Louisiana Livin' Baby!

Good afternoon loves,

Sorry it has been so long, I've been busy with the packing, driving down here, and working/exploring. I'm currently in the French Quarter and LOVING this weather and beautiful houses. We have been here for three days now and will be here until June 1st I believe - we are packing up the house for it's lease is almost up.

So I drove from Michigan down to Alabama in 11 hours - it rained horribly for a while so it took a longer time. The next day I drove from Alabama to Lake Charles, Louisiana in about 9-10 hours which was lovely in the perfect weather and light traffic. I did not get lost ONE time! I am SO proud of myself as that was one of my bigger anxieties about the move. I cannot stand driving y'all.

I was greeted at the house I'm staying at by the other three volunteers: Kate, Yayah, and Jamie! They rock and we have a lot of fun going out for drinks and dancing and just talking.

We've done a little bit of work so far, including raking up all of the leaves on the property and burning them, planting rose bushes, spray painted and planted mint in cinder blocks, cleaning the attic out, packing up things here in the quarter, and scraping grout off of floor tiles to re-purpose them.

I cannot wait to do more exploring of  the french quarter - I absolutely adore it here and really can't believe I will be here for three whole weeks - I know it will fly by quickly so I am soaking it all up.

There is a gem store off St. Philip Street that I really want to go back to from last time I was in town, so I will have to check that out as well.

Pictures to follow!

xoAmanda
 

Less than 10 days..

8 days until my departure! It's getting so surreal....

I've packed most of my things that I'm taking, and since it's only been in/near the 70's three times in Michigan, I've decided to just pack my shorts up and not even hope for warm days before I leave (it's currently raining and in the 40's again).

My last week of work is here and tomorrow we are going out with the group for drinks as three of us are leaving this Friday. Friday, though, a couple of people I am closer with are going to go out as well.

I'm getting a little sad, but super super excited about going to Louisiana (ever since my first trip, I'm constantly itching to return, which is another reason for my move). We went last April right before Jazz Fest) we actually left the day it began and didn't get to go. So I will miss it again this year. We left a year ago today and came back April 28 - so it will be just over a year since I've been there when I get there in May. So now that the day is coming closer I am getting excited (like before a vacation excited) and the sadness isn't very prominent.

My plan is to finish the work week, go to the bar after work Friday, go to a Human Trafficking event my aunt is making me attend (she thinks im not being smart about moving apparently), going to a party my friends are having for me friday night, Saturday we might go out again somewhere fun and after that I am free. I plan to go out to dinner with my dad and his family, go out to dinner with my mom, brothers, and step dad sometime next week, go visit Mikey, Ana, and Joshies graves, visit my grandma's, and finish packing for the move before I leave. Hopefully the weather gets better this weekend.

AHHH IM SO EXCITED! I can't wait to be in the heat and humid air, to see the palm trees, to see throngs of tourists, so feel the familiarity of the southern air. I think being that low below sea level gets me high or something because Michigan is so far above sea level - haha (thanks for your help Kristen)!

Now time to go back to work - even though Kristen (the new me) is well versed and is now doing all of my work while I sit here and observe. Time to go!

Adios,

xoAmanda

Family Pictures/Getting Anxious

14 DAYS until the move!

Wow, only two whole weeks until I am leaving to Louisiana.. and now it feels like a ton of bricks are on my shoulders - great.

I've continued with a little packing here and there, but I don't think I will be packing much until my last week here - I have lots of clothes and don't know which to pack yet.

My last week of work is almost here - next week, on April 26, it will be my official last day at Marathon. There are two others that have the same last day - so we are going to the bar after work to say our farewell. It's going to be really sad for me, as I have been here for four whole years after all. I'll miss the work, the place, the people, everything. Hopefully I can find something that is even better out there though it will be difficult.

I just gave up my files to my friend Kristen that also happens to be my replacement :( I'm so sad.

I am SO excited to be there already though. My friend Linda isn't able to ride down with me - which is pretty upsetting really - so I either have to find an alternate or just go solo. I wasn't expecting to drive the whole 17 hours - and it absolutely terrifies me as I hate driving especially places I've never been (one of my social anxiety disorder symptoms). So I don't know if I should stop and stay the night somewhere or if I should drive straight through. I figure I can leave around 7 or 8 am and then drive for about 12 hours and then stay somewhere and sleep for a few hours and then drive again for 5 more hours til I get there. If someone DOES go with me, I can leave around 8pm and get there around 1pm - I will figure that out eventually.

I'm planning on writing some letters to my closest friends before I leave so that they know what they mean to me - how much I will miss them. This is getting really exciting and hopefully turns into a fantastic adventure.

I have a few pictures to link up.


Tuesday Kristin, her husband, her kids, and I went to get pictures done. It was a nightmare as her daughter is two and wouldn't sit still or smile for more than two pictures. We pretty much just took pictures with the boys and left an hour and a half later with huge migraines. I took this picture of little Daine when we were getting ready to leave and he was so preshhh.


Here is little miss Diva the day before pictures - we had to get her an outfit at the store and she wanted to wear aunt nana's sunglasses.


Snuggling before bed and I saw that he was barely even in his bed. So sweet.

As you know, I am currently in a new obsession (old) that is Supernatural. My little brother got me into the show and now I cannot wait to get home from work just to watch it. It's ridiculous! I love Dean and Sam though. Anyways, there was an Evil Santa episode for Ypsilanti, Michigan (which is where I was raised and currently live) and I thought it was really neat. Nerd.

I am ALSO currently re-reading the Divergent books by Veronica Roth. Seeing the facebook updates about the filming process and where they are with casting is really just getting me super excited about it. Also, yesterday, Veronica released the new title for book 3 - Allegiant! I am a little upset that it doesn't end in "ent" like the first two - but its just a title. I really can't wait to see how it ends!


Daine's cute little face I just want to give smoochies to all day! So precious.


And lastly, my adorable little brother (who turns 21 next week on the 28th)! He passed out while I was watching Supernatural (of course) and it was definitely a photo opp!

I'm getting nervous and getting pretty cold feet about this move, but I am SO excited for the experiences God has in store for me. I really pray that he will help to guide me and that I will have the support required to stay strong through the transition process.

xoAmanda

Training and Packing!

23 days until MOVE!

Good morning y'all,

Wow time is flying. I can't belive I am leaving in 23 days.

On Monday my friend and previous intern at my work started back here to train for my position with me - she's taking over administrative duties for me :) I am working on getting her up to speed and learning basically everything here that I do. I hope that it turns out well and that she gets to learn everything before I have to leave. She helped me sneak some boxes into my car after work yesterday, haha, which is a real help.

I've literally been coming home from work for the past two weeks and turning the PS3 on to watch episodes of Supernatural until it's time for bed. No joke. I pause it here and there to shower, eat, do laundry, and let the dogs out...but seriously, my brother was right. I love the show. I'm super upset though, because I am only on the beginning of season 3 and there are TONS of episodes to catch up on and I have only 23 days before I leave. I have a feeling I will be drinking lots of caffeine and staying at home glued to the tv the whole week after my job ends before I take off ;) See my little brother up and took off to LA two years ago in September with a girl and they ended up in a cheap young actors apartment place and apparently my brother met Jared Padalecki and his best friend there and they hung out a few times or something and so he wanted me to watch the show forever but it took me a while to give in. It's a terrific show and though I love me two handsome men, paranormal and supernatural things/myths/lores have always intrigued me.

So that's what I have been doing.

Last week I took two days off to help my best friend Kristin with her kids because she just had a third and her husband went back to work. It was nice spending time with her, helping, squeezing Daine's little cheeks and being surrounded by the feelings that newborns bring out in us all. I love them! They will be difficult to leave behind for sure.

After my shower break from Supernatural, I decided to get the huge boxes out of my car and start packing a little - I still have three weeks but I want to be able to organize and get documents that are important I may need.

Of course the first thing I did was go through my bookshelf and take all of my favorite series to box up (the heaviest too, it seems). Harry Potter, Sweep, Balefire, Hunger Games, Cleopatra, Uglies, Gemma Doyle, etc. They fit perfectly in two or three boxes. I then packed up little things like new toiletries I picked up in preparation and sublock and stuff. I will wait until next week to really go through all of my clothes to take with me. Shouldn't be too difficult I hope. I packed up my pictures and jewelry and little things I can't live without :)


That's all for now, time to continue training.

I am currently re-reading the book Divergent by Veronica Roth - I love it :) Four is so handsome!

xoAmanda

Easter/Spring Break

31 days until departure!

Good morning/afternoon friends,

As everyone was off for vacation yesterday (here) today is the first day back since last Friday. I thought my days would be messed up and yes it feels like a Monday to me, but I woke up surprisingly well this morning - though I couldn't get to sleep last night and tossed about before falling asleep around 1am.

How was everyone's Easter (I believe the UK and Canada celebrated yesterday)? Mine was pretty average, only my grandmother came over and we had a feast of ham, cheese potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, devilled eggs, and pickles. I pretty much spent the entire weekend watching the old show Supernatural. I blame my little brother, Lincoln, for getting me into it. More on that later.

I was also really please to see my older brother, Todd, as he moved to a new flat around January and I haven't seen him since - we aren't far from each other, just always on different schedules. I know that NOW that I am moving, I should see him more, but all the time in the world could go by and it would seem like nothing at all - he's only 15 months older than me. He will be 26 in June. So we stay pretty close without words - we are both pretty shy and keep to ourselves most of the time anyways - it's how we were raised.
Now my little brother, he is going to be 21 in a couple weeks and we are 3.5 years apart, we get along GREAT - now! We used to absolutely hate each other when we were younger. I was around 13 and would literally pray constantly that I would just grow up and he'd be 16 or so and not be so annoying anymore. He was hyper as all get out. We'd punch, scratch, claw, shriek, throw things, and basically beat the shit out of the other at any confrontation. I have NO idea when we changed...maybe about 6 years ago. So I was right to pray that he'd turn 16 and mature, thats when he changed! Anyway, we live at our mums together now and pretty much hang out and watch movies and shows all the time after work. It's really going to be difficult to leave him when I move - did I really just say that? My 13 year old self is cringing with her mouth agape at this love for such an annoying little boy with long sharp nails < they are still longer than mine creepily.

So anyway, my little brother, Lincoln, took off to California a little over a year ago on a whim and ended up at a young actors house type of place for struggling actors. He met a guy that was best friends with Jared Padalecki from Supernatural. So apparently Lincoln has been in love with this show and loves telling me how they hung out a few times and played video games or whatever boys do. Now Jared is cute, but I am all about Jensen. I don't know why, usually I go for the more reasonable and sweet guy. But Jensen...I'd let him boss me around and leave me pining for him when he left town. Oy vey that man is handsome! Anyway, I am still on Season one, but I know Lincoln will get me to watch the rest before I leave.

I finished the book in my last post "The Crowning Glory of Calla Lilly Ponder" and let me tell you - I absolutely adore this book. I cried a horrible, wet, ugly weeping cry. I laughed at the jokes. I pushed Calla onward during her sexual tales with her husband, and rejoiced in her understanding at the end. I honestly only read Young Adult YA books and always have. I've read maybe ten adult books and this book is definitely for 18+ people. It was absolutely perfect for me. I can't even explain it, but for me moving to Louisiana and the love I have for the land, it describes it so well. If only La Luna were a real place - I would journey there in a heartbeat. It's a great book and I can't wait to read it again in 6 months.

Currently I am re-reading Divergent by Veronica Roth - she's my age and her third book to this series is coming out this Fall - talk about successful. She writes with so much detail and passion - I love these YA books. The movie is slowly being cast and I am looking forward to hearing when it will be released.
I scored two books for 94 cents each at the thrift store by my home: Atonement (good movie) and The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio which is also a good movie - though quite unknown.

Last Friday I decided to work a half day even though everyone was off (I don't get paid holiday's as a contractor) and went to get Easter baskets and fillings for my niece and two nephews (getting used to the TWO part). I only grabbed a basket, but obviously it was overflowing afterward. I went a little crazy with Kailin's things. Douglas will be 5 in Aug, Kailin 3 on Halloween, and Daine is a week old tomorrow. Douglas has a Chromosome disorder and instead of an extra one, making him autistic, he is missing half of one which leaves him unable to even hold his own head up or speak. He's like a big baby (at 3.5ft tall). I bought him a little snare drum, some hot wheels monster trucks, 6 biblical childrens stories, and some peeps. For Kailin, she is much more active and so I didn't notice I bought her more than the boys (oops). I got her two nets (kind of like Lacrosse) for catch, bubble gum, ring pops, the iron beads, paint disney, and bracelets. I didn't want to leave Daine out even though he's too teeny to remember. I bought him three onesies, a nail clipper, a pacifier with a clip on, some rash cream, and teething rings!

I didn't get any pictures because Kristin was feeding Daine when I got there and they were in a bit of a hurry to get Kailin ready to go with her Grandpa for half the day so I just said screw it and let Kailin dig in (to the ring pops of course).

I'm still constantly applying for positions all over Louisiana...I haven't heard back from ONE place. I wonder if it's because I am still in Michigan or not...we'll see. It will be easier when I can go in to places to apply. I really hope that my luck and drive will help my finding a job there quickly.

My friend Kristen who used to intern here is taking over for me in this job and I get to start training her next week which is so awesome - I am super excited to see her again! She lives about an hour and a half from me so I wouldn't have been able to see her more than once more before I leave.

Hopefully all goes well with packing and my friend Linda can drive down with me when I go - she still hasn't heard from her work about the days and it's worrying me...

Toodles,

xoAmanda

New Baby!

37 days (until the move)

Good morning Bloggers!

As the title says, we have a new baby! Well...my best friend does! He is absolutely beautiful and though I missed his birth, I am a relieved I didn't have to see her in that much pain again (I was there for her daughter's birth). Without further ado, let me introduce to you...

Daine Joshua Edward Kimlin! He got a lovely middle name (Joshua) from his sweet uncle that passed away July 2, 2011.

7lbs 15oz (and the doctors all said he was going to be small) and 21 1/4 in!



I actually thought they were going to spell his name Dane, but they wanted to spell it differently!

He's so teeny. He has long fingers, a short little face, and loves stretching out!

Now I will just bombard you with some pictures I snapped.


Scrunched up little face :) I die!


He is so long and didn't have any room to stretch, so he was all out!



I wasn't paying attention for any of these - but we have some better ones of his favorite aunt ;) and him snuggling! He's so beautiful and I am so blessed to have Kristin in my life.

The doctors had told her that though her due date was April 1, her baby had stopped growing (puh-lease) even though he was already over 6 pounds. Her stomach doesn't get big like a normal pregnancy and so that's probably why. So they scheduled to induce her on Tuesday morning around 8am. I requested off of work and arrived at her house around 6:30am to stay with her 2 year old daughter, Kailin until it was time to go up.

I know my best friend like the back of my hand. I had a feeling around 1 that we should be leaving and her grandmother had stopped by with food and Kristin's little sister from school and told me it would probably be a while. Well...I know Kristin, and with Kailin, she had her in about an hour.
When she had Kailin, she called me at night saying she was going to the hospital with pains but said it was probably nothing - I knew then, also. I told my boyfriend to leave and hauled my ass up the interstate going at top speeds, and arrived about 20 minutes before she gave birth to their daughter.
This time was no different, except I had to drive her daughter, two sisters, and her brother to the hospital as well. We ended up getting there around 20 minutes after he was born. I was really sad I missed it, but now I have this bond with Kailin in a way that I don't have with her two brothers - I was there when she was brought in this world.

I was also the third person to see the baby - as her mom and husband were there the whole time. When we got there, he had just latched to feed and Kristin said only I could go back as she was pretty exposed. Ugh, it was amazing. He was such a natural. I just hope that he continues to breast feed - its a great bonding experience for mom and baby. Lots of family showed up and I knew I had to sit back and let them pass him around to everyone, but by 630pm we had to leave and I took one last hold and squeeze. I want to give her the weekend with him, but I will be there on Easter - early before everyone else - just to get my (new again) auntie squeezes from his little baby face!

Aside from loving on my new nephew, my friend gave me a book to read - and I am pretty damn sure that she should have had me read it sooner - like say THREE YEARS AGO when I went to New Orleans for the first time!!!



The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells (secrets of the yaya sisterhood)

This book is so utterly amazing, I cannot describe it well enough. It takes you through chapters of years starting in 1961 and ending in 1984. I am not finished yet, but know I will be this afternoon. I cannot put it down! It's a coming of age story about Calla Lily and her learning to love, to create and maintain friendships, her mother and father and growing up in LaLuna Louisiana, and is a great story of her love for doing hair! My mom would enjoy that last bit. The way the characters talk, the activities they do, the reminders of all things we do as children and adults, the love making, the friendships, the drinking, the fun...ahhh I cannot get over it. The book is TRULY special. It gives me such a great inspirational feeling knowing that in four short weeks I will be leaving to move to Louisiana! Calla Lilly moved from LaLuna to New Orleans and talks about her reasons and not knowing anyone and getting a job and exploring and I can only think about myself doing that also and trying to make it with nothing. It's a great book for the time in my life right now and I suggest it to everyone (over 18). It's fascinating and I just cried my eyes out last night over a certain part that is heartwrenching - I love books that make you laugh and cry. Hopefully the ending doesn't let me down and I highly doubt that it will. I will be suggesting a copy to the woman I stay with while I'm there. It's from the time period in which she grew up and I think she would really enjoy the story.

As of yesterday, I have one month until my last day of work! April 26th is coming up very quickly, but I am ready. I am ready to pack up and move on to see what awaits. If I don't get a job down in Louisiana and have to return, I will still be a different person - I know this because the experience is TO change me. I want to live and see things differently than I do here. As long as that happens - it will have been a success.

My friends want to have a going away party, so I should get a list together of who to invite. Will go do that!

Ciao dears!

xoAmanda

16

43 days..

'ello there,

So I figure I will start my posts with a number from now on - before my hello's - and it will signify how many days until my MOVE date.

I suppose I should post my youtube link here for anyone that wishes to watch the two videos that I've posted about my "move" from Michigan to Louisiana. I have tons of questions and hope for any advice anyone can give me about what the differences may be. For example: last night I was playing with my dog and - as usual - praying to God that he would live through the relocation to a different climate. He's especially old and adopted and he follows me everywhere I go. I am worried he might take the move hard, even if I am with him. But I was thinking about how I heard someone say there are scorpions there as well as the spiders and alligators that are big. I don't know how common it is to find scorpions in Lake Charles wandering about or alligators for that matter. Does anyone know whether I should be keeping an eye on him constantly? Or is this something that isn't common? Ahh, I feel so ignorant. I've done so much research for myself, but now my dog has me worried. I bought him a chain for the yard as I expect to be outside a lot working and he won't be used to anything besides me for a while - I want to keep him close.

Here's my YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv7kTfGx4pcoi3h1XKlm1kQ

It's not the greatest quality, but I plan to record when new things happen or when I come up with questions.

I am still sick and it's starting to really anger me. It's been a week and a half now that I've been sick. I don't have a sore throat or anything, but my nose still gets congested a lot and I have a horrible hacking cough that gets really bad when I go outside. Hopefully it will abate soon..

On Monday I used my 50% off coupon at Value World (thrift store) here in Ann Arbor and I bought:
2 Pairs of jeans, 2 shorts, and 2 books for only $9.00! Awesome. Except one pair of shorts don't fit. But still, it's better than paying 18 bucks for used stuff. The pants are great. They are dark wash and have that fancy look. I have been wanting a dark pair of jeans for a while now and I finally have them! I'm wearing them now, yes.

Most likely today I will be going through more stuff to donate to the salvation army and probably taking pictures of my white loveseat and chair to sell on craigslist...I really don't want to sell them because they are so adorable and the chair is so comfy but I could use the money and don't know if they will be sitting in that room for a while or not. Hopefully I can sell them for $150-200 together. I bought them for $100 together, so making money would be nice, as they are practically brand new.

I will link up my instagram account for the last week.
I hope you all had a safe St. Patrick's Day celebration - it was Sunday and I was sickly so I just stayed home and cuddled my Jellybean baby.

Sitting at work thinking about moving - can't you see the sadness ;)

When I am sick ... I read entirely much more than I do while not sick - which is definitely saying something - so I decided to re-read Beth Pattillo's Jane Austen Ruined My Life, Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, and of course, The Dashwood Sisters Tell All! I love these three and any fan of Austen or Austen era movies/books will also. They are about secret letters, hidden diaries, and fictional possible loves that Jane may have had that no one except her sister Cassandra knew about. I love these books and because of them Beth is one of my favorite authors. I hope to meet her one day so that she may sign them and I also hope she has a few more books to come our way ;)

My best friend is having her son in the next week - she's 38 weeks now and she looks about as big as someone that is around 28-30 weeks pregnant...this doesn't do her size justice. She fits into size 6/7 pants and this picture makes her look like she's full term but I assure you, she is teeny. Maybe it's her boobies :) she's a double/triple D and so that should put to account how small her belly is.

Hopefully she has him when I'm not at work - that would be great. I'll guess that she will go into labor on Sunday, March 24 and have him then. I don't know why I guess that, I just have a feeling. We shall see. I can't wait to hold him and see him. I love love love newborns - it's their two year old demon sisters that I can't tolerate hehe ;) I love my niece.


I was going through my smash book that I am working on (scrapbook) and as an avid reader I have about four pages -i think- dedicated to books/reading. I have this little pocket with a picture of Libba Bray, Cate Tiernan, and Louise Rennison in it. I took a picture of Libba and Cate as I know they are friends and posted it to twitter (not sure if they saw it) but I just love the two of them and their books.

I actually just received an email response from Libba that I wrote her on Valentine's Day. It's been a few weeks but I am SO excited that she wrote me back. My favorite authors mean absolutely the world to me, they are the reason that I am who I am. The books they wrote helped me through a lot of younger turmoil and still do. Knowing that they care enough to respond to their fans really makes my day.
Promtly I printed that email and plan to put it in my notebook with the other print off replies I have had on Facebook with Cate Tiernan and also the 'Happy Birthday' from Beth Pattillo (so nice). I have about ten print off's so far and they always make me so giddy. I will have to re-read Libba's Gemma Doyle series soon as I haven't in a while. But first, as I am moving to Louisiana, I must indulge once more, into Thais and Clio's world that Cate Tiernan produced based in New Orleans (my whole reason for going there and falling in love with the state in the first place).

On Saturday I planned on going to my friend Kristen's house for her husband's 25th birthday party. I'd never met him or his friends and we planned to go to a bar, but soon we decided after pre-gaming at home, that we should just stay there. While her husband and his best friend got thoroughly drunk, I had a blast. It wasn't anything different than any other hang out/drinking party, just less people. The only thing is that I had to stay the night - because I drank and also because I would have gotten myself lost driving home as it was an hour and a half drive there and I had never been in that city before (except for a TLC concert in 97). So it was nice to spend the night but I missed my dog Jellybean so so SO much. I felt like a mother that needed her child. So I left before 11am and raced home to see him. He missed me and jumped all over me licking my hands and face and then we both snuggled down in bed and napped on and off all Sunday. It was nice.


While I was at Kristen's, I opened her fridge and saw an egg kind of hanging out of the holder because it didn't fit and I told her she should draw a "suicide egg" face on him and she did. Her husband had a bit of a laugh at it and so did I! He's so cute.

And lastly, I took this when Jelly fell asleep next to me - sitting up of course - we had a great Sunday lazing about. Hopefully his mama can feel better soon. I was hoping I'd be better by Wednesday - too late, it is Wednesday.

Happy first day of SPRING y'all! It's cold and only in the upper 20s°F (-4°C) so it's really really cold and feeling like a normal first Spring day in Michigan. Everyone always jokes that the "Last day of winter in Michigan is 60° and the first day of spring is 20°" because our weather is so unpredictable and randomly gets super warm when it should be cold or vice versa. Hopefully the snow flurries and ice rain will stop and the sun can start to warm us up. Soon enough, Louisiana will keep me wishing I were in the cold ;) and I cannot wait!

So my mother has told me that she's going to be in Vegas May 5-10 and I am leaving to move on May 2, so my mom can't drive down with me now. Hopefully my friend Linda is able to, so that I have someone to direct me and talk to and sing with, and especially get lost with (I know I will freak out). I need someone with me and the flight back is only around $123 for a one way which is super cheap and will be great for a vacation from this cold.

That's all I have for today, will update soon hopefully.

xoAmanda

15

Good morning sweetums,

Today has already been a pretty quick paced day for me.
It's pay day (hooray)....but I had to pay two of my auto insurance payments that was $360 and depleted a vast percentage of it. At least that is taken care of. Now I just have to pay one of my therapy sessions and I'll be good for the next two weeks.

I re-planned out my payment schedule for the big move to Louisiana.
See since I am going with nothing but some of my possessions and my dog, not a job in sight, I am taking a HUGE risk. I financied a car last May and have monthly payments a little over $200 and have to have full coverage insurance which is around $180 each month. I have to be sure that I have the money to pay it, so I made a schedule for paying these for at least four months (May, June, July, August) and my phone as well (and my therapy bill $360). It's perfect. I just have to make sure that I don't sway from it at all.

So since I told my boss and supervisor that my end date is April 26 (sounds strange to say end date), I decided to finally start going through my clothes and take whatever I won't be taking with me or storing to the Salvation Army. My best friend needed to take a few bags up there as well, so after work I sorted through it all and realized that I still have many band shirts from High School that I cannot part with. One is my From Autumn to Ashes shirt that I bought probably in 11th grade in 2004-2005. It is so teeny but still fits and is black but definitely has seen lots of washes in it's time. My bestie Kristin and I used to rock out through the hallways of our school with a speaker listening to them jam...ahh. And the other is my Relient K TEAL shirt from 9th grade in 2001-2002. Holy SH#%! I LOVED them back then. They were my christian-alternative love and I saw them twice in concert (and ran into Matt T while we were singing on a hill waiting for our ride). Here are just little pics of the shirts, not mine, that I found online... le sigh, I cannot part with them. I might make them into a band shirt blanket/quilt one day.

This is exactly how mine looks...just a little more washed :)

And this one with the moustaches and the stereo, how could this not be awesome!?
Good times and great music. I put them to the back of the closet so they don't get ruined.

So I put all of my patterned shirts and tank tops on my bed to see what is coming with me and realized I am a huge weird pattern freak. This is not including my tie dye love.

Obviously. But I love color and they are all mostly coming with me! It will be hot there, I might as well bring the cute stuff if that's what is going to be seen the most. I won't be able to hide behind cardigans and light jackets.

Now I have to separate my jeans, shorts, shoes, knickknacks, pictures, toiletries, and anything else I am bringing (oy vey this is going to be difficult). I should probably get some boxes also...

Hopefully I can get JellyBean in to be groomed the weekend before we leave (it's expensive but I don't want him dying of heat exhaustion when we get there and it's 80° while he has a fro. This is how cute he looked when I got him groomed a month ago (now he's a fro again).

He was so fluffy and soft, such a pie!

I'll have to make that appointment for him shortly..

I'm still feeling worse for wear. My ears are constantly popping every time I talk to move my mouth I cannot stand it. I hate fluid in the ears from sinus infections, I cannot stand it. Medicine has been coursing through me, this virus needs to leave me be already.

Tonight I plan to go to Value World and use my 50% off purchase coupon that I have, pick up dinner, and get my hair done by my friend Linda. We are having a girls night and much needed wine (wine should heal me, right?) so hopefully the day ends smoothly and I can start feeling better so that I can enjoy my weekend.


Lastly,

I was thinking about this on my drive home from the Salvation Army and listening to music. Before I leave, I want to make a mix cd (I'm old school okay?) for all of my friends before I leave, filled with songs that remind me of them or of my moving away and friendship. I want them to know how much they influence me and how much I will think of and miss them while I am 2500 miles away dying of humidity and mosquito bites. I need to pick up a stack of 10-15 cd's for my close friends/family and will make them. Since I am a list person I will post it here to refer back to: Kristin, Mom, Dad, Todd, Lincoln, Alisha, Linda, Bean, Sam, Keith, Kristen P, Kristen D, is that all? Sounds good so far.
One song that really resonates with me (weirdly as I am not an American Idol watcher or a fan of him) is Phil Phillips song Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE

I don't know what it is, but the "Settle down, it'll all be clear, don't pay no mind to the demons they fill you with fear. Trouble it might drag you down, you get lost you will always be found" bit reminds me of the people that said I was nuts and crazy to move like this. I know I am not and I have tons of people supporting me. He is also very charming. I remember when I'd go to my da's house and he'd watch the show, I'd always get chills watching him sing, such a lovely voice. I said he should win. He did!

Other than that, I have nothing... end of the week, happy Friday to you all. Happy Saint Patrick's Day to those Irish men and women out there and to all who celebrate the meaning of it.

Cheers,

xoAmanda

14

Hey there,

So I have been super busy and full of excitement!

In the last week I have had my lazy sick days, happy bursting with excitement days, and lazy work filled days.

I''ve currently been sick with some sort of bug since Sunday morning. I've had a terrible sore throat, lots of coughing, and a congested/runny nose. It has been pretty tough having to work with it. I stayed home Monday hoping to get rid of it before the next day. No go. I'm getting so sick of being sick lately. It's like my immune system is nonexistant. I'm constantly sick. Ugh! I need to go home and change into comfy clothes, sip tea, and watch movies.
Which is exactly what I have been doing since this onset of symptoms.
I couldn't fall asleep Sunday night or Monday night at all. I literally got in the shower at 4am (I shower at night always) and then left for work at 5, getting there at 6. I usually leave around 6:30 and get there at 7. I was so sleepy but couldn't sleep. I have a hard time sleeping while sick.

My mum dropped me off some night time medicine and apparently it worked well. I passed out for sleep last night and had to drag my bleary eyed ass out of bed this morning at 6:10am. I was a bit behind. Now my coworker just said that each time she comes into the office I look paler than the last time. I think that means I get to leave early right? Right?! I emailed my boss and asked if I could leave around 2pm (an hour early). I have been coughing something fierce all day. Hopefully they don't mind if I leave.


Last night I had my tea, my medicine, and my lovely book to read and comfort me.
 Tea has saved my life these past days...

Before I got sick, I had a real craving to go to the thrift store here in town and in particular wanted to find a jean jacket. I got one really nice one for $5 and one that was more shirt-like and a button down thin jean material that I cut into a short sleeved version here:

I got the second shirt one for $2.80 so it was a nice little haul. I found a 50% off purchase coupon for this week and have been wanting to go but since I've been sick I haven't had the will. I'll probably end up going tomorrow. Hopefully I feel better.

One thing that I AM happy about is that my boss finally knows I am quitting in April! I was SO nervous to tell him, but he actually told us he was offered a job in Texas at the Texas City Refinery that our company bought and he's transferring. His last day is Friday so he's (my supervisor Frank and I) have been packing up his office. He actually gave us a $50 gas card today for packing his office for him which was really nice. Well it's kind of a long story about someone from work letting it slip that I was moving out of the state during our Monday meeting (thank god I was home sick or that woulda been awkward) and he said he didn't know about it. So I went to tell him and he was all for it telling me I am a great worker and yada yada. He said he was pleased that I am giving them almost 2 months notice because usually people here give the 2 weeks thing. I just didn't want my supervisor struggling to do both of our jobs if I just quit without a replacement.
So anyway....my friend who did her internship here got a call saying that she might be hired in my position (she wasn't hired after her internship) and year it's only an admin job but it's better paying than her job she went back to after the internship and she has more connections here.
Hopefully they give it to her :) I'd be really happy. Plus since I will be training the person replacing me, it will be a TON easier since she already knows what I do and mostly everything about our workplace. It will be a huge relief.

So now that the bossman knows that my last day is April 26, I can officially begin packing my stuff to store and what I am taking with me. Should be interesting... I will have to sell some stuff online also. I really don't want to sell my couch or chair but they will give me extra money. Will have to think about it...

 My sweet snuggle buddy.

Since my last day of work is April 26, I plan to leave for Lake Charles, Louisiana around 7pm on Friday, May 3. My little brother, Lincoln, turns 21 on April 28th so I want to party a bit with him before I go andI want sufficient time to finish packing, moving stuff, and saying my goodbyes to family and friends. Pray I make it out by then.

That's about it for the last week. I just received confirmation that I can leave at 2pm today. My dad's having me pick up a cake for his step son after work so I have to do that before resting. I should go finish my work for the day before I leave!

Toodles,

xoAmanda

13

Hello there fine folk!

It's been a few days but I have been quite busy and trying to relax when I get the opportunity.

I've been planning for my "move" to Louisiana and last week received a $360 psychologist bill (that I just started to see for GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder) and I pushed my move date two weeks (a pay period) back so that my other bills don't get messed up. But then she told me yesterday that they should reimburse me if I send the receipts in for a claim...idk it is super aggravating and I just want to know for sure they will reimburse me. Either way, I will have this extra two weeks and I will not, indeed, be leaving until the first week of May. I planned before to leave the second week of April and now my last day of work will be around April 26 (hopefully) and since my little brother turns 21 two days after that (28th) I figured I would stick it out another week to celebrate and then I can pack everything without work tiring me out.
I contacted Renee (who I am work-exchanging for) and she said there is a Labor of Love gathering or something in May so it's better that I can come later so that I can help with that.

I also decided to vlog about my moving experience and things on my mind about it or questions that I have. I posted one on youtube, but the quality is horrible so I might have to re-record it. I will post it in here eventually if you would like to follow along.

My dad's wife had surgery Monday so I have been watching the kids after school for a few hours and getting dinner ready and helping with homework. My last night doing that is Friday I believe.

Also, yesterday I went to my doctor's office to discuss being put on anti-anxiety medication. I don't know how much I explained my anxiety on here, but it is pretty bad. Bad enough that I went to talk to someone about it. I actually thought I was just the only weird strange thinking scared person in the world or that there weren't a lot, but one day I googled something like "I feel like everyone is watching me" creepy, right? But anyways it took me to this page about Social Anxiety Disorder and I was reading all of the symptoms about feeling like if you do one wrong thing everyone will see and judge you, people are constantly watching you (esp while driving I get this), having to be on the phone with friends when shopping alone, finding excuses why you can't go out with coworkers for lunch and what not. I literally was crying when I read the list because for about the past five or six years I thought I was just made wrong. I thought something in my brain was messed up and no one would understand. But there was a term for it. And I have watched a few youtube videos and there's one that makes so much sense to me about a woman and how she feels. I'm not afraid of people, I just am afraid that they are always watching me and judging me for some reason. Like when I stop at a light in the summer with my windows down, I will turn down the music so no one can hear it and judge me. It's so so dumb and I wish I didn't think like that but I am working on it. I cannot see the therapist anymore because I don't want to go through this dumb reimbursment thing anymore, but I learned enough so that I can work on exposure therapy, and with internet, I think I can figure it out on my own. I don't want to feel this way anymore. During my last appointment my therapist said she'd write a letter to my doctor to prescribe me medication and he did. Today is the first day that I started taking Buspirone which is mostly for anxiety with underlying depression (I tried to tell my doctor it's not depression because he was saying he wanted to give me ZOLOFT which is mostly for depression and he doesn't ever fucking listen to me when I say I have anxiety issues. I told him that I lost about 6 people in the past three years and he automatically assumed depression and while I am sad, I've mourned). I have anxiety and I'm working on it.
So I started with 10mg twice per day, I've taken both today and they made me a little lightheaded and anxious (not in a bad anxiety way, but like you're in a hurry way). In a few days I up it to three 10mg per day.

I will keep you updated, but I am done at work, so I must leave.

Ciao

xoAmanda

12

Sorry! So, so sorry! I don't feel as bad because I have yet to get any comments, but still...I feel like I let myself down for not posting in a bit. I will try to add pictures (I only get online at work...so I don't know how much time I can take).

I've been dealing with a very very big decision over the past two weeks or so and I will share it with you today. How about now? Okay so...

As you may or may not know, I harbor a deep and infinite love for Louisiana. Why? The architecture being of the creole/cajun/greek revival period...come on? It makes me groan with want. If I could live in a greek revival plantation home white with pillars and cover the inside with wooden-framed pictures and velvet-y couches with long floral drapes to cover my high-cieling windows...you know I would DIE! Well...I know I would.

So I have been researching how to make the big move down south (from Michigan) for about two years now (ever since my first time there). I have no degree, no real prospects of a job, but I was offered housing and food from a work-exchange program that I stumbled upon. First I will tell you about work-exchange. It is where people can travel all over the world and stay with hosts for free in exchange for helping them with whatever they need. There are different people with set hours of work or just people with projects they need help with if they don't specialize in it (carpentry, wood work, building, organic farming, gardening, etc.) and some just need help around the house or business that you can offer. I don't specialize in anything really, except administrative duties, but I LOVE to help. I cannot sit around someone else's house if they need something done and just not do anything. When I was little, I went to my grandparent's basically every weekend and I would wake up around 8am and go help my grandpa until lunch time. He lived on a farm-style stead (only with a chicken coop) so we kept busy. He'd chop would and I would carry and stack it, he'd chop down brush (trees) and I would literally drag them (picture a buff, tan 8 year old girl with freckles and long hair) to a pile and later we'd burn it (yes I was pretty strong, not anymore), I'd collect the eggs and keep the chickens and roosters and ducks under control, I'd feed and water the animals and fish in the pond, I'd help park the tractors (huge), I'd do anything they asked of me. After lunch, my grandma usually would enlist my help in dusting, cleaning, putting groceries away, helping with dinner, dishes, setting the table for supper, organizing, etc. in the home. We stayed pretty damn busy. So that's where my need to always be busy stems from...

This work-exchange is exactly what I was looking for. Here's the link http://www.helpx.net/

I went straight for LA and scrolled through listings for hosts and found Renee Savant. She looked like a red-hot riot and I was intrigued. I read the description about helping out 30 hours a week about 3 hours from New Orleans on her Sanctuary that she had set up. I also about died when she said she had a home on St. Peter St. in the heart of the French Quarter. It is about two blocks (south?) of Bourbon St and SO beautiful. It is a shotgun home, I believe? I always admired the house structure with many different colors to choose from and hers is gorgeous. She says that she usually has workers for 4 weeks, they help at the sanctuary for three weeks and then the last week she drives them to her house in the quarter and lets them relax, tour around, eat, and there is no expectation of work. She is AWESOME! I sent her a facebook message right away explaining that I plan to relocate to LA and that it's a life changer for me. I would have to give up a great paying job, everything I know and have grown used to, my friends and family, and move down south. It would be something difficult but that I know I have to do. I told her I'd apply for jobs vigorously once arriving (after work) and might have to stay longer than a month if I can't get anything. She said I can stay as long as I'd like.

Um....

YES!

I am completely, 100% terrified. I will give you my list.

1. I cannot live without seeing my mom at least once per week. It would be so SO hard on me.
2. My best friend is having baby number 3 in 5 short weeks and I plan to leave in 7. I don't want her to be without me if she needs something or someone to talk to.
3. I don't want to miss my neice and nephew growing up or my friends having more babies without me there.
4. The love of my life lives here and of course, does not know yet (I plan to tell him if I do go) (it's been 10 years, why not one more month).
5. I have SEVERE Social Anxiety Disorder which I have only just begun to discuss with a therapist. Anyone with SAD will understand my horror at being uprooted and sent to a city where you know absolutely NO ONE and having to look people in the eye, talk, and not have someone there to turn to if you feel uncomfortable. I can't even go to the store alone here, I have to go with someone. Imagine when I have to start making a new circle of friends. Oy VEY! However, I also see it as a challenge, for myself to break free of SAD's hold on my life. I will be forced to address it.
6. My mom's dog, Tess. I call her my sister. She's my mom's dog and "baby" so she's technically my sister :) We've had her for 12 years this Fall and she's gone through cancer and back and always is by my side at home, especially if she senses that I'm sad or upset - she will be all up in my face to make me smile (it's kind of remarkable how she knows).
7. I won't be able to bring all of my books with me. Hahaha (: my book nerds out there will understand why this is so sad. I have three bookcases full and though I will not leave without my top ten or so favorite series', I will be sad to know that my blanket of comfort will be unavailable.
8. I am so so so scared (this is my number one fear) that I will not be able to find a good enough paying job and that I will have to drive home two months later with no money, no job, and everyone will judge me. And then I will have to try to find a new job to pay off my car here. I'd rather become one of those homeless people with a dog.

The only thing that would make this a deal breaker is if I had to leave my ancient dog Jellybean at home. Renee has pictures of her Sanctuary porch and there's lots of dogs that stray to her porch to sleep in the sun for a few hours before taking off again so she said she doesn't mind if I bring him along :) hopefully the heat and humidity don't kill his old ass. I am so excited and hope he behaves himself. One piss indoors and I will feel like the worst house guest ever.

Anyways, this is not set in stone exactly, but I feel way more like I am moving than I feel like I'm staying. I am so so scared to tell my boss, but I want to give him a month instead of two week notice so that he can find someone and even have me train them if he can. I don't want them to be crippled by me leaving by having to take out time to re-train a new girl on everything. I also know my responsibilities better than anyone so I'd be able to explain it better. Hopefully he doesn't judge me too bad, as it is something I'd love to do.

Also, there is a refinery down in Garyville which is like a sister refinery to the Detroit one (we get a lot of workers from there) and maybe he can give me a contact for applying there. That would be an amazing transfer for me.


So anyway, that's my news. Don't know 100% if I will do it, but more so than not, I will be filling up my gas tank for the 15-hour drive from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 7 short weeks.

I am praying for guidance and the knowledge to make the best choice for my life path. I know that God will help me and stand by me either way, but I want to do what he wants for me. I want to make him happy and to make the best choice for myself as well.
Any prayers or thoughts would be so, so very much appreciated.

Here is a really quick look at my pictures lately:

I painted my nails my favorite color - turquoise on my lazy Friday night

Braided my hair by braiding three smaller braids into one big braid.

Started watching Charmed again last week and have had to keep watching it (I am now in Season 3) loveee my series.

Thank God I caught this! When he wakes up, he will sit STRAIGHT UP and look around all dopey and so so adorable. Yes he is wearing a Christmas sweater, only for when he goes out in the snow!

Had a few glasses of Barefoot moscato wine on Saturday while watching Charmed.

Lastly, I have been praying about the LA trip and asking for guidance. I feel God brought me this glorious sign from my Taco Bell Hot Sauce. Yes, I like it hot. Yes, I believe it's a sign ;)


xoAmanda

11

Here's to post 11! Eleven is my special number. Not because I was born on 11/11...no, surely not :)

Sorry that I have completely SPACED on updating. I have been crazy busy the past few days and don't get on my computer at home hardly ever. I did have an amazing weekend, however crazy it was!

Friday I was so so so sooo excited for and just wanted to get out of work at 3pm. The whole day slugged on by slowly and then at 3:10 I booked out of work and off to my best friend's house! We had to make it to Lansing (Michigan) and it was about an hour and 20 minutes from where we live. We left late (around 4:30) and then I (of course) forgot to get gas, so we had to stop and get some after getting off of the highway (my light had only been on for twenty minutes...). We had five minutes to spare when getting to Ally Carter's book signing :)))

I've been reading her spy girl series since they came out in 2006 or 2007 (don't remember). But the last book for the series is coming out this fall and I am really sad, but she is doing a book tour for her other series. I adore her spy series! They are so familiar and come on, who DOESN'T at one point in their life, want to be a friggin spy?! I know I still do. CIA? Yes. Covert ops? Hell yes. I just love Ally for giving me a great series.

So we get there, run inside, and I noticed there are a hell of a lot more people than I anticipated. When I met Richelle Mead last fall there were around 120 people and maybe 80 seats (we got there around 3 hours early, so we were in the second row). But I expected much less for this signing...Not that Richelle is better than Ally, I just assumed more people knew about Richelle because of the "vampire craze" and all. Kristin and I went to the other side of the room where there's a small ramp that's hidden and stood over there to listen to her and we had pretty much front row vision. I even asked her a question when she let us. ME. I asked Ally a question! I'm not easily star struck, I just have wicked (WICKED) social anxiety. However, I rehearsed it in my head a few times and knew that as I am an avid (crazy book lady) reader, I would be upset with myself if I didn't ask her. SO I asked her if she had any certain writing rituals. She said yes and no. She likes to write at home and also at Panera a lot, but she gives herself certain amounts of words each time she HAS to write. Schedule-wise and all. I was so happy that she was super fun. Richelle was more laid back and Ally was just crazy. She was giggly and loud and just a laugh! I loved meeting her. Also, since we were kind of hidden, we ended up being the LAST to get my books signed. Of course. So we waited while the people in seats got their stickers (they wrote our names on post-its so she could cutomize one) and then the standers in the back got there's....and I was freaking out saying I wasn't getting one. I had a mini-spaz attack and then when the lady came by asking some girls if they had there's, I practically assaulted the lady screaming "I didn't get mine!!!" She was a sport about it and sat down in the couch next to us for a bit.

After...oh....an hour and a half, the line of people (young girls with their parents) trickled by, I was approached by some girls and their parents asking if I was in line. I told them to go ahead. If I waited this whole time I might as well be last. So they went up and started talking to Ally and I was like ...what the heck, they already got their books signed they just wanted to talk to her. So then Ally eyed me and noticed I had all of my books and the family left and she said "saving the best for last"!!!! Ugh, I love you, Ally! So sweet (and correct hehe). She asked me about MYSELF, where I work, what I like to do. I was like ...shouldn't I be asking you? Um...hello BEST author EVER. She's just a sweetie! So nice. Funny. Kind. Smart. Okay, I'm done. I had a blast! It was such a great night. I hope I get to meet her again, I still have her last book to get signed this fall. Oh and she also signed my bag that I made for my authors to sign.
Kristin and I made shirts for the Richelle Mead signing and went to JoAnn Fabric to get the stuff...and I saw some white canvas bags with pink trimming (I'll upload a pic soon). I ended up printing a picture of a pin up girl cartoon reading books and some tie dye iron on's that say "Amandas Books" down each side. Richelle signed it and then Ally did. Now I have to have the rest of my favorites sign it :) ugh it was amazing.

I also started talking to a lovely girl named Chloe Carson that does hair, nails, and makeup tutorials on youtube and is so sweet. She's around 15-17, christian, and a reader :) So when I found out that she liked Ally's books, I told her I would get her the one she wanted and have Ally sign it and then I would send it to her (she did teach me a lifelong lesson: how to french braid my hair) it was payback really. So I DID. And I have it in my car to send to her after work. I hope she likes it :) I told her that I wish when I was younger that someone had done that for me. My favorite author doesn't do hardly any signings and my books that she wrote came out around when HP did in 2001. I will meet her one day. If I have to fly to North Carolina and meet up with her...I will. And she will have 25 books to sign ;) and my bag, of course. Poor gal. Seriously, I have all of her books (15 small books) and then the re-released bind ups of them (5 with three in one), and then her next series is 4 small books (and the one big one with all 4), and then I have the first book to her next series but haven't read it yet (I'm scared I won't like it...I do this a lot). So 26 technically...but you know. She will hate me. If there's a book limit, I will be bringing friends to get them bitches done. Oh yes, this author I love, her name is Cate Tiernan (aka Gabrielle Charbonnet).

Okay....this post is entirely about books and my crazed obsession with them is showing through....feck.


Saturday I told my best friend that I'd babysit her four and two year olds while her and her husband went out for a Valentine's date. So we snuggled and took pictures and ate pizza and yogurt and watched the Big Bang Theory and Bubble Guppies for for or five hours and then I journeyed around the corner (literally) to my other friends house to get ready for our friends 23 birthday outing (she's so wittle). So we got all ready to go and then went to Bean and Russ's apartment and had some pre-leave drinks and then took off to Novi to "The Liquor Store" which I'd never been to. It is a huge arcade/bar/club and amazing. Maybe next time we will play games rather than get drunk at the bar and ride mechanical bulls. Yes. I said it. I rode a mechanical bull. Now....this girl is a bit shy and quiet....not someone who goes around riding things in public looking a fool. I did just that.

It was pretty exciting. Even though I was a bit drunk so I don't remember too much after getting on his back, I am very very proud of myself to say the least and I will definitely do it again. I did not know, however, they took pictures. So even though you can't see much, have a good laugh dears.


I will leave you with that bad boy, because after that I don't remember doing much else than taking a shot, drinking a beer, and going home. We had a blast. But then Sunday I pretty much popped pills, drank coke, ate a hot pocket, and watched Charmed and Big Bang Theory re-runs while clutching my upset tummy and whining to my deaf dog about never drinking again.

Overall I think it went well. Now to work a 6-day work week and not drink all week.


xoAmanda

10

Hello chummies,

Currently I am on youtube watching the volume two of My Global Adventures! I originally bought volume one from the local dollar store (random, but it was a travel movie for a buck so I didn't care). I LOVED it, in all it's rawness and Asia is so open and hilarious. It's about a girl that goes around to 24 counties in 8 months, hosting and giving us a look at local culture with historical facts and while doing physical challenges.

Well anyway, that was a year ago or two and a month or two ago I asked her to be my friend on Facebook. I posted a status about being left-handed today and she commented and she gave me a link to her director's youtube page to watch the rest of the episodes that I missed!! Oh I was SO excited. And I have been watching now for over four hours. I couldn't even read my new book over my lunch break because I cannot stop. I am on the China episode now and it's so interesting. Ugh, I love travelling sooo much. I just want to quit my job and go around the world. So bad. I wish I could have the money that these rich folks have and instead of spending it on prada bags and dolce sunglasses, to use it on plane fare and going to Guatemala, riding a train in India, fishing in Ireland...oh oh oh. I would die. Seriously. I just want to experience and be shocked by cultures so different from mine. I don't want. I need. It's nothing people that haven't been bitten by the travel bug will understand. None of my friends really travelled more than to one or two states here, so they just don't seem to understand. I don't blame them. I envy that they don't have to cry because they can't travel. It's not something I like because I can't do it as much as I want to. Which is always. What I wouldn't give to leave here and move from family to family in different countries. If I could seriously stay with different families and just do work to help them for it, I totally would never come back home.

Anyhow. I just wanted to share that. I have been much too busy for my own good here. I will report back tomorrow with more that I've been up to.

Have a lovely day.

Send warmth to Michigan, please :)

xoAmanda

9

Good morning dears,

So I don't really have too much to say, just want to keep with blogging this time around. I always say that and then stop for a month or two...so hopefully I didn't just jinx the hell out of myself. Darn.

I'm starting to feel back to normal after my stint with stomach flu. I was pretty nauseated all day yesterday, but took some zofran and feel pretty good today. I hope that it is over now...I tried eating some Subway last night (which I've been craving for a week now) and could barely eat the little 6er. It was the most depressing thing ever after losing all of the contents of my stomach and being unable to eat for a day for fear of getting sick. Sigh...I will have to try again later.

After I get out of work around 3:30 I am going to a friends house to watch Pathology (a movie we watched one night a few years back that was so creepily awesome). Well I found it, randomly, at Big Lots a couple of months ago and have been meaning to take it to her house. Finally, we have a movie night to watch it at her apartment. And of course, I forgot it... So I have to go completely out of my way all the way home and then back out to her place. I might pick up a pizza on the way and then we can just chill out and watch our weird, grotesque movie. Now I just have to hope that she doesn't cancel (she does that sometimes).
So I consider myself some sort of "cheap traveller" in the way that I search and search for SUPER cheap plane tickets (RT). I will look for weeks and not find what I want (cheap enough) and then one day I get an email from "airfarewatchdog" (love) and they will have RT tickets to NOLA for $204 and I jump on them. I have been searching for a couple of weeks now for my yearly trip to New Orleans and haven't had much luck. The cheapest I found were around $220 and that's just not good enough for me. I am probably the weirdest cheapo that I know. I will be stingy when it comes to plane tickets, but if I can buy a custom Harry Potter sweater for some insane price, I will buy it. I am such a nerd. I actually did buy one though....okay two. I bought two, damnit. I made one custom to my favorite books by Cate Tiernan as well. I'm such a sucker.

Anyway, I haven't gotten my "WHOA" number yet and I'm getting a little worried now because the prices are getting steeper for the hotel and I always stay in the same hotel. I WANT to stay in a new one, for variety, but the location of the Chateau on St. Philip and Chartres is just too good to pass up and is in walking distance to a cute little (always vacant) bar that is close enough to drink at late in the evening to where I don't feel like I will get mugged on the one block walk back.

So please please wish me luck. If anyone has any tips (I probably know them all by now) I'd be grateful. I usually look on Tuesdays (I've heard they are cheapest and they are that day) but haven't had luck. It will be my third trip to Louisiana and I'm absolutely in LOVE with it. I cannot explain the love I have for the atmosphere in the state. It fills me with such a warmth...perhaps like having a baby? :) I just can't explain it. Must be my weirdness seeping out.

Hopefully I can get something booked soon. I really wanted to go in March, but now it looks as though April will be better.

I will upload pictures from my movie/girls night tomorrow (if it happens).

Also, I am SO amped for this book signing. You all know I'm a huge book nerd and last year attended my first book signing by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy) and it was SO much fun. She is a funny gal and sweetie. And might I add...a Michigan native. So I met her, she signed 4 of my books and a book tote that I made. I plan on having my favorite authors sign it. So on Friday, February 15, Ally Carter (Gallagher Girls and Heist Society) is going to the SAME book store in Lansing to do a signing. It's about an hour and a half drive which isn't bad at all. I'm SO excited. I just need a friend to go with me to get the other half of her books signed for me since they have a limit...or well...the last time there was (4). Either way, I need someone to talk me through the drive. I've been reading Gallagher Girls for about seven years now and the last book is coming out this fall. I have been wanting to read her other series "Heist Society" but I'm nervous I won't like it. I always do that. Anyway, I downloaded the nook app on my droid for free and downloaded a sample of the first heist book and liked it. And since this is a Heist book tour for Ally, I will buy the first one and have her sign it. I'm SO excited. Only 9 days left :)

I think that is all, better get back to work.

xoAmanda

8

Good afternoon babes

So how was everyone's weekend? Mine...went from busy, to good, to bad, to ugly.

Let's start by saying that my Friday was every bit as busy as I had expected. I left work around 1:30pm to get a head start on last minute baby shower things. I ran to Michael's and Party City after work, nabbed the last of the party supplies and then met up with Alisha to go to Sam's Club and GFS to get the food items.

After that, I ran home because I was supposed to meet Keith where we'd drink some beers and finish getting everything ready for the party.

That was the busy.

The next day I woke up at 6am and threw everything in the crock pots. I fell asleep for a few more hours to keep my energy on high. I woke up, got dressed, did my makeup, cleaned up, threw all of the party supplies, cleaners, banners, food stuff, and three piece crockpot set in my car. I raced to Alisha's, we took her car to Kroger to get the punch supplies and cupcakes, and then we got in her car with enough time to get to the hall without rushing....phew. And then her car wouldn't start....

Oy vey.

So we had a mini-melt down, becos her car tends to not start sometimes and she's been really pissed about it. So she called her amazing boyfriend and he calmed her down enough to make her wait to try it again until he got there. And then about twenty minutes later she tried it again and it STARTED! So praise God, hallelujah! We raced back to her house, threw all of her stuff in the car, and then we both drove through the snow flurries up the road to the hall where we set everything up and threw a nice little shower for our best friend.

That was the good.

I'm not a teriffic planner or speaker, but it did go pretty well. I just wish I had bought fried chicken for everyone...we ended up not thinking we had enough food and sent Kristin's husband to get a box of chicken and it was all cleared out by the end (glad he went). Anyway, the shower is over so now I can save my money once again.

The UGLY:

After the shower on Saturday, Alisha and I hung out and watched "People Like Us" from the Redbox. She bought taco stuff at the grocery store, cooked the meat, and then we made our own taco's. Now...I always thought I had the flu before, but apparently not. Because I've never had the sickness that occurred Sunday night/Monday morning.
Please stop reading if you are immature/don't like hearing about puke and shit.
So around 24 hours after we ate these taco's (that were yummy), I was relaxing on my Sunday night before the next work week started. I had some meatballs and spaetzle german noodles while watching Casper. Which I LOVE. I hadn't seen it in a while, but decided to throw it in. After that, my mom brought me an oreo mcflurry because I told her I had been craving one. Yes I am 24 and live at home still, I'm single and poor.
ANYWAY
After the shake, I took a shower and dried my hair. That's when I started feeling like I had an upset stomach. I was in the bathroom every five minutes from that moment on ... emptying my system aha. This started around 10:30pm. I was thinking it was because I never drink milk and maybe I was lactose intolerant. Nope. It was the flu. Around 1am I started vomiting everything until finally nothing was left. There is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, like puking. I absolutely hate, loathe, and detest the foulness that is bile. Ugh, so I tried taking my old prescription for Zofran (nausea) and it wasn't working. So then I woke up my mom around 2am and had her take me to the hospital in case it was lactose intolerance and not the flu.

They proceeded to have me wait for THREE motherfucking HOURS before they brought my ass back. I was moaning and panting in the waiting room wearing NO bra, red wings sweat pants, and my florence and the machine concert shirt. When they DID bring me back they said they were busy and had to put me in a bed in the hallway. In front of the little station where the nurses sit talking smack about the radiologist or whatever.

I was SO furious I was nearly assaulting the physician and any nurse that talked to me.
I'm sorry, but do not make a bitch wait three hours and then put her in a bed in the hallway where everyone can stare at her as they walk the halls.

I have a god damn social anxiety disorder and you want to talk about diarrhea in front of 10 dudes and 13 chicks? No. I don't care if they've heard it all before. Leave me alone. I was > < this close to ripping my IV out and peacing.

All I wanted was for them to push some zofran through the IV that was in my arm for three hours. But no. They wanted to do xrays and ultrasounds and blah blah blah for 6 motherfucking hours before they sent my ass home.

If that ever happens to me again, best believe I will tear that hospital a new emergency entrance.

So around 9 I left the hospital, went home, and passed out for 6 hours. And then after a cigarette, I passed out again for 2 more. And after that I had two pieces of ravioli, read some harry potter, and passed the fuck out for the rest of the night.

Today I went back to work and want to go home SO bad, curl up, and read. I will then pass out again. This flu hates me, and I hate it. Well played, flu.

Too bad you overpowered the flu shot my deltoid got in November.

Jerk.

xoAmanda

7

Good morning loves,

So it's Friday - FINALLY!

Tonight I am going to be extremely busy and under tons of pressure because tomorrow is... My best friend's last (hopefully) baby shower that our friend Alisha and I are hosting for her. It's a BOY!
We waited to tell everyone when we sent out the invitations but now everyone should know! I bought all of the prizes and now I just have to get a couple of things today: Gift bags for the prizes, green bows, little sticks (I bought cute custom cupcake circles with sayings on them) to glue them on, a best buy gift card for the guys game, yarn for the belly game, some more party favors and jolly ranchers to go in the big bottle.

Hopefully we can get the food in the slow cookers and leave them til morning. I have to pick up the cupcakes at 11am and then head up there. I will post pictures for sure :) This week was pretty busy.

Michigan is yet again the four seasons in a day state. It was around 55 and rainy but so so warm like a cool spring day - lovely. Then it turned into intense fog into which you took blind turns onto streets not knowing if you were about to get t-boned. It then stormed and thundered pouring rain that turned into sleet and the temperatures went down freezing the roads and snowing white outs throughout Michigan. There was actually a 35-car pileup on the highway about 1/4 mile from my office window, crazy! Anyways, I have a picture to show how we, here in Michigan, feel as of the weather lately:

For sure! Except the first one ...it wasn't hot, just warm. I do love this state, just in-between seasons it gets a bit confusing and hard to find clothes to wear. Can't ever put my shorts away for the winter :)

I basically sat inside all week listening to the rain after a long day of work. It's not hidden that I ADORE thunder and rain...I sit on my porch during tornado warnings. I did once about two years ago when one came through two miles away. It was pretty scary, actually...but weather is just so amazingly natural, I can't get enough of the power of it :) so I watched Sex and the City (I have all of them) and drank some wine with my little old man sleeping next to me:


Other than working and watching reruns all week I haven't done much because I didn't have the cashflow until today (payday - love). So I have to run out to Michael's, Party City, and CVS to get my shop on. I have to get a couple of prizes and the rest of that junk. Then I have to pick up all of the food from my friends house and go home. From there I have to get the prize bags ready for the shower, get the food going, and I am hanging out with an old friend, Keith for some beers to soothe my frayed nerves. Because I know for damn sure that it's going to be a long night. Plus I have to find something to wear for tomorrow and get it all prepared for when I get up.

Oy vey do I have a busy day ahead of me. I'm at work now and I think I might ask to leave around 1:30 to get it all sorted out :)

Last night, I was doing my usual blog-reading and I often stumble to other people's blogs if the ones I follow aren't updated daily. Anyway, I ran into a woman that posted some gorgeous looking recipes and one was lasagna. I've never made homemade lasagna, and I am not very adept at cooking...I think it skips a generation in my family :) I try but ...I have no patience for it. At all.

So I asked my mom if she wanted to make lasagna together and my heart only fell once during this cooking process which is a success in my book. It happened when my mother picked up the ingredients at a little country store in town. Well...they didn't have the ONE ingredient I truly loveee in my lasagna and that is Ricotta cheese.

So anyway, here are the things I used:
One can of tomato paste
One can of tomato sauce
One can of diced tomatoes
Around 2 cups of raw mushrooms diced
A package of sweet italian sausage links (we just used breakfast sausage links cut into about half inch pieces)
Italian seasoning
Parmesan Cheese
1 bag Mozzarella Cheese
1 container Rictotta Cheese (I used two bags of Mozz. since I didn't have Ricotta)

I put my lasagna noodles in another pot to boil before starting the food.
I cut up pieces of italian sausage links into half-inch pieces, browned them, and then put them in a pot. I then added the tomato sauce, paste, diced tomatoes, seasoning, and mushrooms. I covered the pot stirring occasionally and simmered for around 20-25 minutes. I then got out my lasagna pan (9x13) and put a small layer of sauce at the bottom so the noodles wouldnt stick (try to not let the sausage get in it so you don't waste it). Then I layered my noodles at the bottom, covered them with the sausage/mush/sauce, sprinkled parmesan and mozz cheese on that, then put more noodles over it, then I put all of the sauce and cheeses on again (this is where you put dollops of ricotta if you have it), then I put another layer of noodles, then I put the sauce and cheeses on again and put the rest of the mozz on top. Then I covered in tin foil and baked at 350° for 45 minutes. I took the foil off and baked for an additional ten minutes to brown the cheese a little at the top.

When I took it out I let it sit 5 minutes, then I cut it into 8 pieces (they were BIG slices), then I let it sit another 5-10 minutes so that it wouldn't fall apart when I scooped it out. All three of us just about died eating it all. It was SO amazing, probably the best I've ever had. And I love my pasta dishes. It was so yummy. I only have a picture of me stirring the sauce, mushrooms, and sausage:


I also received my Harry Potter sweater that I ordered on Etsy from Soeffingcute. She makes nerdy things :) super adorable. Anyway, it was $51 with shipping but I just placed another order today for a custom sweater with my favorite book series characters on it: Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan. I'm SO excited to get it in two weeks :) She's so nice and the shirts are great.


Can you tell how much I hate it? Lol, I'm such a nerd but that's okay :) They are wonderful books... can't stop the love.

Also, I am extremely stingy with money if I know I can get something for much cheaper (amazon is my best friend, I have bought around 200-400 books/movies/phone accessories on here) and craigslist (where I bought my loveseat and chair for my bedroom for $100). So I go to ValueWorld every couple of months or so. I love looking through their household items. The one by my home is SUPER dodgy, full of odd things and kind of trashy items. But I still go, no worries here.

I found these LOVELY vases. This is of course the after picture of cleaning them up with some glass cleaner, but they were around 10 bucks for all of them:

The big one with the metal had a price tag that said $17 and they resold it for $4.95 :)
The smaller three were 95-1.95 each. One also has a slight green tinge to its glass which is so pretty. I can't wait to get my own place again and vase it up! I want to fill it full of treasures that I find on my poorstorescore trips.

Anyway, that's it for today. I have tons of stuff to do and plan.
I will post some pictures from the shower soon enough.

xoAmanda

6

Good afternoon loves,

So my mind has been racing about as fast as the snow is falling in Michigan (very fast)!

For the last two years, my passion has been to travel the world, go everywhere! The unsettling reality is that I am a lower class woman with no degree and a full time job with ten days vacation time per year. Now don't get me wrong, I am truly blessed to be where I am, but I really do want to experience new cultures and open myself up to all of their experiences.

About a year or two ago I researched Mission Trips from different websites here and there and was discouraged because though I am a faithful Christian, I don't go to church. Firstly, because I don't believe that I need to attend church to believe in God, but second, because no one will go with me. Yeah it's lame, but I have horrible anxiety and my church is PACKED out the wazoo.

So I was upset thinking maybe missions weren't for me, but then my friend Chelsea took off four The World Race at the beginning of January and she is going to 11 countries in 11 months to provide ministries, food, water, clothing, education, prayer, and fun with the locals that need help. They have four different routes/countries for September that I've been looking at and there's one that caught my eye. Here's the route:
Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Mozambique, Swaziland, and lastly South Africa.

Now there aren't any european countries in there which is sad, but I figure that when I go travelling later in life I can just hit up all of Europe and visit then.

My mission now is to pray for guidance from my Father and ask that He show me if this is the right path for me right now. I have nothing holding me down, no man in my life, no children, just my little dog. I don't know what I would do without him and since I adopted him I have no idea if he would die when I am gone, but I also don't know if he will pass in five years or more. I don't want to leave him and my friends behind for 11 months, but to help others and learn and break out of my shell to try new things...yeah it's worth it to me. I want to live like God and help others, learn about them, teach them what I know. I may have missed ALL of the childhood where you learn about God but I came in at a good time to love Him. He will provide for me and He will show me what He has in store for me.

The one bummer besides my dog, is that this trip for 11 months costs: $15,500. I am in NO way wealthy. I am not even well off. I have no money in savings because I have bills and payments, so I will solely be saving one $20 a month and relying on donations and parties to raise money. I might have to get crafty and make some shit  to sell online as well.
Now, if you are inclined and want to maybe donate to my cause, I have to wait for them to call me and interview me, but if I am accepted, I will set up an account with their website where donations may be made to me for the trip.

I figure that I can make shirts, bracelets, etc. and sell them on etsy or ebay or something. I also have lots and lots of books that I can sell as well as my furniture and such. About my car...IDK what to do, maybe I will try to sell it or talk to the bank and see if they can stop the payments for the 11 months - idk if they do that even, but if I have to continue payments, I will have to sell it because I won't be making money while gone of course.

I really do hope that God can help me to figure out my path here. If He wants me to go, if He continues to lead me on this path in which I absolutely crave the knowledge and history of different cultures, I will be sure to. I must. I might even have to put little cans around local stores for donations. I have started with change jars and such but prayers are definitely welcome.

If you can pray for me, I just want to thank you. I don't know if anyone reads this, but it would mean a whole lot. If you want to leave any ways of raising money, I would also be interested. Maybe a car wash or something. I know that some restaurants do percentages of meals for prizes or people that have passed on, so perhaps I can do this also. It would be lovely.

I appreciate the love and prayers.

Will update more when my head isn't so clouded with this dream.

xo Amanda