Jason and Andrea Goff are the proud parents of Miss Payton Lee (or Leigh or the likes...). She was born in Lubbock at 12:06 p.m. today and weighs 6 lbs 10 oz and is 20 someodd inches long. Everyone is doing wonderfully. Mandy says she is precious....which I'm sure she is! Yeah for Jason! Proud Papa Chewbacca!

I got a job!!!!!!!

I'm the new 2nd grade resource teacher for 1/2 a day and 2, 3, 4th grade emotionally disturbed teacher for the other 1/2. Only 7-10 kids in the resource room and 4-5 kids in the ED room and I'll have an aide all day. It's in the Lake Dallas ISD, which is where I live. Today was my first job interview and they hired me on the spot. Honestly, it is not MY "ideal" job...but I've been praying about it a lot and I feel like this is where God has lead me. SO I took it. I loved the principal and the assistant principal. Not to mention, I have really been looking at my "comfort zone" lately. This job will really push me out of it. And I think I need that. This past year pushed me out of it, but in a cruel way. This job will be difficult, but also very rewarding. I know that I will learn a lot from these little guys and gals and will be better because of it. But could yall please remember to remind me of that when I'm freakin' out??? So YEAH! Amanda has a teaching job!!

Mandy has a new man. His name is Ronnie, he lives in Shreveport, LA. A coworker of her dad's set them up. They talk on the phone nonstop. He came and stayed last weekend, and was back last night. She has his yukon for the weekend. Because she is a pimp. I'm so happy for her...well, and him! So I had to post pictures from last night. SO cute!

Introducing....Mandy and Ronnie!! 

again, Mandy and Ronnie 

and again, Mandy and Ronnie  

So I've gotten in this habit of saying "whatever" to just about everything. I saw this today:

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is honorable...think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Very cool. Right now I need to think about whatever else other than the fact that my feet stink. I'm going to pack. Off to Houston tomorrow.

So on Friday this box of flowers arrived from James w/ a sweet note saying Happy Birthday. I read the instructions and put them in my trusty pineapple vase that had never been used. The attached info said that they would fully open in 3-4 days. I didn't think much about it until this morning when I noticed that they were wide awake and brightening the room....it was like a surprise all over again! Yeah, he knew that they took 3-4 days to open...and that's why I got them Friday...so they would be their prettiest today, on my actual birthday. Is that not the sweetest thing ever? Yeah, I thought so too.

Me w/ the pretty flowers 

Pretty flowers 

Happy Birthday Self!

For all of you who have also wondered the facts about our good and tasty friends, the asparagus...here is the site for you.

I had always been curious exactly how they grew. Now I know.

Oh, and they are part of the lilly family.

So last night Allison, Sheri, and I went to dance in Dallas. Not just on the streets, mind you. But at a real live dance club called Spankees. It was neat. We got all dressed up (see below) and thought we looked pretty wild. Turns out we were pretty concervative. About 90% of the people on the dance floor needed to leave there and go to the hotel, motel, Holiday Inn! But we danced some, laughed some, and were generally entertained with the joint and ourselves (again, see below).

Webcam whores 

So I had the test review for the teacher certification test tonight. I got out earlier than I thought. Allison had class til 9. We had already decided to go eat after she got out of class. So I got home and worked on some job applications and whatnot for a couple of hours before she arrived. Once here, she hurried us out the door.

So before I continue, I should tell you that in my single life I have moved my shoe closet from my closet to under my desk. All my shoes now live here. Well, ok, not all. But most. I should also remind you that I pretty much only wear Birkenstock and they are only made with a few basic sole types...so a lot of my shoes have the exact same soles.

So anyway, as she was hurrying me to leave...I glanced under my desk and slid on two shoes that in the semidark room, appeared the same. We drove to the restaurant and were walking to the door when I noticed that my feet felt slightly different. Below is a picture of what I looked down to see. I informed Allison of my mistake, we laughed and went inside. Not sure if anyone else noticed or not. Don't really care. I think I've turned into one of those dorky eccentric chicks, but I'm fine with that.

Oh, and on a side note...On the way home the following sentence came out of my mouth in a very factual, profound way:

"I like any song that spells out the word 'pimp.'"

Fashion statement a la Amanda  

Please, for your own amusement, go and watch this Hasidic reggae beatboxing MatisYahu video. You will not be sorry.

I've been at school since very early this morning. I am on a break so I decided to explore the building. I came upon an "e-mail kiosk," so the sign above the screen says. I've often wondered how to spell kiosk. Now I know. So I thought I would tell yall that I'm sleepy and thirsty. I've already spent 2$ on 2 waters and am out of cash. I don't get to leave here until 8 p.m. But I did make a friend that is in the same 12 hours as I am this summer and we swapped information so that we can share some of the load. Yeah for friends!

This day is going to offically be cancelled as counting in Amanda Days because it's no fun.

Off to wander around some more!

Mandy gave me this awesome sign for my birthday. She's not good at waiting for the actual day...so it's just a tad early. But it's so so so cute. And so is Mr. Carson K. Witty.

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I'm sick and that is so not cool for Amanda Days. I went to the Dr. yesterday and I have a sinus infection and a throat infection. My parents are here this weekend and I haven't even felt well enough to hang out w/ them. I did go to Fogo de Choa tonight. It was very tasty.

SO yeah, the boy. He's cool. I had a really great weekend last weekend. He gave me flowers (lilies, no less!), opened doors, pulled out chairs, I met his family...they were great too, and I'm going back in 2 weeks. He is like no one I've ever been involved with...and that, of course, is an excellent thing! He's a bass player in a rock cover band and a computer/gaming nerd...you know, like Moe & Adm...so nerd in a good way! And he does read this...who else would have posted that comment to my previously posted picture???? Very sweet!

Anyway, I'm moving my snotty ass to the couch, for it is beckoning me!

I got a webcam...to talk to the boy...but I took a picture of me just because I can. 

Excuse the use of the p word...but I laughed so hard at this picture!!!  

Happy Birthday to Meestee! Happy Birthday to Meestee! Happy Birthday dear Meestee! Happy Birthday to you!

My brother has a blog! Please visit him at Big Will's Style's All In It!

Kim has been out of town and the inlaws have been in town, so don't give up on her yet.

I got back late last night, well, actually early this morning. But I had a wonderful time. The boy is very very sweet. More details later...when I figure out if he reads this or not :)! (Hi James?)

My first day of school is tomorrow. My first class is from 8-11:50. My second class is from 12-3:50. My third class is from 4-7:50. All are in the same building, same room. Neat, right? If I don't die from complications of ADD, I will blog about it Wednesday...

So, today I'm going to Houston. It's a wild and crazy trip that I will tell yall about when I return. But it's for Amanda Days. But I'm going to meet a boy. Sheer insanity. Ok, bye.

I'm pleased to announce the completion of 3 of my 15 hours this summer. I will have a 91 in UNT's Special Education Programs and Practices (EDSP 5710). Which means I made and A in my first spec. ed. class! Yeah! It's over! Schooooool's out fo' summer! Schooooool's out til Monday! I start the other 12 hours on Monday, but still...

Anyway, today for Amanda Days I slept until I woke up. I love to do that. I turned my clock so that I couldn't see it and I slept until I was ready to get up. I also ate Whataburger chicken strips. I don't like to eat fast food or fried chicken. I mean, I do *like* it sometimes...but the mental knowledge of how crappy it is keeps me from eatin it. But Mandy and I went to Sonic and got a coke, Whataburger for some chicken, and then to Wendy's for a side salad. It was fun.

Oh, and some crazy person mentioned that there will be a break in the 20 day celebration...that is a mistake. I could have, indeed, been born on June the 7th...but I choose to wait. I wanted Misti to always be older!! Hee hee.

So, it's June the 1st. Today signifies the beginning of the 20 day holiday that I am going to call "Amanda Days." You see, my actual birthday is the 20th, but my original due date was in late May. So I have always just assumed that once June arrived, my mom probably thought each day was the day I would be born. She says she just remembers being tired and hot...but I pointed out that she is ALWAYS tired and hot in June, so that was not my doing. SO, anyway, I am taking it upon myself to celebrate each of the days in June leading up to my birth, which also usually coincides with the last day of spring (just as an added bonus).

It really isn't about simply being as self absorbed as I sound. See, Vic doesn't really like to celebrate anything. Not birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, etc. I've always enjoyed all of those things, but not obsessively. But on the 22end of this month it will be one full year since the night Vic sort of decided that he was leaving. And since I'm still making changes and adjusting to things being different, that is one that WILL be different this year. All of my holidays have really really sucked this past year. Even my birthday last year. SO with a fresh June, a fresh birthday, I am starting a fresh tradition of Amanda Days.

SO for the next 20 days I'm going to do something each day that makes it a cool day. Even if it's just actually shaving my legs or going to get a snowcone. So let me be the first to wish all of you a Happy Amanda Days. Hopefully I will remember to each day talk about what I've done for Amanda Days that day...but no promises!

It's Wednesday. I like Wednesdays. It's still not late enough for me to say, "I'll just do it next week..." but it's almost the weekend, so the light at the end of the tunnel has started to illuminate fun things in the approaching S days (you know, Saturday and Sunday...the only days in the week that start w/ S's which together create the weekend)! And this week that is especially true. Tomorrow is the end of my Maymester class. I can honestly say that it hasn't been as bad as I had anticipated. It has not been enjoyable by any means. But the anticipation was definitely the worst. I am pretty confident that I will have an A in there as well, so that's a nice little jewel as well.

Allison is leaving today to go to Odessa and the surrounding areas. I'm glad she's getting to go. She would probably explode if she had to stay around her until summer school starts on Monday. She is starting a master's program at UNT. We will be students together. She is also going to see her Walt, he is her boyfriend. I think. Actually I am not sure of the official title...but titles are kind of oppressive. Placing titles on relationships is sometimes necessary, but when it's not, I like to avoid them. With titles come a standard of rules...you know, a preconceived notion of what that title means. Anyway, I'm rambling about that so I will move on.

Mandy is once again a broke ass bitch. She fell down playing basketball at her family reunion in Hobbs last weekend. She made a trip to the Lovington ER where they told her it was sprained and put her in a brace and on crutches. Yesterday she went to the Dr. here and it's much worse than the Lovington ER doc thought (imagine that...a Dr. out there being wrong...shocking). She has to have an MRI tomorrow because they think she tore a ligament and if so, will have to have it pinned back together. She is in a boot up to her knee. Poor thing. I hate seeing people in pain.

Ok, I'm off. I must get back to Traumatic Brain injuries...nothing like a little TBI to ruin an unusually chipper mood! Actually first I think I'm going to go invite Allison for one last trip to the back porch...