An Amyism Strikes Again

I am still shocked about the outcome of today. No, I'm not talking about the scores of any of the games. I'm talking about me.

For those of you who don't know, I bought tickets back in May to the first Georgia game. I bought them that early because I wanted to give them to Scott for his birthday in May. I finally got the tickets in the mail last week. I felt kinda ripped because the tickets were not as good as I was told they were going to be, but nevertheless was still totally excited to be going. Especially, since the first game was not going to be televised since we just played Georgia Southern. We got just a little lost on the way here and it took us 4 hours when it should have only taken about 2.5, but part of that was traffic.

Well, we got up early this morning, got ready and headed toward downtown Athens. It was a bit of a hassle to find a parking spot but we managed. It was a bit of a walk to the stadium, a lot of it was uphill. So of course, Scott was just fine and I thought I would have a stroke at any moment since it was hot as hell and I'm totally out of shape. As we finally reach the gates to the stadium, I reach to my back pocket to pull out our tickets. Not there. They were there a few block back. Not there now. The tickets were slightly longer than my back pocket and stuck out just a little bit. I'm not certain whether they just wiggled their way out of my pocket as we trecked up hills, or if someone slipped them out of my pocket. it wouldn't have been hard and I'd never have noticed. I was stunned. We had little cash on us. Just enough to buy food. We were asking prices for pairs of tickets and people were asking outrageous amounts. Once it was only 15 minutes before kickoff, there were few people around the gates selling tickets. We were sweating like pigs, more me than Scott. So we headed outward, either looking for a cheap pair of tickets or an ATM machine. After kickoff, people still had not dropped the price of the tickets so we decided to head to the restaurant where we'd parked Scott's Jeep and hope they were carrying the game even though it was only on pay-per-view. No dice. They were playing the radio broadcast inside and at least they had A/C. We sat inside through most of the first half then decided to go back to the room and try our luck with the radio there. At least we'd be able to listen to it loud and not be fighting to hear over all the people talking.

At this point, I have to say how much I love Scott. Most people would naturally blame me and yell or be pissed off at me for losing/getting the tickets stolen. Not Scott. Never. His response, "nothing you can do now. Let's just make the best of it." God, do I love him. I'm so lucky! I'm still mad at myself and pretty bummed about not being able to see the game live, but it means more than anything in the world to me that I have someone who is so supportive.

So, right now we're in our hotel room in Athens. We're about to get dressed and ready to go out somewhere in Athens. We're looking for somewhere nice to eat that has large TV's on which we can watch the Alabama vs. Clemson game. If anybody reads this shortly who has a recommendation, give me a call or shoot me a text on my cell phone.

How Lucky too Have Opposable Thumbs

I am minus a thumb today. Well, not really. Minus the use of one anyway. It's there, it's just so swollen and sore that I can't really bend it or put any pressure on it. It's very pretty too. A lovely shade of purple!

Yes, I shut my own thumb in the trunk of my car. Not my whole thumb, just the tip. How does one do that, I know you are asking? I don't really know. I just wasn't watching when I shut it. I was too busy looking in the back window searching for the flip-flops I couldn't find.

So I just wanted to share my misery. I'm sure this will be really funny once I don't feel like a cartoon character where he just hit his thumb with the hammer and it goes, "whump, whump, whump" and blows up like a red balloon. It just feels that way, when really it looks like this:

I'm amazed at how hard it is to do very simple things while trying not to use your thumb... like hook your bra, button your pants. And I didn't realize just how week my left hand is. It's gonna be a fun few days. Sigh.

More Photos from Kayaking

I just wanted to share some more photos. These are the ones that were taken with the disposable cameras on our rover adventure.

Jonathan and Jennifer. I took these two before the first flip when we lost our camera:
First flip. Me floating away, Scott getting back in the kayak:

Safely back in the kayak:

Us catching up after the rescue mission (notice I have no paddle):

All back together again after the rescue mission:

I love our faces! I think I had just yelled at him not to flip us over:


The aftermath, happy to be OUT OF THE WATER:

Seriously, who am I?

I went to lunch today and was really surprised at the topic of conversation I chose. Football? I mean seriously… me, Amy, willingly discussed football? And not only that, but I knew off the top of my head the names of players, coaches and different teams’ schedules. And not just Georgia and Auburn either, but several other SEC teams. And it wasn’t just limited to college football either. I even discussed NFL.

This time last year, I MAYBE could have named 3 Auburn football players’ by last name. That’s it. Until last season, I was what you could call football ignorant. Honestly, what I knew about football I learned from an electronic handheld game. And at the time, I didn’t know what I was doing, but I did know that I only had for chances to move my dot at least 10 spaces. (Stop laughing guys.) I now know that I was trying to go at least 10 yards in 4 downs. Who woulda thought?? Granted I still don’t know some of the penalties but I am getting much better.

Until recently I would have rolled my eyes and said, “Ughhh, the boys are going to talk about football” and found something else for myself to do. Not anymore. Now that I am more informed, I feel more inclined to join the conversation and learn even more. I have never been so excited about the start of college football season. Ever. I have Scott to thank for this. He is very patient with me. If something happens during a game and I don’t understand the call or the penalty, he is always more than happy to explain it to me. Granted, I have learned that it is best to wait until a commercial break or a timeout to ask for said explanation, but I always know that he is happy to teach me more about football. It is just one of the many things that I love about Scott. He’s always patient with me, not just about football.

So, I said all of that to say how excited I am that college football season starts in less than 2 weeks. I’m absolutely thrilled! I bought tickets to the opening Georgia game in Athens for Scott’s birthday. It’s a small team so I’m especially glad that I got the tickets because the game will not be on tv and I would go insane having to listen to it on the radio. Granted, I’m not the happiest about missing all of the other games that will be on tv that day, but our game is early afternoon so I’m sure we’ll catch a lot of them.

My biggest debate for this season is related to NFL. I’ve never really watched too much NFL. Previously, my only opinions have mostly been that I don’t like the Cowboys and I do like the Greenbay Packers. But this year, I can’t decide… was I ever really a Packers fan? Or just a Brett Favre fan? I just don’t think it will be the same to cheer for the Packers without Favre but I don’t think that I can see myself cheering for the NY Jets? Am I alone in this? Is anyone else having this battle with themselves? I think for now I have decided that I might just cheer for the Colts instead, as I have always hat the hots for Peyton Manning as well. I guess we’ll see once the season starts how I feel when I watch a game. That’s what its all about anyway, right? Cheering for whom you feel most loyal to?

So, for now it’s GO DAWGS all the way! And for NFL, TBD. Happy football season everyone!

Book Recommendations & a Funny Story

I’ve been reading a new series of books recommended to me by my cousin. They are the Stephanie Plum Mysteries by Janet Evanovich. I’m obsessed with them. I have read more books in the last few weeks than I have read in probably the last year. Of course, I’m not getting much sleep in order to do so. I find myself glancing at the clock at midnight thinking, just a few more pages. Then again at 1am. They are good murder mysteries but they are hilarious at the same time. I highly recommend them.

Without giving too much away, I will tell you that the lead character is in her early-thirties and has found herself taking a job as a bounty hunter with no experience at all. This as you can imagine, gets her into all sorts of trouble and embarrassing situations. In the book I was reading last night, a person who she was trying to capture broke into her apartment and attacked her. Not funny, but this leads me to my funny story for the day.

I was laying in bed reading the book and had just turned off the tv so it was totally quiet in my house. My bedroom is on the second floor. I heard a strange noise coming from downstairs. Of course, immediately my heart starts racing and I picture someone breaking the window of my front door and reaching through to let himself in. I squeeze my eyes close in hopes that the sound will go away and no one will be there. It doesn’t stop.

I creep out of bed and tiptoe around upstairs looking for something, anything I can use at a weapon. Sadly, the best thing I can find is a heavy handled hairbrush. I don’t even own a baseball bat or a gold club. I am defenseless. So I put myself in my hand and am prepared to call out, not sure who, but someone. I tiptoe down the creaky stairs and see that the front door still looks secure. I peek around the corner and the back door is fine too. I still hear the noise and can tell its coming from the kitchen. I walk around the corner to see that a large piece of paint from the ceiling is hanging down and the ceiling fan is chipping off small pieces that are clattering to the floor.

This is not the first time a chunk of my ceiling peeled off, this is just the first time it happened while I was home and scared the bejeebus out of me. My house was built in 1930 and there is not hood or ventilation system over my gas stove. So it just steams the paint right off. Guess I should put that at the top of my list of things to repair… right after I change my underpants.

Parker

For those of you who don't already know, my best friend had the most beautiful baby boy 2 weeks ago. I went over to cook dinner for them last night and got to feed Parker. While I was feeding him, Scott called me on my cell phone. The following conversation occured:

Scott: What are you doing?
Me: Feeding the baby.
Scott: You are what?
Me: I’m fedding the baby.
Scott: Umm... Welll... Uh? Isn’t he uh?
Me: What?
Scott: Isn’t the baby breast feeding?

I just cracked up. Men.

Me, Scott & Parker: 1 day old

Congrats Scott!

Scott started his new job at the new Kia Motors plant in West Point, Gerogia a week ago today. I just wanted to say how proud I am of him and all of his accomplishments. He was one 20 maintenance employees to be chosen out of 43,000-plus applicants. I'm so extremely proud of him! The following photo and clip of an article appeared in the Valley Times newspaper:


KMMG's first hourly associates hired for West Point operation
WEST POINT - Monday, Aug. 4 will go down as a special day in the lives of 28 hourly production and maintenance team members at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia as they became the first group out of more than 43,000-plus applicants to begin work for Kia's first North American automotive manufacturing assembly plant.

River Rats

Sometimes I get this crazy idea that my life is not exciting enough and decide to try something new. Of course, I’m not usually brave enough to try it myself so I rope someone else into trying it with me. This past Saturday, Scott and I went kayaking with my brother, Jonathan and his wife, Jennifer. Scott has been kayaking and canoeing before but its been over 10 years. The rest of us had never even touched a kayak.

So Saturday morning we pack a few soft coolers and buy a couple waterproof disposable cameras and head to the rental place in Wetumpka, Alabama. I was pretty nervous but I tried to act like I wasn’t because Jennifer was a lot more nervous than me and I didn’t want her to chicken out on us. Once we got out there it was great. The water was smooth and the weather was beautiful. Scott managed to drop his sunglasses in the water before we even got good and started. We were paddling along talking about how we should buy kayaks and travel around to different places. Through the first section of choppy water Scott and skimmed over the top of a rock. Jonathan and Jennifer were busy laughing at us when they skimmed and got stuck on a rock. But they scooted until they were off of it.

In the very first large rapids Scott and I flipped over. Scott says its all my fault because I got scared and started saying, “We’re going over! We’re going over!” So of course we did. It wasn’t so bad. I got drug over some rocks and sucked in some water. But overall, I was glad I had gotten it out of the way and wasn’t so scared of the water anymore. I did lose my sunglasses and Scott lost his hat though. We lost our camera too but Jonathan and Jennifer rescued it. But we got back in and were off again. The next rapids, we actually stayed afloat. We even cheered. But the cheering was short lived.

Through the next set of rapids we hit a rock and run aground. We had to get out to get off of the rock. As soon as we got back in, we hit another rock and flipped over again. All the while, Jonathan and Jennifer are just floating right through like its nothing. This time we lost our cooler and they managed to rescue it too!

The next set of rapids, you guessed it, we flipped again. I fell into a place where several currents converge into a swirl. I was hanging on to my paddle (because they cost you $35 if you lose it) and trying to swim out of it with water shoes on. I absolutely could not swim out of it. Jonathan and Jennifer were just at the top of the rapids paddling backwards to keep from running over me. I kept yelling, “I’m stuck” and “I don’t know what to do” and there mouths would move but I couldn’t hear what they were saying over the sound of rushing water. After what seemed like eternity, I banged the paddle on a rock that was under the water just a couple of feet away. I managed to get a grip on it with the very tips of my fingers and pull myself on it. I had to constantly hang on to stay on the rock but at least I was out of the way from oncoming kayaks and canoes.

So, once I climb up I see Scott probably 50 yards ahead and he is scrambling onto a larger rock island. And I see the kayak floating away from him. So here I am perched on a rock in the middle of the Coosa River, Scott is on a rock further ahead (just out of shouting range) and our kayak is floating off to who knows where? As I sit there, several other kayaks come by and I can see them looking at me holding a paddle and looking around seeing no boat. A man and his daughter come by on a tandem kayak and I see him pull up to the rock that Scott is on. The little girl climbs off on the rock with Scott and the guy begins to paddle upriver towards me. I see him signal “I’m coming to get you.” I am absolutely amazed at this man’s strength as he manages to paddle all the way up past me and then wedges his kayak against a rock close to mine. I hand him my paddle and he outs it in the kayak with his. Then, he stands up and reaches out to grab my hand and pull me to the rock he is on. I hear him say, “Oh no.” I look over and see both of our paddles floating away down the river. I frantically start waving at Scott and the little girl hoping maybe they can catch our paddles. No such luck. So I get in the kayak with the man, saying “My name is Amy by the way. And thank you for rescuing me.” As we start to float down the river, we are both doggie paddling out the side to try and maneuver the canoe to the rock that Scott and the man’s daughter were on. As we get close, Scott throws a paddle to us and the man manages to reach it. From the big rock, I can see Jonathan and Jennifer probably 50-100 yards further up the river. They have our kayak tied to theirs and they are paddling as hard as they can upstream.

Courtesy of Google maps, here is a diagram to show just how spread out we are:


Another man on a kayak comes up to us and offers to take Scott up to ours so that he can come back for me. As Scott climbs on, I notice he is missing one of his water shoes. Scott gets our kayak and gets to toward the bank where the water is not rushing as fast and finally makes it back to me. At this point, I am on the verge of tears. We were told that Moccasin Gap was the biggest rapids and I was terrified of what might happen if they got any bigger. We rest on the rock for a minute before getting back in, and yet another man comes by, searching for an expensive pair of sunglasses that the river claimed. I ask him how many more rapids there are and he says that we have just crossed the last one, and that Moccasin gap was actually the rapids where we flipped over twice. My reply, “Oh thank God!”

It is then that I learn that my Jennifer and Jonathan had seen a snake while trying to bring our kayak back to us. And Jonathan had pretty much worn himself out trying to paddle so far upriver and were just going to float the rest of the way. So Scott starts paddling us a l ittle faster to catch up with them. We passed several kayaks and kept thinking, “Is that them? Nope.” But when we finally reached them, we knew it was them because they were both slumped over not moving like they were dead. I think if they had not been with us, they would have had a wonderful time since they didn’t flip over once! They did manage to save our camera, our cooler (twice) and our kayak!

So, overall I have to say it was an exciting experience. I don’t know if I will ever go kayaking again or not. I would say in a lake or something, sure. But if there are rapids and rocks involved, I’m not so sure. But I can say that I tried it and survived, and we got some great stories out of it. I’m sure I left out a lot of the details, but so much happened and so fast that its hard to remember it all. But I want to say a big THANK YOU to David who rescued me from that rock, even though I doubt I would ever be able to find him and really thank him myself. I can’t imagine how we would have gotten out of there if it weren’t for the kindness of those complete strangers.

To our surprise, my parents were waiting at the rental place waiting to take our pictures when we returned. And I suspect to make sure that we actually did return. The following is a photo that Dad took. Notice Scott is holding his one remaining shoe. I’ll be sure to post some of the photos from the disposable cameras as soon as we get them developed.


Total rescues by Jennifer and Jonathan:
Our camera
Our cooler (twice)
Our kayak

Total goods claimed by the river (from just me and Scott):
His sunglasses
His hat
My sunglasses
One of his water shoes

Scratch and Sniff

Two weeks ago, I went to the doctor with a sinus infection. No biggie. Had one plenty of times. He prescribed some amoxicillin which I’ve had a thousand times as a kid. (Note to Men: you might not want to read the rest of this paragraph.) Well, as a woman, I did the smart thing and ate some yogurt everyday while on the antibiotics to prevent getting one of those wonderful “secondary infections.” No such luck. I got one anyway. So I treated myself with some over the counter stuff and it went away.

Over the next couple of days, I start to itch intensely. Not in one particular area but all over. On my leg one minute, my chest and neck the next and then my lower back. I’m scratching everywhere like a monkey. This goes on for a day or two. I’m thinking I’ve had an allergic reaction to some new clothes I wore or maybe some soap or something. I wash all my clothes and even the sheets. Still itching and scratching. After a couple more days of this, I’m afraid that my friends and co-workers are going to worry that I have fleas. So I go back to the doctor and tell him what’s going on. He says that I’ve had an allergic reaction to either the antibiotic or the over the counter medicine. I told him I’d had that antibiotic before so I didn’t think that was it. His response: “Well, you develop allergies to different things with age.” Thanks, so not only do I look like I have fleas but I’m also getting old.

Soooo… he calls in some prescriptions to the Wal-Mart pharmacy near my house. Might I remind you on any given normal day a Wal-Mart in Montgomery can induce a panic attack. I drove to the drive-up window about 10 minutes before 12. I ring the little call bell 3 times and no one answers. Remembering that they close for lunch, I think they must have left 10 minutes early. So, I decide to pick up something for lunch, go home and sit on the couch till 1 and come back.

I do exactly that. Except I decide that I’m not in such a hurry to get back to work and wait until 1:30 since I figure there will be a line when they open back up at 1. I pull up to the window and ring the call bell three times. Again, no answer. So I park my car and decide to brave the Wal-Mart crowd because I am certainly not driving back here 3 times in one day. I walk around the corner to the pharmacy and the roll gates are down and they are closed. There is a sign that says “Closed for lunch from 1:30-2:00.” It is now 1:35. It would have been really nice for that sign to be posted on the drive-up window.

No need for panic. I decide to shop around and pick up a few things I need anyway. I get three different packs of light bulbs, a new bath mat that is on clearance and a picture frame that I’ve been needing for something. I get back to the register and wait the remaining 5 minutes before they roll the window back up so that I’m first in line. I get two separate prescriptions and put my things on the counter. The check out girl just looks at me and says, “There is a 5 item check out limit back here.” Are you kidding me?! I say nothing but when she sees the very irritated look on my face, she decides to say, “I’ll do it this one time but just so you know from now on.” I pay for my items and still say nothing for fear that my head will explode if I open my mouth. I just got out of there as quickly as possible. So, I’m back at work. Wishing that I wasn’t and wanted to share this adventure of a day/week.

Best Halloween Ever

A few years ago, some friends and I went to a local pub on Halloween night. It was a weeknight and we had not indulged in the whole costume thing, but did go to a pub that was having a costume contest. There were the normal playboy bunnies, witches and vampires and a few that were a little more over the top. One guy was wearing a fake coffin around his neck with his head popping through. Though obviously homemade, it was pretty impressive.

So, a while after we got there, we are all sitting around a table enjoying our drinks and checking out people's costumes. My boyfriend (at the time) was running really late from a rehearsal and I was occasionally glancing at my phone to make sure I'd not missed his call in the loud crowded bar. At this point, I notice a powerized wheeler chair come zipping through the front door. My first thought is, "OMG, what a tacky costume!" And as I look a little longer I feel a little guilty and ashamed realizing, this is not a costume. The man is paralyzed from the base of his neck down. He can't even move his head. There is a small tube running into his mouth that he blows to go forward and sucks to reverse. I start to wonder what sort of enjoyment he might get out of coming into a bar, but think to each his own and go about my conversation with friends.

A few minutes later, I hear his wheels turning and turn to see that the man has pulled his chair right next to mine. I smile politely and say hello. And the following conversation occurs:

Me: Hello.
Wheely: Hello. Where's your costume?
Me: Oh, I didn't have time to get one with it being a work night and all.
Wheely: Oh. Do you have any candy?
Me: No, I don't.
Wheely: I have a blow pop in my pocket if you want it?
Me(outside):Umm, no thanks. I'm good.
Me(inside): OMG, WTF? Are you seriously hitting on me?

I'm looking around the table at my friends who are pretending not to be listening and trying not to laugh. I check the time and my phone again.

Wheely: You must be waiting for your boyfriend to call?
Me: Yes, actually I am.
Wheely: Well, I guess I better BLOW on outta here then.

He laughs, wiggling the tube in his mouth. And with that, he wheels off. I look around the table and my friends burst in laughter. I was joked on for weeks about it. But what was I supposed to do? How can you be mean to a paraplegic?

On another note, I ran into the same guy a couple weeks later at a big bingo casino here in town. I can't imagine how gambling could be fun for him... watching someone else put his money in the machine and pressing the buttons for him? But you gotta admire that he doesn't let his situation get him down. Wheely still likes to party.