Apparently I am the only person in the whole world that didn't get the memo that you only space once after the punctuation at the end of a sentence. Only on typewriters do you do so. Maybe it's because I learned to type in 10th grade on a typewriter by a 100 year old woman. But still, I'm pretty dorky like that and am just appalled that I didn't know this. It is going to be a very hard habit to break.

The mental image that comes to mind when I think of who watches sports: fat, beer drinking men. I went to 5 fat man stores to look for a college t-shirt for college t-shirt day at school tomorrow and couldn't find anything except for a large selection of A&M Aggie stuff. Why? I found lots of t-shirts with skulls, Jack Daniels, and Pink Floyd on them...but nothing with UNT, TTU, UT, WHATEVER! Like I'm picky about what college is on my t-shirt...as long as I can wear it w/ jeans, it's fine with me. Well, unless it has an Aggie on it...that's where I have to draw the line (sorry, Wendy :)). Do you think anyone will notice if I wear my Houston Texan's shirt tomorrow? It is the only thing even kinda close that I have...

"Why are you eating dinner on nursing home hours?" said Mandy Rue to Amanda. Well, because when you eat breakfast at 7 and lunch at 11ish, then dinner is at 5 or 5:30...even on Saturday, my dear Mandy.

The first two weeks of my 3rd year of teaching are over and not a moment too soon. It's so hard after a summer of sleeping until noon everyday to go back to getting up before the sun. Especially when you throw in a 3 day weekend after just one week back! But it has gone relitively well, it's much calmer than last year! I think I'm going to enjoy 3rd grade resource. My kids are really sweet and very cute...but just one exception, but I'm working on that one!

Vic is in Albquerque until Wednesday. He'll just be here until Sunday though. He is starting orientation at the VA in Alb. next Monday, so he needs to be back. He got a job doing x-ray every other weekend just to make some money while he is learning the new stuff for biomechanical jobs. I'm going to Alb. from Oct 4-8th.

It will be our 5 year anniversary on the 5th...well, since the first wedding, which is the one that we have chosen to celebrate. Since 10/5/02 we have been through a lot, so I think we should celebrate that we have ultimately made it...for better or worse :). While I'm there I'm hoping to see Pud too...I haven't seen him since we got married 5 years ago either!

Did I mention that I got a costume for Story Book Character Day (aka my school's version of Halloween)? I'm going to be Alice from Wonderland. I put it on and I look just like her, but fat :). I even have a trippy pink cat, but unfortunately he can't go to school with me! Ha!

Happy 23rd Birthday to William! Yeah!! Wish I was there to celebrate with you! I love you!

This is for Andra and Misti--it's the survey that you both just did that was in little boxes. For some reason the boxes did not copy/paste!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
The song "Amanda" by Don Williams and "Michelle" by the Beatles. My mom told me that a long time ago, but as she got older and more refined, she denied it. But whatever!

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
While watching the finalle of So You Think You Can Dance. Yeah, I'm a sucker. But I do have tour tickets for the Dallas show--whoa-hoo!

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
Depends on if I'm having a good day or a bad day. Or when I see some other peoples--then I love mine.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Boarshead Peppered Turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Only the furry four legged kind.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Absolutely, I rock.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Absolutely not. It offends me.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Nope

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No thanks.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Kid: Pops Grown up: Cherrios w/ a banana

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No, but then when I go to put them on again, I'm completely annoyed that I did that.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I manage.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Snow cones

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
how they present themselves-confidence

15. RED OR PINK?
Pink

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
that I procrastinate

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
My Mom

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
If they feel inclined

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Jeans & silver Heidi Klum Birkenstocks

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Quiznos Turkey Guacamole Lite

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Kids in the hallway at meet the teacher night

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
a broken melted one w/ the wrapper pealed off (I'm tired--I've been at work for like 10 hours and I'll still be here for a few more!)

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
New cars, Nancy poodle home from the groomers, gas, the oil field

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Vic

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I love them both!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
NONE.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Blondish-brownish

28. EYE COLOR?
Gray

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
nope, I love my spectacles

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
today: peanut butter

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
documentaries/weird independent movies

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Bourne Ultimatum

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
white

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
winter, I hate heat

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
both

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
banana pudding, coconut cream pie

37. WHO DO YOU THINK IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Don't know

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND
The ones who have already done it

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Wicked

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Petsmart Charities-a yellow lab snuggling w/ a gray kitty

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
news, weather channel

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
silence

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
No thanks.

44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
I guess Hawaii-me three!

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
SO many. I keep track of many random stories w/ Misti--we are especially talented together!

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Hobbs, New Mexico

Did I mention that I am the proud owner of this? No babies yet, but she will be excited when she's born. And yes, I know there is a chance of having a boy. He will love poodles too.

Vic and I just got back from a road trip. We drove to Denver, then to Midland, then home. We were gone 8 days. That's about as long as I can be gone without being so homesick that I swear I'm never leaving again. But we had a great time. We stayed with William in Denver, well, Lone Tree, CO, and saw Vic's Mom and sister who live in the area as well. We stayed with Meestee in Midland, of course. We shopped and ate Taco Villa and sat outside. A good time was had by all! Vic had an especially good time playing with Davis. We also had a family dinner w/ the fam damnly at Cheddars and then went to Meestee's. It's weird that we used to sit at Nana & Pa's house and then Denise & Huck's and NOW Misti & Danny's.

I only took two classes this summer, but one of them, taught by the head of the program, required a 95% to get an A. Grades posted last night and I made two A's. Making my GPA a 3.9...I made two B's in rehab MS classes back when I first started. But I have a 4.0 in my MS of Special Education program. I'm smarter than the average Amanda, if I must say so myself. I only have 3 classes left to graduate and that won't happen a moment too soon!

School starts back next week, kids start on the 27th. I'm ready to start back. I'm really excited about this year--teaching 3rd grade resource and all. Of course, you wouldn't know that I was ready to go back by looking at my classroom, which is pure chaos. I moved rooms again and everything is just sitting up there in boxes.

As probably all of you know, Vic and I got remarried on June 8th. I was hoping that my grandparents did not know. They are not the most understanding people and are rather set in their ways. That's one of the reason's I haven't talked about it much on here. But they now know, they aren't thrilled, but I suppose they will get over it.

In related news, back in June of 04 I blogged about not being excited to go to Aimee's bachelorette weekend in Lubbock because Vic had just told me that he wanted a divorce and my whole world was crumbling down. I, of course, went and didn't talk about what I was going through as not to steal her thunder. With the exception of telling Leah while there. Well, apparently she has just stepped into the 21st century and begun reading blogs, dispite my sending her and everyone else the link back when I started it in 2001. She sent me just the paragraph that I wrote about it on Myspace about a month ago. I wrote her back and she didn't respond. So just to clear up any confusion, I was only not excited because I was really sad, not because of Aimee or any other bitchy reason.

I made the best chicken for supper tonight. It was so good I think I need to share!

Quick Oven Fried Chicken Strips

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound chicken tenders
Greek or Mediterranean seasoning or other seasoning blend (I used Greek Seasoning--it's SO good!)
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
Italian seasoned bread crumbs

PREPARATION:
Sprinkle chicken tenders lightly with Greek seasoning. Prepare a cookie sheet with foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray (I just used the Release one w/out spray). Mix wine and mustard in one bowl. Put bread crumbs in another. Dip chicken in wet ingredients and then roll in bread crumbs.

Place on cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 475° put chicken in and bake for about 12 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Serves 4.

"MY OTHER TOY HAS TITS"

That's what the giant bumper sticker said on the back of a truck in front of me today. I was so offended. Like, I felt like my mother because my mouth well open and I started saying things like "Why. I never...." and "Who does he think he is?!" Vic was offended too, which actually kind of surprised me...I mean, he should have been, but he didn't even chuckle or anything.

It got me thinking. With all of the focus right now on people, and rap music, saying the "N" word, the "B" word, and the "H" word (which Al Sharpton says is "Ho" but I prefer thinking of the bad "H" word as "Hillary" HA!), words have the meaning we assign to them. If I take offence to the word bitch, then I have let someone control me with their words.

Think about the word "gay." It's my aunt's middle name. It did not used to mean homosexual, it used to mean happy and sunny. But we have transformed the meaning and a lot of people use it trying to hurt others. BUT, if other's are not offended by it, it looses it's power. The same with claiming the word FAT, which I personally love to use. I'm fat. When someone calls me that, even when I can tell they are trying to be rude, it is still a word that I like...and it doesn't bother me. That word doesn't hurt. I'm sure that some African American people have done the same with the "N" word. They have claimed it to take it's power away. But it is a word that offends me. When I hear it used, I cringe because to me it is the a worded that is filled with hatred.

But then, we have thoughts/ideas/statements like the above mentioned. What kind of looser thinks that is cool in any form or fashion? I feel so sorry for any woman that encounters this creep. That is so degrading to women. One brought him in to this world and another one probably gave birth to his children. SO, where I am really not offended by words...and do believe that letting something like this get to me is giving him some power over my feelings...I also think that sometimes we just have to take a stand for what is good and decent. And this is not. So, preach on Brother Sharpton, I smell whatchur steppin' in with this one and am going to make a conscious effort to watch my mouth.

For those of you who have NOT seen the movie Shag--this will not mean nearly as much to you.

I love it, something I've probably told yall before. Jamey's sister, Jill, introduced me to it somewhere around 1989-90. It's still my favorite movie. It's one of very few that I can watch over and over again and still be completely delighted. It's a coming of age movie about 4 girls who go on a last fling before one of them gets married. They tell her and their families that they are going to Fort Sumter to learn about their "heritage," but instead take her to Myrtle Beach to "be wild and meet boys." Anyway, it's always been a dream of mine and a few dear girlfriends to go to Myrtle Beach.

So that brings me to this Friday, when Vic and I are leaving for Topsail Beach, NC for 6 days. We are going with his family-they have a beach house there. I just got online to see what I might want to do while there and just thought I'd check to see how far Myrtle Beach is from where we will be...it's only 2 hours! So, then I was looking at the events in MB, SC and found this:

http://www.sunfunfestival.com/

The Sun Fun Festival has a big part in the movie and I just can't believe that it really exists!!!! I so thought it was just something made up for the movie! We have actually missed the main part of it...but they are still doing a "concert series." Maybe we will put on our Shaggin' shoes....ha ha ha!

Anyway, even though it is not the way I dreamed of going to Myrtle Beach--I always knew I'd see it for the first time with my friends...I am still going to check it out. I'm 100% positive that it is nothing like the movie or my imagination; but just to say that I have been there will be exciting!

It'll be the MOST FUN!

I've had so much go on since school ended. I'm going to give a fast re-cap!

Wednesday May 30-Vic & I drove to New Orleans a few days early for Whitney's wedding. We got there about 10 pm or so. At about 10 am the next morning, Vic's Mom called to tell us that his grandfather, Bob Post, had passed away. We stayed until Sat morning so that we could see Tamalca Friday when she flew in; but we had to miss the wedding. We got home at about midnight Sat night.

Sunday June 3rd-We flew out on a 7 am flight to Syracuse, NY. They lost my luggage with EVERYTHING in it. We waited a while after we got there, but finally had to go buy me something to wear to the funeral the next morning and some necessities (toothbrush, deodorant, basic make-up, undies, etc....) and Vic a suit because he forgot his.

Monday June 4th--Funeral & activities from 10 am to 5 pm. The church didn't have on the A/C and it rained ALL day, including when we were at the grave site for the 21 gun solute. At about 4 o'clock it occurred to me that if we didn't get our marriage licence before 4:30 the next day, that we would not be able to get married on Friday due to TX requiring a 72 hour waiting period after getting the license and getting married. I completely freaked out because we weren't flying home until Wednesday, which was too late. We entertained everything from having Mandy overnight us our birth certificates and doing it in NY to canceling the whole thing. My luggage finally arrived after the funeral--they set my bright red suitcase on his grandmother's porch in the rain. Neat.

Tuesday June 5th--I called the JP and explained the story. They told me that we could go before a judge and ask for a wavier for the 72 hour rule and it was up to him. I told them we would be there first thing Thursday morning.

Wednesday June 6th--We flew home and arrived at 6 pm or so.

Thursday June 7th, 8:00 am--We go to the court house. We have to sit threw all these CPS cases where the kids have been removed and they were checking on the parents to see if they were working on their service plan to get the kids back. It was torture. They kept saying "piss test" like it was a normal, non-offensive term. Gag. Finally the judge said "Where's the couple that just wants to get married???" We went up to his bench and had to explain why we didn't get it on time. He granted the waiver, he said we had the best reason he had ever heard that many times people come in and say "we are too in love to wait 72 hours!" Again, gag. The rest of the day we had to shop to get ready for Friday night; and await the arrival of Vic's mom and grandma from NY.

Friday June 8th--We had to shop for something for Vic and his mom to wear to the wedding and get everything ready. 4:30-went to the JP and got re-married. 5:30--had dinner and cake at Dad's with about 20 or so people.

Saturday June 9th--Everyone went home. The 9th-16th Vic and I just hung out. And I worked on school stuff, which had started June 4th(!).

Saturday June 16th--Vic went to work in Albuquerque with his dad. He's still there.

Wednesday June 20th--My birthday, had dinner w/ Dad, Lance, Lori, and kids. Kelsi (who's 15 now) came home with me. She went to basketball camp the 21st-23rd from 9 am to 9 pm.

Friday June 22--I went to swim with Maddie and her mom, Kelly. It started to rain. I was driving home on a 2 lane road. I came to a complete standstill while trying to turn left. A 16 year old kid rear ended me really hard. His car was so smished. My back bumper is crunched, but I'm fine. It was pouring rain and I was in my swimsuit and towel. So I never got out of the car. Luckily, the kid has insurance so they will be fixing my car.

Saturday June 23--Dad and Sheri came to the award ceremony of Kelsi's camp and then to dinner with us. When they got home they went in through the garage. My dad's big pimp Cadillac with about 12,000 miles and only 1 year old had caught on fire. There was a 3 foot hole in the hood and much of the car was melted. The entire garage was covered in black soot stuff. It melted the frig door shut and the sprinkler system box cover off. The fire chief told Dad that in his 20 years he had never seen a car fire not burn the whole house down. Sheri's car was in the garage too, it will probably be deemed as totaled too because of the smell--which is horrible! I told my dad it was my mom haunting them. He said that Sheri had already suggested that. But if it was really my mom, Sheri's car would have burnt to the ground. I think it was just a warning from Mom. You know the saying,"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Ha!

Monday June 25th--Kelsi and I go swim w/ Maddie and Kelly. Then I took Kelsi to Frisco to meet Lori. When I was leaving Kelly called to say that I could never come swim there again Friday when I left there, I had a wreck. Monday right after I left, their house got struck by lightening. It fried everything that was plugged in--tv's, Tivo, computers, phones, clocks, A/C, etc. It also arced through Kelly's arm--in the elbow, out her fingers. She said it hurt like a bitch. Maddie is developmentally disabled. She is very reliant on her TV, DVD player, Tivo, computer, etc. She completely freaked because they were all gone. It was a very long night for them.

SO I slept all day yesterday and pretty much today. It's been nice to be lazy. I'm really going to try to be better about blogging more. There really is no excuse now. Especially since Vic will be home Sunday and Dad's wedding festivities begin. Fun, fun. 7/7/07 at 7:07 p.m. is just around the corner!