Hanging Out

I spent the first half of my Saturday driving from store to store trying to find a hammock. I spent the second half like this. In a cocoon of warmth. I eventually fell asleep in there until my next door neighbor accidentally sprayed me with his hose...he didn't see me in there. There's nothing that says relaxing like laying in a hammock don't you think?
I'm laying there still trying to finish Eat,Pray,Love. I like the book, it's just VERY SLOW going.

Fun At The Drive-In

We had a fabulous time. It did not rain (thank god) and actually could not have asked for better weather. It was warm, but there was a nice cool breeze. The movies were good, and you can see from the picture that we had a Prime spot.
I also had a nice candy feast. I came prepared.

Goin' To The Drive-In

Let me start this post by saying that working 5 days a week is for the birds. I am SO freakin' tired! I know my body will get used to this, but until it does....it sucks. Plus I only have tomorrow off and then I work Sun-Thurs. But then.....I get a 3 day weekend!!! I haven't had a three day weekend in FOREVER.
I want to take a nap a little later because Spiderman and I are going to the Drive-In tonight. (If it doesn't rain which looks iffy). We're going to see Get Smart and The Incredible Hulk. I used to love going to the drive-in when I was a kid. We always knew we were going when after dinner my mother would start popping popcorn and putting it in a brown paper bag. We'd get SO excited. Once, I even remember my mother let us wear our PJ's. We'd get there early before the movie started so we could play on the playground and watch the cartoons. A few times we were allowed to sit on the hood of the car. The things that impress little kids amazes me. I never went to the drive-in on a date though for 2 reasons.
1. My mother NEVER would have allowed it. She was strict like that.
2. The drive-in where I grew up closed when I was in High School.

You can imagine my excitement to find that where I live now has a drive-in and it's not that far from my house. I've only been there once, and it was a few years ago.
Maybe Spiderman and I will make out.

Decisions...

I have to register soon for school and I'm having a rough time.
I have several problems:

1. I can't decide if I want to take ONE class or TWO classes. If I take two classes, I'll be that much closer to being done. On the other hand, with my new position at work I would have to finish work at 3pm and take classes from 4-6pm mon-thurs. After eating and showering, when do I study?
2. If I DO take two classes, the one's I want to take will both be challenging for me. I want to take Children's literature (which I heard is a B*tch) and that involves lots of reading and writing papers. I also want to take Writing Fiction....which I would imagine involves a lot of writing. I want to do well in my classes, but I don't think the schedule problems mentioned in #1 would allow for this.
3. If I decide to take ONE class. Which one? I've been wanting to take Children's Lit for several years now and I know I'll enjoy it. But I've always enjoyed writing, and would really enjoy the fiction class. It scares me a little. I'm afraid I won't be any good at it. But this semester the same teacher that I had for Intro to Fiction will be teaching it and I Loved him!

So there you have it folks. My dilemma. Could you help a sister out? What would you do?

Coming Down From My Princess High

This is what Princesses get for their birthdays. Would you look at all the Princess crap! I've never seen so much pink in my life! She made out like a bandit and got some REALLY cute stuff.
My Princess Niece and her Princess Auntie. She looks a little like she's headed for a sugar/present induced coma.

It's hard being 4.

Don't We All Have A Little Bit Of A Princess In Us?

Tonight we're going to my niece's 4th Birthday party. It has a princess theme. Everyone is supposed to dress like one. I'm wearing my birthday tiara and a sparkly gold tank top and some shiny jewelry....at times I'm 4 years old myself.
Here's a picture of her super-fabulous Princess Present. (It's Princess Barbie and a Princess horse.)
Don't you just love my new tablecloth? I got it from target and it reminds me of one my grandmother had when I was a little girl. I LOVE it.
Oh, and the big black splotch in the right corner is a "helper kitty".

Random Crap For A Monday

I had a really relaxing weekend which was great because I hadn't had a weekend off since my walk in Chicago. I definitely needed it. Spiderman and I rented a bunch of movies and chilled the entire weekend. It was fantastic! I felt ready to start my new position today in education. For my first day, I was orientating a traveling RT. We went to both campuses and I showed her around, explained our charting and lab systems, and got her settled with HR and employee health (name badge, computer codes, etc.) I showed her all the important things...like where the gift shop and cafeteria are. It was kind of a slow day, but the rest of the week I'll have students to keep me busier! I'm not used to working at this slower pace...it's an adjustment. I have a feeling this first week is going to be the hardest because I'm trying to find my groove.
Also this weekend I was invited to the NWI Bloggy Meet. It's in a few weeks and I'm super excited. I can't wait to meet some of the bloggers in this area and hopefully make some new friends! (now that my schedule will actually allow some time for friends)
I think I'm going to try to eat healthier this week because I was PMSing all weekend and turned into a lean mean eating machine.

Let's Try This Again...

Thanks to Susannah for her help with YouTube! I thought I'd try it out and also share with you a video that I love. This guy has a whole crapload of songs. They're completely inappropriate...and totally hysterical. It was hard for me to decide just which one I wanted to post here but I decided on this one since it is one of my fears.

I Could Use Some Help With YouTube

Okay...I wanted to post something from You Tube, but I can't figure it out. If anyone can help me it would be greatly appreciated. Until then you can go here to see it. It's funny even if you're not in the medical field.

Shut up! I NEEEEDED This!

I know it's not helping my addiction....but she's my FAVORITE AUTHOR! And it came out yesterday. I HAD to buy it! I SO want to be a Bounty Hunter!

***This post is mostly for Spiderman as a justification for why I have yet ANOTHER book on the nightstand.***

Hairspray

Last night I finally watched Hairspray that I had DVR'd. Here's what I thought:

1. Loved the music. I completely LOVE musicals.
2. Loved, loved, the dancing. It made me wish people danced all coordinated like that in real life.
3. The costumes and hair are awesome.
4. James Marsden is totally hot. As Corny Collins he can sing and he can move!
5. Michelle Pfieffer is a little evil in this movie. I liked that. Much better than her role in Grease 2--not that I'm knocking Grease 2 or anything even though it doesn't compare to the original.
6. I liked the political message about integration and accepting those who are different. I find it relevant considering we will probably have a black president very soon! (I hope.)
7. I completely underestimated just how creepy John Travolta is in a fat suit and drag.

Overall, really liked the movie. If you want to watch a fun, colorful, lighthearted musical go and rent it now!

We Interrupt Your Tuesday For a Very Important Announcement...

Many of you may be aware of how I feel about my job at the Chamber of Horrors. There are even a few of you who already know about this, but you'll have to hear it again. I have a new job. Well not really a new job so much (I'm still at the Chamber) as a new position. As of June 23rd I start my new job in education. I am going to be clinical instructor for both the IUN and Ivy Tech students at my hospital. I will also be orientating any new employees. I used to perform inservices throughout the hospital on various respiratory subjects, but I had to arrange those on my days off. Now I get to do them as part of my time already there. I'm also going to be in charge of all education for the department. We're getting both a new computer charting system and a new lab computer system this fall and I will be involved in the educating of the department on those as well. I'm SO excited to start this I can hardly breathe!!
Oh, and did I mention it's Mon-Fri. 6:30-3pm. Sweet! Over the years I have worked MORE than my fair share of weekend shifts, and the idea of having more weekends off thrills me to no end. I'm sure I'll still pick up a few weekend shifts here and there when they need me because I'm a sucker like that. But at least I now have an option.
And Angie, now I can finally start to figure out a weekend to come visit!

5 Things

I was tagged recently and I'm a pretty accommodating person so here goes:


1. What did you do 10 years ago?
1998? I was still in college trying to decide if I wanted to stay in my major--Biology-premed.
I was working in Reservations at the Raddison Hotel/Star Plaza Theater. That summer my then friend Heather and I drove 16 hours to Myrtle Beach for a week of fun in the sun. We had a blast.
2. Five items on my to-do list today.
--get an oil change
--go to the bank
--pay bills
--go to the grocery store
--scrub my bathroom (it's kinda gross right now)
3. Snacks I enjoy.
Anything sweet. I'm a candy girl. I also love to snack on saltine crackers. I can eat a whole package in one sitting.
4. What would I do if I were a billionaire?
That's easy...travel more. I have SO many places I want to visit! I'd love to go to FRANCE (always wanted to go), Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Egypt, India, and Japan.
5. Places I would live.
I would love to live in any of the places mentioned above. Realistically I would like to someday live in the Portland area of Oregon. I have family out there and I LOVE it. I don't get to go out there nearly as much as I would like.


Bloggers I am passing this challenge to:
Kristabella, because I'm sure your answers will be entertaining, TheModernGal, because I'm sure she could use something to distract her from her impending move, and anyone else who feels inspired.

Nostalgia Week--Happily Ever After

For my last post of Nostalgia Week, I thought I'd tell the story of how Spiderman and I met. I like to tell people that we were a blind date, or that he was my birthday present, but that's not exactly how it happened. It was a little more complicated than that. I had just ended a 4 1/2 year relationship and was devastated. Earlier that week I had found out that my "best friend" was now dating my ex on the same day that I received her Christmas Card in the mail. Nice. So when I was invited to my friend Rachelle's house for one of her notorious game parties I could use the cheering up. When I got there, her sister gave me a hug and asked did I know her brother-in-law? There stood Spiderman lookin' all cute. He was home from school for Christmas break and had just gotten out of a relationship himself. After looking at the matching grins of Rachelle and Jen I realized right away that this was a set-up. The evening went well and I found that Spiderman was not only a cutie, but extremely smart. (Huge turn-on for me.) Things didn't work out as he currently was away at school 6 hours away, and I just wasn't ready.
After almost two more years of some REALLY horrible blind dates it was my 25th birthday. My parents and several friends and I were all going out to a bar called Mighty Micks to celebrate. I wear what I call my "Birthday Tiara" every year and that was what Spiderman saw first when he came into the bar. He had been brought by Jen for me as a present as he had finally moved back into the area. He said "hey, um...you're wearing a tiara". (I know, you're totally swooning from the romance) Anyway...by the time Spiderman had gotten there I had been "celebrating" for a few hours already on an almost empty stomach. Apparently I'm very charming when I'm intoxicated and wearing a tiara because he agreed to go out on a date a few weeks later. We went to see a movie and hung out after in a nearby BW3's. He's extremely sarcastic with a dry wit and for several hours I couldn't tell if he was a huge asshole or really funny. I decided on the latter. Within two months he had moved in and 3 years later we were married.
Here is the first picture taken of us. It was at a friend of mine's wedding. I love this picture and have a framed copy on my dresser next to our wedding picture.

Nostalgia Week--The High School Years

I spent much of my young adult ( Jr. High/High School) years completely in love with two boys. Sometimes it was one...or the other...or both. They were best friends. They were my best friends. Joe and Dave. It took me a long time to get over them. Dave especially. Not until college. Looking back at these pictures now makes me a little sad because we were so close and now we've lost touch. Both are married...and have children...but this is how I'll always remember them. Dave and I freshman year at Homecoming. My mother LOVED this dress. Me...not so much. I mean look at the puffed sleeves. Almost as big as my head! And speaking of heads...totally diggin' the hair aren't you?
Joe and I freshman year at Turnabout. This dress was dark plum and velvet. And I LOVED the gloves. I thought it was very sophisticated. How funny are these pictures. We thought we were SO old and now looking back we look SO young!
It's amazing how time flies and perspectives change.

Wordless Wednesday---Nostalgia Week

Me and my Posse---my friends have always been boys.

Nostalgia Week- Origins of SuperSarah

When I was a little girl I often wanted to be Wonder Woman/Supergirl/Mary Poppins. I was very into SuperFriends the cartoon. Remember the Wonder Twins? My first little boy friend Matt told me that we were going to get married because we both liked SuperFriends. Apparently that's how you gage compatibility when you're 5.
I would play Wonder Woman ALL. THE. TIME. I would put a blanket around my waist with a belt and wear a vest, visor, and plastic sunglasses with the lenses poked out and I WAS Diana Prince. Then I would spin around in circles and throw everything off. I became Wonder Woman. I even had the underoo's to prove it!
So here's a picture of me in my Turtle pool wearing my SuperSarah bathing suit. Notice my awesome bigwheel in the garage. I rocked!

Nostalgia Week

The other day, I bought a new scrub top. It has Rainbow Brite on it and it totally reminded me of my childhood. My little sister was VERY into Rainbow Brite and even wanted to name one of her children that. (hopefully you've changed your mind Abbie) It inspired several conversations with coworkers also and we got to reminiscing. Do you remember Thundercats, Holly Hobbie, Colorforms, and He-Man/She-Ra?

So where am I going with this? These conversations are my inspiration for this week. I'm calling it Nostalgia Week. Every post this week will be a tale from my past. Some will even have pictures, if I can find them.

The first tale is from when I was in the fourth grade. I used to love climbing trees. My grandmother had a great weeping willow on her property and all the grandchildren loved to spend hours safely covered in its branches. Until one afternoon in October. My brother and cousin and I were playing in the willow and I was the highest. Did you know that the higher you get in a willow tree, the more brittle the branches? I did not. One of them broke and I plummeted to the ground landing on my back (thank God for my puffy fall coat) with my knee ramming up and hitting me in the eye. My cousin ran into the house as fast as his legs could carry him shouting "Sarah fell out of the tree and her brains are everywhere!" The entire family rushed outside and my father scooped me into his arms. I was covering my face with my hands and crying. "She's alright." he told the concerned faces. Until I removed my hands from my face. I was taken to the emergency room where I was separated from my parents while the staff there kept asking me "Who did this to you?" until they were satisfied with my story. I had one hell of a shiner.

The next day I stayed home from school as my eye was almost swollen shut. The day after I wore oversized sunglasses to school and was "famous" for a while as the girl with the wicked black eye.

To this day whenever I get really tired, that eye gets a darker circle under it than the other and you can see shades of what once was.

They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab...

I'm channelling a little bit of Amy Winehouse here because I realize things may have gotten a little out of hand. I might need an intervention or something because I can't help myself! Is there some sort of support group I can join? You know, compulsive readers anonymous or something. Because it is compulsive. I actually crave a good story. Almost more than chocolate. These piles don't include the book I keep in my work bag, or the book I have on my coffee table that I've spent the afternoon with. Or the seven books my mother just got from her book club that I've already called dibs on. Aughhhh! I. MUST. BE. STOPPED!
It's gonna be a good summer.

Works for Me Wednesday

I'm having kind of a melancholy day. It's been very rainy and gray. I decided to cheer myself up and see the new SATC movie. It was everything I'd hoped it would be and cheered me up considerably. Then I went to Walmart. I don't know if I've mentioned, but I HATE WALMART. I love their low prices and varied selection. You can get groceries, new windshield wipers,a few paperbacks and develop pictures all in one place. Unfortunately the clientele of Walmart makes me want to stick red hot pokers in my eyes. I hate the fact that the people there are SLOW and IN MY WAY ALL THE TIME.
Sorry, can you tell I'm in a terrible mood?
Anyway...check out my new blog bling. I was nominated for a few blog awards. (my mom did it, she's trying to be supportive) So if you enjoy what you read here, feel free to click on them and vote for me! (no pressure or anything, but I am having a bad day and all)

Help Me Dr. Scholl!

My feet are covered in Blisters which is making it VERY difficult to work. They are weepy, painful, and a little gross. Hopefully they will heal quickly. People are going to start calling me gimpy.

For Two Days, We Walk As One

The Avon Walk was amazing! Every muscle in my body aches, my blisters have blisters, and today my feet are swollen the size of footballs, but it was worth it! I thought I'd share a little of my weekend with you.
First, All Rock Star Fan's (my team name) have to start their adventure eating at the Hard Rock Cafe.
We did this the night before the walk. The next morning we started at Soldier Field.
The morning of, there were SO many people there! This year was the largest walk in the history of the Avon Walk. There were roughly 4,500 people that walked this year in the fight against breast cancer.
We raised $9.1 million for the cause! And then the walk began. We walked....
And walked....the first part was all along the shore line and it was gorgeous! There was a LOT of walking, but every 2 miles there were rest stops set up. Some of them even had themes.

This one had a Hollywood theme. We paused briefly for pictures. Every rest stop had bathrooms, refills on water or gatorade, and this:
My favorite part. SNACKS!! I feel like I ate, drank, and peed all day long.
Jen and I carried shiny coins in memory of Maryann's friend who died from breast cancer.

The amount of support we received was incredible. People driving by would honk and wave. They advertised the route in advance and people would line the streets to cheer us on shouting words of encouragement.
There were almost naked men cheering from balcony's.
You might think it's corny, but when you're in it, doing the walking, those words REALLY help you to go on. I'm going to have a hard time doing anything now without applause and shouts of "thank you for walking", "you can do it!"

There were even pink ambulances there in case we needed them!
Our reason for walking.
The group at the finish line at the end of day one. Through the arches is the wellness village where the tents are set up for the night. They also served food, had medical attention, and other services set up. Services that I REALLY needed.
They had yoga for stretching and relaxing.
They also had massages for my sore muscles. See this lady? I could have married her. She was FABULOUS! Day two was much harder, but we circled back through the city and headed home towards Soldier Field.

If I ever move to the city, I just might have to live in this building. I would wear a tiara all the time.
Rock Stars at the halfway point on day two. In the picture is Me, my sister-in-law Jen (Rachelle's sister), Craig (Rachelle's husband), Karen (friend of the family), and my brother-in-law Phil (Spiderman's brother). You can see the city in the distance.
We walked all through the city and it was a gorgeous day.
The Rock Star Fans at the finish line at Soldier Field. WE DID IT!!!! In the center of the picture is Rachelle's son Connor who joined us for the last few miles. He's a trooper.

When we got home, Spiderman bought me a "prize" for finishing. Pink crystal earrings, and a Hershey kiss necklace with a pink heart.

He's proud of me.

I'm proud of me too. I can't wait for next year!