I Am Starting to Get It...Kinda

So I've decided that I wanted to upgrade what I'm wearing to work. To make it more apparent that I'm serious about my job and succeeding. I mean I didn't really feel before that clothes made a difference in the world of business. Man, I sure know I was wrong. When I put on a jacket, button it up and walk out the door I have noticed there's a different swagger in my step. I feel more confident. I'm hoping that will shine through to more areas of my job. I know it sounds very superficial this whole thing, but I'm finally starting to get the whole dress for success mantra. And heck, it's kinda fun - it's like a treasure hunt. How to dress for success on a serious budget but get some kicken' new clothes. I'm still talking about my $11 blazer that was $65 and by $100+ shoes for $30. Now I just gotta work in the haido. And if I could only figure what the heck Business Casual is....

I must be insane...

So what would posess a person to invite old friends to their house the first full week the co-worker I am helping cover during her maternity leave, for a potluck? I mean I have to clean my house...in the middle of the week and make lasagna and all I want to do is veg? Oye...I'm always opening my big mouth. Plus, we are killing parts of the lawn out front so we can create a path from the street to the house. And I WANT people to see that?

I must be crazy. I must be. There's no other explanation for it.

Gulp...I am crazy.

A Very Happy Belated Birthday Greg!

I am the WORST sister-in-law ever I think. I forgot to call my brother-in-law on his very special day - his 30th birthday. The day that I have been bugging him about for well - at least a year. And then I called his house 2 days after, he wasn't home, told sister I was going to call AND forgot. I forgot until I received an e-mail from him ragging on me because he missed my stunning rendition of Happy Birthday I'm sure I would have sung to him

So Greg, I am s0oooooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry. I am the WORST sister-in-law! I hope your birthday was spectacular and welcome to your 30's.
So I hope you will forgive and think about me everytime you do the World's Longest Suduko book we bought for you.

And without further adu:

Happy Birthday to YOUUUUUU!
Happy Birthday to YOOUUU!!!!!!
Happy Birthday GREGGGGGIIIEEE !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOUUUU!!!!!

And many more!

Love,

Sarah and Laslzo

A Belated Happy Easter

I was blessed to be able to spend time with my family this Easter. Although my one sister was absent, she was in our thoughts of course, especially as my mom attacked the chocolate Saturday evening as Lent came to a close, we thought, Laura is so like mom.

One of the best things about Easter is that it is a seaon, just like Christmas and it isn't one day. I love going back to church the following Sunday and seeing lovely flowers and the jubilation continuing.

So Happy Easter everyone. For it's not confined to a day. Or even a season. It's a way of life.

Babies and all their stuff

So I went to Babies r' Us tonight for the first time. Who knew there was so much stuff associated with something so small? And from being at that store you would think that women couldn't survive with so many things for their children. Whew. And why are such tiny clothing so expensive?

I don't know. The whole place was kinda just surreal to me. Any who....Happy Friday!

A Haiku

My allergies are killing me this week. Thus this haiku was born:

"Little fuzzy bits.
Flying through the air I breath.
I hate you damn trees!"

Spring Has Sprung In Florida -- Aachoo!

So it's only the first week of March. I know the official beginning of spring is a little bit away, but here in Central Florida it'll full-on Spring. The weather is in the mid-70's, blue skies are overhead and EVERYTHING is blooming here. From the azaleas (which I wish I could have growing in my yard, but I know I don't have the right conditions), to the pollen hanging off the oak trees, to the impatience, Indian hawthorn shrubs to the snapdragons and amarylus. It's a lovely time to be outside. That is if you aren't bothered by the pollen. Down my street there are many oak trees so the streets are littered with the orange pollen and you can feel it in the back of your throat. But I guess it's the price to pay for living in paradise.

Memories, Just the Way We Were..

Sorry Babs, I had to borrow your lyrics. But it is appropriate. I was going through files of digital photos to send to be printed, yes I am really behind, and I had the best time. Reminiscing about some of the great times in the past few years. Here's a sampling..



Mmm! Chicken Paprikash! My hubby can cook!

Hey Amigo! We got robbed! Our chili was so the best. But heck, you look good in a sombrero!

There's pop with one of the Motter twins. He looks very natural. Hopefully one of those will be in our immediate families future.

Rows and rows of roses can't be bad. Lovely actually.

U-S-F! U-S-F!

Kathy's last days as a free woman. Yes, Kathy actually got married!

A peaceful evening on our block.

Alton Brown and I...soo cool!

Tiger the Cat digs the newspaper, laying on it that is.

I don't know why me and the sisters are laughing, but I'm sure it was good.

Skippy Simanoff, this Bud's for you!

Ahhh...a walk down memory lane is always fun..

Alas, Pray That Never Happens

So I finished Alas, Babylon the other night. I thought it was pretty terrifying on so many levels. Of course having every major city in the US blown to smithereens (including Tampa/St. Pete - where I live) is bad. But being cut off from the world, even a town a hour away, is scary. In our modern world this would even be more prevalent. Because we are used to having the news right now. I can turn on the TV or get on the Internet and get up on any topic. After "The Day" as it was known in the book, the town of Fort Repose, had to turn inwards and depend on and defend themselves. I think this book is so relevant today. In the early 60's no one thought bombs would actually drop. And who wants to believe that Iran or another country wouldn't start? Oh, and I love that the only member of the federal government that wasn't killed was a woman and that she became president. Great book.
Now I'm off to reading Teacher Man by Frank McCourt of Angela's Ashes fame. I think after this I will need something real easy and funny. Have to have those occasionally.

The Suite Life

Greetings from lovely Jacksonville, Florida! Tomorrow's is my sister's wedding and we are preparing. It's been really fun to see so many different family members. You come into the hotel's lobby and you just never know who you are going to run into.

And my parent's suite is HQ and the official greeting room. You get the good room and amentities are abundent. They are right across the hall from a lounge where the "high-rollers" get free coffee and cold drinks all day, warm appetizers at night and free breakfast while the rest of the guests have to schlep down to the restaurant and pay, and pay dearly for these things. And they keep the common folks out by requiring you to have a key for one of those rooms to even get to the floor. Living the high life is pretty fun.

The bride is calm, and tan. I guess she decided she was too white and with the white wedding dress on she would be blinding. Plus she's primed herself for going to Jamaica for a week. The groom is also calm, for now. :-)

Well, off to do more wedding stuff. Whatever that is supposed to be. But I'm sure they will find me something to do!

No one better?

Really briefly. This has been stuck in my craw since Friday night and I watched the opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics. Was there no other women of distinction from North America other than an actress? That Italy thought Susan Sarandon is the cream of the crop when it comes to North American women? I was appalled and still am. Among a Nobel prize winner, former Olympic champions and a champion of human right, Susan Sarandon? How very pathetic.

New Book

I'm kinda beginning to think it is ironic the book that I've started reading. It's Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. It's about the survivors of a nuclear attack, at the main character is based in the central Florida area. I think this is ironic because of all the goings-on with Iran. This book was written in the early 60s so the mania of nuclear war with Russia was very real. I started reading it right before the big hubbub with Iran started, but now the book is really making me think. I don't want anyone to have nuclear weapons, especially an unstable country such as Iran. I'll let you know how I like the book. But I can tell you the relevance is frightening.

Oh Suduko, How I love Thee

I know the first road to recovery is to admit you have an addiction. So here goes.

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am addicted to Suduko.

Ok, I feel better. Now everyone knows that I have a compulsion to try each and every Suduko puzzle I see. I know most often I don't finish them, but sometimes I do. Today I finished my very first medium level puzzle. I was so psyched that I finished it I jumped up from my couch and did a little dance a joy. Ok, the little things excite me sometimes and this is one of them. If I could do them on a computer screen I might be tempted to work on the one above, but it would drive me insane.

The good news? I saw a news report that doing puzzles like Suduko are really good for your brain and inf fact may help in warding off Alzheimers. So it's game on! I know there's others out there...stand up and be proud to be Suduko addicts with me! (Dave I know your out there reading this and working on the puzzle above...:-)

It's February?

Man! Where does the time go? One day it's Jan. 1 and the next thing you know it's February 6! I have been busy. We are in full wedding mode in my family. Baby-sister Karen get's married in T-minus 11 days. We leave for Jacksonville next Thursday. We are very excited.

Work has kept me busy and I am still pleased with the move. It's great to have people around you wanting you to suceed! It's so different.

On the weight front, not so good. I so got sidetracked, phyically and mentally. But I'm back. I feel the difference when I'm not working out and eating like I should.

Got the chance to have dinner with my favorite Tribby, Skippy Simanoff. It was really nice to see him and I do realize how much I miss our lunch chats. And that we both have a love for Suduko.

I can't promise lots of posts here. But I want to get back. I do miss it. I see things and I think...that would be great on Sarah Says. Like why Layne Bryant is advertising that it carries size 12 in certain styles. Ok, if you were an average size 12, why the heck would you shop at Layne Bryant, the store for big chicks, when you can shop anywhere and find your size? HELLOO??

Ta ta for now!

Happy New Year!

I want to raise my glass to the year that is and soon will be was 2005. It was a year filled with joy, laughter, sadness and hope. I'm so lucky to have so many wonderful people surrounding me who helped me be the best person I could be and help me through the rough patches, and there were some doosies this year. There's a lot to look forward to in 2006 and I'm ready for it. I've even finally gotten the first new pair of eyeglasses in 5 years so I'm starting with a whole new point of view.

So I raise my glass to you and offer a toast to the old year and all the possibilities of the new one. Happy New Year!

You know you have come of age when...?

When you beat your Mother in Scrabble. All I can say is whoo hoo! (This is a big deal by the way.)

The Story of MY Christmas Tree

There's something special about decorating a Christmas tree. I told my husband it was like looking at not only my and my family's history but our history as a couple. Since he came from a family where Christmas ornaments weren't personal and he had none of his own I started giving him an ornament as a gift every year. This year he will receive number 13.

See we don't have a tree strung with similar shiney baubles from a store. We have ornaments accumulated over the years. Many handmade or given to us as gifts from family and friends. And last year I received a box of ornaments from my Grandmother. It was filled with ornaments that hung on Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree. I think it is so cool to have these little bits of history.

Some of the memories that are hanging on my tree are:
The paper straw I colored and glittered all up representing the straw in the stable Jesus was born in. I think I was in late elementary school. It hung on a Jesse Tree in a church rectory.
The lollipop I made in 5th grade. We sold them as efforts towards the refurbishing of the Statue of Liberty. That's when I first really understood the meaning of an assembly line when we made hundreds and hundreds of them.
The soft stuffed ornaments my mom and Grandma made before my youngest sister was born so they could be put on the bottom of the tree for safety reasons. The ceramic painted ornaments Grandma made for each of us. I have mine and my brothers.
And 12 various ornaments given to my husband. Each of them special.

And because of these ornaments I find myself sitting in silence gazing at the tree. I found myself doing this a lot at my parents home too. Looking at the memories hanging on the tree.

Happy Birthday to Youuuu!!

Sending warm wishes up to my sister Laura who is celebrating her 29th birthday today. Hope your day is awesome!

A Pie Buffet

It was the pie buffet at my parents house this Thanksgiving. Two pumpkin and apple, a pecan and a cherry. All for 11 people. Oye. At one point I was thinking..who else can we give pie away to? But we had a nice day. Lots of wonderful food and family. Now onto tomorrow. Mom and me are shopping. This is the first time I've had the day after Thanksgiving off as a holiday from work in like 8 years. It's kinda nice. Hopefully I'll make a dent in the Christmas shopping. Oh, and anyone want some pie?

Walking Away From Cookies

When my boss put a platter full of sinful looking and smelling cookies in front of me this afternoon I wondered if this was a test. To see if I really meant the changes I am trying to make in my life. That the baby carrots I brought to work to snack on were the real deal or an excuse why I could have a cookie. I didn't have one. I walked the tray down the hall and dropped it in the break room. It was so hard. Saying no to a cookie took a lot from me. But so did the words that my doctor said to me..."heart disease." Those words were stronger than cookies.

I bought a work out DVD set this weekend. Walk Away the Pounds. I can't believe I did it. If I can tune out the annoyed chatter and the hard sell on the walk away the pounds weighted balls I think I can do this for a little bit. The main thing is to give me options so I don't burn out on one thing. I have a perriwinle blue outfit to fit into in February and a long life to live.

And I finished "This Much I Know to Be True." Awesome. A little tedious due to the lengeth I finished it. This time I'm reading something much shorter and easier, 3rd Degree by James Patterson. I'll be done by the end of the week. Then maybe I'll think about a holiday book.

One last thing. I am ticked at NBC. Medium is one of my favorite shows and I can't find a stupid TV Guide so I can watch the show in 3-D. I'm taping it and asking my mom to save hers so I can get the full effect. Why can't they put them in the Sunday paper? I can always find one of those.