Post of the Day

This is another of my favorite posts from the past year.

Friday March 5, 2004
Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!
Omorosa got fired last night on the Apprentice. Yeah! Finally the manipulative, nasty bitch got the can. And apparently she is thinking about suing Trump because she was subjected to unsafe conditions when the tiny piece of plaster fell on her head and gave her a "concussion." And I loved her little piece at the end in the cab where she trying to teach to the nation. But man she must have low self esteem..."I know that I am a good person..." Ha! Bye bye babe...

On a nicer note, I wanna welcome back Skippy to work, we are glad he is feeling better. Work is just not as fun without him.


I liked it because it reminded me of watching The Apprentice this Spring and chatting about it with friend Cherie at work. I also liked it because someone had the gumption to accuse me of being a racist just because I said I disliked Omorosa. I disliked Katrina too, and thought that she was mean and manipulative too. Bad joke if it were one.

And it still stinks when Skippy's out from work, cause it isn't as much fun. Even more so since there are fewer fun people left.

Well Done

The Five People You Meet in Heaven 

I finished Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven last week. I had lower expectations for this book from other reviews I read but I cam away pleased to have spent time with this book.

The premise of this book is simple, and luckily Albom stays true to it by not dragging it out too long or making it more complicated.

Eddie, the 83 year-old main character works at a small theme park by the Atlantic Ocean and has spent the majority of his life growing up and working there. In a freak accident he dies. The author contends that when you die the first thing you will do it meet five people from whom will make sense out of why certain things happened in your life. And for Eddie it explained why some life altering this happened to him and how some things that happened to those around him ultimately affected him. And what it comes down to is that we are all connected even though we are not often aware of it. And when you are done with your people you will provide comfort and understanding to those who you affected.

Simply written and simple ideas. It's a nice change to read something like this. This is a nice summer read.

Friends who have left...

Looking back over Sarah Says I am amazed at how many people have come and gone from my place of work. Sarah Says is a chronicle of this fact. Since last year:

I have lost 2 bosses, gained 1.
Jo-Ann, Cherie, Andrew, Katrina and Jerry have left. (I am the last woman standing.)
Alan and Randy have joined us. One is in the wings...hopefully he comes.

Notice we are not replacing as fast as they leave. Is this an indication of the problems here? Probably. Wonder who's next?

On a better note, I finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven, review coming soon.

Sarah Says Turns 1!

Cake seems appropriate 

Sunday will be Sarah Says' first anniversary. I thought I'd get a head start with a look back at some of my favorite posts. I'll be revisiting the past year of Sarah Says for the next week. But here are some of MY favorites.

Remember the first post?

June 13, 2003
Howdy!
Well, since it seems everyone is doing it, I thought it was time that I did too, have my own blog! While I am trying to figure this whole thing out it might not be that pretty or interesting, but wait, it'll happen. Oh yeah! So sit back and enjoy and if you have suggestions get your own blog!

I still say if you don't like it, get your own blog!

Sickness in the workplace....

June 24, 2003
SARS Could Be Sitting Next to Me
Co-worker Andrew Meadows just got back from Toronto (SARS Central). He was attending his brothers nuptials. I told him that the first cough or sneeze from him and he's outta here. Wonder if I bought him one of those medical masks he would wear it?
Hey, I only have 2 sick days left, I have to be cautious.

Now I just have a sweaty guy from New Jersey sitting next to me, don't know which is better...

Personal Grief...

Wednesday, September 24, 2003
One Year Ago Today.
One year ago today my family lost a son and a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson.

One year ago today many lost a friend, a confidant, a leader, an organizer, a listener.

One year ago today my brother Paul died unexpectedly. One year ago today parts of my family's hearts died too.

It still hurts. A lot.

There are so many times I read things or hear things I would have wanted to make sure I told him. Jokes and goofy stories and breaking news that I thought I would have heard first only to be told he knew. Although the one thing I didn't get to tell him before he died is how much I thought of him. How much he meant to me. How much I love him.

Paul I miss and love you.

I miss him more than ever.

and last for tonight Pancakes!

Nov. 6
From Cheese to Pancakes
Dave and his very complimentary spouse Britt seem to have gotten a little food poisoning from eating at I-Hop over the weekend. Sister Chef says most likely it had to do with some cross contamination, with some meat or something.

This set off a range of pancake songs. I have to say I love breakfast foods. So it's not too hard to come up with songs like:

when you're feeling hungry...
... for breakfast food ...
... what ya gonna eat?
... hot pancakes!

Pancakes are tasty ... pancakes are fun ... if you don't eat a pancake
... your breakfast isn't done!

Pankcakes...sticky, warm and buttery pancakes, I love the way they are...

It's a pancake life for me it's a pancake life for me! Instead of cereal we get pancakes, instead of waffles it's pancakes I-I crave...it's a pancake life!

There's others...but I sent them yesterday and I can't remember what I wrote...but you get the idea...Pancakes are yummy! I don't know if as yummy as cheese, but up there! Especially the ones my mom makes...she's really talented in breakfast making department.

You can't go wrong with pancakes.

Join in the celebration! Have a favorite memory/post? Let me know. But if you're like me, you won't remember either, I had to go back and read the archives. Help yourself and lets celebrate one year of what I had to say!

Holes, holes everywhere!

See all the lovely rocks? 

This is only halfway. 

This is how my front yard looked after I began digging it up last week. Thanks to hubby's help it's even better. On the second photo you can see the small tree in the back ground...that's where the hole stretches to and there's lots of water down there along with large rocks and lots of stones. We have to move most of it to get the pond liner out. It's hard work. We have started calling it the beginnings of our moat. We're worried what else is down there...maybe we'll find Jimmy Hoffa?

Say Hello to My Little Friend...

Denise and Baby Amy 

Meet my good friend Denise and her new daughter Amy Lynn. I got the chance to drive over to Valrico to visit with them last week while on vacation. Amy was born the Tuesday evening before Easter. We had a blast. Denise made me grilled cheese, which is a fav. of mine and I got to hold her precious girl. She didn't scream actually, which since I am not often around small babies was an honor, so I must have been holding her OK. We had a chance to catch up which was nice. We have been friends since high school and I am so glad we still are.

Coming soon to a Sarah Says near you...the holes in my front yard. I have to take some new photos to show the true scope of how many large rocks and amount of pond liner is buried in my flower garden area...you guys will LOVE it!

What's In a Name?

Was crusin' the net this afternoon and came across this great little article about naming children and all the craziness surrounding some of the horrendous and too typical names out there. I just thought I'd offer up this guys silly article as some fun reading.

Hatch Magazine - What's In a Name?

Scattered and Unclear

Sometimes I Dream in Italian 

I finished reading Sometimes I Dream in Italian by Rita Ciresi last night. I have mixed feelings about this book.

The first 1/3 of this book was really good. It was often funny and touching. It started out about life of Angel and her older sister Lina growing up in an dysfunctional Italian family. But then Ciresi seems to lose her way. Suddenly you are in different time frames which aren't explained and you are continually dropped into scenes this way. The books sinks into crude commentary and too many stereotypes at times. I really wanted to like this book because it started so well. I can see the potential. But the author seems to have lost her sense of which way the book should have gone and it never came back around. Even the ending didn't really bring any closer and left we thinking what the heck? I didn't get the reference on the last page that the author seemed to expect everyone would.

Next I'm reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album. He's the acclaimed author of Tuesdays at Morries.

Lightning Lose??!

According to the Tampa Tribune's editorial page today the illustrious Lightning did us proud but lost. So now the Tribune is the talk of the town, but in a bad way. Here's the appology from the editorial page editor:

Dear Readers,
We took a puck in the gut this morning when we published the wrong editorial about the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup final on Monday night.
We apologize to the team and to the fans for our terrible error. And we apologize to our colleagues at the newspaper, who got it right in every other way.
In advance of the final, we had prepared two editorials, one for either outcome. When we saw that the Lightning had won, we placed the proper editorial on the computerized page, printed it out and eliminated the other version. Still, somehow, the other version appeared in the paper. We are checking our systems to ensure we learn from our mistake.
It is so important to us to get it right. And today we failed you. We extend our heartfelt apologies.

Rosemary Goudreau
Editorial Page Editor


Here's the correct one:

Lightning Gave Community More Than A Championship

The Tampa Bay Lightning's 2-1 victory last night didn't just win National Hockey League's Stanley Cup. The team's championship run also expanded the Lightning's fan base and bolstered its financial standing. But the team did something else. It generated excitement and pride throughout the community.

Two years ago few could have imagined the Lightning making the playoffs, much less winning the cup. Before last season, Sports Illustrated rated Tampa Bay as the worst of the NHL's 30 teams. Defying the experts, the team went on to win its division. Now the Lightning has proved itself the best team in hockey in one of the quickest turnarounds in league history.

The Lightning's victory should quiet critics who claimed the NHL expanded too fast and argued that teams would never survive in the Sunbelt. The two previous Stanley Cup runners-up have been Carolina and Anaheim, further proof that hockey can succeed where the temperature seldom falls below freezing.

The thousands who gathered outside of the Forum to watch Stanley Cup broadcasts for both home and away games reflected the depth of local fans' support. Such devotion is usually reserved for ``traditional'' American hockey towns like Detroit or in Canada, where the sport is considered the national pastime. It also shows how sports can bring people together in a positive way.

The entire Lightning organization - especially coach John Tortorella, general manager Jay Feaster and owner Bill Davidson - deserve credit for this remarkable transformation.

The Lightning's Stanley Cup win won't change people's lives or solve Tampa's problems. But its exhilarating season has brought fellowship and joy to our community - no small accomplishment. Thanks, Lightning. You've made us proud.


So today it really is:
Lies. Printed Daily.

It's Awesome Ba-by!

Stanley's Getting a Tan! 

Yes, read it again! The Tampa Bay Lightning are the reigning Stanley Cup champs! We were on the edge of our seats the entire game with our fingers crossed hoping that they would pull it off. With the first goal we were smiling and hopeful. By the second we knew we were gonna win. But then the third period came and the Flames got a little fight back. But we held on and we won! All those who doubted the Lightning (yes Aaron, I remember you saying you didn't think that they could win) it's time for you to shut up and acknowledge the Lightning for what they did.

Go Bolts

It's Monday...Again

I came back to a desk full of mail and other stuff (lots of other stuff that's the Great Randu's (as a friend calls my neighbor))3,000+ e-mails, newspapers piled high and lots of work.

But see that's OK. Because I have the Stanley Cup final to look forward to tonight. I want to see the Lightning win this one. So finally the national media will stop talking about every other team they play rather than how awesome they are. From the get go there's been a lack of belief that the Lightning could or should win.

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for them tonight. It is appropriate that the sky's are darkened now and it is rumbling outside. Cause Lightning is ready to strike in Tampa tonight.

Go Bolts!

Lady of Leisure...Kinda

I have some photos I want to share but I am having some hardware issues and can't connect with my camera for the moment...will get those soon I hope.

Been keeping busy during my time off. I have enjoyed this leisurely lifestyle. Got a haircut, went shopping and bought some drapes for the living room (they are lovely I think), did lunch, beat my mom TWO times in 500 Rum (those who know the card shark better known as my Mom know it's a BIG deal to beat her in cards), had my hair colored, shopped, visited a good friend and her new baby and did some decorating around the place. Oh yeah, am getting my Oprah fix too. Can't say that waking up around 9:30 is a bad thing either.

Although I have started digging up the pond that is in my front yard. I have a great picture of the hole I have created, it'll be twice the size when I'm done with it. See the people before us had a pond and when the house was foreclosed on the company that renovated it just folded the thing into itself and covered it mostly with mulch. So I can't plant anything much there because of the large liner. You wouldn't believe the large rocks down there and there's water down there! More of that tomorrow.

I really have separated myself from work this week. I have glanced at the newspaper, mainly so I don't get behind with my favorite comics and read a review of the new Harry Potter movie. But very little attention to anything even related to business to be truthful, and it feels lovely.

Well, back to my life of leisure, I have one more day and then it is back to the flea market and then to the real world. If only I could figure out how to become independently wealthy then I could enjoy this life of leisure for real... :-)

Glorious Appearing..Not Really

Glorious Appearing...Not a Glorious Read. 

I finished reading The Glorious Appearing by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins last week. I thought that if I let it digest a little longer I might make a little more sense of it. It didn't help. I still didn't like this book that much.

First. This book, as were many of the others in the 12 book series, was too long. It could have been at least 1/3 shorter, if not more. What takes up a huge portion of this book is straight scripture. Which I really didn't think added to this book. It made it drag on. They didn't just take the passage where they were recounting, they took too many of the surrounding ones. I read the Bible and if I wanted to read the Bible I can do so, that's not what I was reading the book for.

Second. It was a cheesy ending. I felt that the authors reached too far into some passages to come up with what they did. I just don't buy it. I've read the book of Revelations and didn't see what they did at all.

Third. I wasn't happy with how Jesus was portrayed. He was not the loving God that I have come to understand. He's really pissed off in this book. Also, I don't feel that he would return saying the same things he said the first time he was here. If you are God don't you think you might come up with something more original?

Anyways...to sum it up. Too long, cheesy and a bad ending to a series that has been dragging down for several books. It seems that the authors and publishers were just trying to get the most money out of their audience. And since they are talking a prequil and sequel, I see that is the truth most definitely.

Next book Sometimes I Dream in Italian by Rita Ciresi. So far it's pretty funny. Will let you know.

And I am pondering reading ...Anna Korenia by Tolstoy which Oprah's reading for her summer book club...I know it's Tolstoy...but it sounds interesting. I'm glad to see someone on TV pushing more difficult literature. We need more of that

Paranoia can lead to a clean house...

Tomorrow we are hosting our official first shin-dig. My father-in-law's birthday was last week and we weren't able to all get together before this so we thought Memorial Day would be perfect.

So the in-laws are coming. Mom was here one time before early on when it was OK to be such a mess. Now, 2 1/2 months later, there's still boxes and few pictures on the walls and a dirty house to boot. I know we have an excuse, 7 day work week. But yet in the back of my mind I hear...Sarah, they see a gross house what will they think of the woman their son married? (Hopefully that she's tired and her hubby could clean too) but I didn't hear that. I hear must clean the bathroom, sweep the floors and clean the bar. And do the laundry cause you're running low on the clothes....So I did. The house is cleaner. Still boxes, but they are more generally hidden.

Now in the back of my head...no matter what we (hubby and I) cook, the food'll never be as good as mom's...

I am soooo paranoid!


On a good note, I got to see friends Denise and Mark's new 8 week-old daughter Amy for the first time. I was driving by her parents home on the way home from visiting my parents and saw they car...had to drop in. What a doll. Gonna go visit later this week, hope to have some photos. Congrats again you two!

And another great note! Friends Dawn and hubby Jarred are now expecting in January. Congrats you two. We are very happy for you!

Vacation starts NOW

Well, I got to go home a little early today...boss was being nice. So I have a little over an hour to relax to home before heading out to church. I have been attending a bible study on the book of Isaiah. It has been fascinating..And then off to something else. But for right now, relaxing feeols good. I mean I could to laundry, I could do this or that. But you know what? I don't wanna!

Right now I'm gonna sit back and enjoy myself!

Bye-Bye Jo-Ann

Today is Jo-Ann's last day with the Biz department. She's going to work up in Dade City. I will miss her. She's a talented reporter who knows how to break down the most complicated stories. I wish her luck. Now I'm the last lady standing...

You know you want to,,

Ok, you know you have always dreamed of smashing your computer when it crashes or some other issue comes up. Now you can. I stole this from my friend Joe's tagline on an email. I know, it's in Spanish, just use your mouse and click on the area to hit, keep doing it...it makes you feel better...really...

Smack the PC!!!!Best Flash Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I need a hero..."

Thanks to Dave "Skippy" Simanoff for making me a copy of his newest compilation the Nashville mix. It is awesome and so hard not to sing out loud and dance to. I told him he could be a DJ cause he knows how to mix a mean CD. Hopefully I will have some more meaningful thoughts coming in the next week. My brain is truely shot at this time.

Go Lightning!

Too hyper!

Because of coffee and some booty-shakin' music I am all hopped up! I started typing faster than I knew I could. I had to change to some Vivaldi to calm myself down. I was beginning to almost shake. Whew! Is it Friday yet?

"When I was Young and Didn't Give a Damn..."

So far today I have listened to John Mayer plus the most excellent jam Skippy Simanoff put at the end of the CD he made for me, Cyndi Lauper and now onto the Cranberries. I must resist the urge not to sing out load during some of the songs.

Days here at work have been hellish...taking a brain break to write this. So Aaron won't be disappointed that I didn't blog and of course all my other fans. ;-)

I am still bummed about the Lightning's loss last night. But that's Ok because they can still redeem themselves and I expect them to.

Back to work...so much to do and so little time!