The Songs That Marked My Childhood

It's amazing how powerful a song can be.  Just a simple tune over the airways, while at the store, through your mind, etc, can take you back in time. Music is the closest to time travel we've got (And, no... I haven't seen that new Bill and Ted movie... heh).  Here are a few songs that remind me of my childhood.

Our House · Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.  It's a 1970's song, but it was played a lot when I was a kid.  There is this vague memory of it playing before a television show.  This song was a favorite of mine, simply because it gives me the warm fuzzies.  It's just a really sweet song.  How can you not be happy while listening to it?

Kokomo · The Beach Boys, 1988.  This was my favorite song!  Oh my goodness.  Every time I heard it I was instantly happy.  There's this random memory I have when I was in a grocery store and it came on, and I just started dancing around.  Oh, this song takes me back.  And now I want to visit the beach.

We Built This City · Starship, 1985.  I actually remember the first time I heard this song.  It was before I was five, and I was visiting my Aunt and Cousin's in an apartment house complex my Grandpa owned in Riverside CA.  I was in the kitchen and my Aunt was playing it off a cassette tape.  It was love at first listen.  Whenever I hear this song I remember living in So. Cal pre Porterville days, living close to Disneyland, with warm afternoons and scattered happy memories visiting the park and feeding ducks. 

Sara · Starship, 1985.  Oh, this song takes me back.  It's the song that haunted me.  It's the song that people would sing to me whenever they heard my name.  Thankfully by the 2000's people stopped doing this, but dang, it lasted just a little too long.  But seriously, when you listen to the lyrics it's a seriously depressing song!!  It's so sad.

Manic Monday · The Bangles, 1986.  This is just one of those songs I would sing whenever I got the Monday blues.  It's just a fun song.

I'm So Excited · The Pointer Sisters, 1982.  I loved this song so much.  Every time it came on the radio or elsewhere I would get excited and dance around. Once, as a kid I was dancing randomly in a parking lot singing the chorus to this song as loud as I could, and my Mom was like, "Do you even know what that song is about?"  And I was like, "... being excited?"  Now that I'm older I get it, and I'm like, "oh".

Grandma's Feather Bed · John Denver, 1974.  Come on, it's a fun song.  'nuff said.  I have always wondered what sleeping on a feather bed was like thanks to this song.

Ballerina Girl · Lionel Richie, 1986. I think the reason I loved this song so much was because I was obsessed with dance growing up, and this song sang to my soul.  Every time it came on I had to turn and practice the simple moves I learned in class.

Dancing On The Ceiling · Lionel Richie, 1986.  My Dad had a home video camcorder, and he would have my siblings and I get on a long table and have us dance, and then flip the camera upside down so that when we watched it back it looked like we were literally dancing on the ceiling.  It was great.

The two records I remember my Dad owning pre-five years old: The Muppet Movie and the Christmas Chipmunk Album.  Somewhere Over the Rainbow is one of my favorites.  All the music from the Muppet album is amazing.  But my absolute favorite is "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday."  Whenever I hear it I get chills.  See, as a Latter-Day Saint I believe in a pre-mortality, and I think of that when I here this song.  Pretty sure it's a song about Gonzo being an alien, but there are really poignant lines.

And to finish it off, the song from the 90's that always takes me back in time. I Love You Always Forever · Donna Lewis.  I don't know what it is about this song that gives me all kinds of nostalgia, but it does.  I do have a memory visiting my Grandpa in Ventura and Star Trek First Contact was in theaters.  We went to go see it, goodness, where was it? Santa Barbara?  Oh, I can't remember where it was playing.  But I remember distinctly this song coming on the radio as we went, and I just started singing along.  Good times.  There are the Backstreet Boys.  BBMak.  Disney songs I would play on the cassette player I carried around (side B of Pocahontas was so good).  And I was obsessed with soft rock radio stations.  Chicago.  My Mom liked playing the Eagles and the Monkees.  Bad Day by Daniel Powter got me through the end of my college days. But this song, it transports me.

 

Enjoying the Beginning of Mountain Autumn Hues

A couple days ago I went up the mountain.

Autumn colors are beginning to spring forth, creating a bridge between Summer and Winter.  Sometimes it seems this season, filled with chilly nights and warm scents, doesn't last long enough.  If only Spring and Autumn demanded from us the same amount of time Summer and Winter does.  Those last two can be a little loud.

Provo Canyon Rd. has some construction causing double lanes to narrow to single.  Cars bunching up as a result.  If you're in a hurry this could be annoying, but I found it quite nice.  Instead of racing up to Deer Creek we were allowed to enjoy the scenery.  With windows down and a warm breeze tussling my hair, it was nice slowing down to take in waterfalls and magnificent rocks.  Mountain foliage is starting to turn from woody light greens to splashes of fruity bright hues.  Hopefully the turning of colors will last many weeks for all to enjoy.

“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

 

Accessories from American Girl's Newest Historical Character: Courtney from 1986

 Courtney is American Girl's latest historical doll, coming to us from 1986.  She's a gamer, loving to spend time at the arcade in the mall, has seen Star Wars dozens of times, loves The Goonies, and is sad when she can't go over to her friends house to play the new Super Mario Brother's game.

With the release of every new character comes the doll, countless clothes, and accessories.  I didn't get the doll or clothes, but I did get four accessory sets and book.

 

The book, front and back.  There's only one book, though there will be a second book, yet to be announced.  Courtney Changes the Game only has 120 pages, which is short compared to Nanea's, Melody, and Maryellen's original first book.  Nanea's first book originally had 216 pages, though there were no pictures, but it was shortened to 144 pages with pictures for a re-release.  That seems the direction American Girl wants to take the books.  I do like the pictures in Courtney Changes the Game, it's just a shame that fleshed out stories will suffer because of it.  There's so much more material in the original American Girl books.

Courtney's Care Bears Sleeping Bag Set: $36

I was quite the Care Bear fan girl growing up.  I had the pajamas, bed comforter, bears, and other odds and ends.  And this sleeping bag looks really, really familiar.  I don't know if it's based off of an actual item from the past, but I swear I had this as a kid.  Such a flashback.

Comparing American Girls Bedtime Bear to World's Smallest Tenderheart Bear, as I've seen many people online mention that they have the World's Smallest Care Bears.  Just showing that there is a size difference between the two, though Care Bears come in many sizes, so it's all good, and World's Smallest has a nice variety.

Courtney's School Supplies: $30

No, these aren't Lisa Frank--that would have been cool--though these seem to be modeled after the popular stationary line.  This comes with a binder, 2 folders, paper, erasers, sticker sheet, pencil case, and pencil's.  I loved me some Lisa Frank in the day, and was obsessed with her dolphin line.  That would have been amazing, but licensing and all that.  I love the pencil case, as I loved this style of case when I was younger.  Brings back so many memories.  Be careful when opening it as the connecting plastic seems fragile and thin.

 Courtney's PAC-MAN Lunch Set: $25.

I love this so much!  On my first day of school, Kindergarten, I had a plastic lunchbox.  Don't remember the character, but light blue box color comes to mind.  And on the first day of school my Mom took me to a corner gas station store and bought me chocolate milk, and then poured it into my thermos.  It's such a nice memory, and I felt super special.

This set comes with a thermos where the lid twists off.  Unfortunately you can't put the food items and thermos in the lunch box at the same time.  Then there's a ham and cheese sandwich, wrapped brownie, cheese puffs, and apple slices.

This was literally my lunch, though with a peanut butter sandwich instead, from elementary through college.  PB sandwich, a Sara Lee snack, Apple or other fruit, and some form of chips (cheese puffs did make it in the lunch a few times).  Our family couldn't afford the hot lunch, so everyday, except for when the cafeteria did that square size pizza, I was a cold lunch girl.  And I can't eat peanut butter sandwiches anymore because of it, except on certain occasions, but it saved me so much money in high school and college.

So much fun!

 

Courtney's Sleepover Accessory Set: $50

This is my favorite set.  The boombox requires 3 AAA batteries.  You can turn the dial and it makes radio sounds.  It comes with 4 mini cassette tapes, and each side plays a song when it's in the machine.  They're original songs, a mix of vocal and instrumental, with an 80's flare.  Think Tiffany not Chicago.  Unfortunately there isn't an AUX hole to connect it with a device, like Nanea's 1940's radio has.  It's fun playing swing music on it.  So I was hoping there was a way to connect a device to the boombox, but there isn't.  Am I the only one who keeps an aux cable at the ready?

There's also a bowl of tortilla chips, a couple fruit punch cans, a doodle book with drawings on every page plus a pen, and a cootie catcher.  The back side of the cootie catcher had the instructions, but I still got confused.  I forgot how to make them!!!!  So I had to look it up on YouTube. -_-;; Heh.

(I somehow got on a YouTube channel that's playing random 80's songs, and Glory of Love from Karate Kid II is playing.  Memories!!  You know, I never saw that movie, but this song got SO MUCH airplay.  We Built This City just came on!  Gah!  I'm losing it!  How can I not dance around!!!??? Best. Song. Ever.)

So tiny.

And just the little pamphlet that came with the sets.

 

Definitely a trip down memory lane.

 

101 Day No Sugary Treat Challenge

Heh, I'm serious about this.  I'm really doing it.  101 days of no sugary sweets and treats.  I'm already 2 days down.  Two whole days.  That's a lot.  I've just got 99 more days to go...

And now my life has turned into "99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of..." 

Why 101 days?  It's just a good solid number.  Just over 3 months, which I've done before, so this time I want to go just a little bit further.  It also takes me through December 31st, which is my last day.  New Years Day I go to one treat a week.

Along with this I'm walking 5 miles a day.  Last Monday I walked 6 miles, yesterday I walked 5 miles, and it really does help me mentally.  I keep wanting to throw in strength training, which is important, but at the moment this is enough, though ... I'll most likely incorporate a program soon.

This year has been a process of changing my brain.  Finding what works and what doesn't.  Making myself mentally stronger.  Changing my viewpoint.  I'm much stronger now then I was a few months back.

I'm nervous of failing, but I already passed my first trial of temptation, and on day one, too.  Heh, only a couple days ago.  We took my Grandma to Dairy Queen, because it's her favorite, and I REALLY wanted to try the caramel apple pie shake.  I had the pumpkin pie shake a week back, and it was dang good.  Ahh!  But I passed.  I didn't cave!  Though, admittedly, I was a little sad for a few minutes while everyone in the car ate their treats.

Once we get to the holidays I'm going to struggle.  But one day at a time.  Spirit over body.  Focus on how I feel, and how I don't always like how I feel when I eat sugar.  I'm developing inner strength.  Mental fortitude.  I'm getting healthy and overcoming cravings and desires.  But really, I'm going to accomplish something that for me is really, really difficult, and I'll come out stronger on the other side.

Ancestry DNA Has A New Update: Separating England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales

Ancestry DNA has a new update which separates the British Isles.  There used to be only two ethnicities: England and Scotland/Ireland.  Now England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are all separated.   And alas I have all but Wales.

This is what I am now, before it changes again.  In the brackets are my ranges, as Ancestry does this whole "1,000 Estimates" thing using probabilities, a reference panel, and what is known.  The percentages are derived by algorithms based on current knowledge and information.  Essentially this information is subject to change, because DNA research is still imperfect.  This is what the algorithm assigned me: England (30-36%), Ireland 35% (0-43%), Scotland 19% (0-20%), Germanic Europe 6% (0-20%), Norway 4% (0-5%).

Now, this is what the system gave me.  Once upon a time I was able to see the whole list of ethnicities and what they tested, and even if the system didn't assign an ethnicity to me, doesn't mean I don't have it.  I used to be able to click on a random Ethnicity and see if it was all 0%, or if there was a small percentage bracket.  For instance my Mom is Ireland 56% (42-63%) and my Aunt is Ireland 50% (34-55%), yet my Grandma didn't register as having any Irish.  If I was allowed to see the full list of ethnicities and then click on Irish, I could see what the tested bracket percentage said.  My Grandma has Irish in her family tree, though it's possible they emigrated from Scotland (as she registers 37% Scottish), but with my Mom having 56% Irish with the percentage bracket she does, there's no way my Grandma doesn't have a small percentage of Irish.

Also, I was hoping to have some Welsh in my DNA, so that I could be British Isles Divergent (nerd reference).  Apparently I don't have any, though my Dad is 2% Welsh (0-13%), Mom is 1% Welsh (0-7%), my brother Steven 5% Welsh (0-11%), and my Grandma Stuff. is 4%.  I have gone down my Dad's family tree on the Family Tree website, and there is Welsh there, some of which are royalty (which I take with a grain of salt, but it's fun).  I've found Welsh elsewhere.  It's a little, but there's a paper trail.  Proof that our DNA is a hint of linage, but not a true representation of our heritage and family history.  DNA is simply what we inherit. 

The most interesting discovery is between my Grandpa R and Grandma A.  We always assumed my Grandpa had a lot of Scottish.  He was obsessed with Scotland, yet he only has 5% (0-14%).  Ironically my Grandma A has more with 37% (0-37%).   It's just funny.  Though my Grandpa was 91% Irish (71-95%), connecting with 9 regions all through the south of Ireland, from Kerry to East Cork.

It's all fun.  It's interesting comparing the results of my family.  My Grandma's brother, my Great Uncle, had France 3% (0-7%) and Spain 1% (0-1%) show up in his results, so that's interesting.  And even though Steven is the only one of my siblings to have Wales show up in his DNA, he only registered 6% Scottish (0-13%), whereas my brother Michael is 33% Scottish (2-35%).  Steven is 47% Irish (22-54%).  It's just interesting how similar, yet different we all are, even with the same linage.

So I've spent the weekend nerding out over Family History. :0)

PS. I don't care what they say, I'm still British Isles Divergent.

A Couple Random Thoughts: September Edition

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

I needed a little break.  Get off the net.  Think a little.  I didn't leave town or anything.  That hasn't happened since February.  To say I'm feeling restless in this isolation is an understatement.  I'm aching to get out of Dodge.

My workspace has been discombobulated as I've been rearranging and switching things up in my room, so my laptop got tucked away, and it was nice keeping it out of sight.  

Life has been life.  Found out a couple weeks ago what was wrong with my car: crack in the fuel pump.  I would have preferred a deadening battery or starter.  The repair would have been cheaper.  And a day after that was fixed I woke up early morning to find a large puddle in the middle of the kitchen floor emanating from the fridge.  The compressor went out.  A mad dash to save as much food as possible followed.  This last Monday the fridge was finally fixed.  

The weather has been strange around here.  It's fire season, a particularly bad fire season, and as the case is with fire season the valley in which I live is socked in with smoke.  Some years are better than others.  It's always nice when we get a little rain and wind to blow it out, and then it settles right back in.  Well, last week we had a nice little wind storm.  So nice that Salt Lake Valley and northwards reached Hurricane Level 2 winds.  One place got up to 112 miles per hour.  Where I live it only got up to about 30 mph, thanks to the mountain range, but northwards has been struggling.  Lots of damage mixed with days without power.  Though something weird happened.  Before the wind the air was smokey and hot with temps in the 90's.  The day after the weather was a chilly 46 at midday, flurries drifting from the sky.  The air was clean again.  It was nice getting a brake from the heat.

Oh, I saw "TENET" a few days ago.  So confusing!  I was like... :\ .  And even after reading an explanation of what happened in the movie I'm still like... :\ .  Honestly, I do get what was going on after replaying stuff through my mind, and I get what the director was trying to achieve, but overall it felt clunky.  Quick scene jumps.  Muddled explanations.  Unpleasant holes.  Time creating paradox problems, and not the good kind.  I probably need to see it again, if only I wanted to.

American Girl finally released their new historical doll: Courtney.  1986.  My childhood is now historic.  And the doll's accessories is a giant pile of nostalgic goodness.  I ordered the accessories and book, not the doll or clothes.  Should be here within a couple weeks.  And I'm kinda regretting spending all that money.  I'm kinda laughing at how ridiculous I feel for ordering them: mini boombox, mini Pac Man lunch box, Lisa Frank stationary, Care Bear sleeping bag.  Okay, writing all that out, huh.  I'm looking forward to reading her story.  She's eight years old in the book, whereas I was three at the time.  A spoiler hint that I've picked up from the website is that the Challenger space mission will be a plot point, and Courtney loves gaming, Star Wars, etc.  She's a nerd.  In short, she's my kind of gal.  It will be fun reading her story.

Funny enough I remember the Challenger explosion, only I don't know how old I was when I saw it.  Was it live?  Was it a documentary?  But I have a vivid memory of the explosion and the way the smoke split.  I remember feeling shocked, regardless.  I do have a few memories from that time, so it's possible, and my earliest memory goes back to before I was one years old.  I only remember it because it's the first thing my Dad recorded.  That home video was played over and over, cementing the memory.  Christmas day.  My Dad pulling out his guitar and my parents singing Christmas songs.  I don't remember those details, those I get from the video.  What I remember was what I felt.  Music awoke my spirit.  And I knew, whatever it was my parents were doing, I needed that.  It was important to me.  I needed that music.  I wanted to be apart of the music.

Anywho, I talked with my brother Michael a couple nights ago to game plan and set goals for our podcast.  We're aiming for launching in mid-October.  That date looks good.  It's always possible we'll hit a couple bumps, but we've recorded quite a few episodes, so fingers crossed it all goes as planned.

Until next time,

Sarah

September Health Goals: Walking Just Might Save My Life

It seems like these last several months hasn't so much been about progress, as it has been about understanding.  Figuring out what works.  Figuring out what will help me get better.

I'm definitely an eat sweets when I'm stressed kind of person.  Last month when I said I wanted to go a full 90 days without eating sweets I was walking.  Then the weekend came and I didn't walk, and all the cravings came back full force.  Now, this isn't to say that walking always staves off cravings, because there are days when it doesn't, but it is a huge help.

Walking is my most favorite form of exercise, probably because it's easy and I can consume a form of entertainment in the process: streaming a show while on a treadmill or something audio while walking around.  Also it's always good to get outside when the weather is nice to enjoy nature.  The problem is I'm not consistent.  There are weeks where I'm super motivated and will get 40+ miles in a week, followed by 2 weeks of nothing.  But when I do walk consistently I've found that my cravings are easier to control, my mood more stabilized, more motivation in other areas of my life, and I just feel better.

There was this habit book I read a while back, it might have been Atomic Habits, maybe, where it said that if you find a key habit to improve it triggers other good habits naturally.  I think walking consistently could be my key trigger habit.  

So that's what I'm going to focus on this month.  Also, I got a book called Stretching to Stay Young, which I'm going to work through.  I actually really hate stretching and foam rolling, but it's a necessity.

So, yeah, still trudging forward.  Not giving up.  

Spiritual Quotes That Have Helped Me Get Through

This is another one of those posts I debated on writing, mainly due to its spiritual nature lending to Latter-Day Saint theology.  

It was May, 2019, and President Nelson was finishing up his tour of the Pacific Islands.  It was an amazing tour, and he was finishing up in Tahiti when he said, "There’s trouble ahead.  Prepare for attacks from the adversary. Please protect yourself from Satan’s traps, including harmful drugs and pornography."  Pretty standard warning, really, as the Adversary is always attacking.  It's the "trouble ahead" that kept echoing in my mind.  I mean, there's always something to look out for.  Life is full of highs and lows.  Despite my internal dialogue I took the warning to heart, still living life, still hopeful for the future, just glancing at the storm on the horizon that seemed to circle as if in a holding pattern.

This year has been crazy, there's no denying it.  Memes abound for coping and remembrance.

The first quote is from Elder Neil A. Maxwell.  Funny enough I shared this quote about two years ago on this blog, and then removed it.  I was afraid it was too deep to share, but I'll share it again.  It's from 1984, when I was two years old, and Elder Maxwell is speaking to the children of the church: 

"It’s extremely important for you to believe in yourselves, not only for what you are now, but for what you have the power to become. Trust in the Lord as He leads you along. He has things for you to do that you won’t know about now, but that will be revealed later. If you stay close to Him, you will have some great adventures. You will live in a time when instead of just talking about prophecies that will sometime be fulfilled, many of them will actually be fulfilled. The Lord will unfold your future bit by bit.  All the easy things that the Church has had to do have been done, so you’re going to live in a time of high adventure. You were brought to this earth because you can handle that time of adventure, and you will do well."

This quote has brought me a lot of comfort these last couple years.  I look at that quote and think, "High Adventure."  What does that even mean, and does it mean what I think it means?  Are we in those times of adventure now?  Or are we not quite there?  Whenever it is, we have the strength to overcome.

On August 5, 2020, Russell M. Nelson tweeted: "Dear friends, the road ahead may be bumpy, but our destination is serene and secure. So, fasten your seatbelt, hang on through the bumps, and do what's right. Your reward will be eternal."

Here are two more quotes by President Nelson. "You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures within you!" "Plead with the Lord for the gift of discernment.  Then live and work to be worthy to receive that gift so that when confusing events arise in the world, you will know exactly what is true and what is not."

There's many more quotes that have helped me find strength through discouragement, but these are the main ones.  Life is crazy and uncertain, but we will survive.  We have the strength to overcome.

"The Father is at this moment aware of you, your feelings, and the spiritual and temporal needs of everyone around you." ~ Henry B. Eyring

 

A Wooden Delight from Germany

It was a pleasant day in Rüdesheim am Rhein, the air a crispy autumn.  Hills covered with vineyards.  Streets full of quintessential quaintness.  Ornate buildings with wooden decorations, vines, narrow alleys, restaurants and shops.  There's an airway tram that leads to the top of a hill where you can view the Rhine River from above, ships slipping out of sight.

There's a Christmas shop, which are always a treat to visit while in Germany.  Large and full of warmth.  The window display overflowing with ornate nutcrackers.  

In a back room was a cupboard.  Inside was a delightful array of wooden figurines and displays.  Hand painted dolls and sets.  Some were Christmas themed.  Some represented the seasons.  I wanted one of the spring fairies holding flowers.  If I had a few hundred dollars I wouldn't have hesitated.  They were pretty and sweet.  Detailed.  There were notes everywhere written in English and other languages forbidding picture taking.  So I attempted to take a mental image, which, after nearly two years, the image is fading to a blur.  Emotion and wonder remains.

While heading back to the river I went into a little gift shop tailored for tourist.  After some exploring I found a small cupboard with tiny wooden figurines just as delightful as what I saw in the previous store, but at a price I could splurge.  I found a little girl wearing a winter coat and holding a star.  She was quickly purchased and has had a treasured spot on my dresser ever since. 

She's apart of the Hubrig Winter Kids collection named, "Star, Give Us Light."  I've been searching online for this figure since the trip in October of 2018, just to find more of the like, and other wooden German styled Christmas decorations, which are hard to find here in the States.  After much time I found Erzgebirge Palace, which has many fun things to see.  Germany really has some fun Christmas decorations, figures, displays, and ornaments.

You Are Extraordinary

C.S. Lewis once said, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.”

I don't know what you are dealing with right now.  I don't know your worries.  Dreads.  Thoughts.  Heartaches.  I don't know what keeps you up at night.  I don't know what makes you laugh.  What you find joy in.  What tickles your fancy.  I don't know your struggles.  Your triumphs, your failures, and everything in between.

But I do know this: You are extraordinary.  You are amazing.  You have so many gifts and talents.  You have loved ones.  Dreams you wish to achieve.  Places you wish to see.  You have the power to make someone smile.  Bring someone happiness.  You are of infinite worth and potential. 

“The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well.”  ~ Neal A. Maxwell