Some pictures from hiking around Radnor Lake. If you haven't been there and you live around here...you must go! The Ganier Ridge trail is my favorite. It turns into the Lake trail so you get to see Radnor Lake as well.
Tennessee is beautiful this time of year.
...to think about something to blog about!
I think I will share with you what I made for the Halloween party at work.
I was a little nervous about making these...afraid that no one would eat them...BUT THEY DID! And people loved them. They were quite the hit, actually.
They are called Witch's Fingers and they are basically short-bread cookies with almond fingernails. I even made a sign for them!
If you would like to make them yourself, here is the recipe. They come highly recommended from the folks at work...PROMISE!
Witch Finger Cookies
* Make cookies smaller than you think is necessary, as they will widen in the oven
Yields 5 dozen cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2¾ cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
¾ cup whole blanched almonds
Red food coloring
1 tube red decorator gel
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla. Beat in dry ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Working with ¼ of the dough at a time, while keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoons of dough into a finger shape for each cookie. Press an almond firmly into one end for the nail. Squeeze in center to form a knuckle shape and use a paring knife to make slashes in several places to form knuckle. Dilute red food coloring and paint the nails.
Place cookies on cookie sheet and bake 20-25 minutes or until golden. Cool for three minutes. If desired, lift almond and squeeze red gel onto nail bed so it oozes from underneath.
Destined to be a classic...
Lortab and me
Do not agree
At T J Maxx
I began to yak
Ran to the stall
And began to ball
Stupid mole, a-typical
You've got me in a big, fat pickle
Had to take off work
Luckily, Bob's no jerk
Now I'm moving
Of course, this means no lifting
Don't tell mom but I have been
She'd kill me and I'm her favorite kin
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9772051/
BLUFFTON, S.C. - A would-be carjacker got a different kind of jolt from his intended victim’s morning cup of coffee, authorities said.
The suspect tapped the car window Wednesday morning with a gun and motioned the driver to get out, Chief Deputy Roy Hughes said.
But the driver — who had just bought a cup of hot coffee — slammed the car door into the carjacker’s legs, threw the coffee at his neck and face and wrestled him to the ground, Hughes said.
A shot was fired during the scuffle but no one was hurt, Hughes said. He said the driver managed to get the gun from the suspect and point it at him.
The suspect ran into nearby woods, Hughes said. Deputies are searching for him and two people thought to be with him who drove off during the scuffle.
"My life? It isn't easy to explain. It has not been the rip-roaring spectacular I fancied it would be, but neither have I burrowed around with the gophers. I suppose it has most resembled a bluechip stock: fairly stable, more ups than downs, and gradually trending upward over time. A good buy, a lucky buy, and I've learned that not everyone can say this about his life.
But do not be misled.
I am nothing special; of this I am sure.
I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man
Shel Silverstein
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
ee cummings
Surgery is over - I'll upload pictures and relay the experience to you when I have more than one hand (the other is in a sling...).
But to tide you over until then, here are my Primary Love Languages.
If you have not read this book, I highly suggest and recommend that you do so.
Score - Love Language
9 - Physical Touch
8 - Quality Time
5 - Words of Affirmation
4 - Receiving of Gifts
4 - Acts of Service
How to interpret your Profile Score:
Your highest score indicates your primary love language. Your second highest score indicates your secondary love
language. If two scores are identical, you are bilingual (you have two primary love languages). If the scores of your
primary and your secondary language are close (for example, 10 & 9 respectfully), it indicates both are important to
you. Whatever a significant other does to express love in either of these languages will get emotional points with you.
The highest possible score for any language is 12.
Having a clear picture of your primary & secondary love languages will explain much of your past behavior Think back
over the past and ask yourself "What have I most often requested from significant others?" Chances are your answer
will lie within the scope of your primary & secondary love languages. You have been requesting that which would meet
your deepest need for emotional love.
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'll give you the run down of my past week.
Well, I flew for the first time since my Junior year of high school. That was about 6-7 years ago...needless to say, I was freaked out. I was doing okay until I got onto the plane. That's when it got hard to catch my breath, I had to concentrate on slowing my heart rate down and I felt as if I might projectile vomit. I was sitting on the same row as my boss, with a seat in between us. When the plane shot off down the runway, going from about 0-2,000 mph in about 3 seconds...it forced tears out of my eyes. That's when the flood gates opened. I was balling...sitting next to my boss. I kept my face plastered to the window in hopes that no one would see me crying. My boss called out my name - I ignored it - figuring he wouldn't ask again. He did - I ignored it again. So then, he tapped me on the shoulder. No ignoring that one. I turned towards him and that's when he saw that my face had exploded into streaming tears and red blotches. Fabulous. He looked at me for a moment - processing the hideous sight - and then frantically called to co-worker sitting behind us - "Nance? Nance!!! Do you have any tissues?!?!?!"
I stopped crying eventually (thank goodness) and managed to take this picture
When we got to Annapolis, the retreat was (suprising) fun! We had meetings during the days and great dinners at night. We got to tour the MD State Capitol building which was very informative and exciting. On the last day, several of us took a boat tour around the harbor, where we were able to see the US Naval Academy...and some of the attractive people who attend.... ;)
Here are some pictures:
Anyway, I was supposed to spend some time in D.C. with a friend of mine and catch a flight on Sunday back to Nashville. I rearranged this when I heard that I would be able to start moving into my condo. It was too late to rearrange my rearranged flight when I founf out that there were some minor construction clitches.
So, now I am looking at closing on my condo on October 21 - about two weeks from now. What sucks, is that I have so many of my things already packed. I'm having to unpack, only to repack in two weeks.
Oh well. I'm sure things could be worse. :)
For those of you who are interested in my A-typical, pre-cancerous mole that has to be removed - the surgery is being done
| #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### #################################################### |
| Your personality type is SLUAI |
| You are social, moderately moody, moderately unstructured, accommodating, and intellectual, and may prefer a city which matches those traits. |
| The largest representation of your personality type can be found in the these U.S. cities: New Orleans, Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Greensboro, Memphis, Providence, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Salt Lake City, Portland/Salem, St. Louis and these international countries/regions Puerto Rico, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Turkey, Ireland, Ukraine, England, South Africa, Greece, Wales, Brazil, Switzerland, South Korea |
I don't know if anyone remembers this song, but it came out when I was in middle school. My friend was singing it and I was so appalled! Oh, good times growing up sheltered in a small town in 'Bama.
Tom Petty - Lsd Girl Lyrics
I's in love with a girl on marijuana
She said if i'm not stoned I don't wanna
But she got so paranoid
Her place I would avoid
I's in love with a girl on marijuana
I's in love with a girl on cocaine
She had everything going but her brain
We'd talk endlessy for hours
But by morning I'd go sour
I's in love with a girl on cocaine
Through extacy, crystal meth and glue
Found no drug compares to you
With all these pills
And all this weed
I don't know just what I need
I's in love with a girl on l.s.d.
She'd see things i'd never see
She broadened her perspective
Then I got more selective
I's in love with a girl on l.s.d.
Through extacy, crystal meth and glue
Found no drug compares to you
With all these pills
And all this weed
I don't know what I need
I's in love with a girl who drank beer
Till bad breath and all she disappeared
She was blowing up real bad
But when she left I was still sad
I's in love with a girl who drank beer
I's in love with a girl on china white
We were married for a year one night
Her memory still lingers
Cause I burned all my fingers
I's in love with a girl on china white
I's in love with a girl who drank coffie
There was times when I couldn't keep her off me
That caffine got her going
But her ugly side was showing
I's in love with a girl who drank coffie
I's in love with a girl who was a dealer
I's afraid some body'd come and steal her
We never used to fight
But the phone rang day and night
I's in love with a girl who was a dealer
Sure as hell
She got popped by the big guys
You’re at a bar. You notice a woman. She notices you. You move closer, drink in hand. She tosses her hair and crosses her legs. Does it mean anything? You bet. Is it a good sign? Could be. More than 70% of communication between humans is non-verbal, meaning you can learn a lot, and save yourself from potential embarrassment, just by watching a potential love interest. Check out these things you can tell about a woman before she even says word one.
Sign #1: She’s all decked out
What you can tell: A woman’s appearance can translate into how much attention she needs, and is willing to give. “When a woman takes care of herself, men assume she’ll be able to take care of them,” she says. That’s the upside. “But if her appearance is perfectly flawless, that is the standard she’ll measure you by,”
Sign #2: She licks her lips
What you can tell: “There is a certain kind of lip-licking that means she’s interested. Look for a slow movement of just the upper part of the tongue across the lips. A woman has to make an effort to do that, so it’s very come-hither.”
Sign #3: She tosses her hair
What you can tell: “Any kind of preening is a woman’s attempt to get noticed." One particularly good sign: “If she flips her hair back with her wrist exposed, she’s opening herself up to you.” In fact, any exaggerated hair toss (as opposed to a quick sweep of the bangs to get them out of the way), is a positive thing.
Sign #4: Her feet face you
What you can tell: “Where the feet go, the heart follows. If a woman is into you, the bottom portion of her body will face you. If her lower body is turned away, chances are it’s not shyness, it’s a lack of interest.” Most women have been taught to be polite, so they may turn to face you with their upper bodies. “But the lower body is what separates attraction from civility. Even when she’s talking to other guys, if her feet are pointed toward you, she’s interested. It’s a very good indicator.”
Now that you know how to decode body language, get out there and use this info to approach the women who are interested in you… and not bother with those who aren’t.
I will be the first to admit that I am no genius...
However, as novice as I am to real-world marketing (meaning that I have only studied in books) I am positive that I would not think that a bus would be a good place to put a underwear ad. Obviously, for good reason...
Okay people – not only has this kid tried to kill me in his vehicle, but he is also tried (and would have succeeded) to swindle me out of my beloved comforter!
If you have kept up with my blogs – which I am sure that you all have – you know that I am selling my old comforter on Ebay. Well I got an email though the site from someone that I pronounced his/her user name as “Dericka.” Honestly, I couldn’t tell if this person was a girl or a guy but it really freaked me out thinking that some man wanted my uber-feminine comforter. And, I really wasn’t paying attention.
Well, “Dericka” asked me if I had the matching valance to go with my comforter and what a coincidence I DO! So, I emailed back saying that I did, in fact, have it and that it was brand new and unopened. The next email I received, Dericka seemed overjoyed with this fact and asked me if I would be willing to sell it as a set. I wrote back that I would be and asked if $6 sounded reasonable. Dericka wrote back asking if there were any mystery stains that he/she should know about on my comforter. I was appalled and offended. But at the same time – I really wanted to get that valance off my hands and I supposed it was a reasonable question. I was thinking about this one tiny little ink stain on my comforter and wrote back, “Not a one! Looks like brand new!” Such a liar.
While I relayed the events to Tom in my cube I am distinctly aware that something is extremely funny on the other side of my office. DP, BBLogan, Eric and some others all are dying laughing…and I mean rolling on the ground kind of laughing.
Then Dericka wrote back, “Do you still not know who this is??” Upon closer inspection of Dericka’s username I discovered that it was not Dericka…it was DCEric*** - then it hit me – albeit a little too late.
It was undeniably Eric from my work. What a looser!
I have a feeling that I am never going to live this down – and I am sure that writing this blog about it doesn’t help matters any.
Thus, I am taking recommendations on ways to get Eric back. If you have any ideas let me know! This kid has got it coming to him.
Here’s a question I have been thinking about for awhile – Is it possible to trust people on different levels or is trust black and white…you trust me or you don’t?
I was told the other day that I don’t trust anyone and, I must say, that is not true. However, it must be said that I do not trust people initially. It’s not that I have this natural tendency to distrust you. I neither trust nor distrust you. It’s just that I don’t have any expectations of you…yet. Basically, I feel that a person can’t be trusted unless they have proven themselves worthy of my trust. I am in no way holding my trust out to be something that is coveted and desired by all. I will say that the people who get my trust in the end are those that look at it in that very way. I realize that not everyone would do that or care.
During that time of discovering if I can trust you, if you can trust me, it is possible to learn a lot about people. You learn what your expectations for that person are; simultaneously, those expectations are raised and lowered depending on the experiences you have with one another. If someone is late all the time, I will learn to not be disappointed when that person is late. I might not like it – but I don’t expect anything more from that person. And, by saying this, I am not insinuating that you must put up with things that you don’t like. All you can do is express your dislike – if they change they do, if they don’t you must decide if it is something that you can deal with or something that you would deal better without.
There are different levels of trust, too. Such as, I trust my parents on pretty much every level. I know that they will not break promises to me – because they never have. When they say they will do something, I know they will do everything in their power to get that done. I trust my friend Tiffany with my secrets; she has never proven me wrong. There are certain friends that I can trust at the friendship level that we are at – but nothing more. I can see the way they act with other closer friends and I wouldn’t want to be treated that way. Also, as an example, I have a guy friend that I have had for years (since freshman year of high school). We used to do everything together. He was my absolute best friend. Through the years of being in college and having significant others, we grew apart. I guess it is to be expected. Do I trust him now? No. I don’t think that he would intentionally hurt me…that’s not what I am saying. It’s just that I’m not sure he would be there for me if I needed him.
Maybe I have issues with trust. Maybe I don’t. I can say, as I am sure many others can, that my trust has been broken/smashed/impaled before and maybe that’s why I shy away from giving away that part of me so easily.
I have been told that I am hard to get to know. That I am standoffish and aloof. I just prefer reserved emotional attachments initially. That’s the key word
When I am sure of you…you can be assured that I will give you everything that I have. I will be there for you 210%. It just takes awhile. If you really wanted my trust, it would be worth the wait.
Well, I have done my first dealings with the giant internet shopping venue...otherwise known as Ebay.
I am not totally inept to purchasing/buying online; I've used both Amazon.com and Overstock.com before and had great experiences. In fact, I used to sell all my used textbooks from college online and make quite a profit. It was certainly more than what the book buyback place on campus would give me...that is, if they were even buying them back. That's what always made me so mad. Belmont would make you buy these $175 textbooks that came with CD-roms that you would never use and then a semester later they would say that it was outdated and that they weren't using them anymore. In other words - they wouldn't buy it back. Let me ask you, how exactly does an economics book get outdated??? Yes, I would like to know that. I can see an anatomy book getting outdated - but honestly, I don't see how that can be outdated in a semester. In four months some great scientific discovery is going to happen that makes book publishers have to rewrite the entire textbook. Or some great new economic theory is going to come about and I will won't be able to sell my text. FABULOUS!!
I'm sorry, I digress.
So, I listed my old comforter set on Ebay last week and sadly it did not sell. I included the full size comforter, 2 shams, a bed skirt, the sheet set, and the matching valance all for $50. "What a deal," you say? Well, apparently not. But I did not get discouraged! I had several people asking me if I would break up the set...and break it up I did! I listed my comforter for $35 and it has sold! It has one bid on it right now with three more days to go! While I am sure that no one else will bid on it...I wanted to give others a chance to get my fabulous comforter. How generous of me.
Well, that's the comforter. Isn't it nice?! Definitely worth $35.
I'm getting a Queen size bed and this one is a Full size...that's why I am getting rid of it. I have already bought my new comforter and I like it a lot. It's actually a win win situation. I get to make money off something that I am not using (the comforter) and I get to get back the storage space that it would have taken up (which would be a lot!).
So, I am sure that this really isn't interesting to anyone but me.
All in all - I must say that I love Ebay and am now an addict!
Sadly, I failed to mention in my last post that I was devoured by (wo)man-eating mosquitoes on Saturday while washing my car. This is most unfortunate since I am allergic to most biting insects. I was stupid - I usually wear insect repellant...but not this time. Twenty-five of the little mongers attacked my legs with a force beyound compare.
...I am so sorry for the lapse in postings. I have good excuses, though…I swear!
A lot has happened to me in the past month. It wasn’t enough that I total my car, oh no!
So, you all know about that…let me tell you about things that you may not know about. Well, I bought a car! Obvious by the title of my new blog (which is less appealing to internet stalkers), I bought a VW Jetta.
The picture is exactly what my car looks like. White with black leather interior! I don’t have any pictures of me and my car yet – but those will be coming soon, I can assure you. Also obvious by my blog’s title, is the fact that I am in love with her. She is amazing! I haven’t named her yet, but I am thinking about naming her Katrina since I bought her on the day the hurricane hit the Gulf. Unfortunately, this purchase wiped me out financially. I am very lucky that State Farm gave me a considerable and generous amount for my totaled Honda Accord.
My family has a condo in Orange Beach that nearly was demolished by Hurricane Ivan about a year ago. It just got back and it good working shape in February and then along came Katrina. We were all nervous about it hitting our condo…and then having to deal with the reconstruction all over again. We were spared but now I wish that ours had been hit to save people’s homes and lives. Our condo, in the scheme of things, is not that important. We have insurance on it (obviously) but most of the people in LA weren’t so lucky. It’s a second home…not our home…
We’ve rented it out to a family recommended by FEMA and they are staying there until they can find something more permanent.
Changing subjects, while I was at the ER for my wreck, the doctor on call recommended that I get this certain mole on my back looked at. She said that it was of the utmost importance that I do this immediately. The next week I scheduled an appointment with my dermatologist and had it checked out. That very day, she decided that it would be in my best interest to remove it immediately. So, I had it taken off – right then and there. She put the regular type stitches in; so, a week and a half later, I had to go and get them taken out. When my doctor came in she said, “Sarah I want to talk to you about your results. And before I go on, I want to assure you that you do not have and are not getting cancer.” What I heard, however, was “Sarah you have cancer and are going to die.” My eyes welled up with tears and my impending demise, mainly because I was just scared at what she could possibly say next. She told me that I would more area would have to be removed in a more complicated surgical procedure. I asked her how big the scarring area would be and when she said “It will be football shaped” I started to cry again. I was imagining my entire back as one big football shaped scar. Obviously, she only meant that it would be football shaped not football sized. From what I understand, it will be about 21/2 inches long…I’m not sure how wide. A friend at work told me that I should get a tattoo of goal posts around it and then tattoo the actual scar brown. That'd be cool...
Here's Tom's drawing of my future tat. Thanks Tom!
I guess the important thing is that I don’t have cancer.
In about two weeks I will be closing on my new condo and completing the walkthrough inspection. I will be flying for the second time in my life…to Washington, D.C. on a business trip. When I get back to Nashville, I will be faced with the daunting task of actually moving into my new condo. On October 17, I will be having my surgery at 8:00am.
So, the chaos is not over…not by a long shot. But hey, this is what life is all about! Sometimes, it’s a little crazy…sometimes, it’s a little boring…But we have to do as much as we can with the time that we’ve been blessed with.
First off - I am stopping using all lower case letters. It bothers me now and it is really of no artistic value.
Now - on to reminiscing.
Riding with my dad on the way in to work got me thinking about high school; specifically, freshman and sophomore years.
My dad used to do the craziest things to me when he would drop me off. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Sure, Sarah, everyone has had embarrassing experiences like that with their parents at one time or another.” But, I say that you have no idea.
My dad has a agency vehicle. It’s a Ford Expedition so it’s already a behemoth on the road – commanding attention. This is not to mention that it has lights on the top…you know…like police officers or drug enforcement or the fire department. Yup. Nothing scares the pants of snotty nosed teenagers like law enforcement. Well, it also has sirens and a big law type emblem on the side. Super.
So, this is what he used to do to me. We’d get about a mile from the school, maybe not even that far. Well, he would ever so slightly flip the flashing lights on and just drive down the road towards my school. I was usually in a daze or asleep on the way in while my dad would listen to John Boy and Billy. It was only when I got out of the car and started into school when I would turn to make sure that my dad was, in fact, leaving, that I would notice the lights ablaze. Everyone would look at me like I was the weirdest kid.
Anyway, I think about these things now because, since my wreck, my dad has been taking me to work…just like the old days. Luckily, he doesn't take me in the enforcement car anymore. One day next week, we are going to leave early to stop by Starbucks and drink it all the way in to work. He always makes me feel bad though….about the drinks that I get because mine are always so overpriced. This is how I feel about that.
It costs them about $0.20 to make his beverage because he just orders regular coffee. The mark-up on that, since they charge $2.00, is outrageous! All they do is brew enough coffee for 20 or so people and let it sit around until it sells. Man, that’s hard. But with mine, the baristas actually have to do something. They have to make my beverage - for me. So, when I say that I want a Grande Skinny Vanilla Late with just a little foam. They actually have to do something about that. Not just put it in a cup. So, I am paying not only for my beverage and its’ container, I am paying for the labor it takes to make my beverage. Now, I don’t know the markup on that, and while it is still outrageous, I think that I come out better.
So there.
okay people...here are pictures of my cube at work. this is where i spend 8 hours of my day, monday thru friday.
so, you can all stop begging to see it now! okay...no one asked to see it. well, maybe two people. thanks guys!
this is a picture taken from the hallway that leads to my cube. there is a bookcase behind me. look how important i am - all those documents hanging on the walls of my cube.
i really need to get a shot of my name plate. that's right...i have a name plate. see that frosted panel of glass...it's on there. freakin' super glued. i'm not going anywhere!
Not really lookin' for the south to "rise again" but it would be nice to move to a simpler way of life...
Should I mention here that I have always wanted to move to Chicago or Wisconsin? But, (insert cheesy saying) I will always be southern at heart... :) Awww....
| GRITS Congratulations! You scored 92! |
| Darlin’, you are without a doubt a true southern bell or southern gentlemen. You move to a simpler way of life. With more people like u the south will rise again! |
well, obvious from my last blog, i was in a car accident on wednesday morning. i pretty much totaled my car (a honda accord), which is my baby. sure she was common and plain - but i loved her!
anyway, i went on to work after the accident and around 1:00 i started feeling "jammed up." i called my doctor and he recommended that i go immediately to the emergency room just to get checked out. i hate going to doctors - so i was going to wait until after work. well, my coworkers would have none of that. in hindsight, they were good to be so insistent that i go on. bblogan about scared my pants off - telling me that i could have "nicked my womanly area with the seat belt." before i could even fight it, dp escorted me down to her car and drove me all the way (bless her) to williamson medical center. this was around 2:00.
i walked up to the er sign in reception area and was attempting to sign in:
er area reception lady (we shall call her earl): in a snappy tone "can i help you with something?"
me: in an 'i thought that would be obvious tone': "umm, i need to sign in to the er?"
earl: she throws a pad of paper at me "fill that out."
me: "okay..."
earl: in a disgusted tone "what's your complaint?"
me: inside voice "we'll i have another one now" outside voice "well, i was in a car accident this morning and i just need to come in the get checked out."
earl: "anything specific?"
me: "well, pretty much my neck, back, legs and pelvic region. that's it really, though."
earl: now talking on a walkie talkie "we got one for triage out here. we've got one for triage."
me: looking around hesitantly, inside voice - "who's here for triage?"
earl: "you can go sit down and wait now..."
so, i walk away from earl still looking for the triage patient.
my mom comes rushing in - dp leaves - soon, this lady comes out of this discrete side door and says "sarah reeves for triage? (insert name here) for triage?"
i look around. inside voice "ohh, found the triage patient...what a coincidence that her name is the same as mine!" knowing the inevitable truth my outside voice says "Right here."
crap! i am the triage! i don't know what that means...but it doesn't sound good!
my mom and i walk back to the little room and tell the lady all of my information. because i am allergic to some meds, i always get a cool little wrist band along with the one that says who i am (just in case i forget). man, i love the free things hospitals give you!
she ushers us on to the "fast track" waiting room. what that is, i'm not exactly sure...but glad that the word fast is associated with it.
this guy limps around the corner...he is obviously on the "fast track" as well, although, he isn't moving so fast himself. he says that he did something to his knee or something like that. he works at nashville's maximum security prision. they have death row. he's the death row prison guard. last week he got stabbed in the side with a fountain pen. the jail says that it was his fault because he opened up two slots instead of one. he will get one week off without pay. his ex wife and his ex wife's new husband are both in prison (for un-related crimes). he says that paul reid is a jerk. he talked incessantly for over 2 hours while we waited on the fast track. the searing pain in my back and neck were masked by my anger at this man's constant chatter about the prison.
i finally get called back. it's a room where i can lay down, but basically it is just another waiting room. it's a good thing that i wasn't dying - because i would have been done for.
then i become a celebrity.
they bring me warm blankets. they ask all about my car crash. they are so concerned. they want to bring me food and something to drink. it was crazy. i was in Heaven!
they take x-rays of every conceivable bone in my body. they seriously took about 20-25 pictures of my bones. i am probably glowing right now from all the radiation. it was like the freakin' paparazzi!
i get a pain pill, finally, and fall immediately asleep. around 7:00, the doctor comes in and gives me the "okay" with a prescription for some pain pills and some muscle relaxants.
anyway, when we were walking (slowly) out all the nurses and doctors were waiting by the door and waved us on. "sarah, we hope you feel better! you're so lucky! you'll get better soon!"
i must be famous or something - maybe it was just delusions of grandeur from the accident...
after that, mom and i got in the car and got royal thai to go; gummy bears, twizzlers, three musketeers, and snickers from kroger; and a movie from blockbuster.
yum, yum. except for the movie, i didn't eat that.
i got in an accident this morning on my way in to work.
good news : i made good coffee this morning
bad news: it spilt all over me and all in my car - it was hot
good news: no visible physical injuries
bad news: it hurts to move
good news: the guy i crashed into was cute
bad news: he was married
good news: the guy's car in front of me is almost fine
bad news: mine is most likely totaled
that's right, i said totaled. done for. no car for sarah. i'll upload pictures as soon as i get some.
crap.
so far, i have taken three motrin - it hasn't helped any - in fact, i think that it's getting worse.
damn motrin.
i have had a chicken sandwich for lunch. it's most likely ruined now because it sat out in the heat on 440. tom gave me a banana though.
stupid refrigerated foods.
i didn't get a ticket. the officer was so nice. m. dye was his name. he called the wrecker and they came for my car. it's a price's collision center. i had to take out everything in my car of value. that's like everything in my car.
freakin' people who thieve things.
anyway, now i am sitting at work - all stove up - perfect. i do get to watch napolean dynomite tonight with dp, bblogan and alison though. that will be fun.
I watched this show on Saturday night called Property Ladder. It comes on The Learning Channel Saturdays at 10 ET/PT.
Let me tell you, this show lit a fire in me! I just bought a condo in Nashville and I am hoping that I make some money on it. Granted, it is not a fixer-upper...it will be new when I move in...but I just hope that my property value rises as much as (hopefully more than) some.
The episode that I watched was about this 23 year old woman. Now, if you are not aware, that is my age as well. Anyway, she graduated from college and is working two jobs (as a waitress and a bar tender).
She bought this condo in Long Beach, CA for $253,000 something. That's crazy?! It took all that I could do to buy the condo that I have...and it's not near that much. Granted, when the renovations were taking longer than expected she said that she could only pay for a few more morgtage payments...but still, someone approved her for a $253,000 loan!
In the end she wound up making $68,000. Seven buyers got into a bidding war and she took the highest one. No kididng!
That's crazy...in 3 or 4 months this girl, my age, that is a bar tender and waitress made $68,000.
Question is - how much does that equal out to her? Is that a years salary? Two years salary? I'd like to know...because it sure is a heck of a lot of money to me!
I've compiled some links if you want to know more about flipping:
Flipping Homes.com
ABC News
Seattle Times
Real Estate Journal
Oh - how very interesting!
According to researchers at the Australian National University, those who drank within safe limits had better verbal skills, memory and speed of thinking than those at the extremes of the drinking spectrum.
These moderate drinkers performed the best and they also seemed to be the healthiest. The study consisted of 7,000 people in their early 20s, 40s and 60s, with 14 to 28 standard drinks a week for a man and seven to 14 for a woman being the safe consumption level.
Questions ranged from verbal reasoning problems to tests of short-term memory. Surprisingly, perhaps, non-drinkers were twice as likely as occasional drinkers to achieve the lowest scores, the study said.
"This does not necessarily show moderate alcohol use is good for our brains - there may be other reasons we haven't measured to explain the poor performance of non-drinkers," Rodgers said.
Results may reflect the fact that alcohol can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and increase blood flow to the brain - factors linked to improved mental function. They also support research that suggests moderate alcohol intake can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by improving circulation.
Apparently, being prudish and being a lush can make you stupid. Who knew?!
And here is Sarah's key to life - "Moderation is key." So true in just about every situation I can think of. Now, a little bit of arsenic...that's not good...moderation is not key. If you thought that would be a good thing to do...maybe you should have another drink.
Does it pay to be a flirt?
Report says women in the workplace who use sexual behavior may not get that next promotion or raise.
We all know those women - you might even be one of them, but flirting in the office is indisputably taboo and it could even take a toll on your financial future.
"Women who cross their legs provocatively, wear short skirts or massage a man's shoulders at work get fewer pay raises and promotions, according to Friday's USA Today.
The newspaper, citing a Tulane University study, said 49 percent of MBA graduates polled admitted that they have tried to advance in their careers by sometimes engaging in certain sexual behaviors, including sending flirty e-mails and wearing revealing clothing.
The respondents who said they never engaged in such activity earned an average of three promotions, versus two for the group that had employed sexuality. Those who said they never used sexuality were, on average, in the $75,000-$100,000 income range; the other group fell, on average, into the next range, $50,000 to $75,000."
Arthur Brief, a professor at Tulane says that, according to the study, women should be careful about letting men open doors or lift boxes that aren't particularly heavy, because chivalry is "benevolent sexism."
"There are negative consequences for women who use sexuality in the workplace," Brief told the newspaper.
The 164 women in the study ranged in age from their mid-20s to 60.
So, ladies, let this be a lesson to us all. Don't try and sleep your way to the top...the only place that it will get you is looking for other employment.
And let us not forget, women hate women who whore themselves out. Don't make enemies at work. The last thing that you want is to make female enemies at work - ladies can be vicious!
I don't know if you are from Nashville (honestly, not many are), or if you are living here (like me) or maybe...just maybe...you've never even been here before...but I must tell you about my experience feeding my addiciton a couple nights ago.
Because BBLogan activated my addiction for bullseye and bread, I ventured out to the new Target and the new Panera Bread on Old Hickory Boulevard. The food at Panera was amazing, as usual. I love this place. When I went to UTK, I ate at the one on the Strip all the time. That's where I became addicted first.
Anyway, I had the Vegeterian Black Bean soup and the Asian Chicken salad - both delicious. The Asian Chicken salad has cilantro in it - this stuff is like cat nip to me. I crave it and there is no explanation as to why. I would put it on everything if I could. If it came in chapstick form, I would slather it all over my lips.
Umm - that's weird. I wouldn't do that. I swear!
Anyway, then I walked over to the Target and it is designed so different from the other ones in Nashville/Brentwood that it felt like I was in another town. Everything was all flip-floped. I liked it! After I dropped a measly $60 on things that I didn't need, I walked out. The sun was setting over the mountains in the distance, there was a vast parking lot in front of me. I didn't recognize anything. Now I really felt like I was in another town in vacation...going to Target and eating at Panera.
I breathed deep...sighed...and while walking back to my car decided that I love Nashville - and I love Target - and I love Panera.
By far, one of my favorite ad campaigns is the Budweiser's "Real Men of Genius."
I roll on the floor every time I listen to these...every time!
Some of my favorites include:
Mr. Edible Underwear Maker - "Nothing says I love you like a mouthful of underwear."
Mr. Silent Killer Gas Passer - "Because of you a simple elevator ride is suddenly a 42-floor plummet into the bowels of hell. Who did it? Who cares?! Sweet mercy, someone please just light a match! Here's to you - oh Ninja of the Nasty."
Mr. Underwear Inspector #12 - "Dedicating yourself to a craft that others might 'poo-poo...' We're glad you've got your hands down our shorts."
Mr. Pickled Pigs Feet Eater - "Ignoring all you know about pigs, and where they live, and what they step in - you look at their pickled paws and say 'Yummy.' A pig's foot soaked in pickle juice...now that's good eatin.'"
Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer - "There are 24 hours in a day - you're wearing 80 hour protection. If the sun fails to go down, you'll be ready. 30SPF? Please, you might as well be wearing cooking oil! (Something smells delicious)"
If you want to listen to some MP3's of them - here are some sites:
BudLight
MStoner
KCITokyo
Tom sent me a very interesting site today -
Stuff on My Cat.
There are thousands it seems but here are two of my favorite pictures:
This is exactly why I have never claimed that bottled water tastes better than tap water. Anyone who does, is a liar.
Here's a summary of the aforementioned article:
As a confirmed bottled-water nut, it was sobering to read Tom Standage's excellent NYT piece on the total absence of any benefits to drinking bottled water over tap water -- it's not better for you, doesn't taste better, and is rotten for the environment:
It cannot be the taste, since most people cannot tell the difference in a blind tasting. Much bottled water is, in any case, derived from municipal water supplies, though it is sometimes filtered, or has additional minerals added to it.
Nor is there any health or nutritional benefit to drinking bottled water over tap water. In one study, published in The Archives of Family Medicine, researchers compared bottled water with tap water from Cleveland, and found that nearly a quarter of the samples of bottled water had significantly higher levels of bacteria. The scientists concluded that "use of bottled water on the assumption of purity can be misguided."
Another study carried out at the University of Geneva found that bottled water was no better from a nutritional point of view than ordinary tap water.
Admittedly, both kinds of water suffer from occasional contamination problems, but tap water is more stringently monitored and tightly regulated than bottled water. New York City tap water, for example, was tested 430,600 times during 2004 alone.
I stumbled upon an interesting site today...well, more, I was sent a site in disguise today - This Fish.
Yes, it is feminist. Yes, it is girly. But, what it is not, is boy bashing.
There is no sense for that. Guys are not inherently bad in the same way that women are not inherently bitchy.
Well - Just read the Mission Statement for yourself -
"It's lovely to be a feminist and all. I have gotten in plenty a tizzy over the inequity of the female role in this bizarre universe. Have even tried out the independent, "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" track, and been quite good at it. Eventually, however, I settled upon this conclusion: This fish needs a bicycle. If not for comfort, at least for entertainment's sake.
This is not about man-chasing or desperation. It is rarely even about dating. It's about me deciding that I can be well-educated, independent and happy and still see the need for someone else in my life. That's not desperate; that's real."
Welcome to the real world ladies - we can have it all and not feel guilty. We can be wives, mothers, daughters and co-workers. We can do it all!
Since I went to Belmont, I like anything close to that area.
Jackson's is always a nice place to sit and talk with friends.
If you haven't been to Pancake Pantry yet, you must go right now...stop reading this and go get their Sweet Potato pancakes!
Tin Roof is a fun night spot, well, the whole Demonbreun area is fun (Dan McGuinness, Christopher Pizza, and Caffine).
Calypso Cafe has the best salads in the world - and they aren't expensive (try the Black Bean salad or the Cayan Chicken Salad).
Centennial Park is a blast and a great place to people watch. Bring bread to feed the birds by the pond!
The Frist is nice...I don't go as much as I would like to and I have always wanted to go to this thing called Frist Fridays. Some friends of mine say it's interesting and different that a normal Friday night.
If you like sushi - Ru Sans is spectacular! There is this one with banana in it (sounds gross - but trust me...it is amazing).
The Natchez Trace is beautiful...especially in the fall. All the leaves turn flaming orange and red making the mountains (okay big hills) look like they are on fire.
I haven't been to this next place since high school but Lover's Circle has a beautiful view of downtown. In HS we used to go up there and make a lot of noise to disturb the people making out. Ahh immaturity! :)
The downtown library. I suggest going as it's a wonderful place to get lost in the day. But I like to read...so this might be biased.
Continuingwith the reading theme - Border's on West End. I haven't been back there since I saw this really small man fall down the stairs but I used to like going there...
I like painting pottery. If you do...BrushFire Pottery is a great place to do it!
The Greenhouse in Green Hills is a fun place to relax with friends.
And I love Crockett Park - it's about two miles from where I live in Brentwood so I go there to run. Every Sunday in the summer they host a great concert series and on July 4th this is where they shoot off the fireworks. This is a great place to view them if you don't want to fight the downtown maddness.
That's all that I can think of for now! Let me know what else I should try!
Sao Paulo -
A toothless man has been arrested for stealing toothbrushes.According to O Dia newspaper, 32-year-old Ednor Rodrigues was filmed on CCTV taking seven toothbrushes from a supermarket in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. When he was approached by the police, he tried to deny the robbery - even showing the officers his toothless mouth. He finally admitted to the robbery, he said: "I don't know why I did it. I know it is a stupid thing to do, I have no teeth, what was I thinking?" - Ananova.com
UK -
Police to raid in socksSock it to them ... cops must remove shoes according to memo.Police have been told they must show respect by taking their SHOES OFF before raiding the homes of Muslim terror suspects.It was one of 18 rules laid down in new guidelines for officers in Luton — a hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism.
I'm a foster parent!
I am a volunteer foster parent with Happy Tales Humane Shelter in Franklin and I have just received my first child! His name is Bucky...
He is the CUTEST dog I have ever seen. Not just his looks, mind you; he has the sweetest disposition and temperment. He has a brother named Ducky...
I didn't come up with the names.
Here's Bucky -
I can't relay to you how incredibly smart this dog is. When I first got him, he had just come out of his man part altering surgery and so he was a little sedated. So, I carried him out to my car and he sat in the passenger's seat all the way back home. Calm as a cucumber...if cucumbers are, in fact, calm.
When we got home, I put his leash on him and took him out to potty. Buddy, he hated that leash! I don't think that he had ever been on a leash before - so it is to be expected that he would hate it. Imagine a fish caught on a fishing line...you're reeling him in and you get him out of the water. He's flaying about, twisting right and left, doing flips. That's what Bucky looked like. I was thinking..."This is going to be a long, long night/next day/until he gets adopted."
Once he got the hang of it, though, he was like a champ! We went out this morning for him to do his "business" and he walked outside...into the grass...peed...thought about number 2...it wasn't happening...looked up at me...walked me back to the door...and he was done!
Last night, he sat and watched TV with me but when anyone would come into the room he would run and greet them...tail wagging. When he figured out that they carried with them no food...he would run and jump back onto the couch with me.
He doesn't bark much, in fact, I have only heard him bark once. He was staring at me and so I stared back. Well - Bucky didn't like that one bit! So, he let out this little tiny bark. So cute.
I have to take him to Adoption Day on Saturday so that some loving family will find him and take them into their lives. If he doesn't get adopted, he comes back to me to stay until next Saturday. If he does...then he goes home with that family...and I never see him again.
This fostering program is really a great way to get the benefit of having an animal in your life without having to own one. I am just not in the place in my life right now that I can think about having a dog...but I can FOSTER one!
Okay - back to work...but when I get more pictures of him I will post them!
Honestly...we weren't even hit that bad. There were so many places that were completely demolished. This is the ironic part...Ivan and Dennis are taking the same exact path towards Orange Beach:
* Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, first published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, has won the following awards:
* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has won the following awards:
* Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban has won the following awards: 
* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has won the following awards:
