Amy 7/25/06 Amy 7/25/06

Why I Need Chocolate.

This, I'm sure, is old news by now. But I felt it was appropriate for this blog. Unfortunately, after reading the article (and watching my waistline grow), I now know I eat all the wrong kinds.

Amy 7/20/06 Amy 7/20/06

Harry Pottered Out

Between re-reading all the books, listening to them on CD on my way to and from work, discussing them with my husband as he reads them, and watching the movies every weekend, I must confess to being slightly tired of it all! Wow, I feel almost guilty saying that... I am a very adamant fan. So I am on a bit of a Harry Potter hiatus. For me, this will probably last a couple weeks. After all, as soon as Ryan finishes book 4, we will have to watch the movie! I will take the time now to catch up on Lord of the Rings (I have all those on audio CD too). I have started with The Hobbit and will continue through the end, watching the movies when I finish each one.

I have found that these types of epic books can be read over and over! The detail is absolutely incredible and I am amazed after reading and listening to The Hobbit many times that I don't even remember the whole story! The same is true for nearly all the Harry Potter books, especially the long ones. This does lead me to wonder if this says more about my memory than the detail of the books... Oh well, I will choose to believe the latter.

I think the reason for my attraction to these types of books is that they really are romantic in the true sense of the word. The characters are larger-than-life and there is a strong emphasis on the individuals and their personalities. The themes are similar in both sets of books as well: There is a chosen one who must do a certain deed to save the rest of the world. It's an interesting and appealing concept, and certainly not new. Many movies explore the same idea! But maybe one of the reasons for its appeal on my own behalf is that it is the same theme of the Bible. The entire Old Testament is the story of a people waiting for the One who will finally redeem them. He finally comes as an unlikely hero - most people don't even believe he will do the job. But His sacrifice does indeed save all of mankind - if we choose to accept it.

I could go on and on... but this certainly is not the place for an essay.

Anyway, even as I write this post I realize I will never be able to continue my hiatus. As much as I read, listen, and watch, I will never grow tired of Harry Potter! But I guess the break is good, so that when I begin listening again (probably around October), each book will carry the same magic for me (no pun intended) as the first time.

I love you, Harry!! (don't tell Ryan...)

Amy 7/18/06 Amy 7/18/06

Project Update

As promised, I am letting my faithful readers (all two of you) know the progress of my self-imposed goals. 1. I have not worked on my quilt at all.

2. I have not worked on my story or its illustrations at all.

3. I have not worked on Mimi's stories at all, or looked for the tape.

4. I have not worked on my novel at all.

5. I have not run at all. But today is the first day of it! Ryan and I are going after work. Hmmm... maybe I should have written this post after we ran - it would have looked like I'd already accomplished something.

6. I forgot to post on Venustas this weekend. I did, however, post last night.

7. I have looked into reunion details and done some brainstorming. I have a few ideas that might work and make it a fun event. I still have to pick a place, time & date though.

OK, so there are the bitter details. I have not done much with my time, but I haven't been bored! What have I been up to, you might be asking? That's for another time and another post.

Amy 7/16/06 Amy 7/16/06

Golf Schmolf

Yep - I went golfing today. You may have guessed that I did not do as well as I'd hoped. Although, I cannot totally blame my ability. The past three times we have been golfing together, my score has dropped by around 12 strokes. I will not reveal from what to what, however. I think the poor performance of today was due entirely to the weather. The reports say it felt like 104 degrees, because of the humidity. It was horrible! Nevertheless, we had a nice time and I got some cute pics out of it. Here are just a couple - perhaps I will post more later.

My dad putting and Ryan holding the flag.

My mom - she'll hate this picture because she was sweating, like we all were, but I think she looks cute. Besides, no one ever looks at this blog, right?

Amy 7/13/06 Amy 7/13/06

Soccer Games

I played soccer through my junior high and high school years. Regrettably, I was not very good, although I really think I could have been better if I had started playing at a younger age. I only ever started a game once - my senior year - and sometimes I didn't even play. But that didn't matter to my dad. He was always there to cheer me on. My dad was a very busy man. He travelled a lot for his work - mostly overseas. There was one year he was literally commuting to Madrid, Spain and was home on the weekends. This had its advantages, as many times he could take my mother and I along with him. Through this I gained some international experience I never would have otherwise. But it also had its downsides. He worked long hours and was very busy. As I grew into a teenager, it didn't seem to matter as much though. In fact, as I went to my soccer games, I would have preferred that he didn't go! But more often than not, he was there, embarrassing me by cheering loudly on the sidelines, in his expensive suit.

Now, as I look back on those times, I feel the opposite of what I was feeling then. I feel special that he made those games a priority, even though I wasn't very good. It was one of his ways of showing me how special I was to him. So many times I conveyed to him, through rolling my eyes and sarcastic remarks, my annoyance at his showing up, but it never deterred him. He recognized that someday I would look back and appreciate that he was there. And by george, he was right! =)

I love you, Daddy.

Amy 7/13/06 Amy 7/13/06

Rex: The Tiniest Yorkie

We put his hair in clips - how emasculating!

Sweet little puppy!!

He LOVES that pink blanket!

Amy 7/13/06 Amy 7/13/06

Reunions

uggg... I just thought of another project: I have to plan my 5-year high school reunion. Honestly, I'm torn about this one. I'm glad that I can be a part of planning this (I really do enjoy planning events) and bringing these people together (for the most part, I enjoyed my high school experience). But on the other hand, being with all those people that I haven't seen since then, will, I'm sure, bring me be back to who I was at that time. I'm a different person now - and I know I am not the only one. We've all changed, but most of us won't recognize that everyone else has changed as well. We, each of us, will think we are the only one. Do people really like to go to reunions? We go to this social event, expecting to show others how much we've changed and how far we've come, and we just get put back into our social box - the same one we lived in for all those years at school. Two of my favorite shows explore this idea: Everybody Loves Raymond and Frasier. Raymond and Frasier both dread going to their perspective reunions. Somehow they are forced to go and end up having a horrible time: Raymond watches the purses as his wife dances with the "cool people" and Frasier ends up at table 99, singing with the "Chessmates".

Maybe I'm just being a cynic and mine will be a wonderful time. In fact, I truly do believe it probably will be. I just don't look forward to these things. Anyway, I'll let you know when it's over - it's still a couple months away. I just wanted to get it on record that this is something else I should be working on. I'm tired.

Amy 7/12/06 Amy 7/12/06

Jean Elton Pottery

I think this one is gorgeous!

I like these because when you put them together, as shown, it looks like a flower.

Amy 7/12/06 Amy 7/12/06

One more project...

I just remembered another project! My other blog: Venustas. My goal is to write on that one every day. Venustas means "loveliness, charm, attractiveness, beauty" in latin, so that's what that blog is about. I want it to be an encouragement to people who read it, especially my family, who are going through some hard times right now. So far, so good. I've written every day for a week. When I run out of quotes in my quote file - then it'll be more work! For now, it's just picking my favorites!

Amy 7/12/06 Amy 7/12/06

It's Raining, It's Pouring

I used to be terrified of thunderstorms. I used to lay in my room just knowing that lightning was about to strike the huge old Oaks just beyond my bedroom window. It would fall right across the bed, in flames. I would have to scramble to find the extremely heavy metal fold-up ladder, fling it out my window, throw myself onto it, while holding my puppies - Hugs and Kises. I would surely die.

Within the last few minutes, I have realized I'm not that scared anymore. In fact, thunderstorms are romantic and like a mini-adventure! Here I am at work, listening to the growls of the thunder and wishing against wish that the power would go out! We'd have to reach under our desks for the emergency red backpack, and maybe, if we were lucky, they'd close the office and we could go home. Once home - if I made it! - I could curl up in a blanket, turn on a good movie, because of course, it's dark enough to watch one now, and feel like I'd just finished my own adventure.

Amy 7/12/06 Amy 7/12/06

bit bored...

Ever since I got married (ok, it's only been 2 months), I've been a bit bored. Honestly, after moving, planning a wedding, going on a honeymoon, coordinating schedules, cleaning, unpacking - you'd think I'd appreciate the rest. Well, I am. But that doesn't mean I don't like to have some projects to work on. So, I am going to list some things that I intend to work on for the next, I don't know... year or so. 1. My quilt - I need to finish it! I've been working on it for too long.

2. My story - I want to finish the drawings that I started to go along with the story, and then maybe send it in to a publisher.

3. Mimi's stories - I HAVE to find the tape she left me with all her stories. My grandmother, who passed away several years ago, taped many of her stories with the hopes that I would write them down for her. I do not want to disappoint this amazing woman.

4. My novel - OK, it's not the best written, or most interesting, etc. etc. but I feel like I should at least finish it.

5. Run - My husband, Ryan, and I are training for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Yes, it is only 6 kilometers, but this is more than I've ever run in my life. It's exciting though!

I think that is it for now. I will probably think of more things as time goes on and add them to this category ("unsweetened"). I might also give updates as to how they are going, again posting under this category. Yay! I feel motivated and ready to begin!

OK, back to work.

Amy 7/12/06 Amy 7/12/06

I need chocolate.

This is a phrase I often use, whether happy or sad, mad, annoyed, frightened… (you get the picture) Chocolate is always there to help. So I am hoping that this blog can be a new substitute for my chocolate. Word Chocolate, if you will. Just my rants and raves, in the hopes that I can get over my need for my favorite sweet.