Get out the map get out the map...

So, as I was standing, sweating like wild, at the Indigo Girls concert last night, I began drafting a letter to lesbians... yes, I was judging them, but only in the way I judge everyone, including myself. I heart the women who love women, and have wonderful Lesbo friends, so hopefully, I won't be offending you. And, if I do... I apologize.

Dear teeny tiny lesbian in a large men's white tshirt, why do you dance in a way that makes me concerned that you have a medical condition?

Dear many lesbians in general, why do you wear scrunchi's and where do you purchase them? Did you come out in 1985 and therefore quit trying to progress with the "norm"? Perhaps the indigo girls should put scrunchi's on their website? I think it would be a huge seller. I'll market this idea to them.

Dear committed Indigo Girls lovers... I know that this is an event for you. I know that your whole heart is poured into singing Power of Two. I know that you must close your eyes and wave your hands as if you are a pentecostal having a moment with the Big G. I know that you have a cig in one hand and a miller light tallboy in the other, but do not judge me as being less than you because I am drinking Amstel Light and have a rinestoned bobby pin in my hair. I am just as committed to the Girls as you I even make wavy hand signs on Closer to Fine. Note, however, I do not suddenly gain an urge to dance and bump into people because I'm bouncing around with my girlfriend.

Dear new friend I made in line at the porta potty, were you hitting on me or were you just being nice and really did like my skirt? If you were hitting on me, thanks! It makes me feel appreciated. I have no ability to notice when women are hitting on me. I get confused. In a lesbian relationship, would I be more masculine or feminine? who knows.

Dear lesby mullet women, do you all get your hair cut at the same place? Or, do you still have your Cosmo from 1985 before you came out and you just take in pictures of that to the stylist?

I'm sure that more things will come to me. I was amzed by the number of chaco's, men's plaid shorts, wife beeters, and ugly hats. Kudo's to you.

In closing, the concert was ah-mazing though ungodly hot.

Signed,

The overly straight girl, who often wears pink doesn't ever want people to question her gender, who loves the Girls, who was concerned about her eyemakeup smearing and if you could see my underpants through my orange skirt.

Closer I am to fine.

doggy blog

I'll have to add pictures when I get home today, but we got a new dog this weekend. She's absolutely adorable and apparently has the bladder of a small whale that she likes to release when we are away. Ok, this has only happened 2x, but still... a lot of urine from one dog. We have named her Maggie Mae and she's a golden something mix. She's about 40 lbs, pretty tall and lanky. She's sweet and totally scared of Giz and has no clue what to do with toys. She'll learn though. We had a pretty good weekend with her. I think it will get a lot better after she's lived with us a while and she's just a normal part of everyday life. We're also trying to teach her not to jump on the furniture... this proves to be difficult... and that when she jumps in bed it is on my head and then in my spot.

I also started my new job on Sunday. It was different... and I' mjust not positive I'm wanting to work there... especially when I have lake invites! It went well. I went to Sunday school, church, MYF. I just have a hard time filling 2 hours on Sunday nights. Maybe we can eat for an hour and a half? Negative. Junior high boys don't do so well with that. I'm stopping working for Rodney and letting another friend take over for me. I'm sjust crazy overwhelmed with getting this down and then also the school job. I went and visited there last week and holy poo... Lots of work. And clearly, we all know, I'm not cut out for the hard working life. Tomorrow is my first staff meeting... and my interview for a different job. Wish me luck with both!

I also ran 8 miles out of peer pressure on Saturday. I went with the intentions of running 6, but... I give in easily. I'm still holding out on not doing the FULL marathon, but I may give in on that as well. I actually don't know anyone doing the half so I don't want to run by myself... But at the same time.... I don't want to run for so long that I have to eat a meal in the middle of working out. I find this to be terribly uncool. Maybe I'll just get really really fast and this will not happen and I can finish in record breaking time? I'm guessing no, but it's worth a try :)

whirling... ok, spinning because I'm not a dervish.

So, I'm slowly spinning out of control... again. What the hell was I thinking taking 2 jobs? What was I thinking taking a job at a church? What was I thinking telling my current employer I'd work for him until August?
Ps. I wasn't thinking.
I'm not sure I can do all of these things. I tried to tell current employer this and that I needed to not continue to work for him. He guilted me into staying. I went to both of my "new" jobs this week for meetings and to get a tour.... I feel like my heart may explode with anxiety. And to top it all off... my computer died. Like dead. Ben says we can salvage it, but I don't want to. I want a new one that will make my life complete and organized and make my jobs easy. I'm pretty sure you can add that to the basic package. I think I've seen it before. SO, now i'm not only accepting donations for cancer research, but for a new laptop to actually do work on and not just check my email.
Seriously, all of this is making me feel like I may explode at any moment. And, to top it all off, I got used to my hair color and now my bangs are out of control. What is this world coming to? I'm relatively sure that the expensive conditioner I purchased will also solve this problem. perhaps I can also pour it on my laptop and it will work miracles.

In happier news, we're adopting a dog on Friday!! We went to meet her last night at a dog park (giz in tow) and A. He didn't try to eat her or ANY OTHER DOG THERE and B. she's freakin adorable. And, she's a girl so I can purchase pink things! It's the small things in life that get me excited I suppose... well, clearly the small things because these large looming things are making me less than excited.

I have anotehr job interview for a separate job on Tuesday. I know, I'm a jerkface if I take it. I haven't been offered it, but it sounds Ah-mazing and it's way closer to my house than either of the other jobs and I wouldn't work on weekends and basically... I'm praying that it will be like the miracle of all miracles in my life and all of a sudden everything will fall into place and I'll be able to figure out the rubik's cube in 5 minutes. I better use the good conditioner that morning (as it is also the first morning of my church staff meetings. suck. I hat ethose things.)

So please send one up to JC for me, or to whomever you pray and I'll pull out my copy of "Footprints." I just need some direction, some focus, and perhaps someone yelling in my ear which direction to turn.

Ps. it stinks like microwavable frozen dinner in the office today. nast.

Seriously?

Ok, So seriously, how do I go from no jobs to having 2 and being interested in another one that I actually have an interview for this week. What the hell? ANd what the hell do I do if I get offered it... granted that I may want it? Who knows? Ug, I'll keep you updated.

In other news... I ran 6 miles and felt like I might die on Saturday. Ick. Apparently not running the right amount during the week kind of screwed me. I'm back on track this week. Luckily, it isn't Memorial day again. That was not good for my liver nor my running.

So... ran yesterday, then pooled it, then dinner by the lake. Delicious day. today we woke up and went kayaking down on town lake and then had a TASTY brunch at Magnolia. What Sunday isn't complete without a nap? Had one. Granted, it will be like my last one ever because I have to start working on Sundays (lame.) How do I get out of this? apparently it's required if you work at a church. Silly.

I'm still lacking in $ for fundraising. So, give me some.

Umm and it's supposed to be like 98 degrees everyday this week. Air conditioning. check.

And lastly, here are some pics I thought I'd share... and I'm going to be an Aunt? Wha What??

everybody move to the back of the buuuuuuuus

Apparently, I have no friends because here in Austin all the hot ladies are underground playing d&D... or are on the bus...

(actual craigslist posting I found today)

Hello,
I am looking to join or start up (even BETTER) A D AND D gaming group. I have played be4, but it was with all guys. That is okay, but I would prefer not to be the only gal. I take the bus.
I also play a little chess.
Stardate

prepare for tears (and get out your checkbook)

So, I asked Kelli if she would send me a bit about her being diagnosed with Hodgkins and her treatment and remission. Here is what she wrote. She is truly an inspiration. Did I mention that she also has passed the bar and recently taken a job with the Juvenile Diabetes Fund???
( to donate... it works best through internet explorer http://pages.teamintraining.org/ctx/rnrsa08/amandaeblack)

Hey Amanda,

Not sure exactly what info you want, so I'll just give you the low down. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma on April 13, 2007, one month before graduating law school. I moved down to Houston to be treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where I underwent 7 months of intravenous chemotherapy. Chemo was rough, I experienced all the ordinary side effects like intense nausia, fatigue, etc, and of course, I lost my hair. I finally chose to take control on August 20, 2007, when I had a head shaving party with my family. It was extremely emotional, but it was a way of not letting cancer beat me.

I officially went into remission on August 21, 2007, but I still had to finish my course of chemo, which I finally finished October 4, 2007. I am still in remission today, and I go into the hospital every 3 months for catscans, bloodwork, chest x-rays, etc. I live with the fear every day that despite beating the cancer, it is going to come back.

Cancer was hands down the most trying experience of my life, and I am so lucky I had so many family and friends who stood behind me, went to doctor's appointments with me, helped me on the days I couldn't even get out of bed, provided me a shoulder to cry on when it all got too overwhelming. I was very lucky that even in the serious stage I was diagnosed, I still had a very high cure rate, but to get there involved almost a year of very painful, invasive, and crippling treatments. I am proud to be involved with TNT because I know that by raising money, we are not only going to find a BETTER cure for lymphoma and other blood cancers, but we are going to eradicate the disease entirely. I attended my first TNT run back in January, when my sister and my cousin ran in my honor, and I immeadiately felt part of a close knit community every time I saw someone in a purple shirt run past me.

I am so proud of you for doing this, Amanda, for everyone who has ever been touched by this awful disease!!!

Kelli

an epidemic.

So, it's apparently an epidemic that kids are obese in the US.
A certain type of nalgenes has been recalled. Oh lord, this seriously could turn into an epidemic! I mean, first nalgenes, then the black north face, and then rainbows! What would SMU come to? I'm thinking that our numbers would dramatically decline, and the people that did go there would look very different. I mean, can you imagine??

I had my first TNT run today. It went really well. I thought we were only running 2 miles, but it was anywhere from 2-5 miles... and so, I know that I can run 2 so I ran 4. This will probably be considered a mistake tomorrow.

What else will be a mistake tomorrow? My hair. I decided to go back blonde so I went to get it done. I tell her what I want. I don't like chunky highlights... it gets washed, dryed, and there are stripy highlights. EW. So, I stood up for myself! I was extremely nice and said that it wasn't what I had wanted. They said, come back in an hour... so... after 5 hours my hair was ugly and slightly hideous. Yah. I'm disgusting. So, I go up to pay for this and the guy tells me it's $145. I say, I don't mean to be rude, but I've been here for 5 hours and I don't think that I should have to pay full price. So, I didn't. But seriously? YOu asked me to pay full price? pissed. Pissed and ugly.

Oh, and I'm freaking out about working 2 jobs and running a half marathon. I went to the school on Thursday and I'm afraid it's going to take more time than what I had previously thought. UG..............................

I hate growing up.