The One With a Tip for the Anal Retentive June 8, 2009

First of all, does “anal retentive” have a hyphen? 

Now that I have that out of the way, I’d like to start a new series of postings here on Just Another Sarah. I am, indeed, anal retentive about some things. And if I’m not anal about them, my husband is, or my best friend is. So, suffice it to say, I know lots about being anal.

You may not be anal retentive (I really want to put a hyphen in it) and that’s okay. However, I fear that your life may often feel chaotic, unorganized… seriously, how do you function? So, to bring some order to your life, I thought I would start sharing some anal-retentive tips with you.

Tip #1: alphabetizing
I HIGHLY recommend* putting your DVDs in alphabetical order. Also, if you still have your CD collection out or you still listen to CDs (mine are all on my iPod, automatically alphabetized for me – thank you sweet baby Jesus) they too should be alphabetized. Otherwise, how else will you ever find what you’re looking for???

Movies are arranged by title, music is arranged by artist. Also, you must NEVER just throw a CD or DVD into the nearest empty case. I start twitching just thinking about it. It’s just wrong, y’all.

Sure, it’s a pain in the ass to shuffle everything around when you add a new movie to the collection. But there’s also something very satisfying about getting them all in order, right? Maybe it’s just me…

On a side note, books do NOT need to be in alphabetical order, but they should be grouped by author. Then they should be arranged so they look pretty on a bookshelf. Analness should not trump aesthetics.

You’re welcome.

*”Highly recommend” means “mandatory but I can’t enforce it if you don’t do it” in education-ese.

The One Where I Ruminate May 22, 2009

Remember how I used to review movies? Well, movie reviews are back by popular demand. Okay, no one really demanded it and it may not even be popular, but I’m going to do it anyway.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button... I’m sure you all (all two of you) know the basic story - Brad Pitt is born old and ages backward. Someone compared it to Forrest Gump, but I disagree. I think they were just letting viewers know where the characters were in history.

I thought it was really good. It stuck with me after I watched it, which means I was thinking about it the next day. That doesn’t happen too often with me. Typically, I can hardly remember what I watched, much less ruminate on it. (I hope I used the word ruminate correctly… can you believe someone gave me a PhD?)

So, I give it 5 out of 5 ruminations of Brad Pitt on his motorcycle.

The One With the Pillow May 20, 2009

5-7-09 001, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

So I get home from work one day and let the dogs out (who, who, who!) as usual. I see Nola standing on the hill and notice that her butt is bloody. Now, if you’re a dog owner, you can imagine my horror. If she ate something and it did that to her BUTT, what did it do to her insides? So I call her over and take a closer look.

Upon further inspection, I find a hole next to her, well, hole. Being an animal pro (I think) I clean the wound, slap some Neosporin on it, and go upstairs and put on my pj’s. I come downstairs and it’s still bleedling preety badly. So I go back up and change clothes and head to the emergency vet.

I tell the receptionist the situation, she looks at Nola’s butt and says, “ruptured anal gland.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ruptured anal gland.”
“THEY DO THAT??”
“Yes.”

So, after some sedative, a shaved butt, a wound cleaning, and a lot of money, we head home.

And that is why Nola is using her tongue as a pillow in this picture.

The One With Leapin’ Lizards! May 14, 2009

Leapin’ Lizards!, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

This is known as a green anole (according to a google search performed using the term “lizard throat expands”). We here in the south just call it a lizard. They are very familiar and common and not scary at all. Their throat (or dewlap, according to the google search) is not always like this. It expands the throat to indicate excitement (according to the google search).

My experience with them is that they tend to stay around the same area. I know, you’re wondering how do I know they stick around. If they are so prevalent, how do you know it’s not just different lizards you’re seeing? Well let me tell you…

My cat, Rudy, who you’ve seen on here before, is big. Perhaps you couldn’t tell by the pictures, but he weighs 20+ pounds. This means that it’s tough for him to be ninja-like. So one day, in my old house, he shuffled past me looking sneaky and guilty. I followed him and a lizard dropped out of his mouth.

ACK!

The lizard had lost the better part of his (her?) tail,but was, for the most part, not injured. I picked him (her?) up and took her (him?)outside to freedom. This was the summer that the lizards kept breaking into my screened porch. I kept warning them that Rudy would try to eat them, but they wouldn’t listen. But I digress…

So, a few weeks later, I go out my back door and there is a lizard inside the screen. It was missing most of it’s tail. The same lizard I had saved. Once again, I ushered it to freedom.

This is why I think they stick around. They’re too stupid to go away.

The One Where I’m Phinally a Doctor May 13, 2009

Dr. K, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

I have not forgotten about you, blog. I’ve just been busy… finalizing the dissertation, graduating, trying to get re-grow some of my brain cells.

Women talk about pregnancy brain, but I also think there is dissertation brain. I only had enough room in my head for two things: 1) to do my job and 2) to write my dissertation. This fact was made all too clear when I had to ask my husband if 1 and 1/2 hours was 90 minutes when I was putting a frozen lasagna in the oven.

But that’s all over with. It’s weird to not have anything hanging over my head. But it’s a good weird. VERY good.

I will update more frequently… I’ll just need to find something to talk about… there’s a little mystery to figure out.

The One Where I Put the Draft to Bed February 26, 2009

Snapshot_20090225_1, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

The picture is symbolic for a couple of reasons. 1- I turned in a draft to my advisor on Monday. 2- I plan to sleep a lot for awhile.

I don’t know if the draft is snuggle-worthy, but it’s done. And sometimes I hold it.

The One Where Rusty Helps February 17, 2009

The One Where Rusty Helps, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

Rusty makes a damn good proofreader. Well, at least a damn cute one.

The One Where I Heart my Husband February 15, 2009

tulips, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

Taking just a brief pause from my writing (I’m really running out of time, which makes me want to shut down and curl into a little ball and sleep, but there’s no time, because I have to write, because I have a draft due in eight days, five of which I have to work, because I have a job, thank goodness I have a job, but I may need to call in sick a day or two this week, but it won’t be lying, because I will be sick with stress and a little bit of panic) to stop and smell the tulips my husband got me for Valentine’s Day. I LOVE tulips, but I REALLY LOVE my husband.

The One Where Rudy Reads February 10, 2009

Rudy reads, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

Rudy, my constant writing companion (unless he’s eating or in the litter box), and I discuss the latest edition of the Academic Advising handbook. We especially like Dr. Bloom’s chapter. This is because she is on my committee so we like everything she does. Also, she’s super nice, so you really can’t help but like her.

Also, Virginia Gordon signed my book. Eat your hearts out, you… academic advising people who know who she actually is. If you don’t know who she it, it’s okay. Just trust me. I’m cool.

Back to the writing…

The One Where I’m Tired February 7, 2009

Burning the midnight oil, originally uploaded by stcsmh.

I’m bound and determined to finish this section tonight. I probably could have been done already if I hadn’t slept until 11AM, but hey, I was sick all week, I needed my rest. Also, I had to vacuum the house.

I’m also trying to block most of me with the can since I didn’t shower today. Y’all don’t want to see that.