Public Service Announcement

WASH YOUR HANDS!

I was recently hospitalized for a severe asthma exacerbation due to pneumonia, which would be easily stopped if everyone could follow the CDC's recommendations concerning hand washing and the spread of disease. It seems that what is taught as a general rule to kids in preschool ("This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands...") is very easily disregarded by adults.

Some general rules regarding good hygiene that you should have learned by age 5:

• If your hands are soiled, wash them.
• Cough/sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, never into your hand. If you cough/sneeze into your hand, and then don't wash it, you are gross. End of story.
• Wash your hands before and AFTER you eat. People usually wash their hands to get others' germs off before eating, but don't forget to get your own germs off your hands after eating and before interacting with others.
• If you are sick, stay home. There is no need to infect the general population with your cooties. Remember, some of us can't fight off infection as easily as others.
• When in doubt, use hand sanitizer. It's good stuff, I promise. Avon makes a tasty smelling peach concoction that I highly recommend

So now you have Sarah's general rules for good hygiene. Please don't make me sick again. After my near-death experience, I've realized that a large part of the general population have no idea about the spread of disease and good hygiene. Consider yourselves educated. And keep in mind that if you ever cough or sneeze in my face again, it's only my good manners keeping me from slapping you. There are some things that I don't like to share!

Movie Night: Tara Road

I added Tara Road to my Netflix queue with a bit of hesitation, as Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite books, and the movie adaptation of that novel changed the story in a way that I didn't appreciate. But despite my nervousness that Hollywood might "ruin" another book I had enjoyed, I figured I was probably safe, because I read Tara Road quite a while ago, and couldn't remember all the specifics. Which is really the best way to watch a movie adaptation of a novel...that way you aren't picking the movie apart based on the book, and you can really sit back and enjoy it.

And actually, at this point, I can't even tell you how closely the movie followed the book. I remember Ria (an Irish woman who discovers her husband has a pregnant girlfriend) swapping houses with an American woman, and that is about it. In the movie, the American turns out to be Marilyn, who decides to swap houses after her son is killed in a horrific accident.

There really isn't much for me to say about this movie, except I really enjoyed it. It was beautiful to watch, it made me cry several times, and I liked the new movie ending better than the book. I always love seeing what life is like in other countries (probably why I love reading Maeve Binchy books so much!) and Tara Road (both book and movie) was doubly interesting because you get to see how an American sees Ireland, and how an Irish person takes in the United States. So, in all, I would recommend it...and is anyone interested in swapping houses with me? =)

Important Womens' Health Issue

Important Womens' Health Issue:

* Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
* Do you suffer from shyness?
* Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
* Do you suffer exhaustion from the day to day grind?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regiment of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Incarceration
- Erotic lustfullness
- Loss of motor control
- Loss of clothing
- Loss of money
- Loss of virginity
- Table dancing
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNINGS:
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Please share this important information with other women who may need Margaritas.

(Thanks to my Aunt Paula for sending this to me!!)

My First Kiss - 3OH!3 featuring Ke$ha

Some thoughts:

1. This song kinda (okay, really) kicks my ass, but the video is kinda (okay, really) bad!
2. That one dude looks A LOT like Tom Brady.
3. How awesome is that gold lipstick that Ke$ha is wearing???
4. I think every band/singer should have a punctuation mark in their name.
   

Seriously, though, if anyone knows where to get that lipstick, I need to know.

Book Review: Charlie St. Cloud

I guess I should start off by saying yes, I did buy a book with Zac Efron on the cover, and yes, I am okay with that. Maybe now is a good time to get one of my deep, dark secrets off my chest: I have seen all three High School Musicals, and I even went to see the stage version at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse last summer. And I enjoyed it! I have the tastes of a 12-year-old girl, and I am not ashamed to admit it.

Zac Efron, however, is not the reason that I purchased Ben Sherwood's novel Charlie St. Cloud. The truth is, the movie looks great from the previews I've seen, and I hate seeing a movie before I read the book, because usually the book is way better. We can discuss exceptions to this rule at a later time. Charlie St. Cloud was originally published as The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, and I'm hoping that the title was the only thing that was changed for this edition, since it always annoys me when books get edited after a movie is made. There aren't any notations on the book, but the presence of Zac Efron's pretty face kind of makes me worry that the book has been dumbed down for teenyboppers.

Charlie is a teenage boy that gets along remarkably well with his little brother Sam. So well in fact, that when the two boys are in a horrific car accident, they make a promise to each other to always stay together. Years later, Charlie is found working at the cemetary where his brother is buried...and seeing, talking to, and playing catch with Sam every night as the sun goes down. Charlie, at 28, has given up school, girlfriends, basically life itself, just to stay with his little brother. Then along comes Tess, a gorgeous sailmaker, who just might be responsible for Charlie coming to life again.

Charlie St. Cloud was a really quick read, so much so that I thought it might be considered a young adult read. Regardless of it's genre, it was enjoyable. I think it would be a great beach read, and definitely worth reading before going to see the movie.