AVON Walk for Breast Cancer

Hello All... I know it has been a REALLY LONG TIME since I have blogged.  And now I'm all anxious about jumping back in again. It is why I am so bad at journal-ing... when you miss so much time you just feel like there is no way you can recap it.  So I'm not really going to try.  Instead I'm going to tell you about my the next adventure I have signed up for!


Now as you may or may not know I love doing 5k's. Now I've also set a goal to do a 10k (which I have yet to accomplish or sign up for)... and then for some reason I decided to sign up for a half marathon that will take place in December. Now to get ready for that and to feel like I am helping out a cause I decided to sign up for the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer.  The weekend walk is in San Francisco on September 28-29th. I will walk 26.2 miles the first day and then 13 miles the second day. CRAZY RIGHT!!!

Well that isn't the part I am the most nervous for. In order to participate in the walk I need to fundraise $1800 for the cause. Now I had no idea how much this foundation does for Breast Cancer Awareness and Treatment. I have no problem trying to get the money for the cause, I am just a tad bit anxious about the amount.  I signed up almost 2 weeks ago and have raised $120. Now I'm grateful for those who have already helped, but I still have a long way to go. 
That is where all of my lovely friends, family members, co workers come into play!  Now I know none of us are wealthy and we all have our struggles, but I am hoping you will be able to help.  Now the minimum donation is $5 dollars.  That is one trip to Taco Bell or another favorite fast food joint. Now I know it is a small sacrifice to ask you to forgo one trip and donate it to the Breast cancer walk, but that is what I am asking from each of you.  Each and every little bit will help with cancer research, early detection, and care for those who are battling now.
Now I will jump off that soap box, and just let you know that I love you all and am grateful for you whether or not you donate. And please have patience with me as I continue to fundraise.  I will keep posting messages on facebook and reminders. The average person needs 7 reminders before they take action, so I need to keep at it.

As for the donation process it is really easy, you can make the donation online at www.avonwalk.org and click the donate button and then put in my name (Sarah Jagger) or you can write a check to AVON Walk for Breast Cancer and either mail it to me or give it to me in person. (please make a comment if you need my address)
***Please also let me know if you are making the donation in the name of someone who is or has battled breast cancer. I am making a shirt for the walk of all those I am walking for, and would love to add to that list!

I would also like to thank everyone who has already donated and supported me so far, you are wonderful!

And thank you for reading if you are here at the end of the message!!

My 2012!!!

Now 2012 has been a pretty good year! And I feel like I should review it to try and document it. Well facebook seems to be ahead of me on that... so here is what they think the highlights of my 2012 were.

Anywhoo... I still think I should talk about it.

January: I bought my little car sassy. She is a blue 2011 Hyundai Accent.

February: Starting work at Community Services Bureau as a temp. I met some wonderful people at felt right at home! It was awesome!

I also started a book club that has been an awesome fun experience!

March: I got the opportunity to take the Critical Test for the Dispatcher job. I actually thought the test was awesome... but the fact that it was at 7am.. was not so awesome! It was the beginning of a great 8 month adventure to get my current job!

April: I got to adventure in Cannon Beach with some of my most favorite people in the world! It renewed my spirit and helped me remember who I am at my best! Love it and love them!

I also treated my family to a day on The Rock for my Dad's birthday. It was a great family adventure and reminded me how lucky I am to have the family I do!

May: Enjoyed a train ride to Modesto to see one of my very best friends Ella. It was a great weekend of fun in the sun!

June: I attempted to get myself into shape and joined a CrossFit camp. I lasted only two weeks. Apparently I will never be CrossFit...

I also had to dig into every detail of my life for the past 10 years for my Background Check for the Dispatcher job.

July: I ran/jogged/walked the Color Run at Candlestick Park with my friend Rosemary. It was so much fun, and something I want to do again!

I got to go to the Sacramento Temple with my friend Lisa Despain and we were able to complete 32 ordinances in our epic temple day! And I checked off another new temple! (I'm up to 12... a long way to go)

I also went to the Kite Festival in Berkeley with some friends from church. It was awesome and next year I will go with a better kite!

August: I became a volunteer for the Oakland Temple every Saturday morning. It is honestly the best way to start your day!

My sister's birthday is in August so I took her out to dinner and then to the movies, and we had an incredible time at the movie theater watching Step Up (whatever the latest one was called). Our favorite part was the slightly drunk ladies behind us who thought it was an interactive movie, and started dancing while the dance scenes were going on.

September: I went and saw War Horse with my friend Hayley and it was awesome! Loved it, and loved spending time with that lady. She is awesome!

One of my favorite moments was when I got to go to the Scottish Festival... I felt at home!

And I got to knock doing a Lie Detector Test off of my bucket list. It was not like I imagined and not as scary as shown on movies and TV... probably cuz I wasn't a suspect or criminal.

And I got to experience dueling pianos for the first time. My friend Stacy wanted to go there for her birthday.

October: I traveled to Medford OR, to meet Daniel Atticus Thorson. He has stolen my heart!!!! (It was also incredible to see Kathleen and Jesse. Annie and I did what we could to help, and spread our love to the Thorsons!)

November: I got hired by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff as a dispatcher!

December: I went and saw the Nutcracker in San Francisco. It was awesome and helped me get into the Christmas spirit!

I also ran a 5k with my friend Lisa, and got the best time ever! 37 min 56 sec... so not great for the average runner, but awesome for me!

All in all it has been a great year, and I can't wait to see what adventures happen in 2013... the years I leave my 20's! Eeek!!!

Soon to be Birthday Girl's thoughts!

Soon to be Birthday girl’s thoughts:

So my birthday is tomorrow, and I don't have any real physical plans on what to do to celebrate, and really that it is fine. I'm not one for a big ol' birthday extravaganza, or lots of attention on me. But I have been thinking of stuff I would like to do for my big day. Most of my ideas aren't even really originally my own; I honestly have the coolest friends in the world who are so brilliant that I must steal their ideas.

The first idea I am stealing is the Random Act of Kindness idea that I first learned of from my friend Carrie, and then Liz.

So here are my thoughts on this... I have friends who I would love to spend my birthday with and it isn't possible for us to all be with one another, so for my birthday my biggest wish is that those I love with do something for me. Now I love the idea of a random act of service and if you want to do that PLEASE DO! But if your service or act of kindness isn't random... DO THAT TOO! Go to the temple, randomly hug strangers, and make someone laugh. Just please do something that is just for someone else.

That is the birthday present I want! Now I plan on doing 29 acts of service or kindness... and I will report back soon. (Man getting old is hard. 29!!!!)

Oh and tell me what you did so I can smile, laugh, or get a little misty eyed over my amazing friends and examples!

The second idea I am stealing is the goal idea; I'm not sure who started this trend but Liz, Carrie, and Kathleen... I am copying you. Here is what my year is shaping up to be like:

29 Goals for my 29th year

1. Finish the temple ordinances for my family names.
2. Run a 10K
3. Run 2 5K’s
4. Get to my goal weight
5. Visit 2 new temples
6. Go to 1 new state
7. Go to 2 Regional YSA Activities
8. Take a gun safety course
9. Read a church book
10. Read 30 books
11. Take a Spanish class
12. Pay off my credit card
13. Do one batch of names for family indexing a month
14. Read 2 books of scripture (Book of Mormon, D&C, New Testament, Old Testament)
15. Move out of my parent’s house
16. Do 1 random act of kindness/service a month
17. Do my Visiting Teaching one way or another each month
18. Go to the temple twice a month
19. Do a purpose filled fast every month
20. Do a hike up Mt. Diablo
21. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
22. Give something up for lent
23. Do Christmas or Easter cards
24. Go to Waterworld or Great America
25. Try paintballing
26. See a movie/concert at Golden Gate Park
27. Do baptisms at the temple
28. Have an entire day of Temple ordinances (Goal of 30 ordinances in one day)
29. Donate at least $5 to the general missionary fund a month.

I think some awesome adventures will happen before I leave my second decade behind!

Unplanned Bessings

The past 6-8 weeks I have been the subject of an intensive background check for a potential job. They have really been thorough and patient. I wasn't too stressed with them checking into my life, I really don't have anything to hide, but I was interested to know what they would learn and who they would call.

What I hadn't counted on was how it would rekindle wonderful friendships, warm my heart and make me incredibly grateful for all my friends. The investigator has called individuals I haven't seen years, and through those conversations with the investigator, I have then had the great opportunity of talking with my missed friends and co-workers.

I've loved hearing some of the responses of my friends, and I am so grateful to have such wonderfully silly people, loving and encouraging me. Jesse, you're weird, Annie, Ella, Liz and others... you rock my world!

Another incredible part was the fact that the investigator was a latter-day saint! It really made things much more personal and helpful; I could talk about my mission, conversion, and college so much more than I thought I could because she understands Mormon code, and those major parts of our lives!

It was kind of odd and awesome to feel the spirit when I was telling my life story to a background investigator! =)

My August Adventures

August was kind of a crazy month, but overall I enjoyed it.

Kari's Birthday: Kari turned 26 on August 5th, and the night before we went to dinner and a movie. She chose Step up 4, or Step up Revolution. Now the movie was complete crap when it came to acting, but the dancing was incredible! Another incredible part of the movie was the drunken dancing ladies behind us. They really made it a participatory event. Their dancing wasn't so good, but it was entertaining!

Shingles: The big negative of the month. The day before the Statewide YSA Conference that I had signed up for and was looking forward to, I came down with a case of the shingles right along my Inferior Alveolar Nerve. It was a bit ouchy. Every time I talked or swallowed I would get a jolt of pain. And I was exhausted all the time, no matter how much I rested. However, I was really lucky that I got over it in about a week. It can be a beast to get rid of.

Olympics: I was kind of Olympic obsessed! From start to finish I had to watch EVERYTHING. Or as much as NBC would show when I was home from work. I loved it and I couldn't get enough. I just wish they were now airing the Paralympics with as much enthusiasm.

Hell on Wheels: This show is pretty awesome; and also pretty melodramatic. Especially the new season. But holy poop I love it! The characters are awesome, but I can't help but wonder if all of them are just going to turn bad. Who knows. But I'm enjoying the ride!

Shark Week: The moment the Olympics ended Shark Week started. Such perfect timing! I was still recovering from shingles so I would come home from work and collapse on my bed and watch that nights adventures on Shark Week. Awesome! But now I'm even more freaked out about going in the ocean, even though logically I know that sharks aren't out to get me the moment I stick my foot in their water.

So You Think You Can Dance: This season is amazing and I loved the Mia Michels episode. I think Cole and Lindsay did a better job than the originals. I just loved it. They have had some wonderful numbers, my only issue is the number of times we've had to pause for a few weeks for different events. The season has been too stop and go. But I love the dancing. One of these years I will go and see the live show.

Volunteering at the Temple: I am now a volunteer at the Oakland Temple on Saturday mornings, and I think it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. It really has been such a blessing in my life. It really has helped me focus on what is most important, and I learn more and more about the gospel each time I go. I love going to the Lord's house and I love helping others. There have already been so many moments of inspired teaching and moments where I know the Lord knows me individually. It really is incredible, and I am unsure why I didn't do it any sooner.

Lie Detector Test: Two weeks ago I had to take a lie detector test for a job I am applying for. It really wasn't that scary or uncomfortable but being strapped to a chair was odd. And not being able to move while I talked or answered questions was really hard. I learned that I am an animated speaker and wanted to express myself by moving my hands and I couldn't. Weird. But since I've lived a pretty dull life it wasn't scary. But now I can take that off the bucket list! Now they said they wouldn't tell me whether I passed or failed, but I'm on to the next level of the process, and if I completely pass all of the background checks then I get to have a psych evaluation. Eek! Now that one I'm a bit more nervous about.

Dueling Pianos: This past Friday to celebrate a friend of mines birthday a group of us went to "That Bar" in Danville. We chose that specific location because they have dueling pianos from 8 to midnight. It was so awesome! Although I have to say the drunks seem to enjoy it more than we did and by around 10 we decided it was best to go. Well I think our server was also pleased for us to go because no matter how often she asked if we wanted a drink we just wouldn't order alcohol. She did get on our good side by giving us free shirts. Now keep in mind I kept mine because it was soft. (I am obsessed with shirts that are soft.) I am sure I have no use for a Bacardi t-shirt. Sorry I am off topic. Some of my favorite songs they performed were: Baby Got Back, California Girls, and a smattering of other pop culture songs form the last 30 years.

It was a great night and a great ending to a pretty fun month! Can't wait to see how September goes!

"Sorrow makes for sincerity, I think."

Tennessee Williams as an artist, playwright, and human being has always intrigued me. I know so little about him, and yet I think of the impact his genius has had on my theatre life continually. We had to read “A Streetcar Named Desire” when I was in high school and we watched the film with Marlon Brando afterwards, and it was such a memorable moment.

The depth of the characters, the intensity of the story and the artistic elements in the notes all created an incredible experience for a young interested artist. So with all of that going on in my thoughts I was a little nervous to pick up the play again.

Something I really enjoyed was the introduction by Tennessee Williams himself; he truly in an intriguing and interesting man. I swear I could have just had a study based solely on his introduction. The whole introduction was about what his life had become after the success of “The Glass Managerie” and his thoughts of life before and after that success. Here is what he had to say about his life before his successful first play: “The sort of life which I had had previous to this popular success was one that required endurance, a life of clawing and scratching along a sheer surface and holding on tight with raw fingers to every inch of rock higher than the one caught hold of before, but it was a good life because it was the sort of lie for which the human organism is created. I was not aware of how much vital energy had gone into this struggle until the struggle was removed.” I find it so true that our best art and our best selves come out of opposition.

And in the final paragraphs of the introduction I think Williams says something that can help anyone involved in the art or the public: “You know, then, that the public Somebody you are when you ‘have a name’ is a fiction created with mirrors and that the only somebody worth being is the solitary and unseen you that existed from your first breath and which is the sum of your actions and so is constantly in a state of becoming under your own volition- and knowing these things, you can even survive the catastrophe of Success!”

Now I can talk about the play! But really what can I say that hasn’t already been said or discovered by someone more intelligent than myself. After finishing reading and looking back over at the highlighted lines that stuck with me, I am really happy I read “Our Town” before reading this one. In “Our Town” I felt as though each moment of life is important and we need to life our lives fully and happily. This message was reaffirmed to me after reading “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

I look at our female characters, Blanche and Stella, both women who hide from reality and live in their own sense of honesty and happiness. Blanche, our soft, tender, and broken women who is looking for some gentleness, tells her own form of honesty, or ‘magic’ as she put it. “I don’t want realism, I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth. And if that is sinful, then let me be damned for it.” (Scene 9, p. 117. Blanche says to Mitch.) Blanche’s world is softer, because the real world beat her into submission. Or as Stella said in scene 8 to Stanley: “You didn’t know Blanche as a girl. Nobody, nobody, was tender and trusting as she was. But people like you abused her, and forced her to change.” And that is just what Blanche did to survive.

Then I think on Stella, who ultimately put her sister away because she chose to stay with the man she married and had a child with. Do I think this is the life she envisioned for herself… probably not; but she is going to stick with it. Was it the right decision? Probably not. But she chooses to live with her choices… good or bad.

My final thought only really came to me while writing is that how much of the character of Blanche is based on Tennessee Williams life experience after success; the attack from the world, the need for chance, the lookout for some sort of refuge. My favorite quote in the play comes from Blanche in scene 9 when she is speaking to Mitch. She says: “You said you needed somebody. Well, I needed somebody, too. I thanked God for you, because you seemed to be gentle- a cleft in the rock of the world that I could hide in!” Tennessee Williams had to find a version of himself that he could live with, and in a great sense Blanche did that as well; she stayed true to an image of herself that she could live with, and I think Williams had to do the same.

To get back to my comparison of “A Streetcar Named Desire” to “Our Town” I think Williams focused on a darker side of humanity while Wilder made an ‘ideal’ small town life. I think both plays have helped me focus on what is important in my life and my values. I have always made it a goal to be a woman of virtue, a woman of honesty and a woman of charity.

I love when art is deeper than surface reading, and I encourage any who haven’t read or watched a production of Streetcar… read it, watch it, see it; it can and should impact your life.

c'est incroyable

Last night my friend Missy kidnapped me and my sister Kari and took us to see an amazing movie. The Intouchables is a French film with English subtitles, and it truly is amazing.

IMDB gave this description of it: After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker.

Honestly it is just so much more than that. The relationship between Philippe and Driss is just so wonderful and so moving. I love the journey of the characters and the impact two human beings can have with one another.

The film is funny, witty, moving, touching, and so many other descriptions. It was a great depiction of an honest friendship.

"For some reason, movies have a hard time with friendship. Romantic relationships are no problem; in fact you could argue that is cinema's favorite subject. But friendship is always mishandled.

Leave it to the French to make the best effort in a long time with the delightful film The Intouchables."(Matt DeKinder of Suburban Journals review of The Intouchables.)

I normally don't like movies with subtitles, because watching becomes too much of a chore, but this movie made me forget it was in French... it was just wonderful. So if it is playing anywhere near you GO SEE IT!!! You won't regret it!