Oh! My! Gosh!

I just received the following email in my inbox from nkotb.com. Don't judge!

ATTENTION NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK FANS
THE TIME: 7AM EST / FRIDAY APRIL 4th, 2008
THE PLACE: THE TODAY SHOW COURTYARD ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, 48TH/49TH STREET NEW YORK CITY
THE EVENT: BE THERE IF YOU ARE READY...

Quiz time

I thought this was a fun article for current and former Columbians. I scored a 12.

The epitome of Grace

Today is my great, great Aunt Grace's 104th birthday. Despite being legally blind, Grace is still living independently. She is such an amazing person. People are also surprised when I tell them how she's only been in the hospital a couple times. My favorite memories of Aunt Grace are the times when she would "babysit" for me while I was growing up. When my parents and sister would go to a basketball game or somewhere that I had no desire to go, they'd drop me off for a few hours at her senior housing apartment where she still lives. I loved the big magnifying glass over the top of her television screen and the cuckoo clock. We would usually listen to the game on the radio and spend our time eating popcorn. Even today she has a great memory and still loves to listen to sporting events on the radio. She is such a beloved family member - Happy Birthday, Aunt Grace. (Pictured is Aunt Grace and me, circa 1999.)

I think we have a winner!

My package arrived today and inside I think we have a winner! I think I have one dress to take back and one to keep. So far, the keeper is the most "me" out of any of the other dresses I've seen or tried on. Think simple. Think Carolyn Bessette Kennedy-simple.

Not your average girl

Some people have been surprised when I tell them I am eloping. But let's face it, I'm not your average girl. I don't like the color pink, I'm still waiting for my maternal instincts to kick in and I don't want a traditional wedding.

I want the day to be just about Joe and me. I would rather spend money on a great honeymoon and trip than a wedding. And I don't need the added stress of all the hundreds of details that go into the planning for such an event.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's perfectly healthy and normal to want a traditional wedding, it's just not for me. Needless to say, I've been thinking a lot about traditions. (And don't forget to look up the origin of honeymoon because that one is pretty barbaric.) I've never understood most of them or why we do the things we do. Feeding each other cake, garters, tossing rice, etc.

I think most wedding traditions are fun and harmless. The one tradition that I have always been adamently against is the tossing of the bouquet. Call me sensitive but I don't understand why we have to herd all the single girls together so they can catch a bouquet in an attempt that they will be the next one chosen for marriage. As a long-time single gal, I always found that one to be a little insulting and embarrassing. Even more humiliating when you're vying for the bouquet with girls 13 and under. Neither I nor any of my friends ever enjoyed that tradition. Without realizing it, it's like saying that you're not okay unless you're married.

I also understand that today's giving away of the bride represents a showing of parental support for the marriage. But the original giving away of the bride comes from a time when marriage wasn't as much of a choice but the father literally gave away the bride usually in return for something. When Breanne got married she made sure, "Who gives this woman to marry this man?" wasn't a part of the ceremony. She decided by its omission to discretely take the stance that as a mature adult she was marrying Dan of her own free will.

With all that being said, my intentions aren't to offend or to dismiss the importance of tradition and the security that comes from it. I just think that sometimes we need to rethink why we do the things we do. Most importantly, you have to be true to yourself. Sometimes breaking the mold really is okay.

The black hole

I used to carry tiny, dainty purses and medium purses. Thanks to Meagan, I've been carrying a large bag since September. Don't get me wrong, I love it! It just keeps getting heavier and heavier. Today I picked it up and realized it was the same weight as a small suitcase. It's become a bit ridiculous. At any given time, I might actually have magazines and mail inside. I use my purse to carry my lunch to work. Tonight I decided to review its contents. Here goes: cell phone, iPod nano, pager, Palm Pilot, two different kinds of chapstick, lipstick, various business cards, my business cards and holder, a hair clip, small notebook, paycheck stub, checkbook, wallet, camera, keys, two different bottles of hand sanitizer, hand lotion, prescription medicine, a packet of sunblock, seven pens, rubber band, two paper clips, a mirror, powder, random papers and two loose pennies. Since when is it necessary to carry seven pens? It's time to downsize!

Makeover

I think I was getting in a rut with my old look (or I watch entirely too much HGTV and am desperate to overhaul something) so my blog now has a new design. I'm going to periodically try to change out the header either with a different photo or a new quote but for now I think this pretty much speaks to my personality. But if you stumble upon my page and things aren't on the up and up, I'm just playing around and trying to get things exactly as I want them. You'll notice I'm also too much of a creature of habit to make too many changes in the layout. I'm already an old lady set in my ways.

Into the Wild

I watched Into the Wild Saturday night. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm definitely going to have to read the book and I've ordered the disc of special features.

Happy Easter!

I spent the day visiting my family. I left home this morning, had a nice lunch with everyone and visited for awhile before arriving back home around 8 pm. It was a nice day and my cousin Sue and her family were here from Maryland so it's always a treat to see them.

Grandma Dixie and Adyson
My cousin Sue and her daughter Makenna who is very cozy (and sleepy) in her dress-up clothes.

More about dresses

I went shopping yesterday with Meagan, Monica and Kim (in town for a special visit!) and I think I came much closer to finding a dress...or at least a style I think I'm going to go with. I have a couple more in mind that I've found online that I want to try to compare. Supposed to see Joe in a couple weeks so I think that will be a good time for us to get the rest of this wedding stuff figured out...too hard to do it all over email or the phone.

Happy Easter and Good Friday!

My favorite zip code

Is anyone else excited about there being a Beverly Hills 90210 spinoff? In high school I used to have the 90210 poster hanging in my bedroom. I've waited many years for this and it's being written by Rob Thomas who was also the writer for my beloved Veronica Mars. More details here.

Monica + fanny pack = excitement

Tonight was Monica's birthday soiree. The earrings I gave her paled in comparison to these two gifts. Monica got a fancy fanny pack and a filtered water bottle. Yes, she can now drink water directly from a stream while camping. Needless to say, her friends know her well. It doesn't take much to make this girl happy. Just one of the many reasons we love her.

The perfect dress...or not.

I just had to share this wedding dress. Seriously people. Seriously. Monica says it's the wedding dress equivalent of a mullet. I concur.

Dress shopping

I went wedding dress shopping today with my mom and sister. Let me just say I found the process to be painstaking. It was long, tedious and frustrating. All those corsets, slips, zippers, hooks and padded bras. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. And why does formal wear always have to run small? Shouldn't it be the other way around? Instead of having to go up two or three extra sizes than you normally wear wouldn't it make the bride-to-be much happier to go down several extra sizes? Someone needs to rethink that and they'd probably have the market on wedding dresses. Today reaffirmed that I'm not your traditional bride and made me thankful for not having too many more decisions to make. Groom - check. Destination - check. Date and dress - not so much.

My Little Easter Bunny

My mom, dad, sister and niece are here this weekend visiting. Today we went out to lunch and did a small amount of shopping but have mostly just been hanging out. I suspect tomorrow we will do a little more of the same.

Meagan got in on the bunny action, too.

Love is in the air

My good friend Natalie is engaged! Happened today in NYC in Central Park. Her grandmother's ring. I am so excited for her I can't stand it.

For the sake of nostalgia

There were a few movies that I couldn't get enough of while growing up. One of those films is returning as a sequel this summer. More about Lost Boys 2: The Tribe here.

My own version of Cheers

I just returned from picking up lunch at my favorite sandwich shop. It occured to me today that the owner and all the regular employees know who I am. I'm not sure whether to feel pleased or embarrassed by this fact.

Never mind me

My friends, Marla and Tony are moving again. I'm thrilled for them! More here.

Lots of changes

Saturday I had decided I wasn't getting out of my pajamas nor was I leaving my house. I was just too sad about all the change going on in my life. Then Becky called. Then I talked to Monica. Then I had an unexpectedly fabulous day.

I know what you're thinking, "Amy's getting married. Why is she sad?" I read online today that 88% of brides-to-be experience difficult feelings after becoming engaged. So I guess that would make me normal...What a relief, right?

Everyone who knows me knows that I'm practically the mascot for this little town I live in. I love it here. Absolutely. Love. It. Then there's that other pesky fact about me. I've only lived in two places my entire 30 years - two! I didn't even live away from home while attending college. My overwhelming feelings of sadness lately have nothing to do with Joe but everything to do with me. I have much anxiety about moving, finding a new church, a new job, navigating a big and strange city and being farther away than usual from most of my friends and family. It's all enough to send me into a panic.

For me, being single has always defined who I am. No, I didn't always want it that way but for most of my life that's how it's been. Even for most of my relationship with Joe, we've had a long-distance relationship. And even though I was part of a couple, I was still on my own most of the time. For the eight years I've lived here, I've done everything on my own. I've always felt very proud of my independence. I have a well-crafted routine. What happens when that changes? Does this mean I may not be eating chocolate for dinner anymore? Or watching bad reality television at my every whim? Or *gulp* consulting with someone else about finances and schedules?

I know that my heart is with Joe. That's where I want to be. That is the part I don't want to be misconstrued. What I don't know is how to navigate all the change with self-confidence and ease.

My kind of day

It's been my kind of day. Lunch and shopping with Becky (well technically I had already eaten but I still joined her for a Diet Coke and conversation) followed by the gym and then a trip to Starbucks for a latte and a little quiet time to read. This was topped off with Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and some Mexican food with Monica. I can only hope to finish out my evening with some magazines and dvds. Miss Petigrew was delightful! The costumes were fabulous and it was a great light-hearted movie.

The runway comes to an end

Spoiler alert!

What did you guys think of the season finale of Project Runway? I can completely understand why Christian won and would have been hard pressed to think otherwise given his enormous talent (especially at such a young age) but Rami has been my favorite from the get-go so I was a bit disappointed.

The things we do for love

My boyfriend fiance bought me a present over the weekend. I'm supposed to watch this before we can get married. I took the first step last night by unwrapping the cellophane and I may actually get started tonight. I think I have several seasons of SATC to loan someone...

Bye

Another party. Another good-bye. I never got around to posting about this big milestone until now. (Maybe because I forgot my camera and had to wait and steal the photo I'm using from Michael's myspace.) Michael, my friend since college, has moved to Colorado. A little over a week ago we had his goodbye bash so I went with the girls. I can remember many days on campus hanging out with Michael and since then spending time together at movies and dinners. Good luck, Michael! We'll miss you. (left to right: Monica, Michael, Amy and cute, pregnant Breanne)

Where do I start?

After that last post I don't really know where to start. So much to say about the weekend but everything else seems pretty insignificant.

I guess I'll start with the movies I mentioned earlier. They were great. I truly loved all of them but a couple stood out as my absolute favorites - Forbidden Lies and American Teen.

• Forbidden Lies. About a woman who writes a best-seller about her best friend's honor killing in Jordan. Turns out she's quite a scam artist and the documentary leads you on this tale trying to prove if any of it is true. Quite an amazing journey and very well done.
• My Mother's Garden. A woman whose hoarding disorder is so bad she sleeps in the backyard and has to crawl in through a window to get into her own house which is litered with trash and dead rats. The daughter is also the film-maker and had to leave home at 13 because she had no place to sleep. This is about the intervention she and her siblings have with their mother.
• Very Young Girls. Focuses on prostituion in NYC where the average age for girls to start the life is 13. The filmaker runs an organization to try to help these girls get out and better themselves. I was sobbing during the movie. Joe was sleeping.
• Audience of One. A pentecostal minister in San Francisco sees a vision from God that he wants him to make a $200 million sci-fi movie. The story is about this man and his journey to do so. Interesting man. Interesting congregation. Interesting story.
• American Teen. If you like Laguna Beach or The Hills this is your movie. Even if you don't like those shows, this could still easily be your movie. The film follows a group of high school seniors in Indiana as they navigate through their last year and endure heartbreak, scandal, depression, college anxieties and everything else. I will have to say the security guy from Paramount came out before the show and accosted the audience with threats of arrest if caught recording the movie. It was awkward and totally ruined the mood. Everyone else just seemed so gracious to be involved in the festival.
• Cat Dancers. Probably Joe's favorite film. We got to see inside the life of the first cat entertainers. It's a very tragic tale and much more emotional than I had anticipated.
• I Think We're Alone Now. When I first heard about this film I thought it would be the fun tale of Tiffany fans...maybe something sweet about her fan club president. Instead it's the story of restraining orders and unrequitted love. Quite heavy and emotional but so well done. The filmaker spent the most time answering questions and really interacting with the audience.

I think I enjoy documentaries so much because I love the true story angle or at least someone else's version or perception. To me, the best stories really aren't made up scripts but about real life. Real people. Joe's aunt recently blogged about this site. After checking it out, I've become quite addicted and intrigued. It's pretty popular and the theme of several books but for all those who don't already know about it, check it out. The premise is to mail in your deep dark secret on a post card.

Also, I'm trying to come to terms with finding a new quote and a new header for my blog. Here's to hoping Carrie gets married in the sequel!