Like Candy from a Baby

One more thing, for now. Every year, the fifth graders have this graduation-type ceremony called fifth grade recognition. During this ceremony, the teachers compile lists of the kid's accomplishments. One of the things that always intrigues me is the one for reading. The kids keep track of how many pages they have read for the whole school year. Usually, the teachers list the top ten readers and how many pages they read. And every year, I am always sitting there thinking, "I wonder how many pages I read in a school year," and then I think, "I could totally beat that!" So this year, I decided to keep track of how many pages I am reading. I always like to keep track of the books I've read, especially when I start to get repeats and I don't even realize it!

So, being a wee bit competitive and obsessive, I am totally into this like it is a contest. Like it is going to be some great miracle if I read more in a school year than an 11 year old child.

Awesome! It worked!

I just had to tell you that it worked. I know that you know that because you read my last post, but I didn't know that, and so I am telling you so we can share in this warm happy feeling together.

Hey this is Cool!

Hi, I've been playing around with my new best friend, my laptop, during this break. I've had it for about a month, but I have been so busy that we haven't had time to really get to know each other! (This is so strange and random, but I am sitting here at my table in the great room area, and my neighbor is shoveling snow right on my porch! Awkward! Do I open the door, wave hello, ignore it? I am in my pajamas after all. Ignore is always my favorite option. Good, he's gone! I kind of feel like making a mad dash downstairs while I have the chance!)

Anyhoo, there is a blog option on my Word program. Did you know that? When it starts up, I say, "New document" and it asks if I want a document or blog post. So I choose "blog post" and now here I am! Technology is so nifty.

So, we'll have to see if this works. Commence test post now.

Created by Oatmeal

Something is Wrong, but I'm not Complaining

Hey, I just looked at my free counter, and something must be wrong. Last time I was on this thing about a month ago, I was under 1,000 hits and I was just hoping that I would finally make it to 1,000. Now I look and I'm over 11,000? No way that is possible. But this mistake of the free counter widget makes my heart feel good, even if it is false!

Things to Be Thankful For

Sorry I haven't written in a long time! Nothing happening!

Today, Thanksgiving 2009, I was thinking of things that I am thankful for. People are always talking about things that are actually annoying that you can find some hidden blessing in. For example, "I am thankful for my laundry because it means that I have clothes to wear." Or, "I am thankful for raking leaves because it mean I have a yard of my own."

I thought of a new one, "I am thankful for having the shoulders of a rugby player (yes, my very own, dear brother said this to me, nice) because that means that if I am ever in a natural disaster, I will be able to swim and fight my way to safety."

Songs That I Play Over and Over Again on my ipod

Gravity - Sara Bareilles



(My current most favorite song, thanks Andrew)
How I Go - Yellowcard

Did you know that 'Amanda' and 'Agenda' are practically the same word?!

Awesome Tony performance.

New SAT Question

Have you ever heard Oprah say, "Black don't crack," referring to the fact that black people often look at lot younger then they really are? Neither have I, since I don't watch Oprah, but my friend Shelly says that she does!

Anyway, it made me think of a new question for standardized tests:

If "black don't crack" and "crack is whack" then . . .

"black ain't whack." Am I right? I don't think I did so well on the SAT's anyway.

(Welcome to the inner workings of Amanda's brain.)

The Fire

I think that we could save a lot on therapy bills if we just were able to build and watch a fire everyday. Fires are the coolest (well, that doesn't seem right) make that most calming things to watch and sit by.

When we were in Utah, the next to last day it snowed. Then when we got up in the morning, it was 28 degrees outside and 48 degrees in the cabin. So, you can see why we were making fires.

I got pretty sad one day, watching the fire, and thinking, "That used to be a tree that had a life and a purpose. Now it is just a piece of itself. Pretty soon, it will be nothing but ash." I was being deep, melancholy and poetic. When I said it out loud, my brother, David, said that he thinks of the trees as fulfilling their purpose and giving us back the energy and light that they received from the sun.

The next day, my dad put his two cents in (I'm pretty sure he had gone to bed before we started our fire conversations from the night before). He said, "What if the trees remember the faces of the people and animals that have passed before them and then show us their memories in the flames they put out."

Whoa, dad wins the fire philosophy game!

Today in Utah

Today in Utah:

Went to Park City, where the Sundance Film Festival is held, and shopped at Dolly's bookstore, ate a turkey burger at an Irish pub, took lots of pictures, and did the tourist thing (can you say Park City souvenirs?)

When we came back, we stopped at the grocery at Kamas (nearest one, about 20 miles from the cabin,) and also stopped at the Rode Island Diner where we had chocolate malts. Yummy!

Then naps, thunderstorms while sitting on the porch, dinner (I was the bean snapping queen), and Trivial Pursuit. Now, we like to play this game, but tonight it was a little like pulling my fingernails out one by one. Here's why: we couldn't find the cards to the edition (genus iv) so we scrounged up a set of cards from the Baby Boomers version. Imagine, me, a 28 year old, playing with my 34 year old brother (who quit about thirty minutes in, thanks a lot!:) and three old people (just kidding, guys). I mean, three Baby Boomers. It was nice for the people time, but not really good for building up the old self-esteem. Felt like the dumbest person in the room. (But, you have to give me a break, the cards were from 1983!)

NEWS ALERT!!!: Aunt Pam won Trivial Pursuit. She is the best baby boomer ever!

Thrusday at Utah

Here are some of the memorable moments from my trip so far.

Yesterday, we ate a delicious dinner made by my aunt Pam. It was chicken marsala with corn of the cob and something called quinoa. It is supposedly some superfood that is really healthy for you . . . I guess that it is usually tasteless, maybe like tofu, but it was completely delicious when coupled with caramelized onions and garlic. So, quinoa, is one of the things I'll start to cook when I get home.

Today, we went of a nice hike through the hills of the mountains. David climbed into a hole on the side of the mountain, which is very David-like.

Now, we are sitting in the living room of the cabin, watching the fire, and talking about stuff. (Talking about how everyone got engaged. Oh, no, what do I do when they come to me?!)

I can't really think of anything else right now. Oh, yeah, I beat David at backgammon.

One more exciting story, but I'll save that for another day:)

Utah One

I'm in the place that I imagine when I think, "I wish I could be anywhere but here." Sitting in the hammock on the porch of my Aunt's cabin in the mountains of Utah. We arrived here, Salt Lake City, yesterday, and went to our hotel. My dad, as we were leaving the airport said, "You know what I don't know is how to get to the hotel." Which is so unlike my dad. So, here we are driving just guessing which way that we should go on I-80. Hmm, should we go east of west? Well, we picked the wrong way, so we turned around which was not straight forward and simple.

Today, we drove up the cabin which was about a two hour drive. The last eight miles are down a dirt/ gravel road, which we stopped several times along to get pictures.

Roadkill

You know how I like to look at roadkill to see what kind of interesting inside-an-animal things I can see? Well, I saw the most unusual roadkill yesterday. I had to do a double take. A cantaloupe. And I'm pretty sure it was dead.

I Wanna be Like Him

There's this cute kid that stands out on the road and holds a sign promoting Del Mar (a Chipotle knock-off chain). I'm guessing that he is about 15 years old and he is Indian (as Andrew would say, "Does it really matter?" but don't you have a clearer picture of this kid now? So, ha, it does help). If you know anything about New Albany, this kid probably doesn't NEED to have a job. He could have been spending his summer hanging out with friends and going to the pool. But instead, he stands out on the side of the road and waves his sign around all day long. And he is good at it too. You know how you see guys (usually middle aged men) standing outside with one of those signs looking like a zombie and trying not to make eye contact with any passersby. Well, this kid smiles at each person as they drive past. Depending on the traffic light, he turns in the direction of the on-coming cars and bounces his sign around as if to say, "Mmmm, you want a burrito for lunch. Don't you?" Even in the pouring rain, he stands out there. I love it! If only everyone could be so devoted to their jobs, even if it is only holding a sign for hours at a time. It is kind of nice to see how youth can color any scenario into something hopeful and exciting. Hopefully, 'the man' doesn't get him down to where he is writing in a blog at age 28 and marveling at how anyone can be so happy holding a sign.

What Universal Truth I Learned While Dancing in My Bedroom to a Michael Jackson Song

So, I was dancing in my room to "Billie Jean" and some other Michael Jackson songs while I was getting ready the other day. I was dancing along and snapping (because children of the 80's like to snap their fingers when they dance to Michael Jackson songs). So I was dancing, snapping my fingers and singing to my cat, Harley. (No, we haven't reached any universal truths yet, although the children of the 80's snapping thing is pretty close.) All of a sudden, I notice that Harley looks really afraid. He has this look like, "Uh, oh. I'm in big trouble. I don't know what I did, but I'm in big trouble." And I'm like, "Harley, you're not in trouble, I'm just dancing around the room and snapping my fingers and singing some Billie Jean, 'the kid is not my son (ow!)'."

Then it hits me, Harley thinks he is in trouble because whenever he really is doing something wrong, I snap my fingers at him. So here he is, listening to me snap up a storm, and thinks that he is in for it.

Why does this lead me to a universal truth? Well, if your name is David, Joel or Janette (sorry Andrew, but you really didn't live through this era, not like you read my blog because you hardly read my texts, yeah, I'm a little bitter) you already know where this is leading. When we were little kids, David and I would know we were in trouble because my dad would snap his fingers. He wouldn't yell. Most of the time he wasn't even in the same room as us (the man has a loud snap people) but whenever we heard it, wherever we were, we knew someone was in big trouble (umm, usually that was David, sorry but it's true). A snap reverberating through the house could chill our souls to the bone (that is if souls had bones).

Universal truth drum roll please: I grew up and became my dad! (Not the worst thing in the world, for the most part;)

I Know, I Know

I know that I complain too much about people and driving, but this one was really bad. I told my mom the other day that the older I get, the stupider others get! I can feel "crotchety" slowly seeping into my veins. Anyway, I was driving on New Albany Road just getting ready to turn into my condo complex. The guy in front of me was tailgating the person right in front of him, so I barely knew there was someone there. Then the car right in front of me went into the turn lane, making me think, "This guy is turning." But no, he was swerving around the person in front of him who had slowed to make a right hand turn. So, here is a surprise stopped person in front of me. Why do people do that? Is taking your foot off the gas or, heaven forbid, tapping the brake so awful that you need to lead the people behind you into an accident (well, I didn't get into an accident, but it was scary!)

Saying this when you burp makes it 10x funnier!



I did this at my house today, but there wasn't anyone to hear me but the cats, and they didn't find it funny.

On a comedian kick. Who says biracial, half Asian, half white people can't be funny?

Amanda at the Movies

I went to the movies today and thought about this skit. So funny. (Warning: Not for the kiddies:)

Pet Peeve: Car sounds on the radio. Beeping, screeching tires, sounds of sirens. It should be illegal. I hear sounds of a collision and I get all anxious but it turns out to be only on the radio? Awful!

Amanda Is Not Sure

I just got back from visiting school, and I hate not knowing the time table for things. See, my school is adding three new sections and that means I lost my room. Instead of going class to class on a cart (Kodaly teachers would know that it is un-doable with the way we teach) I'm going to be in a non-existent room that is going to be built before school starts. (Construction hasn't begun by the way). Do you know how many nights I have bad dreams about this? What will the new room be like? Will there be space to do the dances and games I use to teach? The uncertainty is killing me!

I saw the strangest thing yesterday when I was driving on 315. It startled me so much (and made me so intent on creating conspiracy theories (yes, I'm Joel's daughter)) that I took the wrong exit.

As I was driving, I thought I saw a flash of white in the car to my right, like he had just stuck his hand out the sunroof. Then, a few seconds later, I saw him do it again, this time throwing something white out the top of his car. A few seconds after that? White tissues, he was throwing wads of tissues out of his sunroof. Well, I get over to the right because I need to exit soon, and there is one car in between me and the crazy- throwing tissues out the window man. All of a sudden, he throws out another wad of tissues. It bounces off the windshield of the car in front of me, sails back, and *plunk* smacks my windshield. Right in front of my face, a big wad of white tissues. Isn't that weird? First of all, this is not plain old littering. This is throwing things at the cars behind you. You've got to be a little unstable to do such a thing, right?

Amanda's Theories:
1. He was trying to spread the swine flu with infected balls of tissues.
2. He killed someone and was spreading the evidence in little pieces all over the freeway. (I mean, that tissue hunk hit with a real thud.)

(PS - my mom wants to state for the record that old people with oxygen tanks should not be driving slowly around town. Personally, I think this is ageism, or at least emphysema-ism:)

Why?

Why do people love butterflies so much? They are insects after all. I myself am totally freaked out by them. People write songs about butterflies. OK, so I get the whole metamorphosis symbolism, but would you listen to a song about mosquitoes? People get tattoos of butterflies. Would you get a tattoo of a water bug? (Ew, I'm grossing myself out just thinking about this.) We went to a butterfly house (against my strong protestations). Would you go to a cockroach house? "Yea, let's see if I can get this cockroach to land on me." Gross! These are insects people! I don't care how pretty their colors are. They have long, yucky, gross legs and are creepy. Just say no to butterflies.

Amanda Wonders if She is Old

So I've been wondering lately if I am getting old. I mean, I know that I am getting older. If your not getting older you are either dead or Benjamin Button. Here's why I've been wondering. I was at JC Penny and I kept on picking out these shirts that had large floral type prints on them, and I kept on thinking, "Is this really a pretty shirt, or do I just think it is a pretty shirt because I am becoming an old lady?" I was pretty distraught over my fashion sense that day.

Then, on the fourth, I was looking out my window at 1:00 AM because there were fireworks going off in the field across the street. I could see all these people running around and having a good time, and I just wished they would be quiet because they woke me up, and went back to bed. Hello! That is old fart territory!

But then, yesterday, I had this dream that aliens came to invade the earth and they were separating people into two categories: the young and the old. They wanted to suck the brains out of the young people and just wanted to blow up the old people, and guess what? I was considered a young person and they sucked my brains out. Ah! That made me feel better!

(Please don't think I'm too crazy:)

Amanda Wants to Be

I want to be this girl when I grow up! Her name is Emily Bear and she is six or seven. She composed a song about her interpretation of the Northern Lights and it won an award! It is so beautiful!

Why do cartoons animals sometimes wear a shirt but no pants? I say, either do all the clothes or no clothes, otherwise they look like they are naked (like the bad dreams I sometimes have!)

Great Quote ; )

(Sometimes when I do that winky eye emoticon, I think that it kind of looks like me, with one Chinese eye and one white eye.)

Anyway:

"There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nurse was a Jerk

So I think that this is a pretty safe forum to get out my frustrations. I love, love, love my doctor. I've been going to her for less than a year, but I feel like she understands me. Plus, I have this paranoia that doctors think that I am really annoying and don't believe a word I say, but I don't feel that way with her. See, I've had tons of strange medical maladies in my lifetime, but, when I look over them, there is not one thing that I could have made up. (I cannot induce seizures, make my blood pressure high or influence my allergy test (where I reacted so badly that the nurse brought in other nurses just to gawk at my crazy, "Christmas tree" like bump pattern)).

Anyway, the only bad thing about my doctor's office is the nurse guy that works there. The last time I was there, last Friday, he talked down to me twice. The first time, he was all frustrated about why I was even there. The back story is, my GI doctor quit, and I really just wanted to talk to my regular doctor to get a little bit of a new plan in place and to get her opinion. He was going on about, "First you call and I get you an appointment with the GI guy, now you're coming here, blah, blah, blah." I said, "Yes, I went to that appointment." Then I tell him the new medicines that the GI doctor has me taking, because nurses like to know that stuff. And I said that I am supposed to be taking Zofran, but my insurance doesn't cover it, so I am not taking it regularly. He then goes on this tirade about how people are responsible for understanding their insurance policies on drug coverage, and "you should have read your manual from cover to cover so that you can be educated about this. There's nothing I can do about it, blah, blah, blah."

By this point, I am trying not to cry (because I am an all-occasion crier. I cry when I'm mad or embarrassed or upset). Such a jerk! (the nurse guy, not me for feeling like crying when a guy yells at me when I am feeling sick:)

Michael Jackson Musings

Just a couple (random) thoughts about Michael Jackson (of course they are random thoughts, you don't get anything else when it comes to me):

1. Every time I hear an old Michael Jackson song, it makes me think of Will Farrell because most of them have a lot of cowbell!

2. Sometimes his hip signature glove looks more like a bedazzled ove-glove

More Greatness

Amanda Is Shocked

I can't believe that Michael Jackson is dead. His life was so sad, and it ended before he could redeem himself in the public eye. Even though his later years were filled with controversy, he truly had a huge impact on music. His songs, style, and dance shaped music in the 80's and his influence can still be seen in current pop music. He is a major legend and he will be missed. He will live on through his music.

Right now, youtube has blocked embedding most Michael Jackson videos. Go to the site and watch your favorite videos.

Another Funny Video

Try not to sing the news after watching this. "It's the smoke," has been in my head for the past two days!

Harley and Maggie Define (Disfunctional) Relationships

So you know already that I am kind of a crazy cat lady where I think of my pets as people with feelings and thoughts and all that, right? Well, last night, I was thinking about how Harley and Maggie's relationship mirrors that of men and women everywhere.

1. Maggie loves Harley.
2. Harley doesn't know that she exists.
3. Maggie has selective amnesia when it comes to remembering that Harley doesn't know that she exists.
4. Harley only acknowledges Maggie when he wants something, and will whine until she pays attention to him.
5. Maggie will do anything for Harley even if it involves emotional and/ or physical injury (i.e. 15 pound cat wrestling with a 7 pound cat can't feel good)
6. Harley only has eyes for one woman, and I am way out of his league!

Amanda Explains Chow Time

There is this miracle that happens and it is called "Chow Time." I was first introduced to this concept by my sister-in-law, Jess when we were in Alaska together. I first thought that she was talking about eating, because we always seemed to be eating when the topic came up, but Chow Time can happen anywhere you have a line. Basically the premise is this: anywhere a Chow goes, he or she can beat a rush of people 9 times out of 10. You know when you get in line at the BMV (this really just happened to me the other day!) and there is no one there. Two minutes later, you look behind you and there is a line out the door? This is Chow Time. When you are at a restaurant and there is a 10 minute wait when you walk in and then it grows to 45 minutes after you put your name in? Chow Time. I guess we have this innate sensibility when we can feel in our bones the very best time to go somewhere. It's probably evolution or something. So, if we ever get snippy with you because you are running late, or we really want to get somewhere NOW, it is because our inner Chow Time is kicking in.

Funny Video

Crazy Times at the Doctors Office

I went to the doctor Thursday (yes, I have to have more surgeries) but it was so bizarre there. First of all, the place is always packed. That day, there was a lady in a wheelchair with an oxygen machine and a guy strapped to a gurney. They were both from nursing homes, but they weren't connected in any way. The lady didn't know where her insurance card was and she and the receptionist pulled apart her whole purse in the middle of the waiting room to try to find it. When they were looking, they found a gift card to Ruby Tuesday's and joked about taking everyone out for lunch (which is completely random, but also pretty weird.)

The other guy, who was on a gurney, was really loud and would yell out things every once in a while. His daughter was there and she was filling out his paperwork, and they really were not trying at all to be discreet. She'd be like, "How long you been smoking dad?" "What is your social security number." To which he would yell out some obscenity or another. Then, he would yell out in pain and the daughter would say, "Are you blowing up again, Poppy? That's why were here to tell the doctor about your diarrhea (I really had no clue how to spell that word!) Finally, he said he needed to go to the bathroom, and the daughter and transporter guys(?) were like, "You have a diaper on! Just go in your pants!" For the whole waiting room to hear.

So weird! Like the twilight zone. Like you wanted someone there with you to witness the strangeness because no one would believe you.

Fundamental Questions

Why do most kids shows that feature talking animals have an animal that doesn't talk because it is just the "pet?" Perfect example, Pluto. You can have a talking mouse and duck, but they have a dog that doesn't? I think there is something racist about it, not racist but animalist. Poor animal that has to be portrayed as the dumb, non-talking one. Watch for it. It happens a lot.

Amanda Reminisces

Remember when I talked about a guy driving in my neighborhood with a plastic bag on his car hood? (If you do, I am very proud of , and slightly concerned for, you). Anyway, I saw him again, same bag, same place on his hood, and I figured out what he was doing: going to the trash bin. What I thought was a lunch bag as really a trash bag. Apparently, he needs to throw things away in small increments and he can't walk to the trash bin, or put the bag in his car. No, he must drive with it stuck under his windshield wiper and make concerned spectators like me worry that he is driving to work with his lunch on his hood.

This is Why Amanda is a Genius

(subtitle: or at least thinks she is)

I have this crazy ant problem at my house right now. I say crazy for two reasons. One: they are in the innermost part of my house, the corner where my house joins to the three around me. It is not even close to the outside, so where did they come from? Two: the day I found them? Yes, the same day that I was over at my friend's, Shelly's, and she had an ant problem (the only difference between us is that she had to suck them up with the vacuum and I was smooshing them with my fingers!)

But, I have solved this ant problem with a purely genius plot. See, they were into my cats food (gross!) and I would kill them and empty the bowls, but they would keep coming back (hence, the term "pest.") So, after a few days of this, I decided to set the food bowls on top of other bowls turned upside down so that they were harder to get to. Then my brain was struck by lightning (that must have hurt (random Hook reference)) and I made the upside down bowls into little moats by filling the sides with water. (To get the full picture: these bowls are cat food bowls that have a circle for the base and then the bowl comes up and then dips down in the middle to hold food and water. Does that make sense? So, when they are turned upside down, they have this little crevasse between the outside and the actual bowl part. Did that make you confused? I kind of made myself confused!)

Voila! Ant problem fixed. And that is why I am a genius.

Amanda Sings "Ah, Poor Bird"

For some reason, a pigeon decided to commit birdie suicide today by flying right under my car while I was doing 70 on 670. I don't think I could have hit that bird if I had tried, but he flew right into my car!

Amanda Posts Proof

Here is the video of the wicked weather I promised:) (Some weatherman's idea of showers and no severe weather!)

Amanda Says, "Thanks"

Yea! Another family birthday. These things should definitely come around more than once a year;) I got lots of good stuff and ate lots of good food (hopefully that doesn't come back to haunt me later;) And, of course, sat with all the best people! Here are some pics including the thing that will be my new obsession (from my parents) a Flip video camera!!! (Plus a gift card from Vanessa for a Les Miserable CD and a check from grandma going towards a Pandora charm (of course) not to be posted on the world wide web for obvious reasons!)

Amanda Hates it

Eeewww. I just saw the typo in one of my blog titles, "Amand'a" instead of "Amanda's." I hate that! But, I'm gonna leave it because life is not perfect. (Thank you therapy:)

Amanda Finds it Funny

Yesterday, there was a huge (unexpected?) storm at my house. I know that these things pop up all the time in spring, but isn't it funny how it seems like it is the first time it has ever happened? (It snowed! It rained! It hailed! (is that a word? (in the weather sense, not in the "all hail the power of Jesus' name" sense))) Sometimes this all happens on the same day in Ohio! Anyway, I found it funny, as I was driving home in the pouring rain, that one of the local forecasters (to remain unnamed . . .) was on the radio saying, "Tonight the rain tapers off in the early evening. Some showers but no severe weather." Just as he is spewing his lies (ooo, very dramatic!) a hail storm starts. Have you ever been in your car during a hail storm? To someone who cringes (and, yes, sometimes has to plug her ears) when she flushes the toilet, this is very nerve-wracking. It is like a car wash on steroids.

Then, I go inside, take a video (yes, I too am one of those people who marvels at rain like it is the first time I have ever seen it), and go to sleep. I can hardly keep my eyes open. But a half an hour later, I am awakened by tornado sirens.

So, I trudge downstairs to see what's up on the local news. (Like most people in Columbus, sorry Andrew) I turn to channel 10 first to see a graphic about swine flu (sorry, H1N1) frozen on the screen. Then I turn to channel 4 (sorry again, brother) to see a similar graphic frozen on my screen. So, I turn to channel 6 and I hear Carol Luper say the funniest thing, "As you are out driving tonight, try not to splash the people who are walking." A: just how many people are out walking tonight, Carol? B: why would it matter if they were splashed by a passing car in the midst of a torrential downpour? I love Carol Luper (she worked with my dad back in the day and now works with my brother. When I went to college, she offered for me to stay with her in her house anytime I got stranded at Capital.) But, you have to admit, that was a pretty funny thing to say. And, maybe, all of Columbus heard it because the other two stations were down with lightning strikes!

Amand'a Most Awesome Day

I just had the greatest day! So . . . nothing was so special about the first eight hours . . . but after that, things started spicing up! Some of my friends from work were going to a friend, Tricia's, house to see her and her babies and to eat dinner with them since her husband is out of town. While I'm riding with my friends to Tricia's house, we stop by Resch's to get a cake for her because her birthday is on the 4th. They have little gifts for her birthday, and I am getting a little mad thinking, "Um, why didn't anyone tell me that this was a birthday thing? I didn't even get her a card!" Here's why: it was a surprise for me too! My birthday is on the 5th and the presents weren't just for Tricia, they were for me too! Whoo hoo!

I've never had a surprise anything (at least that I can think of right now at 10:15 PM). So it was great! And, drum roll please . . . they got me a Pandora bracelet and a present charm! A real Pandora bracelet all for me! Can I use any more exclamation points! I'm not sure! I feel so special. I have the greatest friends! (see there's that darn exclamation again:)

Then, on the way home, I called another friend, Krysta, who lives in DC and just got engaged, and she asked me to be in her wedding! I know that it could be applicable in my spinster situation to say, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride," but I've never even been a bridesmaid before:) So this is a first!

To quote from one of the cards I got this evening (from my cool entourage, of which, of course, I am the head because I am the coolest;) : "Happiness is like peeing in your pants. Everyone can see it, but only you can feel its warmth." If that is true, then I better invest in some Depends because I am very, very happy to have such a wonderful day:)

Amanda Is Embarrassed

Yesterday, I was coming out of the store and tried to get into the wrong car! The parking space next to me was empty and someone was pulling through into that spot, so I was all flustered and distracted thinking, "Oh, I better get in quick so this guy can park!" And I go to pull on the door handle and it is not my car (if you must know, my car handles are open on the top and the bottom and this one was just open on the bottom!) So, there is this guy waiting for me to get into my car; the only problem is, it isn't my car! So I said, "This isn't me car!" and walked away (two spots down to where my car REALLY was!) Ah, so embarrassing!

Amanda Is Sorry

Sorry I haven't been writing so much lately. I am sick again! Maybe some miracle will happen, and I won't have to have surgery to fix this one! But even if I do, it is 10x better this time around since I know what to expect and all that:) If you refer back to around October - December, you'll see that I don't really write much when I'm not feeling well. (I seem to lack my stunning wit and charm!) So, if I'm absent for longer than a few days, you'll know I am tucked in bed sleeping (and hopefully not camped out in the bathroom!) TMI? Sorry about that too.

Amanda's Stomach is Making Unholy Gurgling Sounds

The title speaks for itself, right?

Amanda Sings

This weekend, I sang with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra. It is the third year that I have gone up to Mansfield with one of the groups I sing with, Capriccio. This year, we sang "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein. One of the songs in this operetta is one of my all-time favorites: Make Our Garden Grow. I just love it and loved the chance to get to sing with with a real orchestra (and not just my ipod!)

The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra is conducted by a great guy named Robert Franz, and watching him conduct is like a full semester of conducting courses! Since it is my favorite art form (conducting) I just eat it up every time.

When I was deciding what I should be when I grew up (college deadlines looming and all that) my high school band went on a trip to San Diego for contests. I remember watching the director (Greg Taylor - awesome!) while he conducted the top band playing an arrangement of Make Our Garden Grow, and I just loved that image of him: standing on stage and embodying the music. So, right then, I decided that I wanted to be a band teacher. (Well, you see where that has gotten me:) but conducting is STILL my favorite thing in the world!)

Here is my mosaic from facebook:
1. Name?
2.Favorite food?
3. Hometown?


4. Favorite color?
5. Favorite movie?
6. Favorite drink?


7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. Describe yourself.


10.Feeling right now?
11. Love most?
12. Be when you grow up?

Amanda Hopes

I hope my neighbors don't hate me too much. My cats have been running like crazy people (I mean cats) all around the house all night long. I know it must sound thunderous to my neighbors. Oh well.

Amanda's Grandpa is Cool

Here is a link to a blog that talks about my grandpa! He just had a book dedicated to him for his 88th birthday. More on this later!

Cool Blog Link

One more war thing too

Here's a funny quote from Weeds about the war in Iraq:

Doug: You signed up for the reserves on your own free, drunk , horny accord. You're f*****.

Andy: Well I am not going to Iraq to fight in some bulls*** war about oil money.

Doug: Bulls*** war? What about 9/11? Didn't Iran hide the terrorists?

Andy: We're fighting a war in Iraq, Doug, and neither country had anything to do with blowing up the World Trade Center.

Doug: Well they both have sand.

(my favorite part, thank goodness Andy gets his toe bitten off by a dog in a later episode so that he doesn't have to be in the army!) Andy: Bush invaded a sovereign nation in defiance of the U.N He's a war criminal and now I have to be one if his disposable thugs with a f****** target on my head in the middle of the desert waiting to be blown up by a car bomb rigged by a 12 year old who loved Friends and Metallica until one of our missiles blew up his house! I don't think so.

Doug: They had weapons of mass destruction.

Andy: There were no weapons of mass destruction!

Another question

Do angry liberal radio shows exist? I only hear angry conservatives. Is it because angry liberals don't exist (like an oxymoron) or do they have a different media outlet? And, why do conservatives gripe about the money spent toward the recession and not the trillion dollars for the war in Iraq where we caught the bad guy six years ago? I'm not a political person, but this gets me!

Amanda Asks Some Questions

If you haven't guessed by now, my mind works in mysterious ways. (Or maybe all minds work this way and I'm the only one dumb enough to say it all out loud). But here are some questions that have recently been gnawing (did you know that's how you spell that word? gnawing? I tried to spell it "knawing!") at my mind:

1. Why do all the people who play Bible characters in movies have an English accent?

2. Do more people face the shower head or away from the shower head when taking a shower? Does this depend on the sex? (The sex of the person, not sex in the shower) (I mean, do boys face one way and . . . you know what, I'm abandoning this one)

3. How can the annoying person (who lives across the street, no, let me amend that, who is dating someone across the street) sense the perfect 10 minute window to come in and steal my parking spot?

4. Why are short weeks so long?

Amanda Says, "Never Fear"

So, during this contest, I was really not "present" which is what I like to do when I am onstage and competing. (I love to compete!) But I was so thrown off by the song being in the wrong key, that I totally missed the second song. I was even a little worried that I didn't do any of the choreography because I couldn't remember a thing (other than, "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, we're too high, we're too high, in the wrong key, oh my gosh") Apparently, my body went on autopilot and I sang the whole song WITH choreo! I saw the DVD Monday to prove it! Actually, I have stood in the same place for eleven years, which is right, smack dab on the end of the risers where no one can see me. When we watched the DVD, I was off the screen and on the wall and I had to stand up and watch the little DVD player instead so I could see myself. But being on the wall was better than the show last year because I was in the shadows the whole time. I wasn't even lit up!

Evidence:
(Yes, that's me, the very last one on the right at the very top, IN THE SHADOWS!)

More evidence:
(More me in the shadows, no wonder I need therapy!)

I even went on facebook and tagged my(shadowloving)self

Amanda Describes the Transformation of a Sweet Adeline

Hi everyone!

I just got back from Covington, KY and my eleventh region 4 Sweet Adeline contest! We placed fourth, yea!

I amused myself by taking pictures to share with you about how one transforms herself into a Sweet Adeline.

Step 1: Plain Amanda

















Step 2: Putting on the spackle (I mean make-up); notice the difference between my face color and my neck color. Yikes!















Step 3: Made up Amanda
















Step 4: (Hair substep 1: this thing is complicated, isn't it?) Curl hair (I've always had a little orphan Annie/ Shirley Temple complex, can you tell?)



























Step 5: Brush out curls, pin and go! (This is my, "let's get ready to rumble/ bring it" face)

























Step 6: Find 70 other people dressed EXACTLY like you (scaring numerous, unsuspecting hotel guests in the process) and wait in the lobby















Steps 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14: Ride on bus; load into freight elevator; warm-up; wait in hall/ go to the bathroom; wait backstage/ apply vaseline to teeth (so they don't stick!); PERFORM! (second song in wrong key, threw me off the whole time. Did I do any of my choreo?); wait for results (when they say 10 minute intermission, they mean 45); have Mary Ellen bestow you with a fourth place medal.

(By the way, somewhere around 13.5, there was this strange pie plate/ Star Wars thing going on which I didn't participate in, but liked watching, but was also a little spooked out like I was in the Twilight Zone)

Step 15: Strip off make-up and outfit and kiss your medal. Another year of competition done!
























Step 16: Free happy hour, dinner and fun with BEST CHORUS EVER!!!

Amanda Loves Kristen

I just love Kristen Chenoweth! Here are some great songs:

Glitter and Be Gay from Candide (if you watch just one, watch this one!)

Taylor the Latte Boy

The Girl in 14G

Kristen Plays a Prank on the Ellen Show

More Random Thoughts From Amanda

Here are some random thoughts rolling around my brain:

1. All last week, I had to go to work and see that my neighbors were on break. Now it is my turn to stay home. Mwa ha ha (evil laugh).

2. My cats would like to read my blog if their brains were bigger than golf balls.

3. I talk about my cats way too much.

4. My friend, Tiffany, (who is a loyal reader:) is coming to Columbus this weekend from Cincinnati and I am going to be in Cincinnati. Isn't ironic (don't you think?)

Amanda Sees the Stragnest Things

I am way too observant for my own good. Must be the ADD/OCD thing. (By the way, my friend Stephanie told me a good one. A bumper sticker that reads something like, "I have CDO (OCD in alphabetical order) the way it should be!")

Anyway, I had a professional day today, which meant getting to school by 8:00 AM, which, translated in "Amanda Hates the Morning Hours" lingo means "Wake up as late as possible and get breakfast to go."

So, I drove by Tim Hortons (I'm a recovering Tim Hortons Addict by the way, I guess I fell off the wagon) to grab some Timbits to take for everyone. I was pulling away from the window and around the building to the exit. This is one of those Tim Hortons that shares a building with a Wendy's. (Is Wedny's plural? Or do we just make it plural like "Krogers," "Meijers" or "Wal-Marts?" Just kiddnig on that last one, but I do know people say it.) As I was pulling around to the Wendy's side of the building, there was a guy standing in the drive through lane power washing the road (this is a guess, I was a little bit distracted trying not to hit him that I didn't get a good look). Luckily, I wasn't heading for the Wendy's drive through, so I wasn't really close to him as I came around the corner. But, right behind me, there was this person who apparantly needed Wendy's badly, and came around the corner really fast. In my rearview mirror, I saw this quick movement. It was the road washer guy jumping out of the way of the oncoming vehicle!

Seriously, why do I notice these things?

Amanda Keeps Talking About Nail Polish

I was thinking about the OPI site and how they never seem to have my coloring (like when you are choosing your skin tone when "trying on" the different shades). They never have a Chinese hand! :) So, I went to the Taiwan OPI site thinking, "Now, they will have a Chinese hand!" But it was all in a different language. Ah! I can never win!

Amanda Is Lazy

So I was looking at my friend Megan's blog (My Single View) where she shows her toes and her pedicure. I thought about taking a picture of my toes (cause my feet are way cuter!;) but then I felt too lazy to walk upstairs to get the camera and then load the pictures onto my computer. Lazy, lazy, lazy! Maybe another time.

Anyway, I was thinking about my toe nails and about OPI nail polish colors. You know, with the really cute names. Then I was thinking about the color I got which was called "Dutch Tulips." So I went on the site and looked up "Dutch Tulips" and it looks nothing like my toes! But I did find some interesting things. You can pick any color and see it on "your hand." This is sure to provide you with hours of entertainment when you should be doing something more productive like cleaning the toilets or vacuuming the carpets. Go try it yourself.

Also, there is a Taiwan OPI store! Of course!

Amanda Wonders Again

Hmm. What should I write about? I'm not sure right about now. How about, "I got a pedicure on Monday." (and the guy cut my toe, even though he had very pretty arms with tattoos, so if my toe falls off, we know who to blame) Or "my school makes me wheeze." That's all that's on my mind right now. Nothing new to report.

Amanda is a Fan of Social Experiments

You know that ABC thing called "What Would You Do?" (or something like that) that makes up scenarios and then video records people's reactions? At first, it was interesting, and it might be kind of overkill now (ABC should take note of "To Catch a Predator.") Anway, are you ever paranoid that you'll be in one of those things? And also, shouldn't we always live life like someone is watching us?

Yesterday, I when I was stepping out of my house and locking the front door, I saw this guy driving around with a plastic Kroger bag sitting on the hood of his car (right on the crack between the hood and the windshield.) He was driving away from me, so I couldn't really catch his attention. First, I worried that something in his lunch was going to fly out and crack his windshield. Then I laughed. Finally, I wondered if there was some sort of hidden camera somewhere. Welcome to the paranoid world of Amanda.

Amanda Wants to Hear All Your Stories

Today must have been "National Tell Your Teacher the Most Random Thing That Comes to Your Mind"Day. Maybe it comes every year after St. Patrick's Day. Or maybe it is the symptom of the nice weather. Anyway, here are some real quotes I heard today:

"My dog got lost."

"I lost my tooth at the pizza place last night."

"He just hit me in the boob!" (Girl Scout's honor, one boy said this to another today!)

"My mom had the bumpy brown things that stick out of your skin taken off and she is really sore" (Translation: mole removal)

"My shoes are broken."

"I accidentally knocked my friend's earring out at recess."

I also had a girl say that one of our sign language signs looked like, "a retard hitting a wall over and over again." I'm pretty sure she had no idea what that meant. And she looked really surprised when I told her that it was a rude thing to say.

Lastly, I yelled at a boy today who lost his temper after losing a game. He sulked over to the wheel to "change his clip" (our behavior system) all the while, huffing and mad and crying and upset. Yelling at his classmates, "What are you looking at?"Then at the end of class, he runs up and hugs me, crying still, saying, "Oh, I'm in big trouble!"

Amanda Cross Dresses

Our talent show is coming up and we've been working on the teacher act. I used audacity (free audio editing software) to put together a mix of "older" dance songs. I'm coming out on Old Time Rock and Roll a la Risky Business complete with a white shirt, boxers, sunglasses and socks. So, I went to Target today to buy a white shirt and boxers. This created a very interesting picture (I think) that I was opening all the bags and holding up the boxer shorts to myself. And, I must say, I sort of wish that I was a man. Let me explain, I wore a small in mens (I ended up buying a large though because the small was quite tight in the hips and I didn't really want to go out on a stage wearing a hip hugging shirt while wearing boxers). Ahh, that helps the self esteem greatly. I guess if I can't be a small woman, I can be a small man.

Amanda Must Learn to Breathe Through the Anger

I really don't like cable companies. I think that they are the downfall of our society, among other things. Why do we have to waste money on channels that we probably never even watch? I got rid of my cable tv about two weeks ago, thinking, "Hello, I can save $50 a month by getting rid of this thing that I hardly ever watch." So, I get a new bill from the cable company, and the same internet service that cost me $30 last month now costs me $54.99. Why, because the cable company is trying to get all my money! Stupid, scheming cable stupid.

Amanda Ends the Suspense

My Girl. Are you a pink chippie winner too?

Amanda Is the Pick Chippie Queen

Do you know what a pink chippie is? It is the little triangle thingy that you get when you answer an entertainment question right in Trivial Pursuit. Well, I am hereby instating myself of the queen of all things pink chippie. Yesterday, Stephanie was talking about a student named Vada that she had, and I was thinking, "Vada, Vada, that name is from a movie." Two seconds later, I thought of the movie.

I knew it! Do you?

Amanda is Confused (Again)

I know that I am not really with it this week with my cold and all, but I have had several confusing things happen in the past few days.

1.) I was at Kroger looking for some NyQuil and I found this really great deal, buy one, get one free on Kroger brand NyQuil stuff. So I decided to get the 20 pill pack for $5.59 which would give me 40 pills for that price. I was so impressed with myself for finding this deal and I was ready to go pay for my pills, when something else caught my eye. A combination pack of 20 daytime pills and 20 nighttime pills for $4.49 + buy one, get one free. Does this make sense to anyone? Why would anyone buy 40 pills for $5.59 when you could get 80 for $4.49? I stood there for a while wondering if I was reading it wrong, or what the catch was, but there was no catch, so I bought my 80 pills at a great sale price.

2.) While at Kroger, I was really there to pick up a prescription for this antibacterial ointment that I put in this sinus rinse that I do (which is truly a Midevil torture device) when I have a sinus infection. They said that they didn't have enough tubes to fill my order. "Enough tubes?" I thought, "I was only picking up one." Oh no, they wanted to give me six. Six! I have only used one or two in the last three years, and they want to give me six at a time! Not only that, but I am set up to get 132 tubes of this stuff before the year is out. That made me really confused.

3.) I started reading "The Jane Austen Book Club" today, and I am already confused because it is written in the first person, but you don't know who that person is. They say that there are six people in the club, but each time the author talks about a person, he/ she talks in the third person, but they also use words like "we," "I," etc. Maybe it is a Jane Austen thing.

Amanda Congratulates Herself

Did you know that I've only looked at my own blog 43 times? I'm pretty proud of myself. I figured I accounted for at least 3/4 of my views! (I don't know what that math equals out to, I'm just a music teacher, but I'm pretty sure it is more that 43!)

Amanda Thinks, "Yikes!"

I'll write this quick because I'm pretty sure that I have three pounds of congestion in my sinuses and I can barely hold my head up any longer!

The other day in class, we were singing a song that talked about getting the measles. I told the kids a little bit about the measles because they really don't know very much about it these days. So I talked about people getting the measles and even dying from the measles and one kid raises his hand and says, "I know what else you can die from . . . leukemia." Background, I have a kid who had leukemia in that class. (Enter, "Yikes" moment). Oh, boy, they all turned around to him and said, "Are you going to die?" (Enter "crap" moment/ "why am I the only adult in the room right now?"). He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Obviously I'm not dead yet!" Someone else said, "Yeah, he's a survivor!" (Enter "sigh of relief moment" quickly followed by "let's move on" moment). You gotta love kids:)

Amanda Sees Funny Things on QVC

So, I was watching QVC the other day and there was a big silver bonanza going on. I saw two things that made me laugh. The first was a bracelet that has lots of tiny disco balls on it:

The other funny thing was a pair of earrings that looked like the red hats on Devo's music video "Whip It:"

Amanda is Cathcing up on Rock of Love

Do you know how when you drive by an accident, you can't look away, your human curiosity gets the best of you and you must survey all of the damage? That is what I think draws me to the VH1 show, Rock of Love. It is like a train wreck. Contrived, possibly scripted train wreck, but entertaining none-the less.

Speaking of not being able to look away, do you ever look at road kill? If you've known me for a LONG time, you might already know that I find it very interesting to look at road kill. When else can you see the insides of something? It is so cool. Plus, I work in the roadkill capital of the universe, Pataskala, Ohio, so I see it often. Pataskala is a Native American (politically correct as always) word for "land of the wandering cat." (Please don't believe that I am telling the truth, I'm only joking). There are random cats wondering around which povides for the worst sort of roadkill ever, a dead cat. That's the kind I don't like to look at.

One more random turn in conversation, when I had my gallbladder removed, I got to keep all these cool pictures of my insides. So cool. Kind of like the allure of roadkill, I like to look at the insides of me!

OK, I need to pay attention to my show!

Amanda Clarifies

When I said that I want to grow up to be like the girls on the Daft Body video, what I mean is: I hope that one day, my head, too, will grow a shiny outer layer and resemble a giant toaster, while my stomach is flat and my inner thighs don't touch. Just wanted to clear things up.

Amanda Is In Love (With YouTube)

My new favorite video:

Daft Bodies

I want to be them when I grow up:)

Amanda Wonders Some More

What is that weird double square thing on my last post? I can't get rid of it, and you know how that disturbs my obsessive mind. "Let it go, Amanda," "Nothing's perfect in life." OK, I feel a little better, and now I really am going to bed to sleep off my sinus woes.

Amanda Laughs

I was playing this "earn rice for starving people" game on the internet (instead of folding laundry or going to bed like I should be doing) and I came across this word: hemidemisemiquaver. Do you know what it means? It is another term for a sixty-fourth note in music. Which means there are sixty-four of them in a four beat measure? (This is a question because I am almost 100% sure, but am a music teacher, not a math teacher). Or sixteen of them in one beat? Anyway, the definition made me laugh. You learn something new every day, even in your area of "expertise."

Amanda Wonders

Why are all the bills due at the same time? And why does it never coincide with pay day?

Why does the dry cycle take so much longer than the wash cycle?

Is this real life? (See 2/14)

Why doesn't everyone see the solution the same way that I do?

Amanda Wants You to Still Be Her Friend

(So did you try the ABC thing? If you don't think I am too strange already, I want to give you a hint: 'w' has three syllables, so you have to account for that somewhere (like 'eh-eh-x').)

Now I want to take the opportunity to tell you that if you think I am totally off my rocker for thinking about things like this: I don't. Forget I ever mentioned it. Me singing the ABC's starting on B? Never!

Amanda Finds Strange Things Amusing

Do you want to try something amusing? Sing the "ABC's" but start on "B" and end with "A." I dare you to actually do it instead of just thinking, "Amanda sure is weird." Can you make it through? Do you think it is kind of funny? I think it is pretty hilarious myself.

Amanda Loves People Who Love to Give

Here is some interesting data on organ donation:

Waiting list candidates 100,799 as of 02/18/2009 Transplants January - November 2008 25,625 as of 02/13/2009 Donors January - November 2008 12,931 as of 02/13/2009

Based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) data

I know one of the 25,625 people whose lives were changed last year due to the kindness of a stranger who donated his organs.

I hope you are an organ donor.

Amanda Loves Internet Competitions for Beautiful Houses

So, I have been obsessed with HGTV's Dream Home Give Away for some time now. (I'm still expecting them to tell me it was all a big misunderstanding and ask me to move in to the Colorado home!) But this year, I've expanded into something called the Blog Cabin.

It is a DIY competition where people vote for features to a log cabin home online, DIY builds it according to the winning votes, and then gives it away. This is super fun and exciting for people named Amanda, but do other people think this is cool? (I secretly hope not so that I can increase my chances of winning.)

Go to Blog Cabin Central and please only vote for the things that I like (right now, it is color option A). You can help me design the perfect log cabin and then I can invite you over to my cool new house. But please do not start getting any ideas of actually voting your own opinions or trying to win this house for yourself, because it is mine, all mine!

Amanda's Favorite Video (Someone is as confused as Me!)

If you haven't seen this yet, you've gotta check it out.

David After Dentist

Love the questions:
Is this real life?
Why is this happening to me?
Is this going to be forever?

(I ask myself these things every day of my life:)

Amanda Considers Alternate Professions

Do you like the picture at the top of my page? I took it in Alaska. I was just looking at it and contemplating a new career in postcard photography. Either that or design. See the shirt I designed for our family reunion? (Click on it to see large size version:)

Amanda Works in a Funny Place

Kids can be super funny . . . you know, "Kids Say the Darndest Things?" That is my life as a teacher. Since they have no filter (sort of like yours truly:) they sometimes say things that you don't really want to hear (are you pregnant is a popular one that lots of kids seem to ask lots of teachers!) Over the past few weeks, the kids have been in rare form.

Evidence #1: Quotes from my students:

"Miss Chow, your teeth look really clean today," (hidden meaning: they looked really dirty the last time I came up here!)
"Miss Chow, you look a lot prettier with your glasses on" (when I was wearing my contacts, thanks self-esteem killer!)

Evidence #2: Situations
One day, when the kids were eating hot dogs for lunch, one of the fifth grade girls had ketchup on her right sleeve (I'm talking up close to her shoulder, almost on her back). I'm thinking, "How did you manage to get ketchup THERE?" So I was puzzling over this when I saw her turn to her left to talk with her friend and lean her shoulder right into her hot dog! Ah, ha! Mystery solved!

One more cute story: One of the teachers has a class that likes to have what I call "parades" which means, one kid gets a tissue, five kids get a tissue; one kid asks to go to the bathroom, thirteen kids want to go too; one kid has a stomach ache and, poof, three other kids have one too. Well, they were on a tissue kick, and I said, "No more tissue parades." Then one of them couldn't stop sneezing and I told him it was ok for him to use a tissue. Well, a few minutes later, I sneezed too. One kid gets up, gets a tissue and brings it to me! So cute!

My 25 Random Things

Taken from facebook (I've already done enough contemplative writing for one day!)

1. I am a serious procrastinator.

2. I read about a book a week, but can't spell to save my life.

3. I have a short attention span and don't even know if I can make it through writing one of these (I have trouble taking the time to READ one of these!)

4. Chipotle and W.G. Grinders is food from heaven.

5. I don't usually cook with meat and chicken absolutely disgusts me.

6. I am a freak of nature medically (it's OK to say this, I have made peace with it!) my latest adventure in the grand scheme of my freaky-ness? having my gallbladder removed and stents placed in my pancreatic and common blie ducts (yes, the same surgery your grandparents have had)

7. My dad is (partially) first generation American (born in Kentucky, lived in Taiwan till a teen and moved to US) and sometimes calls things funny words like "kerchief" for scarf. One time he asked, "What are those little birds called with the red breasts?" That would be a robin, dad:)

8. I love to design things on the computer, as I say, I'm spatial.

9. I have a giant fear of balloons and want to escape ASAP whenever I am near one (or start to cry, whichever comes first)

10. Sometimes I have to check behind the shower curtain to make sure no one is hiding in there.

11. I have TMJ and have to push my left jaw to open my mouth sometimes (see #6)

12. I've been a sweet adeline for 10 years (think women, barbershop singing, false eyelashes and sequins and you've got the picture)

13. I believe that I am qualified as a nurse, a detective, and a psychologist.

14. I am super-allergic to many things including trees, nuts, metal, cats, the list goes on and on (again, refer to #6)

15. I have two brothers and we all share the same humor and musical tastes (for the most part)

16. I like to sing (and actually teach singing) but only took one semester of vocal training in college. I am really an instrumentalist and can (only very basically) play every instrument (you should see my violin playing picture, I am tres professional)

17. I hate checking my mail.

18. I have a cat that can hum.

19. (Are we almost done here?) I am super competitive.

20. I played field hockey in high school (or more accurately, I was on the field hockey team!)

21. I actually filter what I say. I know this is hard to believe, but what I say on the outside is actually only half of what I am thinking on the inside.

22. I don't have a tv in my bedroom.

23. I pick at the skin by my thumbs when I am nervous. If you want to know the state of my well being, look at my thumbs!

24. I was a girl scout for 12 years and earned my Gold Award (Eagle Scout equivalent)

25. (Yea, we're finally at the end!!!) LOVE What Not To Wear but don't practice it's values in real life (who has $200 to spend on a skirt, not a music teacher that's for sure)

Amanda is . . . creating rambling facebook stati (plurl of status, right?:)

You know how much I love facebook status updates. I just like to talk about myself in the third person (but not in a self-centered sort of way;) Sometimes, though, there is not enough room to explain all I am thinking because my thought process is very convoluted and strange at times. So here are a couple of updates that I'll put on my blog since life is blessedly boring right now (not having any surgeries or traveling to any foreign countries.)

1. Amanda thinks that the bank is trying to swindle her out of money.

Yesterday I got my bank statement from the bank where I make my house payments through a checking account. I had about $120 in charges. Here's why: I made my house payment on 1/5 since we were out of the country till late night 1/3 and 1/4 was a Sunday. So, on 1/5 I made my payment leaving about $24 over the withdrawal. Same day, my withdrawal was taken out. Since only $100 of funds are made available until the next business day (which I don't know because I am a school teacher) I had a $25 overdraft fee applied on 1/6. Have you done the math? That put me $1.50 in the hole. Since that day, the bank has been charging me $6 per day that I am overdrawn. Needless to say, I was pretty mad when I saw this on my statement. So I rushed out to the bank (after talking on the phone with someone at the bank) and brought my account up to balance. I think the bank is EVIL, EVIL, EVIL. I mean, I could have not made my payment at all and been treated the same way. Stinks for $1.50 to cause so much trouble.

2. Amanda is pretty sure the rule of the road is, "Try your hardest not to hit pedestrians."

Yesterday, after the bank debacle, I was driving to chorus rehearsal and a lady (dressed in all black at night by the way) was crossing Henderson Road while I had a green light. I stopped so I didn't hit her and all lanes of traffic ended up stopping so she could cross the street. After she was across and we all started going again, the guy behind me zipped around me like he was mad at me for stopping. Sorry I didn't run over a dumb lady crossing the street, dude. You would have had a much longer wait if I hit her for sure.

3. Amanda wonders why, all of a sudden, her condo shoveled the sidewalks, and why they decided to do it at midnight.

Sunday night into Monday morning, I was awakened by this loud scraping noise outside the window. (My windows are paper thin and I can hear everything that happens out on the street, phone conversations, car doors unlocking, etc.) So I get up and look out and find the maintenance guy shoveling the sidewalks. This is the second winter I have lived here and they have NEVER shoveled for us. And why in the middle of the night? It was so loud. It kept me up. Plus, I was also worried about the guy shoveling at 12 in the night and afraid that he might be too cold because he wasn't wearing a coat:) Now, when it is supposedly the snowstorm of the year, no shoveling guys. Nope, I did it myself on my snow day where there wasn't any snow. We'll have to see what tonight brings. Maybe I'll hear the lovely sounds of metal scraping pavement at midnight tonight!