Jury Duty?!?

I’ve often wondered who these people are that apparently get called for jury duty. Never having been called myself, or even known someone who has been required to serve, the whole process didn’t even really seem real to me. Welcome to reality, Sarah.

I have been summoned. This week I received a notice from the Municipal Court of Seattle stating that I have been randomly selected to serve as a trial juror on March 25^th. What a pain in my caboose. I’m sure that even though I am paid salary, my office will force me to waste one of my precious personal days on this chore. Oh, but not to worry, additional payment for each day of service (as set by The Seattle City Council) is a hefty $10! Maybe this will be enough to cover my parking at the Seattle Justice Center, which is apparently “limited and expensive.” The only upside is that we are supposedly dismissed each day by 4:30 p.m. which will give me an extra hour or two of productive daylight time. Other than that…

HOW ANNOYING.

Bruised and Battered

I am really starting to look like the star of a Lifetime television for women movie. Almost two weeks ago I took a nasty spill on my snowboard that resulted in a huge bruise on my left butt cheek. It’s still there, and hasn’t even begun to fade into that gross yellow-and-green phase yet. In addition, when I went to the doctor last Friday I was poked at prodded to the max. As a result I’ve got a huge bruise on the inside of my right arm where they stuck a needle for about 15 minutes in an attempt to get 8 vials of blood. And finally, someone stepped on my left big toe at Tara and Winston’s wedding last weekend, and I noticed last night that underneath my sparkly pink polish the nail has started to turn blue. Awesome. At least none of this is as bad as when I walked into a wall and broke my own nose.

Sheesh, what a disaster zone.

Credit Scorecard

According to my handy-dandy credit profile tracker I get for free through my online WaMu banking, which actively monitors my credit score, I recently jumped 51 points!! I guess paying off the ol’ credit card vastly improves your creditworthiness. In addition, I am now 58 points above Washington state’s average credit score, and that can’t hurt.

Now if I could only figure out how to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck and start building up my savings account, maybe I will be able to afford a home sometime in the next 10 years. Any tips?

’Til Death Do Them Part

They’re hitched! Tara and Winston tied the knot last weekends at Lord Hill Farms in Snohomish.

Everything about the day was flawless. Gorgeous blue skies and streaming sunlight made things even more perfect for the happy couple. I woke up early and met Tara at her house so we could head out for a morning of primping. We spent a few hours getting fantastic up-dos, dramatic makeovers and bought some new jewelry for the occasion. Then we stopped for a quick lunch before heading to the venue.

The groomsmen had already arrived with the bride’s mother a few hours before, and they actually had most of the setup already complete. So for the next couple hours we just spent some time making things pretty (tying bows, putting out programs, etc.) and helping the lovely bride-to-be get ready for pictures.

Then came the waiting. For the next couple hours we sat around in our dresses looking pretty and sipping wine here and there while the bride and groom had their photo taken. It was all very exhausting. We did a little photo shoot of our own to pass the time...

Pretty Bridesmaids

Sexy Bridesmaids

Naughty Bridesmaids

The Boys

The Girls

The Boys Again

Me and Winst

Lars, the tallest Groomsman ever, with Carrie and Taylor, the shortest Bridesmaids ever

Me and my partner-in-crime, Rich McNish

And a couple random Glamor Shots

By the time we were done with our own photos, guests were starting to arrive, so we secluded ourselves in a back room with Tara as the countdown began. Tara was shaking like a leaf up until the last second, but by the time she walked down the isle she was calm, cool and collected with a huge smile on her face.

The ceremony went of without a hitch and I admit I did tear up a little bit when Tara and Winston said their vows. Afterward we all headed downstairs for the big party. By this time Stewart and Jeanna had arrived, and we were happy to head to the bar while we waited for the happy couple to chat with all the guests before coming downstairs. Soon after, Mr. & Mrs. Winston & Tara Evans joined the celebration.

We ate a fabulous dinner and listened to some VERY long speeches (one in particular having to do with a very young Winston pooping his pants…) and once the toasts were complete we hit the dance floor. Tara & Winston’s first dance was a very romantic remix of Oasis’ “Wonderwall” – one of my favorites.

We continued to drink and dance and even though I didn’t even up catching the bouquet, my oh-so-coordinated boyfriend caught the garter belt – holla!

Even though other guests didn’t stay as late as I hoped they would, I still had a fantastic time. And I was glad that the ONE taxi cab in all of Monroe (just a guy in his good ol’ Acura Integra and a cell phone) was able to pick us up and take us back to our hotel. Where Jeanna promptly dropped and shattered her keepsake bottle of wine on the floor. Lucky for her, I had snagged an extra one on the way out.

So now the happy couple is honeymooning in Maui and I’m sure having an amazing time. I’m so glad they included me in this most important day of their lives.

CONGRATS, TARA AND WINST!!

Monday Morning Stress Test

I'm not quite sure how this works, but it is amazingly accurate. The picture below has two identical dolphins in it. It was used in a case study on stress levels at St. Mary's Hospital.

The picture features both dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins are identical.

A closely monitored, scientific study revealed that, in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person under stress would find differences in the two dolphins.

The more difference a person finds between the dolphins, the more stress that person is experiencing.

Look at the photograph and if you find more than one or two differences you may want to take a vacation. I definitely need one. Happy Monday!
Don't take life too seriously. You're never going to get out alive, anyway.

Wooden ’cha like to be an Evans?

The countdown has begun. Due to a random meeting at Polyesters more than five years ago, in less than 24 hours Tara Wooden and Winston Evans will tie the knot. I can hardly believe it myself.

The rehearsal dinner was last night at Lord Hills Farm. I left work early, picked up my dress on the way and made it to Monroe just in time. We were short one bridesmaid and a groomsman due to a death in the family, but still went through an edited version of the ceremony twice to ensure a flawless production on Saturday.

Note to self: The stairs connecting the upper level to the lower level are VERY steep. Don’t be the idiot bridesmaid who goes tumbling down them.

After a fabulous dinner with the wedding party and the Wooden / Evans families, the bride and groom passed out gifts. The girls got flasks with our initials etched in them and the boys got gym bags with their initials embroidered on them. In addition, Kelli, Carrie, Taylor and I all received cute little black t-shirts with “Tara’s Bridesmaid” written on the back in hot pink letters and our names on the front. A very cute idea if I do say so myself.

Tonight I have manicures and pedicures with Tara and the bridesmaids followed by cocktails at The Sitting Room before we head home to rest before the big day.

Note to self: Don’t have more than two cocktails. You don’t want to be the idiot bridesmaid who has a hangover and pukes while getting her hair done.

Tomorrow, I will head to Tara’s house bright and early so I can carpool up to Lynnwood with the girls for our hair and makeup appointments before we arrive at the venue at noon for set up and pictures at 2 p.m.

Note to self: Remember to fill new flask with vodka before leaving home – only beer and wine will be served at the wedding. On second thought… maybe not.

Re-note to self: Don’t end being remembered as the idiot drunken bridesmaid.

Wish me luck!

White Pass Ski Weekend

Only slightly worse for wear, I made it home from a fabulous three-day weekend at White Pass. Once again Stewart’s friend Brett’s parents planned and organized a fantastic trip for their family and friends, and of course Stew and I were lucky enough to be included.

We left Friday night after work with Matt and Alyssa, and four hours later we arrived at our slope-side accommodations, the White Pass Village Inn Condominiums. Our condo was a totally adorable alpine lodging experience, rustic and quaint with a sleeping loft, kitchenette, woodstove and balcony. It even came with storage for our skis and snowboards. It was kind of small for six people, but we’re all friends so we got cozy real quick.

Unfortunately we were not blessed with any fresh powder, but since Stewart was snowboarding for free due to his ski patrol hook-up he spent the day with me on the blue runs. Aw, what a good boyfriend! I was actually doing really well and feeling very confident by the time we went in for lunch. However, my last run toward the bottom ended up being a slight disaster, when I caught an edge and hit the ice hard. The bruise that still hasn’t faded from my rear end is not at all attractive.

After warming up with Crystal’s famous chili we hit the slopes for the rest of the day before heading in for dinner and a drink fest. I had made a huge amount of strawberry jell-o shots, so we carried those and an entire cooler full of beer down to the spa temperature, outdoor hot pool. After a day of snowboarding there is NOTHING I would have rather done at that moment in time.

A few hours and a few dozen jell-shots and beers later left us quite tipsy as we attempted to play a midnight game of Apples to Apples before giving up and heading to bed. The next morning definitely warranted sleeping in and a half-day lift ticket. Even though there was still no new snow, the day was sunny with gorgeous blue skies. My first run of day two I immediately proceeded to fall and re-injure myself. Even still, I snowboarded with Stew for most of the day and I actually think I’m getting much better!

Another night of drinking and hot-pooling rounded out the vacation. I definitely needed the long weekend of relaxation. And the snowboarding practice, of course.

(I do have actual pictures of the weekend, just waiting for them to be emailed to me. Check back soon!)