KCI & JO JO? Yep! Memories From My 7th Grade Year

Wait? What is that I hear?

Honey...I'll Be Missing You... Mo Money Mo Problems... MmmBop...Quit Playing Games With My Heart... 

No wait, it's:

"I will never find another lover more precious than you, more precious than you... Girl you are close to me you're like my brother, close to me, you're like my sister... You are the only one my everything and for you this song I sing... ALL MY LIFE I've prayed for someone like you..."

Top 40 from my 7th grade year? Umm, yes please. In fact right this very moment I have a strange urge to make a new play-list entitled "Wide Legs and Roller Rinks"... then I will jam out to it as loud as possible while hosting a dance party in my living room.

Get. Excited!

This past week I chaperoned a dance and boy did it send me back about 14 years. 

... I wore the widest leg pants you could imagine.  I would spend Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday evenings at the skating rink, eating cheese sticks, drinking cokes with slush-puppy ice, playing shoot the duck, and hoping that Bobby Luna would pick me for a dance around the circle during snowball. 

We would walk the mall every Saturday; ten bucks in hand ready and excited to buy the latest accessories from Claire's and hoping that we would see this week's crush at the Tilt (our malls arcade). 

Oh and let me not forget the moment that changed my life. It was dark, the smell of popcorn was in the air, and in the warmth of a packed theater I sat there staring at the dreamiest guy I had ever seen. It was then that my heart stopped and a single tear graced my cheek.  He was looking with great desperation into the eyes of a soaking wet red-head saying, "I'll never let go Rose, I'll never let go".

I would have sleepovers, makeovers, school dances, and tears about boys to boot. I walked to school, passed notes, stood in the lunch-line, and made friendships I never thought would end.  I also laughed so hard I thought my stomach would fall out, I liked a boy so much it hurt, and had the best friend a girl could ask for.

I had my first ever 1 inch wide highlights, I had braces on my teeth, and I wore shoes with 4inch soles. Going to the movie cost $7 and that would cover my movie, drink, popcorn AND Junior Mints. I would bring 25 cents with me to use the payphone at the mall to call my mom to pick me up. 

These were the days. 

Perhaps though the memory that outshines any other is from a single moment in my 7th grade math class. On this particular day I had brought a sticker booklet to school, filled with shapes, hearts, smiley faces, and pretty silver stars. It was the week before school got out. I sat in the front row, the desk closet to the door.  Behind me sat the boy I had liked every day of that year. Somewhere in the midst of me pulling off one of those yellow smiley face stickers the boy behind me asked to see my booklet. I am sure that my cheeks reddened as I passed it backwards. He spent a few moments looking through it's pages and then asked me to close my eyes, turn around and give him my hand. I could have died happy at that second but I was spared, for what came next was one of the sweetest and simplest moments of my life to date.  

My eyes were closed, his one hand holding mine and his other placing a sticker right in the middle of the top of my hand. He said, "Ok open your eyes", but I wanted to savor the moment even if but a second longer. So with my eyes closed I rotated back forward facing the door. I took a breath, opened my eyes, and looked down at my hand. There it was ... not a smiley face or one of the silvery sparkle stars, it was much better. The boy I had liked for 9 months had just given me the only pink heart sticker that the book had. 

After that we then held hands, spent together many dances (leaving room for Jesus of course), and savored the sweetness that was Junior High as boyfriend and girlfriend - we would be together forever... well maybe only for two weeks, but as a 13 year old, those two weeks felt like a thousand years.

It might seem silly but in 7th grade it meant the world to me, and last Friday night as I heard the music playing and watched the students sway back and forth I was reminded of what it felt like to be in that place many years ago. What sweet memories. 

Ah, 7th grade. I guess the only thing I have left to say is that "my heart did go on"... even through all the tears, the laughter, best friends, skating rinks, wide leg jeans, and that unforgettable, cute boy in my math class.

 

Studio Movie Grill - 2 Down... 4 To Go.

Studio Movie Grill = Winner!

I love this place and for the record in the last year I have only paid full price for a move there ONE, I repeat ONE time.

I have probably seen 10 FREE movies
10 $6 or less movies, bundled with a free soda

Get excited for SMG. I know I sure am. Here is the link!

Saw XMen First Class tonight - yes, $6 - and boy was it great! I give it a 10! (minus Kevin Bacon. What a strange guy, no?)

Here are some SMG tips:

• Groupon - sign up for daily deals, that is where most of my 5-6$$ tickets have come from
• Facebook - every month they give away free tickets - if you get one it admits two - Whitney and I always share so we then see AT LEAST 2 free movies a month - and then Whitney's fabulous mom gives us hers too! Yay Aunt Cynthia. 
• Facebook AGAIN - if you are a 'fan' of SMG you have access to their weekly specials - aka 6.25 for a movie and a drink - and most of the time the moves are a week old new release. 
• As soon as you sit down push your button - be ready to order your food and drink!
• Tell them if you want any sort of extra sauce right at the beginning, or else you will not get it. 
• Order your drink and a water - that way you are never without - because they are slow on keepin up with the drinks... 3/4 the way through your drink of choice press your button for a re-fill.
• Buffalo Chicken tenders = delish, that is all I ever get. Extra ranch. 
• If you are going to see a movie, esp. a MUST SEE, on an opening weekend, go EARLY. If you do not have a groupon, facebook, or other coupon and you plan on pay full price, there is also reserved seating if you buy your tickets online. 
• Sit at the counter seating, not the table, it just is awkward with them big office chairs. Yes, office chairs, that is what you sit in... it rocks. (quite literally) 
• Just park on the roof, it is easier that way. 

It's awesome. Go check it out. As a part B to this post, I am going to sooner or later post my summer movie choices.

For now? Well watch tomorrow, well tonight's (it's 12:17AM) MTV Movie Awards they are showing a clip from Breaking Dawn, Pt. 1 - Hooray!


Much love to you all my movie fans!

• 
  

One Down...6 To Go.

Man, who is a serious slacker? Yep that would be me. Life has been crazy. In the words of my favorite blogger, PW, "blog often, or you will never blog". This is so true. There is a list of things I have been wanting to write about:

7th Grade
Studio Movie Grill
The Cooking Project
Crappy Online Dating
Orange
New Working Sitty
Friendship


...but sitting down to write about any of them, well there just has not been time.

Maybe I will write 7 posts right now. I have energy. I had a Dr. Pepper, and well a re-fill - 90 days of awesome will power, gone.  It's ok, I still feel like I have broken my 'drink anything but water' habits. Ok moving on.

This post will be about... Crappy Online Dating. (Chosen as I closed my eyes and moved my finger up and down, up and down, up and down, stopped and landed there) ...very scientific.

---

Who can even remember when the sails caught the wind on my online dating adventure, but let me tell you the engine is fading. It is a LOT of work; sorting through matches, reading profiles, answering questions, and sending responses/receiving little to no responses. I mean I truly would love to meet someone online - but it is really hard. I know I can be real with you, I mean why not, right?

Rejection. Yep. That is the sitty I am facing. At least when I was not dating, or meeting any single men, I was not facing rejection. It is kind of a blow to a girls ego.  There was one guy, and he was a winner - I mean the guy I have probably liked the most since starting this saga - well let me tell you, things were going great, emails had been sent, whit and banter, flirting and fun were being passed over the tips of our fingers - and then one day... nothing. No email back, no match closed, just stinkin' nothing. Suckfest. And I am not going to turn in to some neurotic stalker and send email after email saying "Winner? What happened? Do you not want to marry me!?" Ha. No, it is what it is and I am smart enough to recognize "he is just not that..." you know the drill. But here I am, over a month later, still wondering.

Crap.

Then, ok so I go on a date this past week. Great guy, seriously. Funny, established, sweet.....
Romantic chemistry.?

None. Nada. Zipola.

Crap.

6 new matches today, 12 yesterday, 3 the day before... same story over and over. Out of those there are probably 6-8 that I would like to get to know more... so I "send a smile" or a short little email, and what happens. Nothing. No response.

Crap (yep. bitter party of, well... me)

I am also realizing how much 'looks' play into first impressions. I am not as shallow as some and I have definitely been guilty of this once or twice, but truly I would never just pass someone by completely determined on how they look. As my profile reads 'full figured' I get 'archived' almost immediately. I hate to even type this, but it is the reality of what I am facing. Am I going to have to become someone else to find 'the one'? Maybe. Is this also a blow to myself, my ego, my heart, my pride - yes. I could cry, and that is ok, but I won't sit here an pretend that being overweight has not aided in my lack of dates, and even though I could change this about myself, does it make it any less unfair? No.

Crap. (Crash diet?) No, but it has crossed my mind. ha.

I know, I just complained maybe more than I should have- but this is where I vent my feelings - and I hope that is ok.

Any who, I am not throwing in the towel just yet, I just wanted to give you my current status for this interesting adventure.

.... well, one down six to go.

Oh and BT-dubbs please follow this link and vote for Miss NM. Thanks.
http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/members/profile/585169/year:2011/

Kenneth - The eHarmony 'Flex Match'

I would like to call this post, "Kenneth, the 'Flex Match'.

What is a Flex Match you might ask? Well, please let me give you the complete, official eHarmony explanation:

You see, Kenneth is somewhere there on the left, the green man if you will, but if you ask me he is somewhere else completely. Oh eHarm, what on earth were you thinking?

I would be doing you a complete disservice if I did not include my favorite portions from his profile. Oh my, here we go.

Kenneth, at age 34 is an artist and a writer, stands a short 5'3 and is a non-smoker. Doing good so far Kenny. The most influential person in his life is "God, Jesus, and my friends. why? because they all give me a more meaningful life." I can buy that, ok go on. 

The thing Kenneth is most passionate about: (quoting so that I leave nothing out)
"hello I am passionate about art, reading, writing, helping others, activism, volunteering, religion, sex, walking, swimming, live action role-playing, movies, tv, dining out, cuddling, and massaging"

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Kenny you had me at hello? 

Wrong.

Going on. Kenneth would like us to know some additional information about himself, he describes this in MANY words below:

"I like to meet like-minded open-minded ladies with similiar interests that I have. I like to have fun. For example, I like to dine out, watch movies, romantic strolls on the beach, bowling, sensual massages, cuddling, hugging, kissing, and getting to know other people better. My favorite color is red and my favorite foods are chinese and japanese. I am as open-minded as a human being can get. I'm so open-minded, that I do not mind if my dates are straight or bisexual, monagamous or polygamous. I believe honesty, good communication and loyalty are very important for a good relationship. I'm looking for a long-term commited relationship."

I don't think a polygamous and committed are synonymous when it comes to a relationship Kenny. But I mean let's not get hung up there... Red is one of my favorite colors too!

And the last part from this riveting tale from "People of eHarm"...

The last book that Kenneth enjoyed reading was, "Star Trek role-playing material :) I'll try to get a full membership on may 1st so i can communicate with you. please be patient. xoxoxoxo"

Well, there is not enough patience in the world Kenny.


XOXOXO
-S

For those of you who need a visual, my bffl drew a MS Paint Kenneth for you.

The Fire

Please read past the intro - and if you must, skip the intro and go to the second part. You will be glad you did. 

Happy Monday, or Tuesday, depending on when you are reading this. First, you should know that I have a stomachache. Why? I don’t know, you just should.  Second, I am going to apologize for my lack of writing. Things have been CRAZY as of late and I just have not had as much time as I would have liked to peruse this writing adventure, BUT alas here we are and we are back in business.

1.     I failed at April’s cooking challenge – I made exactly NO bread. None. Maybe this month? Who knows… I did make 90 Tres Leche cupcakes though – and boy were they yummy!

2.     Orange was amazing – a post THIS week to follow.

3.     Change - it's happening. POST BELOW.

Beautiful melody? Can you hear it right now? It is the music that is being played as I transition into my actual blog posting for today… La da deeeee la la la deee daa de la de daaa…

 ---

Change. We all go through it but sometimes it is hard to see the end when the present is so vividly staring right at you.  The past few months have been wrapped with change and transition for Grace.  Grace is my church, my faith community, where I worship. It’s my friends, my family, my work… it is a HUGE part of my life – the biggest in fact.

To put it most simply Grace is going through a shift, changes are happing and transitions are taking place. It is not an easy time. Now, does this mean it is not a good time, no, it just means it is not always simple.  The bar has been raised, the match has been struck, and we are on the ‘move’.

I recently read a novel about a woman who falls in love with her perfect cowboy (ha, now do I wish this was me, maybe) back on topic – In this novel the cowboy works a ranch…cows, horses, the works. Well part of being a rancher is keeping up the land and with this comes great responsibility. In order to keep the land fertile for new growth and substance for the animals, great, sometimes seemingly crazy things have to happen. One of those things goes something like this: light a fire, burn everything back down to dirt, re-soil, re-till, re-plant, re-do.  It seems to me that for the most part we try to avoid burning things down- we go out of our way to prevent wild fires, house fires, land fires, but in this instance the fire is the very thing that is required for maximum potential of the land.

The match is flung into the fields and the fire begins to burn. Before you know it you are feeling heat like you never have before, so hot that it seems unbearable to face. It burns and maybe even for a moment you fear that it might lose control.  Then, after the flames have gone down and the smoke has billowed through the air you begin to start breathing again, but only then to notice what looks like complete devastation.  Ash and dirt blow through the air, and smells of scorched earth fill your nostrils.  Its ugly, its messy to the touch.  This period of in between wraps your heart with sorrow because what is now black used to be filled with green fields and summer sunsets.  This is the real test, can you see beyond the black, the ugly, the burn and remember that it is what lies beneath it all that matters? That after the rain and thunderstorms have passed, washed and nourished the land that something magnificent will happen. Just like that, one day as the wind blows, the smallest trace of life will break through the dirt and before you know it fields of green will be all that you see…

This is what I believe is happening right now as change and transition become a big part of our daily lives, at least speaking for myself.  We are facing times that might not be easy, that might be hard for us to face, and that might at times seem unbearable. Through it all it might seem ugly and to some like complete devastation.  But what I try to remember every day is not the green fields or the summer sunsets of yesterday, but the new growth that will bust its way through the dirt completely unexpected, beautiful and completely nourished. Then, before you know it life and growth will be so abundant that people will not even remember the fire that almost consumed them. 

The match has been struck, we are facing the fire, and I am nothing but ready to see how God uses this time to prepare us for something bigger and greater than we could have imagined otherwise. 

Much love my friends and to anyone who is facing the fire, 

Sara

...Ohhhhh SAMA: Some Interesting Thoughts From My News Feed.

I thought I should highlight what people were saying in light of recent events. Read on my friends. The LAST TWO are my faves. You can leave status updates in the comment box of Facebook or right here on the blog. Much love to you my dear friends. Goodnight. 

1. I like how my entire feed is posts on OBL demise
2. OBL has been killed
3. Well let's hope the last thing to go through OBL's mind was a US Bullet
4. Tonight confirms to me that Jesus Message is so counter-cultural. What if He really meant what he said?
5. Yay?
6. _________...is hiding from my news feed. Anyone who posts a status saying that this victory is the result of anything George W. Bush did, seriously?
7. President Obama called President Bush earlier this evening to notify him that Bin Laden had been killed. That must have been an awesome conversation. God Bless both Presidents our Troops and intelligence agents, especially those that are still in harms way.
8. Jehovah-Jireh
9. Osama is dead, don't make it about GWB vs. Obama
10. God Bless America! Thanks to those serving our country.
11. You're not American if you don't care about the achievement of the US Military killing Bin Laden! Go USA!
12. President Bush is the Bomb
13. Just heard Chuck Norris killed Osama. I'm not surprised.
14. So a guy leads the largest terrorism organization in decades...could he repent and be saved moments before his death?
15. Does this mean we aren't going to hear any more about THE WEDDING?
16. Justice
17. I heard Charlie Sheens face was on the bomb. WINNER
18.  This just in... Donald Trump is calling for the release of Bin Laden's Death Certificate. 

19. Why can't people just let this be a victorious moment for our country and our military? Why does it have to turn into divisive political remarks ab Obama, elections, etc?

20. Hey friends, let's not forget that osama bin laden was a human loved & valued by God & no matter how many wrongs he committed our hope should be that he called on Jesus' name before he died...may our patriotism never override our desire to be Christlike

     

His Last Name is What?

Did you know that Prince William does not use a last name? Seriously. I was like, "Whitney, what is Prince Williams last name?" We both looked at each other, thought about it for a moment and then concluded we had no clue. Thank goodness for GOOGLE. 

Did you know that for all intensive purposes that PW is just PW... no last name. Crazy. But what is even MORE crazy and totally hilarious is when he does choose to use a 'last name' any of these will do:

Prince William "DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE"

Prince William Arthur Phillip Louis...Duke of Cambridge

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor <---- My personal favorite. 

So as we were laughing about all of his names yesterday I then proceeded to ask Whitney, "Well so what is his new bride to be named?".... 

And this is where it gets good...

Are you ready? I repeat, are you ready?

Royal Highness PRINCESS WILLIAM, of Wales or the longer version:

Her Royal Highness Princess William Arthur Philip Louis, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus. 

So, in conclusion I am changing my name. I am changing my name to:

Her Royal Youth Director, Princess Sara Marie Only-Child Kinsey, Duchess of Photography, Countess of KitchenAid, Baroness Studio Movie Grill

Queen of Awesome.