My Halloween Top Threes!

So Halloween is mere hours away! I have compiled a few lists related to the holiday. Please enjoy and give me lotsa feedback!

:)

My Top 3 Scary Movies

3. The Ring. This one people will scoff at, but I feel my point is valid! It is genuinely creepy! Plus, attribute this to one of my medical diagnoses or just my weirdness, but I love the sounds in that movie! The clicks of the computer as Rachel researches, and the sounds of the voices. The screech of TV static! Very satisfying.
2. Scream. This movie just came into my life recently, but I like it very much! I just DVR'd it on a whim and it's awesome! I'm specifically talking about the first one- the sequels are decent, but no where near as good as the first. I suppose cinematically it's no treasure, but it's got suspense and to be honest, I was guessing at the killers til the very end.
1. The Shining. A classic! As you will see, the original book version is in my top list as well. Stephen King is a master, and I love that the plot hits such a basic fear of the human condition- forget all sorts of elaborate storylines, really what is scarier than being deathly afraid of someone you should love and trust? Also, I love that (SPOILER ALERT) the young kid is kind of the hero, able to out-smart an adult AND an evil hotel, and save his and his mothers lives.


Top 3 Scary Books

3. No Escape. So I'll be honest, I don't read that many scary books. But, even if I did I think this would make my top list. It was written by Madge Harrah, who I had the pleasure of meeting! It's no epic masterpiece but it's sufficiently creepy and a cool mystery. Really, what beats a possessed doll?
2. The Shining.  I told you it'd be back! I can honestly say, the book is indeed creepier than the film.. I read it on a verrrrry long car trip in broad daylight and I still had to stop every so often and calm down. It delves even deeper into human fears and compulsions and in the book you really understand more about the hotel's history AND Jack Torrance's insanity. In fact, reading the book made the ending kind of sad, because at the end of the book you learn how hard Jack tries to beat the evil possessing him and how he kind of saves his son.
1. Dracula. Way, waaaaaaaaay before this world went all bat-shit Twilight crazy, this. book. was. AMAZING! It's probably towards the top of all-time favorite book list. I love how it's written in diary-form, from multiple perspectives. Every time I read it, I get more from it! I also find the historical background interesting. In fact, once in high school we had an assignment to write a letter to a historical figure and I chose Vlad the Impaler! I think it's interesting how society has come to think of Dracula as the :son of the devil" but by many accounts the actual person was a Christian crusader! I also find it interesting that in folklore they seemed to think vampires were born from people who committed suicide- kind of a result from breaking one of the 10 commandments: thou shall not kill. I think people fear what they don't understand.


Top 3 Costume Ideas from my Facebook page! (Others)

Flo! From the Progressive Car Insurance commercials

A tree! And a witch

A Kentucky Derby attendee!

Top Costume Ideas from my Facebook page! (Me)

A hard-core Chola!

Confused? This may help:

http://youtu.be/Dy6gKuBZ3tE

Maria from the Sound of Music

The Joker, of course

My Top 3 Costume Ideas- This year!

3. Sheldon Cooper!

The real thing:

The costume version! (Just kidding...)

2. Dwight Schrute!

The real thing!

The costume version!

1. A Khaleesi! And a mother of dragons. (The winner!) While I don't share Daenerys' shade of hair or beautiful dresses, I think I can pull off a Sarah-rized version...

The real thing:

MY costume version:

To be seen....



Happy Halloween!

Sarah

Scars

When I look in a mirror, this is what I see:

In short, scars. Scars, scars, scars. I used to hate them! I thought they were ugly and embarrassing and disgusting. And maybe they are! Maybe you think they're awful, and why on earth would someone take pictures of them and put them on the internet??

Because they're part of me, I guess. They represent an awful thing I went through... and survived. Though not the direct result of depression and bipolar disorder, they came from medicines designed to help me through it. Lithium gave me horrible cystic acne, that here, years later, I still have the evidence of. 

Like I said, I used to hate them. But just recently I realized I don't anymore. In fact, I kind of like them. Just one more unique thing about me that tells a silent story.

And I have plenty of company!

I actually remember years and years ago reading in some of my favorite books about characters with facial scars, and I remember thinking if I ever had one, I'd be proud. I'd wear it with honor! Because those characters' scars happened for big, important reasons and helped make them the strong people they were.

Here are some of my peers :)

Dustfinger is a character in the "Inkheart" trilogy. He is a fire-eater and his best friend is his pet, a marten named Gwin. His facial scars are three cuts, sliced into his face by a bitter and jealous rival. The premise behind the "Inkheart" series is that certain people are actually able to read things in and out of books. It's an absolutely awesome idea... I think any avid reader would agree that good books really can transport you to other worlds, and in the best books, even after you finish reading them, the characters stay with you. Dustfinger was accidentally read out of his world into ours and desperately wants to return to his home. In a less literal sense, who doesn't feel that way sometimes?

Tyrion Lannister. Three words for you: GAME OF THRONES! My latest obsession. I think one of my favorite things about the series is that, with the exception of maybe Joffrey, there is not one character that is entirely good or entirely bad, which I feel is very realistic. Tyrion, though small in stature, is incredibly smart and incredibly brave. He received his scar in the Battle of the Blackwater, his face sliced by an ally-turned-foe.

The Joker, from "The Dark Knight" is probably one of my favorite characters ever. Heath Ledger's portrayal of him was absolutely genius. No one knows the true origins of his scars! He gives several different explanations during the film, so it could be any of them, or none. I love that he accentuates them instead of hiding them.

Harry Potter, The Boy who Lived! His lightning-bolt scar is legendary. His scar is the result of a life-altering trauma- a horrible event in which he lost his parents, but simultaneously proved to the world how strong he was, how strong love is.

If you ask me, scars should be celebrated, not hidden! Whether it's a scar on your knee from the first time you rode (and fell off!) a bicycle, or a face full of laugh lines, you should love them! They tell a lifetime of joys and sorrows, tell you how far you've come, and how far you'll go.

Sarah

FAQs

On a daily basis I get asked questions. At work, at the movie theater, in line at the grocery store... questions! Some concern my appearance, some concern my personal life, a few concern my family, and a few concern prices of rental equipment.

All the big, fancy companies have websites with Frequently Asked Questions so I thought I would follow suit! I want to be fancy and classy too! Plus, I'm a little bit obnoxious.

If you have any questions, let me know! And like the fancy companies I strive to emulate, I may get back to you within the next four to six weeks. During business hours, of course.


"Your name is Elizabeth, right?"

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh so close. Actually it's Sarah. Elizabeth is my way awesomer older sister. People confuse us all the time and insist we are close to twins, but she and I don't see the physical resemblances much at all!

If it helps you, think of me as "Sarah with the crazy Hair-uh!"


"Why is there a safety pin in your ear? Didn't it hurt?"

As to why it is there, I can't really say. It's been there for years and years and years because I like it. And no, it didn't hurt in the slightest! I guess people assume I pierced my ear with the safety pin and left it in there, but that wasn't the case. I got it professionally pierced and later put the safety pin in the hole.


"What does your tattoo say?"

I have two featuring words, the biggest one reading: "We all carry these things inside that no one else can see" which is a quote from a song. The smaller says "expletive." backwards.


"Would you like to learn more about our lord and savior Jesus Christ?"

Nope!


"What does it cost to rent a sewer snake?"

Do you want a large or a small? The large go for $60.00 a day and the small are $35.00 a day. Which one you need depends on the size of the pipe and the distance you need it to go. We don't recommend using more than two rolls of cable.


"And what about renting a carpet shampooer?"

They go for $20.00 a day, plus tax and the cost of shampoo. Would you like me to reserve one for you?


[in response to the toy Sheriff's badge I wear on my ACE apron]
"So you're the Sheriff around here, huh?"

Yes. Self-appointed.


"Is that your real hair?"

If you're asking if it is my natural hair color, um, no it's not. But it's not a wig!


"How do you get your hair that color?"

Carefully!!
If I'm feeling particularly sassy, when people ask that question I tell them it's natural and I just woke up with it like that. But, if you're genuinely interested, I will tell you. I have to bleach it, wash it, let it dry, dye it, and wash it out. It is tiring and time-consuming but I love my colorful hair!


"What does your necklace say? Who's that?"

My necklace says "OTIS". She is my dog and my best friend.


"Is that cat hair on your shirt?"

Oh. Heh. Yeah, probably.


"So you have pets?"

Yes! Otis and I have three cats- Sheldon, Amy and Three. [Bonus question: So you like The Big Bang Theory? Just a little bit....] He doesn't really count, but there is also a lizard that frequents my front porch and I call him Clarky.


"Must you take pictures of EVERYTHING?"

Yes, and if you don't stop bothering me you may find an unflattering, paparazzi-style photo of you on Facebook soon!

:)

Sarah