by Sarah | Jun 18, 2012 | 45 before 45, All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Marriage, All About Me, All of Us, Bucket List, Random
*Please excuse the crappy quality of this picture. I assure you the original is AWESOME…my phone just took a really crappy photo of the photo…
Two months ago Erik & I went to St. Louis. It was a “knock some sh*t off Sarah’s bucket list while getting the heck out of dodge & being child-free” weekend. We had a great time. The highlight of the trip (especially for Erik) was the Anheuser Busch Beermaster Tour.
Running in a close second was the Star Trek Exhibit at the science center. Depressingly, pictures were not allowed in any capacity – except for those that they themselves took & you had to pay for (mind you, it was an expense I didn’t hesitate to pay…but I digress).
Erik & I spent over an hour looking at everything on display. Pointing out errors in the placards (seriously? You’re going to allow blatant errors in a ST exhibit? Shame…). Soaking in the dozens of costumes on display. Erik took this killer picture in the original series captain’s chair (depressingly not set in an actual set – but against a green screen). Toward the end I about passed out as I beheld the TNG bridge set. In geek heaven I wandered around, had my picture taken in the captain’s chair, kept wandering. I sat in Data’s chair, people…DATA’s CHAIR.
Geek heaven.
In the past few weeks there’s been an emergence of an up and coming geek.
The teen has been watching anything & everything Trek (or Trek-approximate) in our house. Considering Erik has ALL the movies (some in double w/ Blu-Ray and Standard) – and Netflix carries all the series – this is a lot of Trek. He also has a Play Station Star Trek game that I don’t remember us having…but he’s been playing pretty non-stop
First it was the movies. All of them. From The Motion Picture to the new Star Trek.
Then he tried the series. Much like me, the Original Series didn’t float his boat much – and he stopped watching it within about 3 or 4 episodes. In the past two days he has watched the entire first season of The Next Generation. I know he’s chomping at the bit to get to Deep Space Nine, but seems dedicated to watching them in order. The proper order.
The kid is my kind of geek.
Wish I could take full credit – but I’m pretty sure most of it goes to my movie-obsessed husband whose fail-safe “I don’t know what to watch” movies are the Star Trek movies.
Either way – the new generation has started it’s Trekkie-love. And I couldn’t be more proud. After all, this is something we can share as a family. Most of the time, we don’t agree on much (that is difficult to do with a teen).
by Sarah | Jun 4, 2012 | All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Giveaway, Indiana Fever, Indy Geek Girls
On Saturday night I got to take in the wonderful experience of an Indiana Fever game. Never having been a huge basketball fan (what separates me from the true Hoosiers), I mostly signed up for the amazing company of the Indy Geek Girls.
Turns out, the WNBA is a lot of fun!! The women play hard, the games are intense but go by fast, and the Fever LOVES families!!
For the Geek Girls, the Fever were marvelous and put us up in the Legends Suite.* From there we had a fantastic view of the court – or the numerous TV’s that were showing every minute of the action. We also had seats around the suite if we wanted to get the arena effect.
Those that say the WNBA is “just” a girls league really needs to go to a game. These women bring it like you wouldn’t believe! I think it’s the first time I’ve enjoyed a basketball game. The women that do this job do it because they love it. They don’t make millions of dollars like the big name men – in fact many of them have to work the off season playing in other countries! The amount of commitment and dedication they have for the game made me appreciate the sport like I haven’t before.
It’s something I would take my girls to, so they could see what it means to do something you love. No matter what the critical men say about what you can do.
The tickets for a game aren’t that expensive. Even better? For their Saturday games they have family night – where for just $13 you get your ticket, Pepsi, chips, a hot dog, and a T-shirt! What’s better than that? Every ticket at Banker’s Life is a great seat, so it’s worth it.
And just to prove that point, the Fever is offering all of you a tremendous discount to come to their next game.
For the June 8th game against the Connecticut Sun, you can get two tickets almost free! All you have to do is pay the $.75 per ticket TM fee. That’s $1.50 to go see an amazing game! Mom’s & Dad’s – this is a great chance to take your daughter out and see what the WNBA is all about!
To cash in on this amazing deal just go here, and select the June 8th game:
www.wnba.com/fever/offer.html
If June 8th doesn’t work for you, please remember the family nights. The remaining Saturday games are: 6/16, 7/7, 8/18 and 9/1.
One last way to save some money – Tuesdays and Thursdays are two for one ticket prices on all levels. My recommendation? Snap up July 10th (a noon game) while you can. It’s Freddy Fever’s birthday – and he brings all his mascot friends along for the fun! It’s perfect for the kids, who doesn’t love to see mascots roaming everywhere?
So now go and pick up some tickets. I promise, you won’t be disappointed – and that’s saying a lot coming from someone that would never watch a basketball game until now.
*~*~*
*Disclaimer: Indiana Fever put us up in the Legends Suite. We heard the words of the wonderful team of leaders for the Fever, we ate food, had drinks, and excellent conversation. All opinions in here are my own. I truly was impressed with the whole organization.
by Sarah | Jun 3, 2012 | All About Me, Blogging Life, Books, Changing Tracks, Indiana Family of Farmers, Indiana Fever, Indy Geek Girls, Writing
[flickr id=”5074952547″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]The past twenty four hours have been a whirlwind. A crazy whirlwind of amazing awesomeness that I can hardly begin to describe.
Seeing as this is blog specifically for that, I’m going to try. All of the awesomeness will see its own post (or two) this week, so for now I’m going to bullet point the awesomeness and then start prepping posts for the rest of the week to fill you up.
* First my husband and I went to Vintage Indiana (Thank you, Indiana Family of Farmers). We sampled, we walked, we ate and we bought. We discovered a winery we didn’t know about and brought home a few bottles of deliciousness.
* After that I met my friend and neighbor and went to an Indiana Fever Game. They put us up in the Legends suite and it was amazing. Good food, good drinks, good friends, good game (side note: we won!)
* The ever beautiful Casey had a phone that I could replace mine with after the loss I suffered last week. My Thunderbolt is gone, but I welcome in the Droid Bionic w/ open arms. We came this close to agreeing to a date to see Barry Manilow together…but alas she will be at Blogher. Such a shame…we could have been part-time Fanilow’s together.
* Did I mention the Fever game? Yeah, that meant I got to hang out with the awesomeness that is the Indy Geek Girls. The blogging community in Indy is Da-Bom’…and I loves me ladies.
* After all of that fun I came home and checked my email – to find an offer on my novel!!! I literally fell off the couch when I read the email. Yes, literally. Just ask Erik or Denver – they were there.
* Once I finally got to sleep – I woke up to find another requested full for my novel. I’d entered a pitch contest on a whim and a tiny prayer – & that publisher wants to see it too!
* Today I found out what was causing Erik’s phone to be painfully slow and it appears to be fixed. The man is very happy.
So today I’ve been sending out emails, fulls and updates to those that have my work. I’ve contacted a lawyer to look at the contract I received to help me make this difficult decision (I may not like the contract, or get the answers I want to my questions). Even though I’ve waited a very long time for an offer – I won’t just jump on it. There are a lot of points to weigh and I plan on weighing each of them carefully and with as clear a head as I can.
So as the week goes on, you’ll learn more about much of the events of the past 24 hours. right now I’m still a bit giddy so you get the info dump! More soon, I promise!
by Sarah | May 25, 2012 | All About Me, Get Fit - Or Kill Myself - Whatever Comes First
[flickr id=”7267389774″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]When I was growing up I was the kid that hated gym. I despised it.
Okay, so I liked the times we did gymnastics. When I got older, I was cool with tennis and even took a semester of tennis in college.
Other than that? HATED.
My least favorite wasn’t the contact sports – it was track & field.
Running?
Ick.
Let me dance. Let me twirl and leap or do gymnastics (even though I was never great at it, that was my cousin’s realm).
Track and field made me cry. I don’t remember, but I probably mean that literally. HATED.
So what am I doing now?
Oh, just signing up to run in a 5k in September.
Running 3X a week using C25k to get there.
The thing that is shocking me?
I’m enjoying it.
When I got “injured” with some funky nerve pain last month and ended up laid up for days that turned into weeks, I missed it. I craved working out again.
I’m not just running, but I’m getting my ass kicked daily by Jillian Michaels. I favor her Ripped in 30 & Yoga Meltdown DVD’s. For some reason I never got along with the 30 Day Shred. I think it was the stupid jumping jacks. Jumping jacks should never ever be in my workout. We don’t get along.
I’m doing this for me.
Because I’m tired of hating myself because I’ve become lazy. I don’t ever expect to look like I did in high school again.
Actually, I want to look better. In high school I was so skinny I got called “Anorexic” by not just students, but teachers (heads up, I was not anorexic. I ate tons…mostly crap, but I ate tons).
I want to be healthy. Strong. I want to feel good about myself.
I know I have had kids, and a hysterectomy…but they are not fully to blame for my current state.
I am.
So now I move forward.
I’m not going to starve myself dieting – but I am going to eat better.
I’m not going to try to get back to high school weight (112 is an unrealistic goal) – but I am going to get back in shape.
I’m not going to deprive myself of treats & sweets – but I am going to practice moderation.
I want to be healthy…
So I run.
by Sarah | May 23, 2012 | All About Denver, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All About Molly, Crap, Random
[flickr id=”6987996541″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]One week.
That week includes a three day weekend.
And the kids are out for summer.
10 weeks.
I’m both filled with dread and…
Um…joy? Fear?
Well whatever it is, I’m filled with it.
We have plans, quite a few of them. It will pass quickly.
It will probably pass even faster because I will most likely be employed again by the end of the month. Part time. VERY close to home (like walking distance) and w/ hours that will let me meet the kids at the bus and kiss them at night before bed. Also, once school starts again I’ll still have a few days a week home w/ no kids.
No kids.
All the school day long.
How many days until school starts again?
by Sarah | May 22, 2012 | All About Me, Contest, Giveaway, Random
I grew up in Buffalo, NY. In Buffalo you have to love Hockey (Go Sabres! Even when you suck!) and football (Go Bills! Even when you suck!).
I didn’t. At least not at first. I wasn’t the sports girl – my bro was the sports nut. Over time I grew to appreciate going to hockey games that weren’t my brothers. to the point that these days I love a good hockey game.
One sport that I loved (to watch) almost from the start was baseball. It got even better once the Bison’s had Pilot Field. There was the fun of the games, cotton candy, and Buffalo had the “Earl of Bud“. Baseball meant summer and sun and fun.
When we moved to Indiana, my dad took me to a few games at the old Bush Stadium. The games were always against a New York teams – in fact the first game was against Buffalo themselves.
Since then Indianapolis has upgraded to Victory Field. As much as I always loved Pilot Field (I don’t care what it’s called now, so hush)…Victory Field has a leg up with the lawn. “The cheap seats” are the best in the house. You can bring a picnic (make sure your cooler is small…~ahem~), sit back and relax while watching a great game. Not that there’s anything wrong with good seats (I still enjoy those too) – but there’s a definite ‘summertime’ and real Family Fun air to sitting on the lawn.
Indiana’s Family of Farmers (@FamilyofFarmers) is hosting a #FamilyNight at the Ball Park at Victory Field this year.
Best part? You, yes YOU can win 8 tickets! Right here (and once again at other blogs – I’ll be linking those below).
Winners and their families (8 tickets) are invited to join us for the June 11, 2012 Indians Game against the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 PM (Gates open around 5:30 PM).
Guests are also invited to join our In-Game Picnic in Coors Light Corner. The picnic starts at 7:30 and goes through the game. You will have the option of watching the game from the picnic area or your seats, which are in 120 on the first base side.
Kids 2 and under are free on a lap or on the lawn.
So you want to get in on this great night of family fun?! It’s SUPER easy. You have up to three ways to win. Leave a separate comment for every method you use.
1. Comment here telling me what your favorite sport is! {Mandatory}
2. Tweet about the giveaway and leave a comment w/ the tweet URL
3. Share this page on Facebook and leave a comment w/ saying you did!
For more chances to win this awesome night of fun, check out the following blogs. (This list will update regularly. Check back often!)
Bonus Entries – If you enter ANY of these other giveaways, come back here & let me know! For each blog you visit & enter their contest, you get an an additional entry into mine. Make sure you add an additional comment every time, so you get all your entries.
Details: The giveaway will end on Monday, May 28th at 11PMEST. I will pick & contact the winner on Tuesday the 29th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
You can learn more about IFOF at the following links:
· IFOF Website
· IFOF Blog
· IFOF Facebook
· @FamilyofFarmers
Disclaimer: In exchange for hosting this giveaway, IFOF provided my family with tickets to the game. All opinions are my own.
*Please excuse the crappy quality of this picture. I assure you the original is AWESOME…my phone just took a really crappy photo of the photo…