Okay guys, did anyone see last night's game?
The Broncos special teams/D KILLED me.

Gah.  Football rules. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is recovering at Carolinas Medical Center after undergoing a five-hour heart transplant surgery that did not conclude until 1 a.m. Monday.

A donor was found for the 72-year-old Richardson less than two months after he was placed on the national list.

Richardson, the Panthers' founder, was resting comfortably Monday morning in the post operative cardiovascular recovery unit, the team said.

"The donor heart was working well," said Dr. Mark Stiegel, one of the physicians who performed the procedure.

A heart transplant patient typically remains in the hospital for a period of time, and the normal recovery time can be between three and six months.

Richardson did not feel well through the fall and received a pacemaker in November after undergoing coronary bypass surgery in October 2002.

Straight from the Source
 

Abandon anger,
Be done with conceit,
Get beyond every fetter.
When for name & form
You have no attachment
--have nothing at all--
no sufferings, no stresses, invade.

-Dhammapada 17, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
...Sounds like a line that should have been used in the new Batman Movie.

For fast acting relief, try slowing down.

-Lily Tomlin
Yeah... I need to remember that one.

Now, Jump, Little Children.

It is time for a break, and it has been long in the making, but this still makes me sad. Thanks for the tip Megan...

www.jumphq.com

For those who don't know:
Ward will be in town on July 7th at the Evening Muse
Jay will be at the Neighborhood Theatre on the 24th. (I think it's at the NT...)

There's not much to say about Jump. If you love them, you know why I love them: from Matt's sexy singing to the entire band's crazy antics on stage.

You know remember the first time you saw them and the past time you saw them (I won't say 'last') and evey milestone in between. You know that feeling when going to a show is more for the friends you see than the music; and the feeling when it becomes about the music again. You know about road trips and crazy-scary fans and naps on the side of the highway and seeing Johnny with a bunny head from Carowinds on his head. You know about waiting in a HUGE line at any-venue-name-here.

You understand what Violent Dreams is about, and asking someone if they're on opium isn't an insult. You know what opium-squared is, and you read it as often as possible. You giggle when you pass the Pink Lemonade in the grocery store. You like to plan your Christmas vacation around Dock Street, whether or not you can actually go is always another story. You are either a Matt-girl or Jay-girl or Ward-girl or Evan-girl or Johnny-girl, no matter your gender. Body Parts and Habit will ALWAYS turn you on. And of course, you know what makes you hot. You have theories on the band's growth from the Early Years through the Glow and the Light... you have your favorite CD and song, not to mention your least favorite song that you will still dance to while singing it at the top of your lungs at a concert. You know all the dances - no matter how often they change.

You remember wondering if you'd be able to get into different venues when you were underage, and the first show you were *finally allowed to drink at.

You've seen people get engaged on the stage at shows, and you vividly remember watching some couple break-up in the lot before the show, only to see them making out by the end of the show. You remember when the only CDs you'd allow to be played in your car were J,LC ones. You can see your friends' faces when you first introduced them to the greatness of Jump, and listening to them hum the songs for the rest of the day - and for years to come.

Of course, if you don't love them... then you wouldn't understand.

~s

Okay, so we all know that the RENT movie is coming out soon. Well, if you didn't know, you know now.
I saw the 2 1/2 minute trailer just a second ago (the link is at the bottom of the post) and I seriously got chill bumps. Not little ones - BIG, IMPORTANT chill bumbs. It looks great. I mean, wow.

Enjoy the trailer and don't forget, "measure your life in love."
http://movies.channel.aol.com/franchise/exclusives/rent_movie

It was probably my junior year at Queens when I read Ben Franklin's autobiography. In it, he talks about the 13 virtues and how to improve one's self. If you'd like to read it, it is in Chapter 8 of the autobiography, or here's a link to an excerpt: http://www.molloy.edu/academic/philosophy/sophia/topics/phiedu/Franklin.htm
Anyway... he has 13 virtues:
"1. Temperance: eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. Tranquility: be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

Franklin then went on to try and master each of these virtues, one at a time, until he felt he had done well. He recognizes this as a difficult task, stating that the hardest virtue to embody was Humility.

In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.

Great quote.
Anyway... I am going to attempt to work on these virtues. Its not a complete 'Sarah-overhaul,' more like a 'make-over of my soul' (that's a great quote from a fun movie... any guesses?) I'm not going to go overboard with this, as one of the virtues is moderation (yeah, we can start a huge debate over that circle!...) but I am going to try this out. Start date: Sunday, June 12th (to keep it on a week-by-week schedule). Estimated completion date: no earthly idea.

How does this pertain to you? Well, I'm going to keep a record of my dealings with the baker's dozen in my LJ. I am also going to include some quotes that I find to be absolutely incredible. (yes, they will probably be literary in source, but I'll make sure they apply to most circumstances...) I believe it sits nicely in my 3 guidelines for postings :) and I'd like it for my own records. But, I don't want it to crowd up your LJ Friends pages.
So, I'm going to make a filter for it. If you'd like to read it, let me know. If you don't want to, that's fine by me! It won't be in my 'public posts' again until I either a) finish or b) give up. Hopefully the latter won't be the case.

Well, thanks for bearing with me on this long post. Enjoy your beautiful Wednesday, and I'll be seeing you all soon!

~sb

I saw a car yesterday with the following bumper stickers:
"What part of 'thou shalt not kill' don't you understand?"
"Having an abortion just means you're the mother of a dead baby"
etc.etc
I think there were about 5 different "Pro-Life" sayings on the back of this car. When I glanced in to see who it might be, I noticed 2 things: 1. it was a dude (not too terribly frustrating, but it should be said)
2. he was smoking.
I'll let you enjoy your own thoughts on that one.

Here's to feeling as though you've been hit by a bus.

Did I drink too much this weekend?
Nope.

Did I party too hard this weekend?
Hardly.

Do I have any idea why I feel like this?
Not a clue.

So, three cheers for feeling gross all day!!!


So, I've been thinking about the whole LJ thing.
I do like having it at my disposal to keep my friends up-to-date with anything cool that's been going on around here; as well as keeping up with my friends and how they are doing. With some friends, it is our main source of communication and a huge help in planning.
However, I feel compelled to update it often (as I have formerly been accused of not updating enough...). Here's the problem: I usually don't have much to say. I have written a couple entries so far today that just plain suck and are a waste of time. They've all covered the weekend and any other random things that have popped into my head. All in all: they've not been anything of substance.
All that being said: I think I am going to limit my updates to one of the following categories:
-a rant of some kind b/c I feel too impassioned about a subject to NOT write about it.
-any major life event.
-some philosophical tangent that's been churning through my head that I need to bounce off others.
After all, those make the best entries, in my mind.

So, unless I change my mind and completely take back everything I have just said, I'll still be around to read your LJ's and participate in the community; I just won't have a lot of entries filling up your friends pages.

have a great day!

ps... just so you know, the weekend was relaxing and I did't do much of anything. :)

I'm putting this behind a cut for a few reasons:
1. it will be long
2. it will be all over the board, starting in Prayer in Schools, ending who knows where
3. if you don't want to read it, don't. I have a lot of liberal views, and I will talk trash about our current political administration. I don't want to offend anyone, but I will not apologize for what I will say.
4. i don't want to clog your friends page. I know, you can thank me later...

( Political Rantings here )

Its almost been a week since I last updated. I am sorry friends. But here I am again, for your amusement and reading pleasure!
er something like that.

This past weekend in Annapolis was great. Its amazing that you can take a train from DC and be in NYC in 2 hours. well, two and a half. But still! That's a loooong drive from here, and an even longer train ride. I'm a bit jealous, its true... But, I really enjoyed spending time with Tim and Ron. I met Ron's sponsor sister, Katie. She's a cutie! We all looked great for the dance and had a ball. I even danced. Yes, its true. I danced like, 3 or 4 songs with this dude. I think his name is Kenny... Well, he's a midshipman with Tim, and my brother didn't get all protective, so I guess this Kenny fella is a good guy. Either way, we finished our dances and the guy just disappeared. Oh well. Right after all that we watched some awesome fireworks. Apparently, graduation at the Naval Academy is a big deal and they have a whole week full of parades and fireworks and dances and picnics and... the list goes on. They even have Jets that fly over the graduation a couple times. Wow - we had nothing like that for my graduation!

But moving on. Sunday brought with it a long car ride back to Charlotte. But never fear, I slept most of the way :)
That night I was all geared up for some hanging out and watching Family Guy and the Simpsons. But when I turned on the channel: Star Wars Episode II. belch. Well, we watched some Star Wars and I headed off to bed. Nice and mellow evening. But - the big news: I like Labatt Blue. I was eating dinner and I tried one of Jon's and I really do like it a lot. I am learning to drink Beer! well, I was excited about it.

And finally, Last night was a lot of fun. I made Shrimp Alfredo (mmm... fattening...) and the ladies and I watched "The Princess Bride." Great movie for all types of people. word. it was a good night in for the girls.

I had the weirdest dream last night: I went to India with a bunch of people and I kept forgetting stuff. Like, I'd remember my iPod, but forget the headphones. Or, I'd remember my clothes, but I'd forget my suitcase. ~~~ very odd dream.
I thought I'd share.

you know what, this was an enormously lame post. I apologize. But, I'd feel incredibly guilty if I didn't update. So, um, sorry.

I gotta get to work. Enjoy a beautiful day!!!!!

Okay, so I know I did it to myself, but what kind of a person would I be if I didn't go to the midnight showing/opening on Star Wars Episode III "Revenge of the Sith" last night. You're right, I'd be an awake and alert kind of a person. But I would not have been able to call myself a good "dork" if I hadn't gone.

That said, the movie: yeah, it rules. There are some scenes that are a little, um, cheesy. But those scenes are very short and -almost- equate to the Han/Leia or Luke/Leia scenes from the earlier movies. What some people are forgetting is the first batch (episodes 4-6) are just as cheesy and lame as these. The difference: those movies were ahead of their time with the action sequences and story line. Eh, I won't even go there...
But - Episode III does rule. The fights kicks some serious butt, the other special effects (like the different planets and landscapes) rock my face off, and I really was heart-broken when Ani went to the Dark Side. Oops, I hope I didn't just ruin it for you. :o OOOOOH, and John Williams(composer of the Star Wars Music) really rocked my face off through the whole movie, but ESPECIALLY in the Ani-to-Darth Vader scene! ROCK ON JOHNNY!
All in all, great movie, and I am happy to be tired this morning.

But, before I go... Lost ruled equally last night. I teared up a number of times, and got the crap scared out of me with the teasers for next week's season finale. Anyone up for a Lost party? I'm thinking food, hanging out, watchin some good TV...

CAUTION - HINTS ABOUT NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE. DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO!!!
I read a quick blurb in Wall Street Journal this morning about it (along with an article about concert ticket sales that really intriuged me...). They said:
"Damon LIndelof, the co-creator of 'Lost' says he loosly modeled the season finale on "The Empire Strikes Back." That movie satisfied fans by resolving the question of Luke's father, but planted the seeds for the next installment when Han Solo is kidnapped. Among the questions that will be answered: Island dwellers will open the mysterious hatch, and viewers will glimpse the monster that devoured the pilot in the first episode. Many mysteries will go unsolved, including why there is a polar bear on a tropical island. The final half-hour amounts to an on-screen Easter egg hunt, and devoted viewers will find lottery numbers, (a reference to a previous plotline), hidden in the scenes. Mr. Lindelof also has one key bit of advice for diehard fans: Listen to what the crazy French woman says in the third-to-last scene."
DONE

When did I get so into a TV show? Geez... I think it was about the time they made a TV show that played like a movie. word.

Okay boys and girls, its off to work for me! I've got a lot to do and not a lot of energy to do it with, but I don't mind...
~s

PS, TED, what Ship are you on again? I have a friend who's enlisted and stationed in your neck of the woods....

What a crazy night last night. It was a blast.
I got home from work last night, ate dinner, talked to an old friend of mine from back in the day (tammie edwards...) and made plans to go to the Gin Mill for a while w/ Tammie, Jon, and, eventually, Marcus. We had a great time, and I have started building a tolerance for alcohol. horray! Well, Marcus ended up not coming as he was doing the 'family thing' for the evening, but nevertheless, I had a blast.
I got home safely (don't worry mom!) and sat down for a brief second before I changed into my jammies. That's when it started. My stomach felt as though it was writing me a letter on an old typewriter. Here's what it wrote:

dear sarah
this is your official warning. you will wake up in the morning with your very own, first ever hangover. yes, it is true... you will be nauseated, sensitive to light, and hating anything that moves or makes a noise.
see that water right there? don't even bother touching it. you drank so much water earlier in the day that you will be sick right now if you drink that water. you will not sleep tonight, i will be making too much of a raucous. good thing your boss won't be in the office much tomorrow - you'll be sick to your stom- well - sick to me. HAHAHA!
signed,
flubber-bubby.

Well, I heeded my stomach's advice and didn't drink any more water (though I did have a glass at the GM before I left). I said my goodnight's to Melissa, turned on the fan, and crawled into bed with a trashcan beside me, a glass of water on my bedside table, and a toothbrush and toothpaste sitting right next to the toilet (for easy access). My stomach said I wouldn't sleep - I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow. And this morning, I feel great. No hangover what-so-ever. Its amazing. So, I will continue to drink too much water during the day, and a few glasses before I go to bed. I'm not into this 'hangover' thing, and I want to avoid it as much as possible.

I thought it was a funny story that I'd share.

As for the rest of the week, its going to be great! tonight: making dinner for the folks, watching LOST, hanging out, going to the MidNite Showing of Episode III (the nerdy-ness comes with the package...) and getting to bed too late.
Tomorrow: tutoring Willa and recovering from tonight.
Weekend: Annapolis! w00t!

I love my job, I'm loving post-grad life, and things are rockin' hard. Thanks for all ya'll's support!
Peace!

Well, last night rocked. Why? might you ask... its a combination of Ally's lj entry, good times at the Gin Mill, and good times post Gin Mill with Ryan and Jon - hanging out like we do.

Good times all around from last night, huh?
I think so.

btw, if you didn't have a good time last night, it was because you were supposed to be out with us :)

just joshing.

oh, and ellen degeneres' HBO stand up rocks... the new one that is.

goota go to Hickory and eat some yummy Pizza and celebrate someone's college graduation. No, not mine! Jon's cousin's...

Peace OUT

I finally got my grades for my last semester of college :( (bummed about the last semester thing, not the grades...)

4.0 for the semester!
3.752 cumulative!
mmm, I was so close to Summa that I could taste it! but I guess I'm happy with Magna Cum Laude :)

Well - its official. I'm outta there. I'm kinda getting excited now... After all, Bossman was proud of me for my grades, I can be excited for a new chapter in my life... Yeah, its time for me to be excited now!!! HELLO NEW CHAPTER!

mm, that felt good.

I'm celebrating tonight! see ya'll LATER!
~woot

Today is moving slower than I would like for it to. Maybe its because I have grown impatient. Or maybe I just would rather be outside in this beautiful weather, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my shoulders.
Instead, I am sitting in the office, pulling my sweater sleeves down around my arms because it is so cold.

BUT, that being said, I am having a great day: no big issues are coming up, nothing too exciting happening (and that's a good thing in this business!)

ek, I'll throw another jacket on and try to warm up. Have a great day everyone!!!
~word~

Okay friends, life has officially changed for me now. I am now a working member of the real-world-society. Life is never going to be the same. I now will not have the excuses of homework or exams. I will no longer be tired from an exhausting day of classes or staying out all night with my KD sisters. No, no friends, life will never be the same for me. No more classroom discussions of Tennessee Williams, or the validity of Deconstructive Criticisms, No longer will I be able to argue for a 50 minute period on the ethics of Socrates or that dern Allegory of the Cave. I should be hysterical.

But wait! Life won't be too much different! I will still have classes (starting June 15) for every Wednesday night until December of 2006. And I will have 2 exams every 6 weeks. Not to mention the HUGE test in March of 2007. I've still got 2 more years of this stuff! And no, I won't be exhausted from class or staying out all night with current sisters: I will be pooped from a hard day of work and staying out with friends and current KD alums.
I won't have the same classroom discussions that I had at Queens, but I will probably be leading those discussions one day. The day WILL come when I am leading one of those CORE sessions, or teaching the AMAZING literature of the Americans and Britain's. One day.... One day...

But until then, I am completely happy with my life right now. Thanks to everyone who made it out to my graduation party yesterday. It was fun, BBQ was good, and clean up was pretty dern easy. My parents met Jon's parents. Good times all around.

Oh, just heard a story... A friend of my brother's had a baby that was born with a tumor in his lung. They removed the section of the lung that had the tumor. Within 2 days, the lung had completely regrown to its full size. Apparently, the lung is one of the last parts of the baby to develop, so it was still thinking it had to grow. Amazing. According to Dad: Star Trek has nothin' on Newborns! Haha, I agree.

I'm excited about graduation though. I didn't think I'd be as excited as I am, but I know that no matter what, I can always go back and see Emily Seelbinder or Dorothy McGavran or Mike Kobre and chat about some sort of literature... I gotta keep up with what's going on in the literature world. Well, I'm off to get ready for work tomorrow. It's going to be fun!

Sorry if this entry was kinda incoherent. I'm sitting in my living room surrounded by my family. Not much concentration is going into this entry right now :)

w00t!!!

I was driving around today and I caught a wiff of something... it smelled like Savannah for about 4 minutes....

I miss Savannah - a lot.

Well, after two days of having a sprained ankle, I am beginning to be able to walk a little normal now. I have recently acquired an ACE bandage for it - but it still hurts like a B.

I went grocery shopping this week. It is crazy how quickly a grocery cart can fill up. Even crazier how expensive food can be. BUT - an expensive grocery trip will save me money in the long run (so long as I eat the food I have purchased and not go out so much...)

Nothing too exciting is going on right now... still moving, still freakin' about graduation. But I'm sure I'll have more fun stuff later!

have a great day everyone!!!
- word -