The Nun Can Sing

I know I have been MIA lately. I am sorry. I have lame excuses like "I am buried at work" and "I am moving houses" and "I love napping."

As I can imagine, I am sure all four of my readers have missed my semi-coherent ramblings, the occasional recipe and the latest blind date escapade. I promise to do better although I am not about to turn down a body double to do my more menial tasks like paying bills and exercising.

Anyone? Bueller?

In the meantime, I leave you with this. This nun makes me happy down to my toes. And I love the expression of the judges. It is worth the watch. I promise






Happy Spring!

Happy Birthday (if it is your birthday)!

And Happy Friday!

Shake the Shadow's Big Night

As you all are probably very aware, Saturday night was Treehouse Sanctum's big night!

 

All of my obnoxious marketing and unashamed plugs finally paid off.

 

Oh, and their hard work, countless hours, crazy talent and blood, sweat and tears did too.

 

It was an amazing night!

 



 

It's not everyday you see your band's name on a sign. Nope.

And all those people you see? They were waiting in line for pizza because this past weekend just happened to be Denver's St. Patrick's Day weekend celebration. And these people had been partying hard since 9:00 am and nothing screams "I am already hungover and need my second wind" like pizza.

You guys, it was a constant stream of crazy outside. Men were running around like grown toddlers, doing anything for attention, and women were wobbling around in high heels looking like drunk giraffes who desperately needed a shower and the Bible.

And when you add the occasional fight, argument, tantrum, face-plant and overall lack of coordination, the night was ripe for entertainment and poor choices.

However, there was a lot happening inside!

\

 

 

For instance, these two: the heart, soul and drive behind Treehouse Sanctum. This was their big night!

 

 

 

 

And you can't forget the moms. Here is one of them with her firstborn. She sold t-shirts and handed out CDs like only a mom could do.

 

 

 

 

And here I am with half of the band. I admit, I was proud.

 



 

 

 My home girl Tara and I. We ate pizza and talked about selling t-shirts with the best of them.

Here is my favorite trumpet player. He was home just for the concert and layed down some sweet notes for a few of the songs. Double proud.

 

 

And here is 4/7 of our family.

 

 

 

 

After two great opening bands, Treehouse Sanctum hit the stage. And let me tell you, they were in it to win it. They played and sang their hearts out. And as the night went on, the crowds kept growing.

 

A blurry father/son shot.

 

 

Jam session.

 

 

 

 

Dancing crowds.

 

 

 

And this? Well, it could be one of my most favorite pictures ever. Play on, Daddio!

By 11:00, Treehouse Sanctum called it a night and the last band went on to close the show. Hundreds of people came, hundreds of dollars were raised for the Denver Rescue Mission and one very hard-working band got to usher in a new phase in their musical career.

It was music magic.

A huge special thanks to those who came far and wide to attend: Nadine, Mike, Bev, Mandy, Robyn, Gretchen, Chrystal, Tara, Alethea, Doug, Colleen, Ryan, Loren and Denise. You are pretty groovy.

And don't worry, I'll keep posting updates about Treehouse Sanctum. They deserve the shout-outs.

Besides, Treehouse Sanctum may need to open for me when I have my own cooking/talent/variety show. Hey, it could happen.

Freedom - It May or May Not Be My Favorite Song

Hello people of the Internet!

Here is one of Treehouse Sanctum's radically great songs from their album. It is called "Freedom" and is hot off the CD presses...or whatever they are called.

This could be my favorite. But don't hold me to it. I may change my mind. I don't know.





And speaking of albums, it is TOTALLY READY!

You should come and celebrate with them next week because you are still invited to their album release concert on March 15 at the Marquis Theater in downtown DENVER.

It will be epic!!

And super fun!!

And you can even buy a t-shirt!!

And I may even bring cupcakes.

What is not to love, people?

Lip Sync Off - Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd

I love everything about this. Paul Rudd's last performance almost made me fall out of my chair.

Here's to falling out of your chair today.

The Album Release Concert of Awesomeness

You guys. It is here. The big bash, the big night, the big concert to celebrate their album release: "Shake the Shadow."

And I could not be more excited for Treehouse Sanctum.

And can I tell you something? I have heard an early release copy of their album and it is freaking great.

FUH-REAKING GREAT.

I'm not making that up. You guys know that they pay me in high-fives to promote them. Their album is beautiful and soulful and fun and creative and amazing. There's even been some buzz:

“Shake the Shadow is Colorado proud . . . Steady guitar work and soulful lyrics dominate the music and leave a pleasant taste in the ear of the listener.” Tim Wenger, Colorado Music Buzz Magazine


“The art of the song is not lost on Treehouse Sanctum, who seem to explore new and interesting ways to harness the beautifully rich vocal palette of Rymer and Prado, with each subsequent track they produce.” Markus Greybeard, Literati Records


“That girls voice is kickin’.” Trevor O’Connor, Trevor Rocks Denver

I guess they are totally legit now.

And now here is the fun part: you are invited to the party!

YES YOU ARE! You are invited to the big, honking party that will rock downtown Denver for one glorious night on March 15. You do not want to miss this.

Details:
Who: Treehouse Sanctum with awesome guests
When: March 15
Where: Marquis Theater (2009 Larimer Street, Denver)
Time: 7:00 pm
Cover: $8
**All proceeds from the Shake the Shadow album will be donated to the Denver Rescue Mission.



I will be there. Treehouse Sanctum will be there. My dad will be there. Others will be there. You should totally be there.

Spring Fashion Fever

I don't know about you, but I am craving spring. CRAVING. I think it has something to do with the fact that it snowed again last night and the wind has been blowing so hard you would think I still live in Oklahoma.

I am tired of my sweaters. My coat is dead to me. And I am pretty sure that I have a legitimate back injury from shoveling snow.

Dramatic much?

Yes. I am dramatic much because cold weather is the opposite of everything I love. Except when it snows on Christmas. That is awesome. I love that.

Anyway...

As I think about the warmer months ahead, I have found myself gravitating towards a handful of fashion trends. This year seems to be all about feminine prints, flowy details and really colorful jewelry.

And do you know what I say to that? Step aside, turtleneck, your days are numbered.

Here are my current faves:

Maxis: Maxis are the equivalent of the ever-popular muumuu with one key difference: they actually look good. I could wear one everyday. And I adore all the patterns, styles and colors.

Pastels: Gone are the days of thinking that pastels make you look like walking Easter eggs. These colors have been re-invented to be more vibrant and sophisticated. And there is a color for every skin tone. Bust these out.

Prints: Gotta love them. And they are everywhere right now. I somehow always gravitate towards blue tones but I wouldn't mind a printed dress in every color. Anthropologie is loaded with amazing prints right now. Uh-mazing!

Now, if I only could get someone to donate to my wardrobe fund I may be able to shop there...

Jewelry: I am nuts for accessories. One piece can totally make an outfit. My favorite places to shop for jewelry are Charming Charlie, Francesca's, Target and Banana Republic. Oh, and my sister's jewelry box.

White: classic, feminine, strong and it makes even an Irish girl look tan. Find the shade that looks best on you and you can't go wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't that hat killer?

 

So, are you craving spring like me? Are you tired of your wool socks and mittens? Or do you secretly wish you lived in the Arctic? I promise I won't judge.

 

March is only nine days away, and even though it is Colorado's snowiest month (sigh), it is also the arrival of spring. My heart, mind and wardrobe are so ready.

How Likely You Will Die Doing an Olympic Sport

I saw this on Facebook today. I think this pretty much sums it up, especially since I can't make a complete lap around a frozen pond without breaking my elbow.

Olympians are ridiculously awesome and courageous.

And total freaks of nature.

14. Curling
Death Chance: Very Low
It’s basically bowling on ice. Don’t slip and crack your head and you should be okay. The biggest risk to your health might be getting an ultimate wedgie after telling someone you’re a curler.
Saving Grace: If you did crack your head open, the risk of infection would be low since the curling sheet is clean from being frequently and vigorously swept.

13. Cross Country Skiing
Death Chance: Very Low
It’s a flat course. There’s nothing to fall off of. Your biggest risk is probably your heart exploding from all the exercise.
Saving Grace: You’d probably start vomiting from exhaustion before having an actual heart attack. Woo-hoo!

12. Figure Skating
Death Chance: Low
If you try to do any jump, you’d fall down. Hard. And tights and bedazzled blouses don’t provide a lot of protection.

Saving Grace: You’d probably just break an ankle or a kneecap or some ribs or your skull or all of them. You probably wouldn’t die, though. Which is a relief, because it would be pretty humiliating to die while dressed like a swan.

11. Speed Skating
Death Chance: Low
It’s similar to cross country skiing, except now you’re going a lot faster, you’re attached to two giant razor blades and there’s no soft snow to cushion your fall.
Saving Grace: You have to be a special kind of uncoordinated to fall in a way that causes you to slice yourself with your own skates. You’re not that uncoordinated. Right?

10. Short Track Speed Skating
Death Chance: Low
There’s a lot more contact in short track speed skating. When you inevitably fall, there’s three other skaters nearby who could easily skate over your wrist or neck. Blood! BLOOD! BLOOD EVERYWHERE!
Saving Grace: Short track speed skaters are miniature. Their blades may not have enough force behind them to cut through your fatty flesh.

9. Biathlon
Death Chance: Moderate
An Olympic sport with guns involved. Sounds risky. You’d want to make sure that the safety on your gun is always on. When your skis get tangled and you fall down, you don’t want to take a gun blast to the face.
Saving Grace: When you need to be helped from the course due to exhaustion or heart attack, you can fire a few shots into the air to alert rescuers.

8. Bobsled
Death Chance: Moderate
You’re careening down an icy shoot at a high rate of speed and the vehicle’s roll bar is your head.
Saving Grace: Unlike most insane Olympic sports, the shell of the vehicle provides you with protection. In luge and skeleton and ski jumping and downhill skiing, the protective vehicle is your ribcage. And how deadly can bobsled really be? No Jamaicans have perished. Yet.

7. Ice Hockey
Death Chance: Moderate
Slapshot to the face, skate to the neck, getting destroyed by a bone-crushing check. The dangers are numerous. You may not die, but you would be removed from the ice on a stretcher.
Saving Grace: You’d likely skate too slow to be involved in much of the action, thereby avoiding most face slapshots, neck skates and checks.

6. Snowboarding
Death Chance: Moderate
Snowboarding is a dangerous sport. And the chances your body would be broken, gallons of Mountain Dew spilling out onto the snow, are very high.
Saving Grace: All of the (medical) marijuana in your system could heal you.

5. Alpine Skiing
Death Chance: Likely
People die all the time just skiing on family vacations. What chance do you have on a downhill course designed for the greatest skiers in the world? Your spandex uniform would serve as nothing more than a bag to keep your crushed innards contained for the coroner.
Saving Grace: Maybe you’d snap a femur early on in the run before you pick up the kind of speed that would send you cartwheeling down the course to certain death.

4. Freestyle Skiing
Death Chance: Likely
So it’s downhill skiing, but with some ramps thrown in to make sure you hit the ground harder. Ski poles sure do work well for human meat shish kabobs!
Saving Grace: The ramps maybe would slow down your out-of-control descent?

3. Luge
Death Chance: Likely
You’re sliding down an icy hill at 85 mph. You will die.
Saving Grace: It’s hard to see laying on your back. So at least you wouldn’t see your death coming. That’s sort of comforting.

2. Skeleton
Death Chance: Likely
You’re sliding down an icy hill headfirst at 85 mph. You will die.
Saving Grace: None, idiot. It’s actually called Skeleton. They’re pretty up front about the inevitable outcome of the sport. If there is any saving grace, perhaps it is that your death will be quick.

1. Ski Jumping
Death Chance: Certain
You’re flying high in the air at a high speed. That might not seem like certain death if you had a parachute on your back. But you don’t have parachute. All you have is skis. And what good are they? At best, they’re going to impale you on impact.
Saving Grace: You’re up high enough that you might get a glimpse of heaven before dying.

The Most Amazing Mother Son Wedding Dance EVER!!!!!!

Yes. Yes.  And...Yes.

Happy Friday, peeps.

Ghee Buttersnaps and Others

Psych is on of my favorite TV shows. My sister and I write lines back and forth to each other all the time. In fact, quoting that show is one of the only things that will make me smile every time, even if I am having a hair day from Hades or I have recently fallen into a fountain.

The sis posted this on Facebook today. It made me giggle. And giggling at your desk in the middle of a Wednesday is one of the ways to survive the freaking frozen frigidity that is currently called "Colorado Weather."

Enjoy, peeps.





And you can call me Sasha Twinklepants.

The Recap You Didn't Know You Needed

My re-entry into the real world last week was a bit rough. My plane from the DR had to make an emergency landing in Miami. It had something to do with our landing gear not working properly and the pilots were 94% sure that we would land without a problem.

Ummm...

 

Awesome?

Needless to say, we landed perfectly and then proceeded through customs, immigration and then re-boarded with the same fearless pilots for our layover in Atlanta. But because of our small detour, both my aunt and I missed our connecting flights and instead arrived home much, much later.

HOWEVER. The trip was unbelievably amazing. Relaxation was the goal and it was accomplished in strides:

The weather was a perfect 80 degrees.

The food was so fresh and delicious that I actually ate shrimp.

There were long conversations into the night, both in Spanish and in English

There were new recipes to tackle in a fully-stocked kitchen.

There was dipping your toes into the ocean and swimming until you became pruny.

There was dancing. Oh, there was dancing.

 And there was time to soak up the glorious sun (with SPF 50, of course), while deepening old relationships and developing new ones.

It was dreamy in every possible way.

...

And then I came home and the Arctic Vortex arrived.

But my dad also came home for his 72 hour furlough and everything seemed right with the world, Vortex included. On top of that, I got to make cupcakes for a baby shower: coconut cream and double chocolate fudge.

They are my new best friends.

We also went out for my birthday. I wanted us all to be together to celebrate. Sadly, Claire was down with a migraine but the rest of us ate for her:

 

 

 

 

 

Carr looks like an undercover cop in this picture. Love it.

 

 

Spirit fingers at dinner? Of course.

Two of my most favorite boys.

And finally, if you didn't know, Denver is going to the Super Bowl this weekend. It's a big, freaking deal. And our downtown looks so fantastically cool. It's going to be a great game!

 

Time to Ride, boys!

Top Ten: The Art of the Blind Date

The blind date: equal parts awkward and awesome with a side of nausea.

I had two blind dates this past weekend and I came away completely exhausted and relieved.  And while I could talk at length about each gentleman, both of whom are God's precious children and loved by their mamas, I will instead focus on my performance.

Over the last few years, I think I have had nearly 30 blind dates. (How can this be my life!?) And in those nearly 30 awkward/awesome/nauseous encounters, I have learned a few things on how to prepare for the best possible outcome, if that even exists:

1. Shoot for having zero expectations. And when I say "zero," what I am really saying is try to have negative expectations. Sometimes, all I hope for is that he is breathing and buys my coffee. And even  that can totally backfire. I have found that the less Facebook stalking I do, the better. Facebook can totally skew your hopes, desires and dreams for your first date experience.

2. Wear what makes you feel amazing. Let's face it, you are already at a deficit when you head into a blind date. They may or may not know what you look like, therefore they may or may not be expecting Amanda Kerr to walk through the door. And while I can strut with the best of them, I like to eat. So, to counter-balance this, we have to feel amazing in who we are and that can be greatly highlighted by loving what we have on. Wear your best jeans, your favorite shirt, all of the things that make you feel good. And as tempting as it may be to show up in either a.) your prom dress or b.) your sweatpants, don't. Just don't.


3. Don't talk about tigers unless you train them or have been mauled by them. Then, BY ALL MEANS, talk away because you have earned it.

4. Have an "out." I say this not to be rude but to protect your sanity. There comes a time in every date when you are not sure if you should keep going or call it a day. Even if it is an amazing date, there needs to be an end time just to give you time to process every single word and facial expression so you can then call 10 of your best friends to analyze it together. I always have something planned approximately 1.5-2 hours after the date starts. This keeps things short and sweet but still with enough time to determine if you would like to see him again...or never, ever again. Whichever.

5. Always carry cash with you. Even though your deepest desire is that he will graciously buy whatever it is you are ordering, this sometimes doesn't happen. And there is nothing more exhilarating than to show some random idiot with bad manners that you are fully capable of buying your own cup of coffee, thank you very much.

6. If you are having a meal, do not order the following: spaghetti, BBQ, big hamburgers or anything else that falls apart easily. It is really hard to be sexy with sauce all over your face.

7. Somehow, find a way to talk normally. I consistenly amaze myself at how awkward I sound and I communicate for a living! Sometimes I even give myself a pep-talk before hand: "It's just talking, Sarah. You've been doing it your whole life. Don't fixate on the weather. Don't get all twangy. And please don't ever let the words 'I sleep with a breathing machine' ever come out of your mouth." It's tough love, but very necessary.

8. Don't take it personally if he does not call you back. Sure, it does reflect the lack of chemistry/attraction to each other but it doesn't change you who are as a person. It just means that there is one less guy in the world that you have to consider in your life plan. It is a weeding-out process. It has taken me a while to learn this but it can make or break your future dating experiences.

9. Try not to say no to a blind date, especially if one of your friends is setting you up. They love you and they want you to be happy. The only reason you can say no is if you have already gone on a blind date with the guy or if you are bleeding. You never know just how great the next date can be.

10. Dating is a freaking freak show. How two people ever meet and fall in love is a TOTAL MIRACLE FROM HEAVEN ABOVE, FOREVER AND AMEN.

Best of luck to you.

The New Year Work-Out Groove

Well you guys have done it again. You made me feel adored and celebrated on my birthday, all 34 years of me. You're super great, yes you are. Thank you.

Just so you know, I plan on celebrating all month, it's just how I like to do things. I have the rodeo this weekend, a fabulous little getaway next week, my dad's visit the weekend after and of course, the end-of-your-birthday-month cake.

Don't you guys do that? Have another cake at the end of your birthday month?

You should. It is exactly what you need. Unless your birthday falls at the end of the month and then having two cakes would just be ridiculous.

Speaking of cakes, I have found some horrible awesome new work-outs. I absolutely love/hate them which means they are doing exactly what I want them to do: Kill me then put me back together with less cushioning.

Actually, they are pretty great. Don't let my whining scare you. They only take 10 minutes to do. I do 30 minutes of hard cardio and then one of these every day (with a day off each week). I am not saying that I have dropped a size or anything, especially when there is cake involved, but I will say that I feel great. Like, I can now lift things over my head and run around the block without getting winded, great.

And, they only take 10 MINUTES. That's not even 1/4 of a Netflix show. And since I can power through a Netflix series like a day after Christmas sale at Target, I should be able to live through 10 minutes of muscle confusion and heart palpitations.

In a very weird, sick way, I think I am addicted to them.

(I KNOW!)

(Help me.)

So, this is for your lower half:

 

And for your amazing upper half, give this a try:

If you try them out, let me know what you think.

That is, if you can lift your arms to type it out to me.

Oh, I kid.

Sort of.

 

Shades of Blue - A Treehouse Video

Treehouse Sanctum is wrapping up their last song in the recording studio and are in the process of planning their big record launch!

Can I get a "Woot Woot?!"

Here is a glimpse behind the scenes of what it takes to make one of their songs, kids and all. It is totally a toe-tapping song.



Shades of Blue from Treehouse Sanctum on Vimeo.


Check them out on Facebook. I dig 'em.

Sugar Rush

Apparently Alabama lost last night.

 

 

Boomer Sooner.

The Three Amigos and Christmas

My friend Melanie just gave me a copy of The Three Amigos. This is in my top 5 of favorite movies. Ever.

"Would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?"

"Lip balm?"

"Do you have anything besides Mexican food?"

"It's a sweater!!"

I cannot tell you how much joy this brings me as I anticipate watching this late tonight, basking in the glory of old school Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, Martin Short and the invisible singing bush. I may even bust out my own rendition of "My Little Buttercup." I am a musical theater major at heart.

As we think about what the next few hours will bring, I hope you are anticipating something wonderful. Something comforting and peaceful. Something warm, delicious and inviting. Something sparkly and new with a side of old and familiar. And maybe you'll even get to experience it all in your pajamas.

Total bonus.

I also hope that you get to eat some fudge. Or in my family, some BBQ. It's just how we roll.

There is nothing like the joy of waiting for something you love.

Rejoice, rejoice!

That long-awaited, much-anticipated day is here.

Some Perspective

Hello, my friends. Feliz Navidad to you!

It's next week, by the way. Christmas. Like eight days away or something.

 

Whatever. That's nuts.

Anyhow, thanks for hanging with me during this absence. I do not have a good reason for being away other than being the busiest person ever in the history of forever. Probably similar to you right now.

Oh, and I am trying to get used to sleeping with a ginormous Darth Vader helmet strapped to my face. The good news is that I am breathing through the night. The bad news is that I look like roadkill when I wake up because of all the crease marks on my face.

(You be the judge on what really is the pro and the con in that situation.)

So I want to talk to you today about perspective. I have been mulling this over lately. This usually happens around this time of year, probably because of the new year quickly approaching and my birthday which quickly follows. I tend to get a little introspective when I know that I am aging.

Last week, I studied about John the Baptist in Matthew 11. He was in prison and so he sent his groupies to find Jesus to ask Him directly if He really was the Messiah. Now, if you flip back a few chapters, you see that John was directly involved in Jesus' baptism, with God's voice and the dove and the blaring confirmation that Jesus was the long-awaited King.

However, during his time away from Jesus, while he was a political pawn in Herod's court, John had begun to doubt. Was Jesus really Jesus? Had I missed something or done something wrong? Was He doing what so many prophesied that He would?

I understand those doubts. The further away I get from Jesus, the louder they become. Am I being effective at all? Does Jesus really have a plan for my life? What the heck is He doing?

Instead of wallowing or talking to friends, John went directly to the source: Are you really who you say you are?

And Jesus said: yes.

You see, my perspective gets all out of whack sometimes. Take the mountains, for instance. When they are far away, they just look like one, long line of hills. But the closer you get, the more you see the peaks, the valleys and the layers. The layers of time and people and events.

Jesus doesn't work in one, long line. He works in and among and throughout.

That is what Jesus was doing while John was imprisoned. He came to this earth to accomplish our redemption but that wasn't all He was going to do. He was and is going to come back. What John thought was just one big event in time, Jesus has a second act to come.

So when I think He isn't working or doing what I thought He would do, He says, "Come closer. I am weaving and layering and connecting all that I see and do together. I am setting the stage. I am exactly who I say I Am, even if I don't look like what you thought I would."

Oh, sweet Savior. If I only didn't freak out every time my life takes a turn that is unexpected. If I only clung to the closeness of Jesus instead of trying to squeeze Him into my teeny, tiny timeline. And Christmas isn't just about one single event in history; rather it was His fleshly introduction to us. He has been working all along.

Perspective has become my word for this season. It is the thrill of hope as a weary world rejoices.

(I bet you didn't think I would bring on the heavy after a few weeks away. You're welcome.)

The Sleep Lab

Last night was my night at the sleep lab. It is a strange place where people watch you sleep and count how many times you turn and check to make sure you are breathing.

I guess that last one is a good thing.

Thankfully, my sleep technician was a great guy named Eric who hails from Peru where he was trained and practiced as a medical doctor. However, since it would take a lot of work and money to get certified in the US, he now helps people sleep better. And for that I am very thankful.

(He has also climbed Machu Pichu five times, which, although fascinating, is not critical for this story.)

Also, he told me that if I ever needed anything in the night that all I had to do is turn on my light and clap three times and he would come running. In my mind, all I could think about was the crazy old woman who used The Clapper before she went to bed. Do you remember this?



(That is an extremely awkward video. God bless 1989.)

Now, I am not going to lie to you: it was not the best sleep of my life. Nope. I had ten electrodes taped to my head, two on my chest, two on my legs and a pulse/ox thing on my finger. And then, at 2:00 a.m., Eric came in to tell me that I needed to strap the breathing mask to my face because apparently I forget to breathe sometimes.

Here I am pre-breathing mask:

 

(Obviously an Instagram filter was needed.)

(The guys are already lining up outside of my door.)

The second half of my night's sleep was noticeably different from the first half. For one, I had a constant flow of air forcing itself into my lungs. While that may seem uncomfortable, it was actually rather peaceful, like someone or something was taking over for a while and all I needed to do was rest.

(I am pretty sure there is a Biblical principle in that somewhere.)

Secondly, whenever I took a deep breath, my toes and fingers would tingle. Granted, that may mean I have an unexplained health condition, but to me, it signified the fact that my extremities were finally getting the oxygen they needed.

At 6:20, Eric came in to wake me up and told me I slept like a soldier, hardly moving at all. I think subconsciously I was afraid I would strangle myself with the wires. It was a legitimate concern. By 6:45, I was de-wired and had unofficially (from a technician) yet officially (from a Peruvian doctor) been told that I am going to need a machine to help me sleep at night...for the rest of my days.

Oy.

However, I am choosing to see the positive in this: people pay big money to go to oxygen bars so they look refreshed and rejuvenated. I will have that for 8 hours a night, every night. It's how I roll now.

Plus, my heart will be healthier, I will have more energy, my metabolism will rev up (can I get a gigantic HALLELUJAH for this one?) and I will have my Halloween costume ready to go: Darth Vader's mother.

And the Goal Was Reached

Hey there internet readers: Guess what?! Treehouse Sanctum reached their funding goal for their new album!

That's right, you heard me. They needed $1600 to make it happen and 26 people came through and donated $2,285!

Wow. You guys are ridiculously nice.

They will finish up their album in the next month or two and then Shake the Shadow will be available for your listening pleasure.

Big thanks to all of you who made a gift towards their hard work. I admit, I am super proud of them. And I can't wait to read all the nice things they say about me in their album cover.

I am sure it will delightful.

And probably invisible.

Four Black Suburbans

Last night I dreamt that I was going to jail.

Needless to say, it was stressful.

I tried to run, scream, explain my way out of the situation. At one point, I even put on a disguise and tried to slip out of town.

Nothing worked.

Finally, four black suburbans parked in front of my house. Men in dark suits with sunglasses approached my door. I let them in and then proceeded to bake them cookies.  (I bake in times of crisis. True story.) After they ate a few, they took me away in handcuffs.

And then my alarm went off. I have never been more thankful for my alarm. (Actually, I have never ever been thankful for my alarm.)

I woke up tired, sad and relieved. Isn't it strange how dreams do that to you? I felt like I had just fought a battle and waded through the loss of what my life would/could/should look like.

It seemed so tragic yet strangely familiar.

So, I called my dad.

And do you know what he said? He said, "Sarah, stop watching all of those shows on TV with black suburbans and men in black suits. It's not good for you."

A voice of reason from one on the inside.

Carr

I have the best brother-in-law in the world. He makes my sister oh-so happy, and for that, he makes the rest of us happy too.

Ten days after he married Claire, Carr stood before the judge and told him how much he admired my dad. He spoke with authority, never wavering in his conviction, about a man he barely knew but would defend with all his might. And as a navy chaplain whose heart and mind were created to both lead and serve, he has stepped into our family, often leading with words of compassion, wisdom and truth and serving with humility and patience.

Or in other words, he stepped into our freak show and has not looked back.

That is a rare man, indeed.

So, to honor this man who volunteered to join our family, we decided to celebrate his birthday in the only way we knew how: hurtling ourselves down a mountain.

My dad was home over the weekend so we took advantage of family togetherness and warm weather and headed up to Heritage Square to do a friendly race down the alpine slide.

Dad and I on the chair lift. Don't be fooled, I am really not that tan.

The course. It's intense.

 

We may look all nice and smiley but there was some serious smack-talk happening.

 

 

Mandy, Sam and Carr lined up and ready. They wouldn't let them go in tandem, something about mangled limbs and lawsuits, but they did try to catch up with each other.

(Between that picture and the next, 3 minutes of my life went by. It was exhilarating and only twice did I think I was going to fly off the side of the mountain and die.

I would call that a successful trip.)

At the end, I made in time to see Noah coming to a stop. He only rode on the fast track. Whatever. I was totally that brave when I was eight.

 

 

And here comes my dad, or as I like to call him, The Runaway Felon.

 

 

And here is the group shot. My dad is slightly hidden but that's okay, it was Carr's birthday and he can stand where he wants. A successful day in every way: no injuries and 3 minutes of awesome.

Happy, happy birthday, bro-in-law. I think we'll keep you.