she's not in our life.

I am happily involved in the lives of my dad, his wife, and my half siblings now. I still teeter back and forth between two feelings about this:

1) Disappointment that I was raised by my mom and didn't get to be a part of my dad's and half siblings' lives until I was an adult...
2) Being aware and accepting of who I have become as a result of being raised by my mother...I'm someone who is pretty damn empathetic and resilient. I also notice I am a fierce peacemaker...maybe too much so at times.

So, let's keep with the off news why don't we? Oregon is still a tough transition for me. It's been a rollercoaster and I appreciate all of you who remain insanely 'there' for me whenever I need to talk, vent, all of it. My friends are amazing. So, just know that I realize that.

Alright, EXCITING news...I am heading to Vegas in mid April with about 16 friends for three nights and four days of fun. Vegas isn't exactly my 'perfect' destination due to the strip clubs, smoke, excessive drinking...BUT, I really NEED a vacation, we got all our nights and flight for 200 bucks, we're staying in a family resort full of cool stuff to do, and some of us are planning to head off the strip for a day out into the Red Rocks area to hike around and play. Not to mention, we'll have SUN everyday! It is going to be a blast.

Song of the moment...Chaiyya Chaiyya...it's from Inside Man and someobody finally stuck that version on Project Playlist. So, if you have my MySpace, go listen to it and promise not to make fun of me because, while culturally different to your ears...it's a badass song.

Night people.

Broken Lamp, Jack, and Ryan Adams

This is my broken lamp. I broke it one night during a clutzy moment while switching out the plug...I am pretty good at accidentally breaking things (ask Justin, he used to keep a list on the fridge of stuff I would accidentally break in the house...and it was long). So, the thing is, I broke it a month ago and haven't replaced it yet...the jagged edges go all the way around and probably aren't that safe. It is a little artsy looking now though and I just haven't had time to drive to Ikea to get another one to replace it (it's truly just a boring $10 lamp, but I really like the energy efficient light bulbs that cost just as much as the lamp). So, if you come visit me, don't make fun of the lamp. Or, bring me a new one.

I got the new Jack Johnson CD back on February 3rd when it came out and it is so zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh, I'm sorry. I fell asleep talking about it. It's just too damn mellow. I mean, I know he recently had another kid (maybe he was trying to be quiet so he wouldn't wake him up) and recorded the CD in a solar powered building (maybe he was trying to conserve energy), but it is not what I was hoping for. Don't worry, he still looks really good on the cover though. My suggestion is to throw it in rotation of your sleep CD's or for your kid's naptime.

So, after my disappointment with not having a good driving CD to listen to, I ventured out and picked up Ryan Adam's newest CD (came out this past summer), Easy Tiger. This is THE BEST CD I have heard in a long time. Favorite song, and song of the moment...Everybody Knows. It is a perfect song.

That's all folks.

Maybe He'll Pay My $60 Parking Ticket Too

Reprinted from espn.com:

Unexpected expenses can come at you fast. Like, 101 miles per hour in a 65 MPH zone fast. Luckily for LeBron James, he's making $13,041,250 in salary this season. That works out to:

• $159,039.63 per game;
• $3313.33 per minute;
• $55.22 per second.

So LeBron will have earned enough to pay off his speeding ticket of $259 after 5 seconds of Tuesday's game -- with $17 left over for gas.

Presidential Woes

News this evening of Rudy Giuliani quitting the presidential race put a big smile on my face. I equated him to the closest thing to Bush that we could put in the White House. I feared having to watch him talk for four (or eight) years, all the while bugging his eyes out with each accentuated word that fell from his thin little lips (if you never noticed, watch now...it will drive you nuts). My biggest assumption was that he would eagerly carry on the Bush Family War overseas in Iraq. On a side note, I also personally never liked that the guy was fine with having mistresses while married either.

So, Rudy, I happily bid you farewell. Thank you for declining the idea of running for a VP spot too.

I am already nervous about the upcoming elections in November. I have to admit, that I am just not feeling Hillary, even though she is a woman. She just irks me a bit, and once again, it bothers me that she stayed with her stupid cheating husband (okay, Bill is supposedly a genius, and my guess is that a pre-presidential run divorce may not have looked so good to voters). That aside, her professional and personal can be separated, and that leaves me still just not 'feeling' the lady...and I don't give a damn if she cried and that the media said it made her 'human.' Maybe the media is the reason I am so irritated with her.

My ticket is really on Obama at the moment...my thinking is that the so called 'inexperienced' politician may actually utilize more of a positive team effort and not just assume himself the all mighty office idiot (like that one asshole in office right now). Obama is personable, has a Guy Smiley smile, and, in the end, seems to back a lot of my own beliefs.

So, here's the big fear. And it may be irrational, BUT, I really think that if a woman or a minority makes it into office, some idiot is going to try to assassinate them. And not just some idiot...many idiots. This will not change my vote. I embrace the chance for change in the office and am ABSOLUTELY voting for a non-Republican. I just see the potential out there for extremely racist and/or sexist individuals to really have a hard time with such a change in the USA and do something really stupid as a result.

I can only hope that my irrational assumption turns out to be unnecessary pessimism.

Song of the moment: Over My Head by Red House Painters. It is a mellow Sarah song, but you may like it.

Dear Oregon, Stork, Dems, and Jack...

Dear Oregon,

Thanks for giving the Beavers a stellar football season. I always knew we were better than those Ducks.

Please give us some more days without rain. The sun would be a good accomplice to everyday right now too. Especially my birthday on Friday (that's a hint people...I only turn 30 once)!

Please HEAVILY consider speeding up this smokefree establishments movement so that I can go out and not have to overdramatically cough when people blow smoke in my face all night or take a shower when I get home (we ARE trying to make the world a greener place you know...at least until all the celebrities move on to a new cause).

Dear Stork,

Thanks for bringing me a new niece or nephew to hang out with this coming July. Twins would be good, but my sister Lexy and her husband Ben may want to try one kid to start with, so you decide.

Dear Democrats,

Please beat the Republicans over the next 11 months. I think we need a change in that whole mess that Mr. Bush and his pals have created. Screw executive power...get some competent people in office!

Dear Jack Johnson,

Thanks for coming out with your new CD Sleep Through the Static on February 5th. I already love the first song and will be in line at Borders to buy it when it comes out. Could you please be there so I can ogle you in real life for a while?

Love, Sarah

Oh, my song of the moment is Can't Complain by Nickel Creek...not Nickelback, Nickel Creek...the group that is actually talented and deserves radio airplay. Go listen to it.

News and Opinions, Part 1

I figure that if I title this Part I, I will be more likely to post a Part II sooner than two months from now. So, posting few and far between, here is something to fill the void:

No More Mapquest: Justin bought me a Garmin for Christmas. I couldn't be more excited because I, as everyone knows, don't know north from south or east from west. Yes, I still utilize the 'it's that way' shout/pointing of the finger. The POI's and voiced directions will SURELY help with the upcoming trek across the country in a few days, which leads to...

Oregon Again: As I reduce the use of my blog over the years to post terrifyingly personal info about myself (I STILL haven't erased some of my posts from 2005 EVEN though I go back and read them and think, did I SERIOUSLY write that?!), I will use this short and sweet description of what is to come...

I will be back in Oregon...A LOT.

Those of you who talk to me on a regular basis are the ones who know what is going on, and that is how I would like to keep it. Over revealing post be damned, that's all I have to say. Oh, AND that I am looking forward to girl's nights and family time quite a bit. My younger sister and her husband are headed back the same time as me, so that is really exciting.

Never Buy Me the Stars: Sorry if you think it is awesome, but buying someone a star is stupid. You really want to pay $54.95 for a spot of gaseous light in the universe?! As this article says:

"Who gave them the right to name stars? And then charge someone for the name?" The answer is simple: Nobody gave them the right. They just do it.

So, unless you plan to lasso that star and put it in a really cool display box for someone (especially me), never buy a star as a present. Apparently, they are occasionally sold as part of fundraisers, so if buying someone a star sends a kid to Space Camp, go right ahead. But likely, you are just paying for a certificate from some slimy webrunner.

One last note. If the sun happens to be for sale, you can buy me that because you all know how much I love that big ball of happiness. As a favorite dialog with one of my good friends goes:

Him: What are you doing?
Me: Sitting in the sun.
Him: I knew it!

Speaking of Presents: Okay, not really, but my birthday is exactly one month away. It's one of those big ones that starts with a 3 and ends with an 0. My goal is to celebrate making it this far rather than freaking out about it. I mean, in some countries I would be LUCKY to live to 30, so why wouldn't I celebrate the big milestone? Though I have to admit, I will REALLY miss my twenties.

ALL CAPS: Yeah, so, I never got up to speed on writing in all caps being equal to yelling at someone. But, I like to emphasize my words in all caps...so don't take it personally alright.

And now, for the song of the moment (in all caps to emphasize that you MUST go listen to it):

DO YOU FEEL ME by ANTHONY HAMILTON

Absolutely obsessed with it right now. He appeared as himself in American Gangster (damn good movie by the way) and sang it. Great song from yet another often overlooked talent.

Alright, Part II should be coming to you from a desk in Oregon. Goodnight.

Life in Simple Sentences

I'll be home in Oregon for a week starting Sunday night. It snowed today in Ohio. The Beavers officially have a winning season. I am giving those #2 Ducks some love this year because I have to as a faithful Oregonian (until the Civil War at least). We'll be going out on Friday night in Portland if any of you wonderful Oregon people want to come out with us. Go listen to, well, how about you all tell me what to go listen to. I need to find some new music!

Dear Beavers,

Please beat Stanford tomorrow. And then USC the week after that.

Love, Sarah

Good Stuff of the Moment

1) Jim and Pam are together on The Office. If you were hoping they wouldn't be, you just don't get it. Though I wish they would have kept us hanging a little longer.

2) 75 degrees and sunny weather for me

3) A triple bogey yesterday (apparently, this is bad for some, but for me...it's improvement. And a 6 on a Par 4...whatever that's called.

4) The Wind by Amos Lee, Dig by Incubus

5) Me home in Oregon for New Year's Eve again (I have a standing tradition with the Andersons that just can't be broken because of 2400 miles right...break out my annual shot glass!)

6) My team of lovely girlfriends who are always there when I need them (mushy love alert, but they're great...and Robin, well, she is borderline psychic).

7) Niagara Falls. Pretty tourist trapping, but really worth seeing. See...

Making the Rounds From Heaven?

A friend of mine just posted a story to her blog about a dream she had last night where a friend who passed away was there, sitting at a table talking to her. She got to hug him and ask for him to stay until he finally said, "No. I'm sorry. But I'll always be here." I decided to leave a comment, mentioning that the night before her dream, I had a dream about our friend Greg where we were talking as if life was going on like normal. Minutes later, she sent me a message...He must be making his rounds because the dream was about Greg.

Being me, I refuse to think that it's just a coincidence we both had dreams about our very close friend on consecutive nights. Just because someone moves on doesn't mean that they don't have their ways of letting you know that they are still around. Especially this guy...if you knew him, you probably knew that he could get away with whatever he wanted.

So, I guess all I will say is that I'm happy to know that you're still checking in on us, Greg...and that I hope you know you are never far from our minds. Thanks.

Oh, if you click on the picture you can read the promissary note I made that he kept until he died...as an Alaska native, he had a plan to take AK back from the US. Would he have succeeded?

Something Other Than Turtles!

I've been on a blog break and plan to pick back up again soon. In the meantime, here are some things I suggest you do:

1) Root for the Beavers. Even if they sucked against Cincinnati and are playing a lame blip of a team on Saturday...they need the love to get going again. Remember last year? It took a little time to make it to the glorious bowl games, but we did it.

2) Pick up some litter off the street (really, I bet if you look down when you head outside, there will be something).

3) Tell me what the hell has happened to Outkast...Big Boi, Andre, I miss you. Just because Idlewild tanked doesn't mean you had to call it a day. Come back!

4) Watch Zodiac. I liked it. True story too. Maybe watch anything with Clive Owen too...he's got a smoldering hotness about him and he can actually act!

5) Quit smoking. Smoking is rampant out here in Ohio, even with the no smoking laws in effect (which I love). Sorry smoking friends...I only want you to stop smoking so I can have you in my lives that much longer.

6) Hope that I quit having dreams that I am in jail. Ever since I've started going into the jails to interview inmates, I have dreams that I am getting locked up. It's really irritating.

7) Look for me sometime in the fall in an Oregon near you. I need Oregon time!

8) Listen to some songs of the moment...Breathe Me by Sia, the new Rogue Wave tune Lake Michigan. Then, go cry for Kanye West because he is such a whiny SOB...talented yes, but so, so, so in need of someone to tell him to quit with the pity party. I foresee a 50 Cent/Kanye West compilation in the next two years.

9) And lastly, give love to my lovely girls Jessica and Delainie. If you don't know them, you are missing out because they are two of the best friends a displaced Oregonian could have at the moment. Love you girls.

Night.

A Snapping Success

The turtle above is celebrating with his arms in the air because all 32 of his snapping turtle family members successfully hatched and were released...3, then 6, then 20, then the final three today. (Well, maybe he is just terrified of the huge person hovering over him to take this pic). I'm surprised that they all made it and suffered many bug bites transporting them all out to their new home in the marsh. When there were just a few, I thought they were pretty cute, but as they grew in numbers, the prehistoric features started to creep me out a little. Here are a few more pics to check out..

Turtle Birthday!

The first snapping turtle started hatching on Monday night and climbed out of his shell this afternoon. He is a little camera shy and I figured it would be mean of me to go all paparazzi on him and try to get a better shot by making him pose or yelling his name (which he doesn't have yet). So for now, you get this shot of his back turned to me. Of course, you also get to see turtle #2 hatching...it seems to take about a day for them to come completely out of their shells. I'll release these two in a few days together and then continue to pair them and release them as they hatch. Stay tuned for more pics of the rest of the bunch.

The Kidz Bop Slaying

I don't like the sound of children singing. Call me a cold and heartless person, but unless they are in a prestigious choir or they are a cute little button of a three year old trying to eke out The Itsy Bitsy Spider, I simply tune them out.

I can trace my disdain all the way back to elementary school music class. When it wasn't 'instrument day,' I would sit on the bleachers with the other kids and literally SUFFER through the sound of us all singing together. I always hated participating in holiday music festivals. I never owned a kid music tape or record (except for the Alvin and the Chipmunk records…but those were chipmunks singing, not kids).

And so we have the release of Kidz Bop 12, a horrific compilation of mega hit covers sang by tone deaf tweens and untalented adult leads. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard Charts this week selling 71,000 copies.

I did some iTunes research and backtracked through the Kidz Bop years. It appears that no song released after 2001 is safe from a kid friendly butchering…Snow Patrol, Rascal Flatts, Gnarls Barkley…if they've had a top twenty hit, chances are that an assault has been made on their musical integrity.

What do I really think is so wrong with kids singing top hit tunes that mostly suck anyway? Well, besides the REALLY terrible singing, let's look at the song selections…What Goes Around…Comes Around by Justin Timberlake. Seriously?! It's a song purely about infidelity and revenge! I don't think I knew many shady 12 year old hookers who was wronging the boys in my day. Ditto on Beautiful Liar…not that I even know who sings the real version of that useless garbage, but it sucks. They also attempt a hardcore 'rock out' (and hardly angry) version of Never Again by Kelly Clarkson. I had no idea that tweens were so head strong about love and loss! But wait, in addition to being 'angry' they can also be so 'sad' too, evidenced as they emotionally convey it off tune in their rendition of Boston by Augustana. And of course, they can all "stand under my umbrella, ella, ella" too. Didn't that song just come out like two months ago?

I guess I should really give some credit to my mother for protecting me from the shitty kids music trend. She managed to instill a true sense of musical appreciation in me. At a young age, our mom was making us compilations of Harry Chapin, Fleetwood Mac, and Led Zeppelin to stick in our tape players. We watched movies with great soundtracks like The Big Chill and Footloose (I saw it three time in the movie theater when I was five years old) and had a shelf full of great musicals. We decorated the Christmas tree every year while watching Billy Joel videos or collections of videos she'd record off of MTV. She'd go to concerts and come back and tell us all about them and then play the music for us (which wasn't always good…I don't know if I will ever listen to another Billy Squire or Journey song in my life because they got deathly overplayed in my house). And of course, I had THREE posters of Billy Idol on my wall in the second grade and a t-shirt that I sported to school every chance I got. My sister still has a killer collection of records (yes, records...we're getting old here) that she got from our mom.

So, here's my thought...If you want your kids to grow up with a true appreciation for music, let them listen to the real thing. Saturate them with all different genres. Rarely turn on the radio. Their (and your) reward? The singers will be in tune, the instruments won't be synthesized, and best of all, there won't be a bunch of obnoxious kids singing you the chorus.

Back to the Working World

After a long two and half months of not answering to anyone except the dogs whining in the morning to go outside, I'm heading back to work full time in community corrections.

Starting Monday, I'll be wearing the 'social service' hat again as an Intake Specialist for a non-profit in a neighboring city. My job will be to assess inmates for suitability in community intermediate sanctions...basically, I will be helping to reduce the inmate population by moving suitable inmates to other programs like residential facilities and house arrest. Some positives to this job:

1) No caseload...I just get to screen, test, and interview and then move them on to an assigned caseworker. 2) The company I'll be working for has saved the state something like $40 million by keeping people out of jail and by reducing reoffending. 3) My ego can become re-intact now that I will have a job title other than 'house manager' and 'full time dog mom'...not that I think staying home full time is bad...it's just not for me at this time in my life. 4) This will be my shortest commute ever at 17 miles.

Hopefully, I'll have some updates for you next week on what I think.

In the meantime, go listen to Jailhouse by Sublime. A fitting choice for the new gig and one of the few Sublime songs I never got sick of after our freshman year of college when everyone played the self titled disc over and over and over and over and...