Finally, 2009 is done!

The past couple of days I have felt an excitement slowly building inside of me.

2009 is thisclose to being over.

Some things have happened recently that really have me excited for the new year!

I shall list them below.

Things that I am excited about:

I ordered a sleeve for my laptop so I could carry her (name pending) to school.

My grades were posted and I got two "A"s which really bumped up my GPA because I replaced a horrible grade from younger days.

Our crappy, noisy, and rude neighbors are moving out! (As I type as a matter of fact!)

I mailed a letter to a certain negative male in my life asking that he not contact me anymore thus leaving me more energy to tackle 2010.

We (Dwayne and I) are starting a Biggest Loser plan! Cookbook purchased, trainer time reserved, yoga mat on the way. (Me, doing yoga...so exciting.)

School starts Jan. 14! (5 classes and a lab- am I crazy? YES! and I love it!)

I added more to my little glass family! (See below.)

Morris, the mouse.

Things I am not so excited about:

Jan. 8 I'm having my wisdom teeth removed. Sedation dentistry, all four out at once. (But truth be told I am kinda excited because I love going to the dentist for cleanings and check-ups and now he can't give me that disappointed father look when he sees they are still in there. Yay!)

So, today to fully celebrate and embrace the incoming year and set fire to the old- I do something I normally don't do.

I went crazy.

I felt/feel like Martha Stewart.

My first stop was Wal-Mart. Got stuff to make rotel courtesy of a recipe from a blonde. Then got stuff to make brown sugar bacon smokies- from the redhead's pal.

Flowers, cheesecake, etc.

Second stop was the liquor store.

Champagne. (Classy!)

The last stop was my fav store- The Dollar Tree!

Got party hats, necklaces, horns.

I flew home,tons of bags, but felt so homemakery/excited/awesome.

Cleaned up, put fresh flowers in a vase on the table.

All dishes done, all trash out.

Rotel made. Smokies made.

Set out party items for easy access.

Sliced strawberries for the Champagne.

I even downloaded Auld Lang Syne on itunes!

It seems so small but it has been a long time since I've felt like putting effort into something like this and it really excites me!

What does every girl want for new year's?

Flowers, Cheesecake, and Champagne!

Now, we are on a blue moon watch and it just feels perfect.

My other life.

I am completely addicted to a game called Animal Crossing:City Folk. You create your own city and character and make a living picking fruit, fishing, collecting fossils, collecting shells, breeding flowers, etc, etc. It is all so much easier than real life. (I mean seriously, I paid off my house with money from picking fruit and collecting fossils!)

Every 30 minutes a balloon floats above you that has presents attached and if you have a slingshot (which I totally do) you can shoot them down and have the presents for yourself.

(Ah, theft!)

My character is named Sassy because she is supposed to be me. My town is called Zazoo and I'm not quite sure why. I think she looks just like me.

I was fishing tonight (only 10 fish away from being a fishing expert, fyi....) and realized the only person who has ever seen my other life was Dwayne. So, I decided to post a couple of pictures.

Since it is December and the game is played in real time the evergreens are strung with lights and there has been a recent snow fall..... so I made a little snowman.

(Me and my snowman. Don't you love evergreen lights and the Northern Lights in the sky?)

(Me as Sassy in front of my house.)

I know this guy!!!

I don't know who caught this magnificent creature on film but I applaud them!

This guy was found on www.peopleofwalmart.com and I KNOW him!

Ok, well I don't personally know him... but I've seen him many, many times at my Walmart (Old Fort Parkway) and recognized his sweet buns!

I have often thought of taking his picture while perusing the fruit pretending like I'm not staring but never have.

Murfreesboro is on the Internet map! YEAH!

Can I PLEASE be related to these people?

Isn't she lovely......

Nothing says Christmas like.....

.......a secondhand mini-tree!

Fridays with Manda

Look what I did! Oh yeah, festive door hangers.

According to FedEx my laptop is "out for delivery" so on this cold and rainy day I have my front door open. This way I can stare out the storm door leaving no chance I will miss the FedEx man.

Today is the Christmas luncheon at my former employer..wonder if I could go get a plate and not be noticed?

Now I'm off to put up the mini-tree!

Cheaters always prosper. (or Freedom, FINALLY!)

2009 is almost over and I, for one, am so damn excited.
me stepping on my glasses right before Thanksgiving really pissed me off. (especially since I stepped on them while trying to get them out of the way so they wouldn't get stepped on.)

So, as you all know I planned a great escaped from the horror that has been my 2009.
I made it official by putting in notice at work, scheduled a dental surgery that couldn't be put off anymore, and confirmed classes for Spring 2010.

I was so excited the day I put in my notice and confirmed classes. So excited. I had a plan and by GOD I was going to do it. Nothing could rain on my parade. I was going to escape 2009 without another scratch. (this was after my poor glasses got broken)

To give you a glimpse into my mind that morning...let me share with you an excerpt from an email I wrote my spiritual guide...that kindof explains my hopes for 2010:

So, in January, almost a year to the date that the rug was pulled from beneath me, I am making changes for me. I am quitting my job, a dead end, horrible job, that I hate, going back to school full-time to finish my degree, and going to take more time for me, I'd love to pick up a craft, do some yoga, and definitely exercise. I want to shed my old self and life like a snake sheds its skin. I want to be better, mentally, spiritually, physically, and I want to do something with my life that means something. That means getting rid of negative people also. I was made for something so much better than I am doing right now and I'm going to find out what that is.

My last day at work was supposed to be Jan. 12...see it was all planned... this was how it was supposed to go....

I work through December.
Jan 8th- oral surgery
Return to work on Jan 11
Last day of work Jan 12
School starts Jan 14

Clean, simple, well thought out, well planned...considerate to my employer, etc,etc,etc.

Well, apparently, that was not to be.

Perhaps about an hour after I sent the above mentioned email and was stewing in my self-satisfied juices I get an email from my troll of a supervisor. She informed me that due to be putting in notice (me being considerate to my employer, leaving on a good note, etc,etc) that I would not be paid sick time for my oral surgery. "Oh, dear, it is the policy." (not to mention the fact that I put in my request A WEEK before I turned in my notice....)

This did several things....peed on my parade, made me hate my job even more, and blasted any and all resolve I had to finish December, and made me lose any lingering consideration for my employer.

So, in a big F-U to the year 2009 that has been F'in me around since Jan- I quit.

I quit, I quit, I quit.

I want to sing it like a song, I want to wear it, I want it tattooed in my skin.

I am done. My time has begun.

I am taking December for myself. Wrapping presents, sleeping in, cooking for my husband (I made a turkey!), watching soap operas, relaxing, living, breathing easier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some quick random thoughts:

This week I have finals (one down, one tomorrow night) and am pretty sure I'm getting "A"s in both classes.

I ordered myself a laptop for school- happy school-time to me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, on to cheaters.....

Tonight I found out from a friend who is still trapped at my previous employer that there is going to be big bombshell dropped soon. Apparently, there are some cheaters in the department. People who have been working the system we use to filter large accounts to themselves for collection- all the while other people (myself included) are hashing through the shit accounts. Funnily enough, the people who AREN'T/DIDN'T cheat were the ones getting written up for not making goals and being put on performance improvement plans. And the people who WERE cheating were the ones being named EOTM and being held up as examples for others to follow.

This angers me beyond belief because I was called into my ex-supervisor's office and questioned about why I wasn't pulling in the numbers these others were. What is the problem? Has something changed? What do you think it could be? (Could it be the other people pulling in $20,000 plus a month are CHEATING??)

This angers me so much I wish that I still worked there just so I could cause a scene at the upcoming staff meeting.

I know it shouldn't bother me because I am free.....(I love saying that....)

But.

it does.

So, I will let it simmer for a bit, have some drinks with my friends that still work there, bitch about it then, and at the close of 2009 let it go.

There will be no room for this type of thing in 2010.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How is my day going?

My List

Someone I know with a name similar to the balrog wrote a Thanksgiving blog after being inspired by her friend Von. So, now, I'm writing mine, yay for copycats!

I am Thankful for:

sweet tea
fall leaves
spring breezes
warm fires
chili late during the baseball season (we'll get them next year!)
books
the smell of paper
the smooth glide of a pen stroke
chocolate
good music
bad music
old music
new music
electric blankets
quiet times
sfams (how many random questions can I ask in one phone call? never enough!)
two ladies I work with who i'm going to celebrate a special bday with next year (FINALLY! Now where is the duct tape??)
blondes who bring crazy ladies to brunches
crazy ladies who come with blondes to brunches
jan 12,2009 (yes, this IS my release date!!!)
redheads who have known me before i was a redhead
kitty cats
puppy dogs
dumb jokes
peyton manning (GO COLTS!)
love poems
movies with happy endings
fresh starts
old memories
cartoons
good dreams
warm sheets
second chances

Holidaze

Yay! I'm alive!

I took my second history test last night and let me tell you- I totally made that test my bitch!
And I got back my photo project, the one that couldn't be completed in a day-that I DID complete in one day, and I got an "A"!!

Now, I just have one more big hurdle to get past for the semester to end, a paper. It is due on Tuesday so I should probably come up with a thesis and stuff..... I'll put that on my "To Do" list for tomorrow.

I am excited about certain aspects of the holidays coming up. I love the Black Friday shopping and putting together little candy bags and finding super cool things for people. This year's list is shorter due to the crazy change I am making soon but it is still super fun.

Check out one of the crazy gifts I found.....

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/86dd/

YAY!!!!

Whew, I managed to get to Texas and back in a weekend AND complete my photo assignment for my history class!

The photo assignment that my professor said "can not be completed in one day" WAS completed in one day! (oh, snap, Mr. Professor!)

After my trip this past weekend I was excited that my traveling was over for a bit. (Who doesn't love being in the airport/air plane from 11 a.m. until 6:40 p.m. on a Sunday??) But it seems as though I will be hitting the road and airport again in November.

I will be spending my first Thanksgiving away from the Hubby. (In 9 years!!!!!) My favorite Aunt has a terminal illness and we are all making the trip to FL to see her one last time. So, I get to enjoy a 12 hr car ride to Lakeland, FL the day before Thanksgiving and then fly out of Tampa the day after. I am excited for the time with her but am not looking forward to the travel or missing the shopping!

Our Texas trip was great but short. Tyler's team lost their game pretty badly but he played well. We all enjoyed The Salt Lick bbq- very much... I think we went through 2.5 plates of meat. I highly recommend it! Pics to come later.....

In other news...

ROXANN IS GETTING MARRIED!!!! YAY!!! I am so happy for her! :)


Off to study WWII now.... laters!

Cosmic Cookies, yum!

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)

October 07, 2009

Is it possible to expect the unexpected? Maybe not literally ... but it is absolutely necessary to keep your mind, heart and soul open to all the wonderful possibilities that are about to come your way. Most importantly, don't get bogged down in old, outmoded ideas of what things 'have' to be like or what you 'should' do. The stars are telling you it's time to explore your options and take a chance even when it scares you. Be bold.

October!

Today I'm having a hard time focusing on my job. I think it is because I am super relaxed for the first time since school started. I finally, FINALLY got my History paper back and I got an "A"! Now, I have my first indication that I am on track and that things won't end in a horribly dramatic mascara smearing crying jag. (It really wouldn't be that horrible and I don't even wear mascara but I was feeling a dramatic vibe.)

This month is going to be a very good month, I can feel it!

I got my flu shot this morning and have arranged to get my pneumonia vaccine this weekend. I am excited about both of those shots as I have had pneumonia twice in the past 3 years and am determined not to get it again.

I might be (wouldn't hold my breath) getting a raise at my 2 year review at work. The first year seemed to fly by but I have felt every second of this past year. I am so excited that the end of the road is coming! 66 working days left..........

We are taking a trip to Austin Oct 23-25 to see kids and Friday night High School football! Tyler was the starting nose guard but something happened to one of the players and now he is the starting left tackle. It's good that he is versatile, right? All of the terminology makes sense to Dwayne and he tries to explain it to me. I know just enough to know that he went from a defensive position to an offensive line position...and I guess he tackles people? Anyway, we are headed down to hang for a couple of days and are going to try and make it to The Salt Lick (as featured on "Man Vs. Food").

I'm getting my teeth cleaned on Oct 15! I LOVE going to the dentist, weird I know.

Things aren't as hectic right now which is very nice. I seem to have settled into a good balance with school and things.

I'm listening to the 60's on 6 and love it. (Sirius) I really think I was born in the wrong decade. It has helped me survive the loud, ghetto, unintelligible ramblings that surround me at work.

Now I just need to find a cool something or place to do/go for Halloween!

ah, memories.

i stayed up last night watching an episode of Growing Pains.
it was an episode from 1989. called "Second Chance".
the one where Carol's boyfriend dies in a drunk driving car wreck.
that episode is in my head and when i think of childhood memories
i remember Carol's crying like i was there.

i asked my husband if he thought the scene he happened upon at 12:30 last night was odd.
me, staring at the computer screen, crying, and a 20 year old sitcom playing.
he said no.
that is how i know he loves me.

Why I hate people....

I think you are a complete waste of space as a human being if:

1. You have already mailed a bill and call the company to yell at them for calling you about your bill. Really, assbag? I didn't realize that I should have checked my crystal ball to know that you JUST mailed a bill that was due almost 2 months ago. Thanks for the information.

2. When I call you about your bill- that is from almost 3 months ago-that you have been billed 3 times for-and you say "Well, I just don't have it now. I'll have to pay that later." Seriously, genius? What happened in June, July, and August? Spend all that extra cash on a little more brain capacity?

3. When I tell you that I'm just a loser in a call center and while I understand you don't like getting the calls, I can't stop them, you yell at me anyway. WTF is it that you didn't understand? I JUST TOLD YOU how to get the calls to stop so why don't you shut your trap for a second and listen.

4. When you are mean and rude to me and then complain that no one is being "flexible" with you. (And I'm sure by "flexible" you mean either letting you pay $10.00 a month on a $1,000.00 bill or better yet getting "some kind of charity program" so you can get it for free!) Earth to Meekus! Perhaps no one is being flexible with you because you are an ASSHOLE!? Think, maybe, huh?

5. When I ask you about your bill and you say that if we keep "harassing" you about it you are going to get a lawyer. REALLY? PLEASE GO RIGHT AHEAD! And when you find a lawyer who will take your case, for free, because obviously you have no money to pay the fucking bill I'm calling you about, tell me who this lawyer is who will trot your stupid ass into court and complain that you are getting calls about a bill you owe. PLEASE DO!

*I have absolutely no problem with people who can't pay their bills, I've been there, but what I do have a problem with are people who don't even try. It isn't my fault you can't pay and I'm not even in collections, technically, but why be a dick to me- just because you can? Classy. And never in my life did I know that people actually haggled over medical bills. You want an itemized statement-why? You aren't a doctor and you don't know what you needed and why and how much it should cost so fuck off with this itemized statement business. Life is expensive. Health Care is expensive. GET OVER IT AND PAY YOUR DAMN BILLS!

Do you hear the Angels singing?

By the power of all that is wonderful- and the power of Grayskull.....

I have just completed my first paper of the semester!!!!!!!!

BUNNY HIGH FIVE!

New Stuff

As you have probably noticed I have a new (and awesome) header!

My blonde friend created the gem and has a cool site to go along with it.

She left the corporate world to pursue her creative dreams and has been blogging, drawing, sewing, soap-makin', and trip-takin' ever since.

Check her out at : www.risibleblog.blogspot.com

Send her emails asking her to give me Mad Dog while you are at it.

Little Victories

Today our computers went down from 9:41-10:15.

My frozen breakfast meal had 4 pieces of bacon instead of the normal 2. (And really, who doesn't love extra bacon?)

I got the most delicious sweet tea I've ever had this morning.

The texts started at 7:00 this morning.

A quiet, locked in weekend planned.

A cosmic sign,opportunity,gift came today and reassured me of my path.

Yay, it is my birthday!

Whaaaaaaaaaaa!

I have a problem with books.

I can go into a book store and want every book I see. I want to flip the pages, smell the paper, and devour the story.

I love books.

I recently purchased Ray Bradury's Zen in the Art of Writing. It promises to help me unleash my creative genius and I believe Ray can do it.

I had to leave all the other books behind.... no time....no time.

Today is a sad day for me. I had to drop a class because I decided it was just too much. This Amanda can't do it all and that makes her frowny.

So, now I am focusing on my Media Writing and U.S. History classes. Going from not having to write a paper in 10 years to having to write 10 in 10 weeks was driving me crazy. That stubborn part of me tells me I could have done it and that I should have just stuck in there with it. But the more realistic part of me said I had too much on my plate and it wasn't worth my sanity.

Now that I can step off the ledge and breathe a little perhaps this semester won't be as tough as I thought.

So fun but I'm so tired!

OMG. She is right there!

So pretty.

Revolving stage 2.

I got totally cussed out for this pic. (haha!)

Great American Ball Park

The world's biggest bat!

Dwayne with the big bat.

SOLD OUT!

Pretty fountain at the KY state fair.

Tried to take a zoom shot..didn't work out.

You Belong with Me. Show opener.

View from seat to the main stage.

Dwayne at McD's on Sunday morning. Suffering from his Jack and Miller Lites.

Tiffany showing off her mad skills.

Hey Ump, are you BLIND?

The rally cap didn't work.

(5 min before) Rally cap time!

Aww, we are so cute.

I'm not sure what this bridge is (in Cincinnati) but it looked cool.

View from higher up. (We moved because it was getting very contentious between some Reds fans and some Dodger fans and it was only the 3rd inning!)

Marry me, Bill!

Hurricane Bill caused me to go way back in my magical musical trunk. I was suddenly singing The Wedding Bell Blues. (You know it...the one that goes.... Marry me, Bill! I love you so- I always will! And if you are like me that was the only part you knew.) Thanks to the wonder of the internet, mp3 players, digital remastering, and google I now own that song and know ALL the words! Although, now that I know all the words the song has shifted from what I thought was a sweet proposal song to something different. Now it is kinda like "damnit, Bill, I loved you when you were a loser- so freaking marry me!" What a catch this Bill must be.

School starts in 5 days! YAY! I have all my books and went this past weekend to buy my spiral notebooks and folders. I managed to go a little more psychotic than usual by making sure the spiral notebooks and folders are color coordinated. I figure bright orange for my Media Writing class... you know, bright orange demands attention, attention makes me think of paparazzi, paparazzi makes me think of gossip, gossip makes me think of writing, and writing= media writing. My purple notebook and folder for my Survey of United States History II class. I think of history and think of royalty, royalty makes me think purple. Even though it was pointed out to me that my logic on that one is flawed because it is U.S. history- to me, "history" is all clumped together so it works. And last but certainly not least I will use my sea green notebook and folder for my Social Problems class. To me the sea green is a very introspective color and makes me think of intelligence, intelligence makes me think of science, intelligent science makes me think of how people's minds work, thus sea green is perfect for this class. I hope you have enjoyed this trip into my mind.

This weekend is my trip to Cincinnati and Louisville! We are headed out Saturday morning to Cincinnati with Dwayne's brother and his wife and son. A Red's baseball game, some famous Cincinnati chili and some late night adult partying are on the agenda. The next day Dwayne and I are making the short trip to Louisville for a Taylor Swift concert and some bingo! I am so excited because I have never gambled with bingo before and I hear it is super fun! On Monday we are going to tour the Louisville Slugger Museum and try and see Churchill Downs before heading back for me to go to class.

I am feeling almost 100% lately. I still have a little cough here and there but I think I have finally almost conquered this latest bout of illness. (It only took the entire month of August!)

I really hate my job lately. A lady actually yelled, "I'm asking you to work with me here! How do you sleep at night!? You are a horrible person!!" and hung up on me today and I wasn't even mean. That kind of thing is getting old. I have a goal not to leave until Jan 14th, 2010. I'm just going to have to shut up and stick to my plan. I have created a little inspirational countdown calendar and only have to come in here 95 more days including today! I can do it!

My writing has slowed lately in preparation for school so I am a little disappointed about that but I think once I get into class and get my schedule mastered I can add writing back in. I am going to be amazingly busy with classes MTW and a late night on Thursdays at work but am going to try and update this thing more often. (Ahhh, famous last words of many a blogger.)

10 songs from my ipod on shuffle:

Irvine- Kelly Clarkson
Paradise City- Guns N Roses
Take a Bow- Rihanna
Picture to Burn- Taylor Swift
Take it to the Limit- The Eagles
Lady- Little River Band
I Second that Emotion- Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Last Day of Magic- The Kills
Faith- George Michael
How do I Live- Trisha Yearwood

Cross your fingers that I get rich quick at Bingo this weekend!

Sadness

New Desk

3 pounds of love!

My title comes from a WipeOut! contestant last night. He spoke of a pet rabbit that he rescued and called it "3 pounds of love!" There was much cackling.

One of my school books arrived yesterday and I was so excited. In a moment of nerdy goodness I opened the package and flipped through just dreaming of the assignments to come. 4 more books are on their way and if my luck holds out I'll have one waiting for me tonight when I get home. Ahhh, books.

I am still sick-kindof. I am feeling much better than I did on my ER visit but now it has morphed into an upper respiratory thing that I just can't seem to get rid of. I just have to make it through Friday and then if I am still sick I am going to throw in the towel. I have to be better by the end of August. I refuse to miss another trip (Taylor Swift in Louisville/Aug 30!!) or be still sick when school starts (Aug 31st!!!). Do you hear me? I refuse!

We had a "fiesta" at work today. I use the term "fiesta" loosely because I ended up standing in line for 42 minutes for food. I use the term "food" loosely because the tacos/nachos that were served came with some sort of refried bean concoction that really looked like mud in the pan. Mud that was still really dark like it was wet but wasn't.

Fun times are being had by all.

Sickness

Ugh.

So, I've been on my couch/in bed since Wednesday.

I managed to get Pneumonia in July. I know, I'm amazing.

I got to miss The Dead Weather show. I heard from the hubby that it was amazing. Of course it was. He didn't even lie.

I also had to cancel this weekend's trip to Denver. ($40.00 rental car cancellation fee applied only after they were convinced to cancel after seeing my medical records. I had to sign a HIPPA release to cancel a rental car, really? Oh, and the backwoods airline I chose gladly cancelled my tickets but when I go to use the credit balance I will have to pay a $150.00 "re-booking fee", wha?)

3 trips to the clinic (sounds really bad, "the clinic") at $20.00 a pop for breathing treatments. (Well, we think you have a virus that has aggravated your asthma so no antibiotics can help. We need to open you up.) An $70.00 ER visit for a 4th breathing treatment and chest X-rays. (Well, it I can't help you here. This is more serious than I thought. *As she puts on the HUGEST face mask she can find*) Another $40.00 in prescriptions.

I am completely disgusted right now. I know I am spoiled and my medical care is super cheap (I am grateful, I am grateful....) compared to not having any insurance... but hey, I have pneumonia, let me bitch a little. (Oh yeah, milk it.)

The highlight of this has been watching the soap operas and cleaning up Zazoo. (My Animal Crossing town. I'm only 12 fish and 14 insects away from being considered an expert in those fields- yeah!)

A great music find. A french band called Phoenix. I heart their song 1901. Everything in me tells me to hate anything french automatically but they are just so good.

Technology Fee/Convenience Fee

I am so excited about the fall semester! (Classes start 33 days from now!)
I will be taking 3 courses- two campus classes and one on-line class.
I got my bill today and I knew that my on-line class would be more but I hadn't realized how much more.
Apparently, with an on-line class you pay the normal rate per credit hour and then an additional per credit hour fee plus a "Technology Fee".
All total my on-line class is $430.00 more than a campus class. (For 3 credit hours, mind you.)
This started me thinking..... there is no class room to go to, no book to buy, no papers or tests to pass out, I won't be on campus taking up a parking space.....
Doesn't that sound like it would be cheaper? For MTSU and myself?
Curious, this higher level budgeting.

Other things:

I have started a writing campaign and made it mandatory that I write something, anything everyday. I have also started posting some of my works on a "writers" website and have been getting some positive feedback. I will be submitting some items at the end of this month and we will see what happens.

The Dead Weather is only 2 days away. Yay! I'm ready for some crazy experimental music.

My crocheting has stalled...I am dumb. The single stitch is now my arch nemesis. I am trying to make time to get to the local knitting place to have someone have a "come to the crocheting Jesus" meeting with me.

13 Days, 6 hours, 40 minutes

War Memorial Auditorium. Next to last row on the balcony. My husband's man crush. My nerdy bassist crush. Awesome.

10 a.m. Checklist

Heat up a yummy frozen bacon and egg scramble.

Heat up a super yummy whole wheat english muffin. ("Heat up" because we are not allowed to have a toaster on the second floor for many reasons that have not been explained. So it gets popped into the microwave for 30 seconds.)

Grab my water and "Old Lady Joint Juice" from the fridge.

Bring everything together at my desk and enjoy.

Take my vitamin. (The note says to, remember?)

Look at the clock and frown. (Where the hell did 15 minutes go?)

My summer vacation so far.....

Nashville Shores sunburn on top of sunburn from the lake.

This is us, duh.

Ah, yes, the chosen ones.

7 reasons Grandpa Mills is proud.

That still doesn't look very sturdy.

I LOVE it!

Note to self

In other news......

I have been inspired by randomroxann and her old timey needlepoint attempt and have decided to learn the art of crochet. I have purchased all the accoutrement, including a book about crochet called (wait for it......) Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. How perfect is that? I have managed to perfect a slip knot and a simple chain stitch (um, O.K. so maybe I don't get the correct tension on every link....) and have taken aim at learning the single stitch. The single stitch is the base for every single crochet project and it is currently kicking my ass.

I have been placed on the waiting list for the Read to Succeed tutor program. Sad face. I can't start it until September when there is no possible way I can do it because my Fall classes will be in session. I have been contemplating trying to train on Saturdays in the Fall but really, how much can one Amanda do?

The yearly event that causes as much tension and worry as it does joy and fun has arrived. Well, 1/3 of it has. And that 1/3 is freaking HUGE.

Funniest thing I've read lately? " So you all can go to Hell, have fun there together! " (That was really the perfect line for your blog J. I am going to try and work that phrase into a conversation today. Loved it!)

Remember: I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!

Words of wisdom from The Raconteurs

"Many Shades of Black"

Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead
And smash it on the floor
Take whatever's left
And take it with you out the door...

See if I cry,
see if I shed a single sorry tear
I can't say that it's been that great
No, in fact it's been a wasted-free year

Everybody sees
And everyone agrees
That you and I are wrong
And it's been that way too long

Take it as it comes
and be thankful when it's done
There's so many ways to act
and there's many shades of black
There's so many shades of black
There's so many shades of black

Let it out (let it all out) let it all out
Say what's on your mind
You can kick and screamand shout and say things
That are so unkind.

Yeah,
See if I care
And see if I stand firm or if I fall
Cause in the back of my mind,
and on the tip of my tongue
is the answer to it all...

And everybody sees
And everyone agrees
That you and I are wrong
And it's been that way too long

Take it as it comesand be thankful when it's done
There's so many ways to act
and there's many shades of black,
There's so many shades of black,
Yeah, there's many shades of black

Yeah...Everybody sees
And everyone agrees
That you and I are wrong
And it's been that way too long

So take it as it comes
and be thankful when it's done
There's so many ways to act
and you cannot take it back
no you cannot take it back
there's so many shades of black,
There's so many shades of black,
Yeah, there's many shades of black
there's so many shades of black
there's so many shades of black
Yeah, there's many shades of black
there's so many shades of black
Yeah, there's many shades of black
there's so many shades of black

The battle continues.....

O-m-g.

I am a very socially flexible person. I can get along with almost anyone and can find fun in almost any situation.

BUT OMG.

Let me tell you a little story involving me and a not so nice lady. From this point on I'll be known as NFA (nice, flexible Amanda) and the evil lady will be known as ELIHVM (evil lady I hate very much).

NFA: ELIHVM, can you tell me when (certain yearly event) will happen?

ELIHVM: Oh, well, it will be between this date and this date because that is the ONLY time it can happen. I am just so busy and there are so many other things around this event. *exasperated sigh*

NFA: Ok, no problem. I will finalize things on this end. *Makes preliminary plans*

2 days later......

ELIHVM: We need to change the dates of this certain event! I have added more events to the schedule and we will need to shorten the time of our event and move it to these dates. Every second must be stuffed with events! All kinds of events and they are all so very important and can't be missed!

NFA: Ok, no problem. We have time to change things. *Reworks preliminary plans and makes new plans. Invests money and reworks schedule around the second set of dates*

1.5 weeks before the second set of dates......

ELIHVM: OOPS, I've misread something that really is important and so now the time should be EVEN shorter. Or perhaps you can just reschedule and readjust things on your end. My mistake. Golly gee, I just don't know what happened. *innocent smile*

End scene.

I imagine her has Godzilla crushing my village every time the phone rings. I really, really hate her with every ounce of my soul.

For the love of Slim Jims

I have always known that one of the things I love the most isn't good for me. Any edible item that has a main ingredient of "food-flavored solids" probably shouldn't be consumed EVER but it is so very tasty and comes in many interesting flavors. Who doesn't love a nacho flavored food-flavored solid every now and then? Today in North Carolina a terrible explosion occurred at a plant that produces the tasty "meat" sticks and it injured several workers and at this time 3 more workers are missing. Apparently the explosion was so large that it caused the roof to collapse in three different places in the plant. There is news footage of the plant in the aftermath and there are chemicals spewing from various pipes and smoke billowing from the fire that resulted from the explosion. I'm not sure if it was the Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable/Soybean/Cottonseed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Monosodium Glutamate, Trisodium Phosphate, or the Sodium Benzoate or some combination of those chemicals that caused this explosion (I imagine someone in a HAZMAT suit getting careless with the weapons grade beef fatty tissue) but it is something to think about. Something in my Slim Jims caused an EXPLOSION so powerful that a roof of a manufacturing plant to collapse. Gives a whole new meaning to "Snap into a Slim Jim" doesn't it?

To wax or not to wax

I got married in 2003. For a wedding present my husband gave me a "princess package" to a spa. I got a massage, pedicure, manicure, and my eyebrows waxed. It was wonderful and relaxing. The small Asian woman performing all my services was very nice but did puzzle me with something she asked. She asked me if I'd like to get my forearms waxed. I was confused and asked her to make sure I heard her correctly. She just smiled and asked again if I'd like my forearms waxed. I wasn't aware this was something people did and don't think I know anyone who does this. This situation came to mind recently and it started a great debate all over again. Have I been going my whole life with some sort of freakish forearm hair and not realized it? Did I miss that section of grooming class growing up? If I didn't have forearm hair would my life have been different? I am slightly tempted to get it done just for the experience of it all but am afraid that if I do my moderate hair situation might turn into a forearm hair catastrophe. Does it come back thicker? Will I turn into a modern day teen wolf? Will this start a never ending cycle of mandatory waxing that will cause me eventual financial ruin? These are troubling questions that need answers. I might take up my husband's suggestion and become an icon for a brave sector of people who do not wax and go forth proudly everyday with a shiny clean coat.

When I grow up I want to be.....

I was thinking about my life the other day and suddenly I was struck by the difference in what my childhood dreams were and where I actually am today. Not that there are not good, no, GREAT, things in my life because there are but it does make me wonder. I put together a list of things I wanted to be when I was younger and much more naive.

Teacher- I have been told many times in my life that I am bossy. There is actually a note from my 4th grade teacher on my report card that says "Amanda seems to want to run the class." I seem to be the person that people I work with come to for spell check and instructional tips on how to do things.

Fire Fighter- Did you know there is a specific group of fire fighters just for airport/airplane fires? They are not "regular" fire fighters (as if a fire fighter could be "regular") but they are specially trained for high heat intensity fires and airport security situations! I remember doing research on them and wanting to be the one to roll out onto the tarmac to help.

Marine Biologist- I love swimming and love the cool little creatures under the sea. The ocean holds so many secrets and has always had a mysterious pull on me. I wish there was a way to evaporate all the water for a short time with all the life in it frozen in a type of suspended animation so we could go and look and discover. Imagine taking a guided tour to the deepest part of the ocean, finding long lost wreckage, and discovering new species! Then after the tour just flip the switch and all the water is back and it is like it was.

FBI Criminal Profiler- I like to think I am in tune with a person's emotions and can get a general feel for someone. I often wonder what a person is thinking and what goes on in their head. The processes in the mind that lead a person to action are fascinating to me.

Journalist- I like to write and dabble here and there. That combined with my general nosiness made this seem like a natural fit for me.

Veterinarian- I love animals great and small. My first instinct upon seeing an animal is "I want to pet that!" I would love to have a house full of crazy and rare creatures. It would break my heart, though, to not be able to help.

What you don't see on that list is Customer Service Bitch. Which is what I am. How did I get from the list above to a cubical getting berated by a 75 year old woman who is unhappy about having to pay a Medicare deductible? Funny how life is and how life can change. Interesting to think on and a lesson learned that if/when I have children I will make sure to emphasize the importance of keeping dreams in the foreground because life is way too short to be someones bitch.