My ADD Brain - writing a paper

Today I am really going to finish this stupid paper for Program Evaluation. Let's see.. okay, I finished up with the context and input analysis yesterday so I should probably... check on my facebook status. Oh I don't want deep fried pickles anymore, but pickles do sound good. Why didn't I stop at the store and get some? Oh right, I'll probably eat a whole jar and my sodium intake would be off the charts. So my status should now say I'm working on a paper. Now to go work on the paper. So, I need to tally up all the results from my teacher surveys. Ooh! I could color code! Where are those highlighters that I used the other day? I really need those because they match what I've already used. They aren't in this drawer, but there is that pen I've been looking for. It's the right color for my calendar (which is also color coded) so I will pull it out and mark off the days until the end of school... thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven. Woo! I can do anything for thirty-seven days, right? Okay, back to highlighters. What did I need them for? Oh yeah, color coding my survey. So, these questions go together and these questions go together so they should be green... did I ever find that other green earring I lost? I bet it might be in the kitchen in my bag of shopping bags. I'll go check. Nope, it's not in there. I guess I'll empty the dishwasher. These cups aren't fitting right in this cabinet. What's behind there? Oh, it's my colander. Maybe I should put it somewhere else so the cups have plenty of room. Which cabinet will it fit in? Okay that works. Now back upstairs. Color coding complete. Now how do I put these in sentences? Hmmm... I'm not sure how specific I'm supposed to be. Well Shanti finished hers already so I'll send her a Facebook message. Dear Shanti... what do I do? Send. Ooh, four new notifications! Michelle joined PolBuckingham? What does that even mean? Oh it's a page for his music. I should listen to one of his songs. Nice! I like that one. How is Dawn surrounded by such musical people? I wonder if she's updated her blog lately. Anna Kirby is SO CUTE! I just love to hear her talk! Cute video! Who else has updated their blogs lately? More cute pics of Annie! Things I Love Thursday with Brooke! Love it! Would give me a reason to post. I may have to start that on Thursday... Okay, back to the paper. Blackberry is flashing! New notification on Facebook! Wait, I don't know this person. Oh they commented on something I commented on... Facebook, bringing strangers together. PAPER! I still don't know how to write up this data analysis... I'll just write something and change it when Shanti gets back to me. Or maybe I should edit what I have so far? This chair is getting uncomfortable. To the futon! Much better... wait...stiches are itching... I wonder what it's looking like back there. To the mirror! Hmm. Not too bad, but still has some sticky residue from bandaids. Can't have that. How can I get it off without really hurting myself... let's see... qtip with alcohol? qtip with goo gone? Oh well. It will just have to wear off. Back to writing. Oh wait, I was editing, right? Wow, I'm really ADD today. Maybe I should blog about it...

*Note: Although the order of events may be inaccurate, the content is all me!*

I think this just about sums it up:

My Pop Culture Brain

I do a lot of thinking in the shower. Sometimes it's very serious thinking... prayer, solving world hunger, ways to create peace. Sometimes it's crazy thinking... What would I do if someone broke through the door right now while I was in the shower? What song would I use to audition for American Idol? Sometimes it's just random... like tonight.

Tonight in the shower I was thinking about how so many songs that I hear connect me back to some pop culture reference -- usually a movie or TV show. For example, I was recently talking with Lee about the songs she had chosen for Audrey's 1st birthday party CD and the song "Let My Love Open the Door" came up. When I heard it, I said "Now I'm imagining all these little swimming sperm." She looked at me like I had three heads -- understandably so. She said something to the effect of "or you could picture that scene in "Dan in Real Life". What are you talking about?" And yes, the "Dan in Real Life" scene is there too, but unfortunately, I jumped straight to the sperm. Anyone know what movie I'm referring to, with the sperm? Probably not. It's the end of "Look Who's Talking" when Kirstie Alley and John Travolta finally get together and obviously make a baby -- this is the song that is playing as the spermies make their move.

Then I started thinking of other songs that make me think of movies, but couldn't seem to tear away from "Look Who's Talking". I immediately jumped to "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys. Why this song? Well, because at the beginning of the movie when Kirstie Alley is still sleeping with her married boss, this is the song his little swimmers boogie down to as they approach her awaiting egg. Then I remembered that scene where she's feeding toddler Mikey his dinner while singing "Town Without Pity". She replaces a line at some point with "Now we'll eat our pudding now". Not poetry, but whatever. Then she does this little pole dance with the refrigerator door as John Travolta looks on from a crack in the apartment door. Then he busts up in the kitchen just in time to sing "How can we keep love alive? How can anything survive, when these little minds tear you in two... what a town without pity can do..." while doing some of his own dirty dancing with her.

Then I realized I watched this movie way too often growing up.

My Fifth Grade Flashback

Being an elementary school teacher, I get the chance to revisit my past quite often. The things that these kids do and say can stir up in me the same insecurities, joys, and emotional rollercoasters that I felt when I was their age. I recognize the insecure look of a girl who is trying out a new style or haircut. I see through the fifth grader who mentions a certain boy's name, oh about 50 million (that's for you, Jayme!) times and then insists that he's disgusting. And when I hear any of them talk about whatever star is their current crush, I simply sit back and think...

"He/They can't hold a candle to NKOTB!"

Yeah, I said it. This can't come as a surprise to any of you. You remember my post about my favorite music group of all time. I love them, I really do! I am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with them... oh wait... different unreasonable teen crush...

So, when I got the chance to go see the boys from Boston, I couldn't resist! I knew deep down that it would probably be one of the most enjoyably cheesy nights of my life, but well worth the 86 bucks I would shell out to go ($68 ticket, $12 awesome customized t-shirt, $5 to help Julie with gas, and $1 for my part of the parking). I was totally right. Since I don't do cameras, I am swiping some pics from Kristi's facebook albums to post here.

Brooke and I waiting for everyone to change into their groovy t-shirts, designed by Kristi. I don't love this pic of me, but it's a good shot of our shirts. :)

Brooke and me being "suddenly surprised" with our upgraded seats. We were on the first row after floor seats -- even better than floor seats because 1) we didn't pay floor seat price and 2) I could see over all the floor seat people's heads!

I assume this was taken before since we're seated. Shanna is already getting that mocking look on her face...

Building anticipation as their tiny heads pop up from the stage...

The first ultra cheesy moment for me -- Jordan in the sunglasses. Come on now.

You should know that to me, Joe can do no wrong. I am completely certain that at this moment, he is wishing that he was singing to me instead of this chick.

As close as I get to dancing. Note Shanna, who was I believe in utero the first time she "saw" the boys, is making fun. I will not deny that I joined her at times, much to Brooke's dismay.

My boyfriend, Joey-Joe McIntyre, walking right past us heading to the second stage. Brooke's hand is touching him here, and I touched his hand just seconds later. Yes, I am twelve. Don't care. I touched Jon and Donnie when they came back and Joe again. Again, yes I'm twelve. Still don't care.

A shot of the fellas singing on the second stage, very close.

Kristi, flashing a victorious smile after defeating the drunk girls who elbowed and stepped on her and Julie.

Overall, it was a wonderful time with new friends (the South Newton gals) and old friends (NKOTB, duh.) I definitely enjoyed the old stuff far more than the new (pervy) stuff, but also admit that I have had that "Dirty Dancing" song in my head a lot lately ("Oooh it's so crazy, she's like Baby, I'm like Swayze" --- classy and destined to be classic)

I remember back in the day I would rate the boys in order that I "liked" them. That order would be: 1) Joe 2) Jordan 3) Donnie 4) Jon 5) Danny. Now I would have to rank them on my skank scale: 1) Donnie 2) Jordan (though they are close...) 3) Danny (just because of all the muscle shirts really) 4) Joe 5) Jon. (Even though I don't consider Joe skanky at all, I have to put Jon last -- he's too timid and anxious to be skanky! Besides, they are all willing to sing this trash... they gotta be on the scale somewhere...)

I'm going to end this now because this has turned into one heck of a post. But there is so much more I could discuss -- beer chugging (not us), giant brassieres (again, not us), spastic dancing on top of a piano (wish it was us), Jordan's pale skinny shirtless dancing self... but it's getting late. And maybe those are stories better told in person...

Why Bless Your Heart?

First, all good southern women know that you can basically say anything that you want about anybody or anything as long as you follow it up with “bless his/her heart”. I figured if I named my blog this, then whatever I say here will be covered with a big ol’ bless your heart at the top!

Second, the whole reason I started this blog in the first place was to share a bit of myself with my friends. Humor is one of my favorite things to share with loved ones and since it is so valuable to me, I hope that the things I write here, both serious and humorous, will in some way bless your heart.

My New Blog Design...

… is finally here! I am so excited to have it up and running!

So, it’s taken me two weeks to finally make all the decisions needed for Kristi to work her magic. You guys know me and you know how amazingly anal and picky I am, so this should be no surprise. She was extremely patient with me and my indecisiveness and if you are looking for a change to your blog, you should definitely visit her site!

Now, I’m just waiting for inspiration to hit. My birthday is this weekend… that should inspire me! :)

My Blog Name Decision

So, I didn't really give anyone much chance to respond (except Heather who has WAY too much time on her hands... heh heh), but I had to make a decision quick quick so that Kristi could get going with her fabulous design. I am home today with ANOTHER headache (no need to go into all the details --- my doctor is now treating them as migraines... fingers crossed!) and finally got inspired...

And the winner is.... well, I'm not telling you now! It will debut along with my new blog design sometime in the near future! I'll leave you with a tiny hint: Adam may or may not really understand my blog title... hmmmmm???

Here's hoping that my new design will inspire me to post much more often! I know you want it!

My Conundrum

What a great word!

So, I'm in the process of having Kristi give my blog a makeover. Ever since I saw Brooke's, I've been itching to have her do mine as well. It took me weeks to decide on a design theme and now I need to email her more specifics.

I AM STUCK!

I don't want my new pretty blog to be titled Amanda Has a Blog?!? Any suggestions???

(I know full well I'll get no responses because everyone has given up hope that I'll ever even update this thing again... :)

Addendum (another good word): I had dreams last night about naming my blog. I had decided that I needed to continue the whole "My ______" trend I had started with the post titles (a tribute to Scrubs) and came up with the following, which in my dream, I was CONVINCED were amazingly good names that I wanted to use: My Hope is Built (yeah, that's it, nothing else) and My Piddlin' Pad. I'm not even kidding. (I believe this came from churches that have little notepads for the kids to color on -- I'm pretty sure either the one at my church or another one I have visited said "Little Methodist's Piddlin' Pad")

There has to be better ideas than this! Why am I stumped???