Gyrating biker: best cure for stage fright EVER.

I had the unexpected pleasure of knocking another goal off of my non-bucket list a couple of weeks ago. My friend Mike is in a new band called Decade Four and he offered to help me with #9 - Sing live with a band - no karaoke - in front of actual people. I gladly accepted and told him that I would happily sing with his band under the conditions that I can rehearse with the band at least once. Although I've been singing my entire life, I get major stage fright and I've found that the best way to beat it is large amounts of Jack Daniels and as much preparation as possible, in that order. As their debut rolls around, I realize that we've never had this rehearsal and assume that I will not be singing at this one. I'm ok with this as I was not really ready and, at the time, was taking a brief hiatus from my good friend Jack, his cousin Smirnoff, and their great great grandmother, Chardonnay. That family tree does not lead one to make wise decisions, and by one I mean me. 


Anywho, as I'm talking with the band's drummer, he's all like, "So, you're singing with us tonight!" And I'm like, "NO." He just laughs. I do not. I confirm with Mike that I am indeed not singing. Although he encourages me to, he reluctantly agrees to the suggestion that I sing at their second gig. 


So I relax and enjoy the charm of Chuckie D's, a divey biker bar off of Oleander and the location of Decade Four's first gig. It is a truly special place with an even more special clientele. We found this gem hanging on one of the posts:

It's amazing many of us got served at all, seeing as how we fit several of the criteria sober.

Obviously I wore my most girly, ruffly dress to such an establishment. Could I have tried harder to blend? Sure, but what fun is that?

So we're having a good time, listening to the band, which is excellent, by the way, and all of the sudden I hear Mike say to me, through the microphone, "Sarah, you sure you don't want to sing this one?" I adamantly yell out, "YES. I'M SURE." As crowds tend to do, they turned on me. What's a girl to do when a motley mix of friends, colleagues, and bikers start chanting your name? You suck it up and sing a song. 

I may be smiling, but I'm also devising ways to murder Mike and make it look like an accident. 

Was "Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman about three keys too low for my mid-range voice? Yes. Could anyone actually hear me? Probably not, as the vocals seriously needed to be raised and balanced with the instrumental (Dad the sound engineer knows what I'm talking about). Was I nervous as shit? Hell yes. Luckily for me, one of the bikers decided this was the time to do some solo gyrating on the dance floor, providing a third cure for stage fright.

Although I literally could have killed Mike, or at least caused a temporary injury, I am glad that I did it. My only regret is knowing that I can do better than that. So, although it's crossed off the list, I may just have to indulge my small, but growing biker fanbase with a repeat performance one day....

Annie Oakley Can Suck It

Another item knocked off my bucket list that we're not calling a bucket list! Actually, I took care of this particular item a few weeks ago. For some reason, I've been wanting to learn how to shoot a gun, just because I never have and they kind of scare the crap out of me. I seem to be on a kick of doing things that scare the crap out of me, but more on that later.

Anywho, my friend Adam recently asked me to be a reference for his gun permit, which I just thought was hysterical. I got a call from the sheriff (for real) and they asked me shockingly few questions about Adam's mental stability and violent tendencies. I resisted the urge to answer facetiously and he secured the permit for his newly purchased pistol. Just before Adam left us here in Wilmington for grad school, we went to the local shooting range, Shooter's Choice, and he taught me how to shoot! Rule #1: Always treat a gun like it's loaded. Took me a while to remember that one, but no worries, we were very safe. It was a blast (pun only quasi-intended), but sadly we did not take any pictures that day. I think I was too terrified and forgot. Guns are scary! However, in lieu of photos of my first shooting experience, I provide you with an amalgamation of awkward/weird/just plain funny photos of the two of us, which seem to be the only kind we take.

I had such a great time the first time around that I knew I could not keep this to myself. Luckily, Shooter's Choice has a Ladies Night every Monday, which is just too good a deal to pass up. Jenn, Stefanie and I took advantage of the $20 charge for instruction, lane and gun rental and ammo last night. I highly recommend this to any ladies in town that are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. I have to say, I enjoy shooting a lot more than I originally expected. The first time around, I was scared to death. Guns are powerful and oh hey, they can kill you. But I think it's important to know how they work and have a healthy fear of their power. Also, it is one hell of a stress reliever. Here are a few choice photos from last night.

My gun and ammo - this gun kind of sucked. It kept jamming. Luckily, I am a pro.

Showing off our super pretty pink and purple targets. 

Some have commented on why my target has less holes - that's because I'M A PRO, as previously mentioned, and I kept shooting through that little yellow circle aka THE BULLSEYE.

Not sure what's up with Stef in this pic. Maybe she's just acknowledging my extreme prowess at the range.

Also, for those of you aware of, familiar with, or obsessed with 4square as I clearly am, I am now the mayor of Shooter's Choice. HA! 

I also knocked another item off my list Saturday night, although it was unplanned and I felt woefully unprepared. As soon as I get the accompanying photos from Stef and Kara I'll fill you in. Till then, I'll leave you in suspense....

The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass*

The greatest pleasure in life is doing the things people say we cannot do. 

-Walter Bagehot

I've never been a great athlete, or an athlete at all really. I lack the necessary coordination for most sports and always feared letting my teammates down with my lack of skill. I also had little confidence in what my body was capable of. I accepted that I was an artist, a musician, a booknerd, but not an athlete. It was never part of my identity, until now. I accomplished something huge yesterday, something huge for me. I ran an entire 5k. Slowly. But I ran it! It's something that I've wanted to do just to prove that I could and I did. However, there is no way I could have done it without my friends, particularly Christina. 

Christina and I pre-race.

She ran with me the whole time even though I'm sure she could have run it faster, and when I did want to stop and walk she reminded me of why I was doing this and that my body could do it as long as I believed I could. She was truly inspirational and I owe so much of this victory to her. 

However, I had more support than I realized. A few days before the race I found out that several of my other friends were doing the race as well. We all ran different speeds and finished at different times, but it was amazing having them there all the same!

Me, Lindsey, Adrienne, and Jemilia

The UNCDub crew pre-race: Phil, Lindsey, me, Christina, Adrienne, Lindsey, Jemilia, and Justin in his funny little shoes.

Post race with Jenn, Christina, and a bright red tomato face!

 It was an incredible experience in addition to being an emotional one. The second I crossed the finish line I just burst into tears. I think I was crying for what I had accomplished, the person that I am now and the person I used to be. The one that never thought I could do this, that my body could do this. I really like the quote at the beginning of this post, but with a minor adjustment:

The greatest pleasure in life is doing the things we say we cannot do.

*Title attributed to Martin Mull

This list is mine, damnit!

So called "Bucket Lists" seem to be all the rage these days. Everyone's got one, except me. It kind of stresses me out to have a list of things to get done by a certain point in time. If I want to do these things, I'll do them. When I'm ready. If I die first, well shit. But whatevs, probably wasn't meant to be.  However, I do have goals and things I would like to accomplish and I do really like lists, ask anyone. So I made a list.

Stipulations: the list can change at my discretion and at any point in time. I can add to the list. I can delete from the list. I can adjust the list to fit my own personal needs and wants. I will do things when I damn well feel like it and can decide at a moment's notice or take months to plan it. That's the thing about my list. It's mine. I will not be confined by the rules set forth by some crappy buddy comedy between two old farts. (I'm feeling a bit saucy today - can you tell?) Anywho, here's list #1.


1. Shoot a gun (at the shooting range, not at Bambi)
2. Go to Harry Potter world at Universal (with Annahita, if she'll have me. She's the only one besides Lindsey who's as big a dork about HP as me)
3. Travel to the following international destinations: Prague, Australia, South Africa, India
4. Travel to the following US cities: Seattle, Las Vegas, Portland, Austin, San Diego
5. Drive a race car
6. Take a cooking class
7. Go to a film festival
8. Research my ancestry
9. Sing live with a band - no karaoke - in front of actual people
10. Master my grandma's chocolate cake recipe
11. Get a very small tattoo of a robin
12. Take surfing lessons
13. Start my Ph.D. in higher education
14. Run a 5k without stopping.
15. See Cirque du Soleil live
16. Pay off my credit cards (ha! like that'll happen in my lifetime)
17. Ride in a hot air balloon
18. Wear an entirely sequined dress
19. Go to a Hollywood awards show (preferably the Oscars or Emmys, but I will settle for the Golden Globes)
Addendum:
20. See the following artists/bands in concert: Adele, Mumford & Sons, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Sara Bareilles, Hem, the Bird and the Bee, Britney Spears (didn't see that one comin, did ya? HA!), Dixie Chicks (again, seen them 3 times, still hold out hope that they'll reunite)

If you or someone you know can help with any of these items, you will be handsomely rewarded.