Sausages and Apple Sauce: A Winning Combo

Actually, I'm a vegetarian so I don't eat sausages. But Boca meatless sausages will convert any link lover (get the Italian flavor), and the apple sauce sort of cuts down the salt. Thanks to the nice lady at the Whole Foods sample booth who let me eat three because I was really hungry that day. It's the best snack since mangoes and cottage cheese!

Just got back from an awesome, relaxing weekend in Santa Cruz, where I stayed in a little cottage on a secluded cove. Santa Cruz is one of my favorite weekend getaway spots in Norcal. It's full of beach freaks and varying degrees of overindulgence, but you gotta love that funky surf town vibe! And we lucked out with the weather, too.

I refuse to visit SC without at least one ride on the Giant Dipper at the Boardwalk. It's not the scariest, fastest, or newest rollercoaster, but it's still my absolute fave. The tunnel has a certain smell- always reminds me of the first time I mustered up the courage to ride.

A car just passed my window, its entire left side adorned with strips of duct tape that spelled "GET OFF THE PHONE AND DRIVE." I love San Francisco. But I also talk and drive, so actually it's me they're angry with.

Does it bother you when sentences are ended in prepositions? With regards to the previous paragraph, I believe correct form is "so actually it's me with whom they're angry." But that just doesn't sound like something I'd say.

Do you have word peeves? I do. Here are my top 5:

1. All usage of the word "ain't"

2. When "anyway" is made plural to "anyways"

3. The pronunciation of "Illinois" with a not-silent S

4. The phrase "Alls I know is..."

5. Catsup

But I am by no means off the hook! Here are 5 common peeves others say about my own language grasp:

1. "Dude" as an exclamation

2. Overuse of "like." I try, but it keeps coming out before every sentence.

3. "Stoked." I find this to be a perfectly suitable expression for being psyched, but people point and laugh at me.

4. Shortening of words for no reason: fabulous/fab, usual/us, difference/diff

5. Slurring perfectly delightful words like "probably" into "prolly" and spelling them that way on IM

Different strokes, different strokes. Variety makes me happy.

You know those pictures they try to sell you after you get off a rollercoaster that snapped you as you were coming around that big turn, hair straight up and mouth wide? We bought ours. It was $10 for two photo magnets. The nice man behind the counter threw in a photo keychain for free. I suspect he had really just accidentally printed three photographs, but we thanked him all the same.

My fridge is now running out of room for magnets. The fridge itself is completely hidden behind a mess of photos, clippings, recipes, stickers, and postcards. It gives so much color and life to my kitchen. Every time a new pic worthy of display comes around, I carefully rearrange the fridge to accommodate the new addition. There's a complicated pecking order regarding which pics deserve "above the line" status and which get stuck below freezer level.

If you were going to Ireland, would you be curious to visit N. Ireland? There's some concern about safety in those parts, but that's part of the intrigue for me. I'm going to be all over the UK in a few weeks, so post your best suggestions! I'm looking for those hidden gems not overrun by tourists, which is a tall order in the summer, but I know they exist.

Comments

[Dennis]

I don't have a problem ending a sentence with a preposition. Of course, formal, standard, edited written English encourages us to avoid it, but it all depends on context. Much of what we call "correct grammar" comes from 18th century middle-class grammarians trying to impose Latin grammar rules on English, which is NOT a Romantic language.

I don't mind "ain't" if it's used corectly. It's the contraction of "am not," and has been used by English-speakers since the time of Chaucer or perhaps before. Shakespeare used it, by the way. He also used double negatives.

BTW, you and your blog report have inspired me to start my own blog. Been spending all weekend setting it up. I'll let you know when I make my first real entry. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Larry T]

Sarah,

Sounds like a nice weekend. You deserve it. You really don't want me to get started on word peeves. Well, maybe a few.

1. Maybe as "may be"2. Library as "liberry" (where do those grow?)3. Ask as "ax" Can I "AX" you a question? Are they going to cut it out of wood?4. Italian as "eyetalian"

I better stop. Probably pissed a bunch of people off already (not "all ready").

Since you are going to be traveling, here is how to say "Sarah Rules" in ten different languages.

Reglas del sarah Spainsh

Sarah Richtlinien German

R�gles de Sarah French

Regole del Sarah Italian

Sarah Russian

Sarah Greek

De regels van Sarah Dutch

Sarah Korean

Chinese

Japanese

Relaje, goce, tenga de diversi�n, sus segmentos son perfecto.

SARAH RULES!

Larry T.

[;)]

It�s not my fault.I blame Outlook and Word.I�m Purfect! ;)

[Rev. Maynard]

And the angel of the lord came unto me, snatching me up from my place of slumber. And took me on high, and higher still until we moved to the spaces betwixt the air itself. And he brought me into a vast farmlands of our own midwest. And as we descended, cries of impending doom rose from the soil. One thousand, nay a million voices full of fear. And terror possesed me then. And I begged, "Angel of the Lord, what are these tortured screams?" And the angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots, the cries of the carrots! You see, Reverend Maynard, tomorrow is harvest day and to them it is the holocaust." And I sprang from my slumber drenched in sweat like the tears of one million terrified brothers and roared, "Hear me now, I have seen the light! They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers!" Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Thank you Jesus.

Life feeds on life feeds on life feeds on life feeds on........

This is necessary.

-Tool, "Disgustipated"

[Garret Picchioni]

Im an Italian (hint the last name Picchioni) and there is no substitute for the real taste of meat.

[Troy]

After reading your top 5 word peeves I am rethinking my invitation for you to come to Kentucky. We say all of those phrases, and a few others. But hey atleast in south eastern Kentucky we have a sub culture called Appalachia so it's not improper for us :) In any case it's a good way to justify it.

Oh I love to travel, been to L.A. and San Diego, Tijauna. Now I want to take my wife to see Nor Cal, I didn't really like South Cali. Wish I had some advice for Ireland but that's next summer for us.

[Matt C]

Does anyone really say catsup? I mean, I've seen it written out plenty of times, but I can't recall anyone specifically saying catsup. To be honest, it sounds more like me talking to the felines around the house. Cat...'Sup?

[Dennis]

Being a Catholic, I would DEFINITELY go to Northern Ireland. I don't support terrorism, but I'm partisan. I'd want to see where those orange gangsters have martyred so many of my brethren over the last 500 years.

I'd also like to attend a daily mass or two in an out of the way parish, and maybe Sunday mass at the Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin (http://www.cccdub.ie/). It's not really the cathedral. The Catholics are just using it temporarily until the Protestants give back St. Patrick's, which they illegally took possession of several hundred years ago.

Oops. I hope I didn't say anything controversial.

By the way, I won't mention my new blog (http://www.hedlit.com/blogs/blog_1/) again, but I did just put my first post there. Yay. Thanks to Sara and all her pals at TSS.

[Dennis]

Grr! Did I say Christ Church? I meant St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral (http://www.dublintourist.com/Info.cgi/stmar497.shtml). Damn my poor memory. Christ Church was ALSO commandeered by the Protestants. So while I might go take pictures of it (it was built in 1030), I wouldn't go to mass there. St. Mary's was built in 1825 after laws were changed making it no longer a crime to be a Catholic in Ireland.

[Johnny]

Hey sarah....

nice site!

The UK:

Dublin - just go to the Temple Bar area and pick any pub - any pub. They're all good. Drink much stout. (the sky bar at the top of the Guinness factory is touristy, but the beer and view are worth it!)

London - do what I didn't get to do - see a concert by candlelight at St-Martin-in-the-fields. I heard it was absolutely beautiful.

[woolrich]

my current fav is Gardenburger BBQ riblets with vegetarian baked beans.BTW, i am having trouble viewing the blog in IE. When I scroll down the lines run together and I have to refresh the page.take care.

[Thomas]

Are you a vegetarian because you don't like killing animals, or because you just don't like meat? For every animal you don't eat, I'll eat three :-D I can't go on roller coasters, something wrong with my head, I have massive headaches and bloody noses...though I do enjoy the ride for a while. I saw a bumper sticker that said the same thing about talking and driving, I loved it.

I don't like :

All usage of the word "ya'll"Anyone that says "All ya'll"The pronunciation of "wash" as "warsh"The phrase "Ya know what I mean?" if repeated several times within a conversation"Aminals"

I might go to Ireland someday soon, I have a clan over there, pretty cool. I have own little symbol thing, what is it called, a coat of arms? I'm Thomas of the O' Madden clan. I'm also the third. Pretty cool if you ask me, but you won't, so I'll call it cool anyway. Have fun when you go, take lots of pictures! If I can think of any interesting places I'll e-mail you.

Thomas

[Ouabaio]

i've been to ireland twice, never the north, tho. ireland is best seen from a rented car, the cities tend to be underwhelming, and the guiness tastes just as good everywhere you go. dublin can be done in a day or a day and a half, limerick best not done at all. i'd reccomened kinsale (very south past cork) and glendalough (which is the home of st kevins abby, and st kevins kitchen and st kevins bed and all the wonderfulness that is/was st kevin - it's also breathtakingly gorgeous - but i'm partial, being a kevin). i could say more but my fingers'd hurt.kevin

[Paul]

Three particular pet-peeves of pronunciation:

1. Jewelry as "jew-ler-ey" - like it pertain to acts conducted by Jews. I hear this one all the time, even from "professionals" in commercials!

2. Realtor as "real-a-tor" - again, heard way too often by people who should know better

3. Nuclear as "new-cyuh-ler" - good grief the President of the United States says this!

PS: So post the roller coaster pic will ya!

[Larry T]

Hey Sarah,

I forgot to mention an old saying from Business Law. "Two things most people should never see made: sausages and laws."

Also, ATM "Machines"

Purple is a very good color on you!

:)Larry T.

[Matt C]

"Reverse Discrimination." Discrimination is discrimination, no matter who is perpetrating it and who is on the receiving end.

[Charlie]

Was you comment about working with Martin on Unscrewed a dream or a nightmare FOR US. You are the most interesting thing on TSS and I hope you stay WITH A HEALTHY LARGE RAISE IN SALARY!!

You bring a smile to my face with your beautiful smile and no, I'm not hitting on you as I'm a grandfather! I just enjoy what you bring to the show; a new approach with a smile and knowledge.

[HIGHWAY]

I too use the truncated word for 'probably' to be 'prolly' and I say it the same way as I write it on any chat system.

Highway (AIM: JohnHwy)

[Guillaume]

Hi Sarah,Nice blog.

I'm french and I just want to warn you that "R�gles de Sarah" means "Sarah's rules" (comment by Dennis)."Sarah rules" could be translated as:"Sarah est la meilleure" ("Sarah is the best").Besides, "r�gles" also means "periods" so I think the "r�gles de Sarah" wouldn't be a good idea of french usage.Anyway(s? :)) if you come to Paris, I'd be glad to welcome you and show you some un-touristic places.Conclusion: those web translators really suck.And avoid the cellphone while driving because I "like" to read from you.Au revoir !

[Jerk]

Hey Guillaume, I'm sorry to hear you're French. Seriously, you have my condolences.

[Bastard]

UK sucks but not as much as France. Didn't you see that goofball Tony Blair on TV pimping tourism in UK? That makes me want to go to Iraq for vacation.

[Vicky]

Hey, Sarah! Love this! Way cool! If you get to travel, you have to check out the castles. The last time I went and got to go on a tour, they let us go to the parapet (they might not now) and the view was fantastic. And looking at the style of living at the time . . . well lets just say I have a new love for my microwave and indoor plumbing!Keep up the GREAT work!

[Ben]

Boca Italian sausages aren't vegan :( Neither are the smoked ones, which are better than hot dogs, IMHO. Stupid egg products...

[John P]

I love animals. They're delicious! Y'all be good. ;^)

[Dennis]

Guilliame, it wasn't me who messed up trying to say "Sarah Rules" in several languages. I published the post ABOVE that one. The person who messed up "Sarah Rules" in just about every language was the person whose name appears at the BOTTOM of the post, Larry T. But I gotta agree with Larry: Sarah rules, no matter what language you speak.

Sarah, please don't track my IP address with your scary big brother computer device. You're not watching me through my monitor, are you?

[Peoples L'amato]

hey sarAH, i love that lmto-laughing my testicles off, excuse my language by im just using my "abbreviations" and also telling you what they mean, ANYWHO sarAH your time with us on tech tv has been fun, but i hear now your leaving to get replaced by "cat" it saddens me that i will have a day without your "technological humour". Anywho i applaud your efforts to keep a "blog" going*clap*clap ... if you keep it going for another 2 months ill give you 3 claps!Alrighty then i think that wraps it for my so called "comment"

BTW- i use "Alls i got" too! i use it in the sentence

"Alls I got in this world is my bal*s and my word and i dont break em' for nobody"



- Al Pacino rules! so does sarah! but not as much as al pacino! but ... not close... he rules alot more but hey your in my top 150 !

[Peoples L'amato]

i my bad i dont wanna spam but hey sarAH if you ever get booted off tech tv and you wanna talk to someone about your horrificly boring days add me to msn

the_great_one_forever@hotmail.com

o and im starting a "KEEP SARAH ON TECH TV" petition, if you email me and are intrested I'll get you the list of emails cheering you on (started by me )

[Peoples L'amato]

im having a little trouble with that addy. email me on yahoo instead. virginboy4olderman@yahoo.com

u can find in the 60s+ chatrooms if you want to talk.

[HIGHWAY]

Sarah-san ichiban!

[HIGHWAY]

Check out:

http://www.highwayman.org/TechTVCams.html

[Jason Wood]

Hi Sarah,

I recently moved to USA from England, after marrying an American girl who I met on an Internet dating site!

I'm actually a "Yorkshireman", being born in the county of Yorkshire - the city of Bradford.

Not really worth visiting Bradford when you go to the UK - unless you want to see a show at the Alhambra Theatre or walk round the National Museum of Film Photography & Television.

The Yorkshire Dales - Harrogate (Betty's Cafe, The Spa, Courts Wine Bar, The Drum & Monkey pub), Haworth (home of the Bronte sisters & Wuthering Heights), Malham Cove (climb to the top then walk back down for a drink in the village pub!).

The Lake District - Windermere, Ambleside, Lakeside & more - all picture postcard scenery.

London is cool - very cosmopolitan, lots of theatres, bars, clubs, restaurants, shopping (Camden Market, Hamleys, Harrods, Versace & all the designer stores).

Nottingham, Newcastle & Leeds have great nightlife (Tiger Tiger & Majestik in Leeds are renowned clubs throughout the UK).

Edinburgh in Scotland is my wife's favourite place - Edinburgh Castle & shopping in Princess Street! The surrounding countryside is beautiful also.

Ireland - Dublin is a vibrant place! As Johnny said earlier, the Temple Bar area is a good start; as is the Guiness Tower (the tour of the factory is quite boring but the view & guiness from the top is amazing. Find yourself in a pub on any night & there will be live Irish music & lots of smiling faces ;-)

I'm sure you have your sources of information & already have your itinerary mapped out but if you need any pointers just email me. My wife Cathy & I will be more than happy to help out.

Oh, and don't worry about how you say certain words ... that's what makes you YOU!

Just remember you are more intelligent & complex than any computer on the planet;-)

[Jimmy]

I read what you wrote on the TSS Site about people writing things on your blog and you getting there IP adress that was really corney..if people are writting negative stuff then they must not be feeling you..so really just get over it..i'm not feeling you either..I don't think you should be on the air talking..your a bit to corney to be on the air..i watch the screen savers every day and i never miss an episode in at least 2 years at least..and in alll my time watching first it was meagan i couldn't stand and then she finally left (which I pray she don't come back) and now it's you..i mean it no big deal don't take it that personal but some of us..well probibly alot of us ain't feeling you.but hey to each his own..but i hope you take some of the critisizm into consideration and just realize hey maybe air time ain't for me..ya know..just my thought on it girl...but do you and keep ya head up..peace

[Ted]

As far as your trip goes I like Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle. The buildings are so amazing in their construction. Three foot thick walls etc and the dungeons are positively freaky. But mainly I like the way people talk. In some cases unintelligibly. The food in many local pubs is also great but the beer took a lot of getting used to. Don't buy your usual American brand for some reason they stink over there. To the northern Ireland question I give it two thumbs down. Why put your life at risk?Lately I've had a little free time and among the thoughts I had of what to do visiting the show came to mind. Thank God I installed a new video card instead huh Mitch! Monday's show drove another nail in the coffin of that idea.Instead I'm whipping this year and a half old PC back into shape. Take that electronic cretin. The bus speed mysteriously reduced itself a while back. I tried to reset it once but it failed so I fixed that as well. I barely notice but I'll need it to work with video. So now I have to hit the road and pick up the cables I need. You'd think they'd be included. The new card (AIW 9000 pro) has a tivo function so I'll be checking that out when I get the chance.It was fun to see the way you guys work behind the scenes though I felt for poor Mitch. I was also moved by the segment on Jessy's brother. I had a bad head injury recently and I count my blessings. A guy we used to know fell from five feet higher and died in the same month. Anyway I'm glad that Jessy's brother is getting such great help and has the support group that he needs. The quadraciser is a great idea. It proves my belief that if you want to live you have to move.Recently we gave our mom a PC and she loves it. She talks of it as if it's a person and says it often does things on its own. In a month or so we're getting her a new one since the hand me down one causes so many problems. Can't wait for the contest though I never win I think it's a good idea to be away from the set. Here's a vote for doing the show outside or putting it on a bus and taking it on the road. My town first!

[Tim]

My biggest word pet peeve is the use of the word 'ax' instead of 'ask.' Drives me crazy.

I also hate the phrase "talk to the hand." WTF does that even mean?

I understand your thoughts on the roller coaster. Six Flags Over Texas has one called the Runaway Mine Train. It's one of the oldest coasters left at the park, but still one of the best. At the end of the ride, the train speeds up and then plunges down into a pitch black tunnel, then screeches to a halt at the end of the ride. I've been riding the mine train for nearly 20 years, and still love it.

[abbe busoni]

my biggest pet peeve is the use of "your" when people mean "you're".

[dcsch]

"Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put!"

[kevin]

Dude, I'm like stoked about your fab blog. You've like prolly heard that a mill times a'ready, tho'. Ain't that a kicker. Anyways, alls I know is that in Illinoise we like eats lotsa catsup. More catsup than yous can shake a stick at.

[Justin]

Sorry, I don't like mangoes or cottage cheese but I know someone who smells like both of them. SOMEONE ELSE.Oh and speaking of cottage, I bet you had a great time in that cottage in Santa Cruz. I wish I could go!!!! Wahhhhh!!!!And I never heard of the Giant Dipper... you tell me that at any time and i'll point to the stars. But thats cool how you like it for the smell. I'm sure it smells like mangoes and cottage cheese.Well anyway I have always wanted to agrivate someone on television so actually Alls I know is that aint is in the dictionary and anyways I like catsup.But DUDE, i'm just like you. errr dudette. wow thats a peeve of mine.Ok well off to the next thing in your blog. I see your refrigerator is full of magnets. Well atleast you know yours IS a fridge. I got national guard on the phone line right now. Only a few bits on mangoes were found. Oh and my cats are higher ranked on the fridge then me... thats pathetic yet amazing... maybe they can be catoftheday... i hear u like that site.An Ireland guy attacked me...Ok thats all... it was a thrill to read your blog. Its amazing how many topics are covered in one blog. But yeah I covered just as many in my comment. Cant wait til next blog... hope you read this.

[Chris]

Hi Sarah,I hope you enjoy the UK, we go a couple of times a year and love every minute we're there! If you have a chance visit Glasgow and Aron in Scotland, the people are really sweet and Aron is a small island that is great to hike around. Somerset, Cornwall or most small towns in England are great and the people tend to be pretty cool. The lake district in Cumbria is pretty and Northern Ireland isn't as bad as people lead you to believe. No different than any area squished full of people who can't seem to agree on anything. Anyway.. Have fun and and I'd be glad to go with!

See ya.

[Bunny Emerald]

The Lake District is beautiful. So is the southwest of England (Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset). The people all over the British Isles are wonderful, very nice and hospitable.

[Joe]

Has anyone ever called you Sarah Lame?

[Dennis]

Ok, this has to be said. Mean people suck. There.

[Justin]

wow there are so many words you can make with la_e. lace, lane, lake, lame, late, lafdg2e... ok forget that last one :-D

[Suzie Stylc]

My husband loves that roller coaster! I bought his picture also, lol!!!! Here's another abbreviation you may enjoy---'cas' for casual! My pet peeves are not specific words but apathy for proofreading!

[joel]

pet peeves:

- "supposably / supposavely"- "for all intensive purposes"

and the mother of them all ...

- "loose" instead of "lose". ie: "You're going to loose that game!". NO!! IT'S LOSE!! LOSE, DAMNIT!!

God ... I hate that last one. a lot.

p.s. hi sarah.

[chrys]

'dude' got kinda old with my crowd. Around here, we use 'Dudesky'. Not sure but it's either a throwback or a comeback from somewhere . . .

[PaulS]

The violence in Northern Ireland is nowhere near as bad as it was say 10 years ago, and it was never too dangerous for tourists anyway (apart from in 1998, when a load of Spanish students, amongst others, got blown up in Omagh). However July (if that's when you're going) is the worst time of the year to be in N.Ireland; that's when the Orange Parades take place, where Protestants march to celebrate the victory of the Protestant King William of Orange over the the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Orangemen always try to march through Catholic areas just to piss off the residents, and sometimes it gets ugly. Add to this the fact that Catholics are already pissed this year for a couple of reasons (including the cancellation of N.Ireland elections by Tony Blair and recent proof of collusion between the British security forces and protestant militants), and I wouldn't be surprised if there are clashes this year. But maybe that's what you're looking for :)

[Mike]

went to england few years ago...rather than an expensive hotel, we stayed in a mews, which is an old converted horse stable. no hay on the floor (everybody's first thought) it was fully furnished. kinda like vegas--you don't spend your time in the room...

[Dr.Mani of the "remarkably pur]

Well, I ain't got no strong feelin's bout catsup. Alls I nose bout it is in Illionoise, we ain't don't use it. Anyways, that's neither here no' they-ah.

What matters is dat you...

Be Different - http://www.b--Different.com

:-)

Dr.Mani-- see my 'remarkably purple spots...'

[poker]

great site!!thanks for the service