Ice Skating. . Fun or Misery?

Yeah . . . sooo. . . on the subject of ice skating . . . is it fun, or misery?? I would tend to think that it would be fun IF I actually had some good ice skates for once. The typical night of ice skating is as follows: friends call up and say “hey, got a great idea! Let’s go ice skating tonight!” It really sounds like a blast so I gear up in my beanie, gloves, sweater, scarf, boots, etc. and head out for a night of fun. Once we get to the outside skating rink in downtown Sacramento we first stop by Starbuck’s to warm up with a nice caramel apple cider or perhaps a cinnamon dolce steamer. After warming up the body and soul we head over to purchase our rentals and skating tickets. All is well until we end up at the rental modular. There usually is either a line or the “staff” assigned to the rentals has somehow gone MIA. When the appropriate personnel is located or the line has moved along we indicate which size skates we wear only to be given a pair of skates two sizes too big, sopping wet inside from the last renter’s sweat and ice, and the shoe laces are either too short or the rings to string them through are missing. Ugh! The line is too long to return them for other skates and who is to say that the replacement pair will be any better? I guess they will have to do. The first five or six times around the rink is pure horror! One must grab on to anyone they can find until they feel a little more comfortable standing on metal and ice. When you finally get comfortable with skating on your own, you realize that you ankles are killing you from lack of support and the skates that are seemingly made out of wood (at least it feels like it). A break is in order to relieve the pressure ulcers that are forming on your feet. The cycle continues until you run out of time on the ice or your poor body can no longer take the abuse. The evening ends with everyone saying how much fun they had and “we have to do it again!” all the while questioning whether you ever want to hear the words “ice skating” again. Ladies and gentlemen. . . I propose a solution to this never ending cycle of misery! Let us purchase our own skates that we may enjoy the FUN that ice skating may have to offer. Let us also find bigger and better skating rinks, or better yet a frozen deserted lake, that we do not abuse and injure our fellow skaters on ice. What say ye to this proposal?? All in favor?

(I did have quite a great time with my friends . . . . except for the skates. . . I have a great blister as a result)

Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas. . . .

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
~Dr. Seuss

Christmas is a special time, a magical season of love and laughter. Everyone of us has our own ideas of how to spend and enjoy the holiday season. When I think of December, I think of hot coco, a roaring fire, reading novels, shopping, ice skating, mistletoe (yeah, haven’t tried that one yet! Ha!), skiing in Tahoe (someday I will spend Christmas in Switzerland skiing the Alps . . .but not for a while), scarfs and gloves, family (I wish they all lived closer), games, candy canes, decorations, pine trees, boots, Christmas music, final exams :-(, egg nog, cookies and cakes, presents, snow/rain, love, lights, happiness, and the true meaning of Christmas. . . . the birth of Jesus Christ!! I truly believe that it is indeed “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” I spent last Christmas in London, England with Ryan and Ben and while it was a completely wonderful and amazing experience, it wasn’t the same. I am looking forward to spending this Christmas with my family and friends, listening to the Christmas story, playing games and eating all day long!!

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!
~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836


Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home.
~Carol Nelson




My personal top 11 Christmas songs:

1. “Once Upon a Christmas” Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
2. “White Christmas” Bing Crosby
3. “The Christmas Song” Nat “King” Cole
4. “Little Drummer Boy” Josh Groban
5. “I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas” Gayla Peevey
6. “A Christmas to Remember” Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
7. “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” Thurl Ravenscroft
8. “Baby it’s Cold Outside” Various Artists
9. “All I Want for Christmas is You” Mariah Carey
10. “Santa Baby” Eartha Kitt

11. "Merry Christmas Darling" Carpenters

Let Christmas not become a thing

Merely of merchant's trafficking,

Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath

And surface pleasure, but beneath

The childish glamour, let us find

Nourishment for soul and mind.

Let us follow kinder ways

Through our teeming human maze,

And help the age of peace to come

From a Dreamer's martyrdom.
~Madeline Morse

I wish you ALL a very MERRY CHRISTMAS filled with Love and Joy!!
Love ~ Sarah, Mika & Fritz

A Cinderella Story

This last weekend, November 24th 2007 to be exact, my biggest dream came to pass!! I met Josh Groban and his dog Sweeney in Carmel California. *for those of you who are not aware, I am IN LOVE WITH JOSH GROBAN!!!* The one person in the whole world who I would want to meet has been Josh Groban for the past 6 years or so. I know all of his three CD’s by heart and could spot his voice in any crowd (and apparently his face! LOL). We were walking downtown Carmel when a young man passed me on the street and brushed my shoulder. When I looked up, I looked into the eyes of Josh! Instant recognition! I turned around to my dad who was kind of chuckling as he said “wow, that kid looked a lot like Josh Groban.” I said “DAD!! That WAS Josh Groban!!” By this time he was already walking down the other side of the street. My dad insisted that I go talk to him but I was a little hesitant as he is a celebrity and I didn’t want to ruin his day. I finally gave in and when I caught up to him, simply said “uhh, excuse me. . . . I know you probably really hate this, but I just recognized who you are and I was wondering if I could take a picture with you.” He replied. . “sure”. . . I then assured him that I wasn’t a “freaky person” and just a “big fan” to which he laughed and told me that I had a cool hat and anyone with a hat as cool as mine was cool with him. Since I was holding Mika he said “hold on, let me grab my dog!” I asked him what his dog’s name was and he told me Sweeney. “As in Sweeney Todd??” I replied. . . “exactly!” *I think I scored some points there!* He then put his arm around me and pulled me in close. . . . *sigh. . . * After the pictures he began asking how my Thanksgiving was and told me to have a great weekend. He was such a nice, down to earth young man and I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better. . .HA! I guess sometimes dreams really do come true. . .

C&C Road Trip to Santa Cruz, CA

This last weekend the College and Career group went on a road trip to Santa Cruz, CA. After enjoying lunch at Armadillo Willy’s we drove over to discover the “Mystery Spot” “The Mystery Spot was discovered in 1939 and offers numerous variations of gravity, perspective, compass, velocity and height. It is an area of about 150 feet in diameter located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz. Within the Mystery Spot the laws of physics do not apply. It appears as though every law of gravitation has gone haywire, turned topsy-turvy and just doesn’t make sense. Some unseen magnetism or phenomenon just upsets all former ideas of equilibrium.” (according to the brochure)

Josh standing in the doorway (doorway is leaning one way and Josh the other)

Chris and I trying to climp a verticle slope :-)

Afterwards we drove to Marianne’s Ice Cream and then down to the boardwalk. We made camp on the beach where we enjoyed a bon fire and music played by nick and jake. A marshmallow fight around the campfire ended the night and we soon made our way back to Sacramento. It was a relaxing and enjoyable day! I am looking forward to the next C&C road trip!

Love and Marriage

On Saturday, September 22, 2007, we celebrated the nuptials of Elizabeth and Range. The celebration took place in South Lake Tahoe, looking out over the lake. I had persuaded my good buddy Mike to accompany me to the wedding. . . poor guy. He didn’t know a soul there, except for the bride whom he had met 2 days previously. After putting up with a very grumpy Mike (he did get better as the day went on. hehe) for 2 hours on the drive to Tahoe, we arrived at the residence where the wedding was to take place. It was a beautiful wedding and Beth looked gorgeous!! After a wonderful dinner, the dance floor was prepared . . . I finally caught the bouquet (Biff was scouting me out of course) and we had fun with the YMCA and Conga line. I wish Eliza and Range all the happiness in the world and am glad that they live so close to me (they had better stay that way too!!)

This cake was delish!!! I had a vanilla slice

with fresh strawberries in the middle as well

as on the top! A++

<--- My Elizabeth, Beth, Eliza and Biff

Bride, Groom, Best Man and Maid of Honor ---->

<----Bridesmaids

Mike and I ---->

Wedded Bliss!! (Nate and Amanda's Wedding)

We started our journey after a grueling day of school (studying fetal heart rates for 4 hours) and drove 6 hours down to Orange County in So. Cal.(listening to Louis Lamour all the way. . .How To Tame a Land). We arrived at the church at 9:30 at night where I stayed until 1:30 decorating the unity candle table and the center isle. The next morning I found myself eating a quick starbucks breakfast sandwich, sipping a white blueberry tea and doing 3 bridesmaids hair as well as the brides hair and my own. . . . wheeeww! The wedding was beautiful and the reception had a real live Mariachi band!

While I fought valiantly for the bouquet, alas I had a failed attempt.

The ladies in the bridal party were a kick in the pants!!

After the wedding a group of us went down to Newport beach, where we could hear the ocean but no longer see it, and enjoyed the taste of Italian gelato (dulce de leche for myself). We went back to the Simmons’ house were we attempted to stay away and socialize with one another (after taking a Benadryl and drinking hot tea I was unsuccessful and fell asleep on the couch).

On Sunday we enjoyed Felix’s Cuban restaurant and walked around Old Towne Orange. We then headed down to L.A. and cruised through Beverly Hills. At Santa Monica Blvd. we stopped to wait in a 45 min line for Sprinkles cupcakes!!!! (look them up online. . . . they are a delicacy) hehe. We then found ourselves at Pink Berry to enjoy a little frozen yogurt! We left L.A. at 7:00 pm (not the smartest thing to do) but made it home by 1:00 am (not too bad, eh?)

I had a wonderful time and met many new friends/buddies!!

Rainbows at Sunset

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

One CRAZY week in August. . . .

Last week I had quite the adventure. . . . my cousin Ryan (whom I haven’t seen in YEARS) and his friend Matt (whom I have NEVER seen) came out to visit for a week. I really didn’t know what to expect and was therefore more nervous that I usually would have been when I found out I had to pick them up at the airport ALL BY MYSELF!! Yikes!! I am not the most social person when I don’t know someone very well so I really pushed myself to the limits! Ha!! The first and second day that they were here was a little awkward for me, trying to get to know them and all, but by the end of the week I felt like I had known them my whole life! (they were probably wishing that I would go back to how I was the first two days of their trip. . . . hehehe) We did have quite a blast and laughed most of the time . . . usually at Matt’s expense. He handled it rather well though, considering.

Our first day together consisted of walking around Old Sac where the streets were filled with participants in a “rubber duck” race (?? Yeah. . I have no idea??) followed by a horrific car ride over to Crepeville for some lunch. We then went to the state capital and enjoyed a nice tour through the Assembly and Senate chambers as well as the rest of the capital building. Sutter’s Fort was next on the list (which I found completely boring. . . I didn’t let them know that though as they seemed to be enjoying it “ok”) and then back to my house where we enjoyed the company of the college and career group as well as other family friends.

Day 2 ~ Church!!! . . . and a little relaxing around the house. Don’t we look good?? hehe

Day 3 ~ We headed out to San Francisco for a day of fun in the sun!! Our first stop was Alcatraz which was very interesting and neat-o. . . then we met up with this crazy red headed girl (??) and hit the main attractions such as the golden gate bridge, Lombard street, Union Square, China town, and Mitchell’s ice cream. We began to feel quite comfortable with each other and as a result were a bit more retarded! (makes for great pictures though)

Lombard Street

Day 4 found us traveling through the gold mining city of Murphy’s were we enjoyed Mercer Caverns, panned for gold (with our hands until Ryan found a pan), and then on to the Calaveras Big Trees. We had a grand ol’time!

While walking through a "tree tunnel" we were attacked by man eating bats and barely escaped!! If you look close enough you can see one of these bats directly above Matt's head.

Biggest "nugget" of gold in the WORLD!! (I think)

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. . . . . always the jokester!

Day 5 ~ Yosemite!!! After a very LONG drive we found ourselves looking at the beauty of Yosemite National park. . . El Capitan and Half Dome were just a few of the sites we enjoyed. The waterfalls were lacking, as someone had apparently shut off the faucets and forgot to turn them back on, but we were able to see a bear and some deer which was exciting. On the way home Matt begged me for some of my shiny lip gloss. . after much pleading I gave in and got some great “smoochy” pictures as a result. . . (it might not have happened exactly that way. . but it happened)

Days 6 & 7 ~ We enjoyed the beauty of Monterey and Carmel with my parents . . . the weather was absolutely PERFECT!! We also saw Peter Pan at the forest theatre and the boys got to try out a little California diving!

Day 8 ~ Ate a late breakfast (1 o’clock) and then went to the state fair to watch the Rock Church choir perform. . . . also were able to see the baby animals (awww) and watch the rodeo (saw some blood on that one!!).