I love Jim Halpert.

Jim Halpert. John Krasinski's character on The Office. I adore him. I'm aware he's fictional; that makes him no less real than my current boyfriend. I hope you'll accept this declaration [of my love] and be happy for us.



Pretty sure this will be the final post of 2008...Happy New Year!!!

Randomanda VII

(Continuing from Myspace...where I posted the first 6 installments with Myspace's blog feature - before I graduated to Blogger.)

*I have no idea what "twice removed" means. I wonder if I have any family members who are removed? I hope they've been re-placed.

*I think the Jimmy Dean commercials with the sun, moon, and fog are actually pretty cute; if unfamiliar watch here. I also like the Comcast turtles/tortoises (I'm not sure which they are)...and still cannot stand the damn Charmin bears.

*I think Strap Perfect is a fantastic invention. I'd like to have one; they come in 3's...I'll split them with someone (or sometwo). I think it's funny that I couldn't remember the name when typing this...and first typed Straptastic. I wonder if they considered that name? It's a little piece of smartly formed plastic; she's probably making a million. I think her first draft was probably one of those little discs that shoot out of toy guns.

*I was deeply disappointed with my Bare Minerals introduction @ Sephora. I've so been looking forward to using the products and looked so...made up. Perhaps we didn't swirl, tap, and buff correctly...but it didn't work out.

*As I sat waiting for my bags @ the airport, I wondered who determined the ideal speed for the belt on the baggage carousel...? Was there an engineer involved...who used some sort of height/angle/lift/average weight ratio...or did they just try different speeds and have the worker who drew the shortest straw run around chasing bags to see which speed fit best?

*I've learned it's very dangerous to eat Jelly Bellies in the dark while driving...not being able see which ones you're eating. I incorrectly thought Santa had placed Tropical Jelly Bellies in my stocking...when in fact, they were regular Jelly Bellies. I ended up with popcorn, pear, and coffee in my mouth all at once...travesty. Either eat them in the daylight or turn on the dome light (which I opted for); this allows you to re-select flavors and toss the brown ones.

*Not to slight the color brown; brown M&Ms are my favorite. Nothing to do with The Wedding Planner...though I do enjoy Matthew McConaughey. Speaking of which...while @ Sephora, I was able to smell him (Dolce & Gabana). Delicioso.

*My friend Patricia and I once signed an online petition to save the pineapple flavored Life Saver. I recently bought a roll of tropical Life Savers (without reading the description of flavors on the side) in hopes of reuniting my palate with the pineapple goodness. The yellow one was banana flavored.

*I really don't have a fixation with tropical flavored candies.

*When flying, I will order/request ginger-ale 99.8% of the time. I prefer Canada Dry.

*I enjoy flip-flops as much as the next girl, but have no desire to place a flip-flop bumper-sticker on my back-shield. I don't understand these stickers. I have little appreciation for bumper-stickers, period. ...Flip-flops enthusiasts though? Whatever blows your skirt up...(the cute t-length one...the one you wear with your flip-flops).

We're not in Wal-Green's anymore...

What the hell...really?! It's necessary to lock up the St. Ives??

I asked a store associate about this...she looked at me like... Well, it's difficult to describe her expression b/c she was more expressionLESS and vacant than anything else, but she definitely indicated the locks were a necessity & not ridiculous enough to merit their own photo. To be fair, this particular CVS does live in a sketchy locale. Hmmm. I must have looked like a drug store tourist.

I left with two thoughts... 1) I wish I needed some liquid Dial; I'd like to see the doors unlocked and then feel a little weird about the fact my body wash came from lock-up. B) I wonder how they determined which soaps qualified for a life behind panes of glass... Probably just anything $3.50 and up, but still... I feel sorry for the soaps didn't make it, and especially the bar soaps below...living a life of suds-less ridicule.

A coconut shell...b/c I need more space than a walnut.

Where to start...

"Note to self: posting more regularly would prevent lengthy posts that are difficult for others to get through...*

Thanksgiving was lovely; my Aunt Brenda prepared SUCH a delicious meal. It's rare that (regardless of where you are) everything is good...and everything WAS good. 4 of the 7 little cousins were present. Their ability to generate such volume & energy is...amazing. I likened it to leaving a concert; it's a good show, but your ears ring for an hour after you've left. Grandmama and Granddaddy enjoyed their plates from Brenda's... To finish the day properly, I spent some time with my other family...the Johnsons <3.


Next up...birthday!!! I love birthdays and this year was one of the best I've had...it was fantastic! My friends, Matt & Leah, came to town from Tallassee, AL and it was so, so great to see them. They treated me to dinner to a lovely dinner @ Miyabi Friday night; so much fun. Saturday morning, Lindsay arranged for a brunch.... It made my heart so fuzzy and happy to have friends make time to spend and be a part of my birthday. I loved that Matt & Leah were up for brunch with a bunch of strangers...as were Kimmey & Ben, and Kevin. (If you live in the area, Crums on Central is working it's way up to one of my favorite local restaurants.) Phone calls, e-mails, comments, voicemail serenades, a sweet office party, and chocolate pie from Teresa completed the day...Dad's singing is the call I look forward to most. Posting a few of my favorite photos...the entire album is in Picasa. The only people I didn't get to see that I planned to...were Chris & Tiff. I was scared to drive Sipsey to ATL; even with the patch (and the gum), she won't quit smoking.

As my birthday gift, Kevin provided me with my first [Christmas] tree! I certainly had them growing up, I've just never had my own. His [my tree's] name is Owen...and I enjoy him every day :). I also put lights outside...another first; apparently feeling super festive this year. I've attended a few Christmas parties...the pictures below are from the one @ the nursing home (plus my tree!). Grandmama adored Santa Claus and was disappointed when the framed picture I gave her for Christmas was of me and her...and not her and Santa. The pictures of her are great, though not exactly representative of how she's been lately.

So now it's off to Phoenix for a visit with Dad and Maggie :). This semester has been frocked with illness following the car accident. As a result, I am having to shorten my trip by one day (not enough leave :/). I wish we didn't have to make the [time] adjustment, but am just excited to see them at all...should be great :). I don't know if it's a combination of feeling good for the first time in awhile, the great birthday, the growth in the last year, Alabama's football season (lol) - (I know, Farrah....), or just...timing, but I have a super pleasant optimistic vibe about this next year. We shall see...

Wishing everyone an amazing & safe holiday... Love!

Up, up and away!

I really want to share this, but need to do so without names/identifying details. It will either go well or flatly. We'll see. Read with the understanding that it's always better when you're actually there (re: had to be there)...this was just so funny...and so...honest.

True story.

I had a lovely dinner with 4 friends of varying ages at a local italian restaurant last week. As you'd expect we laughed and talked about everything...pets, work, football, food, men, sex, etc... One of my friends shared that she (as a fan of an opposing SEC school) just recently learned the meaning of "Roll Tide" from an Alabama fan she knows. Whist concealing my disappointment and embarrassment for my fellow Bama fan (though really...we may need to revoke his/her membership), I shared with her the true meaning of Roll Tide...and the conversation moved on. The friend sitting across from me...shared that she had also recently learned something new... She had just learned what the "Mile High Club" was (apparently it's a proper noun...I'm capitalizing). We laughed for a moment with her as she shared her [recent] processing of the term... The friend to the left of me chimed in, and shared that the topic (Mile High Club) had come up in a joke amongst friends at a conference [also recently]...and then asked the friend across from me [almost hopefully]... "Well, have you ever been in a hot-air balloon? I just can't imagine... I mean...you'd be so close to the driver."

Everyone fell silent. I think my bread slipped to my plate...with my fingers still in bread-holding position.

I consciously turned my head completely to the left to face her.

...What the hell are you talking about?!

...hot air balloons...

...the Mile High Club is...it's about airplanes...

...no, well then it's hot air balloons too...

...no, hot air balloons don't even go one mile high...and even still there's a basket, and just...airplanes!...

...beautiful friend...with an intensely red face...

It was absolutely one of the best laughs I've had in a long time and a fantastic story that may not deliver well in text. We'll see. It brought us GREAT joy...and I wanted to at least take a crack at sharing it. ...Sex in a hot air balloon. That deserves it's own name, or at least it's own branch of the Mile High Club.

Don't Be Daft

If you're feeling a bit nerdy, check in with a newly created blog my friend & coworker, Renee, and I are writing.

The content is inspired by things we come across at work that make us laugh... For as long as we've been working together, we've been entertained by weird article titles and shared them with each other (we work in a medical library...basically assisting people with research). Renee has been better about saving them and I've been telling her she should write about all that she finds for months now. The only way I could make it happen was to start it myself; now that I have...I'm hoping she'll dive in. She really is much better about paying attention, though now that we're blogging....I'll be more alert.

The title - Don't Be Daft - was inspired by a group home resident I worked with Charlotte. Unusually for a severely autistic adult, Derek is verbal. Not only is he verbal...but he was raised in England. The accent and colloquialisms made life much more interesting; not that we needed added drama at the group home. Derek called me "Damanda"... And whenever he felt anyone he was being silly, he would say (let's say he was talking to me)...with both hands placed expectantly on his hips....Damanda, don't be daft. That, among other things, stayed with me and came to mind when titling the blog.

So anyway... Assuming we keep up with it...it's there :). Check it out, if you're so inclined.

Addendum; Kiki

P.S.

When we arrived at the restaurant for Shauntice's birthday, I naturally asked to speak to Kiki (re: Randomanda). Afterall, we'd had such a memorable exchange over the phone and she had said was looking forward to meeting me as well. Sadly, it was her night off. Blast. The other staff were also very pleasant and offered for me to leave her a note. ...Which I did. Thought to share.

Homecoming in Tuscaloosa

Though it's been a couple of weeks...I wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend of the 1st. Forgive the cliche, but it truly was a whirlwind couple of days. Kristin flew in Thursday night - I worked Friday (she spent a bit of time with Grandmama) - we drove to Chris's parents' house on the outskirts of Birmingham after I got off work (also Halloween) - drove to Tuscaloosa the following morning (Saturday) - decided against marching pre-game because there was just too little time - attended the 3rd Annual Drumline Tailgate - went to the Bama vs. Arkansas State game - drove back to Birmingham for Shauntice's birthday dinner - stayed the night @ Shauntice's - enjoyed brunch prepared by Shauntice Sunday morning - drove back to North Augusta with two stops along the way...World Market & Godfather's Pizza - Kris flew back to DE Monday after another visit with Grandmama...and a little travel adventure. We had a great time and I was able see some friends I hadn't seen in years; also missed those who couldn't make it...among them, congrats to Daniel and Laura on their new bundle - Lorelai Sage Galyean :). Thanks, Kris, for graciously suffering my usual flitting social habits. Roll Tide, Roll!!!

(My Halloween costume...)

Kris & Grandmama

Miss Addison Horton...my first time getting to meet her!

Addison & Kaylin

Melinda, Dalisha, and Candy

Kellie & Johnny Pulliam...with their son, Tucker

Me and Kristin...

Leigh...once a student @ Winfield...now a drum major for the MDB; SO proud of her...and all of the WCHS kids for that matter.

Punny.

Roll Tide!!!

Blog Woes + A Randomanda

Girl starts blog. Girl applies cute (according to her taste) template. It works. Girl gets tired of template and finds another; applies it (also thinks it looks a bit like something she would be willing to hang on a wall in her home). No one can "comment" on posts and girl feels like she is writing to herself; in essence, she is...so this is probably a more authentic approach. Still, she digs the feedback and misses hearing from her friends. Sadly, she deletes her cute template (though she's smart and saved it elsewhere) and goes with one of Blogger's plain-jane templates. Still, the comment function does not work. WTH?! Girl's friends comment on her blog via e-mail and Facebook; she'll have to take it...and be thankful someone is reading. Thanks Trey & Jessica :).

a) When I have time/energy and am improperly distracted from my priorities, I'll start over (template-wise) completely.

b) Once I change templates...I may never change again. You have to go back and change font color on previous posts (which I haven't done more than 5 posts back) if the font color blends into the background... Maybe that's why the smart people always use a light layout. Huh.

Randomanda story.

Shauntice's birthday is this Saturday... Kristin is flying down from DE (we're going to Homecoming - SO excited), and then to see Shauntice and celebrate her presence on earth. I can't remember the last time we did something for her birthday; we used to just do one dinner for all 3 of our birthdays. Anyway. Shauntice picked the restaurant, and I sent the evite. I called yesterday to make our reservation and needed to give my first and last name when paying the deposit. Amanda didn't stump me...but the phonetics of Meigs did. I was speaking to a lovely person named Kiki...

Kiki: Card number?

Me: xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

Kiki: Expiration?

Me: xx/xxxx

Kiki: First name?

Me: Amanda.

Kiki: Last name?

Me: Meigs. "M" as in Mary...e, i, g..."g" as in.... .... .... ....

Kiki: ....God?

Me: Yes! That works. ...Because all I could think to say was gastroenterology.

...M-e-i-g-"s"...as in Sam.

Kiki: *laughing* I can't wait to meet you; this is the most interesting conversation I've had all day.

Me: Fantastic, I'll see you Saturday.

Jacket Regiment Guard @ Lower State

Next set is the Jacket Regiment Guard from North Augusta High School (turns out I'm working with two groups this season); they compete in 4A...and placed 2nd out of 11 bands - a personal best! The guard had a phenomenal show; made me cry...which is the measure of a particularly fantastic performance by my standards (;. Kevin & I were super proud :). We're also working to fix a few things this week...hoping to improve for Saturday. ...Also a hard working group...with a colorguard class each day + practice after school, and mini-camps when added. It definitely showed (and right on time) this weekend :).

Silver Spirit Guard @ Lower State

Wanted to share pictures from Lower State...which took place in Charleston this past weekend. Each year, South Carolina is divided into upper and lower state (preliminary competition) - and then into classes according to school size 2A-5A. The top 6 from each class (in each division) qualify for finals - State.

This is the Silver Spirit Guard from Silver Bluff High School...the defending 2A Lower State and State Champions (2005 & 2007). The girls had a pretty solid performance, and the band placed 3rd out of 14 bands. So they, along with the 5 other qualifying 2A bands from Lower State, will be competing against the top 6 2A bands from Upper State. We'll be working this week to be sure the final performance this weekend --> is the best of their entire season; it's time to peak! Proud of this group's work ethic & discipline...always willing to put in extra time + the entire band was out in the rain until 9pm Friday night.

Homecoming

Not that Homecoming, not yet anyway (Roll Tide!)...

Kimmey (my very dear & sweet cousin whom I love to bits and pieces) and her husband, Ben, have been separated for 15 months; Ben has been in Iraq. As of April 29th, 2008...they'd been married one year. Ben returned home Tuesday (10.7.08) !!! Needless to say...they are thrilled to be back together, and we're thrilled for him to be home (and for them to be together)..:). Admittedly (and a bit sadly), I barely know Ben... It makes my heart happy to know Kimmey is so happy, and I can't wait to get to know Ben - who is...again, sadly...a UGA fan - much better. Love to you both!!! ...And Ben, thank you for your service...

P.S. To watch one of the local new station's coverage, go here.

P.P.S. I'm including a picture of their pups, Bella & Corky, as well. I can't get over how they sit/hang out on a daily basis; it's such a trip.

klay d. langken

Constant Craving by k.d.lang is a good song... She's certainly not without. ...But when is the last time you saw her? k.d., I mean.

My co-worker and friend, Renee, and I were discussing Clay Aiken's cover on People magazine; (there is a copy in our office). Well, not the cover so much... I said I thought his foundation/skin was really pretty (and also his lip gloss-like-stuff), and what if one of the make-up companies...like Cover-Girl or Neutrogena...used him in an ad campaign. Renee wasn't digging his hair color and kept thinking he looked like someone, but couldn't quite think of who... Then it came to her...it was k.d. lang!

We realized...we haven't SEEN or HEARD k.d. in ages. Renee hypothesized that Clay may well be k.d....and k.d., Clay.

Artistically/musically, if forced to choose between the two...I'd choose k.d.. I've never been a fan of Clay and he's fast approaching a very specific group of artists I dislike; the group includes: Michael Bolton, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, and Phil Collins. I should disclaim that all but Michael have at least one song that I like...but as a whole...I can't handle them. I'm forgetting someone...there's a 5th (pre-Clay) member...

At any rate... Whether they are [in fact] one person, or two, all the best to klay d. langken...life + baby + career(s)! Can't deny the resemblance...

Martha Jane

Picnik (in addition to having a fun new collage function) has - more importantly - gone pink for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (which is this month...October).

With love for MaMaw...who lost who her battle with cancer 10.13.2000.

~ PaPaw & MaMaw (taken in 1993) ~

I know several people participating in the Susan B Komen Race for the Cure this year... If you'd like to donate, here's one option... My cousin, Teresa, and her daughter (Sarah) will both be racing! Click here to donate to their campaign; our cousin, Lorrie, is on their team as well :). Not only are they family...but good people, I tell you. Bama fans!

Kentucky Random

Kentucky's mascot is a wildcat...which actually looks (in person)...like a really big squirrel. Seriously. See? Here he/she is getting ready to play basketball...

One year, during pre-game (football), their big squirrel came and snatched my flag away from me. It caught me off guard (no pun intended)...it would anyone, really. A life-sized rodent? C'mon.


Big Al chased that big squirrel down (halfway around the field!) and brought my flag back to me. Thanks, Big AL.

I looked on Kentucky's website and learned they, like many SEC schools...have a slightly odd mascot tradition. In addition to the squirrel-like wildcat, they have a newer - more "child-friendly" wildcat...name "Scratch". Both mascots attend games. ...And then their live mascot - is a bobcat. Wth? In the Q&A section...someone asks if a bobcat is the same as a wildcat. Their answer? "In Kentucky it is!". Lol. Kentucky mascot info.

Looking forward to Saturday...ROLL TIDE!!!