RIP Steve

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment Steve Jobs entered my life in a very big way. 

Was it the moment I received my very first iPod shuffle, the long white stick with "Merry Christmas Sarah!" engraved on the side? Was it the moment I attempted to use my sister's iMac, which resulted in me leaving the room confused because I didn't know where the tower to it was? Or was it the moment when my brother-in-law got a job at the company, which sent them all the way across the country? It could even, quite possibly, be the moment I received my MacBook for my high school graduation, which has been attached to me ever since.






I guess, in a way, if it weren't for Steve Jobs, my life would be completely, completely different. And I'm completely thankful for that. 


Steve Jobs was a man who got so far due to his simplicity, so I'm going to keep it short. He remains an inspiration. He funded Pixar at a time when no one else would, he was fired from the very company he would end up making the number one in the world, and he dropped out of college because it wasn't giving him the direction he needed.

I can't imagine a world where he's not guiding Apple. We were witnesses to a revolutionary innovator, a man who completely changed computers, technology, and the way we communicate as we know it. 

Check out the Apple webpage. They are encouraging anyone who would like to share their condolences and memories to email rememberingsteve@apple.com. 

This day always makes me cry

September 11th will forever remain a day to cry on and not writing about it would be un-American. (If that's even a word). It's weird to say that ten years ago this all happened, because to everyone who was sitting somewhere having a perfectly normal day that day, only to have it rocked and shaken, it still remains as vivid as ever. 

We get thrown right back into that moment each and every time. We can remember what we wore (I can tell you right now I was rocking some pretty awesome glow in the dark sneakers), where we were, and the minutes, hours, and days that continued afterwards.

I was only 12 at the time, which seems crazy. How can a twelve year old even try to comprehend what was going on? As a 22 year old, I can barely keep my cool about it.

I was sitting in health class when the PA system came on, my principal solemnly telling us the news. And I'm going to be completely honest here. When he said that the World Trade Center had been hit, I didn't even know what that was. It was only after my health teacher said "twin towers" did I even begin to picture a place, a moment. 

Since I was young, none of my teachers showed us the news, which means I had to wait until I got home that day to see the devastation and our antennae wasn't working that well. I lived about three hours north of New York City and apparently some of our news coverage got beamed out by the antennae on top of the towers. To this day, I can't watch coverage without crying. I remember being obsessed with a collector's book about the events of the tragedy that my grandmother kept in her living room. Every time I visited her small house in Florida, I read it front to back. 

I don't know why I love to pore over news about that day and I'm sure I'm not alone. There's a great exhibit in The New York State Museum in Albany with newspaper clippings and some objects that were damaged. My friends always told me they didn't like it because they couldn't handle it. But the artifacts and the firetruck just make it seem that much more real, not something I only saw on television.

Courtesy of Sam Spratt Illustration

I don't think there will ever be a day where I can forget that. And I'm thankful no one I knew was hurt. But to those people whose families were ripped apart, you inspire me. Your courage after such a day will always be remembered.

Meg Cabot always posts this entry every year, which is so moving and I think you should all check it out.

-Sarah

Random Squabble

I'll be honest in saying that when nothing exciting in my life is happening, I have a tendency to withdraw from my blog, seeing as it's been awhile between my last post and this one. But, it doesn't mean I'm going to ever stop completely, because I love it too much and there are so many articles and subjects to talk about!

First on the subject list: "New Girl."  Zooey Deschanel is starring in an upcoming show this fall on Fox and even though we don't get cable here, I am SO excited about it. I have loved Deschanel ever since I bought (500) Days of Summer discounted from the Hollywood Video store that was closing down. I will always see her as Summer no matter what role she plays. 

She plays newly single and heartbroken Jess, who moves in with a bunch of bachelor guys soon afterward. She is cute and dorky, something all us girls can relate to. Not only does the trailer make me interested (just go here, the website I go to for my movie/TV show news drip feed) , but I just read today that Justin Long will be playing a love interest in a three episode arc! How exciting is that?! Two of my favorite people in one show! Who honestly does not love Justin Long? He's awesome.  

I've been reading like a crazy person lately, devouring four or five books in a couple of weeks. It started out with Promises to Keep by Jane Green that was an incredibly heartbreaking story of two sisters, but in that really good way where you cry your heart out and as you turn that last page, you can't believe what just happened. It was personal and realistic and so so good. 

I then got roped into two Marian Keyes novels. Keyes is quite possibly my favorite author (at this time anyway) and I love the way her stories start out seeming like your ordinary chick lit fluff, but then delve into emotional hardships and suddenly real scenarios, many of which stem from her own personal life. I think Keyes is really quite inspirational.

On a completely unrelated note, everyone has to go check out the Google homepage right now, meaning July 6th (which for me happens to still be July 5th, but we West Coasters are special in that way). It's the coolest Doodle ever featuring Freddie Mercury! They've really been upping their creativity when it comes to their doodles lately and I am very impressed. 

It's big news (well, when it happened) here in the Silicon Valley with the sudden resignation of Steve Jobs. It was sad and his face graced the front page of every newspaper. You could feel the shock waves everywhere, even the Peets coffee shop I happened to be in the day after it happened.  As an avid lover and user of all things Apple, I know I'm one in a million of people who saw Jobs as a revered and inspirational businessman as well as an innovative genius.

My favorite quote that really stuck with me was one featured in an article titled "Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO, stunning tech world." in The San Jose Mercury News. 

"He always wanted to get technology out of the way for people to get answers in their lives, " said Jobs erstwhile partner and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. "I could never do it as well, but I always wanted to. He wasn't one day ahead of everyone else, he was 10 years ahead of everyone else." 

And now there is this whole fiasco with the iPhone 5 being lost in yet another bar, this time in San Francisco, which is just making me confused and skeptic. It's shady and unclear and I don't think I'll comprehend it until the final story is uncovered. 

I know this post has been random, yet I bring the promise of exciting things in the future. It will happen. You can count on it!

Until next time, 

Sarah :)

Sesame Street Time

It turns out, riding on the road is no problem! It's actually quite exhilarating, feeling the rush of the cars past you, sliding into lanes to wait for the light to change, feeling incredibly winded after going up a small hill. I think it may be the start of me getting over this fear.


This morning I woke up, as per usual, and opened my computer to read some new RSS feeds in my inbox, passively check Facebook, and see if any new emails came in from anyone important. Something that popped up was the petition to get Bert and Ernie (of Sesame Street fame) to marry. Apparently, about 700 people were trying to get PBS to out Bert and Ernie's friendship that has sparked homosexual rumors.

On one hand, this seems like a very progressive idea, trying to start acceptance at such a young age. But honestly, it weirds me out. 


I'm very for same sex marriage. I always have been and I always will. It's a fundamental belief that I hope grows in the minds of many more people in the future. And after clicking through pictures of couples who recently tied the knot in New York, I felt an amazing sense of pride (no pun intended here) that the state I formerly lived in was so willing to move on from this ridiculous debacle.


But for as long as I can remember, Bert and Ernie were just bickering best friends on an awesome children's show. There's no romantic conversations, no playful bantering. One gets easily angry at the other when they ask ridiculous questions. (This seems very representative of the friendship I have with Carrie, who I've known since I was teeny tiny) But they always learn from each other. It was always this incredibly innocent friendship that we learned could happen when people learned to accept each other's differences. 

I love that show purely because of its innocence, its charm. Adding a possible romantic situation would just over sexualize the show that speaks to the minds of children under ten. And it's not because of them being possibly gay. 


It's because, frankly, if any of those characters decided to get married, I'd feel weird. They wouldn't be those lovable icons anymore. They'd be puppets of adults, who the show is not speaking to at all. I would feel the same way if Big Bird decided to marry the Pelican down the street. (For the record, I know there is no actual Pelican down in Sesame Street.)

Children (and the Sesame Street team of course) learn to count their numbers, share, sing songs, spell out words, and learn the fundamentals of a solid friendship. They can't possibly understand the complexities of a relationship, the blossoming of romance, and getting to that point where they're ready to settle down and get married. Maybe another show, another time. But for now, let's keep those characters as scandal free as they've always been.

Bikes and Obama

Ever since I was hit by a car last year, I've been just a little bit tepid to ride my bike out in the street. Sidewalks were created to be shared, not dominated, by pedestrians. However, I can't say I don't feel just a little bit ashamed when I see some bike riders ride with the traffic at stoplights instead of beside it in the crosswalk. 

 This is how I currently ride. With hardly anyone around.

This is one of the reasons why the creek trail has worked for me so far. I don't have to deal with cars at all! The residential streets are mostly void of vehicles and even if there are some that pass me by, I feel comfortable enough that they won't hit me.

Alas, the creek trail will be closed for a couple of days due to brush removal on a segment through the woods. I haven't found any information on it online, but there are two big signs along the route that mention that citations will be written out for anyone who violates the rules. So tomorrow I will be trekking partway on the main road to work. (Yikes) But it will surely be an adventure.

One day I will be comfortable enough to do this. I just know it.

I read an article today about President Barack Obama that I think you should check out. My sister and I often talk about Obama and how he's getting an unfair amount of criticism due to Republican political schemes and this article definitely highlights what I've been feeling. 

I really don't want Barack Obama to lose out on serving two terms, especially after we endured an eight year sentence with a president that no one had faith in. Even though things have gone wrong in this presidential term, there's never been a moment that I haven't felt safe with Obama. There's never been a moment where I felt that he wasn't trying to do everything possible in order to help his country out. And I think that's one of the most important traits a president can have. We just need someone to believe in. I still believe in him. 

The link is here. So go read it. It's only a page and a half long and it's an easy read. :)

Battles and Books

I used to think ants were mildly irritating creatures that, once in a while, decided to hang out in our cabinets. Although they partied with the syrup in there, we got them out, and then things were fine. Traps kept them at bay and it was as if nothing ever happened.


However, here, it's a different story.


It all started when we noticed them on the exterior of the house, forming a long, singular line. They got into my room, yet there wasn't any food in there, so they basically just crawled over my computer and my arm but eventually found nothing. There were some that crawled in the carpets, but I just vacuumed them up.

Then came the day when I was in the garage doing laundry and I just happened to notice the barrier between the garage door and the floor. A startling amount of them had made an ant line all along the groove into the house from the side near the dirt into the side near the kitchen. Me, thinking I was clever, got out the trusty vacuum and sucked them up. An hour later, the line had reformed, as if the chunk of population I had just decimated was just a minor blip among the amount living in the colony.


Every other day, I watched and vacuumed, but then at that point, it felt useless considering they just kept coming back. But then the cockroaches came, and with that, the exterminator.


It was similar to the moment in the third Lord of the Rings movie, when Pippin is sitting with Gandalf looking out from Gondor onto the plains, knowing a fierce battle is brewing. Pippin says, "It's so quiet," in which Gandalf responds, "It's the deep breath before the plunge."

In our scenario, we were a little naive and honestly believed the ants were gone forever. The line along the garage groove had disappeared. The little lines along the house were gone. It was heaven. Until the moment we opened up our cabinets and found they had completely taken over the food! The peanut butter was basically an ant colony's meal for a year. That took a while to clean up, but it was done and we were happy.


Until they found the garbage disposal and made their trek onward, trailing from the sink onto the counter top. The next day, after cleaning those friends up, the cats meowed at me all day, bugging me until I went out to give them water and noticed their food bowl was completely taken over. And now they have moved onto the dishwasher.

There is no way I could put a picture of real ants on here. They're gross enough!

Like I wrote in a text message to my sister, there should be a documentary titled, "When Ants Attack," and we should be the subject matter. It's a problem that I've been reading is the number one pest problem in North America, even though ants play an important part in our ecosystem.


So it's become a weekly battle of Sarah Vs. The Ants. I've researched and I've bought traps, sprays, and repellents. This battle is not yet over.


In other news, I've learned today that John Green, author of the magnificent Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska, is signing the first 150,000 copies of his new book, The Fault In Our Stars (I just realized that this is supposed to read 'In Our Stars' instead of 'Of Our Stars.' Sorry about that!) , which comes out in January. My initial thought was Ouch. But then, I realized I could potentially be one of those 150,000! For some reason, that made me incredibly excited and I rushed over to Amazon to pre-order my copy. Go here to read more about it.

His books are definitely a must-read. After my sister picked them up from the library for me, I devoured them in about a week. They are amazing, melancholic, deep, and smart, all from the point of view of teenage boys, something I didn't think I'd enjoy, but I most definitely did.




Also, the trailer for Battleship finally was released today. It's been talked about for awhile and I was really skeptical about how they were going to make that game into a movie, but as you'll see, it's a very loose interpretation of the title. Liam Neeson is in it though, which should make it pretty awesome even if the movie sucks. I leave you with the link to go watch it. Battleship!

Ben Folds: Still Rockin'

Tonight I went to see Ben Folds at The Warfield in San Francisco with my sister. He is pretty much the most awesome man alive and I'll tell you why.


Never have I heard or seen talent at the piano quite like the way Ben Folds pounds it out. Not only can he jam out on the piano, he also has the ability to master the drums and the bass guitar.


He gets the audience involved, asking them to sing part of the harmonies during some songs, which makes it fun.


After singing the two songs he wrote about his twins, Gracie and Louie, when they were born, he had them come out to the stage and we (the audience) got to sing "Happy Birthday" to them while they each got a cake. It was incredibly cute.


He sang a Ke$ha song, which was hilarious, after telling us a story about how she dived into a pool yesterday night in LA to retrieve his cell phone after he threw it in to the deep end.


He kept telling us how awesome his bass player, Ryan Lerman (who was incredibly hot), was and brought his name up several times in order for us to remember him.


He sang "Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)" in Japanese.


I'm always left feeling amazing after leaving a Ben Folds show (even though, really I've only seen two). It's not everyday you get to see one of your favorite artists show their true talent on the stage and I think the only way anyone could ever really understand is if they themselves experienced it.


I didn't take any pictures, mostly because I hate trying to multitask during a concert. I like to just stand there, dance, and sing along. But here's a picture of Ben Folds anyway!

RIP Borders

For as long as I can remember, books have played a vital part in my life. In a way, those stories I got to read about, be it fantastical journeys or just some suburban fairytales, shaped who I was and who I am. And I finally just read the news that Borders will be closing.


I won't lie and say Borders has been the only place I've gone to buy (or read) a book in my lifetime, thanks to the library, but I'd say it has probably been the only store I've gone back to countless times after holidays, when I was searching for a gift, or just when I had time to kill in the mall while my mother got her hair done.


I used to love going to Waldenbooks back in the day, before Borders came along in the Crystal Run Galleria, and it was at a time when I was just discovering the young adult section. There were two bays full of books just for young adults and I was very excited about it, because they often explored themes and stories that I just wasn't able to talk about with anyone else. When the new Harry Potter book came out and  the newspaper promised a "Diagon Alley" recreation, I rounded up my mom and sisters, and we drove down at 6am just so we could see it.


Then came the day I found out they were closing the Waldenbooks, which was sad. The book store was pretty much the only place I went at the mall; I was awkward about shopping for clothes. Borders was coming to take its place instead, which was the same company, promising a bigger and better store.


I remember the first time I was asked to join the Borders Rewards club once when I was in Albany, and I awkwardly (a theme here) stumbled out something along the lines of how I never went to Borders so I didn't need to join. 
But now, I can't even imagine a world where I can't just stop by the Borders at the back corner of the mall (even though I'm sure more stores will have gone by the time I see that mall again). I can't imagine not being barraged by coupons and special offers and selections just for me sitting in my inbox. I don't think I've ever felt that way about Barnes and Noble, as cool as that store is. I think Barnes and Noble will always hold a place in my heart as that stupid store that wouldn't give me even half my money back at the end of my college semesters when I was trying to sell my books back.


Borders offered a sense of community, as cliche as that statement is. I always felt welcome and the chairs always seemed comfy. And instead of two bays of young adult fiction, there were about ten (of which I had to endlessly read the backs of just to try and find the one book that would pique my curiosity for the moment). Plus tables in the aisle. There would be special sections featuring classic literature, something that always made me giddy until I looked at how much the book was. My most favorite part of all were the Lindt truffles that waited for you at the cash register. I know that sounds lame and the fat part of me is just scratching her head and wondering why in the world we're telling the world how in a store full of endless books, the part I liked best was the food, but it's the truth. I'd always buy books that were way more expensive than I thought they would be (even discounted, books aren't the cheapest commodity out there) and those shiny delights would just sit there, 39 cents each, just asking to be bought. And of course, at the time, I'd be with my family so I just had to get them one as well. 


These are the types of things that you get with a bookstore, something you won't always be able to have.  Because the fact is, the manufacturing of literature is changing. There's nothing quite like picking up a new book, cracking open the binding, and getting lost for hours. But with E-Readers gaining popularity (which isn't news to anyone), it begs the question: Will there one day be no books? Will libraries cease to exist? 


I don't think I can even think of that happening, but who knows? It might just be possible.


I received an email yesterday, which I scanned over quickly without even stopping to read the subject line. It was, yet again, an email from Borders. It's a daily habit, really, ignoring them, because its been a while since I've even been in a store, let alone felt the need to print out a coupon. But I read it today and it made me incredibly sad. I'm sure many of you received the same one, but I will post it below anyway.

store locator | Borders Rewards | privacy policy | contact us | unsubscribeFor questions, write to: Borders Customer Care, 100 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 © 2007-2011 Borders, Inc. All rights reserved.

Living Life

Here, I often find myself having complete days off, either due to working nights, or due to the fact that both my part time jobs offer me scant hours throughout the week. And usually, I have no idea what to fill the day with. 

One day I biked up to the Lexington Reservoir at the end of the Creek Trail. 

I chose this picture due to the fact that you can see the trail snaking its way up the hill.

One day I just rode to Vasona Park, sat on a bench near the playground, and read.

One day I just stayed in the house, cleaned, and jammed out to music while doing so. (Jamming meaning singing along and dancing by myself in the kitchen) I often question what's wrong with me when I can't make the simple decision of what to do with my days off.

Other people have hobbies. I, on the other hand, need to get some.  

Yesterday, however, I made the best (albeit a very unsurprising) decision: to see a movie in Campbell. I had attempted to see a movie once before when I traipsed to Los Gatos to see Super 8, a movie I had been extremely excited for. The trip was cut short when I found out I had to work and wouldn't be able to stay for the whole thing. 

But yesterday, I knew I had the time to actually see an entire film (!). The great thing about seeing a movie by yourself in theaters is the fact that you can see whatever you want. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but how many times have you tried to see a movie with friends and while you were anxiously anticipating seeing something, you end up seeing something completely different? 

I ended up seeing Midnight in Paris, the new Woody Allen film that I've been reading rave reviews about. If ever there was a film completely devoted to the love of a city, it would be this film. Starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Marion Cotillard, I left the theater completely starry eyed and happy. 

Owen Wilson stars as Gil, who has come to the city with his fiance and her family for her father's business trip. One night, after drunkenly stumbling through the streets trying to get back to the hotel, he's asked to jump into an old cab. When he gets out, he enters a party from the 1920s, the time period that he raves about wishing he could visit.  He meets Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, and Ernest Hemingway. 

Every night, the same thing happens and every day he is once again in the contemporary world. It leaves you constantly wondering which time period he will choose.

It's funny, cinematically beautiful, and charming. The only part I have yet to completely understand is Rachel McAdams character, who despises Paris and considers it overrated and not nearly as magical as it is. I have a hard time believing that any woman would hate that city.

Hair Styles

It's funny how different it is in California compared to New York. Or at least the part of New York I'm from. I remember getting Seventeen magazines when I was a teenager and even though there would be certain trends that were new and apparently "in," girls in my high school didn't catch on right away. There was always that weird lag of at least a month between the two.


Here, on the other hand, it's completely different. I read in a magazine (probably Seventeen again, even though I'm 22) about the new fashionable approach to hairstyles using feather extensions braided in to the roots fand boom, within the week I was seeing it on almost every girl around.


It has even caught on in a different.. I guess you could say, "kind" of people. Today, while working at Pier One Imports, where I have been a sales associate for the past month, someone brought their dog inside. While it's weird enough to see a dog in the store (due to the terrifying nature of wondering whether or not they are going to run into one of the many breakable displays), I wasn't prepared to see a brightly colored feather tucked into the hairs on the dogs ears as she walked around.


I have to say, it definitely made the dog stand out. And surprisingly, it worked. Just wait until some celebrities here about this one. In fact, after doing a quick Google search, I found out that this sort of thing is a trend! Look at some of the pictures I found below:

I'm not really sure where it looks better.

Mountain Goats

When you get called out for an encore three times, it's pretty safe to assume you're doing something right. That's what happened last night when The Mountain Goats performed at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

To say that The Mountain Goats are a good band is a bit of an understatement. I had first discovered them when my sister given her iTunes library to me and they were one of the bands I had never heard of. But as soon as I listened to "Palmcorder Yajna," I was hooked.


Led by John Darnielle, The Mountain Goats provide deep, meaningful lyrics packed with emotional resonance. Darnielle's voice alone is so unique and warm that you can't help but stand in awe as he rocks it out on the stage. One of the things I found to be quite remarkable was how much he hated people clapping when it was his turn to sing to us with only himself and his guitar.


Many of their songs are about how things get better, even though they might seem heavy at first. I was quite sad that one of my all time favorites, "Dance Music" wasn't played, but despite that, it was still probably the best performance I have ever seen. I'm still reeling from the show and it's been 24 hours since it ended.


The venue itself was beautiful, with glass chandeliers dropped from the ceiling, posters lining the walls telling the stories of other greats who had played there as well, and free complimentary posters as we, reluctantly, walked outside.


I love going to concerts such as this one when you can really tell that the audience feels and loves true music. At one point, I remember hearing someone behind me say, "Dude, this band is amazing," with his friend "Yeah"ing in agreement. So, if you are one of those people out there who haven't listened to this band, you must go do so. Right now.

Bike Party

One of the few traditions that have been started here is walking to the gas station around the corner to stock up on junk food and energy drinks. It has gotten to the point where the man behind the cash register knows me and even let 64 cents slide one time when I didn't have an extra dollar.

Friday night, upon walking up the small hill to get there, I noticed a bunch of bicycles going by, with their lights shining on the road. At first, I just assumed it was a small get together of friends taking a nighttime adventure on the main street of Los Gatos. But then, the bikes never stopped coming. I watched in awe from the moment I saw them until the moment I left the gas station, bag full of chips in hand. Outside, some kid was dressed like a teletubby. 

When I got home, I excitedly told everyone about what I had just seen and from there, we found out that it was the San Jose Bike Party. On the third Friday of every month, riders can meet at a rotated meeting place in the South Bay area and ride the planned route. A different theme is also picked out: last week's was 'That 70's Ride.' Next month is still a mystery, yet the website promises it will be special.

The rides, according to the website (which you can go to here) "aim to demonstrate a tangible alternative to car-based transportation and continue to provide a focal point for the local bike-friendly community for the long term."

The rides, which start at 8pm each time, are usually around 30 miles long through the San Jose suburban areas and they promise that even if you're out of shape, it's slow paced and the adrenaline rush of riding in a group gives you the stamina to get through it all. Since the beginning of the party in 2009, the rider count is around 2,700 riders and during the summer months, it grows due to the warm weather. I love their mantra:

"A bicycle is freedom, a bicycle is friendly, and a bicycle is life." 

Anyone in the Bay area should definitely check it out, if they're unfamiliar with it anyway. It seems like a cool, fun way to meet people. As I watched from the window, it seemed like a ride for all ages, even though it is suggested that it's for the over 18 crowd. Below are some pictures that I grabbed from the Bike Party's Flickr page!

And, in honor of today being Father's Day, go check out this awesome slide slow on BuzzSugar featuring fatherly advice from movie dads.