Archives for April 2009

American Idol Top 8

April 7, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

I love when my posts get shorter each week with one less contestant. My brain can keep up with all the contestants better. And I don’t have to type so much.

Danny -When he started out at the mic stand and it was a slow song, I got a little nervous. Sometimes he falls off notes when he’s singing slow and low. But he did well with it. I loved that he got out from behind the mic and gave it some soul during the chorus. And the ending was great. I think the mix of ballad and up tempo song worked for him. Definitely one of my favorites vocally in recent weeks.

Scott – I did not enjoy this. He was off in several parts and once again found myself bored.

Lil – Lil can sing, I’ll give her that. But so can most of the other contestants. Lil is really hurting right now by not showing she can make a song unique.

Kris – I was really starting to like Kris and think that he could potentially win or be Top 3 but another performance like that and he’ll be out sooner than Top 3. The song was weird and his vocals were not that great. I think he needs to stick to ballads.

Anoop – Anoop sang well but I felt like the song was a little too safe. Nothing American Idol-ish about that.

Matt – Loved tonight’s performance. I was nervous when they announced his song but I think all his runs and his soul vibe fit right in.

Allison – I absolutely love that Bonnie Raitt song so it would be hard for her to make me hate it but I thought she did a fantastic job.

Adam – I had to watch Adam sing twice but I have to say, that was awesome. Love that he had very little makeup on and he sat in a chair. When Adam tones himself down and actually shows us his voice instead of all that other weird stuff about him, he does great.

My favorites in order tonight were Adam, Danny and Matt

Those in trouble: Scott, Anoop, Lil

Who should go: Scott

Set and Spike

April 7, 2009 by Amy 3 Comments

Melissa and I are continuing to write on topics. Today’s is about our first athletic milestone.

The earliest memory I have of playing volleyball in high school is during tryouts. It was the school’s first year with the sport and I think my sophomore year. The psychology teacher had volunteered to start a team and somehow my friend Michelle and I decided to go for it. I was never into sports. I once went to a few tryout practices for cheerleading in middle school but every time I kicked my leg up, some nerve in my neck would snap. I still laugh out loud thinking about it. I may be peppy at times but I’m no cheerleader.

I remember the tryouts distinctly because it was in my church’s gym. It wasn’t my church at the time. In fact, I hadn’t even met Scott yet. But I was bad. Really bad. I can remember trying to serve the ball having no idea of any proper form and I could not get it over the net. I may have made it once or twice. Michelle and I bumped the ball back and forth a few times.

I don’t recall the acceptance process except that I think Coach ended up accepting everyone because he felt so bad. So there we went. We were on the volleyball team. And there we stayed for three years (I think I played 10-12).

There was one girl who was really into volleyball and I think she hated the fact that we were on the team (or at least me) because we had no idea what was going on. She would practice her spikes by herself against the wall while Michelle and I or even Melissa’s sister (who joined my last year) and I laughed and practiced together. I can’t really blame the girl, she actually wanted to WIN a game and I will say that I for one was no help.

We traveled to all the games on the bus gathering bruised knees along the way. I only recall playing in a game every once in a while. And usually never long enough to serve the ball. I didn’t blame Coach for that either. But somewhere along the way, I got better. Not great, but better.

I missed the Most Improved award in my junior year to a senior. I honestly still think I deserved it. Coach even took me aside to explain that he thought she should get it since she was leaving. But I have no hard feelings.

I found myself in “the game” my Senior year. The game I will always remember. I was in the back once and flew forward on my stomach to try to get a ball on the back of my hand. The local newspaper caught it. I missed the ball. But it was a pretty cool picture even though the caption of my only sports picture ever was “Just missed it”.

But the real action happened when I rotated to the front row (honest to goodness I think this was the same game). A girl on the opposing team tried to spike a ball and I reached up with both hands and actually spiked it back down and it hit the ground! I can’t tell you the almost out of body experience adrenaline rush I got from that. Coach actually wrote on my Facebook wall recently that he would never forget the look on my face when that happened.

The team never had a fantastic season and I never won Most Improved or MVP but thanks to a ton of great memories and especially one special game, I didn’t feel like a fraud when I found this in my box of memories Sunday.

Brains and Love

April 6, 2009 by Amy 4 Comments

Six years ago when we moved to Columbia, we moved our building and lots of boxes of our stuff we didn’t need to our IL’s backyard. Most of the boxes held books and papers from my office and lots of knick knacks we didn’t have room for in the apartment. FIL spent some time about two weeks ago trying to clean out the building and reminded us of all our boxes in there. I was actually interested in going through them because I recently could not find a journal I knew existed.

(I know, bad picture)

Yesterday on a whim, still dressed in my church clothes I decided to check it out. Well, let’s just say I found my journal and about 3 months worth of blogging material if nothing else. So many memories from my last years in high school, all my college years and Scott and I’s engagement and marriage.

It reminded me of two things.

One, I am smart. I know I’m all hot bloggerish and all *ahem* (if anything, pictures proved very different) but I really am smart too. I kept so many things from school and one after another reminded me of all my accomplishments. Junior Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Internships, Honor Roll, etc. Then I went through all my Calculus and Writing notebooks from college and dang ya’ll, I have no idea what that means. But I did. At one point my brain comprehended all that. And just this weekend I was wondering why I was writing a book. And you know what? I’m writing because I have a good idea and I’m smart and creative and I should. And I should do a lot more than that. I don’t know what but I’m capable and I should do it!

And two, I was deliriously in love with Scott. And I use the word “was” only because it was that first love, make-you-scrapbooks-and-mixed-tapes kind of love. And it’s not to say I don’t love him anymore. After 15 years of being with him, I love him much more now to the point he is almost literally my other half, a part of me. But seeing all those scrapbooks and yearbook dedications and such was refreshing.

I do plan to blog about a few things I found. Some funny, some sweet. But today, I’ll leave you with my 20 year prediction and and dedications from my Senior Paper.

20 year prediction. Kind of close actually:

Senior Dedication. I don’t expect you to know anyone except MD is Melissa , HW is Heather (part of Joshes on HW is explained here) and SB is Scott. I just thought reading the end 12 years later was a little bit of “awww”.

Walls and Books

April 4, 2009 by Amy Leave a Comment

In the same way I hit a wall on Tuesday at Disney, I hit one this afternoon. Since getting back from vacation, I’ve been trying to catch up. Just today I got done with laundry. All my sites needed updated. Last night somehow turned into a whirlwind of activity…dinner at Mom’s, visit with IL’s, time at our youth group’s cafe night and a late night viewing of Fast and Furious (please go see!).

Today stayed packed with choir practice, an extended visit at Chick Fil A for an egg hunt and some shopping. By 3, I needed to go to the grocery store but I just did not have it in me to do anything else. I moved between sitting at the computer, catching up on Dollhouse in my room and going outside in the hammock. This evening once Scott got off we did manage to make it to the grocery store. Other than, I only have watched Dollhouse. I did manage to give myself a pedicure while doing that.

Now everyone is in bed. I’ve got the game on and have been working on my book. Not writing but trying to use some techniques from a book Melissa gave me that I read during our trip The Writer’s Little Helper. Seeing that English is the only course I ever got a C in, you can imagine it’s not my strongest subject. I found this little book quite the refresher. It’s geared towards writing and editing fiction books getting published. My intent is not to get published. Not really sure why I’m writing. I guess just something about having to finish something I started at this point. And having it out of my head and onto paper would be nice. Wow, didn’t mean to get on that tangent.

I just took a sleep aid pill and really hope that my late night last night is the explanation for this wall and hope I’m wide eyed and bushy tailed for our choir’s Easter musical tomorrow.

Lexi, Say Cheese!

April 2, 2009 by Amy 6 Comments

I mentioned it briefly in my Disney post but Lexi has this habit of looking away from the camera as soon as you tell her you’re taking her picture. She’s cute as a button but the girl is a tough one to photograph.

Take for instance last Thursday when I HAD to have a headshot for her pageant program. It is the very first impression the judges will have of her. And while I’m not a stage mom and am totally ok with her not winning, I’m just thinking these wouldn’t work.

Looking right

And left

Big smile and looking right

Looking left and silly grin

Left and serious look?

There are only about 60 other ones like this.

But somehow, every once in a while, you manage to hit gold.

Disney: Then and Now

April 2, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

I wish I had my Mom’s pictures of our visit to Disney when I was 7. It’d be interesting to see in this post. I’ve referred to it a few times, but Scott and I visited Disney in 2002. What’s interesting is the day before we left, I found out I was pregnant with Emma. I made the call to the OB to get my first appointment on the way to Florida Monday morning. That’s the reason I didn’t ride Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n Rollercoaster or why I rode Space Mountain for the first time after three visits last week.

I thought it’d be interesting to compare a few pictures.

Here I am at Animal Kingdom in 2002. Emma is there and she’ll tell you she’s in my tummy.

Now here is Emma and I at Animal Kingdom this year:

It’s kind of odd how similar my outfit and even hair is. Except now that baby in my tummy is outside and 6 years old!

Here is Scott and I (are Scott and I? is me and Scott?) (and Emma) at the Tree of Life in 2002:

Here we are this year without the kids:

Wow, you can really tell where Scott lost 25 lbs!

and with them:

Kind of cool to see the changes in our family!

Disney – General Thoughts

April 1, 2009 by Amy 4 Comments

We have been eating like gluttons and wasting so much food it’s embarrassing. I love the dining plan and wouldn’t go another way but wow, you will not go hungry. We still have extra snacks and even an extra sit down dinner to eat. *Update* I had to use an extra counter meal this morning and took it in the van and still had a snack when we checked out.
I have given up on Lexi looking at the camera for a picture. She is always like this but it’s pronounced this week as she is often getting her picture made. The second you say look at the camera, she looks to the left or right. I really don’t know what it’s about.
The weather at this time of the year is absolutely amazing. The crowds are bad. Apparently this is peak time but it has been so nice. We’ve all been in shorts the whole time with just a light jacket in the evenings.
I love the buses. Love, love, love. So worth staying at the resort and not having to drive and park.
I wouldn’t break my neck trying to plan my trip within the parks. If anything, be familiar with the map and rides you’d particularly like to ride. Pay special attention to Fast Pass rides and get those first thing. But other than that, go with the flow and ride what you can.
Be sure to buy an autograph book if you have kids. The kids have had more fun doing the character meet and greets than anything else we’ve done.
Bringing a teenager along with us probably wasn’t necessary for us but it has been a big win. The girls have really taken to her and it has helped just having a person that can carry Lexi or hold a hand. We’ve really taken (good) advantage of her while choosing to shop alone or going on an adult ride together. Those really wouldn’t have been possible without her. If you’re not traveling with other adults, I’d highly recommend it.
Plan a day at the resort. We didn’t even take the time to see that you could rent boats and bikes at the resort as well as an arcade. It would have been nice to have one last day to actually relax before hurrying back home the next morning.

I definitely don’t see us doing this every year. Maybe in a few years. Maybe not. It’s was a lot of money and exhausting. And we’re just not Disney crazy. I think it would be best again when the kids are in the 6-10 age range. All that said, I’m really glad we went when the kids are still really into the princesses. It was nice to see them enjoy themselves and I guess that’s what it was all about anyway.

Disney Day 6 – Magical Kingdom

April 1, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

Tuesday is the day we hit a wall. We got an early start and were at the park at opening. We stopped for some breakfast and a picture with Mary Poppins before making a beeline for Ariel which had stayed at a 60 min wait all of Saturday. Scott and BIL went on Pirates of the Carribean and spotted Belle storytelling right when we were finishing up.

The girls enjoyed hearing Belle tell the story of her and the beast. They had some kids participate and I think Scott was a little jealous he didn’t get picked to play the beast. In fact we ran into the guy who did at dinner last night and Scott was joking be was going to take him out.

So after that we did the tea cups and carousel before heading to the treehouse. The adult girls all took their turn on the pirate ride which I must say was quite disappointing. We rode Aladdin’s carpet ride before getting some lunch. That was a rough feat as the kids didn’t want what the adults did. We were going to go go two different places but we were all hungry by the time they were halfway through and ended up getting our own chicken and fries. Actually, I just ate the girls leftovers and used my extra meal this morning for some to-go food.

At this point we were wiped. Everyone was physically tired, emotionally exhausted, hot and just not excited about any other attractions. So we went on the train ride. It was very relaxing and I really could have stayed on that all day long.

We stayed in mickey toontown after the ride going through minnie and mickeys house again and letting the kids play on the playground. It was really hot and humid though and we decided we needed some ice cream. I finally had my first mickey ice cream bar of the trip.

We finished out the afternoon with that train thing(relaxing), driving cars(fun) and the laugh floor(funny). It was about 4 then and our dinner was at Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge so we headed out. And none too soon. We were dragging.

We actually got to take a boat ride to the lodge. It was absolutely gorgeous and another thing I could have done for several hours.

Dinner was crazy. As part of the dinner plan, we all got all you can eat pork chicken ribs and brisket with potatoes corn and cornbread. Plus a milkshake to drink AND dessert which we took home. We were absolutely stuffed coming out of there. With the exceptin of Lexi who had fallen asleep in kristyns lap. One cute thing they do at the restaurant is put all the ketchup at one table and when the next table needs it they have to all yell across the restaurant for ketchup and the people have to take all 12 bottles to them. I only wish lexi had been awake to ask for it.

After that we headed back to the resort, got stuff packed up and finished the night with American Idol.