tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63635984752812016692024-02-07T14:53:29.061-06:00What I see and some stuff I knowSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-45375660734123320572013-01-13T10:00:00.000-06:002013-01-14T20:01:25.171-06:00Home on WheelsBefore we left town five months ago we spent two months living in the RV in someones back yard while we tried to work out some of the bugs in the system. We both worked and kept going about life like we would otherwise except that we came home to this beast every night instead of an apartment. My friend Jessi sent me a link to this <a href="http://chandler-the-robot.myshopify.com/blogs/news/6466908-what-is-home?comment=38531568#comments">blog</a> and I began to wonder. I have never really felt like anywhere that I have lived is "home". People tell me all the time that they show up someplace and just know instinctively that it is where they are supposed to be. Some tell me that they finally found the place they call home and that they will die there. But I have never had that experience. Like Meg, I hang things, play music, have familiar things and watch Star Trek to make it feel like the place I live but it never feels permanent.<br />
So far we have been on the road for five months. I miss my bathtub more than I can explain. No hot shower anywhere on the planet can substitute a hot bath. I miss just being able to stop at the end of the day and not do anything and lazy mornings to just lay around. I miss just jumping in the car to run and grab lunch with Jason or poking my head in across the hall to say hello to Erin, Jeramiha or Tyler. I miss the extra room and/or space to go when you get on someones nerves or they get on yours. To be honest, there aren't a lot of places to go in a twenty four foot long box when you are cranky.<br />
But I think that everything comes with a trade as well. No matter what, I have my house with me. You know that brush you forget to pack or your prescription that didn't make it in the bag right before you left. It's in the RV just outside the door now. When people say things like "Where do you live?" we just tell them that we live in the yard outside. Despite having to drag the generator outside and plug it in every time we want to watch television it is actually very efficient to have everything that you need in one room. Every night we tidy things up a bit, make dinner, do dishes and curl up on our couch/table to watch Star Trek while the generator hums under our feet just on the other side of the door. I don't think that I want to be in here forever but as my friend Jena would say... I live here now.<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1Murfreesboro, AR 71958, USA34.0623308 -93.68990489999998834.0097148 -93.770585899999986 34.1149468 -93.609223899999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-77645376479175716192013-01-03T23:30:00.003-06:002013-01-03T23:30:47.139-06:00Some Facts and Figures<br />
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Since I haven't posted for awhile I
thought that I would start out again with some basic stats on the
trip so far.</div>
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We have been living in the RV,
Abenteuer for about six months and been on the road about four and a
half months.
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We have driven over 9000 miles through
22 states most of which we have had the chance to visit and see
interesting things.</div>
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We have replaced three alternators,
found four leaks and been on fire once.</div>
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We have replaced one GPS, bought one
heater and a generator.</div>
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We have taken the 1975 Dodge Sportsman
Travelcraft with the 360 engine through over 10 major mountain passes
including the highest altitude on highway 80 in Wyoming which is over
8000 feet above sea level.
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We have couchsurfed 7 times and had a
fabulous time with everyone we have met through that program.</div>
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We have visited old friends and met so
many new ones. We have also missed many people along the way but hope
to catch time with them the next time around.
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It hasn't always been easy and
sometimes I feel like this may have been a poor life choice. But days
like today when we are sitting with good people and enjoying new
things I know that it was a good choice. </div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-39195299544345892382012-09-13T23:48:00.000-05:002012-09-13T23:48:15.932-05:00What Time Zone Are We In?<br />
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We have been in Idaho for about a week. It is, so far a
wonderful experience. The folks we are staying with are very flexible about the
time that things get done and how we do them. They aren’t morning people and
have no problem with when we choose to do things generally. We have been
getting up about 9am every morning. Or so we thought. It turns out that if you
are crossing multiple time zones and want to get up on time that it is a good
idea to set ALL of the clocks in the space you live. We have three of them. One
on the dash which I duteously set to the correct time the second Andrew said “Hey,
we passed over into Mountain Time Zone”, one on the computer which I don’t care
about and one on our alarm clock which is arguably the most important. It turns
out that we have not been getting up at 9am every day but 10am because I forgot
to reset the alarm clock. </div>
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When Billy asked if we could get up a bit early and see Kate
off on her shopping day, get last minute instructions and get some things done
when she was gone we were happy to oblige. And when I got to the house looking
terribly confused and trying to figure out the actual time they were both
amused and wonderful about it. Kate tells me every day that time doesn’t exist
at the farm and she is usually correct. All the same, I am happy to have all
the clocks set to the correct time zone again. </div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-72847989531707817862012-09-02T02:38:00.002-05:002012-09-02T02:38:56.520-05:00What Day Is It?It seems like we have been traveling for months and when we looked at the calendar it is actually only two weeks since we left Fargo which feels very far away almost like another country. The overwhelming feeling of meeting new people, not knowing the bus routes and taking in so many new experiences can be a bit frustrating. I think that we underestimate the effort that travel of any kind takes. You are in the most basic terms taking everything that your body recognizes as "normal" and changing it all at once.<br />
I remember in China after I has eaten so many wonderful foods and didn't feel well that Jess's suggestion that we eat something that my body recognized as food, like the pasta that we ultimately found was perfect. It was my way of resetting the body clock and reminding my body that with all the new things happening I still remembered those that we all felt comfortable with.<br />
We also lose the sense of time and schedule. This is especially true if we travel outside our time zone or completely stop things that help us keep track of time like work. After I quit my job and had been on the road for about a week I started to forget what day it was. My dad, who is doing his sabbatical in Munich is experiencing much the same feeling and he writes that he is trying to get into a rhythm after having been there a week. I think that we take for granted those things that help us regulate how we view that passage of time and how to plan it.<br />
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For the next five months this lifestyle is going to be "normal" for us. Every month or so we will move again to a new place and try something out. Right about the time we feel comfortable and normal again we will move and start again. The trade off for this crazy switch every few months has already started. The opportunity to meet so many new people and try different things has, so far proven completely worth the jolt of taking the whole house with us to a new location. Hopefully soon this place, no matter where it sits will feel like home.<br />
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-17740522846708833332012-08-29T23:55:00.000-05:002012-08-29T23:55:25.797-05:00 What The Hell Am I Doing?<br />
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For those of you just joining this blog
or who may not be apprised of what has happened here is the story. A
few months ago I sold almost everything that I own, bought an RV and
decided to travel across the country. Crazy you say? Yes it is. Let's
meet the participants...</div>
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That is me. I am the idiot who decided
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his is Andrew. I'm not sure why he is
here but he drives the RV and does useful things like make sure it's
filled with oil and keeps me from having a mental breakdown. </div>
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And this guy is Almont. My friend
Christina decided that there may not have been enough of us so she
gave us a companion. He isn't very chatty but takes things as they
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That's Bella. She is cute. And that's
about it. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The plan is this. Leave Fargo and drive
to Seattle, which we have already done. It has been an eventful week
and a half and as I write this I can't believe that is has only been
that long. It seems some days like we have been doing this for a
year. We will spend some time seeing cool things and having weird
stuff happen which I will update you on in the following days. Then
we head to a neat little farm in Idaho for about a month to work.
After that, across the country again with stops in various places to
St. Louis for the Men's Roller Derby Association National
Championship in October and hopefully to the east coast for another
stay on a farm there. In the end the goal is to be in Fort Collins,
CO for Andrew to go to school. We have to goal of seeing all 50
states in three years. For those of you keeping score at home so far
we have MN, ND, MT and WA. We did drive across the small part of ID
so you can count that as well. See you all on the road!</span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-54140586432845358322012-08-19T12:38:00.004-05:002012-08-31T20:05:49.147-05:00Never To Many Clamps<br />
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My RV is very old and the cabinet doors
have a habit of slamming down on your fingers at the most inopportune
times. Usually when I am trying to put the peanut butter back or find
a place for the chips. My head and fingers have started to dread
visits to the places that we keep everything that we need. </div>
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I found
the solution to this problem at the most unexpected place. I went to
a wedding. Two friends were getting married… to each other and I
was lucky enough to score an invitation. As most of you know I am not
generally a fan of weddings but this wedding gave me a huge boost of
hope and joy for a few reasons. First of all it was sort of like a
mini reunion. Several of the people that I went to high school were
in attendance because they had kept in touch with both of these
people. I remembered how I felt when I was in high school with these
folks. They are smart, interesting and motivated people. Not exactly
how I felt back then. I felt more like I had no direction or
motivation. I felt out of place pretty much everywhere no matter how
kind people were. When I saw all of these man and women again they
were kind, joyful and successful. They had lovely families and
wonderful stories in which they contributed good things to the world.
I went into the day feeling overwhelmed by the impending trip and
lifestyle change and left feeling revitalized, encouraged and
excited.
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The second thing that gave me hope was
the clamps. The groom’s father passed away a few years back and was
a large fan of clamps. Rightly so, they hold things in place,
temporarily fix things and organize. They really are the all purpose
tool. Every table came equipped with its own set of lovely clamps
which we were encouraged to take with us. It turns out that these
clamps are the perfect size and strength to hold up my cabinets
doors. It was almost like someone planned it that way. Someone
mentally said “Here take these useful clamps and a whole bunch of
joy!” We don’t know the impression that we leave in life by just
being who we are. Sometimes life can be hard and we are afraid to
take the next step towards joy for fear something will break or fall
apart. And in the end we realize that as we go through life and all
we really need to succeed is the love of our friends… and maybe a
few clamps.</div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-9301762320905229012012-06-14T12:27:00.004-05:002012-06-14T12:27:55.588-05:00Programmer Love<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are things that I do might do well. Things like
cooking or organizing or speaking or even writing. Other people do useful
things, like engineering and computer programming. They do cool stuff like
create shortcuts and make your mouse look like a light saber. You know, useful
stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would not classify my job as exciting exactly. I enter
information, do calculations and sit in meetings much like the rest of the
world. I try my best to pay attention to things going on around me despite my
low-focus personality. One day I had an experience that reminded me that life
is greatly about our point of view. I should remember the things that Obi Wan teaches
but I remind you of my low-focus problem. I was training on a new computer
program in a meeting when I remembered. I remembered the cancel button. Let me
first say that having your own personal company computer programmer that will
do anything that you ask, like teach your computer to make toast and put you
into the Matrix with a shortcut key, is pretty badass. But the best invention
ever is the cancel button. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing that happens when you press the wrong button
at work, after you swear, is the box that says “are you sure you want to do
this stupid thing that you just did?” Yes or No? Well crap. What if I say yes
and it blows up the building? Or say no and I disappear forever? The trusty
solution is a cancel button that comes from the simplest place of all. Love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When our programmer was working on a project his wife told
him that one of her biggest frustrations is not fear, it is that there is no
other choice, yes or no is it. And we just went through what the options are
there. His solution? Cancel. Yep, you can just cancel the mistake. Cancel your
screw up. Cancel all the pain that you may have caused yourself in life with
one simple button. And all of this from the minds of the people around him as
they try and find more ways to work harder, longer and make more money. His
point of view? Probably that if it works for him and makes his wife happy that
it may just do that same for the world. How do programmers say I Love You? They
just hit Cancel.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-73613740983876381422012-04-12T16:14:00.000-05:002012-04-12T16:14:25.837-05:00Don't Wait<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently I put up a group on facebook for the trip we are planning to take. For those of you unaware of what this will entail let me brief you.<o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In August we are going to pack up our RV (which we don’t own yet so if you find a good deal let us know) and head to Seattle for a roller derby bout, my last one with my current team. We will spend about two weeks in the Seattle area before going to southern Idaho for a farm stay which we found on <a href="https://www.helpx.net/">HelpX</a>. I will always be grateful for the lovely friend who recommended it to me. After that we go back to Fargo for just a quick stop then to Chicago and St. Louis, MO where I will be announcing the MRDA National tournament. Next stop London, Ontario to visit my cousin, Niagara Falls and then the East Coast. We need to be in Colorado at the latest by January 22<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> for spring semester at the college. This would mean that I would drive by the campus in the RV and push Andrew’s dirty hippy butt out the door. We would obviously like to arrive before that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been wanting to take a trip like this for a while. I actually would rather live in the RV but there is some give and take when someone agrees to go with you. After I started the group to stay in touch with everyone along our route one of my friends got really excited and lots of people said that they would like to do something like this one day. For the last ten years I have dealt with lots of other peoples “stuff”, their businesses, personal lives and dreams. Every time I think about my own I get side tracked. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My advice to everyone… Don’t Wait! Go now. Adventure now. Live now. Don’t get to ten years later and wish that you had done that one thing that you have always wanted to do. It may not work out or go the way you think but at least you will have tried it and had the experience. We all have to so things like work and maintenance but don’t wait on the things you love. Find a way to adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This being said, between August and January we will be on the road. If it doesn’t go as planned you may be getting a call from me. If that happens please be kind and come to get me! In the mean time I will see you all on the road!<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-90400505207204140502012-03-22T17:37:00.001-05:002012-03-22T17:38:33.272-05:00Drop The Ball and Pick It UpLeave it to me to drop the ball two days in a row but in all fairness I did get a bunch of stuff done in those two days which made me feel better about life. It looks like I may be starting work next week instead of the week after and that has accelerated the time frame of clean laundry and dishes.<br />
For those of you not familiar with depression and how it works you may be interested to know that it is incredibly unpredictable. Some days you feel awesome and some days not so much but the idea of moving forward may be tough to swallow. It is always easier to just throw ones hands up in the air and say bugger it all. I have been reminded by two people in the past few days how important it is to move forward even if you only go a few inches.<br />
One of these persons has already decided that he does not want to be happy. He makes all those around him miserable and as a result nobody who knows him wants to be there. We all want to help but what can you do for someone who is not even interested in looking inside himself and seeing what is there.<br />
The other is a fellow for whom I have the highest respect. He is open and smart. I love that he has emotions and frustrations like the rest of us and that he can say "I give up". But then can ask for advice and work at understanding and say that he is going to get up and try it out again from a new angle. He reminds me to start fresh and see what the world has for me.<br />
Three things that am grateful for today...<br />
<br />
1. The chance to work on trip planning again. So far National Parks are getting my huge thumbs up.<br />
2. Not having to go anywhere.<br />
3. Having new face wash and moisturizer dropped off for me. Yay for being clean!<br />
4. Snuggle time with the dog in the morning.<br />
5. Having normal dreams. Well... normal for me ;)<br />
6. Arlo Guthrie.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Y4RlkblNM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Y4RlkblNM</a><br />
<br />
I know, that's six things. But I missed a few days in there so I am compensating. And moving forward.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-61084255722836254212012-03-19T22:22:00.000-05:002012-03-19T22:22:18.462-05:00They Are In the Ignition<div class="MsoNormal">As I was talking to a friend today she asked me what made me stay in my abusive relationships. For those of you unfamiliar with my background on this, I have a habit of choosing boyfriends very unwisely. The abuse varied from mental, emotional, sexual and physical abuse. These happened quite awhile ago and I am more than happy to talk with people and share my experiences so that they are more educated about how to prevent and stop it when it happens. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I could spew all kinds of psychological garbage about my family and how I grew up and all of that. And in a way that is always true since those things influence us in a huge way but as I spent the day pondering our chat I thought to myself, could it be that my stubborn nature is the biggest factor. That thought that I have put all this time and effort into something and I won’t have it fail now. I shake my tiny virtual fist in the air and hope the universe hears me. </div><div class="MsoNormal">It is the same thing that prevents me from posting in the blog when the writing isn’t “perfect” or from cleaning if I can’t get it “all” done. Sometimes we have to take what we can get and do what we can and hope the universe actually responds to that. So every day I try and clean one thing and be happy with what I did accomplish. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I was explaining this project of mine to another friend today and he said “I hope that you don’t run out of things to be grateful for but I don’t think you will.” So far I agree completely. I am happily finding all kinds of things to be grateful for in my world. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Three things that I am grateful for today…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">1. Perkins. Sounds odd I know. But today was a busy and stressful day and neither of us wanted to cook. Our waitress was super nice and we had a quiet stress free meal. I am glad there is some place in the area that serves food after 8pm.</div><div class="MsoNormal">2. AAA. Man those folks are awesome. I never have a bad phone call with them or have anyone angry or rude talk to me. The guy came and unlocked my car fast and politely and I was on my way. That $70 is a good investment every year.</div><div class="MsoNormal">3. Funny neighbors. We rode up the elevator with our next store neighbor and he overheard us talking about something. He giggled a bit and smiled and when I smiled back he said “Yeah, I know lots of people like that.” We were talking about unhappy people who want to be miserable. I am happy that we are not like that.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-35667793362972546292012-03-19T14:21:00.000-05:002012-03-19T14:21:08.594-05:00Piano<div class="MsoNormal">I was so tired last night that I forgot to post so I hope this is alright. While at the parade on Saturday my father and brother somehow convinced my other half that it was a good idea to come over on Sunday and help them move a piano. Quick back story… My father lives in a ginormous Victorian house in the country which needs to have the hardwood refinished. The piano actually belongs to my mother and has been living with my dad for a long time. So the timing seems to work perfectly. The idea was to move the piano directly into the pickup truck and out my mom’s but the brake line broke and needs to be fixed before said piano can be loaded. So, into the garage goes the piano. My dad does not lift things after he slipped a disc a few years back but does like to be involved in the processes. Every time we do something like this as a family I feel like I am watching my life being narrated by Jene Sheperd. I don’t know if you have ever moved a piano before but they are very large and not exactly weighted to be moveable. The process actually went better than any of us expected although I never thought that I would hear myself say to my father “get your head out from under the damn piano!” while it was on a ramp. Things I am grateful for today…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">1. Time with my family. Even if sometimes families can drive you crazy they still get things about you that no one else does.</div><div class="MsoNormal">2. Test driving trucks with the boyfriend. This is his first vehicle that he will own. Kind of cool to relive that experience. </div><div class="MsoNormal">3. How awesome and well behaved my dog is. While my niece is the coolest person that I know I can imagine that for an eleven year old dog it can be a lot of action hanging out with a four year old for two days in a row. Bella takes everything that happens in stride.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I told my mom that one day I would write a book about our family. She asked me change the names or let her know so that she could move and change hers. </div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-33085405532936175282012-03-18T00:28:00.003-05:002012-03-18T00:29:49.576-05:00Parade!<div class="MsoNormal">I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like parades. If you don’t like parades don’t tell me because that would be sad. I find them a bit odd sometimes with their collection of cars (which aren’t floats), advertisements for things like handbags and contractors and the strange way that people can’t seem to keep the same amount of distance between them and the people in front of them as if it is some kind of complicated quadratic equation. But otherwise they seem like a fun time all the way around. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Three things that am I grateful for today…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">1. Watching a parade with my family in the gorgeous weather complete with a 5K before it and the chance to cheer for Oma and Mommy with my niece.</div><div class="MsoNormal">2. Hanging out with my awesome niece and dog for some extra time.</div><div class="MsoNormal">3. A quiet and lovely dinner at an amazing restaurant with my favorite person.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am exhausted, the dog is exhausted, the boyfriend is exhausted which I believe equals a successful day here. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-20149781784285037452012-03-17T01:15:00.001-05:002012-03-17T01:17:27.177-05:00Makes Us Stronger<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people believe that things happen for a reason, some believe in fate, some in complete randomness. The truth is that no matter what you believe life is going to keep happening no matter what the reason. It isn’t the things themselves that are significant but rather our reactions to them. How we can look back later and learn from how we have interacted with these events. Three things that I am grateful for today…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. 1. A conversation with a friend who is far away. He is on his own personal adventure but talking to him re-inspired me towards mine. It also felt so good to see a familiar face and hear a familiar voice of someone who I enjoy so much.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. 2. A conversation with someone who I don’t talk to enough and who I should talk to more. Mostly because we have so much in common while being such different people. It is refreshing to have someone understand, respect and still give a fresh perspective.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. 3. Helping a friend clean before he moves. While I am sad he is moving away I feel so proud to know people who are successful and happy with their lives. It felt good to help someone who in the past has helped me and been there for me.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly we are all on our own paths and working on our own lives. We can’t control what others do and how they act. We can only control how we react. Who are you going to effect today? What positive event will you add to the world. You may be surprised to know that someone seeing your smile over a webcam could be that thing. </span></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-64576425123722317262012-03-16T00:45:00.003-05:002012-03-17T01:19:55.723-05:00Through a New LensEarlier today I promised to write every day and to find three things every day to be thankful for. This will be my first post and although it may be brief I am going to post it none the less.<br />
<br />
1. My derby family. Especially Messi Jigler for getting me involved (even though I am not sure she knew what we were all in for lol). You all contribute to my world in a way I never thought possible.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">2.The weather FINALLY getting better.</div><div class="MsoNormal">3. For a new job which will allow me to save money for things I love to do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Facebook can be an odd thing. I believe that sometimes people let it control them instead of the other way around. Today though, it helped me to find a place to find discount glasses, connect with a friend who is moving and showed me the support that I get from people who are far away from hugging range. The next year is bringing lots of change for me and I hope that you will all be a part of the adventure ahead. Lets roll!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-62100063448050979892011-11-21T12:54:00.001-06:002011-11-21T12:54:34.030-06:00I have given this much thought<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Dear friends</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">The last year has been an eventful one and the last several months in particular have been among the most stressful in my life. Some of you are aware of these things and some aren’t . In the end they are really not that important as events in themselves but become more important now as I examine the way that I deal with them. Let me start by saying that this is in NO WAY aimed at one person or group of people but simply a way of sorting out my thoughts.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">To those of you who have been a party to the last year’s events that have been so supportive and understanding it means more to me than I can express. Please believe and I think about those kindnesses small and large all the time. I could never expect anyone to fix or change anything that happens in my life but the input of people’s experiences is always appreciated.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">The time has come for me to take some extra time for myself and decide what direction I want to take from here on in. I have recently been given several ideas, offers and opportunities that have made me take stock of my future. I am grateful to have so many choices in front of me but it does mean that I will need to make time for me and my happiness for awhile.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">First, please feel free to call, text or email. I would love to get together for lunch, drinks or just to catch up with anyone but I won’t be getting a hold of people on my own too much for at least a few months. Get a hold of me and I will make the time to enjoy anyone!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Second, I am still available if anyone needs an ear or a friend. That will never change, but as above please get a hold of me if you do need anything.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">I apologize for any hurt feelings that may happen as a result of this but I really do need some Me time to decide what to do next. All I ask is that my friends support and love me during this process. Many thanks to all.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-45822554072779257862011-04-29T14:58:00.000-05:002011-04-29T14:58:15.384-05:00Heroes<div class="MsoNormal"> I belong to a men’s roller derby league. No, really. I don’t skate by any means, I announce. When I got involved in derby I had no idea it would have the consuming effect that it has had. You kind of get sucked into this black hole and really don’t want to find your way out again. My roller derby league is unique though.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> First let me explain to the readers who are not familiar with derby. Roller derby is to many people a woman’s sport. The fact that men play at all bothers a lot of people. Roller derby is not a paid sport. Nobody involved gets paid. Players, announcers, volunteers… Nobody. This means that, to my mind you have to really love it to commit the time, energy and money into the activity. You have the basic idea of what is involved in derby. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> A few weeks ago one of our members’ sons turned 7 years old. I don’t personally remember ever being 7 - that was a long time ago. But I do remember that the things that happen when you are seven are kind of big, no matter what they are. He informed his parents, both of whom are involved in the league, that all he wanted for his birthday was to skate with the guys that he sees play roller derby. I very much suspect that this is the same as me asking to play with the Minnesota Twins and then go out to dinner with Justin Moneau afterwards. Nice thought but not very practical for all intents and purposes. That is, unless you happen to know the group of people that I do. Be forewarned that I may begin to gush from this point onward.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> The party was booked and invitations sent out. Special requests were made. He wanted to skate with his favorite player and wouldn’t it be cool if everyone came in uniform etc. By no means could you expect 30 people to show up to a party but the hope was that we would have at least some people. Here is what happened…<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> I arrived at the venue to a crowd of skates and jerseys. The guys were skating and laughing, the kids were at least laughing if not doing what one would define as skating exactly. Not to worry about me bad mouthing the kid’s skills because when I skate I look more ridiculous and yes, I did strap on a pair of skates for the benefit (or detriment) of my 7 year old friend. After about an hour I decided to give up the skating idea and go back to what it is that I do on the league. As I picked up the announcer’s microphone, the gentlemen of the league then did one of the coolest things that I have ever seen a group of people do. They skated a “bout”. Two jams for the birthday. The first jam was started and stopped with the birthday boy himself blowing the whistle, and then, even better, the second jam to his infinite delight included himself as one of the jammers. The other jammer? His favorite player. The whistle blew and for the next two minutes he was on cloud 9, weaving and faking his way through the pack while his opponents contrived to fall, tumble, and push him through so that in the end he scored 3 grand slams. As the audience cheered I announced that when roller derby finally went pro it was clear who the first draft pick was going to be. They high fived him and for five minutes he knew what is was like to be a part of a team. He grinned so hard that I feared his face may be frozen in that pose. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6D6IXZ-phlYiLgJA4-zrxIzj3pgLiR7nmcENhJnjHreBZCsT6N2ua_nOvN2UYH6SENlnOZu0cFhNnivJHoCxZgN81uXxi7v_XbyIfsdt1nd09rnCxk8fgZ-pNK9BoR5oylkY-qrZtl0/s1600/200817_10150445697515006_635035005_17169622_4845533_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6D6IXZ-phlYiLgJA4-zrxIzj3pgLiR7nmcENhJnjHreBZCsT6N2ua_nOvN2UYH6SENlnOZu0cFhNnivJHoCxZgN81uXxi7v_XbyIfsdt1nd09rnCxk8fgZ-pNK9BoR5oylkY-qrZtl0/s320/200817_10150445697515006_635035005_17169622_4845533_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"> There are a few things that make this whole day amazing. The guys seemed genuinely happy to be there and to do all the things asked of them. And, when I later announced to the group at the board meeting that I thought they were an extraordinary group of men they seemed honestly surprised. It just didn’t occur to any of them that what they had done was anything but ordinary. But, I have never had dinner with Justin Morneau and like I said, when you are seven, stuff is a big deal.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Heroes are not only men in capes, sports stars that get paid copious sums of money, or scantily dressed rockers. They are the people who, with no thought or effort, make the world better for others. They make a kid’s 7<sup>th</sup> birthday the best he will ever have.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> They show all of us what a team really is. <o:p></o:p></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-26366223209308256972011-04-27T01:06:00.006-05:002011-04-27T01:18:52.979-05:00Love, Luv, Lurv<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently I saw a post on a friends facebook page. The question was, What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far? As I was reading through all the responses I decided to have a long think before I posted mine. The responses were pretty standard stuff. My kids, purchasing my first house, My spouse etc. Don’t get me wrong, these are fine responses and all excellent accomplishments to be proud of. I mean, to me kids are the other white meat, I couldn’t buy a stick of gum on credit and the last time I went on a real date was probably shortly after fire was invented. I can’t claim anything like what all of these amazing people have. Then I came across someone familiar. The response was… Embracing joy as a way of life, and turning my back on sorrow. And it struck me, for the last 6 months I have been struggling to decide what is important to me and why I am here. You know, the questions that everyone asks themselves. The answer has been in front of me for quite awhile and I, as usual have not really noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 34 years I have been engaged, had lots of money, had no money, been hurt, been lost, been happy, collected lots of stuff, had friends, lost friends, been places, seen things and have probably gotten a chance to experience more than most people do in their entire life and I expect that I will continue to experience both good and bad things for a long time more. I have made huge mistakes, been able to fix some of them and had to accept that consequences of others. I know that not all people are good and that some people are not bad but don’t understand how their actions affect others. As a result I end up getting hurt frequently and thinking that maybe trust is not all that great a concept after all. So, what is my greatest accomplishment? I have learned that to love with my whole heart is the only way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I can already hear half of my readers screaming at me from the other side like they are watching me walk up the stairs of an empty house in a horror movie “Don’t do it!” And instinctively I would agree with them. That kind of blatant disregard for my emotional well being is bound to get me into trouble and it already has, many times. But think of it mathematically if you will. I could be safe and close up my heart and not let anyone in. This would most definitely keep me safe. But would I be truly happy and have the chance for real and honest relationships with other people? I could make people prove that they are worth it. This is a good middle ground, still the option for good relationships and the filter to keep the hurtful things out. But, as many of you know about me already I tend to not play things safe. My answer to people is this, I am not good at math. For people to trust and love you they need a safe place to do so and how they behave once they are there is their responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Give people the chance to treat you well and you will find a well of goodness in people that you may not have expected. Does this take patience and understanding? Yes. I suck a lot at both of these things. Apparently I enjoy challenging myself because I have a habit of trying things that I am bad at and then getting my proverbial ass kicked. But here I go, trodding through life hoping that maybe if I don’t screw up quite as much that there will still be people at the other end who speak to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I love with my whole heart. I do not require any kind of payment in return except for one request of you, my friends. Please be nice to my heart. It has been through a lot.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-61302081558768052302011-03-13T04:13:00.000-05:002011-03-13T04:13:00.024-05:00Right Tighty, Lefty Loosy<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">I remember the moment I learned how to ride a bicycle. I didn’t have training wheels, I had a hill. Anyone who knows basic physics can put that together. If you started at the top and rode down, the momentum would keep you rolling and in balance. I thought that was a fabulous idea and I rode like that for weeks. My brother, on the other hand, was not quite so impressed when, years later, I tried to teach him to ride the same way. (And he still blames me for not riding a bike.) But the technique worked for me and, as long as I didn’t actually need to go anywhere, I would have been fine indefinitely. But bicycles are modes of transportation, vehicles, and (if you are under the age of sixteen) a way of life. So one day, at the bottom of the hill I put my right foot on the pedal, pushed down with the entire weight of my body, and in one fluid motion the bike started to move. I marvel to think on it now. It’s fascinating that a person’s brain can so accurately calculate the correct speed and balance with their specific center of gravity to keep a two wheeled, un-motorized machine moving.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">I rode my bike everywhere. I spent hours imagining it as a race car, a prized jumping stallion, a motorcycle. I rode to my best friend’s house so that we could go to the park and library. At night I parked it in the garage to keep it out of the rain. When, at the age of ten, we moved out of our small Canadian town and into rural Minnesota I was once again reminded that if you can’t catch a city bus you have to find alternate transportation. New bike, new friends and new memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including heartlessly hurling my brother down the only hill in town. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">I have always owned a bike and it appears that they have been a part of my past. The story could end there but for one thing.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">I started work in a bike shop a little while ago, and was asked one day very casually by a co-worker what significance bikes had in my life. To my surprise, the question really stopped me in my tracks. When I took this job I had been completely ready to wait on customers, tackle the computer system, learn bike repair … but I hadn’t been prepared to answer a philosophical question about bicycling. I spent all day thinking about it. I looked at bikes, rode bikes, talked to people about bikes. Fast forward to the part of the day that I am standing in the shop with a puzzled look on my face, covered in grease as I try ineptly to reassemble the gears on a wheel hub when I hear what I have been told is the bike repair creed… Right tighty, lefty loosy. Seems like a simple concept but then at first glance a bike seems like a simple machine. To ride a bike you need to be intelligent, coordinated and fit. Most of the people on the planet know how to ride a bike. In China there a significantly more bikes than cars. And just like anything else you can easily find the bike equivalent of a Porsche or Metro. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">To say that a bike is only a mode of transportation is to say that Aris Allens are only shoes or the Gruyere is only a cheese. Isn’t it the simplest things that usually work the best and bring us the most joy? Be nice to people, smile at everyone, share. So, here is my answer… I own a classic, baby blue Schwinn tandem bike. It has those great big seats with the huge springs under them and since you have to put the bigger person on the front sometimes I can get away with lifting me feet of the pedals and seeing if the guy <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in front notices. The great thing about a tandem is that it requires two people and everyone always seem to smile and wave at you when you ride one.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doesn’t usually happen when I climb into my Oldsmobile. <o:p></o:p></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-19666176458523651672010-11-26T02:00:00.000-06:002010-11-26T02:00:28.051-06:00Baggage<div class="MsoNormal">I work on a construction site which means that I end up with a lot of weird stuff in my pockets at the end of the day. Gaskets, pieces of drywall and anything the vacuum cleaner won’t pick up. Most noticeably I have lots of screws. Stud screws, drywall screws, small screws, large screws. They seem to be what holds the universe together. Screws and duct tape. I have a whole bowl of the things in my apartment and today when I was cleaning I wondered why. I suppose that I think to myself that either I will return them the site, which is not really feasible or that I will use them for something. Perhaps it’s my Austrian heritage that makes me want to keep things. My Oma used to keep nylons every time they got a run in them. When she died and we were cleaning out her things I swear we found enough nylons to outfit the entire country. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am not an incapable person but I am also not the person you call when you need to build a wall or hang cabinets. So, why do I assume that this bowl of screws would come in handy for anything?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Why do we hold onto things that can never do us any good? Clothes that will never be in style again, receipts for a vacuum cleaner that we no longer own and check copies from the late eighties. Eventually we end up with so much baggage that it seems impossible to get rid of it or move through it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then one day something switches, like it did in my head a few weeks ago. I started pulling things off shelves, throwing things away and putting things in boxes to give away. I felt light. I posted my stuff for people to dig through, perhaps they have a better use for it then I do. I felt lighter. I watched everyone take my useless stuff, stuff that bogged me down and use it in a better way. I felt content.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We all carry baggage. Stuff that we thought might be useful one day. Walls, barriers, road blocks. We make people try and get around them. And sometimes those people don’t make it. Every once in a while though something amazing happens. There is a person who manages to get around the barrier and they find all that baggage. But instead of throwing it away they take it away with them and turn it into something useful and make it work a better way. And then something switches. We start throwing away all of that stuff that wasn’t doing us any good. And we feel lighter.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-56877011255840129482010-11-24T00:26:00.002-06:002010-11-24T00:26:44.104-06:00Gotta Dance,Gotta Dance<div class="MsoNormal">My Mum told me a story once about my Grandma that I want to tell. When my Grandma was in her twenties she used to love to dance. She would sell eggs from the chickens on the farm and had enough money to either buy a coke, which was pretty big then, or to go dancing. She usually picked dancing. Her mother would make dresses that matched her boyfriend’s military uniforms and they would go and dance. The story is that they were so good that people would clear the floor for them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">About a year ago I was dancing with one of my good friends and one of my favorite dance partners and the same thing happened. We looked up and the floor was empty. I tell this story not to stroke my ego but to say that in that moment I wished very much that my Grandma hadn’t passed away when I was twelve so that I could call her and share that with her. I tell it because dancing still makes me happy. So much that I hadn’t even noticed the people, just the person that I was dancing with.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The universe throws all kinds of curve balls at you. Sometimes all you can do is stand in the room and hope that they don’t hit you in the head as the whiz by. On occasion though, someone stands in a room and helps you catch them. The things that matter turn out to be small and seemingly insignificant but on a day when you need them more than anything they are like a rare currency.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They are these things…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being someone’s role model, doing well at your job, having a friend who will look at your car… again, delicious food made by someone who listens, someone warm after a cold day, someone who tells you how beautiful you look, dancing with your favorite people until you want to collapse and having a best friend who will hold you and make the world go away for just awhile. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When the good things in a day outweigh the bad despite your effort to be unhappy and angry you can be truly happy and grateful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-51729278758605573782010-10-07T22:41:00.001-05:002010-10-07T23:35:58.514-05:00Operation Garden Market<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1944 the allies in WWII decided to launch what was then the largest airborne operation ever. If you are a war buff and want to know all the nifty details you can try out this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden">link</a>. For the rest of us the gist is this. The allies decide to take over a bunch of bridges across Germany which would open up a path for the armies to use crossing through the country. What ended up happening when bridges were destroyed was the troops getting trapped on the other side and having to evacuate eventually abandoning the mission. I realize this is a grosse generalization and I apologize to all those history geeks out there who are having a fit. I use this story as an example. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently I have been informed that I am pretty profound so let me try my hand again and put this out there for a thought. Recently I have spoken to a friend about a great many items. Trust, pain, strength, failure and success. I submit that none of these act independently of each other. I will use myself as an example. I am the allied forces. I reach to far, don’t plan very well and eventually have to be evacuated by a back up squadron. Then again, there are people who spend their whole lives living very quiet and probably fairly happy lives. Who do you think has it better? On the one hand the allied forces (that would be me) suffer from pain and failure ending up sort of broken and worn. But my victories are enormous and joyous. They are the things of dreams. Not always big things but the kinds of things that make you lucky to be a participant in yours and other people’s lives. Could we play it safe? Yes. Would it be very interesting? No.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I fear that the eventual conclusion to this whole conversation would be balance. Well crap. I am bad at balance. And I sure can’t rely on my stunning good looks and money to help me. Where does that leave us?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently a friend reminded me how important it is to trust people despite their consistent reminder that they probably don’t deserve it. Here is the quote that she used…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Trust: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="apple-style-span">love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">impenetrable, irredeemable. (The Four Loves - C.S. Lewis)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t think that I need to override the incomparable Mr. Lewis but you get the idea. You can, not trust and never be hurt or take the chance, maybe get hurt and have a shot at something great.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Which leads us to pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. (Lance Armstrong)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I won’t lie to you. I am in a place right now where I am pretty sure that Mr. Armstrong is full of… well, you know. But I can’t finish this thought without acknowledging that he is probably correct. Eventually the pain stops, it teaches us something and we move to the next step.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Strength<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I feel like I can’t mention strength without failure but I am going to try and make this clear. Strength is the ability to not only be the strong person and lift others up but to admit when you need someone else to lift you up. I recently took a trip to China with an amazing friend. Buddhism is the prominent religion there and has very little in the way of the kind of structure that western culture is used to. It is a very tranquil thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">In separateness lies the world's great misery, in compassion lies the world's true strength. (the Buddha)<o:p></o:p></span></i></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Again, far be it from me to interpret greater men than myself but, did he just say that we can’t do it alone and that we need to care for each other to be strong?<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Moving right along to support<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">"Yes, Piglet?"</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you."</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">—</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/81466.A_A_Milne"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">A.A. Milne</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">(<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1225592"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Winnie-the-Pooh</span></a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Is it as simple as that? My friend Jess (the person who inspired me to write this) said recently to several people…<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">“Thanks for being there for me every moment and not being jackasses.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">I guess that sometimes it is as simple as just being able to be sure of each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would love to skip failure and go right to success but we all know that is not how real life works and much as I would like to quit real life and just go on permanent vacation to Barbados that is also not how it works. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would like to have some profound quote for this as well but here is what all of those philosophers, writers and your shrink are going to tell you. You are a not a failure for failing at one thing. You are a failure when you don’t try. You are a failure when you just give up. You are a failure when you don’t see a bigger picture. In 1992 Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy and he made it through, toupee and all. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Success <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I told you that I would get here. You didn’t believe me? Remember we talked about trust earlier, I promised that I would get you here and here we are. Unfortunately I have the same answer for you that I have for a lot of questions people ask me. If I knew the answer I would be rich and have a book deal. As it turns out all I have is this blog. Would you be really mad right now if I told you that you have to define success on your own? Oh come on I’m not that terrible. I mean you took the time to read through this whole boring thing and I haven’t even told you what happened to the allies yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As it turns out the allies actually lost Operation Market Garden. Bummer. But they did end up winning the war as a whole in so much as you can “win” a war. The point is this. They took the chance and jumped out there. Sometimes we may feel like we are trapped behind enemy lines with no bridge and the backup squadron is off at the bar doing shots and singing a bad version of Love Shack on the karaoke machine. But keep in mind that small victories are important. Having a friend to talk to, a cupcake on a bad day and just being held by someone in their space for five minutes all count as victories. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey, I don't have all the answers, in</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> life</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, to be honest, I've failed as much as I've succeeded, but I love my wife, I love my</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> life</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, and I wish you my kind of success. (Dicky Fox in Jerry Maguire)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What? Me? The allied forces of Fargo? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I get up every morning and do the best I can. I screw it up. I go to bed and try to do better the next day. I keep moving forward. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rinse. Lather. Repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-69778246873012090282010-07-08T02:43:00.000-05:002010-07-08T02:43:22.318-05:00Are you Wally Pipp or Lou Gehrig?<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day I was talking to a friend who told me this story. On June 2</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, 1925 after 10 years with the New York Yankees first baseman, Wally Pipp was benched and the starting lineup altered. His replacement was a little known baseball player from Columbia University. Lou Gehrig went on to play 2,130 consecutive games for the Yankees and is considered by most to be the best baseball player of all time. That moment in time was one of extraordinary change for everyone involved especially Gehrig. A unknown, hometown boy from New York City who just wanted to play baseball that no one would have ever know about if not for one small change one day in June. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After he told me the story he turned to me and said, “Are you Wally Pipp or Lou Gehrig?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I don’t know.” I answered. “You’re both.” He replied. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am on the cusp of change most of the time in my life. I don’t do well with things that stay the same and don’t move forward. How many moments like that happen every day? How many times do we say and do things that alter someone’s perception of life? I had someone tell me once that I was a catalyst for change, that just by my presence in a room people were motivated to change their perceptions. I think in a way we are all catalysts in different ways. The fact that we are aware of this is a different idea all together. But we are afraid of change, afraid of what is around the corner that we can’t control or don’t know about. </span></div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> To be afraid of change is to be afraid of life and to close yourself off from all the things that it might bring to you. Do not be afraid, go out into the world and see what it has to offer.</span></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-54263457061755306512010-03-10T19:47:00.000-06:002010-03-10T19:47:20.413-06:005 Things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been much talk lately about why I don’t currently don’t date. First of all, it’s not that I won’t date it’s just that I am not out trying to find myself a husband, have five fat babies and settle down in the mid west. I have my own stuff going on and am extremely busy. I also promised myself that I wouldn’t be unhappy again because of the way that I allow people to treat me. Don’t get me wrong, if you want to come over and keep the apartment clean and cook for me by all means do that. But I don’t feel like dating is something that is functional to my lifestyle anymore.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently on a car trip from Minneapolis I had a conversation with a friend about what people value in the person that they are looking for. How do we choose these things, what is important and what is not important become more complicated when you really start thinking about it. She told me to make a list. A list of 5 things. 5 things that you would be hesitant to give up in the other person. I made a list of 5 things. Since I have a habit of making very poor decisions I also have an A. and B. sub point on my list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A. Violent- Yep, this has been an issue for me in the past so I felt it was a good idea to remind myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> B. </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Available- Due to the whole “not dating” thing it is easy to find people who are conveniently unavailable so this is a requirement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> 1. </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attentive to my needs- Sounds kind of girlie and needy right? But this is my damn list and I want someone to take care of me when I am sick and be nice to me when I am having a bad day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> 2. </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flexible- To say that I am random and unpredictable would be an understatement. I am not saying that I am the most important person in the world but the freedom to do the things that I need to do is important.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> 3. Enjoys Culture and Arts</span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- It would be nice to talk to someone who knows what an opera is and wouldn't actually mind going to see one on occasion. And someone who is fun enough to try all kinds of new things. Music, art, travel and anything else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> 4. </span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Intelligent- Okay, I’m not looking for a rocket scientist but if you know where to Middle East is and that there is some thing with some guy happening there that would be great. Can you string more than five words together and form a thought of your own? Even better!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 5. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Witty and Interesting- This is huge. I am easily bored and distracted. I wish that I didn’t require constant mental stimulation but there it is. Please don’t be boring and dull. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I have made it clear to everyone that I am obviously very unreasonable and picky I can move onto the next thing that we talked about on this trip. Keep in mind that the trip from Minneapolis is three hours long. What started as a joke of sorts actually turned into a partially functional idea. A dating resume. It would have all the things that a job resume has on it. Past relationships, length of last relationship, reason for leaving, references, special skills. And you could have it typed up and hand it out. Then if people wanted to they could check your references and call you for an interview. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of this sounds very sterile and cold I’m sure. But here is the problem. People get into situations that make them unhappy because they don’t think about the logical side and are so programmed to make someone else happy that they forget about the balance and themselves. I haven’t given up hope. There are lots of really good guys out there, I know because several of my friends have found them or are them. They are just not “my” guy. I have just gained the patience to let it come to me and happen on its own whenever that may be. In the words of Michael Buble, I just haven’t met you yet.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-30344006040640462762009-11-11T02:26:00.000-06:002010-03-02T18:51:42.850-06:00DerbylandI have decided that being a part of roller derby is like being a zombie. I know, I know it doesn't make much sense to you now but it will all become clear soon.<br />First of all let me say that I became involved in derby because of my good friend, Jess. This is her hobby and I was only trying to help out. I offered to do anything that I could. When someone suggested that I announce the bout I figured that I routinely make a complete idiot of myself on a daily basis in front of 30 people so 500 hundred more couldn't do much damage. It turns out that we all got a whole lot more than we bargained for.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5wiMxfbn-xRR0rDJG8IgTs6EcTIV3DsrEWkDzvkC3JLGHAHeSS_lKf0zUDeIdMOmXdBwqv6OFi0_-umv9DBxKg00dLYBKeYu3VbGxUrJCaTflQ1WyW7CY6TcIVygwPqh8RSIiG8-5jo/s1600-h/derby+team.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5wiMxfbn-xRR0rDJG8IgTs6EcTIV3DsrEWkDzvkC3JLGHAHeSS_lKf0zUDeIdMOmXdBwqv6OFi0_-umv9DBxKg00dLYBKeYu3VbGxUrJCaTflQ1WyW7CY6TcIVygwPqh8RSIiG8-5jo/s200/derby+team.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402764090487999826" /></a><br />On Saturday, November 7th Fargo held it's first ever roller derby bout. As of 7pm when the doors opened we were still praying to sell 500 tickets and break even. I was praying that I didn't say something really really stupid and screw up the whole thing for the ladies who had actually put the work into it. By 7:30 it was pretty clear that we had more then 500 people and by the time 8pm rolled around it was clear that the building was getting full. I got lucky and had two fabulous announcers <a href="http://www.mnrollergirls.com/skaters/john-maddening">John Maddening</a> from St. Paul and <a href="http://www.northstarrollergirls.com/support_staff.html">Cracked Pepper</a> from Minneapolis come and walk me through the finer points of calling roller derby. At half time I had the extreme privilege of announcing to North Dakota's first roller derby league and to 1700 fans that they had sold out the civic center. I thought for a moment that I was going to deaf by the end of the night because of the noise that the crowd made. People were going crazy, clapping, screaming and having a generally awesome time. I was still praying to not make a complete fool of myself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3U9CUmreegJxNKrwVYrBO-UK0MKwCIXpCq4VAhJLP7XcwsWkymujWsWnVLARwL-6lLG7aaIAbbzWL7l1Vo7dnkYs6nl_2XeD-EZ9wtOKu9t-FE7rjSHwOvfnNdLb-1Ro7XfPHkX2iq0/s1600-h/announcing+pic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3U9CUmreegJxNKrwVYrBO-UK0MKwCIXpCq4VAhJLP7XcwsWkymujWsWnVLARwL-6lLG7aaIAbbzWL7l1Vo7dnkYs6nl_2XeD-EZ9wtOKu9t-FE7rjSHwOvfnNdLb-1Ro7XfPHkX2iq0/s200/announcing+pic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402764316795166194" /></a><br />The other amazing thing about this league is that everyone who helps is a volunteer. Everyone from security to the <a href="http://www.tuneintokyoband.com">band</a> was there donating their time. The other amazing thing is that all of the people who volunteered asked to come back and do it again.<br />I suppose at this point in the story you would like to know a few things. Like who won and how did the night end. It turns out that all of the practice and hard work paid off. FMDG won their inaugural bout and then threw a huge party to celebrate. On a personal note all of the ladies came up to me afterward and told me how wonderful I was. My favorite comment of the night was “You were awesome. Can we keep you?” It turns out that they really did want to keep me and that I am now the permanent announcer for the FM Derby Girls.<br />So I started this little journey trying to help a friend and ended up with a whole new set of friends and extended family. It was an amazing thing.<br />Oh, you are still wondering how roller derby relates to zombies aren't you? Well think about it this way... When you get bitten by a zombie you have two choices. You can become a zombie or have someone shoot you. When you get involved in roller derby you are pretty much stuck there it seems. You can either stay involved or... well...<br />I, for one am enjoying every second. My name is Julia Childless and I love roller derby!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgkzouNmImCXDwxVYUs6G6O3fys9HrPKjQkZJOXLg5JoBt7jU3ycSgqoMbLtDFM1XVaH-g-ayRjQW_aTy7zx6x0X1zva3Sh8ES7fv2itkMpLNGxGK-7-9FvUBlFHcarKN3x-G9AYo8xE/s1600-h/julia+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 84px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgkzouNmImCXDwxVYUs6G6O3fys9HrPKjQkZJOXLg5JoBt7jU3ycSgqoMbLtDFM1XVaH-g-ayRjQW_aTy7zx6x0X1zva3Sh8ES7fv2itkMpLNGxGK-7-9FvUBlFHcarKN3x-G9AYo8xE/s200/julia+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402764504180979682" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6363598475281201669.post-1522364096330303732009-09-13T16:32:00.000-05:002010-03-02T18:51:43.069-06:00Free Condom.Now that I have everyone's attention! Yup, it actually is a free condom, received at college night in Fargo, ND at the Fargo Dome. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV10-XkkbCYfFV-FmS5jWwtNa700qAvyn7_ZBZjnPMmLNwAb7wr-HtBrk59iSgiApyGv0VWbje3-53X8tJp1-v8ryEnShw75Bdbs3kXuvCR9nv65ApYJ93YCV0nb5oHYndpXhcdeAjaE/s1600-h/DSC03021.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV10-XkkbCYfFV-FmS5jWwtNa700qAvyn7_ZBZjnPMmLNwAb7wr-HtBrk59iSgiApyGv0VWbje3-53X8tJp1-v8ryEnShw75Bdbs3kXuvCR9nv65ApYJ93YCV0nb5oHYndpXhcdeAjaE/s200/DSC03021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381071461989072946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9q5tKxRhFmopAeK3ZLckayILYQM9yHNdMGHEmBXJGa27zNOppx7T0XghyyoHEJ9F4wEYjENZZ_9DRnHwjuE8LG5_10UAI9cxOxSftq516v4ZAUzGvIdbIMuvzBBY2F8ORW6ApJeyKVxE/s1600-h/DSC03022.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9q5tKxRhFmopAeK3ZLckayILYQM9yHNdMGHEmBXJGa27zNOppx7T0XghyyoHEJ9F4wEYjENZZ_9DRnHwjuE8LG5_10UAI9cxOxSftq516v4ZAUzGvIdbIMuvzBBY2F8ORW6ApJeyKVxE/s200/DSC03022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381072352646627474" /></a><br /><br />Right away I could make all kinds of comments about how it says something about our society when they give away condoms at a college fair but we have all heard this before. Let me make it clear that I don't make a big "political" deal about a lot publicly but I will get up on my soap box and pound my pulpit about the importance of birth control until the cows come home so this is not about that. The reason for me putting this out there is that the whole exchange was so amusing to me. I was strolling through the college fair picking up free T-shirts, pens, candy, hair dye, ear plugs and anything else that people have come up with to give away. I walked past Planned Parenthood's booth which was one booth away from the Catholic Newman Center's booth. That was either a mistake or a really hilarious joke by someone! <br />This woman sees me glance over and shouts at me "Free Condom?!"<br />"Ummmm sure." I said<br />The guy that I was walking with, a classmate of mine says "Nice! Free condom!"<br />The really hilarious thing is that these things come in little packages like cheap matches and have all kinds of stuff written on them including a figure that looks like the Republican Party elephant with the phrase Protect America underneath it. As you can see by the photos this is, indeed a XL condom but I am pretty sure that I can not protect the whole of America with one extra large condom!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05556201686966549887noreply@blogger.com0