New Seminar

Good news, everyone!

Thanks to the way that a large number of people in this state drive, I will be conducting a brand new seminar entitled "Signaling Your Intent (Use Your Damn Turn Signal!)"

Seminars begin right now and will continue every ten minutes until further notice.

Topics include:

1. Changing Lanes
2. Turning Right
3. Turning Left
4. Parallel Parking

If you know anyone who is guilty of not using his or her turn signal while driving, please send them my way.  I would be more than happy to remind them of this very simple rule that is taught to everyone is driver's education classes.  I will use any and all means necessary to get the point across.



Coming soon:  "Signs That You Should Probably Give Up Your License (Driving and the Elderly)"

2011 in Review

2011 is over, and I haven't done this in two years, so here's my year.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?  Got pregnant, had a car totalling accident, gave birth to Liam.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't do them

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes:  me!  And Abbie!

4. Did anyone close to you die?  I lost my dad in August.

5. What countries did you visit? Stayed in the US this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Better health, a townhome or house

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 18th, when my son was born.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Having a healthy pregnancy and baby, buying a car.

9. What was your biggest failure?  Saving money

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got really sick during the summer and couldn't take much because of the baby.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My car

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My wonderful husband.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Coworkers

14. Where did most of your money go? bills, car, Liam

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My baby!  Although it was pretty terrifying at first.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Adele:  Rolling in the Deep

17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.  Huzzah breastfeeding!
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.   Babies are expensive

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Spending time with friends and traveling

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? working, as always

20. How will you be spending Christmas? We spent a long weekend with family and friends

21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2011?
Vomiting during my epidural.   Normal, I guess, but made me feel dumb.

22. Did you fall in love in 2011? Yes

23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favorite TV program? The Walking Dead, How I Met Your Mother

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nope

26. What was the best book you read? The Song of Fire and Ice series

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Adele

28. What did you want and get? A new car

29. What did you want and not get? a raise

30. What was your favorite film of this year? I can't think of one

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?  I turned 29.  It was uneventful.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More money, finding an actual house to rent

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Casual class

34. What kept you sane? Great new friends

35. Which celebrity / public figure did you fancy the most? Meh

36. What political issue stirred you the most?  Jobs, business taxation

37. Who did you miss? Abbie

38. Who was the best new person you met? Joy, Mike, and Celina

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011: Time is incredibly fleeting

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Odd compliment

"You have a beautiful cervix."

The strangest compliment I have ever been given...

Come on, fun.

I'm waiting to start enjoying being pregnant. I know not everyone enjoys it, but I would like to. Unfortunately, I have had nothing to enjoy thus far. Between the nausea, the gas, the exhaustion, and now the subchorionic hemorrhage, this is not fun. My hope is that it will be better once I feel the little sea monkey move. Otherwise, just under six months to go...

I can't win

Straight from the flu to a sinus infection. I know my immune system is more susceptible now, but sheesh. Cut a woman a break here.

NaNoWriMo

I'm doing what they tell you to do and writing what I know.

My goal is that once this novel is done, I can start living again.

Laughter

Ian (coming up behind and hugging me): "Who loves you?"
Me: "You!"
Ian: "No, Jesus!"


Hysterical laughter for a few minutes.

Crazy little thing called...

I'm starting to get irritated. Is it so hard for people to check a box, write their name, and stick a pre-stamped envelope in the mail? I thought that was the whole point of pre-stamping and self-addressing them before putting them with the invites.

It's been a week since we've gotten any RSVPs. There are 13 days until the requested deadline. There's a reason I need to know if you're coming a month before the wedding. I really don't want to have to call 65 people on August 26th.

This wedding stuff sucks.

Or maybe it's my lack of drugs. I really need to pick those up...

2009: A Review

Now that 2009 is over, I feel like I should recap the year.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Went to Orlando, got engaged

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't do them

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. Anne gave us Amelia to spoil.

4. Did anyone close to you die? We lost a coworker who was dear to us.

5. What countries did you visit? I did go to Canada for a night...

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Motivation to get things done.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? July 17th: got engaged, September 14th: Amelia was born

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting engaged, I guess. This appears to be a recurring theme.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not losing weight before Erin and Jon's wedding.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My wedding dress, although I didn't actually pay for it...

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ian, definitely

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My family, at times

14. Where did most of your money go? bills, vacation, wedding stuff

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? See a number of other answers (engagement)

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Muse: Uprising

17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? a bit fatter I think
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, as Ian graduated and got a job

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Oddly enough, cleaning and spending time with myself

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? working, haha

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent christmas eve day working, then in saginaw with my family, followed by christmas morning and afternoon with my parents, and christmas night with the Mays family.

21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2009? I have no idea

22. Did you fall in love in 2009? All over again

23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favorite TV program? Glee, Big Bang Theory

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nope

26. What was the best book you read? I read a ton last year, so I couldn't pick just one

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Muse

28. What did you want and get? my engagement ring

29. What did you want and not get? a raise

30. What was your favorite film of this year? I don't think we saw many movies this year. Hmm...

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 27. I got drunk at home with Ian

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More money

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? My usual: I just like to be comfortable without wearing sweatpants

34. What kept you sane? Betsy talked me off the ledge many times

35. Which celebrity / public figure did you fancy the most? Meh

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Healthcare and taxes

37. Who did you miss? Holly.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Brian Ransom. I think he may help me enjoy my job again

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: Patience really can be a virtue

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: I don't think I have one

Trying to get into the holiday spirit

There is something about the prospect of snow that turns me into a giddy child every winter. Bring it, nature!

Thanks for the memories

Everytime I see the signs in a fast food drive through saying that they can't serve "walk up" customers, I think of 1997 marching season.

And then I wonder if those signs are partially our fault. It was fun, though!

Countdown to NaNoWriMo

Quiet day of reading and resting ahead. I can start writing at midnight! I know how my novel will start and end, and I now some of how it will flow, but I am hoping that it will just run out as I type.

This will be a great challenge for my creativity.

Abs, I need you to keep me on track!

Farewell, Mr. Stevens

We'll miss you, Mark, but I think we are all relieved that your battle is over. No one deserves to suffer as you did.

Love,

Amanda and the DHD crew

PS: Proud of you for taking the last of your strength to push that rabbi away. Even in the end you stuck to your beliefs and convictions.

Inspiration #2

Untitled

He's in my mind
and he won't leave
crowding thoughts
haunting dreams
he comes unbidden
in my time of need
I just don't need him
though we laugh
and love
in the night
I am happy
I wake in my bed
and feel the guilt
as reliving the dream
overcomes me
I don't love him
I don't want him
he's gone
for good
but when he creeps in
I can't shake him
smile and touch
burned into me
I crave my sanity

Inspiration #1

Distraction

Turning, turning
the mind is churning
the world whizzes by
no time to cry
yet I do
can't concentrate
everything's blurry
I hear her speak
half sentences
my mind wanders
colors run
I jolt back
then I'm off again
maybe I'll finish this later
most likely not.

And the plot thickens!

I have a NaNoWriMo idea!

Beer.

The hard part I think will be waiting until November to write it!

It must be a sign

I could have sworn I saved a copy of my "book" on my flash drive.

Apparently not.

With the laptop entirely dead, there is no way for me to retrieve a copy.

I guess that means I start from scratch.

It was probably for the best.

Olfactory Overload

I've heard people say that certain songs can trigger emotions and memories in a person. I know that is true because it does happen to me, on occasion. What I experience more, though, is scents doing the same thing. Just one whiff of a random smell can send me reeling. It makes me remember.

Things I want to remember.

Things I shouldn't want to remember.

Things I just shouldn't remember.

For instance, last night I stepped outside to take some movies back to the video store. There was something in the air last night that took me back to West Branch. I had to stop for a moment and just close my eyes. When I opened them again and looked up at the stars, I might as well have been there.

A few months ago, I was suddenly taken to a street in Mytilini. I don't remember where I was or even what the scent was, but it was there.

I have to avoid going out after a summer rain. As much as I love the scent, it takes me to a place I shouldn't go, not because of a bad memory, but because of a good one. One of the ones I shouldn't have. Losing myself in it is never a good thing.

Then again, sometimes it is nice to have something in yourself that you don't share with anyone. It's mine and mine alone.

It is just me?

Oh boy

I think I may have found the dress.

I didn't expect to find it so soon. I didn't expect to find it where I found it.

I think I didn't expect that any would look even remotely nice on me.

I need to boost my self esteem...

Vacation

So, Florida was a blast. Here are highlights:

Outlet shopping.

Feeding the dolphins at Sea World.

Cocoa Beach. The sand was brutally hot, but we had some good food at the Sand Bar just off of it. Plus, bodysurfing and Ron Jon!

Flea market "adventure" with the Knights. It didn't last long.

Motion simulators and I do NOT agree.

Catch Phrase: "This is a tasty treat that sometimes has a vegetable in it." - Jon Van Oss. (The answer was cornbread)

Sam's finger dancing.

Barging in on "teen night" at the condo complex. More finger dancing.

Busch Gardens was alright, even if I didn't feel well enough for rides. However, if you are going to have sections of a park based on different parts of the world, please have authentic food.

Friday with Holly.

Hollywood Studios was fun. The new Toy Story ride is a LOT of fun. I was scared of the Tower of Terror, but it was fun too. The Aerosmith coaster was worth it. Ian was an extra in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

Epcot rocks my world. Enjoyed all of the pavilions. Wish I had more money to spend on souvenirs. Got to have pictures taken with Donald Duck.

Got Engaged! Ian did well. :)

Early flight home, but then we had the weekend to recuperate.

Can I go back on vacation now?