Just One More Hour With You

Posted in Family, Friendship, Life Observations, The Blog Zone by

Another day, another choice thanks to BlogHer, who asked me if I’d rather have one less hour with someone I disliked or one more hour with someone I liked.

It didn’t even take a moment to decide: I’d take an extra hour with any of the many people I care about if given the chance. I’d fly to see my married high school buddy down South and giggle about how dorky we were in junior high. I’d pay for Blizzards for my best friend and me to gobble down while swapping stories and sharing fears and fears. I’d sleep on air mattress again in New Hampshire to be able to spend an hour with my sweet nursing buddy again. I’d even kill a spider for my old roommate if it meant we could spend an hour rocking out and displaying our best air guitar moves.

I’d hate to use my wish on removing painful memories at the expense of making new ones. So many people I love are all over the country and the world, and any extra moment with them could erase hours of bad moments in an instant.

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End sappy monologue. Sorry, I couldn’t quite pull out the humor on this one. One too many listens to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” I guess. Le sigh.

The Less Traveled Path Kinda Sucks

Posted in Engagement, The Blog Zone by

Today, I’m supposed to – per BlogHer – describe a time I took the less traveled path, apparently wanting me to go all metaphorical and symbolic on them like Robert Frost did in his poem.

But, my brain took this challenge very literal and made me think of actual less traveled paths I’ve had the misfortune of traipsing upon.

None of these trips have been solo, of course. If someone sent me down a dark, unused path in the woods alone, I’d most likely would have wandered around for days until wolves took me in and raised me as their own. Between my lack of a sense of direction and my complete absence of basic survival skills, I’d be doomed.

My husband is very much an outdoorsy guy, unlike me who only likes exploration if I’m reading about it in a book curled up on the couch. He’s been trying to convert me since we started dating with little luck. For example, he decided to have me hike to the top of hill around Devil’s Lake in order to propose to me from such a height.

Not his best idea, though the view was amazing.

I, having only exercised my brain muscles that past winter, huffed and puffed my way up the mountainous heights, tripping over protruding rocks and wondering if Ryan was trying to kill me. As we got higher, I seemed to have the bad habit of getting too close to the edge of the precipice, making Ryan nervous that this less-traveled path would be my undoing. I also can’t forget the gnats that tried to crawl into my eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Too much nature for my taste. I spent the ride back to Madison combing the beasts out of my hair.

In case you are wondering, he did not propose there; he found the well-traveled paths of a lovely Madison park and asked me to marry him there. And spoiler alert: I said yes.

But, all in all, I’m going to disagree with Frost on which path is better. I bet you anything that the well-traveled path has Starbucks and free wi-fi, and that, my dears, makes ALL the difference.

Love,

Sarah

Way To Crash My Pity Party, BlogHer

Posted in Life Observations, The Blog Zone by

You ever have one of those days where you are convinced the world is against you and everyone just sucks and you want to just punch them in the face for existing?

Yeah, I’ve had one of those weeks. I’ve  been kinda bummed lately, feeling epically sorry for myself because I’m too tired, too fat, and too boring. The kind of feelings I’d love to quench with the two pound box of chocolates my husband bought on sale, but I’m trying to not eat my feelings.

And then I get this prompt: C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” How good are you of placing others before yourself?

Dang, BlogHer. That quote sucker punched me to the gut. I feel so completely selfish. Granted, being a blogger means I’m a tad narcissistic (since I think you all want to read about my foibles), but still, it is ugly to see myself as I really am: self-centered and jealous of those who have what I want.

For example, there are some times I’m so convinced I’m right in a situation that I refuse to hear someone else’s thoughts and feelings, willing to be right at the expense of a relationship with someone I love. Other times, I let my anger spill over into hurtful words, exposing unforgiveness and bitterness I’ve been nursing for perhaps years. I sometimes forget about others’ needs because I’m so focused on my life and my problems when I really have it pretty good. I have a great job, an amazing husband who thinks I rock, and friends who love me despite my quirkiness.

So, no, BlogHer, I’m not very good at putting others before myself, but thanks to your swift kick in the pants, I’m going to try. Pity party out.

Love,

Sarah

Why So Freaky??

Posted in Random, The Blog Zone by

If you could banish one thing from the earth – tangible or intangible – what would it be?

I have to admit I’ve spent all weekend trying to figure out how to put a funny spin on some of the questions BlogHer is having me answer this week. This happens to be one I struggled with; I mean, there are lots of things that I’d love to banish, like hunger, pain, death, turtlenecks, and Furbies. But to write a whole post on them, the idea well just seemed to go dry.

But then, I remembered one thing that especially freaks me out, which I would love to be banished forever and always:
Clowns.

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Don't ask...just run.

Google tells me this fear is called coulrophobia. I’m not sure in what parallel universe people think clowns are enjoyable to be around. Most of their humor comes from self-inflicted pain, though YouTube and the viral videos tell me people find amusing. But, I’m not sure I can trust someone who needs to paint on a smile or has skin whiter than I am.

The story I heard in high school of the midget clown serial killer hiding in a baby’s room when the baby sitter was home alone didn’t really help either, I guess. I might have been a little freaked out the next time I babysat my neighbor’s daughters. And then there’s the movie It when the clown eats children. How charming.

So, BlogHer, if I was going to banish one thing, I’d go for eliminating hunger and AIDS. But, if I have to choose a runner up, please banish the clowns. Please and thank you.

Love,

Sarah

A Sleepy Love Affair

Posted in Random, The Blog Zone by

Today’s writing prompt asks, “What do you wish you had more time to do each day?” I knew all the “right” answers the moment I read the question; I would want more time to do be reading, spend more time snuggled up with the hubby, investing time in helping the poor and needy, or at least working out so I’m less flab and more fab.

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But, you guys, if I was to be completely honest I’d love to spend more time sleeping. 8 hours a night, snore-free, wearing the best, most comfortable yoga pants ever, with not a care of to-do lists and home planning in my head – a dream, but it is what I think about.

Nothing can illustrate this more than Wednesday night’s adventure. Ryan and I stumbled in at quarter to 3 after a night on the town. We weren’t partying or other such raucous behavior; we were at Wal-Mart picking up door jams and underwear. And Ryan’s laptop, aka the main reason we arrived at the store just after midnight. It was the only time we crazy kids could shop together, which is why I grocery shop solo these days.

Anyway, we spent about 45 minutes shopping, piling up a cart of things to get the coveted 25% off promised us until it became the debacle of the year when Wal-Mart messed up our ticket not once, not twice, but three times before the fourth time was the charm. Each time involved rescanning our entire cart, as well as swapping out the frozen groceries for non-melting counterparts after round 2 failed. An hour and fifteen minutes after we loaded the initial 3-pack of cream cheese on the conveyer belt, we were leaving the store. I raised my arms triumphantly at the associate standing by the door as we exited. We crashed as soon as we got home, and a certain wife apparently snored like an old man due to allergies, driving a certain husband to the couch.

Sleep continues to sing its Siren lullaby, but, alas, another day beckons. Ryan chugs down a five hour energy drink and I take a slug of Coke with my morning Pop-Tart and we bid our bed adieu.

Love,

Sarah

Today Could Have Been Different

Posted in The Blog Zone, Working Woman by
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A ferocious ROUS in his natural habitat

Every day, we make choices. Should I eat Ryan’s last Cadbury egg or be sefless? Should I wear the cute boots or retain feeling in my feet? Sometimes, we just make the wrong choices.

For example, Heather told me I should bring the ROUS to work today. I left him home. If I had brought him –

1. He could have terrified the belligerent patron that argued with Jennifer for 15 minutes. One “growl” from my ferocious furry friend and we would have had 14 minutes, 58 seconds more peace.

2. He would have took one for the team and ate the frosting that made my tummy hurt later. I’m sure ROUS have stomachs of steel and a sweet tooth.

3. He could have hidden in random places in the library and terrified people and staff for my personal enjoyment.

4. He could have become our library mascot. Cats are boring; rodents of unusual size are the way to go. Ryan and I are already cultivating in him a love of reading.

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5. He could have chilled at my desk and made my least favorite projects “disappear.” No, Jennifer, I have no idea where all those damaged books went. It’s a mystery.”

All in all, mistakes have been made, but I remind myself of one comforting truth: there’s always tomorrow. ;)

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Love,

Sarah

Epilogue: So, BlogHer forced me into writing the above in 10 minutes for today’s challenge. (Confession: I took 11, but dang it, I was close.) I am now supposed to tell you how I feel. Luckily, you guys aren’t my psychiatrist so you get to listen for free. It was incredibly hard to crunch everything into such a short period of time since my ROUS  deserves at double the time he got. But, thanks to Misty allowing me to open my present early, I had plenty of inspiration. Thanks, awesome lady!! You are the opposite of a warthog faced buffoon!

Yes, BlogHer, I Am A Fatty

Posted in Food, The Blog Zone by

We are delving into all things personal today thanks to the December 4th prompt:

How often do you go back for seconds?

You might as well just ask me how much I weigh while you’re at it. Don’t give me that look, BlogHer, and say that it is because nearly everyone eats too much during the holidays, but we all know my food baby is here year round. I most definitely do not look like a girl who stops after one plate unless it tastes like crap or I’m having a IBS flare-up.

I love this time of year because I can take an extra dollop of whip cream on my pie and say, “I’ll just work extra hard in January,” or go crazy and buy full-fat instead of 1/3 less fat cream cheese because “I’ve been a good girl.” Do I need either of those things or those decadent holiday cookies finding their way to my waistline? Definitely not. And yet, my plate betrays me.

Don’t start getting up in arms with me; I’m working on tempering those food urges and adding more exercise in my life. But, don’t you just get tired of people making you feel like a fatty ’cause you wanted a second helping of Momma’s melt in your mouth mashed potatoes? I certainly do.

And so I keep repeating my mantra for the winter: Fat rolls will keep me warm. And so, I raise my second square of chocolate peppermint fudge and save my husband the cost of another sweater. It’s my way of going green, y’all.

Love,

Sarah