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.

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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.