Monday, November 30th, 2009
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9:16 am
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NAME: Amanda. I went by Mandi in middle school but now most of my close friends call me Manda.
AGE: 26
LOCATION:Columbia MD
OCCUPATION: Research technician on flu vaccine studies. I'm also "working" on the thesis for my Masters in Biomedical Science. Maybe I'll finish that in 2010.
PARTNER: Evan and I have been happily married since August 2009. We have so much fun together, and he puts up with all my craziness.
KIDS: Right now we have a dog and a cat. I feel like we're so normal we'll probably need to have a boy and a girl too. I'd like kids but it's a lot of responsibility and we're enjoying being married without the children so far. I'm thinking we'll start planning stuff out in 2012. Hopefully my mom can wait that long for grandkids of the non-furry variety.
PARENTS: My parents are really wonderful, especially now that I don't live in their house. :-P They live in Baltimore. My mom is an X-ray technician and my dad sells keys wholesale to stores in the area and on the weekends he has a stand at a flea market where he sells keys and accessories. He's an amazing businessman - he's fair and honest and he is willing to give anyone a chance to prove themselves.
SIBLINGS: One sister, Dana, who is 23. She and I have a lot of fun together, we always make each other laugh. We're not as close emotionally as I'd like to be but we really love each other. She's in Israel for the year studying how to be a good Jewish wife and mother. :-P She's precious.
PETS: Dog, cat, fish.
CLOSE FRIENDS: Ben, Avital, Marissa, Jen, Dina, and of course Evan to name a few. It always amazes me how many friends I actually have when it's time to plan for birthday parties because I feel like in my day to day life I see so few people outside of work.
3-5 THINGS GOING ON IN MY LIFE:
1. Work work work. I like my job a lot, but lately I've been wondering what it is I'm really meant to do with myself. I lately feel like I have no professional aspirations. I don't know what I want to do.
2. Master's thesis is not writing itself. I really need to get a move on.
3. Being married. Cooking, cleaning, keeping house, raising the pets, etc.
4. Sewing and crafts. I want to spend more time on this hobby but don't have the time, funds and knowledge I wish I had.
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(comment on this)
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Monday, October 19th, 2009
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10:45 am - November is fast approaching. . .
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And like my lack of ideas for a Halloween costume I also have no idea what to write for National Novel Writing Month. Halp. Here are my two ideas:
1) A woman spends much of her time near a bridge trying to convince people who want to jump not to kill themselves. This is because someone close to her jumped and she feels guilty. One night she meets a guy who is about to jump because he feels guilty for (something?) and she convinces him it's just not worth it. Except the reason he wanted to end it was because his uncle/cousin (maybe someone who stands to inherit upon his death) convinces him the world is better w/o him and then since our hero doesn't die the evil relative keeps trying to end his life. the woman and our hero fall in love and have graphic sex which is great.
2) There's a ghost of a yuppie from the 80s hanging out in a run down building that used to be his office. New owner moves in and starts demolition, meets ghost, bad guys want something that's hidden in the house, people are threatened, scariness ensues. Happily ever after plus lots of fun 80s references.
My problem is that I often have cool characters but poor plot ideas. i have a general idea like 'people make threats and capture our heroes' but can't really think up what it is they actually DO. Any preferences/advice/requests for stories?
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Monday, October 5th, 2009
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12:44 pm
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Hey folks, I'm still here. Just really slow and foggy right now. Married life is great. Our apartment is lovely though it's hard to keep up with the mess two people can make and the laundry too. I'm not really too up to talking about it but I'd like to let people know what's eating up my weekends and why I've been kind of out of touch. My cousin Lisa is dying. She's been fighting breast cancer for 4 years now and it's not looking good. The treatments have stopped working and she's gone into liver and kidney failure. I have no idea how much time is left. Seems like too much for all the pain she's in and not enough time for our family to share with her. I was there yesterday and mostly just sat next to her watching tv and refilling her water. She's mostly unconscious and drowsy but she did have one moment where she asked me to hug her and she looked so sad. She realizes what's going on and how much everyone is doing to help take care of her and her family. I told her it's no big deal and we're all happy to be here for her. She hugged me back and went back to sleep. I can't put into words how I'm feeling. Last night I felt so empty. I couldn't reach anyone on the phone except my good friend Stephanie. It was good to talk to someone. I couldn't even really talk to Evan but he held me last night while I cried. This is really hard. Too many funerals this year. It'll be four since last March. I don't think I could handle any more. I like to remind myself that all of these funerals means that I have lots of people to love and of course they can't all be here forever. But Lisa's only 42. She's got two kids in elementary school, and a wonderful husband who loves her so much. And I don't even know how my mother is handling all of this. She's nursed both her parents, both her siblings, and now her niece who is a daughter to her through cancer. Too many things. It reminds me of the mortality of everyone I love. Death cares not how old you are or how loved or how much you might otherwise accomplish. And so we're stuck in this terrible in between place where we want Lisa's suffering to end quickly and we want her to come through this (even though we know there's no cure anymore). And selfish because we don't want her to die on her son's birthday which is in a week or so, or on my cousin's wedding which is in three weeks.
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Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
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12:23 pm
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Also lately I've been uncharacteristically nostalgic towards high school. I'm glad I'm finished being a teenager but I really do have some wonderful memories and I made some great friends. :) But there's no way to go back now, even just to relive the good stuff.
Also it's funny the things I ignored in class that I wish I had taken the time to learn. I wish I had paid more attention to Mr. Palmisano when we learned about the different types of poetry. I wish I had learned Hebrew instead of being lazy. The list goes on and on.
current mood:  nostalgic
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
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3:12 pm - Sigma Alpha obsession :-D
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Since I got married and most of my friends are now more than 45 min away I realized I needed to do something to keep my independent personality and sanity. I volunteered last year to help organize this year's annual sorority alumni meeting. I was making phone calls when one of my sisters told me they are recruiting for National Board positions. So yep I'm running for national board and also for local alumni chapter. Now it's like I have a new belonging and purpose. I'm totally obsessed. :-D My SA sisters helped me in college to be more courageous and outgoing and now I'm hopefully going to give something back to the organization. Obsessing but loving it!
current mood:  pleased
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Monday, July 6th, 2009
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1:07 pm
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Through a series of mistakes and surprise expenses I ended up spending more than I have, so I'm in the negative at least until next pay check. I'm so embarrassed and also annoyed. Emptied out my savings to cover the wedding dress alterations and Evan's wedding band. Crap.
current mood:  crushed
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Friday, May 29th, 2009
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2:20 pm - Bridezilla makes an appearance . . .
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Let me just start out by saying I've been doing my very best not to be a complete nut over this wedding. I'm taking the perspective that it's just a one day thing, just one small party and then I get to be married to my best friend. I'm having lots of fun planning and being the center of attention but I'm all too well aware that it'll come and go in a heartbeat.
My friend Rachel is starting a stationary business. She's so talented. She put together our invitations, personalized napkins, table place cards and numbers, and even designed thank you notes based on a drawing Evan and I liked. She's fantastic. She's also just starting up her business and has been attending lots of shows and trying to advertise all over the place. Today on Facebook I clicked on a link to her new website, which has pictures of some of the work she's done. The second invitation under 'weddings' is MY wedding invite. Mine. As in the invitation that I've been keeping secret and HAVE NOT EVEN MAILED YET. Yeah. No joke. Plus my napkins are on there too.
Here are the two reasons I'm upset:
1.) I want people to be surprised when they get the invite in the mail. It's not traditional and I'm really proud of it. Seeing a picture on the internet doesn't even begin to come close to how cool they are in person
2.) Now the specifics of my wedding are posted on the internet - day, time, location. Not that I anticipate people crashing my wedding but I know it's a possibility.
So first I called my favorite Maid of Honor, Avital, who assured me that yes I have permission to be unhappy and ask her to take it off her site. Then I threw a whiny brat fit at my mom, who offered to call Rachel for me so I wouldn't scream at her. :-P
Anyway she's going to take the invite off her site at least until mine go in the mail. (I'd like them to stay off until after the wedding but clearly that's not going to happen.) I'm still kind of annoyed but I guess it's all good now. Blech.
Now back to your regularly scheduled program. . .
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Thursday, April 30th, 2009
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9:57 am
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What's doing everyone? I've got nothing new to say. Things are good and happy. :)
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(comment on this)
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Monday, April 20th, 2009
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11:24 am
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Also on May 17 I'm having a Pampered Chef party and everyone who wants to come is invited. Also lots of people didn't realize they got an evite because the subject line is called 'Help whip cancer.' So check your inbox or spam box. If you still don't see an invitation please let me know and I'll get you one!
Thanks!
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11:06 am
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My wedding is less than four months away and there's so much to do in this short span of time. Evan's been applying for jobs after graduation, but we won't be able to determine where to live and what we can afford until he has a final decision. I'm very sad about moving out of the house I've lived in for the last three years, with the best roommates ever. I'm looking forward to having only one home (instead of bouncing between mine and Evan's). I'm just exhausted from never having the same bed more than three nights in a row anymore. And I miss my cat so much I can't stand it. So I'm antsy to get a move on. I am looking forward to having a real kitchen and be able to entertain. It's funny but my favorite items off our wedding registries are the tablecloths, placemats and cloth napkins. Haha! Also some cool wine racks. Nom.
current mood:  bouncy
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Monday, April 6th, 2009
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11:11 am - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!
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Sunday, March 29th, 2009
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11:31 am
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I'm going to wear my junior prom dress to a wedding in October. It's about an inch and a half of zipper too small but that's it. :-D
(I think I remember jr prom being more fun than sr prom actually. Mostly because Steph had an afterparty. I saw her the other day. She can't make it to Marissa's party tonight, which sucks.) My sr prom dress was in the house fire so I'm not sure it survived. I'd love to wear that again too. But where will I be invited that will be that fancy? haha
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Friday, March 27th, 2009
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9:20 pm - Shopping!
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HOORAY! After weeks of trying to find new pants I finally had lots of luck. I've been trying to be cheap and also get pants that are already short so I don't have to get them hemmed. I spent LOTS of money at Coldwater Creek and Banana Republic. Yep the best part about losing weight is Banana Republic. haha. I bought three pairs of pants, a skirt and four shirts. Huzzah! So much win! <3
current mood:  jubilant
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Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
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2:29 pm
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Changed my mind on friends only. I've got nothing to hide. :)
Do I have any followers who want to be known? Or things people would like to hear about?
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(comment on this)
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1:24 pm - Poem, for your consideration
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That virus
slides itself through
a well-guarded cell membrane
before the alarm can go off.
By the time the body detects the outsider,
he has recruited backup
to infiltrate every cell.
Before it is fought,
the war is lost.
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Thursday, March 19th, 2009
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2:23 pm - Something to write home about?
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I've exhausted myself on romance novels. I find it hard to believe myself. So now I find myself in the awkward place of wanting to write but having nothing to say. Any prompts?
current mood:  contemplative
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(comment on this)
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Monday, March 16th, 2009
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8:57 am - a much longer post than originally intended. . .
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I had a really fantastic weekend. Friday night Evan and I went to Shabbat services at our favorite shul and then came home to the party at Alan and Evan's house. It was a lot of fun. Midnight showed up before I knew it, and then I fell asleep on the couch, a la Betsy. Saturday we poked around town and then headed to NJ to visit Evan's folks. We got there and unpacked and then took a field trip to the gym. I hadn't been since Tuesday so I had a lot to prove. Lately I've been running in five minute intervals. Run 5, walk 1. It's hard. Well I started running and at 5 I thought let's go for ten. At ten I said let's finish the mile. At one mile I said let's see if I can run for 2 miles. I made it to about 1.70 and called Evan over to help me finish it. He found the Rocky music on his iPod and coached me through the last bit. Hooray! I never thought I'd be able to run for more than five minutes at a time, and yet I ran for 2 miles! I'm so impressed with myself.
My next goal is to be able to run 3.1 miles, a 5k. Maybe I'll even be able to run the entire Port to Fort 6k in April in Baltimore. I'm feeling more confident than I ever have! Today I'm taking a rest day and I think I might reward myself with a little Ann Taylor therapy. I have a gift certificate from Chanukkah I have been holding on to.
The other thing we did this weekend was visit with the rabbi who is officiating our wedding. It's Evan's rabbi that he's known since he was a little kid. I really like him. He answered many of our questions and gave us "homework" to do as a couple to prepare for our marriage. Also today is officially 5 months from the big event. :) I'm very excited. We spent 2 weeks debating the FONT of our invitation. No joke. So hopefully now we're just making small decisions and preparations. I'm tired of the stress.
The best part of the whole trip though was the drive there and back. On the way, we listened to Evan's iPod on shuffle and on the way back we listened to mine. It was fun to learn about each other through our music. I learned from my iPod that Evan likes 1989. I have a cd of hits from that year and he was rocking to all of them. We also belted out to Oasis, Gin Blossoms, Matchbox 20. So much fun! I remember the '90s very fondly but I'm so glad my life now has so much less drama and unsteady emotions. Funny how the music can still elicit strong emotions and feelings. Lately my poetry has been pretty bland. It's kind of nice. ;) Of course every time I try to write on my novel I feel guilty that I'm not working on my Master's thesis and I hit a block. Haha. Anyway life is good. I'm having lots of fun.
The next five months are going to be absolutely crazy. Moving, Evan finding a job and graduating, finishing my Master's at some point, getting married, etc etc etc. Good thing I have the best friends!
current mood: pleased
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
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8:52 am - Snow day?
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So I tried to go to work, but only got a bit down Rockville Pike. They had barely plowed and I couldn't drive in a straight line. I almost got stuck in an intersection. Sooo I called my boss and told her I was headed back towards home. We're going to see about going in a few hours later. I really like the idea of being home today. Maybe I'll get some laundry done. I feel guilty about not trying to make it but I also didn't want to die on the way in. Evan made it to bagels and brought breakfast back. I hope we get snowed in together for the whole day! Except Jen's supposed to make dinner so hopefully someone will be able to get to the grocery store!
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Thursday, February 26th, 2009
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11:31 pm
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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
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11:48 am
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I need some more icons but I don't feel like making them just yet.
Heading home from TX in a few hours. We'll be back in MD sometime before midnight. La la la. Miss my homeys.
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