Endings are sad.

A conversation I had with Bryn today... Bryn is five years old and has been my buddy, along with her sister Audrey who is 3, for the past two years. Every Monday through Thursday we hang out.

Bryn: "Amanda, why do you have to go far far away to school? Can't you just go to McKay's school?"
Me: "No...McKay goes to a different kind of school."
Bryn: "Oh. Only for computers and stuff."
Me: "Yeah."
Bryn: "But I will miss you."
Me: "I will miss you too."
Bryn: "Will you call me so we can talk about how many new freckles I have?" (An after bath activity we've had for a while now. I count the freckles on her nose and always announce the newest addition).
Me: "Of course."
Bryn: "I'll have to talk on the phone in the bathroom, so I can see my freckles in the mirror."
Me: "Sounds good."
Bryn: "Amanda?"
Me: "Yeah?"
Bryn: "Are you SURE you have to go?"

I was invited by Kristen Jane Powell Keough to do this, so here it is.

4 Jobs:

01. UA Cinemas: Concession/Box Office
02. Fresno Community Hospital: Financial Rep
03. FBL : Assistant to Dwight
04. Nanny extraordinaire

4 Movies to Re-watch

01. Dan in Real Life
02. Pride & Prejudice
03. Stranger Than Fiction
04. Empire Strikes Back

4 Places I've lived

01. Clovis, CA
02. Laie, HI
03. Beaverton, OR
04. Portland, OR

4 TV Shows

01. The Office
02. Seinfeld
03. Lost
04. CSI

4 Places I've Been

01. The Hawaiian Islands (Oahu, Maui, The Big Island, Kauai)
02. Chicago
03. Los Banos
04. Seattle

4 People Who I Talk to On the Phone (regularly)

01. Leanne
02. Laura
03. McKay
04. I'm better with email.

4 Favorite Foods

01. Pasta
02. Haagen Dazs
03. Popcorn
04. Fruit

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now

01. Disneyland
02. Italy
03. On a beach
04. On my Yacht

4 Things I'm Looking Forward to this Year

01. My photography program in Montana
02. McKay graduating from school
03. Berry season in Oregon
04. Meeting my new niece/nephew!!

I invite my sisters to complete this fun little insightful activity.

The Mother of All Posts

Here we go with this month's hodgepodge of events...

First, props to McKay B. Marshall, freelance designer at Nike Headquarters, who exclusively designed the Nike displays for the brand new Sports Authority in the Tanasbourne Shopping Center. This weekend we went to the store's opening to take a few quick pictures of his art. I thoroughly embarrassed him by informing passers by that he was the creative genius behind the display. At one point an employee asked me if I needed help finding anything, and I responded, "We're just here to look at this display. Because my husband here designed it. By himself. He made this." She just nodded and backed away. Anyhoo, here are a few pictures to prove. Oh! And a little video!









Saturday was an exciting day. Not only was it the debut of McKay's big project AND the new Noah's Bagels open down the street, but we also went downtown and I haggled myself a pretty little price for a new camera. That's right. I am now the proud owner of a Canon 40d. I took forever deciding, but finally figured that this would be the best bang for my buck. And I'm happy. What a lovely little camera it is. I'm sure I will be posting pictures from it soon.



An update on the summer plans: I did find myself a place to live. I'll be renting a room out of a woman's house in Missoula. She lives with her college aged daughter and the three of us will be one happy little family for the summer. She seems like a really nice lady and I'm sure it'll work out great. I'm a little relieved to not have to worry about finding a roommate. This way I have my own space and I don't have to worry about late rent payments or weird smells or whatever.

Also, McKay and I said goodbye to our community theater days earlier this month. We opened and closed our little ward production of "Curse You, Jack Dalton," a few Saturdays back, when McKay played Jack Dalton and I played Bertha Blair--house maid/totally hot love interest. It was definitely an experience. Think Waiting for Guffman. Now times that by one thousand. Actually, that's a whole other blog in itself.

Anyway, here we all are...

And finally, I answer the request for a picture of my red hair. Excuse the weird expression on my face. That was picture 8,430 of me trying to find some light (a difficult task in Portland) so you could actually tell that my hair is red, and I really wasn't too concerned about smiling after I'd taken tons.

I still don't know if you can tell it's red. It was a lot brighter a few weeks ago... oh well.

And this concludes this evening's massive post. Thank you for coming.

Love It.

New Favorite Things

1. Josh Kelley. His music makes me a happy camper.
2. Cinnabon. I have just recently discovered the wonders of Cinnabon, and it has become a full blown addiction.
3. Argyle tube socks. Sold at Target.
4. A new season of Lost to enjoy.
5. Lightroom. So much better than iphoto.
6. Scouring the internet for camera equipment.
7. Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. Total motivation for really living.
8. Checking out movies from the library I used to love as a kid (Swiss Family Robinson, White Fang, Lt. Robinson Crusoe, Anne of Green Gables).
9. Lysol's new line of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.
10. My H&M black long sleeved tee that I wear under EVERYTHING.
11. My H&M electric blue carpet bag. And my zebra flats...
12. Pretty much everything I bought at H&M over Christmas.
13. Sheryl Crow's new album Detours. Going back to her roots.
14. Having red hair again.
15. Following a wicked awesome presidential race.

Since December

It's been a big couple of months for us. McKay got an internship at Nike and has been collaborating on both national and local ads for the company. He is finally mingling with people in his field and is loving it. We've been really fortunate with the doors that have been opened and connections that have been made. He's worked really hard and so deserves the opportunity.
Wahoo! I'm so proud of my go-getter boy.

This month I decided to make some big changes as well-- In May I am ending my 2 year stint as a nanny and will be going to Montana for the summer to study photography. It is a 3 month intensive program at a school that I have thought about and agonized over for about seven years now (no joke). It became very clear to me very suddenly that it is now or never with this, and this summer just seems all too perfect.

The lame part of this whole thing is that McKay will have to stay in Portland to continue with school and Nike. We are that sickening couple who call each other every day as it is, so I don't know how three months is going to work for us, but he's the best. He's the one who has really been encouraging and supportive of this whole idea. I think he wants this for me just as much as I want it for myself.

I guess I've just realized that this goal, this dream, is never going to come to me. I've got to go claim it. I've got to prove myself. I've got to take the risk. And that scares the crap out of me. But I'm gonna do it. And I'll just keep holding my breath that it all works out for the best.

So there you have it. A 3 month sabbatical from real life where I will work my butt off, and hopefully, come back with some mad skills and the possibility of making money at something that I truly love. And if nothing else, it will be an opportunity that I didn't watch pass me by.

Here is a picture of two small children riding a Wooly Mammoth.

Yesterday I had my very first experience with holiday baking. My friend Linda and I got together and made fudge, rocky road, lemon bars, chocolate dipped coconut balls, and rice krispie treats. I must say, in all humility, that I have discovered that I am an excellent baker! There is dessert outside of a cake mix. And you know what else I discovered? Baking makes you feel really good about yourself! Perhaps that was evident in my "I'm an excellent baker" statement, but it's true. I'm late to the game, as usual, because I'm sure other 25 year old women have already realized that cooking/baking can be a rewarding experience, but I never really had any interest until recently. I'm still glowing over the roast I made a couple of weeks ago. I like that I can make things. And they taste good.

So my baked goods are going to our upstairs neighbor, who is always so kind and puts up with Winston, who without fail, cries every time we leave the house for at least 10-20 minutes, and the girl who just moved into the building next to us, who I overheard getting yelled at for parking in someone else's spot the other day. Sheesh.
Next year I want to try making candy. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.

November

I decided to bust out the camera and have some fun. Don't you just love fall?

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Very popular, one of you is not enough.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

The Soundtrack of My Life

The complete, authentic, randomly selected songs Itunes believes describe my life's movie.

Opening credits:
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day-- MoTab

Waking up:
Through the Mirror – Disneyland’s Toontown Theme song

First day at school:
Sugar Blue – Jeff Finlin

First Love:
Idiot Boyfriend – Jimmy Fallon

Breaking up:
If This is It—Huey Lewis and The News

Happiness:
Me and My Gang – Rascal Flatts

Life's okay:
In the Garage -- Weezer

Mental breakdown:
Weather Channel – Sheryl Crow

Driving:
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake

Flashback:
I Miss You -- Incubus

Getting back together:
Bubble Toes – Jack Johnson

Wedding:
Nothing – Scott Fisher

Birth of a child:
Picture – Sheryl Crow

Final battle:
SOS -- Rihanna

Death scene:
It’s Only Love – Sheryl Crow

Funeral song:
Perfect Timing – Orba Squara

End credits:
Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles

The skinny, blonde guy in the middle is my dad. Every year at Christmas time Dad would play Tchaikovsky with the orchestra while ballerinas danced on the stage above. We would hear a horn solo and turn to my mom-- "is that dad??" And it usually was.
He is a musician. In the same way someone is a doctor or a painter. It's almost like there is an extra entity that lives inside of them that makes them who they are. I can't imagine him without it.

When we were little he would turn on the radio to the classical station and quiz us on composers. "Who does this sound like?"
He always guessed last because it would have been a dead giveaway. I can't remember him ever being wrong.

During the years he was playing in the symphony it was not uncommon to fall asleep to the faint sounds of the French Horn coming from the garage. The "practice room," as it was. Now if I hear music that contains a French Horn part, I can always pick it out. It's become a familiar voice in my brain. That particular instrument is directly connected to my dad. I'm sure it will always be that way. When I'm 90 years old and decide to turn on a little Holst's "Venus, the Bringer of Peace," I'll still think of him.

Today is his birthday, and I was thinking. Of all the things my dad has given me, the exposure to and the love of music is one that I will always be especially grateful for.

Happy Halloween!

Every Halloween my sisters and I would do the trick or treating thing in our homemade costumes (can't even count how many times Laura went as a ghost. And when I say ghost I mean a little girl wearing jeans and a t shirt with a white sheet draped over her), but we ALWAYS made sure we were home for the Disney "Halloween Treat" special. These dancing skeletons were my favorite.
I have asked many people over the years if they watched this as a kid, and they have all said no. Which is a shame, so I am posting it, so that no one reading my blog will be deprived the experience. All two of you.

It's Shanktacular

Last weekend McKay and I were in Blockbuster, where we frequently find ourselves (ps. I fully endorse the online Blockbuster program, in which you get to trade one of your mail-in movies for an in-store movie). It was my pick. I decided to give the 1st season of Prison Break, Disc 1 a shot. Occasionally I will flip through the four channels that are picked up on our high tech set of rabbit ears and whenever Prison Break has been on I've always thought--how long can you possibly drag out an escape?? How entertaining can this possibly be?? Let me tell you.

I am decidedly hooked. To the point that I dragged my poor husband out at 11:30pm on a Thursday night to get the last three discs. I can't explain it, really. The acting is mediocre, the situations are ridiculously impossible and prison life is definitely, DEFINITELY glamorized. And yet. I love it.

Last weekend I was working and asked my co-worker if she ever watched it. Immediately two random customers peeked their heads around the corner to discuss. "Prison Break, you say?? I love that show!" I am not alone.

I realize that it is not for everyone. My co-worker informed me that she worked with a lot of kids in juvenile detention centers and found it offensive the way the media glorifies prison life. Ahem. Awkward.

Did I mention that the lead guy has eyes that match his prison blues exactly? It's pretty amazing, actually.

This made my day.

Take the Quiz here!

Fun Family Fotos: 1st Installment

I was going through my digital picture library and found this little gem of my three older sisters.
This one made me laugh because I could practically see the story behind it. Laura (far right) is already in her slipper jammies, probably partly because she is going to bed soon, partly because she had a weird infatuation with those things. Leanne (far left) is sporting a new ring she probably got out of the 25 cent machine at Save Mart that day and wanted to make sure that little beauty was captured on camera. Mary (middle) stands all smiles, because she knows just how dang cute she is.
And the backdrop--the hideous rug with the picture of the mushrooms that my mom probably still has in the garage somewhere...

More to come for the photo diary series...

Me & My Scrilla

We were sooo happy to have Laura for 48 whole hours!! We had so much fun.

Here we are on the glorious waterfront. This sad little picture is the only one of the three of us together.

Fashion show! Fashion show! Fashion show at lunch!
Sporting the Clovis High gym shorts.



Here we are at our favorite burger trailer...

I need 'ja like a heart needs a beat, baby. Come back to me.

P O R T L A N D

Last weekend McKay's parents were in town, so we decided to go out on the Willamette for our own little version of a dinner cruise (Quiznos and my brother-in-law's boat, to be more precise), and it was probably one off the best things that I've been able to do since we moved here.
I've decided I like boats. And Quiznos.

Date Night

These are the kinds of things I subject myself to for my husband's schooling. This is a project for his camera and lighting class that we collaborated on.  

The other day I was folding laundry and this book popped into my mind. I LOVED this book. I remembered with perfect clarity my dad reading it to me when I was little in his uncanny, spot-on Grover voice.

I don't know why I thought of it, but I'm glad I did.

Newfound Weakness

Last week I was working in my little hole in the wall used bookstore, chatting it up with a regular customer when a young guy in a suit and tie moseyed in. I knew when he walked in without the slightest interest in looking around that he was looking to sell me something. For some reason, the salesey type people flock to this little bookstore. Food, trinkets, and in this case--coupons. As soon as my customer left he started chatting me up, as the salesies do. I was giving my typical responses. Hi. I'm fine, thanks. I'm poor, before you waste anymore of your time on me. But then he asked me the question that, for some reason, was what got me.

"Do you like baseball?"

Yes...yes, I do like baseball. In fact, I had just been thinking about how much I missed baseball games. I usually went to one or two in San Fran and my summer was feeling a little empty without them.

"Don't you just love being in a ballpark?"

Yes!! I do love being in the ballpark!

We proceeded to talk baseball and teams and hot dogs and finally, the Seattle Mariners. Just three hours way, their park is. Same distance from Fresno to SF. And according to this guy, the parks were comparable. The M's play right on the water too. I would have to look over the fact that they play for the American league, but still--baseball is baseball, right?

Suddenly, I was caught up in this little fantasy of a perfect little baseball-filled weekend, where we could enjoy the city and a great game, and it would be amazingly cheaper with these coupons!! The greatest idea. Ever.

It was the weirdest thing. Five minutes later, when this guy was gone and the haze subsided I realized, that idiot just suckered me out of $30 bucks worth of Mariners "2 for the price of 1" coupons. I attribute this to the aforementioned longing to see a game, and also the fact that I was going on about my 49th hour of work that week when Mr. Coupon caught up with me. I immediately felt sick and called McKay who was bewildered.
He said, "You never do things like that!"
"I know!," I said, equally bewildered.
"When are we going to be able to get to Seattle?," he asked.
"I...don't know!," I answered.

That's when I freaked out on him and told him I was tired when I bought them and I wasn't thinking straight and I like baseball and I'm sorry and it was dumb I know and he didn't have to rub it in and in a nutshell totally overreacted due to my own feelings of stupidity over the whole thing.

Now that the money is spent and I have the coupons in-hand I am determined to use them. Fantasy weekend or no. If I have to camp overnight in the parking lot of the stadium, so be it. I am getting my 30 dollars worth. And if you happen to be interested in catching a Mariners game this season and will be in the Seattle area, you let me know.