Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Wired

I just got home from the dress rehearsal. My hair is soaked in hairspray and bright red lipstick is stained on my lips. What I really need is to hop in the shower and hit the hay. Impossible! After a drama rehearsal I am always wired and full of energy. Now, I could put this energy towards something productive, like folding the three hampers full of laundry or putting away tonight's dinner dishes. But that just wouldn't be in my nature. Besides, it's been far too long since I've actually posted some pictures on my blog. So here it is: your first glimpse at the Summerland Baptist Church 100th Anniversary Musical Production, "I'll Be Home for Christmas"!
The hard work and long hours have been paying off and each practice is full of improvement. By closing night we'll be positively smashing!
Come one, come all to this Christmas show! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll groan. December 1-3 at 7:00 and a matinee on December 4 at 2:00 pm.
See you there!

Amanda Brown at 9:54 PM

8comments

My Breath Is Hot and Steenky

Today I had lunch at Christy's and she had made some really delicious garlic dip. I slathered it on some crackers and downed quite a bit of her tasty concoction. You know how when you eat something garlicky you don't realize how potent it is until up stop eating it? That's what happened to me. I was wolfing down great globs of the stuff, then when I came up for air I realized that my breath was pretty rank.
It's been an hour since then, and I've been sucking on extra strength Fisherman's Friend lozenges to mask the raunchy scent of my hot breath.
It is not working.
And people are noticing.
Our pastor's wife came in for a visit and we were chatting and I mentioned about the garlic I had at lunch and she told me she could smell it.
From across my desk.
That's pretty sick.
Owell, they say that garlic is good for you.
It makes up for the almond roca Christy force-fed me for dessert today.

Amanda Brown at 12:55 PM

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Monday, November 28, 2005

Let the Countdown Begin...

So it's a mere three days until the opening night of "I'll Be Home For Christmas".
And our lead actor has a kidney stone.
Which he hasn't passed yet.
THIS IS NUTS.
I am not stressing about this, because I realize that worrying isn't going to get that stone moving, and "the show must go on". Luckily we have an understudy who has been memorizing the lead lines for the past few months, and we may just end up thrusting him onto the stage at the last minute.
I am past the point of freaking out about the musical, since there is really nothing more we can do to prepare. Two more rehearsals, then we hit the spotlight! I am excited, nauseous, a little anxious, and filled with anticipation.
The staff at the church has been gracious enough to let me go home at two o'clock each day this week so I don't burn out. I think I am going to go home and have a nap. What a luxury. It's going to be just swell.

Amanda Brown at 12:53 PM

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Thursday, November 24, 2005

Be The Bread

I had a massage today. Not a cushy, relaxation massage, but a strong, intentional, deep tissue massage. It was heavenly. I hadn't had one in almost half a year, but with the stresses that have been getting to me, my back and neck were getting more knotted with each passing day.
I felt my muscles give under the pressure and it was so nice to just let myself relax and be served. My massage therapist is great and he has a nice office with quiet music playing and a heating pad to keep you warm.
While he was doing his thing, I couldn't help but feel as though I were a huge mound of bread dough, and he was kneading me to perfection. A weird thought, I know, but I seem to have a lot of those and you should be used to them by now.
So there I was, a big ol' hunk of bread dough, lying on the table, and for a few minutes all I thought about was how I was bread. I wasn't worrying about the play, I wasn't stressed about work, I wasn't planning what we were going to eat for dinner and compiling a grocery list in my head.
I was just a pile of dough.
And it was fantastic!

Amanda Brown at 2:43 PM

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Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Mum's The Word?

"Now, Amanda, I don't want you to tell Mom about the birthday present for her that you just saw me hide in the cupboard, OK?" Dad explained to me, his four year old daughter.
"OK, Daddy," I agreed.
Moments later, my mother walked in the door, and I looked up at her, put the fingernail of my index finger between my front teeth and said, "Hi, Mommy. Look in the cupboard!"
From a very young age I have never been able to keep a secret, and I am the master of ruining a good surprise. You'd think that I would get over this and learn to contain things, but no.
This year for Steve's birthday, I didn't have anything really elaborate planned. But I still managed to spill the beans about what I had in mind.
"So, since it's been so busy, Steve, I don't think we'll throw a big party this year, just something small with close friends. Is that OK?"
He assured me it was.
"I did order you something though."
"What?"
"I'm not telling."
"Yeah right."
"I'M NOT!"
"OK, fine. I'd rather wait and be surprised anyways."
"Fine I'll tell you. I ordered a big ice cream cake from Dairy Queen with a picture of a dirtbike on it and it says 'Steve is Swell....Happy Birthday!'"
He just smiled.
Then yesterday I told him, "Don't make breakfast for yourself tomorrow morning, OK?"
"Why? Are you going to make me breakfast in bed?"
"No."
"Oh."
"But, even if I'm not here when you wake up, don't eat anything, OK?"
"Why? Where are you going to go?"
"I don't know."
"Yes you do."
"Yes, I do. I am going to to McDonalds and pick up your favourite breakfast items and bring them to you to start your birthday off on the right foot."
So, even though the only things I had planned were a cake and a few lousy egg Mcmuffins, I still managed to give Steve an exact outline of what was going to happen!

Amanda Brown at 1:20 PM

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Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The Cougar Wishes Her Prey a Happy Birthday

Steve turns 23 on the 23rd of this month, which just happens to be tomorrow. I am about three months older than my hubby, and he doesn't let me live down the fact that I am a "cougar" and I stalked him, being the young piece of meat that he was, and took advantage of his innocence and naive nature. Fat chance. He wanted me bad from the moment he laid eyes on me. If anyone was pursued like an antelope being chased by a ravenous cheetah, it was me.
Regardless, I want to wish my dear Stevie a Happy 23rd Birthday. He is wise beyond his years and has been such a perfect addition to my life in the five years I have known him.
Steve makes me laugh, he gives great hugs, he works like a maniac to provide for us, he is generous with his time and abilities, he is quick to smile, he is honest and caring, and he is always genuine.
I love you, Steve!
Happy Birthday, from your old, wrinkly cougar of a wife.


Amanda Brown at 5:35 PM

7comments

Sunday, November 20, 2005

The Fish of Death


Rolo likes dead things.
He likes to help things become dead. Like marmots and mice, which he stalks in the orchard and swallows whole. It's really sick.
Yesterday I took our savage beast for a walk down Trout Creek and let him off the leash to run for a bit. Before I knew it he had sprinted ahead, nearly out of sight. I called him to come back, but he disobeyed and stayed where he was. As I got closer I saw that he was rolling around on the dirt path like a maniac, writhing and squirming on the ground.
Then I saw what he was doing.
There was a fish carcass on the side of the path and Rolo thought it would be cool to cover his fur with the scent of rotting flesh. He was all over that dead fish, raking his skinny little body over the decaying scales and smelly bones.
I hollered, "Rolo! Nooooooooooo!" and he looked up at me like I was the weird one here. He got up and we continued our walk.
I thought the breeze would air him out a bit before we got back into the car to drive home.
I thought wrong.
Rolo smelled like death and fish guts and pain and sorrow all mixed together and it was all I could do to keep from ralfing before I got him home and hucked him in the bathtub.
It was neat.

Amanda Brown at 1:30 PM

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Saturday, November 19, 2005

Why I Like Baking

When time allows, I really do enjoy cooking and baking.
This morning I slept in a little bit and woke up with Rolo cuddled up close to me, as though he knew I was alone in a big empty bed and would like some company. Then I got up and decided that it would be a great day for some pumpkin cream cheese muffins. The sky is grey and overcast today, and the smell of fresh baking would warm the house and my mood.
So I set to it, tossing ingredients into my big mixing bowl and stirring away.
Now the entire upstairs is filled with the fragrance of hot, pumpkiny goodness.
Rolo likes it when I bake because I let him lick the bowl.
What a spoiled hound.
I am going to take him for a walk later this morning; it should do us both good. Then I won't feel so guilty about leaving him alone all afternoon and evening today when I go to Kelowna.
It's a good day and I think it's going to get better and better.
I love the slower pace of a day off...how you can ask yourself "what do I feel like doing right now?" and if the answer is "nothing", that's OK!

Amanda Brown at 9:53 AM

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Friday, November 18, 2005

A Solitary Unwinding

As you can see, at a very young age I mastered the fine art of relaxation: a comfy couch, a good book, my favourite blankie and some soft pillows. I love the social scene and being involved in fun events and activities, but I have also always needed a bit of alone time every now and again to recharge and rest.
And that is what I am doing tonight.
Steve has left to spend the weekend with his brother snowmobiling in the backwoods, and I am here in an empty house, content with the quiet. Not that I don't wish Steve was here, but this time of solitude is doing wonders for my tired spirit.
Albeit, I have been watching stupid TV shows like Entertainment Tonight and This Hour Has 22 Minutes...nothing too scholarly. I could lie and say I am delving into "Wuthering Heights" for my third time, but that's not the case. Nevertheless, it is marvelous to plant myself on the couch for a while and act like a vegetable. Things have been busy and I have been letting the little stresses accumulate. I hate it when I do that.
Anyways, it's going to be a good weekend. Tomorrow I am going to Kelowna with some of my favourite girl friends for an afternoon of shopping, appies, drinks (virgin, of course), and perhaps a movie. It will be nice. I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet, as my life has been on hold with all of the preparations for the church musical. After December 4th I hope to resume a more normal-paced life and remove my mattress from the chruch office and put it back in the master bedroom of our house, where it belongs.

Amanda Brown at 9:17 PM

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The Dollops of Doggy Doo

Today as I made my daily march to the post office, something on the ground caught mine eyes. There were four patches of dog poop smeared into the sidewalk. One was really big, where the initial turd must have been dropped by a very large dog, and the others were smaller, where the resididual hangers-on had probably been sluffed off. Someone had stepped in all four poo piles, so they were pressed into brown poo pancakes on the sidewalk. Now that, in and of itself, is pretty funny. To think that some poor person placed their boot in poop, not one, but FOUR times while walking down the street. But what was the funniest part was that someone had taken a thick, green piece of sidewalk chalk and outlined each round of turd, then wrote the word "SHAME" beside them.
This is why I love living in a small town.

Amanda Brown at 11:32 AM

3comments

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Sometimes All You Need is a Little Nanaimo Bar

True 'dat.

Amanda Brown at 1:08 PM

4comments

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Revenge is Sweet

If you happen to read my dear friend, Jen's, blog, you may have seen the rather incriminating photo of me she posted a few days ago. Now, I have always been one to play fair. And would it really be fair for her to post a hideous picture of me that captures the "husky" stage I endured, without my posting one of her that takes us for a waltz down memory road as well? Although Jen was never a chunky-monkey teenager like I was, here are a few photographic gems that I found in my own treasure pile. Enjoy!

Love ya, Jen!!

Amanda Brown at 6:47 PM

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Rolo, Uncensored

Whenever I feel like blogging, but don't have any specific topic in mind, or I am lacking in the inspiration department, I inevitabley post some silly photos of Rolo. I love ramming him into tight little t-shirts. He gets mad and makes his body go limp, as I stuff him, limb by limb, into some trendy vintage tees. Then I force him to sit on my lap and expose his private doggy parts for all to see (I didn't mean to make him flash the camera like that...it was an accident, but one that made me laugh).
And here is the little fella trying to chomp the apples I picked. He doesn't actually like to eat apples, just pierce them with his teeth and bat them around the orchard.
Well, that's all folks.

Amanda Brown at 6:34 PM

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I Think There's An Axe in My Spinal Cord

How's that for a dramatic title? Yes, I think the stress of the Christmas musical is manifesting itself in the form of a staggering pain in my spine. It's nothing new. When I am tense, I get all gnarled up and hunched over and what not, but still, it's pretty lame. My back hadn't been giving me much trouble lately, but I should have known better than to think myself pain-free for good. It's not as bad as it sounds, just more of a nuisance.
On a happy-dee-dappy note, there has been some serious progress made during the past few rehearsals for the play, so that's encouraging. I think we're going to pull it off (which is something I was doubting a few weeks ago). That usually seems to be the way it goes...everything's going along fine, then you realize that it's going to be a terrible mess, and then somehow things miraculously come together at the last minute.
Tonight is a quieter night, seeing as it's Bible study at my house (aka: incentive for me to clean, clean, clean). Actually, "quiet" may not be the most suitable adjective, since it's a group of eight of my nearest and dearest girlfriends who can be more than a little rowdy. Within minutes we will, no doubt, be talking about boobs and shovelling cookies down our throats.
And studying the Word.
Of course.

Amanda Brown at 3:28 PM

4comments

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Moved

A few weeks ago while I was out for a walk, I listened to some songs by Sara Groves for the first time. I was so moved by her lyrics and music, that as I walked, I cried. Here is the one that has meant a lot to me.

Maybe There's a Loving God

I'm trying to work things out
I'm trying to comprehend
Am I the chance result
Of some great accident

I hear a rhythm call me
The echo of a grand design
I spend each night in the backyard
Staring up at the stars in the sky

I have another meeting today
With my new counselor
My mom will cry and say
I don't know what to do with her

She's so unresponsive
I just cannot break through
She spends all night in the backyard
Staring up at the stars and the moon

They have a chart and a graph
Of my despondency
They want to chart a path
For self-recovery

And want to know what I'm thinking
What motivates my mood
To spend all night in the backyard
Staring up at the stars and the moon

Maybe this was made for me
For lying on my back in the middle of a field
Maybe that's a selfish thought
Or maybe there's a loving God

Maybe I was made this way
To think and to reason and to question and to pray
And I have never prayed a lot
But maybe there's a loving God

Maybe this was made for me
For lying on my back in the middle of a field
Maybe that's a selfish thought
Or maybe there's a loving God

Maybe I was mad this way
To think and to reason and to question and to pray
And I have never prayed a lot
But maybe there's a loving God

And that may be a foolish thought
Or maybe there is a God
And I have never prayed a lot
But maybe there's a loving God

There you have it. An amazing song that reminds me of how tiny I am in the scheme of the universe, but how I am drawn to thoughts of the One who made it all.

Amanda Brown at 3:43 PM

2comments

Veggie-rific!

I have been trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my daily diet. And so far it has been working! It feels good to have a bit of roughage and fibre and vitamin-soaked goodness passing through my digestive system.
Although I am living proof that the human body can be sustained on an intake of bread, cheese, chocolate and diet coke, I do feel better knowing that my body is getting a more varied intake of healthy stuff. I am not cutting out the yummy stuff, because when I try to really cut back on things, I end up pacing the house and burying my face in the fridge. Moderation is what works for me, and I'm sticking to it. I am just also adding a moderate amount of fruits and veggies to my moderate servings of ice cream and bread and cheese. Well, I am not adding the veggies right into my ice cream. The thought of Butterscotch Broccoli Swirl gets my gag reflex going.

Amanda Brown at 3:25 PM

1comments

Monday, November 14, 2005

They Call Me Mellow Yellow

So, what do two Friends-for-Life do when they get together for their bi-annual visit? I'll tell you what they do: they go bowling, watch movies, go shopping, eat mini chocolate bars, go for walks, decorate Christmas cookies, have sushi, go to church, check out the local thrift stores, look at old pictures, take new pictures, laugh till their spleens rupture, and sleep for at least ten hours each night.
The trip was a wonderful getaway. Thanks to Kristin and her dear roomie, Hannah, for opening up their home and letting me crash there for a few days. Here is the famous sushi dinner photo: Hannah, Kristin and Martin.
And here are the sweet, gooey fruits of our labour: there were gingerbread men with plumber's crack, ones wearing low-rise pants with a swedish berry belt, an obese gingerwoman in a blue bikini, and many abstract intepretations as well.
Good times in Calgary.
See you again next year. Same bat time. Same bat channel.

Amanda Brown at 5:11 PM

2comments

Did Your Heart Grow Fonder?

Well, I am back and it feels just swell. My time in Calgary was wonderfully mellow and filled with great visits and long talks and much laughter with old friends. But walking through the door of my home into the arms of my hubby is sweet indeed. Steve hugged me long and tight, and Rolo jumped up and propped his paws up on my butt, to make a complete group hug.
The fire was blazing, the downstairs was swept and tidy, the living room had been vacuumed...Steve is the best.
I've got some fun pictures to post from my weekend, but alas, I am at work and will have to upload them a bit later.
The next three weeks are going to be NUTS, and I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, seeing as the paperowork I have to get caught up on reaches the sky, and I have a zillion drama practices. It feels like I should just move my bed to the church, since I will basically be living here for the next 21 days. Lots on my mind. But it's all good stuff, and I am trying to not be bogged down by it all, rather enjoy the moments and realize that the busyness will be relatively short-lived.
I know, somewhat of a boring post, after being away for so long, but I'll write more when I've got the chance.
And thanks, dear internet buddies, for all of the great comments while I was away. You make-a me feel so goooooood.

Amanda Brown at 10:33 AM

6comments

Monday, November 07, 2005

Confessions of a Twentysomething Drama Queen

I love drama. The spotlight and I have a very healthy relationship and I have always loved performing. While in high school, I was in every play that I heard about and I thrived in the dramatic atmosphere and found many kindred spirits among those drama geeks I came to know and love.
Before I met Steve, I was enrolled to study theatre. But life has a way of working out differently than you might have planned it yourself. There is truly nothing I would trade my Stevie for, and I am so happy with the way my life has turned out. But there are still days when I pine for the stage and wonder what might have been, had I pursued my dream. I never was one to go after the Hollywood dream, but I always thought it would be great to work in the theatre.
There aren't many opportunites for me to hone my dramatic skills here in Summerland, but my church has been kind enough to let me take the stage and have a great time doing fun plays and skits with some other really talented people. I am thankful for that.
And now, a much bigger responsibility somehow got dished onto my plate. I am directing the Christmas musical. Me, a director?! It's my first time and there is much I have yet to learn. But it has been a good experience thus far, and I am thankful for it.
Opening night is in three weeks. Did you hear that?
THREE WEEKS.
I think I just pooped.
It's kind of scary, because we have a long way to go before we're ready to take the stage. But here's hoping we can pull it together before then!
I am off to rehearsal right now, so wish me luck.

Amanda Brown at 5:58 PM

12comments

Waiting to Exhale

Monday morning, at my desk. Obssessively checking the blogs of my friends, in the hopes that they have posted something fresh and new. But my hopes are dashed, and my heart sinks. C'mon, internet groupies!! POST, POST, POST!!!

Amanda Brown at 10:36 AM

7comments

Saturday, November 05, 2005

My Kind of Saturday

I woke up early this morning and started cleaning the house while still in my pyjamas. After I had put in a good three hours of organizing and dusting and laundering and sweeping, I phoned up my dear friend Adele and we decided to go have lunch at Zia's. There we partook of a lovely spread of hot pita sandwiches and caesar salad. Very delectable! After our noon meal, we cruised through the Tim Horton's drive through to pick up some goodies for Matt and Angella and we drove them out to Faulder. The Dykstras have been working far too hard over the past few months, due to the house fire they had in August. Their house is looking GREAT, though! Matt is an amazing craftsman and has done everything in the house himself...words can't describe the wonders he creates! Go, Matt, go!
It was nice to visit with Angella and just chat for a bit. I am glad she was up for some unannounced visitors.
When I came home, Rolo was itching to get outside, seeing as he had been trapped in the house while I was out. So I got changed, grabbed my ipod and my camera and we went for a nice, long walk. The air was so cool that my ears began to sting, but it was very invigorating. I listening to the crooning of Sara Groves and her music takes me to a wonderful place. Rolo was so happy to be out in the fresh air and I think he sniffed every shrub, bush, curb, and tree trunk that we passed.
It's sad to see the fall colours fade, and the tops of the mountains are being dusted by snow already! Since I hadn't really taken any autumn pictures this season, I thought that today might be my last chance, so I snapped a few. Granted, I was alone, so there are some more self-portraits, which I am sure you'll never tire of.

I hope you all enjoyed your Saturday as much as I did mine!

Amanda Brown at 8:20 PM

5comments

We'll Be Sharing a Kitchen Again Soon

As you have probably already heard, or read in Jen's blog, the Dalsins are moving to Summerland!!! They are going to be staying at our place until they find one of their own to settle in, and I am most excited about these welcome guests. Jen and Jordan and their sweet baby girl, Abby, are some of the greatest people you will ever meet, and I know they are going to fit in beautifully here.
Through Jen's great blog, all of my girl friends here in Summerland already feel like they know her, and are thrilled to meet her in the flesh.
We can't wait for you to come, Jen and Jordan and Abby!

Amanda Brown at 10:38 AM

1comments

Friday, November 04, 2005

Tame the Mane


I get three haircuts a year. Since I am growing my hair out, I really just need a trim every now and again to keep the ends healthy. But, oh how I love my tri-annual visits to the salon. I have a great hairdresser who has been cutting my hair for almost five years. She's the first hairdresser I have really been able to trust and say, "do whatever you think is best" in regards to my hair. This is big for me. I have been the victim of many a gruesome haircut in the past.
Anyways, today I am going for a haircut and I am looking forward to it. I love getting my scalp massaged and having my hair washed with overpriced salon shampoo, and I enjoy the feeling of a fresh haircut. The ends feel so healthy and clean.
I am a little torn about what I should do with my hair, though. I want to keep growing it for a few more inches, but do I get some more layers around my face to frame and go for the trendy, shaggy 'do? Or do I attempt to look sleek and smooth and keep the layers long and away from my eyes? I don't know. I'll just tell my hairdresser, "do whatever you think is best" and I'll keep my fingers crossed. She hasn't failed me yet.
On another note, how can I get my hair to look all curly and wavy like Katie Holmes'? I know she's gone all weird since she's been impregnated with Tom Cruise's Scientological Spawn, but that doesn't mean she can't have great hair.

Amanda Brown at 1:40 PM

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Thursday, November 03, 2005

Mango-Teeter and Pistin-Totter

As has become my annual tradition, I am going to visit my dear friend Kristin for the Remembrance Day long weekend. In years passed I have travlled via Greyhound bus, each trip swearing it would be my last on so foul a vehicle. But each year the cheap fares would seduce me and I would reluctantly board the smelly bus, sit next to a weirdo or two for the eleven hour trip from Summerland to Calgary. And each year the trip was worth it. This year, however, I found some cheap (that term is used somewhat loosely thanks to fuel surcharges and airport improvement fees) flights and will be soaring across the provinces in less than a week. I am excited!
Kristin is my Friend-for-Life. We grew up a block away from each other and have shared our lives together. It's kind of sad that we've gotten used to a mere two visits a year, but those visits are priceless to me. She means so much to me, and the minutes we get to spend face to face are invaluable. She challenges my faith, makes me laugh till my spleen throbs, and warms my heart with the love in her eyes. Those big, ol', soft brown eyes.
These are just a few pictures from some of our other visits. At the very top is when we bought little boys' tighty whities from Superstore in Calgary. And the two photos below that were taken when Kristin came to Capernwray to visit me in the spring. We were in the back of a truck, flying down the winding roads of the island.
And I was so thankful she was there.

Amanda Brown at 6:10 PM

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I Like Steve

Because he's cool.

Amanda Brown at 6:03 PM

2comments

Does Benny Know Something I Don't?

As I got up from the couch to head back to work after my usual lunchtime rendezvous with Christy, Ben looks up at me and says, right out of the blue, "Amanda, do you have a baby in your tummy?"
I was caught off guard by this innocent question, and thought that maybe Christy had prompted him to say it or something. But she said that she hadn't.
So either Ben, in his all of his three year-old wisdom can sense that I have a child in my depths, or he thinks I have a prominent gut.
So I asked him, "Why, Ben? Does it look like I have a baby in my tummy?"
"Yes."
So, my paunch is so big that a three year old is commenting on it!
It's a good day!

Amanda Brown at 2:04 PM

4comments

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Highlight of My Day


Is is bad that the part of each day I look forward to the most is my lunch break? That is not to suggest that I don't like my job and that I'm itching to get away from my desk. I just love the way that my lunch break splits up the day. But more than that, I love the way that I am always blessed with wonderful company on my lunch breaks. Most days I can be found lurking at Christy's house, making her children cry (the other day I was play-chasing Ben around and he collapsed in a frightened heap and wailed to be rescued...I am going to be an unfit mother). And then there are my dates with Adele when I force her to share a Macaroon Madness bar with me and she says that I am evil for being such a temptress. And then there are the times when Angella hops in her ForeRunner and makes the trek from Faulder to downtown Summerland and we meet up for lunch. Today was an Angella day, and it was great. We went to Cafe on Kelly and shared a delicious grilled turkey flatbread sandwich (mmmmm, flatbread). It's always so nice to chat with her and hear about the crazy things that her little fellas are up to.
Tomorrow will be a Christy lunch date. Every Thursday I swing through the McDonalds drive through and pick up a 2 cheeseburger meal (and TWO PACKS OF RANCH) for us to share. Splitting the meal seems to appease half of the guilt.
Lunch is great. Thanks to the girls who make my noon-time meals such a delight!

Amanda Brown at 3:43 PM

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Freaky Deaky

I think I must have eaten something strange before I went to bed yesterday, because the weirdest dreams danced in my mind all night long. The most vivid part of my dream was a part where I was told that I was going to have to have my wisdom teeth removed. Someone gave me this solvent that I was supposed to rub on my wisdom teeth that weakened them so they would be easier to remove. But for some reason I misunderstood and used an entire mouthful of the stuff like mouthwash. It swirled in my mouth and covered every tooth. A few seconds later, my teeth started falling out of my mouth. All of a sudden I was at Christy's house, and I was spitting out shards of my teeth all over he floor. I was so horrified, and I didn't know what was hapenning. More teeth kept dislodging, and my gums were aching and bleeding.
Then I woke up.
Very relieved to have all of my teeth.

Amanda Brown at 10:04 AM

5comments

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Lolo

I know, I know, you've all seen more than enough photos of my beloved pooch, but with all this talk of my friends wanting puppies, I thought I would once again brag about my dearest doggy and what a wonderful addition he has been to our lives. We got Rolo from some friends of ours who owned his parents. He is a German Shepherd and Sheltie cross, and the owners weren't too sure what the mismatched breed would look like, so they were giving the potentially homely puppies away. I am so glad that we scooped this little guy up. It's funny though, because Steve and I had been talking about getting a dog and had come to the conclusion that we were just too busy for one and would revisit the idea in a few years. The next day we were at our friend's place and the litter of six-week old pups were sleeping under a picnic table. As soon as I laid eyes on them, I knew we would not be going home without a puppy in my arms.
I chose a little blonde one who fell asleep in my arms. I cuddled him all afternoon and decided that he was a keeper. We tossed names around. I suggested Little Man Tate and Percy, but Steve scoffed at them both. However, when the name Rolo stumbled from my lips, we knew it was perfect. He was our dear little chocolate and caramel pup. Love at first sight.
I remember bringing him home, and we were completely unprepared. No kennel, no food, no leash, no nothing! We tried to set up a barricade in the kitchen with newspaper and a little mound of blankets for him to sleep on, but that didn't keep him from whimpering all night long. I would get up every few hours and reach over to rub his tummy until he would fall asleep.
The next day I laid on the couch with baby Rolo sleeping on my chest all afternoon. I marveled at his tiny eyelashes and the way his little chest rose with each breath (I know, cheesy beyond belief, but this was my first taste of nurturing a life). As magical as this time with my adorable puppy was, reality soon smacked both Steve and me in the face. We had been told that Rolo was trained to go piddle on the newspaper. They must have forgotten to include the words "anywhere but" from that phrase. He peed on the carpet. He peed on the tile. He peed in the bathroom. He peed on the stairs. He would pee and walk at the same time. We used our steamcleaner dozens of times each day!
As Rolo got older, he mastered the newspaper training, but would still have accidents every now and again. He went through a phase where he seemed to find the couch a cool place to drop his steaming turds. That was neat.

I loved teaching him tricks, and taking him for walks. He would get so tired if we went too far and then he would look up at me and give a little sigh, so I would pick him up and carry him home. So precious.

So, for any potential dog owners out there, GO FOR IT! It's so much fun, and worth the work.


Amanda Brown at 6:18 PM

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The Secretary Has Spoken...

to ONE person who bothered to make an appearance at the workshop this afternoon. Don't I feel special.

Amanda Brown at 1:47 PM

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