Three problems

Yesterday myself, my boss Charlie, his admin Michelle, and the two high school associates (Clint and Erica) all headed over the hill to The CORE - a half day of training for youth workers put on by Youth Specialties. But here's Problem #1: we are youth workers. We stay up late hanging out with students. So we like to sleep in. Especially on Saturdays. When did we have to get up yesterday, which indeed was a Saturday? 7 am.

Some of you are probably like, "Awh, get over it, Sarah! I get up at 7 am every weekday!" True true true and I admire you greatly for it. When I was in education I got up early every day, too. But my life has shifted into youth ministry life, so my time clock has changed. And I really love sleeping in until 8 or even 9 if I can get away with it.

Back to the story: we're all squished in this little car, yawning and grumbling all the way over the hill about how early it. (But it's definitely for a good cause. I was really looking forward to this training. I appreciate any training I can get!) But here's Problem #2: as we turned the corner to the church where it was going to be held, we see a gorilla. Yes, yes...a man wearing a gorilla costume was on the corner holding up a sign for The CORE and doing a little jig. My boss Charlie was like, "Oh no, it is TOO early in the morning for THAT!" which I thought was hilarious and I promptly started laughing my head off. We turn another corner to park and there is ANOTHER gorilla holding a banana and just staring at our car. This increased my laughter. Is this normal for youth worker days??

The training was AWESOME. It was three sessions long. Our speaker's name was Brock Morgan. He's a youth pastor at Bayside Church. (his pix is above) But to start things off (remember this is STILL really early in the morning) he has an activity to "break the ice". Hence, we come to Problem #3.

"Ok guys! Grab a sheet here and you have five minues! GO!"

The 5 of us grab a sheet and realize it is a mini-Olympics type game. You and your co-workers have to do activities like the "Bumsled" where you sit on the floor, wrap your legs around the person in front of you, and then shimmy on your bum forward 10 feet. HUH? Or you can pretend to be an ice skater and the other workers give you scores. Or stand on your chairs and sing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of your lungs. There were tons of options.

Erica quickly excused herself to go to the restroom. Charlie, Clint, Michelle, and I just sat there watching 150 other people start shimmying, doing triple lutzes, and singing like crazy all over the room. We looked at each other like, "Um....what is going on?!" Clint leaned in and asked, "So...are WE the tools? Or is everyone else here the tools?" We figured it was probably us, but oh well.

Other than those 3 problems, it was a great day. Hope yours was, too.

This book ROCKS

Oh my word, I am in love with The Brothers K. It is a fiction novel written by David James Duncan. It follows the Chance family: mom, dad, 4 sons all a year apart, and two younger twin sisters. It's their life growing up in the 60's. Dad was a pro-baseball player and then busted his thumb in a papermill accident. And now they have to deal with life after that.

I love Duncan's writing style. I go to bed thinking I'll just read for ten or fifteen minutes...and then it's two hours later and I STILL can't put the book down. And the best part is I have been laughing OUT LOUD multiple times at night. Poor Laurel-my upstairs roomate. I hope I don't wake her up (my laugh is pretty darn loud). I can' help it though. I love this family.

Moving Day!

I am pooped.

But in a good way.

Today, myself along with my mom, dad, sister Liz, and a couple other friends helped my older sister Amy and her husband David move into their VERY FIRST HOME!

They have been married for a year and a half. And they got to buy their own house only about 10 minutes from their old place. It's so cute. They painted all the rooms different colors. I started off the morning with a fun memory we'll be laughing about for years to come. The floor had just been polished and I stepped on a drop cloth to pick up some paint to move...when S-W-I-S-H, I slip, fell, and slid across the floor until I hit the wall.

I fell on my right arm and it hurt so bad. I immediately realized I wouldn't be much help today. I couldn't lift anything with my right arm. I felt quite useless. I wanted to come and help move heavy things, and before we even get started, I bust my arm. I probably looked really silly when everyone was moving things with both hands and then there's me carrying in dumb little things like A pillow with my gimpy arm hanging dead at my side. =)

But here's my gift to my sis and bro-in-law: I cleaned their bathroom. To others, it might not be a big deal, but to me IT WAS. Ask anybody...I DESPISE cleaning bathrooms. I will do anything to avoid it as long as possible. Give me trash duty, give me dish duty, anything! I just DON'T want to clean my bathroom. But today I even volunteered to clean theirs! I could scarcely believe it! But that was a way I could help. And it felt real good to see it sparkling when I was done. If only I felt as motivated to clean my own...fat chance.

Anyway, I am including some fun pixs from the day. The first is Amy and I early in the morning. Note the coffee cup and how tired we look. Zzzzzzz...Second pix is dad and bro-in-law moving the heavy stuff into Amy's KFAX work van (with that moustached dude on the side - she doesn't like driving that thing around, but it was helpful for the big stuff) Third pix is me on bathroom duty. Cleanliness with a smile! And lastly, Amy and David outside their new abode at the end of the day.

I am off to heat my arm and get a good night's sleep. Peace out!

Curling?

My roomates and I have enjoyed gathering around the TV every night to watch the Olympics. They have been great so far. But honestly...who made CURLING an Olympic sport? That has got to be the silliest thing I have ever seen. My favorite part is when two people have to furiously sweep the ice before the boulder-thingy...they are going nuts and they look so dang funny. I guess it's ok to have as a sport because it keeps me entertained. But STILL.

Copeland

I discovered this group at a friend's house. Their latest CD "In Motion" was playing and I LOVED their sound. "What band is this?" Copeland. So I stole (er, borrowed and plan and returning it...one day) their CD and have been listening to it non-stop. I dig it big time. I guess people would categorize this music as "emo". I have to laugh, because if I hadn't worked at a high school camp last summer, I still would have NO idea what "emo" even is. =)

Anyway, the lead singer's name is Aaron Marsh and he has the best falsetto voice I have ever heard. It's quite beautiful and haunting. Check 'em out: www.thecopelandsite.com. They are on tour right now and will be playing in SF on March 23rd. I am trying to decide if I want to go. I think it would be an awesome concert. Anyone in the area interested in going?

Brokeback Mountain

I saw this movie yesterday with one of my roomates. Think of me what you will. Here's the thing: it is a VERY well-done movie. I went into it with many apprehensions. And yes, there were times when my roomie and I had to look at each other because we had a hard time looking at the screen. But this movie was GOOD.

I'm not saying it's the best movie ever, I'm not saying I will see it again or rent it as soon as it comes out. But I am glad I saw it. The directing, the cinematography, and especially the acting...all A+. Beautiful. I will admit, this movie is not for everyone. I wouldn't recommend it to many people.

Here's my beef, though: This movie will win Best Picture. I have no doubt. Where are all the other good movies to compete with it?? The other movies up for Best Picture at the Oscars are Capote, Munich, Good Night and Good Luck, and Crash. I have no desire to see any of those (except maybe Crash). Usually there are some really great films up for Best Pic. Where are they? I guess this last year was pretty lame in the movie biz. Oh well. Here's hoping for some good flicks in 2006.

Snow BLAST

We're back! And boy, what an awesome trip we had. May I first start things off by mentioning the amazing car I got to drive for 4 days? A HUGE 8-seater Excursion!! I have never driven anything that high up before. I felt so powerful. I would be driving on the freeway, thinking, "I could run over ANY CAR I FEEL LIKE!!!" *evil laugh* A big thanks to Hertz Rent-A-Car for trusting me with such a vehicle.

Well, what can I say about the weekend? The 20 of us became a family. We cooked together, ate together, played cards together, skiied and snowboarded together, laughed together, hit each other with snowballs (in love, of course), and just generally enjoyed each other. It was amazing. I couldn't believe how smooth the weekend went.

Our only injury was from a girl named Jessie. Poor Jessie wasn't wearing a helmet and her snowboard whacked her in the back of the head when she fell. Luckily, no hospital run was needed. The doctor at the resort just stuck two staples in her head (Ew!) and she was good to go in a couple hours.

I skiied on Friday and I loved every minute of it!!! It felt so good to be racing through the powder. The resort (Sierra at Tahoe) was not crowded, the snow was groomed and ready for shreddin', and the weather was cold and SUNNY. PERFECT! It was the perfect day. As we would take the ski lifts up the mountain, we would watch the snow falling off the trees. I was just marveling at God's beauty around me. Ahhh...it was good for my soul.

During the course of the weekend, we all became addicted to cards. We played every night. We played this one game, Tripoly, for 5 HOURS on Saturday without stopping. I don't think that has ever happened. We seriously couldn't stop. We would just grab food from the kitchen and keep playing. So much fun.

After three days of fun together, we sadly had to return to normal life. When we got back to church, we found that some of our cars had been decorated by some college students who couldn't go on the trip. Picture above.

I reluctantly returned The Beast (the Excursion) to Hertz and when I got into my own car, I felt like I was driving on the ground. Weird. And then I went home and promptly fell asleep for 13 hours straight. Yesssssss......

SUCH a great trip.

POW-DAH!!!

Tomorrow myself and 20 college students head off to Lake Tahoe to enjoy three beautiful days in God's creation. We'll be staying in a cabin and skiing our little heads off at Sierra at Tahoe (South shore). This is the first time I have led a trip by myself. I am sure it will be a HUGE growing experience for me as a leader.

Bring on the fresh powdah!!