Stars and stripes

Nutcrackers

I hate these things! So creepy! They put them out as decoration on Seattle streetcorners during the holidays. I found this one lurking in the convention center this morning. I wonder where the rest of the army is hiding. WHAT IS IT DOING HERE?!?! Christmas is months away!!

Work

I got the following email from a co-worker today.  Things like this are what get me through the days.  I don’t really even know what this means, but I’m looking forward to wielding my authority.

“Hi Sara

This email is to inform you that, starting next week, you will be my sanity totem for the month of November.

That is all”

Flash Mob

I've been holding off on writing this post until the official video was ready. However, it appears that the Seahawks franchise is too busy kicking ass to publish the official video. In the meantime, you can watch this "unofficial" footage.

Awesome, right?!?! Can you believe that I totally learned all those moves?

I think that one of the best ways to describe my flash mob experience is to stereotype everyone who participated (including myself). To give you some background, in the weeks leading up to the performance there were a number of rehearsals. These usually took place in crowded ball rooms, and the dress rehearsals took place on soccer fields in city parks. It was all highly organized. The organizers communicated via facebook, and all of the rehearsals had sound equipment, stages, etc. They also started and ended on time--a very important feature in my book. Anyway, I've listed a few people below that were typical of the flash mob crowd. I didn't snap any pictures, and I'm not making fun of these people. I'm just trying to describe how AWESOME it is that people from all walks of life can get together and dance to MJ in front of 60K half-drunk football fans without getting booed.

#1 - Moms w/ their kids: I liked this group. Moms in their early 40's with their 10 year olds singing along to Madonna's vogue. A wholesome family. I met one mom who had done ALL of the flash mobs in seattle with her kids. She loved that she could dance in the street with her teenage daughters--and they actually wanted to do it! Isn't that adorable?!

#2 - Old man by himself: Sweatband. black socks. white tennies. 'nuff said.

#3 - Teenage girls who thought they were hot Sh*T: I didn't like this group. These girls showed up mom-free and screamed all the time about everything. Here is an exchange between me and stereotype #3 during the DRESS REHEARSAL 2 hours before the game...
me: hey, I'm Sara. Nice to meet you.
S3: hey, I'm stereotype #3, and I think I'm hot Sh*T.
me: Have you ever done a flash mob before?
S3: No, but it should be pretty easy.
me: What do you mean? The MJ part is still tricky for me.
S3: Well, I've only been to one practice, but I'm really good with choreography.
me: oh. cool.

#4 - Single girl in her 20's with nothing better to do: Hiiii! That's right, nothing better to do, because this was so incredibly awesome! But yes, these are the types that usually go to happy hour or a run around greenlake after work. They put all the rehearsals in their iphone calendar and wore cute lululemon outfits to the rehearsals on the off chance that they would meet a hot guy or two. However, you'll notice that "Hot single guy in his late 20's or early 30's" is not listed as a flash mob stereotype.

#5 - Weirdo guy in his mid-20's: Definitely on the list. This was the guy who found it appropriate to ask for snacks from my friends and me. And not just a few pieces of trail mix. Somehow he got carrots, half of a PB&J, and a fruit by the foot from all of us.

#6 - Woman who didn't listen to instructions: O.M.G lady! If you watched the video above, you see that everyone was in fairly straight lines. It is very difficult to organize 800 people into military-style lines. Stereotype #6, did you ever stop to think that if you listened to what the people in charge were saying over the microphones you might hear that they had given us a change of instructions!?!?! Stand in your line and don't move. Oh, and can you please stop telling everyone around you what to do, because you are telling them the wrong thing. You are not one of the leaders here. Have you never participated in a group before? Oh, you're confused and frustrated now?!?! LISTEN.

#7 - Woman who yelled at #6: You are my favorite.

Running

This is the best running mix I've ever created. Half-marathon, here I come!

1. Circle of Life -- Lion King (if this doesn't motivate you...something is wrong with you.)
2. No Love -- Lil Wayne & Eminem (got this world stuck in a safe, combination is the G-code. so poetic!)
3. Jai Ho -- Slumdog Millionaire
4. I'm on a Boat -- Adam Samburg & T-Pain
5. Home -- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
6. Nothin But a good time -- Poison
7. Sleepyhead -- Passion Pit (odd choice, yes, but it works. The beat is good)
8. Footloose (worth repeating--the beat is perfect!)
9. Callin Baton Rouge -- Garth Brooks
10. Who the Fuck is Alice (german drinking song)
11. Sideways -- Dierks Bentley
12. Dancing on my grave -- Ghostland Observatory (g-land could really be the whole mix)
13. Jump in the Fire -- Night Marchers
14. Hard -- Rihanna
15. Basketcase -- Green Day (takes you back to 7th grade when they were cool)
16. America -- Neil Diamond (...but not without a star...EPIC AND INSPIRING)
17. The time of my life -- Dirty Dancing (another odd choice...but just roll with it)
18. California Gurls -- Katy Perry & Snoop (I love snoop!)
19. Ein Prosit (another german drinking song)


This list only lasts about 8 or 9 miles. I need to add a few more to get all the way to 13.1. Please provide your favorites!

I'm thinking about getting a tramp stamp

Something like the tat in this photo, which was the headline on MSNBC's website today.



The article was rather mundane. Oh really, MSNBC? "Sin" industries continue to thrive in recessions? We KNOW THAT. Is there no real news today? I'd enjoy some more articles on foreclosure-gate. Mostly I just like the term "foreclosure-gate." So melodramatic. I'm also really excited for winter stroms to arrive so we can start talking about things like "Snowmageddon" again.

I like this take on foreclosure-gate.

Prost!

Facebook Birthdays

I really hate facebook birthday posts. They just make me feel bad about myself.

It always happens when I log onto the page of someone that I stalk every three months or so. It's those people that you maybe see once a year. Or, maybe you had some meaningful experience with them once and decided to initiate a facebook relationship. Or maybe you've had a secret crush on them forever so you regularly check up on their relationship status. So, you pull up their page every once in a while to see what's going on, and maybe you occasionally "like" a funny post or intellectual article link. That's about it.

But, what do you do when you randomly view their page only to see that all 487 of their OTHER facebook friends posted a "happy birthday" message on their birthday, which was three days ago?! Suddenly, you're the only Dbag friend that didn't wish them a happy birthday. And now, you can't even say "hey! congrats on the new job, we should grab coffee sometime," because you missed the birthday post. It would just be awkward. Why would this person want to catch up with you over coffee if you didn't even remember to post on their birthday?!?

I suppose that on my own birthday it IS nice to be acknowledged by all of my closest online friends. It's nice to see who comes up with something creative to stand out from the crowd. And, "oh, it sure was nice to hear from so-and-so today on my wall." Oh WAIT--Facebook TOLD them it was my birthday.

I don't really know what brought this rant on. If you recently had a birthday and I did not post on your wall...you could conclude that I am stalking you online every three months or so. You're probably right.

In the meantime, here are some pics from Europe:


Oktoberfest (clearly). I really love these girls. BFF's fo shizzle.



Budapest


Neuschwanstein


Prague


Berlin Wall


Budapest. Again-LOVE THEM!

Junk Food

I have a problem; I really do. It's not that I don't try.  But between the red vines on our kitchen table and the chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzels I accidentally bought at Trader Joe's—it's a lost cause. 

 

This morning, I told my co-workers, "No, I'm not going with you to get a delicious pumpkin doughnut from Top Pot.  I'm going to get some real breakfast* first."  So, I got my real breakfast and devoured it.  They were still talking about the doughnuts when I got back.  Old-fashioned pumpkin.  I couldn't take it.  As they headed out the door, I literally yelled after them, and chased them down the hall with $2. "Bring me one please.  I just now realized what I was going to miss."

 

It was amazing. I would've posted a picture of it…but I ate it already.  Eurotrip pictures are coming soon. My computer is from 2007, and despite upgrades, it functions like it is from 1995.

 

*real breakfast is a breakfast burrito from the U.S. Courthouse Café.  Made to order for only $3.95, and it will keep you full until 2pm.

Munich

There was a marathon in Munich today. In celebration I had an unmentionable helping of nutella for breakfast today.

Headed home.

Salzburg

Today ended up being a lot more fun than I expected. I admit I was having a little buyer's remorse about the Salzburg trip. Train tickets aren't cheap, and I had to go through Munich to get there (and then backtrack tonight).

It was totally worth it though. The sun was shining, and I spent the afternoon riding around the hilly countryside listening to the sound of music soundtrack. I got to ride the luge, and our tour stopped for beer and cheese strudel at a place that overlooked a gorgeous mountain lake and town. Plus, there were people from the south on my tour. I love people from the south. In fact, that might be my next trip...

I'm a little cranky that tonight is my last night in Germany. I don't think I can handle real life in a town without a castle. I don't even know how a bank makes money anymore. Something about laundering it?

salzburg

getting ready to go on the sound of music tour!!

Castles

Today was a fairytale day. I got up pretty early and grabbed a cappuccino and croissant (my standard breakfast these days) then I caught a bus up to the hohenschwangau and neuschwanstein castles. The first is the one that king Ludwig grew up in, and the second is the one he built. It is the one that Cinderella's castle at Disneyland is modeled after.

I toured both, and even got to go through a secret door. The neuschwanstein castle was built as a fantasy tribute to wagner's operas and there are swans all over the place. It was really foggy this morning...you couldn't even see the top of the castle from the bottom, let alone the surrounding mtns. Luckily it cleared off after the tour and I got some good pics. The fall colors here are incredible!!! Theyve become much more dramatic in just the last week-it is the perfect time to be here!

Catching an early train to Salzburg tomorrow! My last sightseeing adventure before heading home :(

Fussen

Fun fact: during my tour of Berlin, I saw someone dressed in a cow costume crash their Segway into a giant column and fall over. The whole trip was worth it just for that.

I have learned that I Forgot to pack several essential items. Sweater-required an emergency purchase in Prague. It is freezing here. Apparently my cabelas jacket won't cut it. Traditional German dress-my only regret is not wearing one of these to Oktoberfest. Luckily, I blacked out and bought one today so I can wear it next year. Or at least on Halloween and to the Fremont Oktoberfest. Those things aren't cheap. I really shouldn't be left alone here. Seriously...planning for Oktoberfest next year begins as soon as I get back. A second pair of shoes-- a human being is not meant to walk for 6-8 hours a day for two weeks in the same shoes. I want to set mine on fire. Instead, I bought a cute pair of boots at an unfavorable exchange rate in Berlin.

Budgeting starts when I get home. Nothing but rainier and cereal.

Due to this long post...you might surmise that I don't have anything to do. This is true. I arrived in fusion this afternoon, which is basically just a jumping off point for seeing castles. Everything closes pretty early here...but that is ok. It is gorgeous with all the fall colors here. I'm getting up bright and early to either bike or take a bus up to the castles. It started to rain this evening, so I might not be up for the biking. Scratch that...the guy next to me says it will be sunny!

Today was a good day though! I woke up to the view from kendel's house, which involved a 1000 year-old church and a lot of cornfields. We went for a quick run, and then kendel made us delicious breakfast of buckwheat pancakes.

I hung out with kendel's parents for awhile and then hopped on the train to Fussen. I'll be here for a couple nights and then I'll either go to salzburg or dachau. I wish I had time for both! Can't wait to see the castles tomorrow. I've actually seen a ton already...there's one in practically every town!

Wolfschram-ensbach

yes, that's the town I'm in! Kendel and her parents met me in Nuremburg today. We wandered around for a bit and then got dinner. We drove out to her house (which is ADORABLE). The town seems to be in the middle of nowhere. It was pitch black and we drove on one-lane roads :) I'm excited to see what the town looks like tomorrow. Her husband, Will, is in Iraq right now, but we chatted with him for a bit on Skype. She's the best hostess ever! She's already packed me train snacks and given me rice krispy treats.

Tomorrow I'm headed to Fussen for two nights to explore all the castles down there! Can't wait!

oh, and everyone, and no more worrying about the travel alerts. that's for you mom...dad...and denise :)

Nuremburg

Exploring Nuremberg for a few hours until I meet up with kendel!

Berlin

Had a GREAT day exploring Berlin! I love this city. I spent 4 hours on a walking tour and learned 100x more than I ever did in high school...pretty sure we never studied the Berlin wall, except for the fact that it fell.

Trying to muster the energy to go for a run before it gets dark. You can visit the parliament until 10pm, so I think I'm going to do that this evening. I need at least a few days that are alcohol-free. I'm going on three weeks of drinking now...might be time for a break.

Definitely missing the family discount. My train ticket to nuremberg tomorrow cost more than my overnight train to Budapest and my ticket from Munich to Prague...combined!

Looking forward to meeting up with kendel tomorrow!!

Berlin

I've only been in Berlin for a few hours but I can already tell I love it! It actually feels like the safest city I've been in so far. I also just had the best Italian style pizza that I've had since Italy. Berlin is great! Getting up early to hit the streets tomorrow for more walking!

Berlin

Made it! Can't way to explore tomorrow!

Budapest

I've had a good day so far! I went for a run this morning and then checked out the market in Budapest. I'm headed to the airport this afternoon for Berlin!

Budapest

Day two of hanging out in Budapest! I'm going to the Hungarian bath houses with my new bff's this afternoon. Apparently they have amazing healing powers. I'm flying to Berlin tomorrow afternoon! So excited!

My friends left this morning at 4am. They barely made it out. I miss them already! Unfortunately they are all now stuck in Amsterdam indefinitely. I feel bad because we definitely stayed out drinking until it was time for them to go to the airport.

Budapest

So far so good! Shannon's friend Tom was nice enough to give us a guided tour all day! Our hostel appears sketch but the staff are soooo nice! They did my laundry for me while we toured the city! I have walked way too much today, but we're heading out to experience Hungarian nightlife tonight. Everyone leaves tomorrow morning at 4am. Ouch. I am sleeping in and going to take baths with strangers tomorrow :)

Budapest

We safely arrived at our hostel in Budapest after our night train! Heading out to explore the city today!