More Good Readins!!

Okay... so I have been reading all sorts of books recently and I can't believe how much I have missed out in not reading until now. There are so so so many good books out there, and I love all that I am learning from them.

So any more book recommendations? Keep em' coming! It may take me awhile to read them all, but I'll give it a go!

Good Readins

I am going to let you in on a little secret of mine... I am afraid of book clubs. I don't feel that I know enough, or am smart enough to share my opinions of books that I have read. So I read books and then tell the ladies at work what I thought of them.

Well the two most recent books I have read have been "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova, and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon. I loved both books for different reasons, and I highly recommend them to book lovers.

I liked the Historian because I enjoyed the suspense and also the history taken into account in the book. I know that it is a fictional work, and that the author does take some liberties in her writing, but the book does inspire some curiosity into the subject and the countries it mentions. I loved the details of this book as well. It took Kostova ten years to write the book, and I can see why. I raved about it so much that one of my co-workers bought it, and is reading it as we speak!

I am not sure what to say or how to describe The Curious Incident... it was so eccentric and wonderful. I loved that the author was British, and that the setting was England. And I loved the main character Christopher. He is such a strange boy, and yet you completely went into his world, and understood his point of view, as well as those around him. For anyone who has not read this book I would recommend it. Here is what it says on the back cover of the book
"Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years. "

Yeah for reading!!!!

Talented Friends!

Okay, so this weekend I helped Cherie with a commercial contest she is entering in. And I was lucky enough to be in the second one. She hasn't finished working on that one yet.. but she posted the first and I think everyone should see it! And I am not smart enough to know how to put the video on my blog, so i will try and post the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQqxSKeU1_o

Please enjoy!

Procrastinating!!!!

OK... I just need to gripe for a second... and then I will be done and be responsible and file my taxes.... but i just don't want to!

Here's my complaint! I worked for 5 different jobs over the year and I worked in three states over the last year and so I will have to file under three states...

And then on top of that... when I was in school I received scholarships and grants... so I am afraid that I will end up having to owe money to the government... which I don't want to do.

So my fears are ruling me for a second.. and I am doing nothing.

Right... now I'm done!

Sorry for having to witness that!

Odd Inspiration!

So I will start by sharing that my sister and I have a date night every Tuesday at the dollar theater. Well last Tuesday we went and saw the movie "Yes Man." Funny, but not anything I would consider inspirational and life changing... and yet it had me thinking the whole week.

And as I have shared I have been somewhat anti-social in my current surroundings; so this movie had me thinking that I was saying no to too much in life. So I decided to say YES to more in life. Or so I thought I would do. And I was put to the test.

Sunday nights my ward has ward prayer, and really... I am not a big fan. My wards and Stakes in College did away with ward prayer, and I agreed with them. But anywhoo I ward here still has one each week. So I tell my sister that I think I will try it. But then came Sunday night... the test... to see if I could be social and branch out from my comfort zone. Well I chickened out. There was something really interesting on the History Channel. Something so interesting that I now can't remember what it was. But that wasn't the end of that. Just as I had resigned myself to a night with History channel a knock came to my door... it was a guy who lives upstairs... his name is Ralph, and he asked where all my roommates were... I shared that one was at work, another at her parents house, and my sister was on her way to ward prayer. Well this Ralph seemed to get an idea in his head at that moment, and shared that WE needed to go to ward prayer... and I was in a loss of words... I thought that the fact that I was in my house in my pajama's instead of being in the car with my sister on the way to ward prayer proved that I didn't want to go. So I just looked at him... so he says "No I mean it... I really think that we should go."

And for some reason I become very honest with this gentleman... I share that I have no interest in going, and that I have become somewhat anti-social of late. (I have no idea why I am being so open and honest with this guy whom I have known for like 2 minutes) He then shares that we are going and that he was going upstairs to put shoes on. So... he knocks again and says he will drive and heads towards his car... well I am baffled and intrigued so I go along. I shock my sister by walking into the church. It was pretty funny. During ward prayer Ralph has me repeating "I am a social butterfly" and has taken it upon himself to help me reconnect with the outside world.

That was only the beginning. The next night was FHE, and the guys of the ward have decided to have a girls appreciation night They are making dinner for all the girls of the ward. And I now know that if I don't show up Ralph will be knocking on my door and pushing me to it... so I decide to go... and oh was it an adventure. They have turned the gym into a little Italian restaurant... I could tell because of the background mood music (all 4 tracks of it). Well it starts with salad and garlic bread. And all is going well.... I am actually being social (awkward but social) and then during the spiritual thought we hear the fire alarm sounding from the kitchen area... and immediately all the guys in the room quickly leave and head toward the kitchen. Then the guy giving the spiritual thought stops... listens to the guy whispering in his ear and then says: Well there has been a slight change in plans... you know how when you are young you really wanted to have your dessert for dinner... well you're getting that wish tonight.

So quickly they pass out the carrot cake to all of us. And yes it was yummy, but we were all really intrigued to know what happened to dinner? Slowly the truth is leaked and we find out that someone put a pyrex pan full of alfredo sauce on a burner that was on. Well the heat caused the pyrex pan to explode... and alfredo went everywhere. Later we ended up getting our dinner. But there were great moments of awkward conversations and funny stories... but by the end of the night I was feeling more like myself than I have been in months.... so this saying yes thing is really awesome. So yes sadly I have received inspiration from Jim Carrey. Shocking I know.... but I think there's something to saying yes to life, and deciding to go out there. It's better than sitting at home all the time longing for the social life you used to have!

So I love you all and apologize for the long story... but I hope you enjoy!

Nosferatu!!!!!!!

So, Cherie told me about her schools production of Nosferatu, and last night I got the chance to see it with Erika, and my sister Kari... and oh my gosh it was the most amazing thing I have seen in years!!!!!!!!!!! It was a stage production and film production all in one. Amazing art!!!! So creative and eye opening...

It was like watching the making of a silent movie... and it was brilliant. You could see the actors on stage and up on the screen you could see them filmed, and all shots put together to make the movie... right there in front of you. I was speechless the whole time. It was so so so so so cool. Now I just need to see the original film!

Just thought I'd share my love of all things creative and new!!! I am sad it was only one night... they were preparing and rehearsing for a festival they are performing it in. Oh man... soooo good! I love theater and film!

Ha ha ha... on a side note I auditioned for the first time for a film/mini series last week. Cherie, Erika, and I auditioned... and well I was nervous, because I am never really acted in front of a camera before, and let me tell you it was different. And the girl I auditioned with was hilarious... but not in a good way.

Needless to say I didn't get a call back... but I wasn't really looking to do so. I just wanted the experience, and now I have much more respect for film actors. And I do think I'd like to learn more about that style of acting... but as of right now... I still prefer the stage!

That is the end of my randomness for now!!

Love Love Love!!!

Confessions from a confused soul!

Well, life has a very interesting way of showing you that you need to develop and change. I have felt that for quite some time, and am not so sure how to go about it, or what direction I need to take. My life has been so structured for so long, school, mission, school... you know you have an end goal, to graduate, to help someone find the gospel... etc. But right now I feel somewhat goal-less, and lost. My life doesn't seem to have the same energy or excitement that is used to. I'm not completely sure that is a bad thing... but I feel like I lost a bit of me that makes me me. I am not sure that makes any sense, but oh well.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to hang out with a few mission friends, and for a second I was really nervous at the idea of being around them. Who was I when I was with them... was "Sister Jagger" the same as Sarah now... not really. I am not so sure what was different, but I feel different, and not sure how to interact with these people. So I found myself being quiet and just listening to conversations rather than adding to them. Watching these individuals who have successfully adapted to post mission life and who seem to know who they are, and have good goals.

I seem to have turned into an anti-social human being. I'm not sure why. I don't seem to want to be involved with my ward, or get to know new people... which is odd... that has always been one of my strengths. I really feel the need to grow and develop... gah I'm annoyed. But on a funny note I have been asked to give a talk this Sunday on "Overcoming Trials" and as I have been studying and preparing I see how I can get back on the band wagon of progressing as a human being.

I love how the Lord will give you a much needed slap if you don't listen to His quieter nudgings. It shows me that He cares and loves me, and knows how to get my attention! Oh man I love the gospel. It's amazing, and so true!!!!

Ok, sorry for the randomness of my mind. But thanks for listening!