Every Time a Bell Rings an Angel Farts

Jon and I like to have a date night every Friday, ya know some time to regroup. 

Well last Friday we had just sat down to eat at a local Thai restaurant when the story about my day was interrupted with "whiiiiiiiir DING!" and then again and again.

I scan the room we are dining in and notice that the only other people in the room are two guys. Upon further inspection I noticed that they were playing poker on their phones...at the table...with the sound on. So the whiiiiiir DING continues and my irritation level rises to an all time high.  I keep giving Jon a look to indicate my annoyance. Jon isn't too good with the subtle cues so after the whiiiir DING happens AGAIN (!) I shoot him a look so exaggerated that my eye balls nearly roll onto the table cloth. Finally he gets it but just shrugs his shoulders and says "eh let it go"

Does he not read my blog?! I do not LET THINGS GO....I hang on to them, I gnash them between my teeth, I put them on the shelf where I keep the stuff I cannot let go of and more often than not I take them back down and beat the heck out of them.

I digress.

Instead of "letting go of it" (psh) I instead took my iphone out (oh who am I kidding, it was already out on the table). I then proceed to explain my plan to Jon. The plan was that every time the inconsiderate pair would whiiiir DING I would then use my fart machine ap. So every time a bell dings I would hit the fart button. Jon called my bluff. So I turned the volume up as loud as it would go on my phone and proceeded to carry out the plan.

I swear "I" farted at least ten times and those guys still didn't get the hint that I was trying to annoy them as much as they were annoying me. The nerve of some people.

P.S. Frankie got fixed today...I was going to write a "ball blog" to mark this occasion but my mom kindly asked me to refrain from doing so.

Changing Directions

This is the last week I will be at my current job. The finish line is in sight, someone has been chosen to replace me and I have a goodbye lunch scheduled for the end of the week. I tried not to write too much about my job on here for obvious reasons. But now that I am leaving I figure what the heck.
Actually that is my outlook on work as a whole. This past year I was under so much stress and so sleep deprived while I worked at this current job. It was a combo of work being busy, being in school and working at a "part time" internship that acted like a full time internship. But as everything else has melted away and my days at this job are coming to an end I am kinda throwing caution to the wind. I am joking a lot more, relaxed and actually enjoying my time here-however little of it is left.

I find myself wishing I could have been this person months ago and given myself the chance to enjoy my work, and given the people I worked with a chance to see the enjoyable side of my personality . But the truth is there just wasn't time, I didn't have the energy. I was just trying to get to the next day, the next assignment, the next class, and enjoying where I was at the moment never really crossed my weary mind.

But as my days draw to a close here I will enjoy the great people I have worked with for the past three years and even this last year although I wasn't really someone they recognized. Lately change is the name of the game and I am doing my best to just go with the flow and enjoy everything as it comes.
How are things changing in your life?

Psychic Encounters of the Dreamy Kind

When I was a little Sassy my family would spend some time at the Brookdale Lodge. It was a neat little out of the way place that had a river running through the middle of the restaurant, a pool with a glass wall that looked in on the bar and ghosts, yes it has ghosts. My family would sometimes make the short, half hour, drive and eat dinner or stay for a short weekend. It is a quirky little place that holds a special place in my childhood memories.

Well the other night I had a dream that Jon and I went to the Brookdale Lodge. But in my dream the Brookdale had added a spa and "theme rooms" to their sleepy little lodge. I remember thinking that the spa and theme rooms were really cool additions and I woke up wishing that the dream were real...I wish for weird things don't I?

Anyway, I couldn't shake the dream for some reason. I kept thinking about the dream for a solid week. So to try and rid my waking hours of this very random and inconsequential dream I went to the Brookdale's website to poke around.

And to my surprise what do I see at the top of the page? They had added a spa...and themed rooms!! So what is the point of this story? 

I am psychic.

Obviously.

Do you ever have psychic premonitions? 

BlogHer Babbling

Today a lot of you are making your way to Chicago to a little gathering of the minds called BlogHer. Even though I can't make it this year I am so excited for those of you that are, especially if you haven't been before.

For me BlogHer was confirmation that what I do here on the internet isn't silly or strange (regardless of what my family says). It strengthened my belief in what I was doing, that my corner of the internet was just that...mine. I really feel that by going I strengthened my writing voice, it assured me that by writing about what I want and how I feel would always be the secret to success and fulfillment.

Getting to meet others that find pleasure, peace, happiness, purpose through the words we write on our blogs was incredible. Each time I met a new face to the voices I had been reading I felt as though I was meeting a character from a book; and for a fan of books like myself, well this was awesome. The best part is that some of the ladies I met I have hung out with since, and now I call them my friends. And for those I can't see as often or at all, we text each other on a rough day and still leave comments on one another's blogs, again, not just as readers but as friends.

Soak it up BlogHers, have a great time, hand out business cards and get lots of business cards from others. And for goodness sakes, take the freebies! Don't try to be humble and refuse the oodles of goodies...just take them! I came home last year with carpet cleaner (which we still use), books (which I really enjoyed), children's toys and clothing (which I have no use for but I gave to some family members and weren't they impressed when I said "oh I got it at my blogging convention"....who's the silly blogger now with all of her free stuff? heh) aaaannnywaaaay, eat the free food, listen to the speakers with awe and be yourself- you won't regret it I promise.
P.S. If you drop your entire lunch tray in front of everyone, you will recover, I promise...I speak from experience.

You Must Be This Tall To Stretch

I have been taking yoga pretty seriously these days. Mainly because I have the time to. But like many things in my life some things aren't what they seem at face value. Take last night's yoga class for example...

Last night I took class from the owner of the yoga studio. His classes are very challenging and really push me to my limits. He wears these tight man capris, horn rimmed glasses and chants at the beginning and end of each class. Quite a unique character. But there is something about him that has me om shanti-ing right along with him. Have you ever met someone that has oodles of charisma that you kinda just fall under a spell? Well that is this guy. He is just so mellow and really loves teaching his students. I am pretty sure this is how people get involved in cults.

Even though he is un-like anyone I have ever met he is a perfect fit to help me reach new heights with my yoga experience. For example, at the end of my class he said "Thank you for your patience", which means he could see that a lot of the moves were forcing me out of my comfort level, or he could have been referring to another incident.

The yoga studio is set up so that there are two rows of yoga mats facing one another. Which means when you face forward you are looking straight at someone right across from you, which at first is a little unnerving but you get used to it; unless of course you are across from someone like I was last night.

As I set out my mat at the beginning of class I look up and I see that there is one lanky son of a gun doing the same right in front of me. Even though he is crouched over I can see that he is a whole lot of man. He stands up and turns out he is like 6'8", or maybe just like 6'2", but it seems like he is 6'8" because I am 5'4". Basically there is a wall of man in front of me. And he is wearing lime green sweats...so from here forward he shall be referred to as Jolly Green.

Even though Jolly Green appears to be in his mid to late twenties he has the finesse of Bambi on ice or Tom Hanks in BIG. Now I am sure Jolly Green was a kind heart, but he made it very difficult to stay balanced when I saw him wavering across from me. So we get into half moon pose, which looks a little something like this:

I got my balance on and was feeling pretty good. That was until I got thwacked on the back of my head hard, thus sending me to the floor where I slid face first on my own sweat. I lay there for a moment trying to gather some composure and half wondering if my guru of an instructor had gotten a little over zealous with his corrections. But then I hear someone whispering "Sorry, sorry, sorry" and look up and lo, it's jolly green. His bear paw had made contact with my head sending me to the floor. Next time I go to yoga I am going to make sure that I stay far away tallies and their unruly limbs.

What was your least graceful moment while working out?

*Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Admitting You Have A Problem Is The First Step

I have said many times on this blog just how big of a love I have for reading. Well last night after going to Barnes and Noble and buying three books (that I had originally told myself I wouldn't be buying...but it was the "buy two get one free" table, how could I resist?) that I realized I have to admit that I have a "problem". I put my three new books on my night stand and realized, that give me a couple more and I might just have a library. 

Here are just some of my books I have yet to read.

-The Reader. I have heard nothing but good things about this movie. Everyone I know that has seen it has loved it and recommended the movie. I have a firm belief that books are often better than the movies they are made into so I have decided to read the book before netflixing the movie.

-Cold Comfort Farm. A professor recommended that I watch this movie a year ago. I still haven't gotten around to watching the movie yet but when i spied this on the shelves of the library I decided to give it a go. From the reviews I have read so far, it seems as though I am in store for a very funny story.

-Devil In A White City:

This is another book I have heard nothing but good things about. It takes place in 1893 at the Chicago World's Fair. The "devil" in this case is a murderer that makes their presence known all around Chicago. I'm all for a mystery book so hopefully this one lives up to the hype.

-The Billionaire's Vinegar.

Ok honestly I bought this book for it's cover. I am a lover of all things old and mysterious and he bottle on the cover just drew my right in. From what I gather it is about a bottle of wine that is believed to have belong to Thomas Jefferson as well as the billionaire's that collect bottles of wine and how they are often swindled...I now realize that as I type this the premise of this book sounds incredibly dull...but I am going to give it a chance anyway.

-Bergdorf Blondes

I am reading this book right now and let's just say I am glad I didn't buy it, but instead I got it from the library. I mean it's light, fluffy and occasionally entertaining but for the most part it is more of a story that sings out "tra la la, I am rich". I thought that maybe since it was written by a fashion assistant at British Vogue, it would have a little more meat to it; maybe put a spin and substance behind the facades of pretty, rich women. However, instead it is more of a fluffy book about rich people having problems that you might assume rich people have. But again, I have not finished it yet so it might get better...hopefully

-The Help

I just finished this book and I could not love it more. It centers around racial tension in the south, in 1962. And while that seems like a downer of  a subject, it really is a beautiful story where you really develop a love for the characters. It is told from the perspective of three women, two black housemaids and one white young woman just as she gets back home from college. I love how the novel gives those of us who weren't around in the sixties for the Civil Rights movement, a clearer picture of what life was like back then. A lot of times I would stop reading lift my head and try to fathom how people were treated so terribly  because they were different...and this was only less than 50 years ago! If you are looking for a book to keep you interested, move you  and keep you thinking about the characters for days afterwards-this is the book for you.

What are you reading? 

Have you read any of the above books?

* Images of book covers courtesy of Google Images

Let's See How Many Times I can type the #25

When you have a birthday someone always asks, "does your new age feel any different?" And for me it usually doesn't feel any different. But 25 does feel a little different.  Granted I have only been 25 for two days. But I think that 25 is officially an adult age which is pretty exciting.

24 didn't have the official feeling that 25 does. I have always felt like an old soul, like an adult in

 a kid's body, very Freaky Friday or Bejamin Buttons if you will. But 25, it feels good, all two days of it. I think it is the anticipation of what lies ahead for me that excites me so much about being 25. This year I will no longer be a student but will be in a career I have been working so hard towards. I feel like I will be able to wear heels everyday and not look out of place (Usually I would wear jeans or sweats, because hello who wants to be gussied up for a 3 hours class?!). But now I will finally join the rank of adults, with those that can rent cars!

I also had a weird realization that my body has aged 25 years (see I told you it was weird). What I mean is that 25 years ago I started off as this little bundle that couldn't do anything for herself (thanks again to my family for helping me out with that) and I then learned to do the basics, walk, talk, feed myself etc...and just when I got that down puberty hit, it's been a constant learning process. I dunno, maybe it's just me, but what a transition huh? So much has been done physically, mentally, emotionally to bring me to this age of 25. It's pretty cool.

Rather than keep boring you with my philosophical musings here are some pictures from my birthday weekend. Thanks all for your well wishes!

Mmmmm Cheesecake!

Flowers for my mama (I buy her flowers every year on my birthday)

Frank makes me smile on my birthday

My gorgeous frienditas!

Mid-Day Pondering

Today I firmed up my "official last day" with my boss. It is going to be July 31. Weird.

For the first time in my life I am choosing not to work until there is no work left for me to do. Instead I am deciding to give myself a break, go jobless for a while and then start up in the fall. And in the fall I will have to build a client base from scratch, lotsa work ahead.

It's all very "look Ma no hands, balancing without nets or wires" of me. Which actually is not like me at all, I like hands, nets and wires-plenty of them. So yeah you could say I am starting to get nervous and second guess myself. But there is something deep down in me that says it is the right thing to do and I figure I should trust that because I guess at the end of the day I should trust myself before anyone else...right?

I am determined to make my "whole new life" work, even though I will be treading in new waters. But again, something in me says it's going to work out and that I can do this. And I am not sure who or why this voice is so insistent but I just feel like I gotta go with it. So yes, I am surprising myself but I am pretty sure I like it. 

Have you ever made a decision that surprised you?

Hairy Situation

I have never been totally confident when it came to choosing different hairstyles. (For more on that see here). I don't know what it was but I have only dyed my hair a handful of times and have played it pretty safe when it came to getting my hair cut.

Buuuut then one day I chopped off my hair.

And I loved it, I felt so wild and free. I also feel like I look a lot cooler with short hair.

But then I kinda missed my long hair. So I grew it out some more.

But you know that point when you are growing your hair out where you just go nuts and say "I can't handle this anymore!" Well I am at that point.I really want to grow my hair to my mid back but right now it is barely touching my shoulder blades and I am going insane!  There is just too much hair. So much hair that I usually throw it up in a pony tail and call it a day. oye. How did I ever have such long hair? oooh man. It is taking my whole being to not chop it off. How do you people with long hair do it? I swear.

But then again, when Jon and I go to Hawaii I would like to wear long pig tail braids in the photos. By the way, how old is too old to wear pig tail braids? Go ahead, give it to me straight. 

What hairstyle makes you feel most like you? Tell me about your worst hair do ever.

Wants and Needs

Okay, maybe just wants.

I saw Slynnro's Birthday list a couple days ago and it got me thinking, what do I want for my birthday (July 12)?

So here are my realistic and not so realistic wishes for the big ole' birthday number two five:

1. Opi Nail Polish in Banana Bandana 

You all know how much I love my OPI, if you don't, click here. I usually stay with traditional pink and red tones but something about this yellow just says "HAPPY!" which obviously should be followed by "BIRTHDAY!"

2. Gift Cards

I am a gift card hoarder. I save them up and think about the perfect way to spend them. I like gift cards because, unlike money, they have enough direction as to what store to purchase from,  but also allow a little shopping creativity. In a perfect world I would get gift cards from 

J.Crew, Sephora, & iTunes. Oh and to my local yoga studio as well! Gift cards are also ideal for me because these are places that I wish I could spend tons o money on myself but inevitably do not for one reason or another.

3. The Rakku Shoe Wheel

Because HELLO how cool does that look?

 

4. A vacation!

I am willing to go anywhere! Take me to some random state, county, city...I don't care. Just as long as there is a signature drink at the hotel bar, as well as a type of food that the area is known for and a large body of water to sip said drink by. Seriously I'm not picky...I just NEED a vacation. Addendum:I wrote this part of the post before Jon surprised me with a trip to Hawaii here (in the second video to be specific). YESSSSSSS!

5. Flowers delivered to me once a month for a year.

This may seem like a random request for a birthday but I just love fresh flowers and having a guarantee that I would get some every month would be just splendid!

6. A Red Kitchen Aid mixer

7. A Dutch Oven by Mario Batali...in red.

8. A new iphone cover.

I especially like this one, in yellow or red.

That's all I can think of for now. What is on your wish list?

We Answer Your Questions...And Then Some

So it appears we are having some technical difficulties...and after working on it for a long time, I give. Sooo you can just close your eyes and pretend it is a radio show or you can pretend that we are making the newest version of King Kong.

1 from sair8402 on Vimeo.

Untitled from sair8402 on Vimeo.

oh and Sarah Marie P, we got your questions but we made the video before we read the questions ...Jon promises he will answer them though ;)