Reminiscing...

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.

stop begging...gosh!!!

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!

these are the semi-panoramic shots of my cube. i have my art hanging or resting on both sides of my cube walls - so that i can be influenced by a creative flair. pictures of friends are on my desk and on the walls in front of my computer...brittany that's you and me by my desk in the frame! i know you won't read this...but whatever.

on the right hand side you will notice a big blue and yellow poster. that is the timeline of "my company". very interesting. very interesting. In the right hand corner there is my counseling chair. that's where i fire all the employees that cross me the wrong way. through that glass window (also on the right) is tom. In front of me, sits jeanne. Across from jeanne is dp.

g.r.i.t.s. or girls raised in the south

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....

You scored higher than 93% of test takers on "southernpoints."


stjude579 on The Southerner test Test written by Ok Cupid

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!

my visit to the e.r.

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.

whoops

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.

tea for two

"throughout india, chai wallahs can be found serving up steaming cups of sweetly spiced chai to wandering souls. you're with them now."

i have discovered my favorite tea. really, i enjoy many teas...i am not picky as i am with coffee. coffee has to be perfect to my specifications. i am not saying that i would send it back - i wouldn't do that! but tea and i have a somewhat love/hate relationship.

i'm from the south (obviously) so tea loving is as much a birthright as it is a social responsibility! we love tea in alabama, where i grew up, and here in tennessee, where i abide now. i am just not sure that i would survive without sweet tea. and, just so you know, every southern woman worth anything, knows how to make the perfect pitcher of sweet tea.

i digress. i was talking about my new favorite tea, and by this i mean hot tea. tazo chai tea is made with organically grown black tea, ginger root, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, cloves and star anise. it is medium-flavored, yet full bodied, with a sweet spicy aroma that is in the style of the "hill-dwellers of the himalayas"...yup, that's direct from the website, which is really fun i might add. you can even have your tea leaves read. mine said that i should stay away from taking a bath and listening to the radio at the same time. maybe someone is trying to kill me?

my serving suggestion ~ i like to use non-dairy creamer or soy milk (some might like creamer but i am lactose intolerant). add a packet of sugar (i like equal or splenda). i let mine steep for about five minutes.

a note on all ingredients ~ a little bit goes a long way, so don't go crazy, don't ruin chai's natural flavors.

flipping

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

better pour me another

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.

flirting at work? i wouldn't...

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!

feeding my addiction

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.

my favorite ad campaign

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

stuff on my cat.

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:

I Buy Bottled Water and Then Refill It.

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.

This Fish

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!

My Favorite Places - Nashville

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!

Interesting...

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.