Song Recommendation of the Day

"Where I Stood" by Missy Higgins


I am completely obsessed with this song right now. (Although I will say that the whole CD is great) I have tried in vain for 10 minutes now to attach a You Tube video of her singing it.....but my computer just can't seem to handle that demanding task. Just know that you can do a search for it and hear it for yourself.

Where I Stood


I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun.
But something told me to run
And honey you know me- it's all or none.

There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening

'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should.
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should.
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood.

See I thought love was black and white
That is was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside.

Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should.
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should.
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood.

And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do

Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should.
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should.
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood.

UUGGHHH!!!!

So I have been trying to post but my computer is currently having a complete meltdown. Sad that I almost always get online on my iPod as it is a million times faster than my beloved but admittedly ancient laptop. So this is me giving up. I will return to the good fight tomorrow... just like Scarlett would have wanted.


P.S. I cut 4 inches off my hair today. If you add that to the 3 inches I cut off in Feb.... it is adding up!

New Celebrity Crush Alert

We met on a long flight to China. Just me, 13 hours, and 5 episodes of The Mentalist. Ah-- Simon Baker.....you had me at your first grin.

A First

So tonight I am posting from my iPod because Eli is playing a game on my laptop. And while this is not the first time I have posted on my iPod, it will be the first time I have input from others (namely Elu and Meredith) about the content of this post.

Eli has suggested that they tell you about me from their perspective which I was not against until I realized that he wanted to give every last detail of my job. When I told him that I try to keep most super personal ID stuff off the blog... he said (and I quote) "oh that's right... You have to be an enigma...." (then he lowered his voice to a whisper and -- I kid you not-- cocked one eyebrow and continued) "The Enigma That Is Me". Yup. That is correct- even the 10 year old knows that's a joke.

Meredith on the other hand thinks she is about to lose a tooth and can't focus on much else. She now would like me to wrap this up so she can check her email. Seriously.

Purely Hypothetical Question of the Day

If you were walking into church while the absolutely CRAZY wind was blowing and you could only keep either the front of your skirt down or the back of your skirt down.....which would you choose?



(The answer goes something like this-- it is silly to pretend that you can keep any portion of your skirt down if the Oklahoma wind wants to rip it up over your head....so the only thing a hypothetical person can really do is be sure they are wearing leggings..... Also? I hypothetically picked the front-- the back flew so high it actually hit my pony tail......hypothetically that is.)

A Conversation that Did Not End Up As Expected

Two Friends are headed out to dinner. The following conversation ensued:

Sarah: (walking to the front door telling a story SO riveting that I can't even remember what I was saying) "And so blah blah blah.....and then BLAH!"

Cheryl: (walking out the front door nodding while pretending to listen to the fascinating tale) "Uh huh..."

Sarah: (turns around to lock the front door) "And then I said......" (lowers voice to a frantic whisper) "at ohler!"

Cheryl: (speaking in a normal tone of voice) "Huh?"

Sarah: (pointing with my eyes while whisper yelling) "kat ohler!!"

Cheryl: (looks behind her) "WHAT?"

Sarah: (gives up and speaks normally) "CAT STROLLER!" (points to the elderly couple walking on the side walk by the building with their cat....in a stroller)

Cracks. Me. Up.

Star Wars as explained by a 3 year old
(Be sure and listen for the warning about Darth Vader)

Things I Did/Thought/Wondered Today

1. "This is what happens when you try to clean". (after having to type all day on a painful finger pad that was sliced open when I dusted my desk at work. Don't ask)

2. A new Arby's opened by work this week. Both Mandy and I were pathetically excited to go there for lunch today. (And judging by the 15 cars in the drive-thru built for far fewer vehicles, we weren't the only ones).

3. "Did some kind of new Wal-Mart training manual go out that instructed all cashiers to start tying the handles of their plastic bags into a double knot before handing them over? Why do you people keep doing this to me and and then look at me as though I should be grateful for the extra effort you put in? What genius at headquarters in Arkansas decided that shortening the handle will make it easier to carry out to my car in 45mph Oklahoma winds??"

4. Words cannot express how grateful I am that America decided to vote off that annoying chick on American Idol.

5. "Why did I do my hair today?" (after walking half a block to get from car into work and looking like Cousin It when I walked in the front door)

6. "Why-o Why-o did I ever leave Ohio?" (Side note-- I've never actually been to Ohio)

7. Jini asked me what kind of cheese my string cheese (that I was eating at my desk) is. I had no good answer.

8. "Don't be an idiot, lady. There is no self-check out at TARGET" (thought but NOT said to the lady behind me in line who kept trying to talk her daughter into going to the "self-checkout")

9. "Hm. How can I write this email in such a way as to make the person feel stupid for asking me an idiotic question without thinking I am calling them stupid? How can they decide for THEMSELVES that they are wasting everyone's time?? It wouldn't be MEAN to help them do that....really it would almost be a form of helping them to self-enlightenment....."

10. "I didn't know anyone still wore their bangs that high. With gray hair."

A Goal

So my grand plan is to try and post every day this month. And if I don't manage it, I will just pretend it was an April Fool's joke!

Awesome Clip of the Week

Why oh why do we not have someone who will stand up and say this to President Obama AND Congress?

Quick Random Notes

*We are at the Best Western in Yiwu. Incidentally-- it is neither Western NOR the Best.

*It is extremely cold here....which I'm not really complaining about. Amazing how much less fragrant a place can be in the cold. (It was insanely hot and humid when we were here last Sept.)

*I accidentally wore my shirt inside out when we crossed the border from Hong Kong into mainland China (we actually walked across it with our suitcases). I feel this only bolstered my "we look like refugees fleeing persecution in Hong Kong" point to my coworkers.

*I don't care how proficient a spitter you may or may not be-- you have not truly seen (or HEARD) spitting until you have been to China.

*The iTunes store (or at least MY iTunes store) does not work in mainland China. This is very annoying when you want to download the season finale of Burn Notice to watch on the plane.

*In case you hadn't figured it out-- I have nothing that interesting to post at the moment......

Is My Maid Trying To Tell Me Something?

I am once again back at the JW Marriott in Hong Kong. And while I know you are ALL excited to hear my twice a year update on the status of the bacon on their breakfast buffet... I am sad to report that blog feature has been discontinued due to unfortunate and newly developed food allergies.

HOWEVER-- that does not mean that I don't have exciting news to report. (and possibly even MORE riveting than a bacon update would have been....but I make no promises......)

My first post was GOING to be movie reviews of the bajllion movies I either started to watch and/or actually finished on the flights over. And while I still plan to get to that eventually....there has been a new development that I feel deserves a priority entry.

We spent a long day today walking around the city to various appointments.....thankfully able to dodge the POURING rain due to Hong Kong's lovely system of covered walk ways. I finally got back to the hotel a little bit ago.....tired and ready to flop. Everyone else in my group is on the 22nd floor.....but I am all alone on the 12th floor. I didn't think too much about that, but as I walked into my room tonight...I began to suspect I am on some sort of special party-girl floor. Why is this, you ask? Well, first let me explain that as you walk into my room....you enter a short hallway and you have to go around a little curve to get into the bedroom. As I opened my front door tonight-- I noticed a thump of base playing.....and I wondered if I'd forgotten to turn my TV off this morning. But as I walked into the bedroom, I realized that the maid had been in to "turn down the bed" for the night...but let me tell you, she went the extra mile. My lights were turned down to dim, the bed covers were turned down, and.....someone was rapping/singing on the stereo system about all of the "sweet honeys in the club tonight" and his need for me to "shake it baby, shake it". I went over to the stereo and realized that the maid had decided that LL Cool J was just the fellow to sing me to sleep tonight (and in case you were working the theory that the maid was listening to her OWN CD and forgot to take it out...nope. The CD actually has "property of the JW Marriott" imprinted on the front of it)

Let me tell you-- I don't know who they think was coming back to this room tonight--- but I really don't feel worthy of the ambiance she worked to create. I feel like I need to put on some tight pants and make some sort of martini or something. My grand plan of reading Jane Austen in the bathtub just doesn't feel right.....



P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSIE!!! (even though you don't read this. Maybe you dad will and he'll tell your I said it......

Delayed in Tokyo. Bored. Really, really bored. Updates that have been promised have not come.

The Flattering Lighting of Incredible Pizza

Meredith (my niece--for the 2 of you that don't already know that) and I spent the afternoon at Incredible Pizza yesterday. If you are unfamiliar with the establishment (and before yesterday, I'd never been there)-- basically it seems to be an all you can eat pizza extravaganza combined with go-karts, putt-putt, bumper cars, arcade games, etc. Meredith and I skipped the food and went straight to the games. Our first stop was the go-kart line where we wanted to sign up for a "double" ride (meaning I would drive while Meredith was the passenger/navigator/encourager)--- Anyway, it was there that the following conversation was had:


Me: (addressing the teenager working the register) "Hi...we'd like to sign up for a double ride."

Meredith: (smiles and waves at him like she has been smiling and waving at everyone since we got there...)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (looks a bit confused): "You're going to ride with her?" (points at Meredith)

Me: (returns his confused look) "Uh, yeah...." (also throws in a nod in case some body language is needed as well)

Meredith: (still smiling)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (frowns slightly) "How OLD are you?"

Me: (starting to look around to make I'm not too old to be riding go-carts-- but am reassured when I notice old dudes currently racing) "Uh..." (then blank for a minute and try to remember if I am 31 or 32).... "31! I'm 31!"

Meredith: (waiting patiently, still smiling)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (loses the confused look and replaces it with a startled one) "Really?"

Me: "Uh, yes."

Incredible Pizza Dude: "I would NOT have thought that. I was thinking like...22 at MOST."

Me: (speechless and still not a little confused about why it matters)

Meredith: (smile turns reassuring-- pats my thigh) "That's a GOOD thing, Aunt Sarah!"

Me: (starting to appreciate the dark lighting of Incredible Pizza) "I know, sweetie." (turns to Incredible Pizza Dude) "Uhm, thanks I guess?"

Slightly Blind Incredible Pizza Dude: (smiles and "scans" my payment card)


Our scene now cuts to 10 minutes later when I look at the balance of our payment card and realize he hadn't charged us for the ride....we go back over to tell him....



Me: (waiting for weird 50 year old lady to stop going on and on to poor Incredible Pizza Dude about how there better not be any kids in the "fast" go-kart race because she drives FAST-- FAST!! and she will not be thwarted by some kid who is out there piddling around not knowing what he's doing)

Incredible Pizza Dude: (kindly waits for the woman to walk off before he starts laughing at her)

Me: "Hi! Us again! I just noticed that it didn't subtract the money for the go-karts when you scanned our card."

Incredible Pizza Dude: (looking at me with a look that says "annnnddd????)

Me: (feeling a bit awkward) "Well, I just wanted to let you know."

Incredible Pizza Dude: (smiles and cocks an eyebrow) "Well, that's a GOOD thing, right?"

Me: (not really sure if a 19 year old is flirting with me or not) "Uh, yeah....."

Incredible Pizza Dude: (smiles) "Well, good!"

Me: "Alrighty, then. Uhm...thanks!"

Meredith: (looks at me and shrugs)



As we were leaving later, I was telling Meredith that I still couldn't figure out WHY he cared how old I was-- when she pointed out that he was probably checking to make sure I was old enough to take her on a double ride (apparently you have to be 18...I failed to notice that). I have no idea if her theory is accurate, but I have decided to go with it....as 18 is even better than 22!

(also? Meredith and I TOTALLY won our go-kart race....in case you wondered)

Analyze THIS

I've been having lots of weird dreams lately. One involved a Friday the 13th-like scenario with me and other people running around some summer camp. (No, I haven't watched any horror movies lately)

One involved one of my good (single) friends getting pregnant and lots of conversations with my father (the dream version) with him insisting he had no idea she was "THAT kind of girl!!!!" (he was taking it very hard)

There was another dream where I accidentally dyed my hair blond and was SO relieved when I woke up and realized I still had brown hair.

But by far the most disturbing (to me) dream was the one where I had these long purple, hairs growing out of my finger tips. I just couldn't figure out how to groom it-- and if I should shave it (how WOULD you shave your fingertips?) or try to pluck it or WHAT. But I did have the (dream) thought that it would nicely conceal my fingerprints. WHY dream version of me was worried about this....I have no idea. Maybe I was going to be a covert Muppet or something......

Surprising Things About Being Single in My 30s

1. It totally snuck up on me.

2. I don't mind it nearly as much as the 15 year old me thought I would.

3. My father has revealed a previously unsuspected busybody/matchmaking streak.

4. My mother remains well behaved (at least to my face).

5. I have so many friends that are ALSO single to keep me company.

6. It is kind of fun and not a little liberating.

7. Having this many years to watch marriages from afar has left me with a conflicted view of the institution. (No unmarried person should be made to watch the movie Fireproof. If that movie doesn't make marriage look utterly exhausting, I don't know what does. I mean-- if you are already in it, great! Work hard at it! But for us singletons? Let's just say it isn't exactly a marriage recruitment video....)

8. Did I mention that my father has revealed his busybody tendencies? Well, it is worth mentioning twice because it was doubly surprising.

Breaking Out My Rusty Typing Fingers

Anyone who has known me for more than a day knows that I am-- well, how to put it?? Let's just say I am a candid person. I often share more about myself than anyone probably wants to know..... for instance, if I do something particularly stupid-- I usually can't wait to tell as many people as possible about it (particularly if it is a FUNNY stupid thing--- for instance when I figured out last year that a "Water Pill" is not actually a pill that magically hydrates people).

But the interesting thing about being a candid person is that many people also assume that I don't have an inner edit button. Several people in the past year have joked with me that they always know what I'm thinking because (and I quote) "If Sarah thinks it, she says it". And for some reason, I have found that surprising. While I admit I almost always have something to say about everything (even if it is just to announce I know nothing about the topic on hand)--- it really amuses me that I might have a reputation for saying everything that pops into my head....because seriously? What I actually say out loud constitutes about a 1/3 of what is going on in my head (if that).

I apologize if that scares you.

Alas, I realize that just because I manage not to spew my every thought on to the world does not make me mysterious or anything.....but I would like to reserve the right to be not quite the open book that everyone thinks I am.

Hong Kong Int'l Airport

Ok- I promise to start actually WRITING blogs again very soon.....but in the meantime you have to check out this awesomness. Why does this never happen when I'M at the Hong Kong airport??

Color Me Surprised

Look-- a little awareness!!!

(The saddest part of the whole thing is the last line-- they hope he doesn't mean it???)

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Changefest '09 - Obama's Inaugural Speech

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Food For Thought

Agree or Disagree.....but I thought this was interesting