A Midwestern Mixed Tape, Vol. 1

Before you start to read my blog, press play on today's mix tape. Mixed just for you, readers. Oh, then, open a new window because this post will take only about 30 seconds to read and process and you will want to hear all of the tunes. I am feeling bossy. Sorry...some are just a sampling of the tune.

I don't care what anyone says. Being a kindergarten teacher is a hard job. I won't go into it because, well, that is unprofessional, but I am completely exhausted tonight. There is nothing left for me to give to anyone. I am spent.
Are you like me? Do you have an "I Deserve It" mentality when it comes to your weaknesses? Tonight, I think I deserve the delicious buffalo chicken cheese steak. However, I will stay strong and not give into this temptation. Instead, I will deserve some new tunes from itunes. I deserve songs too.
Have discovered a pattern with this post.

ME. ME. Me.

If this was a perfect world and I was a size 6, this is the completely incomplete list of things that I feel I deserve when I am feeling all selfish and lacking a 31 year old's perspective...oh, I do realize that in reality, I really just deserve to breathe. The rest is up to me.

1. Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak
2. Teleportation
3. A Snow Day
4. World Peace...can't forget that one.
5. Some sort of television marathon during that deserved snow day
6. My bangs to have some consistency from day to day.
   

What do you deserve tonight?

Michael Jackson Monday

Did you hear that today was Blue Monday? This is supposed to be a sad and downer of a day because of all of the reasons that people are usually bummed out. Some scientist did a bunch of research to determine that today is Blue Monday. Do you feel blue? I don't. I just feel like it is cold and things are kind of boring.

Okay, maybe I am feeling a little guilty because I should have been doing something helpful and kind to help the world on this MLK holiday. Instead, I used it to get caught up in kindergarten and clean that mess of a classroom. Okay, I guess that helps the kindergartners...and me.

And maybe I was feeling a little something because where I usually just put the ipod on shuffle and the odds are in favor of some folky singer-songwriter, I found Michael Jackson and listened to him the whole way home from school today. The song list went something like this...

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Rock With You
Beat It

Then, I started reminiscing about how I used to listen to MJ in my basement with his Thriller record open to the photo of MJ with his two little white tigers. At the time, I thought those two little tigers were so cute. Now, when I look at it, it is kind of creepy. Man, I loved Thriller. Beat It is my favorite.

Call me a simpleton, but maybe what everyone needs is a little 80's pop music to get them out of the downers.

Midwestern Endorsement: Laughing Cow Cheese

After three weeks of healthy living and eating, I am reaching that common place where I am bored with the foods that I have been eating. So, yesterday was a long day at the grocery store where I took my time to read labels and think creatively to solve this problem rather than use it as an excuse to fall back into unhealthy eating habits.

One of the foods that I am enjoying today after my shopping trip is The Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges. I like turkey sandwiches, but I like mayo or cheese and The Laughing Cow gives me that without the high fat or calories. For example, I eat a whole wheat mini pita, deli turkey, and one wedge of spreadable cheese. Only 50 calories and 4 grams of fat for lots of flavor.

RIP: Maple Frosted

I am in the midst of healthy eating and exercise, but when Tim told me that the Dunkin' Donuts near our old apartment had closed, I was quite sad. Embarrassingly distraught. It all comes down to two words...

Maple Frosted.

It is my favorite flavor of donut and they are the only Dunkin that makes them...that I know of or that I am willing to drive to.

I am taking it as a blessing disguise since I am all about healthy eating. I will rely on my memories of the delicious maple frosted.

Just Another Monday Night

I just wrote a whole post about the difference between pride and self-respect, but then I felt a little bit like Dr. Phil. The long and short of the post was that I think too much pride keeps us from living a rich life full of relationships, moments, and adventures. Nothing new in that thinking.

That being said, I have some topics that I would like to discuss that are not so deepy-deep-deep. My friend is having a baby. She likes traditional names. I hate to boss you, but please share your favorite girl baby name. AND...(this is important)...if you have a strong opinion about a name that is shared by a reader, please keep it to yourself. People say the craziest/rudest things when people share their baby names. I remember when a friend shared with her mother that she was thinking of naming her son, Murphy. Her mother told her that was a dog's name.

I just purchased some new/old tunes from itunes.

"And She Was" by The Talking Heads - I think I will dance as I make my Easy Beef Bourguignonne.
"Watch Us Work" by Devo - I think I must have been going through a 80's thing tonight.
"Raspberry Beret" by Prince - Yep. Definitely going through an 80's thing.

Jersey Girls

I have taken many adventures since moving to the North Atlantic region, but this is the first weekend that I have spent time in New Jersey. I took many interstates and turnpikes to get to my friend Courtney's home to help her celebrate her birthday.

I have met many of her friends and enjoyed their interest in my exotic roots of North Dakota. One of my favorite parts of the weekend so far was going to a local bar where karaoke was being held. These people were serious. So serious that they didn't even need the words that were on the screen. They had been practicing! At one point, this guy got up and he sounded EXACTLY like Bruce Springsteen. He sang three songs and when he was called up for his last song, he sang "Jersey Girl". All of the women except for Courtney and I were swooning. Swooning, friends. At one point, Courtney was talking to another woman and she turned to Courtney and said,

"Have some respect, Courtney."

I have a feeling that this was half in jest and half serious. Too funny. Jersey girls are so much fun. They are a new favorite group of mine.

Parking Wars

Have you heard of this A&E show Parking Wars? It combines a lot of my favorite elements for a reality television show. First of all, it takes place in Philly. It should have all of the decorum and charm that Philly has to offer as they are issued parking tickets in the City of Brotherly Love.

Can you sense the sarcasm?

Now, that being said, I am not saying that all Philadelphians are rude or angry, but I know that the show is going to show this part of the parking authority's interactions with Philadelphia residents.

A tried to give up reality television, but there are just some shows that fascinate me. Parking Wars is about real people doing their real jobs. I like those kinds of shows. I am not a fan of reality shows with competitions or relationship issues.

Tomorrow night, Parking Wars will premiere and I will be watching.

Midwestern Endorsement: Eat, Pray, Love

I am one of the millions of people who have read and liked Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

It is a memoir of a woman who searches for her own recovery from a sad divorce, a passionate but failed rebound romance, and a general dissatisfaction with her life. She implores her new sense of spirituality to guide her to Italy, India, and Bali over the course of one year to discover her own self without the distractions of romantic love, occupational pressure, and the past always ready to drag her back down again.

Many reviews have been full of praise for this book. I like it. I like it a lot, actually. Some reviews have painted Gilbert as selfish and self-absorbed. Well, yeah. The book is about her. She is pretty honest about the ridiculousness that can be be our own narcissistic tendencies, but we all have them and they can all be the reasons for our own undoing. I enjoy how Gilbert can take those "always in our head moments" where we hope that no one can read our minds and find humor and even reflection in them.

A part of me was annoyed to find out that even Oprah loves and has had Gilbert on her show many times. (You know how Oprah kind of bugs me.) It makes sense because this is a story about growth, hope, and knowledge...especially about who you really are as a person.

I like how Gilbert used her past as a driving force and not an excuse to move forward in her spiritual, emotional, and physical life. She did not speak to the sordid details of her failed marriage or wreck of an affair, but more how that brought her to her year long quest and its implications throughout that year.

Maybe because I was partially alliterate (can read, chooses not to...not something that I was particularly proud of) in 2007 or that I was reading bad books, but I enjoyed this book the most last year. Quick. Funny. Thoughtful.

Sicky

As I lay on my couch, I am surrounded by two tissue boxes, one bottle of Delsym, Vicks VapoRub, and a mug of water mean only one thing. I am sick. So much for my immune system of steel. It was bound to happen. I just wish that it was easier to call in sick. I am hanging in there, but I know when the line has been crossed when I will have to call in sick. So far, I believe that I will be able to make it through tomorrow and get to the weekend.
On another note...I used to be clever. This is not a self-depricating kind of thing. I just used to spend more time constructing my blog posts and now I will just slop down any kind of word mix. What do to about this? I have no idea.
On another another note...I am really into biscotti lately. I had no idea they were a low calorie cookie. 90 calories for an entire biscotti. If I ever get a dog, I am going to name her Biscotti Cookie. No joke.

Happy New Year

It's New Years Eve. So what. I know that sounds like a bit of a Scrooge response, but when I think about New Years Eve, my memories are cold - cold- cold in North Dakota. In college, my friends would go out to the bars and actually wait outside in a line in 20 below weather. No thanks. Not being a big fan of crowds, I just avoided most establishments where I might have to squeeze next to some over zealous party-goer.

However, I do have great memories of my parents getting together with my aunts, uncles, and many cousins with lots of treats and fatty junk food. My mom would always bring little smokies. I was always a fan of the meat and cheese tray. The grown ups would play cards or games and we would just play and be wild.

So, tonight, Tim and I will bring in the new year exactly like we like to do it...at home. We love to hang out, eat some dinner, watch a movie, and hang out.

More Peanuts

I received the biography Schulz and Peanuts this Christmas, so it seems perfect to make the trip to Santa Rosa, California to enjoy the Charles M. Schulz Museum. I enjoy Peanuts and enjoy them more and more as an adult. Even Tim made the comment that he might just have to start reading Peanuts again.

Check 'em out.

I realized after reading more about the characters of Peanuts and their personalities, there is someone for everyone to relate to. For me, I am a little bit Marcie, a little bit Lucy, and a little bit Linus.

Christmas in California

We are in California celebrating Christmas with our family on Tim's side. We have a new member to our family, baby Leah. She is our first and only niece. The week will be spent hugging, holding, and playing with Leah.

The weather did not keep us from our destination, but it did delay us. We were two hours late leaving Philly and two hours delayed in Chicago. It never bothers me when we are delayed. I am happy to be delayed if it makes for a safer and calmer flight. Plus, Southwest Airlines gave us a free drink for our troubles.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Red Wine Hurts

Tim confessed to me the other night that he wished that we had some wine in the house. He was in the mood for a glass of wine, but we rarely have any kind of alcohol in the house.

We don't have any kind of problem with alcohol. We just do not drink it at home or on a regular basis. We are more beer drinkers when we have friends over. This is only because I can drink beer. I have come to know that I suffer from red wine headaches when I indulge in the drink.

I see other people drinking wine and loving it. People look sophisticated and quite classy when they enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, but it is just not worth the headache followed by nausea. However, I can drink white wine. It just seems that our daily life very rarely requires such a luxury as wine. Water, milk, soda, and juice seems to work just as well.

Because of this red wine ailment, we are no longer in the running to join a wine club that a friend invited us to join. When I told her that I can't drink red wine and assured her that I like all of the foods that accompany red wine, that didn't seal the deal. They wanted wine lovers.

You Don't Know Sarah

On VH1, I was wasting precious time watching "The Best Songs of the 90's" the other night. I agreed with about one in ten of their choices. For example, I wouldn't say that Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" was one of the best songs of the 90's, but I would claim from the rooftops that Sarah McLachlan's "Building a Mystery" was one of the best songs.

The thing that bothers me about these shows are the celebrity pundits that comment on the songs and artists. For example, some d-listed celebrity goes on and on about how much they love "Building a Mystery" and finishes by saying,

"I can't wait until I hear more from Sarah."

What? So, that song came out in 1997. Ten years ago. Since then, Sarah McLachlan has had two studio albums, a number of live sessions, and a few remixed albums. Why do they find the most common and uneducated, musically speaking, celebrities to comment on this stuff.

Since I am all salty about music right now, let me share some of the sweet about music. I am loving the following songs right now.

Never Said by Liz Phair.
Anyone Who Had a Heart by Shelby Lynne...an amazing cover of an old Dionne Warwick tune. Completely sad.
The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson...it just happens to be on an Old Navy commerical.
Chicago by Sufjan Stevens
Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg...also on a commerical for diamonds when the guy gives his gal a necklace in the car.
True by Spandau Ballet

Nothing More Than a Whisper

I had a run back in 1994 when I lost my voice for an entire month. Imagine. A 16 year old girl who thought she had lots to say but was completely unable to do so. It was the trifecta of overuse on my vocal chords.

Lots of talking.
Lots of cheerleading.
Lots of singing.

Well, long and boring story short...my voice came back. I quit cheerleading for that and even better reasons. I started using my voice properly.

Before 1994, I would lose my voice for an entire week during all of my summers at Bible camp where you would sing, scream, yell, and whisper every waking minute. (The whisper for the times that you were supposed to be reflecting and talking with God but really whispering about that oh-so-cute boy who you wanted to hold your hand at campfire.)

Until this morning, I thought laryngitis was really just a memory from my childhood. Then, I plugged in the ipod and tried to sing some REO Speedwagon on my way to get coffee and nothing. Okay. Maybe a squeak.

Well, I can add one more chapter to the lost voices of Sara. I am currently without a voice. Thankfully, I just completed my last day in kindergarten for the semester. A kindergarten teacher without voice is really no good. I am planning on taking tomorrow to nurse my voice back to its normal state. I can't be driving in the car without doing my best to serenade my favorite 80's ballads. That'd be a crime.

"If There's a Cure For This..."

I think my itunes has a personality and likes to play jokes on me. I like to pride myself on the diversity within my itunes and its 2432 songs. However, tonight, when I was updating my sidebar and the ipod random mix, it picked five doozies.

It wanted to remind me that I like old, cheesy songs too.

All Night Long by Lionel Richie
Cracklin' Rosie by Neil Diamond
Love Hangover by Diana Ross
Will You Still Love Me by Chicago
I Haven't Got Time for the Pain by Carly Simon

Sunday Night Grumps

Someone asked me if it is legal that I play music on my blog. I have no idea. I like to think that these are lesser known artists and would be happy to have their music shared with others with my glowing recommendation. I am not sharing in the way that you get to keep these tunes on your computer, so I am going to keep sharing the goods.

Tonight, I have chosen the songs based upon a different friends Sunday night depression. I get that. Not that I am depressed, but I can see how Sunday nights have a way of making people, me included, feel grumps. So, to be the antidote to the grumps, beautiful music, everyone!

Dilemma

I am having a dilemma of conscience.
The CVS Pharmacy has broken my number too pet peeve. My pet peeves are in this order.

1. Tardiness...especially if you walk in and offer no apology for your rude behavior. My time is sort of precious, at least to me.
2. Making work for me...I have a job and all of the other kind of grown up responsibilities. I do not need anyone making more work for me.
3. Tailgating...not the fun kind with beer and snacks, but the kind that is aggressive and able to cause your insurance to go up because I am filing the claim even if you want to pay. You need to be taught a lesson and I am just the gal to do it.

Okay, I am getting distracted. The CVS has made more work for me. I had them print some photos that I had emailed to them this morning. I picked them up and went to work. I opened the envelope and my pictures were there along with two photos of a lovely family and a CD.

I know this family's photos were placed in the wrong envelope. I was bothered. I did not want to go back and give them the CD and photos. It was their mistake, right. Why should I go back and get them out of a pinch. UGH.

This is why...I would want someone to do that for me. So, I did not want to go back today, but I will go back tomorrow.

Constant Cookies

This is the first year since 2000 that I have not done a colossal cookie baking day for Christmas. When I lived in North Dakota and Iowa, I would always bake and bring an enormous cookie and treat tray to school to feed the overfed teachers. However, I now teach in a tiny school and most people are pretty healthy. I could send the tray of treats to the university with Tim, but I just haven't found the inspiration for cookie making.

Don't feel too sad for our empty cookie canisters. I received a box of treats from a student and we've enjoyed the brownies and cookies, but it made me reminisce about the Christmas cookies of my childhood.

In my family, Christmas is the one time of the year where all of the aunts bring their treats in beautifully designed trays. Tray after tray filled with caramel covered marshmallows, rolled sugar cookies, mint brownies, homemade fudge, and more. It was the one time of the year that you could eat cookies all day long and a grown up would just sit and watch and smile. You could have a dinner sized plate filled with only sweet treats and there would be no recommendation to eat a vegetable. It made the grown ups happy that we loved their Christmas cookies.

I do not have a memory of stomach aches or other self-induced ailments. These types of free-for-all cookie frenzies still occur at our family Christmas. Each year, there are more little cousins added to the brood and the binging continues. I would be disappointed if it didn't. It is a great family tradition.

Lofty Ideas

It is fast approaching that time of the year where a large number of mediocre people make lofty goals and aspirations for the upcoming year. I am one of the mediocre people who find lofty goals worthwhile and usually, completely unattainable.

So, why after so many failures do I still find these impressive ideas so appealing? I am not too proud to say that the loftiest New Years goal that I have ever achieved was not eating McDonald's during 2006. So proud, in fact, that it has a permanent spot on the sidebar of this blog.

Here are a few of my ideas. As always, weight loss is numero uno.
1. Lose weight. I won't bore you with the specifics of this goal. Just trying to live a long and healthy life.
2. Learn to sew. I want to make cute aprons and capes for kindergarten. I want to sew valances for my sun room.
3. Learn to swim. I am still embarrassed about the fact that I am in my thirties and still cannot swim. I doubt that I will do this.
4. Read 52 books. Yep, a book a week.
5. Stop reading celebrity gossip websites. God. I am confessing tonight.
6. Not eat McDonald's in 2008. Totally do-able.
7. Eat fish once a week. I hear that could be good for me.
8. Run a 5K. This is the long shot, people. Kind of like biking across Iowa. I need to find someone who is interested in this. The whole running thing is hard. I have to add more and more because I want to lay on the sidewalk for two years after I run for a minute.

Any other ideas?