Spiderman, Ruby Slippers and Manicures.

I had a great weekend full of lots of fun stuff. Saturday started with a fun girls lunch at the Lynden Reserve, a golf club type restaurant with absolutely delicious food. We were there to celebrate Lili's soon coming bundle of joy. It was the best 'non shower' baby shower ever... none of the silly games, but all the good company and cute gifts. My mom and I had purchased a super cute bassinette for little baby Benjamin. It looks like this:

 
After the luncheon Mel, Lili and myself did a little shopping at a nice kids consignment store called "Little Red Wagon". I found some really great things for my adorable niece and nephew. They'll soon both have their own rooms so I thought I'd get lil Benjamin a head start on decorating with this awesome lamp:

 

This is what it does:

Maggie can't decide if she likes it or not. As Maggie & Benjamin will be sharing a room until they move in spring, I figure Spidey will most likely be adorning my brother's night stand until he's forced to share with Benjamin come moving time. :)


For Maggie I found a cute pink skirt that's perfect for twirling, and these fabulous ruby shoes:

If only they had a matching pair in my size!

After shopping, the girls and I headed to the nail salon. Mel & Lili both got pedicures and I got a manicure. It was a great afternoon and hopefully Lili enjoyed the last few days of her 'no newborn' days.

Cooooffffffffffffffffffeeeeee

On this cloudy Friday morning this (below) is very much how I feel about my coffee: 

In case you're wondering, here's the background of this Woodland Park Zoo video:

"Why coffee grounds? Since the bears have a strong sense of smell, such a pungent treat is extremely attractive and stimulating to them. The bears roll around in coffee grounds like a cat in catnip!"

 So maybe next time you're by the bear exhibit at the zoo, you might wanna skip that cup-o-joe. 

While On Hold

Being the product of the 'MTV Generation' in which idleness does not come easily, I've found that waiting on hold (on the phone) has often led to some of thee best Internet discoveries. Its the only time I have a moment to explore the various corners of the web. So I figured, why not share? 

Today's gem was introduced to me by Daniel: (you'll have to click the link below to get full effect)

http://www.gif.tv/#/giftv-327-arrestedchicken
Once at the link, click on the TV to see lots of short random & often funny clips. It's not an earth shattering find, but just see if you can stop clicking for the next video and the next, and the next... its a tiny bit addicting.

Hard(ly) working moments.

Because I don't have much to talk about today I thought I'd post a few of the topics covered by a couple co-workers and myself:

On the Russian Duchess Anastasia:

While David (er, music major) has no knowledge of this historical person (Anastasia Wiki), Daniel remains adamant that the talking bat (picture) from the animated version is historically accurate.

On extra curricular activities:

Daniel:

"Hey you guys wanna go snowboarding?"

David:

"I only ski."

Me:

"I only sled... I can just see us all going down the hill together holding a rope or something."

Upon being provided with 'thank you' cookies at work today:

David

"I just had thee most brilliant idea."

Me

'Investing in real estate?' 

David

"Uh, no. For lunch I'm going to toast my english muffin, spread on peanut butter then put my cookie in the middle!" 

Daniel

"you know what you should do, swap the english muffin for a doughnut."

I might mention the fact that we had no doughnuts.

 On blogging:
 
Me:

"I've totally commented on two of your blog posts and you deleted them both."

Daniel:

"No way. Actually, I usually go home and sit at my computer, pushing the refresh button just waiting for new comments."

Never a dull moment.

P.S. I told them both I was going to blog some of our conversations... not sure if they believed me...

Ancient Aliens, My Pa, and Me.

Last night I was hanging out with my Dad. He's been away at work so I hadn't seen him in awhile. Him and my mom were munching on dinner & watching the History Channel (clearly his choice) when I plunked down on the couch. More specifically, they were watching Ancient Aliens. I really like this show, but I usually watch it alone... thus not verbalizing my thoughts. With an active audience here is some of what transpired:

munch munch munch

Me:

"Why do aliens always crash in deserts? You'd think they'd be more likely to crash in densely forested areas."

munch munch

Me (watching a commercial for Planet of the Apes):

"I highly doubt that when the apes take over that not one of them names their child something like 'oooo-eeee-oooo", instead its always like 'steve'."

munch

Me:

"You should take mom to go see that movie."

Dad:

"I dunno, its not really a date movie." 

Me:

"Well... I guess you could go as friends."

Mom:

*snickers*

munch munch munch


Me:

"If they've identified that its an "unidentified flying object" then wouldn't it actually be an IUFO (identified unidentified flying object) now?"

munch munch

Me:

"Ya know, I think the bigger mystery is less about 'how can aliens travel so far through space?' and more 'why are they so interested in our orifices?'"

My poor father. 

Sax-O-Gram

Was shown this video today. Have added it to my list of birthday wishes.

"Rediculous" you say? Maybe.. but I'm betting this tune will be stuck in your head the rest of the day. You're welcome.

Proof I'm doing ok

With my 28th birthday looming in the not so distant future, I've been spending a frightening amount of time pondering my life. Of which I've come to a few satisfactory conclusions.

1) I'm still alive... so that's gotta count for something, right?

2) I may be single but haven't settled for a complete loser either

3) I'm not in jail

4) I have over a hundred facebook 'friends' (so clearly I've made it big time)

and finally...

5) I'm not this lady:

Wanna see something awesome?

Then focus your peepers on this:

and this:

Not yet impressed? Check out this video:

So simple, yet FREAKIN AWESOME. Alas, they seem to be sold out everywhere. Sigh.

Carded

Christmas Cards

As you may, or may not, have noticed I did not send out Christmas Cards this year. My intentions were good, I recall thinking I should be getting them ready somewhere in the midst of shopping, eating & watching 'Rudolf' for the millionth time. Alas I wasn't ready in time.. & while I know you're all disappointed you missed out on a card sporting my guinea pig in a mini santa hat & beard, I have an excuse.

Im "going green" this year.

Thats right, so not only does this allow me to not feel guilty about not sending out Christmas Cheer via cards, I actually feel somewhat superior to those who did & sent the environment back months. Shame on you, I can practically hear Al Gore crying into his eggnog. In retrospect, I am kinda a hero...

(if you don't count my oil leaking car against me.. :)

My own little new adventure..

Wowza, I haven't been on here in quite some time. I've been doing quite a lot of reading which often means I've been lazy about my writing. The latest book I've read has inspired me quite a bit. Its called "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone (our old friend Cher from Clueless!). I love it! Its about how she became a vegetarian and then a vegan but it also goes further into how being a vegan is kind to your body, animals & the environment. I've been a vegetarian for about 10 months now and haven't missed eating meat at all. Reading Alicia's book inspired me to try veganism. Of course I've picked thee most difficult month of the year to become vegan, so I admit I've been rather lax and won't be full force until Jan 1st. But I'm glad I have this transition time. Not only is it financially smarter (cuz there is no way I'm throwing out any food, tis the season to penny pinch!) but it also lets me play around with vegan recipes so I'll be well prepared. I'll be sharing recipes I love as I go along & I'm sure I'll talk more about my reasons for wanting to be a vegan. I'm excited for this new adventure & hopefully I'll inspire some of you as well!

Dear Justin Timberlake

Dear JT:

I understand that you're a millionaire & you're busy spending all the money your fans gave you, but do you think you could take a break from the ski trips & dating hot chicks to make a new album.. you havnt made one since '06, ...even crazy Britney Spears has made two albums since then. You can't just 'bring sexy back' then ditch us. Time to put out.

Regards, Amanda

Letters from the Editor 4

Dear A-hole who has no regard for your neighbors,

First, I would like to thank you for spending a ridiculous amount of money and effort to attain amazing illegal fireworks. It was your frivolous efforts that helped you succeed in transforming a quite forested neighborhood into a glowing, smoke filled dessert war zone. I'll never forget the blur of deer as they hauled ass outta their warm cozy thickets, a la "Bambi" when they're running from the fire. So precious.

All in all, your fireworks were fun to watch.... especially since I knew that if your very unsteady, alcohol affected aiming was off at all, you'd hit one of the thickly grown, giant evergreen trees & then some of my favorite uniformed men at the fire department would be sure to come. That would've been a fabulous way to end the evening... or any evening really.

So, with all these accolades I bet you're wondering why I'm addressing you as an A-hole. Well if you weren't such a moron you'd realize that while setting off your bombs & loud ass explosions on Saturday was acceptable, tonight is Sunday & its already 11:45pm and most everybody HAS TO WORK ON MONDAY! Now I find myself to be more lenient then most since I usually work the late shift at work, but even 11:45pm is pushing it. I found myself listening closely after each blast for the sweet sweet sound of you crying out "my eye, oh gawd, my eye"... words that would surely send me into a deep relaxed sleep.

However, it was well after midnight that you finally stopped your missile strike. I somehow managed to not go outside and yell at you to "go sit on a roman candle." However, I'd like to warn you that should you continue these rude late night non-weekend shenanigans, I will be calling the cops on you. Partially so you get put in your place but also because, c'mon, how often do I get to call the nicely uniformed fully armed cops in this neighborhood?.... On the second thought... go ahead, light your bombs at midnight :)

God bless America... land of the free, & the home of the brave (with a light sprinkling of A-holes)

~Amanda 7/5/09

For Now I Smile Inside

I asked "what is there to hope for"
"how will things ever be right"
Little did I know
My feeble cry was heard that night

It came upon me softly
Like a soothing breeze
Little by little it became clear
This future was for me

But for now I can't yet have it
Though I see it within reach
Guess I have more yet to learn
Guess He has more to teach

Would it have been easier
To not see the future fully realized
If I remained ignorant to what I'm missing
If I couldn't see the prize

No, He knows my heart
I needed a fresh new breath
Of a life that was to come
To save me from the depths

So for now I smile inside
And keep my mind focused on the goal
For it will be here before long
A new life that I will know

Letters from the Editor #3

Dear Coworkers,

When I fill in for an absent employee, which is frequent considering its vacation season, please refrain from coming up to 'my' desk and looking utterly disappointed that the person you were expecting is gone. Please just smile and move on if you do not want MY help. Thus allowing me to skip saying things I don't mean, such as "sorry" and "can I help you with that."

Also, it would be best if you would omit using the following intolerable comments as well: "when is 'blah' going to be back?", "how long is 'blah' gone for?", "geez, is 'blah' ever coming back?". I can handle these questions precisely one time, after that I reserve the right to either completely ignore you or else throw whatever heavy desk object I find directly at your head. Thank you for your compliance.

Regards,
Amanda

P.S. If anyone ever offers you a desk with a great window view, make sure its not located by the office bathrooms before you accept it. Its not worth it, believe me. Especially if the windows do not open. I'm filling in at one such desk and it smells, well, crappy... I mean, good lord, what are these people eating??!!!!

RIP Sofie

So I got my hamster Sofie a few months ago & all was well and good for awhile.... then she died. I have no idea how but all I can do is laugh at my life that's truly a tragic comedy. May she rest in hamster heaven.


I gave her food
I gave her water
Put up her wheel
And hamster fodder

I bought her treats
The best of bedding
She was hamster royalty
Based on what she was getting

But for one weekend
I left her alone
And found out she'd died
When i got home

Her water bottle fresh
Her food piled deep
So why had she
Died in her sleep?

The wheel not turning
From her cage no creaks
As I clean it all up
I can still hear her peeps

I feel a little
Like a country song
If this reflects my parenting
I'll never be a mom

As I sit here and ponder
& prepare her little burial sermon
I make a firm decision:
No more vermin.

5/24/09