21 Easter Confessions by Sarah Lane

1. I used to lie and say that I was 5'2" on my driver's license. Then I thought, "What if my identity is called into question someday because of this falsehood?" So I downgraded to 5'1" at my last renewal.
2. I don't crave ice cream, ever. I don't know what happened. It just went away.
3. I sing to my cats when no one's around. A lot.
4. I might be the worst singer you've ever heard.
5. I suspect that I have some form of ADD, though I've never been treated for it. I often really struggle to focus on things, and I blame our modern times.
6. I fantasize about becoming an acupuncturist and maintaining a successful practice in a small town somewhere with a lot of trees.
7. I spend too much time online checking up on things that aren't important.
8. I used to get the bands Cheap Trick and Crowded House confused.
9. I used to get Neil Simon and Neil Diamond confused.
10. I realize that, at the ripe old age of 31, I'm still totally clueless.
11. I'm also stubborn and sometimes I can't admit when I'm wrong. I'm working on it.
12. I hate folding and putting away clean laundry more than any other household chore. I will choose the toilet over folding and putting away clean laundry. I have no idea what my problem is.
13. I miss my dad and sometimes it overwhelms me.
14. I'm in the preliminary stages of planning a trip to Africa.
15. I still watch "Friends" reruns. All the time. And I never laugh at any of the jokes.
16. I recently stopped following all celebrity gossip. It was a hard habit to break, but I'm proud of myself.
17. I don't know anything about the state of Nebraska besides obvious associations like corn and flat land, which is totally unfair.
18. I love the feeling I get on a Saturday morning when the sun's streaming through the window and I have nowhere to be.
19. I hate being jealous. I think it's the ugliest emotion ever and I try really hard not to let it in.
20. I try not to be too hard on myself, either. Nobody's perfect.
21. I'm cooking artichokes for dinner.

Comments

[Alec]

Aww I love Africa I went all over... where are you thinking about going in Africa? I also love also spend way to much time on the internet of unimportant things (of course your blog isnt an unimportant thing this is one of the few haha) and I love Artichokes I'm so envious I haven't had one in forever...

[Chrissy]

That was wonderful. I can't imagine how neat Africa would be. :)

[sarah]

@Alec - Well, Africa's a big continent so I'm trying to narrow things down. Right now I'm particularly interested in South Africa, Namibia, Cameroon, and Tanzania. But I'd love to get some advice, and I'm all ears.

[Dennis D]

you probably are already aware of this site but here it is just incase you missed it

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.travelblog.org/pix/maps/africa.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/blogs-page-929.html&h=119&w=125&sz=43&tbnid=ftCR0M80bMwJ:&tbnh=119&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dafrica&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1

[Matt]

My Dad passed just a couple months after yours did, as I recall; still gets overwhelming for me at times, too. The world still feels a lot emptier without him around, even after all this time. I take comfort in the parts of him that live on inside me, though - my memories of him and the lessons he taught me in living with compassion, courage, and humility.

[Fattom]

Sarah,
As some one that was born and raised in Nebraska, I thought I would share a couple of tidbits. 1- In the late winter and early spring, hundreds of sandhill cranes migrate through the central and western part of the state.
2- On game day, Memorial Stadium, home of the Cornhuskers, is the third largest city in Nebraska.
3- It isn't all flat, on the eastern border there are many bluffs along the river.
4- You would have a good time if you came to Omaha - heck, you might even see Bright Eyes walking down the street.

[Syl DuBenion]

I still watch "Friends" reruns. All the time. And I never laugh at any of the jokes. <-- I mildly lol'd.

[Dave]

When I think Easter dinner, I think artichokes-NOT!

[Alec]

I've been to South Africa 3 times and there is always something new to do, it is nice but it isn't really what most people think of when they think Africa (Its rather modern), but of course it really depends on what you would like to. Such as Sightseeing, Safari, and or just travel and see haha. In South Africa there are very cool things to do, you can go from shopping to seeing a Zulu tribe... I can tell you in Namibia you can see some amazing things like the desert there is beautiful. Also it is very rich in history, I don't know if you get in to that or not, but it was very interesting. A little advice about Namibia is that you should definitely get the optional 'anti-Malaria' shot, with all of the other vaccines, because in Namibia there is a high risk of Malaria. That is not as relevant when going to South Africa, although I would still do it. One more thing on that is don't let the vaccinations sneak up on you, some you have to take months before your trip and go back and get a second one. I've never been to Cameroon but I've heard it is one of the most stable African countries. I could go on forever about Tanzania, but I'll try to keep it short. A must do is Mount Kilimanjaro, it is breathtaking, really it is like a Tanzanian requirement to go to Mount Kilimanjaro, okay but I better move on it is just beautiful. Ok Tanzania is known for Safari, I mean I am pretty sure your not going to go hunting right? It is amazing what you can see though on Safari, it really blew me away to be that close to those animals. Might I suggest Kenya for Safari, I had more fun on Safari in Kenya than Tanzania, It might have just been the time we went, but we saw more. I can go more in depth if you tell me what your looking to do. I could probably be of more help. If you would like to see pictures just ask, I don't have any on my .Mac account but I have been needing a reason to put them up.

[sarah]

@Alec - Oh, I know all about vaccinations! :) Thanks for the great advice.

@Fattom - Just learned 4 new things about Nebraska, thanks to you!

[Alec]

You're most welcome... I have a question for you if you have time to answer... I saw you were reading Atonement, I am to and I have hit a wall were I just don't want to finish it and do the lazy thing and watch the movie... does it get better after the first 120 pages? Or should I just go buy it? Thanks

[C.]

My kudos to Fattom. I too am a native of Nebraska, and yes:
Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on a fall afternoon should not be missed. It’s truly one of the Meccas of College Football, and is quite an experience to behold. And,
Contrary to popular belief, Nebraska is not very flat at all. Really only the bottom third is flat. And because Interstate 80 runs through here, people just driving through get that impression. Fattom mentioned the eastern border, and I’m originally from the Sand Hills of Nebraska, a geographical eco-region that is the only one of its kind on the planet. It’s like driving on a roller coaster. Growing up there, car sickness is a rite of passage. It’s a bit like developing your sea legs.

A few of many Nebraska facts:

1. Kool-Aid, Cliffs Notes and the Strobe Light were invented there. (I doubt at the same time…)
2. Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich. (Never had one.)
3. It's been said that if the US was Middle Earth, Nebraska would be the Shire, and Nebraskans would be Hobbits because of the cultural ties to the land, nature and animals.
4. Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state.
5. Nebraska gets lots of Tornadoes and Major Thunderstorms, which sometimes, can be a kick-ass good time.
6. It may not be the most exotiic or sexiest place, but its greatest strength by far are the people.
7. The 911 system of emergency communications, now used nationwide, was developed and first used in Lincoln, Nebraska.
8. The world's largest hand-planted forest is Halsey National Forrest near Thedford, Nebraska, and is awesome.
9. In Nebraska in 1986 for the first time ever two women ran against each other for governorship of a state.

And last but not least,
10. The largest porch swing in the world is located in Hebron, Nebraska and it can sit 25 adults.
11. Carhenge.

[Denver]

I am not 31, and yet I am still clueless. My advice -

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"

Who ever guesses who said that get's a cookie.

[FAROFF]

@ Denver- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now how about that cookie

[Chrissy]

To Denver-

The "sugar daddy" (as my Lit. teacher calls him) of Transcendentalism - Emerson. Nice quote!

[Coby]

I'll be turning 32 in six days. I still have no clue and I don't think I will. It sucks that adulthood has remained elusive for all these years and has now decided to pounce. It also sucks that I can use a phrase like "all these years" and it still be applicable. There is a line a Stephen King book that " thirty is when you are no longer young and forty is when you accept it" Now that was depressing. At least your married and have seen the world. I'm single and have been to three states counting my own. And I understand about your dad too. Sometimes on the brightest days a wave can come crashing down and I just want to curl up and cry like a baby. I sometimes do. I don't think it ever goes away. But inside that hurt is like the love, and so even though the hurt hurts it's kinda good because I can feel the love. Anyway when you get your needles sharpened I know a nice little town that can use you. And we got enough trees for everybody. You should be introspective more often. It suits you.

[David]

I'm sorry you feel clueless at 31, and I have bad news for you...approaching 50 doesn't leave you all-wise and all-knowing either :-( When I get to the age where one knows everything, I'll let you know what it is.

And if you do get to travel to Africa, I hope you'll blog about it similar to your around-the-world tour.

[Jay W.]

Some of those Nebraska things don't seem to be facts...

"4. Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state."
Per this, not even close:
http://www.americanrivers.org/site/DocServer/Stream_Miles_Table_FINAL__2_.pdf?docID=4081
I think Nebraska might be about 21st in total river miles per state.

"7. The 911 system of emergency communications, now used nationwide, was developed and first used in Lincoln, Nebraska."

Per this:
http://www.911dispatch.com/911/history/
Nebraska wasn't involved with 911 calling development, and the first call took place on 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, 1968 in Alabama.

"The Internet doesn't lie."

[C.]

@ Jay W.
Well, sorry. Had no idea. I guess I should have fact checked a LOT more thoroughly. I don't seem to have as much free time on my hands as others. Go yell at them:

http://www.50states.com/facts/nebraska.htm

Good job on fact checking comment sections on blogs though, really. Looks like I got busted by the hall monitor... See you all after I get out of detention. :(

[asujoan]

I thought everyone sings and talks to their cats. That's a confession? I'm a sinner.

[BrionG]

I know that you're all about 'traveling light', but, just in case you're over that ... {lol} ... here's something that a train-nut, at work, brought to my attention, a few months ago:
http://www.bluetrain.co.za/

[Denver]

To Faroff -

Why GIrl Scout of course ! Any kind except Tag A longs, those are too good to share.

Maybe feeling clueless isn't a bad thing, maybe it's the first step towards the realization that we are fearsome and wonderfully made !

By feeling lost and insignificant maybe we realize that we are all part of something much much grander in scope, much deeper in wisdom, mouch more profound in purpose.

Or maybe not, - just saying that's all.

[Brett]

I'm the ripe old age of 30 in a couple months and from Nebraska. Watched all of you the entire G4 time and sub to all of your casts. I agree that I hate putting laundry away and do clean the bathroom first. I just won a trip to a ranch resort on Bozeman, Montana, so looks like both of us from our generation will be traveling. I forgot how to spell traveling with one L or two as well as the word "misspell".

[Brett]

Nebraska: Home of the RUNZA baby!

[Alan]

I thought I was the only one with adult onset ADD. Before the Internet became user friendly I was a productive member of society. Now I can hardly remember what I had for lunch.

[Joe]

I sing and talk to my cats all the time. Its when they talk back or join in the chorus you have to worry...........

[David Burn]

Here's an excerpt from a piece I wrote several years ago about my home state:

Nebraska has long been blessed with writers and other artists. Red Cloud is Willa Cather's childhood home and the setting for her classic novels My Antonia and Oh Pioneers. The Sandhills are brought to life in the works of Mari Sandoz, most notably in Old Jules. John G. Neihardt poet and friend of Lakota Medicine Man, Black Elk, called Bancroft, Nebraska his home from 1900 to 1920. Loren Eisley, noted anthropologist, Prairie Schooner contributor, and author of The Immense Journey is from Lincoln. National Book Award winner, Wright Morris hails from Central City. And Bess Streeter Aldrich, an O. Henry Award winner, lived and wrote in Elmwood, Nebraksa. The Nebraska Center for Writers, affiliated with Creighton University, is an amazing resource. Please visit their site for more on this subject.

http://www.davidburn.com/dacorn.php

[Jones1]

311's from Nebraska, and my grandpa actually farmed land there as a kid and an older person but was a carpenter in between (in Dallas). He's actually pretty smart but it was impossible to tell until he stopped drinking beer. That's everything that comes up immediatley for me. Africa... that would be very interesting and presumably pretty awesome, beautiful too. I just recently started craving Cherry Garcia sometimes but it was a fairly conscious craving decision, possibly... I think I need help. No, it was conscious just because it's a particularly good ice cream. You should 'want' to crave it is all I'm saying, but then forget that you have it- it's simple. I'm glad that you have a show again, that's totally awesome. I'm incredibly excited about it, and it was a cool first episode. Good luck!

[Brett]

Dude. There is nothing on Earth...NOTHING, that I hate more than laundry.

Someday I'll just start buying new clothes everyday and giving the dirty stuff away to my fellow homeless.

[Carlton]

What is it about Saturday mornings that just makes them so radiant? It would take a horrible tragedy to ruin a Saturday morning, and I can confess that I still get excited to eat my cereal and watch cartoons! I don't really sing to my cats, but I do have conversations with them, and tell them my secrets! Africa seems like such a mystical place, full of wonder and a culture severely under-represented in mainstream American society.

Oh...and I REALLY agree that jealousy is the ugliest emotion, and it is my kryptonite that I must fight off daily. I've been hurt in the past, and guard my heart too much against such a pain ever re-occurring, so I can sympathize with you there!

[Danielle]

Don't miss Rwanda for the mountain gorillas. It will steal your breath away.

[indiecowboy]

I HATE folding clean laundry too. It's so tedious and it's not something you can watch tv and do at the same time.

[Clintus McGintus]

Nice little list here. I think it's good to get this out on "paper".

[Pence]

"I don't crave ice cream, ever. I don't know what happened. It just went away."

Me either! I'm one of the few.. diet coke will hurt that, though (aspartame.. )

[Mattman]

Hi Sarah!

I just was reading some of your confessions and I wanted to share a bit about the state of Nebraska with you. I'm planning on living in Omaha this summer which is Nebraska's largest city. According to the census bureau (and Wikipedia), Omaha is the 42nd largest city in America. Warren Buffett lives in Omaha, and according to Forbes Magazine he is the richest man in the world. Overall, Omaha is a pretty cool place. It's large enough to get good concerts and entertainment, but small enough that you aren't always getting lost or fearing for your life. That's pretty much all I have to say about Nebraska. I just recently started watching PopSiren and I'm really enjoying it and the other Revision3 shows. Keep up the great work!

-Mattman

PS! Hearing that you are clueless @ 31 makes me feel better about being SO damn clueless at 22. :D

[Francois]

Sarah je crois que je suis tombé fous amoureux de toi :) tu es trop trop jolie !! et tu as un charme monstrueux sur les photos ;) j'adore !!!!!

Sarah i believe , i found beside oneself with love to you. you are very very pretty as a picture
and you have great extortionate charm on the pictures. I adore ! :) ( sorry for my language in english, im french )

;)

bye