I might need to invest in some mace...

So this weekend was nothing but packing. Literally.

I would like to pack some more tonight but I'm afraid that making loud noises might signal the trick or treaters that I'm home.

I didn't buy and candy, so yes, I know I suck, but I don't need candy and I don't know how many trick or treaters even come by here because we weren't home last Halloween.

Also I'm currently very focused on getting rid of most of my crap and that's another thing lying around that I would have to do something about. (Yes I know it's trivial but anything that adds is one more thing I don't need at the moment.)

And so this brings me to the mace, because I have some furniture I would like to sell before I move, but it's just me living here. And since really no one at work yet knows that I'm leaving and all my dearest friends do not live close by it leaves me doing it by myself. (Yes, Lizzy, I know I just wrote all about girl power on your wall but for some reason inviting someone into my home is different.)

So I'm thinking I should probably go out and buy some mace tomorrow, you know just in case. I also took self defense and I'm pretty sure I remember how to use it.

Am I being paranoid or stupid? How else should I try to sell this furniture? Help?

In which I think I'm hilarious.

Continuing the random Sarah's thoughts theme. (This gives you a taste of what hanging around me all the time is like.)

I have a genius idea, I'm going to start training my cats to be sled cats. For when when driving cross country in the winter and tire chains aren't enough. It's exactly like Thundercats but I'm giving my cats realistic goals.

But anyway, still so much left to do. I did get my new hire paperwork this week so apparently my new job is for realz. And to semi-quote Sally Field "They like me! They really, really like me!" (Because that saying doesn't stick with me at all.) It's so nice how concrete that's making it.

Okay I need to go to bed now in order to see straight tomorrow (please blame this weirdness on the delirium caused by sleep depravation).

Night.

This is how random works.

Weird stuff pops in my head all the time. Like today, while I was working I started thinking about Whirling Dervishes and couldn't remember the book that I was associating with this. So I googled it and the interwebs helped me remember it was Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish which takes place in Morocco. And then I remembered that I was actually remembering another book I read around that time based on a girl in Egypt in Colonial times (ah, me as an 11 year old). And then I couldn't remember what book it was but it's not driving me crazy I'm just curious but pretty sure I won't remember it.

There is however a book that I want to remember but can't for the life of me, and with the number of books there are in the world I probably won't ever find it. It was an awesome book of poetry I found in a bookstore when I used to live in Oregon but decided not to buy it (I may not have had the money at the time) and the way it flowed was genius. But who knows if I wasn't just in one of my weird arty moods and later possibly looked at it wondering "what was I thinking?" and "this book, really?". But now? Now it's just going to be the one that got away (horrible pun intended).

Boutros Boutros-Ghali. (But maybe that goes along with the Egypt theme subconsciously?)

And boots picture below. And we are not going to discuss the size of the boots because no one needs to know how or why a 5ft. 2in. girl wears a size 10. (Mainly because my calves are gigantic. I'm backing that up with they are very muscular... Really.)

Even though my picture is crappier they are basically exactly the same. Mine for a third of the price. Booyah. I love a good deal. 

And not so random. I've happened upon an album I instantaneously fell in love with.

This is Agnes Obel who's voice is magical, mag-i-cal. I can't stop listening to it, honestly. Maybe this will mirror Twilight?

And because this is funny to me we are not going to discuss how many times I've read the Twilight series in total. Nor how many times back to back I read them every year.

Night all.

Fallen off the map...

So um, hi there.

Let's start with this. Nothing is wrong I've just had a shit ton to do and trying to coordinate schedules for moving/packing, looking for a job, dealing with a stressful current job and traveling/staying at home entertaining every weekend has taken it right out of me.

I've been meaning to write this post for at least a week now and only due to Lizzy's prompting am I finally finding the motivation (I haven't even checked mail for a week, that's how too much I have to do. And yes I know that sentence is a grammatical train wreck but deal, we're in stream of consciousness baby.) to write what's been going on lately.

Two weekends ago I went to Mel's daughter's first birthday party which was a blast. I love talking to Mel's parents and it was really great to see Josh's dad who is a really sweet guy. It's a little sad to know it is probably the last time for quite a while that I'll get to see their parents. I stayed the night like I always do and we went to Oysterfest in Shelton, WA on Sunday which was also a lot of fun. We had lots of good food and watched an oyster schucking competition. I have no idea how those boys (sorry there were no girls competing that I saw) don't stab themselves. I'm sure I would lose a hand the first oyster I would schuck so let's just hope when/if I ever do it, it's my right one.

And then last weekend Jilian came up and helped me tackle a massive cleaning out of our garage, we literally spent two whole days and I think a total of 16 hours getting it mostly cleared out and cleaned up. It's almost there but it's currently massively improved. Let's just say I don't want to have to rent/drive a moving truck again if I don't have to and I only rented a 10 ft. one to take the trash to the dump.

Oh, and some super exciting news, in the past two weeks I interviewed for and got a job in NJ. I'm super excited about this because even though it's a huge cut in pay for me, dude I have a job, and I don't even live there yet. The people I interviewed with are super cool and I like them a lot. They were willing to still interview me even understanding I'm still on the west coast and I won't be out until the end of November. And they're still willing to hold the job for me until I get out there, no sweat. They even sounded excited when I called back and said yes I'll take it. And get this, because this totally sweetens the deal. The job? A mere two miles from where I'll be living. I could even walk there if I wanted to! Compare that with an average of an hours drive one way currently and once I'm out there I might only have to fill my gas tank up once a month instead of once a week. Yee Haw.

So see? Nothing too drastic, just a lot.

And tomorrow my mother in law is taking me to Costco and buying me a pair of Costco's knock off Ugg boots. Because even though I run hotter than Hades (just ask my coworkers) I'm pretty sure they'll be great in NJ. (At least I'm convincing myself of this fact, please don't ruin the illusion.)

And also I am so behind on my Google reader (I have at least 45 to read and that doesn't count the ones I clicked on intending to read but didn't so there are more) I'm ashamed of myself. So please consider it lucky if I've a) read it and b) commented. Girlfriend needs to get some game. Also I'm still reading the twilight series and by that statement you know this means not much else matters in my downtime. Oh, you can't read that? Good. :)

Moving on.

Okay I have a funny post coming (we at least funny to me we'll see if you end up agreeing), I've been thinking about it for the past couple days. But since you're getting this mammoth tome tonight you'll have to wait. And really, I promise it's coming. I think life might be starting to even out again. :)

Happy Friday, I'm off to bed. And to read twilight. Must. Stop. Talking. About. This.

I'm really into this 14 year old... Wait, that doesn't sound right...

Okay, I'll get into the title in a minute.

But first, I want to apologize for the lack of a usual Monday post. It's due to so many things but mainly a lack of sleep which is making me lightheaded even as I type this. Part of it is Twilight (which I'm almost done with the 4th one, thankyouverymuch) and staying up to read too much and part of it is I went down to Portland this weekend to meet my newest nephew Holden who is now a month old. (Both my sisters so far have passed along the Gray faces, kinda crazy, but we're a good looking bunch if I do say so myself.)

I've also been listening to plenty of music lately and that's keeping me up. What with new album releases:

And two new artists that I'm in love with. One is Benjamin Francis Leftwich and the other is Greyson Chance - this is the 14 year old, who sounds nothing like a 14 year old until he talks about meeting you by the tire swings in the school yard and then I'm totally reminded he's a 14 year old. But really an amazing voice.

And Benjamin Francis Leftwich is perfect music in my mind for those lovely dreary overclouded fall days (you know I'm a northwestener simply by that statement) when everything seems more restful and all I want to do is curl up on my couch with a good book, some tea and his album.

Oh and we have grooveshark back at work (I'm not asking why, just crossing my fingers it gets to stay for a while) so I haven't had to buy either of the new artists albums above yet. I know I will though as they're both just too good.

Happy Wednesday all. (Let's pretend I posted this on Monday, shall we?)

It's not you, it's me...

So yes I've been somewhat quiet and lackluster lately, I've even been boring myself. But guys, I think that's changing, I can feel it. I've also had to deal with work and getting everything with the move ready along with finally having snap into place that when I do something (as in go somewhere) it could possibly be the last time I'll do so, at least for a while.

This doesn't really make me sad (well a little, it's more sobering to me) it just makes me open my eyes wider and try and soak in my surroundings in full. I try to see how vibrant all the hues are, try to name and soak in all the smells, I'm trying to be ever present and fully frame my memories that I'll soon be 3,000 miles from.

Oh and Twilight, how I love you so. What? I didn't say anything.

Um. Yeah.

I'm looking forward to opportunities and where my life will lead me and while not everything is sorted out, life is good, really really good.

Autumn

I know we're still in Summer for a few more days (even though by the time September 1st rolls around everyone starts referring to the season as fall) but this past weekend felt like fall, all overcast, gray and rainy. And I'm listening to artists that remind me of fall, Feist, A Fine Frenzy, Florence + the Machine. (All the F's are merely a coincidence. I honestly didn't plan it that way.) Speaking of Feist I really want to listen to Sealion Woman and 1234 but the album is at home so I'm distracting myself with NPR (I don't know how well it's working...)

And I have something to admit to again (even though I've admitted to it here and here before). Twilight has grabbed me again (yes, I know how sad this is)I've been trying to hold off until I have to drive cross country but the fall like weather has turned my mind it's way again and made me like a giddy little girl again (which it does every time). It also helps with the loneliness that I've been feeling as of late. I don't care for any of the outside accouterments that go with it (but yes, I also own the movies which are just okay, the books are way better) it's purely the story I'm interested in.

Even Jilian has read the whole series to see if she could figure out my fascination with this series. (Sadly she was unable to figure it out. I'm pretty sure this problem is bigger than us all.) Mel is the one who originally even made me aware of the series but she wasn't even able to get through the first one, so I lost interest. And then my friend Heather is the one who lent me her books and got me started... Oh, if only I had known then.

I'm only going to (try to) read it once and then save it to listen to as I traverse this great nation in November. I think it sounds like a plan.