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April 16, 2004
Vacation....ahhhhh.
Today is my last day of work for this month. Let me hear a "Hallellujah!" My last real vacation consisted of 4 days in Chicago. I don't count my few months in D.C. as a vacation because I was working.
I leave late tomorrow night. Arrive early in NYC, Sunday. My mom and I are planning on breakfast at Carnegie Deli, sightseeing, Lunch at Les Halles and then back to JFK for our overnight flight to Dublin.
I'll be sure to tell everyone all about it on my return. Until then, Adeiu.
Posted by Sarah at 08:46 AM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2004
My taste buds love me, my digestive system does not.
When I was younger I loved Bleu Cheese Dressing. I used it on salads. I used it on venison my uncle would bring us after his hunting trips. Bleu cheese dressing was my condiment of choice.
I was also sick a lot when I was younger. And when I was finally sent to allergy specialists at the University of Utah they found that I was highly allergic to cat dander, grasses and among other things mold. Guess what. Bleu Cheese is mold.
Last night I had my Northern Italian Feast class at Sur La Table. Good God, the food was excellent. If anyone wants any of the recipes for Tuscan Bread Soup, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus Gratinee, Filet Mignon braised in Chiati or Panna Cotta with balsalmic marinated strawberries, just email me...oh yeah and wine...white and red. The food was so rich that the small tasting portions we had were more than ample. Unfortunately, the Asparagus Gratinee - which was delicious had Gorgonzola. That, my friends, is italian bleu cheese. I was not going to pass up this taste....and my stomach is now punishing me for it.
The bad thing about loving food so much, is when you have food allergies. If there was an allergy shot for mold, I would ask for it in a heartbeat just to enjoy bleu cheese again without the gastrointestinal distress it causes.
If any of you ever come to town and want a good meal, let me know. I'll whip up last nights menu.
Posted by Sarah at 08:08 AM | Comments (1)
April 14, 2004
I am beginning to think I spend too much time thinking.
Walking is one activity conducive to creative thinking. I walk a lot. As a result I end up thinking a lot. Today as I walked from my office on 39th and 7th to All a Dollar on 33rd and 13th I had two amusing thoughts out of the many that meandered through my mind.
The Anthropology of Shoes was my first fun thought. You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Forensic scientists will tell you that no two shoe marks will likely be the same. I mean, it's evidence that a person can be convicted of a crime with. But there is more to the anthropology and criminology of shoes. You can get clues from a person based (no pun intended here) solely on their shoe habits.
First, look at what pair of shoes a person favors. For instance, I favor my Sketchers. Sneakers, tennis shoes, call them what you will. I believe sneakers reveal that a person is laid back, possibly active, they enjoy being casual. I favor my Sketchers because they are simply the most comfortable shoe I've ever bought for my tar-treading toes. Flip-flops reveal the same casual side, but toss in a sense of fun. Are high heals or dress shoes your favorite? You might be a go-getter, ambitious, maybe flirty.
Second, how many pairs does a person own and how do they keep them organized? I own 7 pairs of shoes. Sketchers, one pair of Joe Boxer flip-flops, casual sandals, dressy-healed sandals, dress shoes, dress boots and snow boots. I keep things fairly simple and they stay happily in a shoe organizer hanging on the back of my bathroon door. Shera on the other hand has only God knows how many pairs of shoes that she keeps happily organized in their original boxes in the closet or under her bed until she intends to wear them. Most of the time she is wearing sandals. Shera is one of the most casual, laid-back people I know. I haven't exactly placed how I could fit that into an "anthropological" study of shoes just yet.
My second amusing thought.....The relationships between love, law, economics and marriage. Marriage is completely separate from love. Marriage is a legal, economic arrangement. In every sense marriage has nothing to do with how much people love each other. That's why marriage is such a screwed up institution. Back in the good old days (alright, I know those days weren't necessarily all that good just go with me here) many marriages were economic/political arrangements. Polygamy and Polyandry were (and still are practiced in many areas of the world) to protect family land rights, political advantages, etc. Today we automatically assume that if two people love each other they should get married. I'm not so sure. Marriage is, first, a right that everyone should have equal access to, regardless of preference. Second, people have to realize that being in love has nothing to do with the economic/legal side of being married. It does nothing but protect your rights to make financial, medical and philosophical decisions for your spouse (at least in my humble thinking). If I really wanted to I could probably go find myself a husband right now. No love involved. Marriage is also, for many, a religious rite. That's where the love comes in and makes the concept of marriage so complicated. Even back in the good old days marriages in the church (meaning Catholic Church) were intended entirely for those economic and political reasons.
If two people love each other, by all means, get married...but know that marriage is more than just emotional.
I really have no idea where all of this came from. It just appeared in my brain as I was walking.
I guess exercise isn't really as good as the experts say. I exercised more than my body.
Posted by Sarah at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2004
Briscoe, retiring?! No!
When I wrote yesterday's last entry I had yet to discover the following. According to TV Guide, Jerry Orbach's character on Law and Order (Briscoe) will be transferring to a new spin off Law & Order: Trial by Jury in the fall. The new series will use retired homicide detectives as resources. Orbach apparently decided to leave the original when he learned that the filming pace would be very hectic for the new season. I applaud him. His character, however, will be sorely missed from the original series.
In other news...Ireland 5 days and certainly counting. I have reservations for my mother and I...brunch at Les Halles, where my favorite Celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain is chief. Breakfast in New York...where else but the famous Carnegie Deli. I'm finally getting excited.
Other then that, things are quiet, which is good. My brain likes quiet because it's usually so noisy up there.
Posted by Sarah at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2004
It's all about the "doink-doink."
Law and Order is a television show that I have been obsessed with since Sam Waterston arrived on the scene as A.D.A. Jack McKoy, although I am also a huge fan of Jerry Orbach, Richard Belzer and many other cast members of each of the "spin-offs."
I am glad to find that I am not the only one who watches the re-runs, fanatically.
Go, read.
The Secret Vice of Power Women and The Passion of The Hargitay.
Posted by Sarah at 03:15 PM | Comments (1)
One week to go!
Exactly one week, from right now, I will be in Ireland.
Yay!
This trip has been in the works for awhile. It was a splurge Christmas present for my mom. We're going to be staying in the central part of the island, focusing our trip on Dublin, Tipperary and Dingle. Dublin, just because its Dublin. Tipperary because my family is from a small village called Damerville in Tipperary County and Dingle, just because so many people I've talked to have said Dingle kicks ass.
We have our first few days planned out. We arrive early in Dublin, Monday morning. We'll be picking up our rental car and heading north to Newgrange and the Hill of Tara. That night we'll be traveling to Kildare and visit St. Brighid's Well and other "religious" sites. Our first night we'll be staying at Cloncarlin House. A B&B located on a 180 acre beef farm. Yum.
The second day we'll be traveling to Tipperary and that night we're staying at Bansha Castle.
From there we travel to Dingle Peninsula. We really don't have set plans, which will make the trip more interesting. The only time we have to be anywhere specific is for our last two days which are booked at Burlington Hotel in Dublin.
Things I'm looking forward to:
1. The perfect 1/2 pint of Guinness. (1/2 pint because a full pint makes my face go numb.)
2. Trying black pudding (a.k.a. blood sausage - at least once.)
3. Music.
4. Meeting the people.
5. Just being there.
Posted by Sarah at 09:29 AM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2004
Don't you miss playing with the growed up kids? No, you get all hot and thirsty and you have to eat a lot of mud.
I like Play-doh.
I don't know why, but I'm addicted to the smell. If I'm in a toy section of a store and I pass the Play-doh section I have to stop and smell it. It's not that it even smells good, but I'm drawn to it for some odd reason. I like playing with it too. Mushing it is soothing and afterwards you smell like Play-doh.
I'm also addicted to considering purchasing an Easy-Bake Oven. It's the one "girly" toy I didn't have growing up, that I really wanted. I keep telling my friends, for my birthday this year I would really like an Easy-Bake or Easy Meal oven. There is even this really kick ass Easy Bake Oven Cookbook I saw on Food Network awhile back. It's nothing I really need. But damn I want it.
Posted by Sarah at 09:38 AM | Comments (1)
April 08, 2004
What..it's what time?
I cannot believe it is already 4:00pm here.
Ranae, the other office goddess, left for vacation yesterday. That means I'm the one responsible for billing...at least until I leave for Ireland on the 17th.
Today, I have nothing but respect for people who do nothing other then data entry for Cahaba (other-wise known as Medicare Billing.) Would you like to know why?
Because, it is something I would never do for a living. It is entirely too stressful to have to deal with all the red tape and having administrators breathing down your neck with questions you can't answer like "Why isn't the payment posting?"
Me: "Well, I don't know. It said its posted for the 9th. I don't know why its not showing up yet." (Maybe because its only the 8th?!?!??!)
Yeah. Billing is not my thing.
Posted by Sarah at 04:00 PM | Comments (0)
"The main thing that separates happy people from other people is the feeling that you're a practical item, with a use, like a sweater or a socket wrench."
Happy Birthday, Barbara Kingsolver! Our title today is courtesy of one of my favorite authors is celebrating a birthday today. I highly recommend Animal Dreams.
Personally, I hope I'm more useful then a socket wrench or sweater, but I see what she means.
I've been really into watching old episodes of Xena lately. It must be my love for the Hero's Journey and my need to constantly come up with new ideas for writing about modern myths. Last night I was watching a few episodes from season three "The Deliverer," "Gabrielle's Hope," and "The Debt." These episodes really were a turning point in the mythology of the Xena universe. In "The Deliverer," Gabrielle kills a woman in the temple of god of darkness, Dahak. By giving up her "blood innocence" Dahak is able to plant a seed of darkness in the form of a child in Gabrielle. In the next episode "Gabrielle's Hope" Gabrielle gives birth to the daughter of Dahak, whom she names Hope. These two episodes really focus on what Gabrielle thought she was going to do in her world. She says something to the effect that "I was the one who was going to stop the cycle of violence." Gabrielle believed in hope, forgiveness, the power to change and love. I began to think, once again, what my purpose in this life is and how I need to fulfill that purpose.
My thoughts always seem to go back to Father Chacour in the Middle East, to the idea that I am here to be a peacemaker of some kind, like him. I keep hoping that my application for teacher licensure will come through so that I can start simply as a peacemaker by teaching the next generation of humans about what is happening in today's world. By reaching out and showing them that if enough people believe in the powers of forgiveness that eventually the good things will outweigh the bad.
So, yes, ultimately, despite my cynicism I am an optimist. I'd like to say that I'm a realistic optimist. I know things can't always change without struggle, without persistence, without some kind of a fight. But that dreamer in me always peeks out, knocks my noggin and tells me, keep fighting...and one day we humans will finally get "it."
Posted by Sarah at 10:34 AM | Comments (1)
April 07, 2004
Settle my Soul
O Lord, this is all my desire -- to walk along the path of life that Thou hast appointed me, even as Jesus my Lord would walk along it, in steadfastness of faith, in meekness of spirit, in lowliness of heart, in gentleness of love. And because outward events have so much power in scattering my thoughts and disturbing the inward peace in which alone the voice of Thy spirit is heard, do Thou, gracious Lord, calm and settle my soul by that subduing power which alone can bring all thoughts and desires of the heart into captivity to Thyself. All I have is Thine; do Thou with all as seems best to Thy divine will; for I know not what is best. Let not the cares or duties of this life press on me too heavily; but lighten my burden, that I may follow Thy way in quietness, filled with thankfulness for Thy mercy, and rendering acceptable service unto Thee.
Maria Hare (1798-1870)
Posted by Sarah at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)
Bless me Father...
A little over one year ago I started actively attending church again. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic schools for all but 6 months of my life when I was living in Castroville, Texas. Prayer and faith were something I felt that I needed back, desperately. A priest, Father Mike Sciumbato, a former teacher of mine from high school was pastor at a church in Ogden. He is a priest I felt I could relate to well. He is liberal, open and has one of the most generous hearts.
I became very involved in the church beginning on Ash Wednesday, last year. The turning point was when I attended an Easter Reconciliation rite with my parish. When I went to individual confession, I was suddenly overcome with emotion. I became tearful, for reasons I couldn't place. Although I was not confessing to Father Mike (Four priests were available and Father Mike's line was very long) the priest I confessed to had a generous and gentle heart. He told me he knew from my reaction that this was needed and that I would always be welcome after an absence. My spirit was lifted.
After that, I started attending a weekly Saturday get together hosted by Father Mike. Needless to say, I was the youngest in the group. Everyone else involved in the weekly lunch and movie had to be over 50 but I loved being a part of that community.
When I went to Washington, D.C. I was luck enough to find a parish, just across the street from the Middle East Policy Council office that fit my needs. I began attending mass daily, in the morning before work. I loved it. In the Catholic Church you are required to go to confession at least once after Easter before the Feast of the Ascension. After careful, examination of conscience, I attended a brief luncheon confession session at Saint Matthew's. The priest was amused by the fact that someone as young as I had spent considerable time examining what I had done since Easter. For my penance, instead of the requisite 10 Hail Mary's, he asked me to contemplate things that I had done in my life that were good, to focus on things that God wanted for me to fulfill in my life. That seemed an odd penance to me, but again it lifted my spirit.
When I returned to Utah, I was disappointed to find that Father Mike had been moved to another parish, that is a considerable distance from where I live. Since that time I have failed to attend church regularly because I have a hard time connecting with priests who focus entirely on sin, hell-fire and brimstone, etc.
It is Holy Week. Even though I pray regularly I feel disconnected and my spirit is significantly not lifted. When I was asked if I wanted to go to church on Sunday, my instant reply, without hesitation was "No." This is saddening. I feel a connection to God and to my Catholic background but I am unable to find a good parish to commune with. Until that time I am keeping up with my faith as best I can, solo.
Posted by Sarah at 09:54 AM | Comments (3)
April 06, 2004
Aww...poop.
Howard Zinn is at Westminster College tonight and I plumb forgot.
I really wanted to hear him speak too.
:(
Posted by Sarah at 04:50 PM | Comments (0)
Lost
Losing things is one of the most annoying events in life.
Last night, while communting home, I had my book of crossword puzzles with me, keeping me entertained. (I'm hopelessly addicted to crossword puzzles and aspire to, one day, complete New York Time's Puzzles once I get my crossword solving mojo real kicked in.) Somehow, between the time I left my mom's car and got into the house, put my things down, dropped my coffee mug off in the kitchen and took a shower (to cleanse the filth of office work off of me) I lost it.
I have looked everyone. Last night I went outside and looked around. I've looked everywhere in the house that I think I might have put it down. It has disappeared. Which is really sad because I still had 3 or 4 good puzzles left.
Posted by Sarah at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2004
*Insert "Ouch" scene from E.T. here*
Holy, mother of God.
I have been standing for the last three hours helping the billing/office manager manually enter Medicare billing into the system because the program we usually use didn't send the data on time.
Billing the government really sucks, especially when it keeps you standing for three hours.
Posted by Sarah at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)
Down with Singing Oranges!
Last night was a very special night. Sesame Street celebrated its 35th Anniversary! I, like many people my age, grew up watching the best of educational kids shows like Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and Mr. Roger's. I love 'em still. Well, except for that damn orange that used to sing opera on Sesame Street, does anyone else remember that? I found out that Sesame Workshop is currently hiring for PR Assistants. I checked out the requirements and I fit! So last week I sent in my resume. I don't know if I'll hear back, but at least I'm trying. I'm also still waiting to hear back from the Utah Department of Education on my Alternative Route to Teacher Licensure. Dag Nabbed red tape, it slows everything down.
Shamim really went for my joke. I had her going on the phone Saturday for about 30 minutes before I broke it to her that I was not actually engaged. She took it well; she has an excellent sense of humor.
After my Saturday, Iced Tea Session at Barnes and Noble with Shera and Adriana, I've discovered that I'm actually far more "old-fashioned" than I previously thought. For example, even though I'm all about women's rights, equality in the workplace, etc. if the love of my life were to offer to support our lifestyle together without me working a "real job" I would be ok with that. I could be a housewife. I enjoy taking care of my place of living. In fact I did a thorough spring-cleaning of my residence this weekend. It's very refreshing and sparkly now. Plus, it would give me ample time to read and write, without having to worry about working to pay bills. As long as I'm not pregnant and barefoot, it would all be good.
My achiness is creeping back. Considering I've given up on doctor's finding out what's up, I guess it's back to really hot mineral baths, more yoga and massage. I'm really tired of being a pincushion, only to find that the test results have changed, yet again.
Here's to hoping that I hear from another place of work soon, I don't know how much longer I can stand typing up policies and procedures.
Posted by Sarah at 09:19 AM | Comments (3)
April 01, 2004
Joke for the day
After careful consideration and conversation with Shera and Adriana we decided to pull a joke on another friend of ours, Shamim. We don't get to see a lot of her or spend a lot of time with her, since she's married and going to law school....so we figured this would work. Shera and Adriana are going along with me in the story that I'm getting married. Yee-Haw! We created a whole background story and such. We think she'll fall for it.
She fell for another joke a few years back when we called her and told her we were FBI agents investigating a murder and needed to ask her a few questions.
She's gullible, but we love her.
Posted by Sarah at 02:05 PM | Comments (1)
Stealing Blog stuff...
Yes, I stole a link from Jodi, but this is a very deserving link.
American Fundamentalists? No! No, I say!
Posted by Sarah at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
Topsy-Turvy Day
Give me a sense of humor, Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some pleasure out of life And pass it on to other folk.
Happy Topsy-Turvy Day! Generally, I hate April Fool's Day. Why save jokes for one day a year? I don't mind joking as long as it is not obnoxious or mean-spirited. Examples? Check out the Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes. One of my favorites is the Taco Liberty Bell, but I'm also quite fond of Hotheaded Naked Ice Borers. They're quite scary.
I'm thinking a good April Fool's Day joke to play on my mom, would be to clean her office. It looks as if a tornado, earthquake and hurricane hit, all at once. I'm serious. I can take pictures if you'd like to see it. It worries me mainly because, she's an administrator. Do you think any high level executive or even...low-level executive would have an office that was unorganized? NO! In some sense I feel like my mom and I have traded organization-cleanliness-clutter free standards. I don't mind a little clutter, but if I had to work in her office I would rather throw myself from her window. I need to go check out mission organization and find some help for her. It really just makes me sad.
Another thing that makes me feel weird is having a really off dream. Last night I dreamt that I was in Excalibur at Las Vegas, but instead of playing grown-up games I was downstairs playing games that gave tickets. I really do prefer ticket-giving games as opposed to gambling, mainly because I never win at grown-up gambling. I was playing a version of whack-a-mole, but instead of mole's they were little E.T's. I had won several hundred tickets when a little girl came up and stole them right off the machine. I went nuts! There I was wrestling a girl, who could not have been more than 5 years old, for a couple hundred-prize tickets. She was a brat. Eventually, I won them back and traded them in for a very nice plastic sword and shield set and a cute little princess crown. I'd love to know what my subconscious is telling me, but have no clue where to start.
I'm ready for lunch.
Posted by Sarah at 08:36 AM | Comments (3)