Two... Four... Six... and another bridesmaid job becomes Eight!

Yes indeed! I have been asked once again to be a bridesmaid and I'm thrilled! Lucky number eight is for my friend Amanda who I've known since college. We were both transfer students and she had a really cool belt. Anywho, I thought I'd take this opportunity to walk down memory lane and list all of the weddings I've been a part of as a bridesmaid (there would be too many to count if you included personal attendants, planner and reading jobs I've also done!)

Jenni (Hayes) Smith & Aaron Smith
Jenni and I met in high school ... this was the first bridesmaid experience I had and boy was it fun! My hair was another story...

PHOTO COMING SOON

Jackie (Lamprecht) Acosta-Trejo & Will Acosta-Trejo
I met Jackie at Creighton and she pulled me into the pi phi chapter there and became my friend forever! It was her wedding where "Breaking News Live from Sarah" originated from... (I'm in the top right hand corner)

Katie (Shillito) Larson & Andy Larson
Also friends since high school, this wedding included a lot of dancing and singing of camp songs... from what I remember...


Molly (Crouchley) Cihal & Dave Cihal
I met Molly in college as well. She is my "birthday twin"! We were both born on the exact same day at the exact same time in the exact same city. You will often find us wearing the same outfit, driving the same car or shopping at the Gap. All accidental of course! This is also the only bridesmaid's dress I've worn again (it was for Halloween when I dressed as a flapper).
Erin Costello (Baker)
This was for my cousin Erin's wedding. We've been best friends all of our lives and I was honored to travel to North Carolina for her wedding. I also came in handy at the last minute and did everyone's hair - including the brides!


Kelly (Lukas) Dennis
Aww - my sweet sister finally getting married. This is where I made my debut as maid of honor and gave the best speech ever (if I do say so myself!) It was a mix of emotions for me that day... I had planned the wedding, was sad to see my sister go, was elated she was so in love and oh ya ... didn't get a wink of sleep the night before and broke up with my boyfriend. Ooops. She tells me I'll get revenge at my wedding when she announces to everyone she's pregnant. :)

Nicole (Chambers) Cook
This wedding was lucky number 7 and also where I earned my title as "most creative in using a bridesmaid dress" when I figured out that the wrapping in the middle could double as a pocket and a drink holder. We were at the bar where Nicole, Tyler and I went out on our first date. Well, it was their first date, I just came along as the wingwoman. This is also where I told Tyler at the end of the date "now this is where you ask for Nicole's number." Obviously - the rest is history!

Next up: Amanda Gartner (soon to be Oliver)

... to be continued!

One of the Luckiest Girls Alive!

Okay girls - I've listened to you, been there for you and got excited for you when good things happened to you ... but now ... it's my turn to gush!

So today is Shawn and I's 1 month anniversary (I know - silly - but what fun is life if you can't celebrate the little things?) ... so we have big plans tonight but he wouldn't tell me what they were (since I like surprises).

So around 10 a.m. he visited me at my office and brought me this gift:

I'm sure you're looking at it and going - what in the heck is that? Well in it, was this card:
Like most, I'm sure you can't read it so here is what it says:
Our 1st Month's Grocery List Sarah & Shawn

Bread: so that we never know of hunger
(a loaf of bread was in the bag)

Wine: bringing spirituality and laughter
(my FAVORITE wine was in the bag)

Bowl of Cherries: remembering that this is what life should always be like
(a bowl of cherries was in the bag)



Butter & Jelly: to smooth out any challenges we may face together
(apple butter and jelly (jarred) were in the bag)

Oranges: may our lives grow together more fruitful day by day
(2 oranges were in the bag)

Flowers: so that we never forget our true colors
(a dozen roses were in the bag)

Time: for all the cherishable moments we can will together

Also ... one of my favorite parts is something that is totally me... it was this bag of chips with a note that says "because you're all that too"
And the best part: our surprise date is revealed...

I can't even tell you how excited I am and how LUCKY I feel to be treated so well, surprised so much and cared for by so many... thanks for letting me tell my story. I know it will be continued...

When One Door Closes ... Another One Opens...

As per usual, it's been "decades" since I've updated you on all of my crazy adventures - and there are many to be told! But I think the most exciting news is that I have a new man in my life. He's pretty wonderful I must admit... and as much as I'm trying not to get too excited about it - I must say - I have never met anyone who has met me on so many levels... intelligence, humor, accents, skill, agility ... and ... he treats me like a princess. :)

I must say - life is pretty perfect right now. I'm gonna "ride the wave" as long as I can... more soon and definitely more to come as things develop!

See you on the flip side!

One of the WORST dates ever

Once again, I've been drop-kicked back into the dating world. I'm not exactly happy to be here, but I figure if it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be - so I guess we'll see what fate has in store for me. Upon my arrival back into the dating world four and a half years later, I made it a point to BROADCAST that I was single to everyone and their brother. Thinking back - this may not have been the best approach. As with this comes many blind date offers. Take for example, one of the WORST blind dates I've ever had a few weeks ago. I should have known it was going to be bad as one of my friends - friends set it up. I'd only met her a few times but she figured she knew me well enough to "know my type" and "set me up." I always look at blind dates as the worst case scenario as how bad could it be? If it's that bad - I'll have a HILARIOUS story to tell. And with this one - that I did.

So to begin - his name was a combination of my 2 ex-boyfriends (first name - the same as my first ex; last name - the same as my most recent ex)... I should have seen the red flag there but no - I kept going. We emailed a bit back and forth and talked on the phone too. He seemed pretty normal. He told me he was an accountant, was 5'10", blue eyes and blonde hair. I figured it couldn't be too bad. Well - I was wrong. He ended up taking me to a local keno parlor FOR DINNER. Granted, this could have been fun and funny if we were going to play keno or something - but no - this was for dinner. The conversation was okay - but he had a twitch... so I couldn't really look at him. Not that a twitch is/was bad... it was just distracting. He was also nowhere NEAR 5'10". I think he was lucky to be 5'4" and that's stretching it. He also would burst out randomly into weird 70's songs in the middle of conversations. And I mean LOUDLY. It was so awkward. And embarrassing. He also had about 8 beers - I'm not joking. One after the other, after the other, after the other... I was scared to ride home with this dude. The bill came and I paid for my own dinner too. Good thing it wasn't expensive I guess! More and more went on but those are the "highlights". Needless to say I haven't gone on any more blind dates and I don't plan to for awhile. But like I said... worst case... a HILARIOUS story ensues!

Always a Bridesmaid... Not Yet a Bride...

So this past weekend I was in yet another wedding... this one was number SEVEN for me. Yes, number 7. Everyone I tell this stat to says "you're only 20 more away from the movie!" I always laugh and think - if they only knew that that movie is the STORY OF MY LIFE... I can only hope that one day I'll too find my prince charming and live happily ever after like the main character does.

But all jokes and movie references aside - call me crazy - but I actually LIKE being a bridesmaid. There is a certain power you hold when you wear a bridesmaid dress and everyone looks to you to either get the party started, solve any crisis that arises and look perfect and calm while doing it. I think too that my bridesmaid experiences are all a testament to the type of friend I am... caring, loyal, a good listener and ALWAYS there. Plus, who doesn't love to get their hair and makeup done and look great? Even if the dress is ugly? I'm not complaining...

When I'm not being a bridesmaid, I'm often asked to be the personal attendant. This is a job I am going to say no to in the future as the last time I was a personal attendant (I've been one 3 times), I was asked/forced to drive all over a city I wasn't familiar with running errands the day of the wedding and then drag a cooler full of beer for the wedding party about 8 blocks... in heels... Then at the reception - the mother of the bride asked me to "stand guard" at the gift table while the rest of the party went on. Halfway through the wedding guess who got to take ALL of the presents out to the car (while still in her heels)? Yes. Me. Again - no more personal attendant duties unless I get to just look pretty and party. I would rather be a reader in that case.

Everyone always asks if I've ever worn a bridesmaid dress a second time and the truth is yes - but just one... and it was for Halloween. I was a 40's girl and the dress just happened to look as if it was from the 40's era. Otherwise, they're all tucked away nicely dry-cleaned in the back of my closet. They'll most likely stay there and remind me of the memories of the great times and friendships I've had.

So here's looking towards number 8... I figure there are only about 4 more friends who would deem me "bridesmaid worthy" for their weddings so I'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I'm hoping I'll "trip and fall in love" too so that I can have all (20) of my closest friends stand with me on my day too... and in a dress they'll happily never wear again.

From Crappiness to Creepy: Stories from the Bar Scene

So my newfound single freedom has forced me back into the bar scene. I swear I'm getting too old for this but thankfully there are some entertaining people that keep me at it. Besides, I'm not going to meet anyone - especially a husband - if I stay home every night am I?

So NYE 2009 ... I thought I would be miserable. How annoying ... I was single and all of my friends were hanging out with their boyfriends/fiances/husbands/families and I was all alone. Not to worry though - my sister and her husband rescued me and invited me to dinner and a couples party they were having. I didn't care - I refused to stay home.alone.on new years eve 2009.

So we partied at their house for awhile when we decided to get out and go to a bar (thank goodness - I needed some entertainment!) It was fun and pretty low key... around 1130 we meet these 2 guys. They're nice enough to talk to me and one of them whom my sister and I have nicknamed "Brett the Blowfish" because he was tall; yes... but a little on the puffy side. And I don't mean fat when I say puffy... I mean puffy. Red and puffy like a crab rangoon shell. I think he must have been drinking since noon that day or something.

So Brett the Blowfish and I continue talking and as the night progresses he asks if I want to hang out/post party at their house. I politely declined and said - you don't even remember my name I bet... why would I come over? I was right - he had no idea what my name was. And before that - the best part... he answered my other question (why would I come over/what would we do?) matter of factly and said...

"Well if you come over we will listen to 80's music and drink beer."

Wow... how romantic. Needless to say I did not go to after hours party at their house and hopefully I never run into "Brett the Blowfish" anytime again soon.

New Year. New Stories!

Oh my gosh friends! It has been WAY too long since I updated this and my do I have lots to share!

First off - I got a NEW JOB! And I love, love, love it. It was hard to leave the other one but in order to grow we must experience change. The new job was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up! I miss my other job and the people that work there. I also miss knowing a lot of the information and where the staples and the bathrooms are - but I'll get there with my new job eventually. I just know it!

Second of all - no more bootcamps but a new diet program entirely! It's through a hospital so it's pretty drastic (I eat meal replacements and fruit and veggies only) but it's given me drastic results! So far - 15 pounds in 7 weeks which is good for me when I couldnt barely lose 5 lbs in 6 months! I'll keep you updated.

Thirdly - I should start a new blog titled: "From Crappiness to Creepy: Stories from the Bar Scene." I am not joking you - I have met some of the most INTERESTING people over the last month and my, my the stories I have!

Okay. Happy New Year! Happy Blogging! Happy Everything!

A Solution

And just real quick - a quip and a suggestion. I've now switched to starbucks. I like their lattes better. But here is my problem with Starbucks. The line - no matter what time of morning I go - is always miles long! It's really frustrating. And you know why that line is so long? You pull up to order and the people in the window have a 5 minute conversation with you on how your day is going - how do I know how it's going? I just woke up and now I need some coffee so I can function at work. Don't talk to me. Then after you order they suggest about 5 other items on their menu that you could possibly buy to add to your coffee. So here's my suggestion. STOP TALKING. Take my order, my money, give me my coffee and let me start my day on time. Although it's a nice gesture - I think they could make their lines way shorter and increase their effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

An Update. Topic: My Life

I'd like to give a shout out to Amanda for reminding me I need to update this. My life has been crazy. Not a very good few weeks. Here's an update - bullet point style:

• Erik (my boyfriend) and I broke up. Over chinese food. My life is a Seinfeld episode. Need I say more other than I am very sad but I know that God will lead both of us to what is best? At least that is my hope. In the meantime, if you're looking for a girl to hang out with, go to dinner with, go a movie with, babysit your kids etc. I am now available.
• I'm STILL writing my thesis. Make that RE-writing my thesis. It's crap but my interviews are done so now I can really dig in. Nevermind the professor who told me I didn't have any writing skills (note the re-write part)
• I just work and sleep. But on Thursday's I'm taking a calligraphy class. If you need someone to address your wedding invites or christmas cards - I'm where it's at. I've got time and now - I have the skillz.

That's it for now. Although now that I am "single" again - maybe I'll have some enchanting love stories. Or horrible first date stories. Although I doubt it but you never know. This thing is titled from crappiness to happiness. I'm back into the crappiness hoping and praying that someday... I'll find happiness. :)

I am a freaking sitcom character

I've been thinking about this post and its glorious entrance into the web world for quite some time now... well... since yesterday morning when I RAN A MILE. Well, at least I think so. We had to run 2.3 miles and I ran most of it; and walked some of the rest. I was so proud of myself. To think - all I needed was a knee brace and an inhaler and I can do it! And I did it - but I felt like such a goon. I took the shortest route and at the end of the race I came running in with my hands up, my knee brace on - waving my inhaler - I had just gone from 28 years old to approximately 72... maybe my gramma reggie was with me in spirit because I feel like that's something she would have done. But in the end - I'm proud of myself... because I didn't give up, I didn't give excuses and I ran most of the way. I just wanted to share. Thanks for being proud of me too.

Now back to my thesis - and for those of you keeping count - I'm up to page 21 now... only 60 more or so to go! Rock.On.Oh.Yah.

And a Happy Day to You Too Mr.Coffee Man!

So every morning I treat myself to a nonfat latte at my all time favorite coffee place... . I also love it because they have a new person working the windows every day that I go... so my fear of them saying "oh lord - here comes that girl again with the bright lipstick, correct change and beat up car"... so anywho ... my story. Usually these people aren't that entertaining. Just your usual college kid up early trying to make a few bucks at the coffee shop. Well today - not only was I in for a surprise but a greeat source of entertainment!

There are 2 windows... you pay at one... pick up your coffee at the other. Oh and one other thing I must add as a prep to the story - you usually pay and then you drive to the next window and they shove your coffee at you and say - thanks have a great day! and you drive off... okay so back to my story.

The first window is the same as always. New person but nothing new. The second window. I'm waiting for my coffee for a few minutes and out of nowhere - a younger guy with brown hair and a beard opens the window, looks at me, gives me a giant smile, holds my coffee up to his side (like a vanna white pose) and says "Tall skinny latte no whip?" and then gives me this smirk. Then I say "yep! that's me!" (what? what an idiot I am - yep that's me? to coffee?) He gladly swoops the coffee at me and I'm off.

But anywho - this story was so much funnier in person. I wish you all could have been there. Um yah.

Knee Update

Great news - I've figured out that if I wear a knee brace, warm up 5 minutes on the treadmill before going to bootcamp (I now wake up at 4:50 a.m. everyday), take my painkiller and inhale the medicine from my inhaler - that I can run! I can jump! I can lunge! My knee is like new. Which is great... it's not like new just yet really; it's still sore; but at least now I can walk and keep on keepin' on. As a side note - how dumb is this - I've been working out and eating less but have managed to gain 4 lbs. What on earth?! My sister and I are going to do a detox thing. I'll let you know how it goes! :)

p.s. how lame is my life that all I have to report on is my weight gain, gimp knee and meds I'm taking. ... wow ...

In Need of a Motivation Sensation

So I have a new obsession - my thesis. Although it's not really an obsession; it's just more of a thing that I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY MIND. I think about it all day and night. At work. At home. At social functions. In fact, I'm sitting here right now admist books and articles and propsals and I can't do anything but... update my blog. :) I'm also babysitting and dead tired so that could also have something to do with it. But still. I can hardly wait until it's all over with and I'll have nothing to think about except what shall I have for dinner?

I've got 7 pages written so far though... it's a start - eh?

Bootcamp Back Again

Well, I went to bootcamp on Thursday when it started up again - although this time I'm doing it through a different company. It was great! Until my knee went out. Yes. We had to run 2 miles cold turkey (no warming up or anything) so my knee definitely did not like that. It was great... the rest of the day I couldnt walk and I was the second to last one to finish the jog. I went to the dr's to get it checked out and apparently I have tendinitis in my knee. I'm to get a knee brace, not run and take some anti-inflammatories. I'll let you know the status... I'm just bummed... i need to work out and run! I'll keep ya'llz posted.

Things are Looking Up!

What's up party people? Sorry for the lack of updates in oh - the last 2 months! The good news is - things are looking up and I always knew tomorrow would be brighter. Here's a rundown of an update:

- Erik and I are talking! Working on things and taking it day by day. Yay! Breaking up is still hard to do but things are nice when they actually do start to work out :)

- Only 4 months until I have to turn in my thesis. I haven't really started working on it - that'll be this weeks project I hope! I plan to turn into a hermit and finish it by Thanksgiving. Wish me luck!

- I havent worked out since Kelly's wedding (and have gained like 20 lbs - no joke!) so I start a new bootcamp next week. Ill try and keep you updated in between writing, working, traveling for work and workin' out

- I also moved into my rents house for a year. It's been an adjustment (answering to my dad about where I'm going, when I'll be home and why am I not working on fridays?) but they do have a nice pool and I'm hoping to save some money.

I think that's it for now. I really want to get back into writing so I hope that I will continue to write on here more and more regularly.

In the meantime, I'll try and think of some funny stories to post. Love you all!

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do...

(deep breath)... So Erik (my boyfriend and I) broke up and boy does it suck big time. Never in a million years would I thought I would ever have a break up in my life... I went through one and I thought that would do me in for good... but alas, here I am again - alone, single, solo - you know the drill. I also seem to have things happen to me at the worst time. Not only did we end up breaking it off on the night of my sisters wedding; but it was only 5 days before my birthday... so I'll start my 28th year of life just as I came into it - single. On the bright side of things - maybe now I'll have more exciting things to talk about and blog about. I'm sure I'll continue to meet my share of random guys and can add lines to one of my books titled "the worst pick-up lines ever" or maybe we'll get back together or maybe I'll meet mr. perfect - not just mr. right - I have pretty high standards ya know :) For now, I'm taking one day at a time, remembering that I'm number one; and trying to remember that it's no good to live life sobbing all day in bed. So here's to my 28th year - a one where I have no idea where it will take me - but whatever it does... it'll be a surprise.

Round 6 ~ Not Going So Well...

It's t minus 23 days until my sister's wedding and I'm in my 6th round of bootcamp. However, even though I'm in the 3rd week - I think I've only been able to go for 4 days. I had the flu, went to South Carolina for my cousin's wedding (which is an entirely different story I'll share), came back and it's been RAINING here for 5 days straight! I'm petrified of getting sick before the wedding so I don't go when it's raining. That and I had nachos and an ice cream cone for my meals today... this isn't looking so good... I better kick my rear in gear. Blah. I hope it doesnt rain tomorrow so I can workout! Blah. wow - this post went downhill fast

I think I've bruised my abs...

Well, not really - I mean, I don't even know if it's possible to bruise one's abs - just from doing sit ups... but I've done enough in the past 2 1/2 weeks that I think I may have internally bruised them. I'm in for the long haul this week and next - going to bootcamp every day and my abs - they are a feeling it. I can sit down now though - which to me is a major improvement. I'll keep you updated - until then, it just hurts to breathe!

Bootcamp ~ Round 5

After a week of illness, lots of eating out and only t minus 3 months to wedding wonderland (my cousins and my sisters - not mine), I began another round of bootcamp. Only this time - it's back outside. Remember I live in Nebraska - so this morning at 4:5o am it was SNOWING. And I couldn't find my hat. I was in for the long haul.

It actually wasn't too bad! This group has some older ladies in it (read, I won't be the last runner in the pack) so that made me feel better and I felt very much accomplished as this time I was able to run the usual 2 laps we begin with without passing out and without walking! I was also the 3rd from the front. Quite an improvement from the last camp in which I always came in last, had to walk most of the laps and thought I would faint just after warming up.

I also got some handy dandy new running shoes which make me feel like the wind (cue - she's like the wind song from dirty dancing). I thought they were hurting my back, but when I'm actually running in them - they're terrific. All I could think was the song by Paola Nutini "I've got my new shoes on, and everything is all right".

Alas - it was a good start to the bootcamp - hopefully I'll continue to improve, firm up and lose some weight while I'm at it too.

As always - I'll keep you posted.

Only To Me...

If there is anything my friends can count on from me - it's a damn good laugh. For instance - last night while having mexican food and margaritas - I happened to spill my purse under the table. Now it's not just any table - it's a small booth with the table nailed into the wall and there is not much room to move. You must also know that I am known for carrying some of the biggest purses possible (I have a lot of stuff okay?!) so not only did my purse spill all over the grungy floor of mexican restaurant - but it took all 4 of us to gather my things up and put them back in my giant bag. At least my friends were rolling around on the floor because it was so funny - and thanks to them for helping me pick up my stuff too. :)

Friends...

I just wanted to say how blessed I am to have so many caring, awesome, wonderful friends! Thank you to all of you for giving me advice, standing by my side, listening to me, cheering me on, laughing with me and sometimes at me and for being able to get together at a moment's notice! I love you all and am so excited to have you as a part of my life! THANK YOU!

I have found my match...

There are only a few "ah ha" moments that I have had in my life and the most recent ones involve my boyfriend Erik. This is why I know we're meant to be together - forever...



1. We had a serious discussion on how cool minivans are and how at some point in our lives, we will definitely own one - kids or not. They have tv's and swivel chairs in them now!



2. He sent a dozen roses to me at work on Valentine's Day - aka in my book as "Black Thursday" - he has renewed my love of Valentine's Day and has made me feel more loved than ever!



So this Bud's for you - awesome boyfriend Erik... this Bud's for you!

The Kitchen Gestapo

Holy Hairballs... if you ever want to make a bunch of people mad - heat up your lunch in the microwave at 12:09 p.m. like I did today. Imagine one microwave for a floor of 80 people. Not good when everyone else brings a microwave meal. And then they give you the evil eye and when you're done they crowd around you to get to the microwave. Geesh! From now on... peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches for me!

Welcome to "Cube Land"

As many of you know - I lost my luxurious, corner office with windows when our entire division moved from main campus to a building on the edge of the edge of campus. No longer do I have my office - but now a shoebox - I mean a cube to work in. In all honesty though - it's not as bad as I thought. Besides, now I can throw paper airplane notes at people and that's always entertaining.

Speaking of airplanes - this place reminds me of a huge intercontinental jet. Let me tell you why:

• there is always a quiet hum of a fan going so it sounds like a plane
• It's cold in here and my feet are always freezing. Just like in a plane!
• The building shakes... just like a plane does
• The aisles between the seats, I mean the cubes are about as big as those in planes
• people walk the aisles for excercise... just like on planes!
• there are snakes in here - just like on planes! (kidding)
• the people sitting next to you are always loud and annoying
• the bathrooms smell
• this place is about as big as a plane with 600 people jammed in it
• the phone rings sound like the beeps on planes when the pilot pages the flight attendant

I'm sure there are more - I'll continue when necessary.

Enjoy!

3 Down... 4th Round...

Yep, I did it. I signed up for a FOURTH ROUND of bootcamp. I think I have completely lost my mind but when I have a week off in between... I miss it... so I sign up again. It's like some weird sort of addiction. Which I guess is a "good" addiction if you're addicted to working out because then at least you're doing something good for your body.

And then, because I'm not crazy, tired or sore enough from the 5:30 a.m. workouts 3 times a week, I've decided to add some gym time on to that in the evenings. I'm looking for results here folks. The wedding (my sister's) is in less than 6 mo's and I've GOT to fit into that dress.

I'll keep you posted if you're interested.

Until next time !

Oh My Thighs

I don't understand why we must do 1 million squats in bootcamp today - my thighs are big enough - I don't need them bigger!

Here's to another day of being unable to walk...

The Wrath of Bootcamp Returns

So it's only been 2 days since I've been back in the swing of things with bootcamp and already... I CAN'T WALK. I swear to you - I'm moving slower than a turtle and can't sit down or stand up.

It's mostly my thighs. They feel like they have bruises all over the place and every time I move - the pain flares up. I hope I never get old - I feel like this might be a look into the future.

I hope my thighs at least lose a few inches!

Mouse in the House

One of the things I am afraid of is mice. Ew. Yuck. I don't like them. So you can imagine my distraught when I was changing the water cooler at work and there was a dead one, stuck, stretched out and dead on a sticky trap at work. Let me just tell you - I just about lost my lunch. 4 days later - it's still haunting me that poor little rhodent. And now, I think there is a dead one in my office - I've concluded it's dead inside of my radiator because every time the heat comes on - the stench gets worse. Again. Ew and gross. Guess there are some bright sides to moving to another office building into a cube.

Bootcamp ~ Round 3

Well bootcamp round 3 began today and this time inside - thank goodness! Instead of running laps outside at a parking lot in the dark, I now get to run laps inside of a gradeschool in the bright, blaring lights while admiring artwork from the little ones on the walls.

I felt like I was going to puke today - but I did run the entire time - I didn't let myself walk... let's see if this bootcamp kicks into the weight loss!

Stay tuned for updates!

The Wednesday Before Turkey Day

I don't have much to write as it's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I think I'm the only living soul who is actually at work today and not at home cooking. Oh well. I'm getting my haircut tonight and I'm really excited. I"m going to cut it short for the holidays. Don't tell my cousin or my sister though - as I'm supposed to be growing it out for their weddings this Spring. I should be working on my 15 page paper about facial transplantations too - but I'm not. Oooh - the chinese we ordered for lunch just arrived.

Until next time my dear friends. And this thanksgiving - I'm thankful for all of you!

Happy Holidays?

I'd just like to comment on the fact that Omaha believes that it is December 12 and not November 12... as it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you turn, people have Christmas lights on their houses, huge trees in their windows and christmas music playing on the radio!

I just have one question...

WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING?!

Seriously - I know people are in a hurry to get things done and over with in today's society - but for heaven's sake - can you at least wait until November 23 to put up your holiday garb?

That's all I have for now. Until next time.

Another Camp Done...

Well, Adventure Bootcamp phase II is officially over. I ended it yesterday - complete with a nice pull in my lower back. So I couldn't move yesterday and I can't move today.

I also signed up for a program here at work called CU on the Scale. You get a team together a la "The Biggest Loser" and see who can lose the most. I haven't lost anything so we'll see if there are any results. I'll post them here if you're interested.

Otherwise - a weekend full of work. Our National Board is in town. Yehaw. I just love my life (even though that sounded sarcastic - I really do love my life! Hooah!)

I.Can't.Move.

My body is screaming at me... "WHY Did you decide that bootcamp would be a good idea you idiot?! I hate you! Take me back to sleep!"

I can't barely walk or move and I have discovered muscles I have that I didn't know exsisted... and this is only day 3 of round 2...

Getting Your Masters is Overrated...

... I've decided. Seriously, the LAST thing I want to do on top of everything else is research face transplants, prepare a discussion, outline, presentation and 20 page paper on it for next week! Meanwhile, I am also not so interested in The Importance and Function of Food in the book, The Joy Luck Club however I must write 10 pages on that subject too. by next week. And did I mention I'm planning an event for 150 people on Thursday as well?

It is times like these I want to take a "sabbatical" on school work because ya know what? I think it's overrated!

Thanks for listening to my rant... I just hate homework -

Round 2...

Well, today started "Round 2" of bootcamp and my I was NOT ready for it. Last week I didn't work out one bit and ate whatever the heck I felt like... now my body is laughing at me.... I should NOT have done that!

And the worse thing is - there is only 5 people in this bootcamp session as opposed to the 55 that were in it last session. This means that I am the one who is running in the back of the group... I'm coming in last. Perhaps this is just a bit more motivation to not come in last but seriously when I'm running and I can't breathe - it's time to walk and I don't care. Come to think of it... who cares if I'm walking! Hmph!

I'm sure I'll thank myself later for signing up for this again - but right now I feel like I could just use the extra sleep...

The Results Are In... VICTORY!

Today was the last day of my 4 week bootcamp. I want to thank everyone who has been there along the way to support me! A special thanks to my sister Kelly who made me sign up in the first place and for telling me to keep going when I wanted to walk instead of run... I didn't think I'd see much improvement but to my surprise I did! The results are in...

We ran the mile today and I was able to knock off 1 minute and 9 seconds from my first time! A huge deal for me as I DO NOT run - let alone a mile! I really pushed myself today... go me!

For my measurements...

• I lost 5 pounds! (who knew?!)
• I lost 3.9% body fat (which is a huge deal apparently)

Measurements

• Left Arm: down .25
• Right Arm: down .25
• Chest: down .5
• Waist: down 1.5
• Hips: Down 1.75
• Left upper leg: down .5
• Right upper leg: down 1

Fat Measurement

• Triceps: Down 4
• IL (I think this is waist?): down 7
• Abs: down 10 (!)
• Thighs: Down 5

The trainer said I have tied for first place for the person who has improved the most in measurements for the camp... again! Who knew?! I'm so excited to now sleep and eat!

I'll post more when it starts all over again in a week! (I did end up signing up for the October Express Halloween Camp - you should too!)

Happy Friday!

Cheater, Cheater Pumpkin Eater!

Today was the day before the last day of bootcamp - the last day is on Friday and I'm almost sure I'll have to run the mile again so I'm trying to get myself "pumped up" for that... right. Today at any rate, there was a new lady next to me and I caught her cheating! Truly she's really only cheating herself because by not doing the excercises, she's setting herself back but still!

We were doing these things called zen pushups where you take 2 dumbbells and do a pushup, then you get up and push your arms forward and then your arms up and back down for a pushup for 2 and then 3 and then 4 and so on... well she was getting done WAY before I was and I couldn't figure out why! Until I watched and she wasn't doing the pushup and then she was only extending her arms up - not out and up! P'shah! The nerve!

Again - she's just hurting herself by not doing the excercies... but still! :)

1 Liter Bottle of Water and Other Tall Stories...

So today is the beginning of the last week of bootcamp. I can't believe I've made it this far! But proud of myself for doing so. I haven't lost any weight (blasted!) but I've definitely toned up and can even show anyone my arm muscles who asks. :)

This weekend I spent 3 hours at the grocery store (I'm not kidding - ask my boyfriend Erik who I drug with me and was so spent by the end of it he needed a smoke break) and decided to buy a water bottle that held 1 liter of water. They say you're supposed to drink 2 liters of water a day so I thought cool! Ill get one of these, drink 2 and be set!

Might I say this is not a good idea to drink half of it before bootcamp even starts? Oh yes - that's what I did and today I thought I was going to EXPLODE with water 1o minutes in. Thankfully, I didn't but I certainly learned my lesson!

It was raining again today so my mat was soaked and so was I*. Now all I have to look forward to is running a mile again and pushing a car.

Oh joy!
*Note: I was soaked because it was raining out - not because I peed my pants. I didn't pee my pants; I just thought about it

Now THIS is bootcamp!

So I wake up this morning at 4:50 a.m. (my usual time to get up for bootcamp) and it is STORMING out... I mean pouring down rain, thunder, lightening - the whole bit. I'm thinking to myself "why am I going to get up and go to bootcamp and find out it's cancelled?" But I figure, oh well I mine as well just show up. So I drive there in the pouring rain, get there and everyone is sitting in their cars... finally the rain lets up and everyone gets out and we start stretching. Our leader gets a call from her boss saying he cancelled their camp... so she asks us if we want to cancel ours and some lady says "no way! we're already here!" she had a good point but I was looking forward to going home for some extra sleep! Oh well.

So we stretched out and then ran in the pouring rain for a half hour. Stopping every 4 minutes to do calisthenics... all I could think while I was running in the pouring rain with my pants, shoes, socks and whole self soaked... now THIS is bootcamp! Huah!

My First Bootcamp Injury...

I can't move my head, my neck, my left arm or anything that includes my back. I now know how people who throw their back out feel - HORRIBLE! And I couldn't sleep... word on the street is that bootcamp is HORRID tomorrow - I hope I can at least move by then or I might just be lifting weights in my head...

Bootcamp is not my friend

bootcamp today sucked hard core. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't really feel like going in the first place (I didn't get much sleep over my wild weekend) or if because my body just doesnt like to run... it tells me this everyday mind you but I like to try and ignore it... but today - I couldn't ignore it yelling at me to STOP with the running already!

We had to do an obstacle course which consisted of running one lap around the stupid parking lot (it doesnt sound bad but it is - this parking lot is deceiving - it has hidden hills and stinky outhouses - barf!) then after that jumping over hurdles, squatting and running from cone to cone and then stepping through some ladder thing. I could barely breathe let alone do an obstacle course so I admit I was half assing it -- then I got yelled at by the trainer for doing the ladder wrong so I had to do it again. Today - me and my body are mad at bootcamp. On the upside - I felt better for working out. Now for a nap this evening. :)

"Don't Do Anything I Wouldn't Do..."

This weekend marked many firsts in my life in which I'm not quite sure how I made it 27 without doing some of them. They include:

• visiting a winery/vineyard (p.s. My boyfriend Erik ROCKS who took me there. Love him to death)
• stealing a road block barrell complete with iridescent striping
• attending Oktoberfest
• walking through a drive thru

I think my favorite of those stories is walking through a drive thru at 3 a.m. ... it was taco bell and we were hungry! We got lots of honks from cars - I like to think it was because I'm so cute and people wanted to tell me that from their cars. :)

Umpah! But now if I ever have kids and I say "don't do anything I wouldn't do" they know it's okay to walk through a drive-thru at 3 a.m in the morning

Halfway There...

Today marked the halfway point to being done with bootcamp. I think today was worse then last Friday when we ran the mile. Today we did weights, push ups, ran up hills, down hills, sprinted, ran with bands, and had to sit with our legs at 90 degree angles up against a latrine wall.

Do you ever have "movie moments"? I do and I had one today at approximately 5:52 a.m. in that the music was blaring and I went from ice skater jumps, to tae bo kicks down to push ups. And as I was sitting up against the latrine wall after sprinting up a hill and jump jacking for 5 minutes I thought to myself "this must be what concentration camp was like... those poor, poor people."

Anywho - with my halfway mark I've sucessfully lost 2 lbs (we'll see if it stays off), built my arm muscle definition a bit more and can now run the entire 2 laps we do as warm up (I usually have to walk the second half) so for me - that's an accomplishment!

I'm excited to sleep this weekend and just RELAX my muscles so I can start walking normally again.

Happy Friday!

Shape Up... or Ship Out!

As my official bridesmaids duties approach yet again (this time for my cousin in May in Mexico and my sister Kelly in June) I've decided I need to do something to kick this old body of mine into high gear... so my friends, I decided to be brave and sign up for "adventure boot camp". A camp that lasts for 4 weeks, 3 days a week that begins at 5:30 a.m. (for all of you that know what a GREAT morning person I am - you know that this is really reaching above and beyond my capabilities!) Granted, I'm still waiting for the "adventure part" to kick in, but hey - I accomplish more before 6 am 3 days a week than most people do all day so I figure that's got to be worth something, right?

This is about as exciting as my life has been in awhile for in between times, I just work about 80 hours a week and do homework for my 2 grad classes (one more to go and a thesis and I'm done!) and oh ya, sometimes - I get to see my boyfriend Erik which is always a nice surprise. Anywho - so I will try and blog about bootcamp. I've got one from today which reminded me more of concentration camp rather than bootcamp. Stay tuned!

Greeting Card Grumblings

Human behavior is so interesting to me. I just love to watch people and their actions, their interactions with each other and behaviors they have. Take for instance, my experience this evening at the super target. There I was in the card aisle trying to find that perfect graduation card for someone. Most people know about my deep love, affection and appreciation for greeting cards. It stems from my 4 year stint as a sales associate at Jan's Hallmark while in highschool. Anywho, I was just minding my own business looking for the perfect card and along comes this couple and while I'm reading a card they literally push me over, and come in front of me to read cards! Ugh! Then they don't move - they just stand there! Picking up cards and saying to each other "oh look at this one!" "this is a good one!" Meanwhile - I'm forced to look at the father's day cards just until they move. Finally they do and boy did I give them a dirty look. NO ONE interupts my card browsing! Seriously. some people and the nerve they have.

Always Watch before Washing!

I ask you -- what do a Drivers license... black leather steve madden high heels... black beaded earrings and my umbrella all have in common? Well, I have thrown each of these items accidently into my washing machine! Miraculously the washing machine still works, the ID is still readable and the heels are even wearable! Unfortunately, it's time for a new umbrella and earrings.

Serves me right just picking up an entire pile of clothes and throwing them in there. Next time - I'll look more closely!

Here's to washing your clothes! (and not other random objects!)

Am I THAT Lady?!

I swear that even though I am only a young 26 years of old - I am finding myself feel more and more like an 80 year old each day! Not only have I been called "ma'am" at least 12 times in the past week - but I think I may be turning into somewhat of a crotchety old lady who is irritated by everything and everyone and nothing ever seems to be right. I had this revelation when at midnight last night I submitted yet another work request to my apartment maintainence center. It read like this...

Dear Apartment Maintainace Man,

Please complete the following:

• spray for ants and spiders in the entryway and garage
• my disposal in my sink isn't working. Please fix it.
• The water in my bathtub is draining rather slowly. Please clear it.
• The ice dispenser on my freezer is broken for the 8th time in a row and even though you have replaced pre-mentioned ice dispenser - I wonder if it is the freezer door you need to fix because come to think of it - it stopped working after that was replaced

So now I feel bad and hope that when I get home today that all of my belongings aren't on the side of the street and death notes aren't placed anywhere!

If anything else - I'm probably just known to them as "that lady with too much time on her hands to complain about things!" But then I think - I pay a lot to live here - I have a right for them to fix everything! :)

MVC 2007 ~ A Multitude of Melodramas... and Tourney Champs!

All I have to say about MVC 2007 is THANK GOD the Jays Won because getting to St. Louis - wasn't easy. We had a blizzard in Omaha that slowed things down as well as a single engine jet plane ride without a bathroom and where the stewardess turned into the co-pilot with one single swoop. This is only the beginning though folks as I must consult with my counsel on the rest of the details but I'm going to start a running list so I don't forget all of the fun that was had at MVC 2007 ~ Whee!

• the mustache men
• talking to my new friend Nick Porter - you rock dude!
• new theme cheer: JIMPATJULIEMATT.... gooooooooooo jays!
• we are gonna SWEEP those salukis under the rug!
• Chasing Jackie and Will or Wackie and Jill with the broom
• Nicole's various encounters with the male anatomy
• getting hit on by 45 year olds
• Darrell Encounter number 38
• Awesome basketball seats
• Number One Champions
• stalking people like its our job - oh wait it IS our job
• bleeding faces on the outside of Sheraton
• scalping tickets
• familiar faces and places
• too many photos of me, nicole and me and emily
• dancing drama - this is our space - GET OUT!
• Adventures with drunken fish, thelma and louise
• working with LaDonna and Laqueeta
• taxi cab drivers giving us advice on how to drive in snow
• Drunken 15 year olds yelling at parents
• our new best friends: the funks, anthony toliver and nick porter - just to name a few
• oversized baggage - $25 anyone?
• New ways to the Billy Bluejay table topper
• no winter coats + parking 80 miles away = not a good idea
• taking taxi's to close places
• our weird friend Dan
• 45 gallons of Pabst Blue Ribbon
• being old

Giddy Up... Ching Ching... GO JAYS!

Only 1 more full day until P-A-R-T-Y time in St. Louis at the annual MVC basketball tournament! Or more formally known as - a perk to my job. This is an entire weekend dedicated to partying, drinking beer, making indecent signs to hold up at basketball games, seeing basketball games, passing out at basketball games, drinking from 10am until 2am yelling at famous and semi-famous people, jaywalking and you yourself becoming famous... whether its dancing on the street, passing out in a random hotel room with your coat on, taking hotel shuttles to and from hotels or being scared crapless at the top of the St. Louis Arch... It's time to return and this year I'm excited because many of my friends will be there too! Yahoo! It will almost be like a mini-reunion and MAN do I need that! Despite my working out at 5am for 2 weeks straight baby! I'm still stressed, crabby and needing a jolt from my winter time blues. I can almost guarantee with the combination of people that will be going it will be fun times for all. Now let's just see if I can sleep one night in my entire clothes (I'm talking shirt, jeans, COAT, boots, and clutch purse in hand) for a third year in a row! This time without a random guy next to me though.

As we said in 2003 and which I hope to bring back again in 2007...

GIDDY UP! CHING! CHING! GO JAYS!

What a cute kid...

I babysit for 2 boys every Tuesday... I love it - not only because I love kids but because they always seem to make me laugh. Take for example, the note that Stanley, age 6 left out for his parents today (they leave for Disney World tomorrow). It reads, verbatim...

before you two got here.

28:04 intill plane trip.

wake up, get breffitch at buger king, go to airport, and we'er out of here

Granted it's much cuter in his handwriting but it still makes me laugh. Ah - to be young again!

How I Ruined Nicole's Birthday...

Check out how I ruined Nicole's birthday... at least her photos... oops! Happy Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm sad, yet excited that I have crossed that road once again from calling Valentine's Day "Black Wednesday" to again calling it - Valentine's Day.

I began to hate Valentine's Day once I hit high school for it was there, an all girls high school, that Valentine's Day without a boyfriend was DEATH because everyone's boyfriend sent their girlfriend FLOWERS. They called names over the intercom out all day long to "come and get your flowers from the office"... you would wait longingly to hear your name over the intercom so you could pick your flowers up, carry them around with you all day so that everyone else could admire them (and be jealous of course)... but that day my name was called - never came. So from then on - I DESPISED Valentine's Day and began to wear all black on this day and give everyone the evil eye. Gladly though - I have since switched back to Valentine's Day being a day of happiness, love, flowers and candy - even though I still may not get flowers - it's the love that goes around that counts.

Happy Valentine's Day to all and to all a good night!

Now Here's Something Worth Blogging About!

I want everyone to be witness to this - I, Sarah, woke up today at FIVE AM to go and WORK OUT. I never in a million years would have thought that I would be able to do this - but I did - and I think I'll even want to do it again! Only once did I feel nauseous and want to quit but the rest of the time I was a pro! This day has ROCKED too! I'm sure I'll crash soon but until then - I love it!

My how things change

Here's me senior photo to the left... funny thing is that I thought I looked REALLY GOOD in this photo... you know, I layed out everyday for a tan, grew my hair out and even weenie rolled my bangs. Then I went home and wondered WHY I didn't have a boyfriend? I laugh! To the right is where I am today... just a SLIGHT improvement... no? (and I now have a boyfriend :))

I love MySpace!

Among other things... but seriously - since I have this problem of "stalking people"... well not stalking people but you know - I like to investigate and stay up on the scoop... find out people are connected etc. MySpace rocks for this! Not only could I tell you what ex-boyfriends from the 6th grade are doing but I can tell you who dated who and when, who is married, pregnant, out of work etc... I tell ya - this thing is like a highschool reunion without even showing up!
It's also fun to see how small the world really is. If you're super bored - check out my page sometime at:

http://www.myspace.com/stupendoussarah

Think, PINK!

I love the color pink and thus have switched my blog template to this color. We'll see how long this lasts before I want to puke pepto bismol up all over. :)

I wish...

While bored at work (don't worry - I have PLENTY to do... I just don't feel like doing it at 4:05 p.m. on Friday afternoon) I was looking through my friends' blogs and all I have to say is WOW and I wish I could do the same. I wish too to be creative and witty... but alas my life has sucked this out of me.

Oh well - what's a girl to do?

Lesson Learned!

So here's a lesson I learned the hard way - I went to get my regular eye exam and got to pick out new glasses... man, was I excited! I just love new accessories!

Well, I got my eye exam and they asked if I would like the option of using their new fancy schmancy machine instead of getting my eyes dialated the old fashion way. I said "sure" until they told me it'd be an extra $60 outta my pocket... so FORGET IT! You can dialate my eyes with the drops... ya - BAD idea because the following happened:

They asked me to pick out my frames while my eyes were dialating... I picked out what I thought were some nice brown tortoise shell glasses...they also had some zebra print inside which I thought was kinda fun and sassy. Well, that was a BAD idea because when I went to pick my glasses up a week later I realized that there were also sparkled gems all over the top, bottom and sides! Oh well, now I "sparkle" wherever I go... :)

I love you friends!

Just a general shout-out and thank you to all of my friends out there. I can't tell you how warm and fuzzy you make me feel when you email, call, text, send me a christmas card, leave a message for me on myspace or just quick say "what's up?" Thanks again! I only hope I'm as good of a friend to you as you are to me!

My New Year's Revolutions

Well, it's that time again... a new year... a fresh start... a time to make promises to yourself and to others that you really think you'll keep and follow through with...but you usually don't. Anywho, I like calling them "revolutions" instead of "resolutions." Erik thought of "revolutions" but only on accident... he kept saying "new years revalations? new years resolutions? no... new years revolutions!" Which I like because in a way... it is a revolution man, hurry up and get on the band wagon... make love and not war! And while I'm on the subject of my boyfriend... I was getting my hair cut today (which might I add looks VERY similar to a mullet... not a good start to the year) my hair dresser asked "so, what's your boyfriend like? " I responded "oh you know, he's cute and he's really nice. And, he talks to everyone. That's what he's like." I thought it was cute and I think he's cute too.

Now enough with the tangents... onto my new years revolutions!

At first I thought they would be the usual:
1. exercise more
2. get in shape
3. lose weight
4. look fabulous
5. be the "it girl" at work
6. remove the clutter from my apartment
7. learn how to speak french
8. learn how to cook

Then... I started to re-think those and have since changed them to...
1. Get back to feeling like my old self (if you haven't noticed lately I've been stressed, over-emotional, EXHAUSTED and feeling and looking like Hell -- even my dad noticed and said something and he doesn't even notice if a room has been painted bright green from white... so you know it's bad) I'm going to the dr tomorrow to get things checked out. My mom thinks it's my thyroid and I'm hoping to God she's right and it's not something horrible like cancer, HIV/AIDS or some horrible liver disease

2. BLOG more! I love to write and I have some pretty funny things to write about...therefore, I will try and blog more!

3. Spend more time with friends and my family

4. Stop stressing out about the small things

5. Just be happy with who I am and where I am in my life right now... everything will fall into place someday.


Here's Cheers to 2007!

I'm Never Sleeping Again!

So I got about an hour of sleep last night... I think it was in two shifts... one was from 10:38 until about 11:04 p.m. and the other one was from 6:33 a.m. until 7:02 a.m. The rest of the time I was thinking and getting mad at myself for not falling asleep... (as if I could do something about it).

At first I thought not getting my usual 8 hours of sleep was a bad idea. I didn't have the best of nights as I managed to be extremely rude to my boyfriend for no apparent reason (sorry again, Erik! Thanks for putting up with me and my insomniac nonsense!) and then this morning when I got up from my "cat nap", I kept dropping things and running into walls (although this is acutally quite normal for me on days that I get 8 hours of sleep) oh and I also burned myself with my iron, but I should have known from prior scars that ironing your shirt while you have it ON is NOT a good idea.

So anywho - after my not so good start to the morning and barely being able to drive, walk or even function... the rest of the day has been stellar! But only because it has been funny to my co-workers. You see ... when I don't get sleep my internal filter that usually says "stop Sarah, don't say that" turns off... so as you can imagine I've been saying things that I probably shouldn't... but I don't care and my co-workers think I am more hilarious than usual!

Man - who knows - maybe alls I need to be a stand up comic is no sleep and few diet cokes!
Hurrah!

If I could name a band...

Do you ever think what you would name a band if you were in one? I think about this all the time and often switch my first choice. But today's first choice... drumroll please...

"The Contaminated Ramekins"

Sounds cool and doesn't make sense, eh? Lovin' it!

Wanted: Tips on How to Not Be So Accomodating

Does anyone know if they have one of those "Dummie" books on to be not so nice and over accomodating for everyone for everything? Something like "It's Okay to say No" or "How to be appreciated and not taken advantage of" or "Saying No for Dummies"? I'm sure there is something out there but if anyone has any tips... let me know! I've been nice all my life but it's starting to stress me out. I also need tips on how to get people to do things for you instead of you doing things for others.

Thanks for your help!

Hawaii Happenings

OH man... I just returned from my business trip in Hawaii and man do I have some stories to tell! I need to gather my thoughts to make sure I don't miss anything... so stay tuned for some funny times!

More later. Your official aloha correspondent - sarah

A Few Things...

1. Thanks to all of you who read my blog...I had no idea!

2. Megan thanks for the call - I promise I'll call you back soon!

3. I just wanted to clarify and tell the world that my boyfreind Erik freakin' ROCKS! I in no way meant that he was a bad boyfriend because I hadn't talked to him yet that day...I was just having a sad day and missed him.

Thanks,
Management

A rather "blah" - se day...

So I don't know what my deal is lately but I've just been feeling rather... well... BLAH. Just uninterested and not so much fufilled with my life. Then I start looking at other peoples blogs and myspace pages and the blahness continues. Then I get sad because my friends are having babies, traveling round the world, seeing famous people and getting posts from their boyfriends on how they love them so much. I haven't received a call from my boyfriend today which then adds to my saddness and wonton for life. It's a cold, rainy day here in Nebraska and this could perhaps add to my mood.

Maybe I'll take up some sort of hobby and then perhaps I'll feel more fufilled.

Until Next Time.

A funny thing happened on my way to check my email...

So I have two hotmail email accounts - one of which I used when I studied abroad in Ireland in which I no longer use. Well, the other day I was checking that account just for fun and there is this girl from either England or Ireland who keeps writing me who thinks she knows me - but she obviously doesn't. I do plan to write her and tell her I'm not her friend Sarah she thinks I am but I want to wait a bit because her emails are hilarious! And she attaches photos! Look at the latest one she sent from her sisters wedding... look at the lady on the left... I literally fell off of my chair when I opened it... HIL arious!

And she talks in an accent and says fun stuff like...
piccys = pictures - used in a sentence "I'll attach some piccys for you"
shattered = busy - used in a sentence "Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, I've just been shattered!"

So yes - there's a little humor from my day to yours!

A Look Into My Future...

I got chinese food the other day and my fortune cookie fortune read:

"You could prosper in the entertainment field in a few years."

Hollywood - Here I Come!

(for those of you who don't know me - it's been a lifelong dream of mine to make it big in Hollywood acting in commercials.)

Then you could say you knew me when!

My Calling as a Church Lady...

Let's just say I learned my lesson when I skipped church on Sunday, went to noon Mass on Monday and arrived 5 minutes early. Man I'll never do that again!

Story forthcoming...

My Very Own Birthday Concert Extravaganza

So, a few weeks ago I turned 26. I know. I'm so old... and it's now scary to think that I am closer to 30 now than I ever was before. Because of this, I decided I would throw myself a few parties to celebrate ... I donned the whole weekend around the theme of "the beginning of the end of my mid twenties." It was a grand time. Must I say as well that I'm excited for the year of 26. I've been thinking, and odd ages/birthdays seem to be grand for me. 22 rocked, 24 was even better... now - 26! Very excited to see what this year has in store for me and what it brings. Must I also mention the even ages sucked pretty bad too... may I remind everyone of 21 - when I was in Ireland with mono and couldn't drink; 23 years old was the year I graduated college and worked at a job I wasn't happy at - maybe one of the most depressing years of my life and then 25 - we won't talk about that... but anywho. About the birthday weekend!

Friday night was probably the funniest and most fun birthday party extravaganza... it was spent with friends, fun, shots of yeger and my favorite local band, Vinne Bronx who had a concert in honor of my birthday. Well, they were having a concert anyway, but I convinced them to make it my official birthday concert. Be careful what you wish for because sometimes dreams do come true!

The day started out with a poster advertising the concert to all of Omaha with MY FACE pasted on it. Shocking at first - but in the end... hilarious... and somehow almost fufilling my deep dark dream of being famous! I printed tons out and passed them out to everyone, boasting it to the be the coolest party in town. I felt as if I was suddenly transported to New York, standing on a street corner handing out flyers to the must see event of the year, but alas I digress.

The concert was at a bar that when you walked in you suddenly thought, felt and said to yourself and aloud to others... "um... one of these things is not like the other, one of these things is me..." it was quite the biker bar with many people clad in leather, metal studs and bar tenders with mullets. To me - the perfect place to kick my birthday weekend off.

So the music got underway and we were a rockin', singin' and dancin to the tunes. Then Nic, the lead singer, announces that it is my birthday, that they're playing MY birthday show and that Happy Birthday must be sung. I of course decline and say no, no I'm fine really... but they insist and before I know it - people are chanting "Stand Up!" "Stand Up!" "Stand Up!" ... well, let me tell you - when a bar full of bikers in leather and metal and cheering for YOU - you oblige!

So, I stand up and the next thing I know there is a GIANT spotlight upon me! What in the world? A spotlight at a biker bar? I hadn't seen anything like it before in my life! But what a treat!

So I stand up, they sing, I blush, and I thank everyone for their support. I couldn't have turned 26 without them and I'd like to thank them for all of their patience, support and encouragement.

So after that, I was all red, and felt famous until they started saying "again! Again! Again!" So I stand up again, the happy birthday song was sung yet again and yet again - the spotlight shone down upon me.

Perhaps this was really my 15 seconds of fame... but man... was it worth it!

Here's to 26! Cheers!

I'm Baaaaaack!

Hello to all and to all - hell0!

I'm back and fun packed with stories to tell... well, actually - not really - my life hasn't been that exciting... just busy - BUT! I have been asked by several people, and most recently - my one woman fan club - Julie Cole - shout out to you Julie Cole.com! to post to my blog. So ladies and gentleman. I'm back and ready to post. So, sit back, relax, read and enjoy. I hope you'll laugh too!

Your crazy friend who experiences both crappiness and happiness,
sarah lu

Sorry for the inconvenience...

So - once again I'm apologizing for not posting anything in awhile... I'm still working on the ken dolls and hope to have images soon. In the meantime, my boyfriend and I of 2 years broke up, so I haven't really had much time to write funny stories in between the crying and the going out and attempting to live it up part. The good news is, I'll be back soon with more stories to tell and if anything - wild stories of all the crazy dates I hope to go on. Spread the word to your friends that I'm single and ready to mingle. I have deadlines you know. Thanks, stay tuned and you know what? have a fabulous day.

Coming Soon - My Ken Doll Collection

hey!

Don't touch that dial and tune in next week when I post and describe in full detail my "Ken Doll Collection."

I'd explain, but it'll be better just to see in person.

San Fran Shenanigans

Okay - my friend Megan reminded me that I still need to post about the crazy adventures in San Franciso that happend a few weeks ago. Sorry to all of you for the 3 month cliffhangers! - which also ties into my "life as a reality tv star" story. I guess they're all in the same, so here goes. Sit back, relax, enjoy and be glad this didn't happen to you!

First Story... Starbucks Showdown

So - I go to San Franciso for work to check out some venue sites with a colleague who is pretty high up at my job. I was to be on my best behavior (I always am of course!).

Well, this man lived in San Francisco for awhile and from what I concluded - the people there are just plain RUDE. For instance - I tell this story...

So we're driving around a parking lot at Starbucks looking for a parking spot. The place is packed and finally we see a car backing out. Like any normal person, we stop behind the car, kindly put our blinker on and wait for the car to exit the space. The car does and so and we begin the easy turn into the spot... when out of nowhere! This crazy 17 year old girl and her thug of a boyfriend pull right into the spot! Hello! RUDE! So of course, I assume we'll scowl at them and drive off like any other annoyed parking spot pedestrians... but no! all of a sudden - my co-worker (who is driving) ROLLS DOWN HIS WINDOW (I, in the passenger seat duck down as far as I possibly can... we could get shot!) and says "THANK YOU" the girl yells back in her fake valley girl accent "Whatever, I was driving around looking for a parking spot too and I saw it first. It's not my fault you didn't pull in like fast enough." My co-worker replies "excuse me..." and then the girls boyfriend wanna be a different color than he is with his gold chains and bling up the wazoo buts in and says "dude, you wanna fight - get out your car and we'll do it" ... luckily my co-worker says "ya, ya tough guy... get a life" and drives on. We find another parking spot, I come out from hiding under the glovebox and we make our way into the Starbucks. Unharmed.


Next... my life as a reality TV star... on that one show they have at the airports... you know what I'm talkin' bout?

So it's the end of our little trip on Friday afternoon. We're at the airport, getting ready to get on our 4:45 p.m. United flight back to good old Omaha. My co-worker doesn't check his bags so he's set to go. I of course brought my entire spring wardrobe with 6 pairs of shoes "just in case" , so I had to check my luggage. I get up to the self check-in kiosk, which p.s. why do people have such a hard time using these things? I mean seriously - some act like it's the end of the world that they have to insert their credit card, touch a few buttons, grab their boarding pass and go. They freak out, are determined it's "not working" and demand a desk agent to help them IMMEDIATELY. Those type of people irritate me. Seriously, get with the times and check your own self in. But anyway. I digress.

So, I get up to the check-in kiosk, insert my credit card, punch in my information and the screen flashes back at me in red letters... "Please return on the day of your scheduled flight." What? Hello, stupid machine - it's Friday... I'm here... get me on the plane... I look down at my ticket I purchased through Expedia.com

Let me back up a little bit at this point (I know - the suspense is killing you, isn't it?) , but I have to explain. We're supposed to book all of our travel for work through a travel agency. Well, when I went to book my ticket and it was $1,300.00 through the travel agency and $300.00 through Expedia. Now, I've had some past troubles with Expedia, so I was a little nervous - but I was not about to have the University spend an uncessary $1,000.00 on lil' ole me. So, I did it. I booked my ticket through Expedia... and if you read on, you'll know I paid dearly for this mistake.

So, I look down at my ticket, Flight 452 from San Francisco, California to Omaha, Nebraska leaving at 4:45 p.m. on SUNDAY, April 9. Oh shit. What? Sunday? You mean, Friday, right? Friday at 4:45 p.m? This United flight? Double Shit - Sarah's an Idiot and booked her ticket for the WRONG DAY.

So, I stay calm. I can surely get on this flight... it's just a little mix-up right? So, I stand in line calmly to talk to a United agent to get on the Friday flight and in the meantime, I'll just call up Expedia, explain to them what happened and all will be fine. Good thing for cell phones right?

Well now and here is where the real drama begins... so I'm in line, on the phone and Expedia answers with those damn automated voice deals and asks you all these annoying questions and you have to say yes or no or whatever... right? So, I call and they're asking questions and I answer yes and no accordingly. Well, that dumb voice says to me in it's robotic form "I'm sorry, I cannot hear you. Please repeat Yes or No." So I talk a little louder... well, what do ya know... I get the same damn saying ""I'm sorry, I cannot hear you. Please repeat Yes or No." Holy Hell! So I start YELLING "Yes!" or "NO!" into the phone... now people are staring, laughing, looking at each other with rolled eyes. I start sweating, my hands start shaking and my damn suitcase keeps falling over. Great. I'm falling apart. I calm myself down and finally push "0" for operator at Expedia... as I'm still behind about 15 people in line at the United counter and it's already 4 p.m. I get an operator and before she can help me she says, "may I please have your phone number?" So I give her my phone number and name and she says "no ma'am, that's not your phone number" WHAT THE HELL?! That is too my phone number you bitch! So I rattle off every phone number I possibly have and each time she replies "no ma'am"...oh, I'm so mad I want to say NO MA'AM to her and tell her who's boss! until I finally say my parents home phone number and it goes through. I explain to her my situation and she tells me that she's sorry, but she can't help me... she'll have to transfer me. So, I say okay and she "transfers me." Well, the bitch didn't transfer me... she HANGS UP ON ME! AAAAAAGGGHAHHAHH!!! The frustration! The agony! I HATE EXPEDIA DOT COM!!! I wanted to yell this at the top of my lungs, but instead I mutter to myself like a crazy lady cursing. So, I calmly re-dial the number and hit "0" to begin with to talk to an Operator. This time, I get a man and tell him my correct phone number and information. He then proceeds to tell me "I'm sorry ma'am, but I can't make any changes to your itinerary in less than 6 hours. I can't help you. Thank you" and hangs up. Yah. And the next time someone calls me "MA'AM" at 25 - I'm gonna kill them!

Well, that's fine because now I'm at the counter at United. And is it me, or are people just that much more rude to you when you need help? So, I tell the lady at the counter my ordeal and she looks at me and laughs and says, "that flight is full." Well can I fly standby I ask? She says, no, we have a list about 50 people long. Oookay... can you tell me who else might have a flight out tonight? She tells me that Frontier has a 5:30 p.m. flight to Omaha that has some room on it, I should go there. Well, with it being 4:30 p.m. now, I had better hurry my ass up. So of course, flight counters at the SF International Airport are like MILES apart and in different areas of the freakin' airport...so I take off in a sprint hoping to get on the Frontier flight. Oh, and might I inform you that I am dressed head to toe in full business gear. As in a business suit, shirt, jacket and freakin' HIGH HEELS. So while me and my giant suitcase are racing through the gates (p.s. I always make fun of those people, don't you? I mean seriously - what's their hurry? Okay, so now - I vow never to make fun of those people again. I know what it feels like to be there and it's not a good feeling) While I'm running I think to call that damn travel agency I should have called in the first place... maybe they can help me! I call, they put me on hold and then after 5 minutes they say "We're sorry, we can't help you - you don't have a traveler profile with us." AAAHH! Damn the travel agency!

So - I finally get to the Frontier Airline Counter and while I'm huffing and puffing (note to self: once back in Omaha, get in shape), I finally blurt out what I need and they look at me wierd and tell me that they don't have any flights to Omaha... stupid United lady! So they tell me to try Northwest. Again, I RUN...try there and they just look at me like I'm speaking chinese and tell me that there are no more flights at 5pm to Omaha that night. I finally end up at Delta and they tell me that they have 2 seats left back to Omaha on the 8:05 a.m. flight that next morning. I decide to do it and end up spending $700.00 to buy the ticket. Then, I booked a room at the hotel I stayed at for another $200.00 and took a cab ride back to the hotel for $45.00 which equals using a travel agency = priceless.

So, yes, I learned my lesson thank you very much. But I was prepared - I had extra clothes and got to spend an extra night in San Francicso. I didn't enjoy it though - I had convinced myself that an earthquake was going to hit and it was my time to go. There I was on the 18th floor of the hotel in the middle of downtown San Francisco and there was no way I could escape. But alas - my anxiety just got the best of me. I finally made it home that Saturday... safe and sound.

And then when back at work got a stern talking to about how I need to book all travel through the damn travel agency. So much for saving the University some money, eh?

Welcome to the Drama Warehouse!

So I'm sorry that I've been MIA as of lately but life has been nothing but CRAZY. I took work off tomorrow just so I could have a mental health day and recover. Drama seems to be growing like weeds - not only for me but for all of my friends so we have a solution!

We are going to open up a "Drama Warehouse!" It will be your one and only "one stop drama shop." Feel free to stop by, drop your drama off - leave it there - or pick up someone elses! It's sure to be a good time and make you feel better by the time you leave.

Stop by the drama warehouse today - offer ends soon.

I'm a Blonde Bombshell!

So I got a "wild hair" and decided to go blonde... because I hear they have more fun. And what do ya know... I think it's true! Check out my awesome new hair do :)

My Life Is a Reality TV Show

Oh man - I know it's been eons since I've added to this but let me tell ya - shit has hit the fan! Well, not really but I have some pretty funny stories I will put up when I have some time to tell you about them... let's just say it's definitely some of those "that would only happen to you Sarah!" stories...

FO REAL!

I'll be back... don't change the channel

Here comes the crappiness...

So, I think I'm having a quarter life crisis... I don't know if it's possible - but today I feel like it is. I just feel... CRAPPY. I'm sure you have those days too where nothing goes your way and you feel like the world is out to get you... for me - today is one of those days. Life is like a rollercoaster for me... for the past few months I've been coasting... on top of the world! And then suddenly... you drop - screaming and holding for dear life all the way down.

It's crappy. Hope it turns to happy soon. Hence the title of this blog and the theme of my life. :)

Till next time - here's to better moods!

The Amazing State of the Art "Breathe Thru Nose Filters"

Okay - so I'm not quite sure why it is my eyes are closed and what I'm doing with my hands (gang signs in east st. louis perhaps?) but those things on the outside of my nose are the amazing state of the art "breathe thru nose filters". They're actually supposed to go inside of your nose but I refuse to put weird things given to me by weird men at bars up my nose. So ya, we walked into this bar and sitting on some bar stools were two cowboy types with these things up their noses. They told us all about them - how they made them, invented them and that you're supposed to stick them up your nose in bars so you don't inhale as much smoke. I think they are just earplugs, but oh well. They then bring out this briefcase and give us each a sample of one to try. They wanted us to buy them but we refused, so they just gave them to us. I tell ya - the things that people think up. Here's a photo with Amy and Abbey with them as well. Too funny. Long live the nose plugs!

Third Annual St. Louis/MVC Trip Recap

I've returned alive and well yet again from the annual MVC trip. For those of you who aren't familiar, MVC stands for Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and each year Creighton's basketball team plays in it. This is a mecca for Creighton alumni, friends and fans so my work goes down to throw pre and post game events and yours truly gets to go not only for free but for a spankin' good time. I'm telling ya - this place is like Vegas for me... nowhere else do you meet random Nebraska Husker football players, keep up traditions of falling asleep at least one night in a strange place with all of your clothes on - including shoes and your jacket and run into 3 ex-boyfriends all in the same hour, let alone the same night! Yes, talk about good times and great oldies... St. Louis is the place.

Usually - Creighton has an awesome basketball team and makes it to the Championship game. Well, this year we sucked it up big time and couldn't even make it past Bradley in the first round, but that didn't stop the fun times to be had!

My friend Jen who lives in Chicago as well as my famous party pal Abbey and her friend Amy all met up together for a good time. Friday night we went out and chatted it up with a group of married men who were there for a football coaching convention. See the photo up top to the right for a visual. When they asked what we were in St. Louis for, Abbey responded with "we're here for a lesbian convention." So as you can see - the fun just never ended with the randomness. They of course thought this was the best thing they'd heard all night. Luckily each of us had photos of our boyfriends handy to show them that we're actually straight and there for the MVC. So that was that night.

Saturday brought on a whole 'nother night of adventures but unfortunately it was just me and Jen as Abbey and Amy had had enough fun for one trip and headed home. So Jen and I sucked it up and hit the town... but not without first being stopped by 2 guys who thought we were locals and asked where the hot spots were... we told them where we knew of and went on our merry way. Thinking later we should have invited them to join us for dinner - as another St. Louis tradition is eating dinner with strangers!

After dining at the Hard Rock Cafe, we actually ended up going to the same place we were the night before so I could meet up with my friend Erin. And this my friends is where the fun times, ex boyfriend run-in's and the drama began...

We walk in and it's like Creighton has transplanted from Omaha to St. Louis... Everywhere I turn there is someone I know. First stop - I see my friend Kate along with a dude I went on one date with my sophomore year and who then later came out of the closet. He says to my friend Kate "wow, since when did Sarah Lukas get so cute?" I completely ignore the comment, give it a thumbs down and move on. Whatever - I've ALWAYS been cute! :)

So we move on to the dance floor section of the bar and Jen says to me "we have a looker..." 2 seconds later a guy comes over, tells Jen she's beautiful and they hit the dance floor. I'm left there standing alone like a loser. I decide I am definitely not drunk enough to deal with this so I'm off to the bar for another beer. On my way I run into my friend Erin and chat it up with her. A few moments later Jen calls and tells me to meet her in the bathroom - stat. I hurry over there and she's in there crying because she thinks someone threw up all over her. Luckily, it was just a beer that someone spilled on her but NOT cool. We go back out and chill with Erin.

Soon, I see my friend John approaching. Yay! More people to know! So we all talk with them. Fast forward a few hours and a few more beers into the night and I get a phonecall from another ex -... Scary Darrell! He asks where I am and stupidly I tell him... I tell John I'll pay him 20 bucks to pretend to be my boyfriend just so Darrell doesnt try anything (it's happened before!) So here comes Darrell (his real name is Dan), in a t-shirt with an extremely large camera bag slung across his body. Jen and John just start laughing hysterically and I'm trying not to laugh - did I really once DATE this guy? EW. So I chat with him for t minus 2 seconds and we're off! Jen has a photo of this encounter in which Ill post as soon as she sends it... Okay - so here's the photo from Jen! Look past my fat ass and there you'll see Darrell in all of his glory! EEK!

There were many more adventures in St. Louis but I'll have to add them seperately as they each have photos and deserve they're own post.

Here's until next year, MVC!

Adventures at the Hilton Parking Garage

So I've discovered that this story is one of those in which you just had to be there but since I've said to stay tuned for it - I guess I should follow through and write about it. So, here goes.

When you go to a basketball game for Creighton they make you park in the Qwest parking lot and pay $6! You can also go to the Hilton and park there for $5 when you enter and then when you leave, the attendant is usually gone and they just leave the gate up so you can just leave.

Well, we were going to a basketball game and decided to park in the Hilton. We got to the window and instead of being the honest person I am and telling the attendant I was going to the game I lied and told him I had a room there. He said "okay, that's all I need to know!" and lifted the gate up... SCORE i thought! FREE parking!

Well not so fast... after the game we go back and the guy is STILL there! CRAP! If you know me at ALL - I freak out... a lot... so as soon as I saw the same booth attendant and of course after making eye contact and leaving with everyone else who was leaving after the game... I start to try and figure out an alternate plan. I look for all exits in the garage... no good.. they're all blocked off. Time for plan C. I'm still freaking out and my friends are just getting annoyed because they think of COURSE the guy won't remember me! Well, I take no chances so I take off my coat (it didnt help I was wearing a huge white one), put my hair in a ponytail and put my glasses on. I figure if I'm incognito - he won't know! So we drive up and I don't roll down my window, I just look straight ahead and I see him go "Oh yes! The one with the room here! Go on ahead! " and lifts the gate for us.

Can you freakin' believe it? Now I feel really bad for lying AND getting away with it!

Oh well. Long Live the Hilton Parking Garage! :)

My Fan Club

So this isn't MY fan club - but a fan club that we're starting for my friend Tyler and his band "Vinnie Bronx"... they're pretty awesome and sing some off the hook stuff. You can catch them at bars in Omaha that you've probably never heard of like the Goofy Foot Lounge, Shea Riley's and Mick's.

I'm the Vice President of their fan club - ma fren Dan gets to be President because he goes to shows that even Tyler's girlfriend doesn't go to. Now that's fan love. I just go and collect the autographs.

Let me know if you'd like to join and I can send you the official fan club packet! (I'm the secretary of the fan club too. )

Making Other People Feel "Famous"

So while living my life as "rockstar" (see post below) I got this GREAT idea to ask for people's autographs. Random people whom I didn't know. It all started on a random Thursday night when my friend and I went to a crazy kareoke bar ( I made MANY new friends that night!) and after everyone sang - I pretended they were famous and asked for their autograph. This trend kept up through the weekend where I would just go up to random people and ask for their autographs, everyone obliged and felt like they were famous! Now I have a bunch of autographs and if one of them becomes famous... I'll be rich! Mission: Accomplished.

My Life as a Rockstar

Thanks to all of you who have stayed tuned after these messages... now onto my story as my "life as a rockstar"... which really isn't that exciting but the last few weeks I have managed to go out on work nights, drink enough beer for everyone and really - just make a fool out of myself... but hey! I'm fun! right? Guess I'm just not still 21. Oh well. Gotsta live it up while you still got it!

Happy New Year!

This is what happens when you drink PBR for 6 hours all the while thinking it's Bud Light. It was New Years Eve and we were counting our pitchers. Here is proudly - pitcher Number 10. .. Bottoms Up!