who is ready for the weekend?

So, its been like a million years since I posted, I know, I know. But, every time I think about it, well I guess I find something better to do.
Let's see what is new with my life: just enjoying it, really. Working, but not too much. Partying, but not too much. Spending time with my wonderful friends, still seeing the family about every other weekend and so on and so forth.

Got some bad news a few weeks ago: A good friend of mine from high school, Sarah, who was living out in LA, committed suicide. Now, we were no longer close friends- just kept in touch through myspace, but it was a pretty bad shock. She was such a funny, lively person and many of my high school memories involve her. From cheerleading camp to driving to games in her Neon or my Corolla or Nationals in Florida, she was always there with a big smile and a laugh that still rings in my head. I attended the service 2 weeks ago and it was very strange. Strange to see all these people from high school, the same people I sat with at too many other funerals. At the age of 25 you shouldn't be attending the funeral of a friend, of course at the ages of 17 and 16 we were too young as well. But, her service was lovely, she had a pink casket (of course!) and I hope she can finally be at peace.

Tomorrow is the Rockies home opener which is exciting. I find it pretty funny that everyone is so gung-ho about the Rocks ever since the won the NL title last year. Usually their upcoming season is hardly a blip, but people are ALL about it this year. I hope to go to a bunch of games this summer, there is really nothing like sitting at a game out in the sun with a cold, overpriced beer in hand :)

Saturday night is my big birthday night. Kelly has planned a fun night out with dinner and drinks and all that, so I am really looking forward to it. Excited to get together with everyone and have a good time! Woot!!

hello march!

So, it's been for-evah since I posted last... let's get you updated on the life of Sam. Let's see... so the job is going well. I started full time this week, so that's cool. I like it and it keeps me busy. Although, I'm not sure how cut out I am for this 8-5 hang out inside an office all day kind of lifestyle. It definitely makes me me miss the traveling, ever-changing, crazy UWP lifestyle. But, I guess the grass is always greener, ya know!? When I was traveling, I missed the "normal" life things like going to the gym, watching movies with my friends and dating. It is nice to be able to do these things again, its just taking some adjusting. Anyway, last weekend I moved into Kelly's place and I'm very happy here. Not that I didn't LOVE living with my parents and sister, but its nice to be a bit more independent- I'm even paying my 0wn rent and groceries! Watch out, mature girl here!!!
Let's see what else is new around here... Kelly and I booked our trip to Mexico this week, we leave May 7th- can't wait, it is going to be mucho mucho fun! Saw the Ingrid Michaelson and Joshua Radin concert last week with Ali and Emily. Great show, worth the trip to the CO Springs for sure! And my favorite foul-mouthed British singer/songwriter Kate Nash is playing in Boulder in May- you best believe we are going to be there, singing along in our best British accents. AND we are very excited about Jack Johnson at Red Rocks in August! So far away, I know, but concerts at Red Rocks are just the epitome of summer and the fact that we are already getting tickets reminds me that summer is just around the corner! Can't wait- laying by the pool, hanging in Wash Park, roof top bars. Bring it on!
Alright, gotta get ready for an uppie-dinner. My old boss, Kerri-Ann, is celebrating her birthday tonight with a bunch of peeps- so I'm excited to have a few drinks and see some old friends. Woot!

things are looking up

so, sorry for the incredibly short and cranky post last time. I really do have more to say than that. So, first of all, it appears the frustration paid off. So I had 2 interviews Tuesday- they both went well... and lo and behold I have a job now. The first interview I had checked my reference and called me back that afternoon! I started yesterday! It's nothing too great and exciting, but its a start. Its a part time job as an office/marketing assistant. It's downtown, which is fun, and the people are really nice. So far the work has been basic, but it keeps me busy and the days have gone by fast. For now I'm just working Monday, Weds and Fridays, but hopefully the hours will pickup by summer. I'm gonna see how it goes and then see if I can get another part time job or internship or something. So far so good.
Other than that, life has been pretty mellow. I was a little bit of a sad puppy this week since my dear Uppies left on Monday. Yep, the road staff headed out for their next adventure and all the staging staff headed back to their respective homes. I am sure going to miss a lot of people. I got used to having all these extra friends around and I loved it. But, I said my goodbyes (mostly, I didn't get to say goodbye to Christine or Aoife and that made me really sad!) and it will be okay. Luckily I have great friends who actually live in Colorado too!
So, I saw the new Up with People show on Saturday and it was really good. Some really fun changes and a very talented cast. It was a great Denver Premiere Show- they had at at the Buell and tons of people came- including the Mayor and the Governor. Fancy! I am really proud of UWP and hope everything goes great for them this semester and beyond. Who knows? Maybe I'll be back someday.
Okay... well that's the update for now. Plans this weekend: kickboxing, lunch with Kelly and Katie G., maybe a walk around the park with Ms. LuLu and then going out in Wash Park tomorrow night. Yup, life is good.

Oh yeah- we finally saw the Colbie Callait concert on Tuesday- it was her makeup concert from December. She put on a great show. She is so beautiful in person and sang great. Her band is really good too- especially the drummer, who I am a little bit in love with. Her opening acts were good too, although a little long. Jessica Sonner, who is a Colorado girl and very Colbie-like and then Trevor Hall who was really funky, kinda indie, reggae, folksy music. Fun times.

And yes, yesterday was Valentine's Day, but who cares- I really don't celebrate it even when I do have a boyfriend... I think a couple years ago Chris and I got Chick fil a and watched TV- muy romantic! So last night I watched movies and ate cookies with Ali and Kelly- also muy romantic! I did get a great present from my Dad and Stepmom- El Toro of Love!!! xoxo

frustration

cover letters written: 40+
interviews: 2
me: super frustrated with this whole job search thing

As much as I love staying in my pajamas all day (hence its 3:45 and I'm still wearing sweats and a t-shirt) and watching saved by the bell (you betcha I'm going to watch it in 15 minutes) I am getting restless and bored and need to find something... anything... soon!

But, I'm torn between being super picky and only applying for the jobs I really want and applying for jobs that would just be okay for now. I stepped out on that limb today and got 2 interviews set up within an hour of sending my resumes. So, maybe that's the right direction for me right now... I'll keep you posted on the results.

So yeah, here it is Monday again. The weekends go by way too fast. Even though I don't have a job so everyday is kinda like a weekend to me, the weekends are definitely more fun, since my friends can come out and play. This weekend was especially fun. Friday night we just chilled- drank wine and ate pizza and watched the Dane Cook movie "Good Luck Chuck". It wasn't great, but not that bad either. I stayed at Kelly's and on Saturday we did free yoga at a studio by her house. Although crowded, it is a really fun class. And I also ran into some people I haven't seen in forever, 2 girls from high school and a girl from college. So that was fun. After yoga (although we were sweaty and gross) we went to lunch at Wash Park Grill, where my buddy Scott works. It was delicious, I'll have to go back soon. Sat. night was The Fray concert. Good times- a big group of us went- some people from Kel's work, some UWP people and Ali. Their new stuff is great and it was so great to see them at such an intimate venue. We also were standing next to Ed McCaffery, the former Wide Receiver for the Broncos. Hmm, small world. On Sunday I just chilled all day and then went to a Super Bowl party. I was pretty shocked the Giants one, but I really didn't care too much, even though Tom Brady is my boyfriend. The commercials were pretty good and had a good time hanging with some new people. Now, its back to the daily grind of looking for jobs and such. Just not feelin' it today though- the weekend exhausted me. I think I'm just going to read. Reading 2 books right now- 3 Cups of Tea, the true story about a climber from California who built schools in Pakistan which is really good so far (its already made me cry) and I'm also reading a book called "Better Single than Sorry". Now, I'm not a big self-help book fan, especially ones about how to attract/get/keep/lose/marry men, but this one intrigued me. I read "He's just not that into you" and "It's called a break-up because its broken" and really enjoyed those- especially the latter, it helped me a lot! I like these books because its not about how to get guys to like you but how you are better off without a lot of them. This one, Better Single than Sorry, was written by the girl who was on the "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" TV shows and turned down 3 engagements! She talks about how its better to be alone than with someone who isn't right for you. So true. I think so many of my friends (and yes, sometimes me) spend way too much time obsessing about why our relationships failed or why we are still single when all of our other friends are getting married. We need to just focus on being our best selves and having fun and the other stuff will follow. Okay, that's my 2 cents for today. Have a great week everybody!

titles bore me

Another Monday, another random post from moi. Still job-searching, its getting increasingly frustrating. I feel like I've applied for so many jobs and I haven't heard anything back. And these aren't just any jobs. These are jobs that I would actually like to do and that I think I am qualified for. So, today, I applied for another 7 or 8 jobs. I just want to get a freakin' interview or two. Okay, that is a lie. I actually want to get a job and make some much-needed money, but at least a call or email for an interview would give me some positive reinforcement and the motivation to keep going. My friend Kelly has been awesome. She not only provides me with ideas of where to look for jobs and specific openings, but she is a source of endless encouragement for me. She pretty much rocks. All my friends do, really. I had a great weekend with them. Friday night we just chilled, drank some skanky wine and watched an even skankier movie. Mr. Woodcock... I don't recommend it at all. Seriously, Susan Sarandon and Billy Bob Thorton are respectable actors... what were they thinking? Anyway... it was a fun night nonetheless. On Saturday Kelly and I got up at the crack of dawn (literally- it was still dark out) to go get in line for Fray tickets. The amazing Denver-based band (with Up with People connections!) are coming home this weekend to play 3 shows at the Bluebird Theater. For 10 bucks a ticket. Heck yes! We didn't want to miss out on this, so we were in line at 7am. They started selling tickets at 10 and by noon we had 8 tickets between the 2 of us. Now... who to take? People who better appreciate us getting up freakin' early and sitting on a cold sidewalk for 5 hours, that's for sure! So after a much-needed run and an even more needed nap on Saturday night we went out- trio style (that's me, Kelly and Ali). Yep, trouble. We had a really fun time mixed with a little bit of rage, but its all good. I love my friends, I love meeting new people and I really love Denver. I am in a really good place right now. Even with no job and no money. I have great friends, a great family (who is letting me shack up in my old bedroom rent-free) and plenty of free time to do yoga, lunch with friends (my calendar is booked this week!), watch episodes of The Office, read good books, catch up on current events (and yes, that includes what crazy Britney is up to today...) and all sorts of other stuff. I really can't believe how busy I am. I know this will all get old in a few weeks, but *fingers crossed* I will have a fantastic new job soon and will be on my way... on my way where? Not sure. But I'm looking forward to it.

music and lyrics (also a great movie)

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without music? I think I spend about 80% of my waking hours listening to music. When I get ready, when I'm in the car, working out, a movie soundtrack, at the bar with friends, I like to fall asleep and wake up to music. It is such a part of who I am and how I feel. And what makes me fall in love with an artist or a song? Lyrics. Don't get me wrong- I love the music- guitars, drums, piano, maracas, tambourines, whatever; but lyrics are what gets me. I can fall in love with a song because of just one line. For example the John Mayer song 'Why Georgia' is just an okay song, but it holds one of my favorite lyrics ever- "Everything happens for a reason, but that's no reason not to ask yourself if you are living it right". When I was on the airplane to Thailand, I heard this song by Katie Muela over and over and remembered it for the one line: "Sometimes I believe in fate, but the chances we create, somehow seem to ring more true". And a great Carrie Underwood line that suits my friends and I perfectly: "I close my eyse and I kiss that frog. Each time finding, the more boys I meet, the more I love my dog". If I could write lyrics, I would write just like One Republic. I bought their CD last week because I liked their single that they did with Timbaland and they are a Colorado band with a very Fray-like style. But, damn, their lyrics are just awesome and I relate to them so much. And my new obession: Kate Nash, this adorable Lily Allen-esque Brit, who has a filthy mouth and brilliant lyrics. Here are some of my favorites:

"I need you like a heart needs a beat" One Republic, Apologize

"And I believe that I could tear you apart but it won't break anything that you are, you are
We'll say our goodbyes you know it's better that way
We won't break, we won't die It's just a moment of change
All we are, all we are, is everything that's right
All we need, all we need, our love is at a bind"- One Republic, All We Are

"Hello world
Hope you're listening
Forgive me if I'm young
For speaking out of turn
There's someone I've been missing
I think that they could be
The better half of me
They're in their own place trying to make it right
But I'm tired of justifying So i say you'll..
Come home"- One Republic, Come Home

"Right, birds can fly so high
And they can shit on your head
And they can almost fly into your eye
And make you feel so scared.
But when you look at them
And you see that they're beautiful
That's how I feel about you" - Kate Nash, Birds

And this song, The Nicest Thing, I'll just post the whole song because I love every word of it and its like Kate read my mind as she wrote this song...

All I know is that you're so nice
You're the nicest thing I've seen
I wish that we could give it a go
See if we could be something
I wish I was your favourite girl
I wish you thought I was the reason you are in the world
I wish my smile was your favourite kind of smile
I wish the way that I dressed was your favourite kind of style
I wish you couldn't figure me out
But you always wanna know what I was about
I wish you'd hold my hand when I was upset
I wish you'd never forget the look on my face when we first met
I wish you had a favourite beauty spot that you loved secretly
'Cause it was on a hidden bit that nobody else could see
Basically, I wish that you loved me I wish that you needed me
I wish that you knew when I said two sugars, actually I meant three
I wish that without me your heart would break
I wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake
I wish that without me you couldn't eat
I wish I was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep
Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen
And I wish that we could see if we could be something
Yeah I wish that we could see if we could be something

So, yep, that's my random post for today. Have a great weekend!