Bon Voyage!

      Alright I'll admit it...I've been slacking on my blog writing. See, this week I've been pretty busy with preparation for my next adventure...and some other stuff that I won't mention so that I don't offend anyone! Tomorrow I will embark on a six day cruise to Bermuda so get ready for some awesome stories when I return. I am beyond excited and since I will not have internet access while I am in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, I will have to make up for that when I get back! What I am going to try to do is keep a log while I am on my trip to share with you all when I return. I look forward to blogging again but as for now I will leave you with some wise words of wisdom...

"When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste those tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float." -Unknown

Off to pack!!! 

Kisses, Sarah

For Better or Worse?

  
         CHANGE. Wow...what a broad subject to write about. You know, lately I have been forced to  face a lot of change. At eighteen years old, it seems like I have been through enough change to last me a lifetime, but in reality it's only just the beginning. I'm sure i've been through a lot less change than many people at my age...but then again I'm sure there's people out there who have been through a lot less than me. There's really no way of telling. Of course, that doesn't really matter. Who's to say that I've been through less...or more than anyone else. Everyone deals with change in their own way, whether they are going through a lot of it or only a little. Some people hate it, some people bask in the glory of it, and others could really care less about anything. Maybe it's good change like winning the lottery, losing weight, or getting a new kitten. Maybe it's bad change like losing a friend, moving somewhere you don't want to move to, or putting your shirt on inside out. Still, I like to think that with each bit of negative change, there's something positive to go along with it. Someone could lose a friend but gain another, move to the middle of no where and find their soul mate, or put their shirt on inside out (actually I can't think of anything good that goes along with that...haha). See, change has the power to affect you in all sorts of ways, but it only has the power to negatively affect you if you let it. For example, Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." It's true really. You have the power to make yourself feel whatever way you want to feel. People may say things that can make you react in all sorts of ways but YOU control your reaction. In the end it's what you decide to do that makes you feel whatever you're feeling. So sure, cry if you want to feel sad, laugh if you want to be happy, rejoice if you want to feel fulfilled, but never think for one minute that you don't have the power to CHANGE what you want to change. You do.

Kisses, Sarah

Picture Link: http://herd.typepad.com/herd_the_hidden_truth_abo/2009/08/behavior-change-models-suggestions.html

Yay America!

"I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free." 

          Today brings a lot of different emotions considering our countries achievement. Yes, Osama Bin Laden has been killed. Obviously that stirs a huge amount of controversy among our citizens. Was it right? Is he really dead? Will it really make a difference? There's really no certainty in anything, however, I am certain that this is an issue I am passionate about. You know, there is so much negativity surrounding our government and our military today. The thing is that most of it comes from our fellow citizens. People want this, people want that. Nothing is ever good enough for them. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that our country doesn't have faults. Nobody's perfect but in the long run I'd say we have a pretty great place to call home. I have traveled so many places and learned about so many cultures, and what I want to say to you is that America is amazing.
          There are people out there suffering through war and genocide. There are countries like China who kill babies regularly just to keep their population down. There are women being beaten at eight months pregnant and taken to receive a lethal injection within their womb. There is gender inequality everywhere and in some places, women don't even have the chance to speak. Of course, I don't know everything, but I know for sure that there are more horrible things going on. Thinking about this just makes me so proud to live in a country where I am free to do what I want, see who I want, dress how I want, and live how I want to live. Sure, America has it's faults but not as many as some other places. It makes me sick to read about the tragic events going on over sees and even sicker to here selfish people belittle our country because on a day like today I am proud to live in a place where we are united, loved, and valued equally. With opportunity and freedom, I am truly touched to say that I am an American.

Kisses, Sarah

Don't Drink and Drive

      
          Yes, that is me. NO...I am not really dead. OBVIOUSLY if I was dead I wouldn't be typing this blog. Of course, who am I to say that zombie bloggers don't exist. You never really know what is out there. Anything is possible.
          Yesterday (sorry I didn't blog...SLACKIN') I participated in a mock crash at my high school. I am a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and we simulated a drunk driving accident to show students what happens when you combine alcohol with automobiles. I mean drinking alcohol and driving on a major high way is probably one of the stupidest decisions anyone could ever make! But I'm not here to preach to you about your life decisions. All I want is to share with you my experience playing a dead person. (Sounds morbid huh?)
         Well first we had to prepare for the mock crash set up. We did that by setting up cars that were in minor accidents before. Of course we then took a hammer and beat them up a little bit more than when we got them. Then, we made gallons and gallons of fake blood and you would never guess what we used....chocolate syrup and red food coloring. Now just from saying that I'm sure you can imagine how sticky I was. I literally laid down in my spot on the pavement and was covered in chocolate syrup. I was there for what felt like 45 minutes, though I don't really know how long it took. When the paramedics had to pull me up, I was literally stuck to the pavement. I also heard one of the coroners say, "wow, her poor hair" and to give you a bit of a perspective, at the end of the program I was wearing what seemed like a chocolate syrup helmet. It was absolutely disgusting but I'd say we got our point across. The students were completely flabbergasted at the realness of the crash. Of course, most of them didn't know that I was pretty much a human ice cream sundae.

Life's Short

       Life is short! Well, that is what everyone says.... In fact, I'd say that this is quite an overused saying! But that is besides the point. What I really want to talk about is the little side bar I added to the right of the page. MY BUCKET LIST. Now...I have done a lot of crazy things in my life and it's just gonna keep getting crazier! In my eyes I want to do everything before I die! Now of course that isn't really plausible but I'd say I could get pretty close if I try hard enough. I mean I'm a certified scuba diver and i've been under the water with a shark, barracudas, eels, and more! I've swam with dolphins in the Florida Keys and toured pretty much all of France. I've even zip-lined in the rainforest of Costa Rica! I'd say I've done a lot but there's so much more! So here I stand to start a new tradition for my blog. Every time I think of something I want to do, I will put it on my list....and every time I complete something I will blog about it. But that is enough about me...I mean life's short...AND SO IS THIS BLOG BECAUSE I'M STARVING. 

Kisses, Sarah

Picture Link: http://www.sodahead.com/living/can-you-show-me-a-place-pleasant-youll-never-be/question-1420419/?link=ibaf&imgurl=http://www.toffsworld.com/images/stories/lifestyle/sky_diving5.jpg&q=sky%2Bdiving

Surprise! Surprise!

                        

       A wise man (actually it could have been a woman..hmm...how the hell do I know because the quote is anonymous) once said, 

"The road of life can only reveal itself as it is traveled; each turn in the road reveals a surprise. Man's future is hidden." 

-Unknown

       Today I stumbled upon this quote in one of my spur of the moment google quote searches, which might I add can prove to be very entertaining. In fact, my mind has been boggled with the plethora of dumb things people have said. Of course I'm not judging because HEY! We're all a little dumb sometimes. You see, life is full of surprises. One thing that surprises me everyday is the all around stupidity of the human population. Those of you out there who contribute to that stupidity...please don't take this personally. :) (Also...why does it have to say MAN's future is hidden...i hate all this sexist nonsense in everything)

       Some surprises may brighten your day. For example, things like finding a $100 dollar bill on the side walk, spotting the celebrity you've always wanted to meet, or seeing an old friend in the grocery store that you haven't seen in a while would all be positive surprises. Others may be negative like finding a snake in your bathroom, a mouse in your ceiling, a bat in your closet, a chipmunk in your heater, or a bird in your lamp (all of which have happened to me by the way). No matter the surprise...big, small, happy, or sad...unavoidable or not...they change all of us. (Now I'm going to get all sentimental on you but I believe it is necessary)

       See, every chapter in life is an unopened book. No one knows what's going to happen until they experience it. I guess that's just what makes life worth living because knowing what's going to happen next would take all the fun out of everything. You just gotta take life as it comes because SURPRISE SURPRISE...nothing is ever set in stone; especially not the future. When life gives you lemons...you can do whatever the hell you want with them. Sure, you could go with the norm and make freaking lemonade, OR you could think outside of the box and use them for something else. I mean there's so many things you could use lemons for...you could eat them, sell them, throw them at people, use them as a defense mechanism by squirting them in someone's eyes or FOR ALL YOU WEIRDOS OUT THERE...you could peel them and make a dress (or skirt) out of them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that life is going to throw stuff at you and you've got to learn how to deal with it. It's all about taking what you have and making the best out of it. In truth, your future is in your hands BUT DON'T BE STUPID ABOUT IT because you have the power to keep the bad surprises from happening or  to change them. 

Kisses, Sarah 

Picture Link: http://jessikay89-likearollingstone.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-love-lucy-by-lucille-ball.html 

Those Damn Whistlers

        My mom always tells me how much I loved dresses when I was little. In fact, the amount of times she tells me is comparable to the amount of times it has rained in the Amazon (...and in case someone out there doesn't know what the Amazon is, it's a rainforest...emphasis on the RAIN). Now don't get me wrong, I love hearing about how I acted as a child, but there's only so much one person can take...especially during their senior year of high school when the amount of baby pictures surfacing is unimaginable. Anyway, the topic of my first entry is inevitably HIGH SCHOOL IN GENERAL. Now just to give you a quick look into my everyday life as a high school student I will tell you that I attend school Monday-Friday (well duhh...) wake up at 5:50 am (Oh my freaking god) and have braved classes such as AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP English, and the ever so dreaded elective, Info Processing.

       Now today was typically more eventful than normal. We just got back from Easter break and the temperatures outside have finally become quite tolerable. After months of a dark and freezing winter it was nice to not have goose bumps every three seconds of the day. In anticipation (and relating back to my childhood love) I wore a cute little leopard print dress, which I paired with sandals, a black cardigan, and belt (oh and of course my faux pearl earrings). To give you another perspective of the happiness that warm weather in the Poconos can bring,  there we seven other girls wearing dresses in my first period (only one of whom I have ever seen wearing a dress in school before). All smiles, I sat with them in Sociology, unaware of the two unfortunate situations that were waiting for me during my mere ten minute announcement period. 

        The bell rang for announcements and I sat, as I usually do, bored with school and the ever so long moment of silence we endure everyday (which might I add loses it's meaning when we do it...every single day...) I then went with a friend, who shall remain nameless for her protection, to deliver papers to some students in other classes. My friend, being one of the seven girls wearing a dress to school, and I walked down the quarter of a mile long hall way to our old Calculus teacher's room. There...we entered in anticipation of what we thought would be a pleasant visit to an old teacher and with no idea that we were about to feel violated. Now don't get me wrong, this was in no way sexual harassment (well...i don't think so) but it was entirely unnecessary. Of course, what I am referring to is the three (GROSS) guys who whistled at us (in our dresses) and made degrading remarks about our girlish ways...(RUDE) 

        In an attempt to escape the repulsing murmurs of our classmates we then went to a teacher's room who we have trusted for a while to put our bags down. In our dresses (which might I add were completely school appropriate) we entered the class room of doom; that which develops it's name from the presence of what I like to call the "Big and Bitter" co-teacher. She who must not be named...immediately noticed my outfit and said, "Young lady you better get out of here fast because your skirt is too short! Leave before I write you up." Now first of all...it is clear that skirts are not the same as dresses so I don't know what thesaurus she was using...and second of all if she had any intention of maintaining some sort of authority she probably should have written me up in the end. Of course, my friends and I have come to the conclusion that those insane words only came out of her mouth because she's jealous that she can't rock the leopard print like I can. I mean they don't call her BIG and Bitter for nothing...

Kisses, Sarah 

Image Link: http://tig-fashion.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html