A Black Sheep

Get in Line, Miss America

2012-01-25T08:58:00.000-08:00

Every girl growing up daydreams one time or another of becoming the next Miss America. I myself would dress up in my most evening-gown-looking-dress and sing, “Here she is Miss America,” while walking down my runway waving at my audience of stuffed animals.

Kenosha’s very own Laura Kaeppeler was crowned the 2012 Miss America in LasVegas.

Laura seems like a very nice woman and has made it her platform to support children of incarcerated parents to feel less alone, along with mentoring and continuing to have as much of a relationship with their parents as possible. A very noble cause if you ask me.

Oh, and did I mention she is drop-dead gorgeous and smart.

Who could dislike her? OK, maybe dislike is too strong of a word, but has a misunderstanding with her?

Um ... I do.

I can already see the hate emails clogging my inbox that I’m going to be getting on Friday. Let me explain why.

In the segment where the Miss America contestants introduce themselves, Laura took the time to send out a little message – “If you’re watching, Aaron Rodgers, call me.”

If you don’t know who Aaron Rodgers is, he is the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and, might I add, a very, very handsome and to this newly single lady a hunk.

So Laura, you are going to have to wait in line. Trust me, it’s a very long line. I know I’m not the first to have a crush and I know I won’t be the last. And as I’m writing this column, maybe a tad obsessed with Aaron Rodgers.

No, I have never held up a handmade sign proclaiming, “The future Miss Rodgers,” with an arrow pointing down to me at Lambeau Field in below-zero freezing weather. But I have been bitten by the Aaron love bug for a while now.

I became a fan in his University of California-Berkeley days. When I saw him play against Virginia Tech in a 52-49 win, after, that game I was hooked. Not to mention that he threw for 24 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions in his last college season. Can you tell I’m a bit of a fan?

So when the Green Bay Packers picked him up in 2005, I was on cloud nine. Sure, he didn’t have that much playing time being the backup quarterback to Brett Fave.

Aaron took that time to learn everything that he could from the staff, coaches and players. Just buying his time to shine.

He has proven to be a great leader that the Green Bay Packers needed. Sure it would have been wonderful to be playing in the Super Bowl again, and add another Vince Lombardi trophy to the collection. But you can’t win them all. He will learn from the mistakes in that game and move on. That’s what makes him so great. He is a gentlemen on and off the field.

So, Miss America, take a number and may the best woman win! This game is official on now. I going to take a page out Miss America’s book and add. If you are reading this, Aaron Rodgers, email me at ambertylerdesign@hotmail.com

Hey, it’s worth a shot!

Amber would love to have Aaron Rodgers be her date for her cousin Tina’s wedding on April 27th in Minnesota.

2011 Book List

2011-12-30T06:24:00.001-08:00

Back by popular demand!
Many people have asked for a list of books that I read in 2011 so here you are!

JANUARY - MARCH 2011

#1. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
#2. Maid To Match - Deeanne Gist
#3. Call Me Mrs. Miracle _ Debbie Macomber
#4. Runaway - Meg Cabot
#5. Henry Huggins - Beverly Cleary
#6. Mrs. Miracle - Debbie Macomber
#7. Henry And Beezus - Beverly Cleary
#8. Henry And Ribsy - Beverly Cleary
#9. Revolution - Jennifer Donnelly
#10. The Anne of Green Gables Storybook - Fiona Mchugh
#11. The Avonlea Album - L.M. Montgomery
#12. Beezus and Ramona - Beverly Cleary
#13. Henry and The Paper Route - Beverly Cleary
#14. Henry and The Clubhouse - Beverly Cleary
#15. Voluntary Madness - Norah Vincent
#16. Ribsy - Beverly Cleary
#17. Goodnight Nobody - Jennifer Weiner
#18. My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has more Closet Space - Lisa Scottoline & Francesca Scottoline Serritella
#19. Before Green Gables - Budge Wilson
#20. She Got Up Off The Couch: And Other Heroic Acts Form Mooreland, Indiana - Haven Kimmel
#21. Cringe - Sarah Brown
#22. Ramona the Pest - Beverly Cleary
#23. Ramona The Brave - Beverly Cleary
#24. Bone: The Great Cow Race - Jeff Smith
#25. Family Affair - Debbie Macomber
#26. Sh*T My Dad Says - Justin Halpern
#27. Ramona and Her Father - Beverly Cleary
#28. The Help - Kathlyn Stockett
#29. Ramona and Her Mother - Beverly Cleary
#30. Ramona Quimby Age 8 - Beverly Cleary
#31. The Tender Bar - J. R. Moehringer
#32. Annexed - Sharon Dogar
#33. It's Called A Breakup Because It's Broken - Greg Behrendt & Amira Ruofalo - Behrendt
#34. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
#35. Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin
#36. Heroes For My Son - Brad Meltzer
#37. Laika - Nick Abadzis
#38. Ramona Forever - Beverly Cleary
#39. Ramona's World - Beverly Cleary
#40. Pukka - Teb Keasote
#41. King Ko Used Books Vol.1 - Seimu Yoshizaki
#42. Kingko Used Books Vol. 2 - Seimu Yoshizaki
#43. A Walk To Remember - Nicholas Sparks
#44. All The Broken Pieces - Ann E. Burg
#45. Why Because We Still Like You - Jennifer Armstrong

APRIL - JUNE 2011
#46. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver
#47. Atonement - Ian McEwan
#48. A Prairie Home Companion 25th Anniversary Collection - Garrison Keillor
#49. Vixen - Jillian Larkin
#50. Ordinary Life - Elizabeth Berg
#51. Money Secrets - Dave Barry
#52. No Place Like Home - Mary Higgins Clark
#53. The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold
#54. The Anastasia Syndrome - Mary Higgins Clark
#55. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris
#56. Confessions Of A Sociopathic Social Climber - Adéle Lang
#57. Naked Heat - Richard Castle
#58. Bitch Is The New Black - Helena Andrews
#59. The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing The World, One Correction At A Time - Jeff Deck and Benjamin D. Henson
#60. The Wonderful Future That Never Was - Gregory Benford
#61. Room - Emma Donoghue
#62. Matched - Allyson Braithwaite Condie
#63. Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots - Abby McDonald
#64. 11 Birthdays - Wendy Mass
#65. The Year of Pleasures - Elizabeth Berg
#66. Body Surfing - Anita Shreve
#67. Ava's Man - Rick Bragg
#68. The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011
#69. Dork Diaries: Not-So-Fabulous Life #1 - Rachel Russell
#70. Dork Diaries: Not-So-Popular #2 - Rachel Russell
#71. True To Form - Elizabeth Berg
#72. Feed Your Brain Lose Your Belly - Larry McCleary, MD
#73. Lost In The Forest - Sue Miller
#74. Mrs. Kimble - Jennifer Haigh
#75. Naked - David Sedaris
#76. Rocket Boys - Homer Hickman Jr.
#77. The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson
#78. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
#79. The Tenth Circle - Jodi Picoult
#80. Orientation: And Other Stories - Daniel Orozco
#81. Mistakes Men Make - Daniel Billett
#82. For Keeps - Natasha Friend
#83. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson
#84. Don't Look Down - Jennifer Cruse and Bob Mayer
#85. Waking Up In Dixie - Haywood Smith
#86. Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott
#87. Push - Sapphire
#88. Keep The Change - Steve Dublanica

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2011
#89. Change of Heart - Jodi Picoult
#90. An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers - Danny Gregory
#91. Summer Love - Garrison Keillor
#92. Following Atticus - Tom Ryan
#93. 22 Britannia Road - Amanda Hodgkinson
#94. Twilight: The Graphic Novel Vol#2 - Stephenine Meyer
#95. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever - Jeff Kinney
#96. Blessed - Cynthia Leitich Smith
#97. Timepiece - Richard Paul Evans
#98. Fat Cat - Robin Brande
#99. The Perks Of Being A WallFlower - Stephen Chbosky
#100. Americus - MK Reed
#101. 9/11: The World Speaks - Lee Ielpi and Meriam Lobel
#102. Just As Long As We're Together - Judy Blume
#103. I Remember Nothing - Nora Ephroh

Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

With the start of the holiday marathon – what most people think of them as Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s – also comes that unofficial sport of pie eating. Like many people I enjoy eating a good pie. I really haven’t met an apple pie I didn’t like.

In fact, that goes the same for peach, raspberry, banana cream, pecan, peanut butter, chocolate moose, blueberry, cherry, rhubarb, strawberry, chocolate hazelnut, key lime, macadamia nut, Mississippi mud, derby, olalieberry, sweet potato, Hoosier, blackberry and yes, even a hot homemade turkey or chicken pot pie.

But the one that I can’t seem to even choke down the tiniest bite would be the pumpkin pie.

In truth, I just don’t like eating anything that has a pumpkin taste to it. Growing up, I wasn’t a big fan of my mom’s pumpkin bars, with the homemade cream cheese frosting. “Yes” on the homemade cream cheese frosting, pumpkin bar not so much. If I did eat one of those bars, I would have to slap on as much extra frosting that little bar could hold.

I just don’t have the taste buds that enjoy the pumpkin flavor. To me, it’s the fruit cake of the pie world. I think that it sure makes mince meat pie feel better, and I would put mince meat above pumpkin pie. That should tell you how much I dislike Pumpkin.

I’m not the only one that thinks and feels this way. In fact, there is a Facebook group called “I hate Pumpkin Pie. The group even states, “That all the whipped cream in world could NOT redeem it.” And I would have to agree. But if you have a love of pumpkin pie, there is a group for you, too, called, “I Hate People that Hate Pumpkin Pie.”

The smell of pumpkin pie, on the other hand, is intoxicating to me. How is it something so gross can smell so wonderful? My mom has the same feeling but towards coffee. She loves the smell, but can’t stand the taste of it.

A few weeks ago, I found a car air freshener that is the sent of pumpkin pie. It’s called “Hot Homemade Pumpkin Pie.” So every time I get in my car, I get to enjoy that wonderful smell.

So this holiday season, eat all the pumpkin pie that you want, but be sure to save me a slice of that warm apple pie.

Silly Fads

2011-07-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I got a much-needed education on what are the must-have fads for an 8-year-old. My niece, Kate, schooled me in the ways of the newest fad.

Would you believe the latest fad that is spreading through elementary schools like a wildfire is wearing rubber bands? Not exactly the ordinary brownish bands that can be found in any office desk drawer or junk drawer.

“Aunt Amber, they’re called Silly Bandz. They are so cute and when you stretch them, they return to their shape,” Kate said as she demonstrated it to me.

“Oh, of course that makes perfect sense,” I said.

Kate went on the explain to me in great detail that what makes them a must-have item is that they come in all different bright colors and shapes like dogs, boats, dinosaurs, elephants, dog bones, even swimming trunks. Just about any item that you could think of there is a Silly Bandz of it.

Actually, these Silly Bandz remind me a lot of the Jelly bracelet fad and the plastic charms that my sisters and I collected in the 80s.

“Kate, How many Silly Bandz do you own?” I asked.

“Oh I don’t know ... about 100 to 300.” Kate said with a big smile on her face.

“How much do they cost?”

“Oh, they are somewhat cheap. Around $3, plus you get at least 10 in every pack,” Kate said.

“I see. So what do you do with all your Silly Bandz? You can’t wear them all at the same time. Your arms aren’t long enough.” I said.

“Well I take them to school, and trade them with my friends for ones that I don’t have yet. We can’t do it during class but lunch time and recess we can trade.” Kate explained.

“So it’s like the New York Stock Exchange at recess,” I said.

“What, Aunt Amber? Anyway do you know what Squinkies are?” Kate asked me.

“No, I don’t know what Squinkies are, I’m afraid to ask. Plus, I think that’s for another lesson.” I told her.

Later that day, I wanted to see what were the top most wanted Silly Bandz were. Thanks to Google, I found out that there are seven rare Silly Bandz packs. They are swim suit or underwear pack, the outer space pack, Christmas pack, fantasy shapes pack, basic shapes pack, Rock Bandz pack and the rainforest pack. I also found out that some schools around the United States have banned Silly Bandz altogether, stating that they are a distraction to the students.

Later that night, Professor Kate informed student Amber that Squinkies are little figurines made out of plastic and come as different animals and characters that you put on top of your pencils. They are not erasers. They go on top of the eraser.

Javajunkie

2011-06-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, your life doesn’t really begin until after your first cup of coffee, or if there is, you’re not fully awake to be aware of it. Like many people, I depend on the caffeine to jump-start my mornings.

I really love coffee. The funny thing is I never used to be a die-hard coffee drinker. It started innocently enough. There was a Starbucks on my way to work at my first graphic design job. I would drive by it every morning and I would drive by it at night. One day, I stopped in to see what the hype was about and I was hooked.

I was given a Keurig Elite Brewing System a few months ago from my dad and stepmom Cathy. Reason being they upgraded to the Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup home Brewing System so they gave me their old one. In fact, that’s how I got my last coffee marker too.

Thanks again Dad and Cathy for making my mornings a bit easier.

Gone are the days of reheating up a cup of coffee in the microwave, because I didn’t want to waste the whole pot. It never tasted like that first cup. Or the other option was to spend 20 minutes in a line to pay over $5 for my morning pick-me-up.

I’m truly in love with this small kitchen appliance. It’s been a love affair from the start. Now when I want coffee, I just give my Keurig KCup Carousel a spin and pick that morning’s flavor of coffee. Grab my to-go mug or if it’s the weekend my black sheep mug and become the barista that I knew I could always be and have a hot fresh cup of Joe.

I enjoy how I’m able to switch my coffee flavors from cup to cup. I also just love the smell of coffee brewing. It also helps me get out of the morning fog and start getting ready for the day. It’s truly my heaven-sent brewing machine. Plus, no waiting in any lines.

The Top 5 Flavors of K-Cups That I Have Truly Fallen In Love With:

1. Café Escapes – Café Mocha

2. Van Houtte – Raspberry Chocolate Truffle

3. Café Escapes – Chai Latte

4. Gloria Jeans – Mudslide

5. Café Escape – Milk Chocolate hot Cocoa

All these flavors can be found at the “worship wall” in Bed, Bath and Beyond. That’s what Cathy and I have nicknamed the K-cups area in the store. Because they truly have the largest selection and are always adding to it.

“Amber, instant coffee is the same thing and a lot cheaper,” and friend of mine said to me.

“Lies, I tell you, lies! They’re all lies!”

OK, I might be a bit of a coffee snob, but to me instant coffee is not coffee. It’s colored warm water that taste like it was brewed and filtered through a dirty old gym sock. In fact, I would rather suck on the gym sock than drink instant coffee. If you really like that taste in your coffee you can just reuse a K-cup like my dad had to do because he ran out of k-cups last weekend. That even tasted 10 times better than instant coffee.

You truly have not had a real cup of coffee if you drink instant. Come on over and I will brew you a cup and you will never drink that poor excuse-so-called coffee again.

Honorary Member of the Dead Plant Society

2011-05-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

I have dreams of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radishes, lettuce and greenpeppers that I have grown all by myself.

There is a just one teeny weeny problem: I haven’t met a plant that hasn’t died in my care.

I’m like the Grim Reaper to plants. If you have a plant that just will not die, send it my way. It will be in plant heaven within the week.

My first victim was a ficus tree that I bought to spruce up my very first apartment. I did everything. I named him Fred the Ficus, gave it water, sunlight, fed it plant food and put easy listening music on the radio when I went to work. I even read him goodnight stories.

I thought things were going great with Fred and I, but I guess he didn’t feel the same. Fred passed away just four days after I brought him home from Home Depot. Yep you read that right: four days.

I’ve killed too many herb gardens to count. After the Fred fiasco, I learned not to name any plants. I even brought a gardening how to book, but the results were always the same. Even a cactus lost the will to live in my care. A cactus!

How is it that I have managed to keep my cat Tigger alive for 12 years? Even those times he decides to wake us up at 4 a.m. when I wish he would walk into the light and hang out at the pearly gates? But a terra cotta pot filled with basil is dead within two weeks.

This year I have already killed a basil plant. Just keeping my record alive.

So if I can’t grow them, I buy them at the farmer’s market. And that’s when I thought I would give the herb garden one last time. I bought three basil plants, one oregano and one marjoram plant, along with a quick stop to the hardware,store to buy two terra
cotta pots and some Miracle Grow Potting Soil.

Let’s face it, it’s going to take a miracle for these plants to stay alive. I also didn’t forget about my cat Tigger. I transplanted a plant of cat nip from my dad and step-mom’s house. Maybe he will let us sleep in a bit if he is high on “kitty crack.”

As of today, the plants are still alive. It’s a new record for me: three whole weeks.

Maybe I will get my honorary membership to the Dead Plant Society revoked. One can only hope.

Pinky

2011-04-25T10:48:00.001-07:00

“What kind of town do you guys live in?”

Both Jason and I heard this phrase a few times from friends and family. DeForest might be the unofficial home of giant fiberglass animals. Even Windsor joined in on the fun with a giant mouse sitting on top of a roof enjoying a wedge of cheese.

“So is the school’s mascot a pink elephant?” a friend of ours asked us a few months ago.

“No, it’s actually a little Norwegian guy. They’re called the DeForest Norskies. That’s just Pinky.”

“Pinky” has been at the Citgo station for about 50 years. I’m not sure if Pinky is his legal given name, but that is what I and many friends of mine have always called him.

When I was a kid, every time we would stop there my sisters and I would run over and say “Hi Pinky” and take turns sitting in the crook of his trunk. Just like Dumbo did. I even had a bumper sticker of Pinky that I slapped on my suitcase.

Pinky the pink elephant has had a few owners; and has even had a some work done along with a makeover or two. When I was a kid, Pinky wore sunglasses and was in bad need of a paint job. Nowadays, Pinky seems to back to the shade a pink that is just so him and now wears precision glasses. See, even pink elephant eyes get bad.

There was talk about Pinky being moved out of state when the Citgo station was closed. I for one think Pinky is a part of DeForest history and should stay here. Plus Sissy the cow would get very lonely without her friend Pinky.

If you have any photos of “Pinky” the pink elephant they gladly would like a copy for the wall of fame that is located inside the gas station.

When I was in college, I was a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding and she just loves elephants. The whole wedding party got in the limo and drove to the Citgo station to take a photo with Pinky. I had to laugh because my dress was the same shade of Pink as my dear friend Pinky.

Some Shoes Aren't Made For Walking

2011-03-28T06:32:00.001-07:00

The moment you get on the topic of shoes, men and women are not on the same page.

Men just don’t understand the all-consuming love-affairobsession that many women have. Men can get away with only owning three pairs of shoes: everyday shoes, dress shoes and weekend shoes. Women match their shoes to their outfits and you know how many we have of those.

I believe our love for fashionable footwear begins shortly after we learn to walk. Many parents even bronze that first pair we wear. My parents did that with mine.

When I was a toddler, I would slip on a pair of my mother’s shoes – high heels, of course – and I would pretend to be my mom or Wonder Women, depending on my mood.

My first pair of shoes that I fell in love with was a pair of black Mary Janes. I always had to wear them when I went to the hospital to visit my grandpa Tyler at work. I just loved the sound they made in the long white hospital hallways. I would even dance down the hallway. They were my “tap shoes.”

One time my mom had to explain to me why it wouldn’t be a good idea to wear them when swimming in Sliver Lake.

Even now I have a nice little pair of open toes high heel shoes that I love to wear. They just hug my feet. They are so cute, too. The only problem is that they hardly have any traction.

Just last Tuesday I put on those oh-so-cute shoes and was heading out the door and I took a header. (That’s right, fell on my face) on my kitchen floor.

A man would have turned around and changed his shoes. Not me. I grabbed my Coach handbag and keys and headed out the door to work.

I had a few more close calls, but I also had two people compliment on how cute my shoes were. I know I’m not the only one that keeps a pair of shoes that hurt or inflect bodily harm to ourself and others.

Meryl Streep once said, “I own one pair of Prada shoes. They make my feet hurt ... It’s not the shoes’ fault; they are exquisitely made. I blame my feet. I’ve got my mother’s feet.”

I don’t have my mother’s feet, but I might have gotten her love for shoes. My collection keeps growing. It’s still contained to my side of the closet. I’m in no way becoming the next Imelda Marcos (the former Philippine first lady).

The Marikina City Footwear Museum in Manila opened in 2001. The museum contains hundreds of pairs of shoes from the former First Lady. Many of them were found in the Presidential Palace when Imelda and her husband President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines in 1986.

In 2009, the museum was able to rescue majority of the collection from rising flood water and only about 100 pairs were damaged.

Even Actress Penelope Cruz confessed that she has never been able to get into a new role until she knows what kind of shoes the character will be wearing.

It’s good to know that I’m not alone with my love of shoes. I really should get rid of my shoes before I break my neck, but they are so cute.

Juror #113

2011-02-22T07:38:00.001-08:00

In the 14 years of being eligible for jury duty, I have never been picked. Is this truly a system based on random selection? I would have won the Power Ball jackpot by now if I was playing every time they needed a juror.

I’m like the last kid getting picked for a team. They are actually going back and picking previously-chosen players, such as my mom, dad and even Jason.

It’s personal now. What was I not good enough to sit on a jury? Are there certain juror standards that I wasn’t living up to? Just give me a chance.

After work, I went to our mailbox and there it was waiting for me. No, it wasn’t anything that I needed to call the bomb squad about. It was an official document with my full name. It was a summons for jury duty. My day had come.

The letter informed me that I would have to call on Thursday after 4 p.m. to see if they need Pool Group #GR08. They may need me to call back several more times before they tell me whether they need me.

I write on every calendar Ican find in bright red ink, so I will not forget to call. That’s the last thing that I need; is to have a bench warrant out for me for failure to appear for jury duty under S. 756..30, Wis. Stats.

I play it cool and I call at 4:08 p.m. the recording tells me that #GR08 must call back Sunday evening at 6 p.m. All other groups are dismissed. I made it to round two! Is this what it feels like to be told “You’re going to Hollywood” on American
Idol?

Friday, I inform my boss and co-workers that I might have jury duty; and have everything ready in case I will not be in on Monday. Sunday night I promptly call the number. The recording informs me that Jurors 1 to 315 will need to report to the court house promptly at 8:15 a.m. And also suggested to leave early due to protesters at the Capitol. I’m juror #113.

Everyone that I know gave me what they call helpful tips on being rejected as a juror, such as say I’m breastfeeding, suggest that I start a congo line with my fellow jurors, show up in my Wonder Woman underroos and request to be called Diana Prince, have a pizza deliver to the jury box or wear 3D glasses and act like I have an imaginary friend and have a heated disagreement, just to name a few. But I truly think they’re just jealous.

I arrive at the courthouse 20 minutes before I needed to be there. It indeed took a while to find a parking spot due to the protesters at the Capitol and the weather didn’t help.

“Last name?” the clerk asked.

“Tyler, T... Y... L... E... R” I said.

“OK, fill out the juror information card and wear your juror badge at all times. We will be watching a short movie when everyone gets here.” the clerk said.

I tell the clerk thank you and find a seat to fill out my card. Once that’s done, I pull out my book and start reading. 8:30 a.m. rolls on by and no movie, so I keep on reading. Ten minutes later, the clerk starts the movie. The movie was informative but really boring. I had flashbacks of some of the history movies I was forced to watch in school.

Right after the movie was done, the clerk calls two groups to go upstairs to start the jury selection. I was not picked in that group, so I got my book out again and read some more.

An hour-and-half goes on by and some 40 pages read, the clerk informs us that we are all not needed and two groups will be dismissed. “Jurors with the numbers #114 to #159 are free to go.”

So I pick up my book and read some more. Another hour goes by and the clerk informs us that we will be held until the jury is picked. After they have done that we will be free to go.

Ten minutes before our lunch break and get paid for a whole day of jury duty, we were told we are free to go! And only five pages left to go on my book.

Twelve dollars later for parking and a sheet to give to my boss, my jury duty is done until four years from now when I could be picked again. Next time I might be selected. Count me in.

As Amber Tyler was writing this column, she was informed that her sister Amanda has jury duty next week. She suggested that she should bring a book.

Bonus Christmas

2011-01-25T07:07:00.001-08:00

So a few short days after Christmas. I got an email from a gentleman named Eric. It simply asked one question.

“Did you ever lived on Stevenson Street? If so I got some mail in my mailbox for you. Have a great day!”

As a matter of fact I did live on Stevenson Street for 2 years, but that was like two years ago. I thought this was a bit odd because I did fill out a change of address when I moved. I also informed friends and family of my new address. But curiosity got the best of me. So I had to find out what it was, I replied to Eric’s email right away to tell Eric that I indeed did live there but it was two years ago.

What could it be? Could it be a letter from an old friend or could it be a just junk mail from some business. It was killing me not knowing.

Thankful Eric put me out of my misery and replied back right away.

“Awesome, I’m so glad I found you. The envelope looks like it has been through WW3, but I think it is a Christmas gift. Would you like me to mail it or I could drop it off sometime. Just let me know.”

That got me thinking about how nice it was for Eric to take the time to track me down. Many times I get mail for the former person that lived at our place. I have never taken the time to track that person down and give them their mail back to them. I just write “Return to Sender and stick it back in the mailbox. If it’s junk mail it goes in the trash.

Eric took the time to track me down, was willing to spend the money on a stamp. Just to make sure I got my Christmas gift.

I didn’t want him to waste a stamp just to mail the gift to the other side of town. So I again replied to his email and made plans for him to drop it off at the DeForest Times office that is nearby to were he lives. and thanked him again for tracking me down.

So you might be wondering what the mystery mail was... well it wasn’t a check from the Publisher Clearing House saying that I won some big amount of money. It also wasn’t a free sample of shampoo from some business. It was a nice Christmas card from my aunt Sue and a special monetary gift just for me. Thanks to Eric and his Sherlock Holmes like skills I was able to enjoy a little extra bonus Christmas.

Aunt Sue didn’t get my change of address because she was also moving the same time I was. Mystery solved case closed!

2010 Book List

2011-01-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand!
Many people have asked for a list of books that I read in 2010 so here you are!

JANUARY - MARCH 2010

#1. City Of Bones - Cassandra Clare
#2. Christmas Wishes: Christmas Letters/ Rainy Day Kisses - Debbie Macomber
#3. Princess Academy - Shannon Hale
#4. The Dirty Girls Social Club - Alisa Vaides Ratiguez
#5. Prefect Christmas- Debbie Macomber
#6. Fireproof - Eric Wilson
#7. It not Easy Being Green - Jim Henson
#8. Graceling - Kristin Cashone
#9. Pride and Prejudice and Zombie - Seth Grahame-Smith
#10. Little Giant Of Aberdeen County - Tiffany Barker
#11. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
#12. Twenties Girl _ Sophie Kinsella
#13. Traveling With Pomegrantes - Sue Monk
#14. We thought You Would Be Prettier - Laurie Notaro
#15. Lucky - Alice Seboid
#16. Belong To Me - Marisa De Los Santos
#17. Extra Credit - Andrew Clements

APRIL - JUNE 2010

#18. The Compound - S.A Bodeen
#19. Ignore Everybody And 39 Other keys to Creativity - Hugh MacLeod
#20. London Calling - Edward Bloor
#21. Ace of Cakes: The Book - Duff Goldman
#22. To Kill A Mocking Bird - Harper Lee
#23. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitpatrick
#24. Retail Hell - Freeman Hall
#25. My Parachte is beige - Ken Brown
#26. Going Bovine - Libba Bray
#27. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - Betty Smith
#28. Fairy Tale Weddings - Debbie Macomber
#29. Hannah's List - Debbie Macomber
#30. Wild Girl - Patricia Giff
#31. Multiple Choice - Claire Cook
#32. The Music of Dolphins - Karen Hesse
#33. A Place To Hide - Jane Pettit
#34. The Bad Girls Guide to the Open Road - Cameron Tuttle
#35. Ford County - John Grisham
#36. You Were Always Mom's Favorite - Deborah Tannen
#37. He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt & Liz Tucillo
#38. Easy Answers to Life's Hard Questions - Kerren Barbas
#39. More Easy Answers to Life's Hard Questions - Losis L. Kaufman

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010

#40. PS. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
#41. A Dog's Life - Ann Martin
#42. Hypocrite In A Pouffy White Dress - Susan Jane Gilman
#43. Memoires of A Teenage Amnesiac - Gabrielle Zevin
#44. The memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards
#45. Rachel's Cowboy - Judy Christenburry
#46. A Soldier's Return - Judy Christenburry
#47. Claim To Fame - Margaret Peterson Haddix
#48. Ya-Yas in Bloom - Rebecca Wells
#49. Art of Toy Story 3 - Charles Solomon
#50. I'll Mature When I'm Dead - Dave Barry
#51. Daddy Dumbest - Ben Bromley
#52. The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks
#53. This World We Live In - Susan Beth Pfeffer
#54. Willow - Julia Hoban
#55. Operation: Midnight Tango - Linda Castillo
#56. Vintage T Shirts - Patrick & Marc Guetta
#57. If... (Questions For the Game of Life) - Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywell
#58. If2... (500 New Questions For the Game of Life) - Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywell
#59. If3... (Questions For the Game of Love) - Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywell
#60. Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer
#61. The House Of Tomorrow - Peter Bognanni
#62. The Starter Wife - Gigi Levangle Wife
#63. Persuasion - Jane Austen
#64. Heart To Heart - Lurlene McDaniel

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2010

#65. Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 1 - Stephenie Meyer
#66. Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
#67. Pretty Little Liars - Sara Shepard
#68. I Heart You, You Haunt Me - Lisa Schroeder
#69. The Book of CaddyShack - Scott Martin
#70. The Cardtunner - Louis Sachar
#71. 1022 Evergreen place - Debbie Macomber
#72. Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog - lisa Scottoline
#73. I Kill Giants - Joe Kelly
#74. The Little Prince - Joann Sfar
#75. Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House - Sid Jacobson
#76. Diary of a Wimp Kid: Dog Days - Jeff Kinney
#77. Uncharted Territori - Tori Spelling
#78. Incarceron - Catherine Fisher
#79. Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf - Jennifer L. Holm
#80. Angels At Christmas - Debbie Macomber
#81. Drive - By Comedy - Al Franken
#82. Autobiography Of A Fat Bride True Tales Of A Pretend Adulthood - Laurie Notaro
#83. Heat Wave - Richard Castle
#84. The Reader Bernhard Schlink
#85. I lIke You - Hospitality Under The Influence - Amy Sedaris
#86. Being Nikki - Meg Cabot
#87. Stitch -Opedia - Helen Kendrick
#88. The Wisdom of Pixar - Robert Velarde
#89. You Named Your Baby What? - Jilly Stansfield
#90. Trash - Andy Mulligan
#91. Wishin' and Hopin' A Christmas Story - Wally Lamb
#92. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth -Jeff Kinney
#93. The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
#94. A Time To Kill - John Grisham
#95. I Love Everybody (And Other Atrocious Lies) - Laurie Notaro
#96. Simple Times Crafts For Poor People - Amy Sedaris
#97. You Say Tomato, I say Shut Up - Annabelle Gurwitch & Jeff Kahn
#98. Silver Bells - Debbie Macomber
#99. Zombies Vs. Unicorns - Holy Black & Justine Lanbalestier
#100. Christmas In Cedar Cove - Debbie Macomber
#101. Awkward Family Photos - Mike Bender & Doug Chernack

Something New For New Years

2010-12-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

Here we are again.

It's that time of the year when Baby New Year is slapped on his bottom by Dr. Dick Clark and nurse Ryan Seacrest and is welcomed into the world by thousands of people in Time Square, along with millions watching in there homes. It makes you think about making that New Year's resolution yet again.

So, you might be wondering what my resolution is this year. OK, I'll tell you. My New Years resolution this year has two parts to it. Doesn't it sound so top secret that way?

Part one is to keep on eating healthy and to exercise, blah, blah you know the drill; but part two is different and new. I will be trying something new every month, something I've never done before or have been afraid to try.

It's a resolution that I can keep along with part one. To tell you the truth, it's one that I can keep without really trying. It's only 12 new things. Maybe I might take a cooking class in February or try water skiing for the month of August, or curl up and read the complete works on Jane Austen in November.

Sure, some months will be more exciting than others and I might even share a few of them with you. See, this year's resolution is already working for me: awesome column ideas. Nothing illegal mind you. I already know that the color orange is not a good color on me.

How did I come up with this wonderful-awesome-column-making New Years resolution, you ask?

Simply, I ripped it off. Oh, I mean I borrowed it from my aunt Doreen. It was her New Years resolution that she had this past year. She did some fun things and had a blast doing them. Like one month she entered herself in a hairy leg contest.

OK, I wouldn't be able to do that one. A two day growth is about as much as I can take. After that, it's time to shave the legs.

You might be wondering what my January challenge will be. I will be dying my hair blonde. I have never really dyed my hair any other color than what my natural hair color is.

When I was a kid, my hair was very blonde, very close to looking like a "Village of the Damned" child. But as I got older, it turned to what it is today.

I'm not going "Village of the Damned" blonde, but it will be in the blonde family. Jason doesn't believe that my hair was ever blonde, even though there are pictures to prove it. So to prove to Jason that I can get out of my comfort zone and change my hair color, it also gets my January challenge out of the way. A win-win scenario. This girl will be a blonde of a little while anyway.

Please no blonde jokes. I've heard them all anyway.

If you have any ideas of stuff that I could do, drop me an e-mail.

Must - Watch Christmas Movies

2010-11-29T08:39:00.001-08:00

Now that we all have come out of our turkey induced comas, it’s time to get into the Christmas season. What better way to do that but pull out those much-watched holiday-themed movies.

Some timeless Christmas movies include “Miracle on 34th Street,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas,” but there are so many others out there. Here are a few that you might not have thought about.

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)
This movie is based on Jean Shepherd’s timeless classic. The film introduces us to Ralphie Parker, who wants only one thing for Christmas – “an official Red Ryder Carbine – action 200 – shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time.” In spite of the fact that every adult he knows is convinced that he’ll shoot his eye out.

Everyone has seen this movie at least once, and if you haven’t watched it, go rent it or buy it. You might even be able to see it on Christmas Day (TBS has it on a 24-hour loop).

Jason love’s this movie and can quote all of it. All he has to do is start signing, “Jingre bears, jingre bears, jingre are the way,” and I start to laugh.

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)
It’s a musical and comedy adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
Although it’s a remake, it stays loyal to the original novel.

All the Muppets that you know and love are in this movie. Bob Cratchit is played by none other than Kermit the Frog. Even Beaker shows how much he doesn’t like Mr. Scrooge by giving him the bird. (You will have to pause it to see it, but it’s there!)

My sister Amanda and I used to watch it at least once before Christmas. Amanda told me just a few weeks ago that she fills out her Christmas cards in July. I had to laugh and also ask, “How can you get in the Christmas season in July?” She replied, “Easy – I just pop in the Muppets Christmas Carol and start writing.”

DIE HARD (1988)
John Mclane travels from New York to Los Angeles to spend the Christmas holiday with his wife and Children. This movie has it all for that manly man in your life. Action, humor and things blowing up.

If you like this one, also try Die Hard 2 that also takes place at Christmas.

It’s not one of those traditional Christmas movies, but it’s always good to have a little variety in life. It’s one of my dad’s favorite movies. There is some material that may not be appropriate for children.

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)
The Griswold family plans for a big family christmas, but things don’t run smoothly. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

This is one of the movies that I have to watch. It always makes me laugh, and the Clark Griswold character reminds me a bit of my dad. In fact, I bet when you watch this movie, there is a character that reminds you of a family member or friend.
Sure,

I like watching the classic Christmas movies, but I also like the watch the not-so-traditional movies to help me get into the Christmas mood. A nice huge mug of warm cup of coco also helps.

Bird Clock Is Driving Me Cuckoo!

2010-10-25T13:35:00.001-07:00

This last weekend, I was at my mom and stepdad’s for a short visit. We talked and so on and time just flew on by. When I heard the kingfisher bird call, wow, I didn’t know it was that late.

That’s right. My mom is a proud owner of a genuine plastic singing bird clock, that has been approved by the Bird Watchers Society. I know you can hardly control your enthusiasm.

Just to recap, I don’t really like birds, and I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual. But my mom loves them. She puts up bird feeders and bird baths and plants flowers that attract them. She has done everything short of joining the Bird Watchers Society.

I don’t really remember who bought the clock for her. Maybe she even bought it for herself. “Yep, a signing bird clock would be a lovely addition to our home. It will look lovely in the hallway.”

Now in case you have been living under a rock for the last decade or so and haven’t seen a commercial or scanned the “As Seen on TV” aisle in the stores, let me explain how it works. It’s sort of like the modern day version of a cuckoo clock. The numbers have been replaced with pictures of birds, and when the clock strikes the hour, the bird sings.

The bird sounds are very authentic recordings of actual bird calls. Nothing but the best for the Bird Watchers Society. They sing, and sing... every hour... All day... every day... day after day... rain or shine... 365 days a year and even on Leap Year Day.

There is a mocking bird, a chickadee, a cardinal, a woodpecker, a goose, a wren, a robin, a sparrow, a kingfisher, a titmouse, an oriole, and – the last one to make the cut – the great horned owl.

How did the Bird Watchers Society choose the birds? Was there hours and hours of debates or did they just put them all in a hat and picked 12 of them? Thank you for not choosing the crow.

When I was still living at home, the thing had the uncanning knack for singing at the time when I least expect it. Imagine trying to understand an algebra assignment deep in thought and suddenly a Canadian goose honks out at you, or you are on the phone and a woodpecker is pecking or you are in a different room and you hear a terrible commotion, to only realize it’s just the clock reaching the hour of mockingbird.

My sister Amanda was a nanny to a little boy named Trent. She would bring him over to hang out and play. He knew when it was time to go back home when the Canadian goose would honk, five o’clock for all you non-bird clock owners. Trent wouldn’t move from his spot until he heard it and after it rang he would chant. “Goose, goose, home, honk, honk, bye, goose, honk, honk!” Mind you he wasn’t even 3 years old yet.

One of my friends also has this clock and every time it chimes their dog runs to the clock, wondering where the bird is. The dog does a few laps around the room to try and find the suspect. It’s entertainment for the whole family.

The only relief from the clock is it has a light sensor that prevents it from singing at all hours of the night. Makes you wonder if the designers have a hunch that it might become extremely irritating.

Well, I’d really love to write more, but it’s half past the wren and it’s soon going to strike the robin and I better get dinner ready!

Are You Ready For Some Football!

2010-09-28T09:38:00.001-07:00

Now with the World Cup done and over with for a while now. We can officially move on to what we Americans call football. And with this comes everybody’s favorite office time waster after playing solitaire and tweeting; managing a fantasy football team.

Of course, before you can manage a team, you have to come up with a team name.

What I found out in my research. Yes that’s what I’m calling it! - is fantasy football team names can be funny, odd and occasionally crude. But many play off there favorite team or player. Such as Favre Dollar Foot Longs, Aaron\s Lve, Cabbage Packers Kids, Lambeau Leaping Lizards, Pimpin Ain't Breesy and Packinators.

Another direction people take is using a pop culture reference from a TV show, movie or a song. Here are a few examples that I found when “researching” Benny and the Jets, Breesuss my homeboy, Don’t get your jock strap in a bunch. Run Forest Run, Yippy Ki Yay, Marshall Fauker and Got Jock Itch.

Then there are just the plain odd ones. Like they are part of an inside joke. I can’t help but think they want to make it hard to have a league trophy engraved, if this was in deed the case. Would they proudly display that trophy on there fire place mantel that read “Oxpuke” at the end of the season for everyone to see.

And to tell you the truth these odd ones were the ones to make me laugh the most. And in my research that's right still calling it research. I found a few that did just that. Multiple Scorgasms, STD’s - Score Touch Downs, Please be 18, Ninja Rabbits, Give Me Some of Those French Fries, I Didn't Give you Crabs, Ass Hat, Warm Glass of Shut The Hell Up, and Angry Drunken Dwarves.

This will be my second year doing a fantasy football. I’ve noticed that I pay more attention to football games because I’m going research. In the past I would read a book when watching a game. Not anymore I’m watching to see what players I should pick up for the next week.

I have a lot at stake with this season. I just hope I’m not dead last. A friend and I have a bet going on. He thinks I’m going to be dead last and if I do. I have to wear a shirt with his face on it a get a photo taken with me wearing it. Not so bad, Wrong! This photo then will be my facebook photo for the whole year. Thanks again Josh!

I myself didn’t go with any of the directions listed above. I just simply named my “A Black Sheep.”

Whatever you pick for your team name. Make sure you have some fun.

Back 2 School Memories

2010-08-25T06:49:00.001-07:00

In a few short days, children all over the United States will be waiting at the bus stop to start another school year. Many of them will be wishing that summer could last just a bit longer, but a few will be happy to start again.

Before that can happen, the dreaded school supplies shopping has to begin. My mom always seemed to make this somewhat fun for us. That might be the reason why I always loved it. Sure, we would have to maneuver a overflowing cart around pallets of three-ring binder filler paper and notebooks and have to deal with crowded aisles with families that looked like they were heading off to get executed. Even that didn't even spoil my fun one bit.

One of the biggest deals for me was trying to decide what color my classes notebooks were going to be this year. "Maybe red, oh that purple is cute, oh I know green," and so on it would go. And of course, a matching folder to go with.

Each year, it always seemed to us that the teacher's would request something that you wouldn't find at any store. "The golden ticket items" is what we sometimes called it. Where do you find a star shape paper hole punch? or lime green 4-by-6 inch note cards?

It became a game, like a treasure hunt for us, and the rule was that whoever could find the golden ticket item would get to pick where we would have lunch that day or gets to ride in the front seat the rest of the day. This was like the Holy Grail to us.

We'd run around the crowed aisles of the school supplies area looking for that much-needed item. " I found it," you would hear one of us say a few minutes later. But it wasn't official until the judge - AKA Mom - made her call.

Another item that I loved picking out was my book bag for that coming year. My sister and I would look them over and try them on walking up and down the aisle like we were fashion models. We'd then make our choice and show it to the judge. Again, in this department, the judge had the final say.

When we were all done, we would have lunch at the winner's choice restaurant. Really, it was between Pizza Hut, McDonald's and KFC - or what my little sister calls "Chicken Hut." During lunch, we would talk about what outfit we would wear at the first day of school.

When we would get home, my mom would label all of our stuff. "A Tyler" with a black Sharpie. She always did this. At one time, she did it to my basketball jersey that I had to return at the end of the season. That was fun to explain to the coach.
When she was done with that, Amanda and I would divide everything into two piles - her stuff and mine - and start loading up our book bags.

I always loved how everything would be new, fresh and well-organized. This would be the first and last time for that. The rest of the year, it would become a black hole - we'd throw everything and anything in those bags.

I didn't really know how much time and money it took to get us all off and ready for school each year until I had to do it for college.

Could anybody explain this to me? Why does a Human Anatomy book cost more than the class? Or why did I have to buy an English textbook if my professor only lectured and tested us on the handout that he passed out? Instead, I got a really expensive door stop that I can press flowers in if I would like to. The professor also changed the books the next semester so I couldn't re-sell it.

This might be the reason why I love the smell of a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil or that I always smile when I open a fresh box of Crayola Crayons.

Thanks, Mom!

Garage Sale 101

2010-07-26T09:03:00.001-07:00

We have all seen that sale item or special buy that we just have to have. Maybe you have told yourself "I so need this" or "How have I been living without this?"

My personal favorite is "I will use this everyday!" Just to make it OK that you're spending money. Then six months later, it ends up in a garage sale.

So for a few weeks now, I have been going through my stuff and asking myself, "Do I really need this?"

Do I really need 10 pairs of black capri pants? Do I really need three copies of the same book, because I can't remember that I've already read the book?

On the plus side, I did come across some items that I was glad to find, like my scientific calculator that has been missing for three months. Found it under the bed; along with Tigger's secret stash of my hair ties.

Looking at my cast-offs and soon to be merchandise for the big sale, it brought up a new question: "Where did I have all this stuff?" And boy, there is a lot of it.

My family and I are not professional garage sellers, but it's a yearly thing for us. We are not the kind of people that go to other sales just to stock up the merchandise for our sale. Our motto has always been if you don't use it, get rid of it! What doesn't sell we donate, and this works for us.

This last weekend, my family and I had a garage sale. You could say we were a bit crazy to have it in 90-plus degree weather. We had something for everyone. Tools, toys, jewelry, books, clothing; it was your typical garage sale.

Here's a bit of Garage Sale 101. The holy grail of garage sales is the multi-family sales. Even if it isn't a true muti-family sale, I would still put it in your ad to get the die-hard garage sale-goers to come. Those two words are like bees to honey. They have been know for camp out in front of the house just to get the chance to be the first one to lay there eyes on your cast offs. I mean "merchandise." At times, they can be mistaken for waiting to but the latest iPhone or concert tickets.

Also, you can never have too many ones, fives and tens. There will always be someone that wants to buy a 25 cent book, but all they have is a $50 bill. Also, putting up an "All sales final" sign wouldn't hurt.

Mark all your merchandise with some kind of tags and make sure that they are legible. Be open to people wanting to negotiate a price. It goes hand in hand with garage sales.

If you asked me before the sale started, I would have bet that the large dream catcher and the two life-size, evil-looking Christmas elves wouldn't have sold. But I guess the old saying still holds true: "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

I just figured out that its the book publisher's fault for changing the cover art on me. That's why I keep buying the same books over and over again.

Q and A

2010-06-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

It was like any typical Friday morning I turned on my computer and clicked on my e-mail. As I waited for it to work its magic. I took a sip from my caramel moco latte. It was taking longer than normal, so I thought, "Boy I got a lot of spam e-mails. But when it was finished, I had 33 e-mails and all of them had in the subject: “A question” or "A comment about your column." What did I do to bring this on?

It's truly amazing how some columns get no e-mails, but then others almost max out my e-mail. And many times, it's just someone wanting to ask me a question.

I have never been afraid of feedback good or bad. Feedback helps you improve or give you a different point of view that you might not have thought about. If I can take the feedback that my college professors dished out I can take almost anything. Most of the feedback that I get is very positive. Yes, there have been a few negative ones, too. I thought I would share some of the questions that I have been asked over the years, along with my answers.

Question #1: I know you don't like birds, but what else don't you like?

Answer: I don't really like mice, rats, centipedes, snakes and lizards. If any of above cross my path, I've been know to jump up on the nearest item and scream like a little girl. That’s right like a little girl.

Question #2: Do people recognize you when you are out and about?

Answer: I do get recognized, but it happens more as a double-take like they are trying to think where they know me from. My parent's dog, Odie, get's recognized the most. Everybody knows Odie.

Question #3: What column(s) have you gotten the most feedback from your readers?

Answer: The one that prompted the 33 people to e-mail and 6 people to write letters would be when I wrote about Poynette High School changing there school mascot. The next two would be a tie between Jason and I moving in together and one of my first columns that I wrote. It was about Relay For Life. And the most recent one was my wii obsession. I got 10 emails, a phone call and comment on my facebook profile.

Question #4: Why did you name your column "A Black Sheep?"

Answer: It's many little things that can make anybody a black sheep, but I think the biggest is I was more a tomboy than my sisters. I learned early on that it's OK to be different, to embrace what makes you special. and to be proud of it Someone told me a few years ago, "If you have to be a sheep, at least be a black sheep."

Question #5: I know that you wrote that you like to read. What are some of the great books that you have read?

Answer: Out of the 126 books that I read last year and the some 50 books that I've read so far, I really enjoyed the "Twilight Series" by Stephenie Meyer. I was very surprised with it. My sisters kept on me to read them and I'm glad they did. Another book that I think everybody should read young or old is "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. I also read “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck every year.

Question #6: How do you come up with ideas for a column? I think it would be really hard.

Answer: Sometimes, it is hard to come up with something, but it always seems that something happens that I can write about. I mostly write about what's going on in my life. Sometimes, I have to do a bit of research; but that’s not that hard. It’s not like I’m writing a term paper.

Question #7: Are you superstitious?

Answer: I would say that I am not superstitious. My birthday is on the 13th and sometimes it lands on a Friday and nothing bad happens. But I also don't go out looking for ladders to walk under or break mirrors for fun.

Question #8: What three things would you take with you to a desert island?

Answer: First and I think the most important thing would be Bear Grylls from the Discovery Channel's "Man vs. Wild." He will be able to do all the hunting and forging that will need to be done. And an added bouns is he’s easy on the eyes. Second, a huge case a sunblock. I burn some what easy. Lobster red isn't a good color for me to wear. Third, a good book. So I can just sit on the beach and read when Bear is doing his thing.

Question #9: If you could have dinner with anyone that is famous, who would it be?

Answer: I assume that you want me to pick someone that is alive. So in that case I would have dinner with Sir Paul McCartney. I would love to hear about all the stories behind the music. I've been a Beatles fan from the start. There’s a picture of me no more that one year old. with headphones on and listening to a Beatles record.

Question #10: Do you have any tattoo or piercing? If yes, how many and what and where are they.

Answer: You mean besides the huge eagle that I have across my back, I only have my ears pierced. I know, how boring. I just never really want something inked on my body that is going to last forever. If I had to get a tatt, I would get a monarch butterfly on my right shoulder in memory of my stepmom, Cheryl who passed away in 1998. If it makes you feel any better, I do enjoy the TV show Miami ink.

I admit it. Sometimes when I'm writing, I wonder, "Does anybody read it?" Well, that Friday morning, I got my answer. I would just like to thank everybody for reading my column and for giving me feedback. If you have a question or a comment feel free post it here!

"Wii" Have A New Obsession

2010-05-10T13:49:00.001-07:00

Some people have obsession with shoes or maybe they play too much golf.

I admit it – I have one for designer handbags, but my new obsession surpassed my handbag one. It’s nothing illegal mind you. It’s playing the Nintendo Wii.

It started about two months ago. Jason’s parents gave us a Wii and the Wii Sports Resort game for our birthdays. His parents bought themselves a system last Christmas and Jason got bit by the Wii bug after playing just one game. Most of my family have been owners for awhile. I have wanted one since the first time I played one too. Jason and I talked about buying one as our birthday gift to each other. Now. we didn’t have too.

“Score! We got a Wii.”

I pooled most of my birthday money that I received to purchase another controller, nunchuck, controller charger, two more games and a Wii Fit Plus. We are officially Wii-tricked out.

One of the funniest things is to see Jason’s mom and dad competing against each other when they play the Wii. They are super-competitive. It also includes some really funny trash talk. They had me laughing so hard last Christmas that my ribs hurt. This should have been a wake-up call that Jason might be the same way.

As soon as we got the Wii set up, we started playing all the different games. It became very clear that I’m a bit rusty with playing video games. I did okay at basketball, but so far Jason was kicking my butt in everything else. Whenever I would get a high score, Jason would say “Let me give it a try.” and within that time he would be the top score yet again.

This isn’t the first gaming system that I have owned. Growing up, we had the Nintendo, SEGA, and even an Atari. One Christmas, I got my very own Gameboy. You know, the boxy gray one that cast a green glow on the little obsessed gamer’s face. The thing also weighted about 3 pounds and sucked batteries like it was going out of style.

The very next morning, I knew that I’m going to need to stretch a bit before I turn on the Wii. My left arm was so sore, and so was my right leg. I figured out that I have a very forceful swing. I swing with a purpose.

Just this last weekend, I spent a total of six hours playing the Sims 2 Castaway game. I made it to the second island and also found my other castaway. At the time, that was all I wanted to do. I truly became obsessed with the game.

I will need to be very careful about the Wii sucking my every free minute, but right now it’s still kind of new. Guess who almost didn’t write her column for a round of wakeboarding?

Jason holds the top score of 1,538 to my 986. Having a Wii has put me in the mindset of a four-year-old with a brand new toy. I’ve even had Wii dreams with myself as my Mii character looking for a point of interest or trying to get the best time.

I have also caught myself thinking from time to time about the Wii games and “How can I be faster?” or “I think that last balloon might be over there!” I’m just itching to get home and play the games to see if I was right.

If this obsession doesn’t fade in the next month or so, I’ll actually have to join a support group. But since it’s still new, I’ll go easy on myself. On the plus side, I have lost four pounds from playing the Biggest Loser and the Wii Fit Plus Games. And I’m becoming more competitive myself.

This column is officially done. Time to power up the Wii and try to beat Jason’s high score on wakeboarding.

Pulling The Wool Over My Eyes

2010-04-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Can you keep a secret? I know that everybody in my family can, including Jason.
What kind of secret, you ask? A surprise birthday party for yours truly.

So, you are probably wondering how they all pulled this off. I know I was thinking the same thing. I love my family, but some people just can’t keep a secret to save there lives. If you ever want to know what everybody is getting you for Christmas, just ask my sister, Amanda. She will give you a detail list of who’s getting you what.

So, how did they pull the wool over my eyes?

Simple. They lured me with food.

That’s right. Amanda, “the master mind of operation Surprise,” called me in March to see if Jason and I would be able to attend a “small family get together.” I told her we would and did she need me to bring anything. She said, “No I got everything under control.” And if you know Amanda, she takes party planning very serious. I told her if she changed her mind to just let me know.

So, after I gave her the all-clear signal, she deployed Operation Surprise with everything see had; Phone calls, e-mails, Facebook and maybe even smoke signals.
Sure, looking back there were a few signs on what she was planning. Like my parents were going to both be there. That only really happens with major events, not family get togethers. And how Jason insisted that we drive down alone. When we normally go, we car pool with someone.

The day arrived and we set out on the road. It was a nice drive. We talked most of the way there, listened to the radio and even listened to a book on tape.

As we got closer to the my sister’s house, Jason asked me. “Hey! What Amanda’s phone number?” I said, “I don’t know it’s 33 something. I have it in my cell phone if you want to call her.”

I thought this was strange because we were only 6 miles away and we had a GPS system in the car.

So, I allowed Jason to go in my Coach handbag and get my cell phone out to call Amanda. That’s right, I allowed him. If you only get one thing from the column is that women don’t like it when men or anybody for that matter goes into there handbags without permission.

Jason was hanging up with Amanda as I were pulling in their driveway. The lovely and sometimes sassy GPS voice said we arrived at our location.

I mention there really was no need to call her when we were getting out of the car. But he just handed me my phone back and shrugged. I also noticed that my mom, stepdad, dad, stepmom and Odie were already there.

As I walked in the house, I saw everybody in the living room, even my sister Jenny and her boyfriend, Chris. Last but not least, my niece Kate.

Everybody at that moment looked at me and yelled, “Surprise.”

I was shocked. I couldn’t understand what this was for. Then my niece said “Happy Birthday Aunt Amber!”

(Light bulb) “Oh, that’s what this all about.”

And right at that moment, my bladder reminded my that I have been in a car for over an hour. So I excused myself.

I have never had a surprise birthday party before. I think my family was enjoying the fact that nobody leaked the secret out. My niece told me “Aunt Amber you should have seen your face!” Great, what kind of pictures are going to be coming out of this party?

As we settled down, I started to piece things together. Amanda really out did herself she had everything that you would want to eat. She also made some awesome ravioli with different sauces.

Here’s a little back story. I have never had an Dairy Queen Ice Cream cake before. My mom has always made me a birthday cake, either a pineapple upside down cake or an angel food cake. Both are my all time favorites.

So when anybody has had an ice cream cake, I would comment, “I’ve never had an ice cream cake!”

Well, I can’t say that anymore. Not only did I get an ice cream cake, I got the biggest one that they make and my sister had them personalize it saying “Amber It Is Your Birthday”

For all you “The Office” fans out there, you know what that’s from.

As the day was winding down, people were leaving to head back to there homes. Jason, Brian, Amanda and I were just sitting and talking.

Amanda asked me, “So were you really surprised?” I just smiled and said, “Yes, I really was. But remember paybacks are a ...”

How Irish are you?

2010-03-11T12:14:00.000-08:00

A cold pint of Guinness + my lucky 4 leaf clover on the lapel of my jacket and signing “Oh Danny Boy” with everybody in the bar = St. Patrick’s Day.

I love this day. Not only is it when bars actually give you a deal on imported beer, it’s just a fun holiday.

Whether you’re Italian, German, Polish or English, come St. Patrick’s Day everybody is yelling “Kiss me, I’m Irish.”

So here’s a quiz that I created to really see how Irish you may be.

#1 The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade took place in:
a. Ireland
b. England
c. United States
d. France

#2 What does “Erin Go Bragh” mean?
a. Ireland Forever
b. Ireland Love
c. Ireland Live Well
d. Ireland Is Mine

#3 The Official emblem of Ireland is?
a. Snake
b. Harp
c. Blarney Stone
d. Shamrock

#4 Boxty is what?
a. An Irish type of BOTOX
b. An Irish type outfit
c. An Irish type of dog
d. An Irish potato pancake

#5 The Prime Minister of Ireland is know as:
a. An Tánaiste
b. The Dude
c. The Prime Minister
d. The President

#6 The name of John Wayne’s Character in the film “The Quiet man” was:
a. Jack Foley
b. Sean Thornton
c. John O’Donnell
d. Michael Collins

#7 Galway is in which Province
a. Ulster
b. Leinster
c. Connacht
d. Munster

#8 The unit of currency in Ireland is
a. The Pun
b. The Pound
c. The Dollar
d. The Euro

#9 Who is the female patron saint of Ireland?
a. Saint Máire
b. Saint Patrick
c. Saint Áine
d. Saint Brigid

#10 The book “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt was principally based in which Irish city?
a. Limerick
b. Sligo
c. Cork
d. Dublin

#11 What is meaning of the Irish Claddagh ring?
a. Heat, Hands and Crown
b. Love, Friendship and Loyalty
c. Faith, Hope and Charity
d. Nothing, it just looks nice

#12 What does the three leaves of the shamrock (three leaf clover) represent
a. Party, Drinking and Signing
b. Father, Son and the Holy Spirit
c. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
d. Nothing it just grows every where in Ireland.

#13 Which Michael brought Irish dancing to a wider audience?
a. Flatley
b. Flatbottom
c. Flatfoot
d. Flatulence

#14 Ireland was declared a Republic in which year?
a. 1801
b. 1922
c. 1916
d. 1949

#15 The County with the Shortest coastline in Ireland is:
a. Louth
b. Sligo
c. Leitrim
d. Wexford

Here are the Answers:
#1 C, #2 A, #3 B, #4 D, #5 A, #6 B, #7 C , #8 D, #9 D, #10 A, #11 B, 12 B, 13 #A #14 D, #15 C

If you got 15 to 10 questions correct, you’re “Maith go leor!” (All right!) You’re as Irish as Irish can be. Much like the Irish Springs guy. Now go treat yourself with a pint for a job well done. Maybe even dance some Riverdance style dancing.

9 to 5 right: OK, so you are not Irish Spring guy status, but you do know some facts. Your a wee bit Irish. Your more like the Lucky Charms Leperchan.

4 to 1: Sorry, lad or lassie. You’re as Irish as the McDonald’s shamrock shake.

But here’s the thing with St. Patrick’s Day; It doesn’t really matters what heritage you came from. It’s a reason to spend time with friends and family.

Chances are you are in a pub for the same reason that I am ... the beer. So raise your pint for a toast.

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head
be always strong.
May you be in heaven
a half hour before
the devil knows you’re dead.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone!
Remember to always drink responsibly.

The Couple's Guide To "Chick Flicks"

2010-02-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

Snuggling up on the sofa with your sweetie to watch a movie is one of life’s simple pleasures, but often World War III starts. Finding a movie that you both can stand to watch can be harder than finding world peace.

Your man’s in the mood for adventures or sci-fi and you are leaning towards a romantic comedy otherwise know as the “chick flick.”

But what I found out might shock you: men pretend to hate them, but enjoy watching some of them. Jason and I have a few that we both don’t mind watching together.

While You Were Sleeping (1995) The main character’s name is Lucy Moderatz, a lonely subway worker in Chicago. She becomes smitten with a handsome stranger. When she saves his life after he’s been mugged and fallen into a coma, his family mistakes her for his fiancee. Starring Sandra Bullock, Peter Gallagher, Bill Pullman, Peter Boyle.

Why I like it: t’s funny, smart and surprisingly well-written. It’s one of the movies that I watch that helps me get into the Christmas season, but really it’s OK to watch anytime. The family in the movie reminds me of my family. I also love that it takes place in Chicago. I have a soft spot for movies that are placed in Wisconsin and the Chicago area.

Why Jason likes it: It has Sandra Bullock in it. Do I need to say any more?

Love Actually (2003) Its multiple stories have elements that almost everyone can relate to, whether it’s falling for an unobtainable person or being cheated on. It’s a movie about the different kinds of love. Starring with an all-star cast Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney, just to name a few.

Why I like it: I love that it’s a movie with multiple stories. And as you are watching it, you wonder how do they all tie together? It’s a very funny, smart and insightful movie as well. I really enjoy the Hugh Grant and Colin Firth story lines.

Why Jason likes it: Ditto, to what you said, but I enjoy the story line of the characters John and Judy. The Judy character reminds me a lot of Sandra Bullock.

Miss Congeniality (2000) This movie is about an FBI agent named Gracie Hart. Gracie is going undercover as a Miss United States contestant, but Gracie doesn’t have a beauty pageant bone in her body. Starring Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen, William Shatner.

Why I like it: I have to laugh that they think putting Sandra Bullock in grey sweats, mess up her hair and throw some glasses on her face is going to make her look ugly. I would give my right arm to look like Sandra Bullock in her ugly duckling stage. If you can get over the fact it’s a very funny move. I wouldn’t recommend Miss Congeniality 2. You can’t win them all, Sandra Bullock, but I do forgive you. Nice job on the Blind Side.

Why Jason Likes it: Hello! It has the Sandra Bullock factor. I think I could stare at her reading the phone book for hours.

Return to Me (2000) A recently widowed architect (Bob) who falls in love with a waitress that works at an Irish-Italian eatery (Grace), who also received Bob’s wife’s heart. Bob must decide which women it is who holds his heart. Starring David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Bonnie Hunt, James Belushi, Carroll O’Connor.

Why I like it:It’s another movie that takes place in Chicago. Sure David Duchovny and Minnie Driver did a wonderful job, but the supporting cast just cracks me up. The soundtrack also got me to like big band music. The best line the movie is “swiss water.” Once you watch it you will know what I mean. Bonnie Hunt also directed it.

Why Jason likes it: I thought Sandra Bullock was in this one!

Attention guys! Movie night can’t always be cops, guns, things blowing up every 30 seconds, aliens or machines trying to destroy the human race. Now you have a few that you – dare I say – enjoy to watch.

This weekend, Jason and I will be watching the movie “The Proposal.” Starring Sandra Bulloock. I have a feeling the Jason will enjoy it.

It's 2010 Where's My Jet Pack?

2010-01-19T07:01:00.001-08:00

The newness of 2010 is starting to wear off. Its “new car” smell has disappeared. When I look at the numbers “2010,” I think, really? It really can’t be 2010. But the calendar proves me wrong.

When I was a child, I thought 2010 was so far away, that I would be old and gray for some reason.

Many movies, books and television shows helped feed all of our fantasies of the future. There’s just one thing that I would like to know.

Where’s my jet pack?

I realize that we have come a long way in the area of technology. I just thought it would be much faster.

I truly thought that we all would be living like the Jetsons by now. Surely we would all have robot maids like Sweet Rosie. I would love to have a Rosie in my life. Correction – I need a Rosie in my life.

The closest thing we have to the Jetson’s Rosie is a clunky round disc that pretends to clean floors that eventually runs out of batteries under the coffee table.

Sure, we have the gadget-filled iPhone and computers are certainly better that they were a decade ago. The invention of Wii has changed gaming forever. And don’t forget the mind-blowing technology to be able to whiten our teeth in the privacy of our own homes.

I truly believed when I was a child that by now we would all be using teleporters, just like on Star Trek. When you realize that you don’t have enough milk for your morning cereal, just teleport to the store and teleport back home, all before your Wheaties get soggy.

We also wouldn’t have to deal with money because we would all have a chip implanted in our thumb that would have all the information programmed on it. Or how about for mention jet pack. Right now I would be happy for a solar powered car.

At the very least, we should have little packages that you throw in the microwave and it turns into a gourmet meal in just seconds. That includes a dessert that will not make me fat, but tastes wonderful.

The closest thing we have to this is a microwaveable dinner that tastes like the box it came in and really hasn’t changed that much since the day it was invented. Let’s put some manpower on this one.

Oh well ... Maybe 2030? I’ll be 51 by then. Maybe then I’ll have my jet pack, a cloned T-Rex named Dino as a house pet and have a summer cottage on the moon, were I can take classes from a Jedi on lightsaber fencing.

Seriously, where is my jet pack?

2009 Book List

2010-01-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand!
Many people have asked for a list of books that I read in 2009 so here you are!

JANURAY - MARCH 2009

#1. White Oleander - Janet Fitch
#2. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating and Sex - Joshua Piven
#3. The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides
#4. Love Comes Softly - Janette Oke
#5. Big Russ and me: Father and Son - Lessons of Life
#6. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
#7. Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
#8. The Chocolate War - Robert Cormier
#9. Animal Farm - George Orwell
#10. The Manning Grooms - Debbie Macomber
#11. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The Last Straw
#12. Stori Telling - Tori Spelling
#13. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook - Joshua Piven
#14. Tis - Frank Mccourt
#15. Scared of Santa - Denise Joyce & Nancy Watkins
#16. The Action Hero's Handbook - David & Joe Borgenicht
#17. Little Miss Sunshine: The Shooting Script - Michael Arndt
#18. Love's Enduring Promise - Janette Oke
#19. The Chamber - John Grisham
#20. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
#21. Love's Long Journey - Janette Oke
#22. Bleachers - John Grisham
#23. The King Of Torts - John Grisham
#24. Cheaper By The Dozen - Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gibreth Carey
#25. Ransom My Heart - Meg Cabot
#26. Journals - Kurt Cobain
#27, Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells
#28. Pride And Prejudice - Jane Austen
#29. The last Summer (of You & Me) - Ann Brashares
#30. The Girl Code - Diane Farr
#31. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordon
#32. The Last Girls - Lee Smith
#33. Does This Book Make Me Look Fat - Marissa Walsh
#34. Keep In Touch: Letters, Notes, And More From The Sisterhood Of The
Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
#35. The Sea Monsters - Rick Riordan
#36. 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows - Ann Brashares

APRIL - JUNE 2009

#37. My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands - Chelsea Handler
#38. When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris
#39. Forever Princess - Meg Cabot
#40. I Am The Messanger - Markus Zusak
#41. Must Love Dogs - Clairie Cook
#42. M+O4EVR - Tonya Hegamin
#43. Wind In The Willows - Kenneth Grahame
#44. Alice In Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
#45. Through The Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll
#46. Don't Eat This Book - Morgan Spurlock
#47. Love's Abiding Joy - Janette Oke
#48. Bar Mitzvah Disco - Roger Bennett
#49. Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen
#50. Love's Unending Legacy - Janette Oke
#51. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
#52. What Would Wonder Woman Do? - Jennifer Traig
#53. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
#54. World Without Us - Alan Weisman
#55. The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus
#56. The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
#57. Multiple Bles8ings - Jon & Kate Gosseling and Beth Carson
#58. My Mommy is in America and She met Buffalo Bill - Jean Regnaud & Emile Bravo
#59. At First Sight - Nicholas Sparks
#60. Street Gang The Complete History of Sesame Street - Michael Davis
#61. Live Through This: A Mother's Memoir of Runaway Daughters and Reclaimed Love - Debra Gwartney
#62. Summer On Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber
#63. The Duggars: 20 and Counting - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
#64. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2009
#65. The Uncommon Wisdom of Oprah Winfrey A Portrait In Her Own Words - Bill Adler
#66. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
#67. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
#68. A Walk To Remember - Nicholas Sparks
#69. Handle With Care - Jodi Picoult
#70. Just Take My Heart - Mary Higgins Clark
#71 Love's Unfolding Dream - Janettte Oke
#72. Naked Lunch - Williams Burroughs
#73. Mommywood - Tori Spelling
#74. The Guardian - Nicholas Sparks
#75. Love Takes Wing - Janette Oke
#76. The Choice - Nicholas Sparks
*#77. Love Finds A Home - Janette Oke
#78. Leaping Beauty - Gregory Maguire
#79. I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
#80. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
#81. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen
#82. Candyfreak - Steve Almond
#83. Nights In Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks
#84. A Wedding in December - Anita Shreve
#85. Cinematherapy the Girls Guide to Movies For Every Mood - Nancy Peske &
Beverly West
#86. A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks
#87. Advanced Cinematherapy: The Girls Guide to Finding Happiness One Movie
at a Time - Nancy Peske & Beverly West
#88. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
#89. Paige by Paige - Paige Davis
#90. Closing Time - Joe Queenan
#91. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
#92. Sundays At Tiffany's - James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
#93. The Patron Saint of used Cars and Second Chances: A Memoir
- Mark Millhone
#94. Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieska _ Jon Scieszka
#95. The Girls Guide To Hunting and Fishing - Melissa Bank
#96. The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression - Amity Shlaes
#97. One Whole And Perfect Day - Judith Clarke

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2009
#98. Hella Nation: Looking for Happy Meals in Kandahar, Rocking the Side Pipe, Wingnut's WarAgainst the GAP, and Other Adventures with the Totally Lost Tribes of America - Evan Wright
#99. 92 Pacific Boulevard - Debbie Macomber
#100. All American Girl - Meg Cabot
#101. Go green, Live Rich - David Bach
#102. Kiss the Girls - James Patterson
#103. The Wedding - Nicholas Sparks
#104. The Acciedental Billionaires - Ben Mezrich
#105. The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
#106. Crazy Love - Leslie Morgan Steiner
#107. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
#108. Idenitical - Ellen Hopkins
#109. Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life - Linda & Tosh Sivertsen
#110. Wicked - Gregory Maguire
#111. Ready or not All American Girl #2 - Meg Cabot
#112. Let It Snow: Three Holiday Stories - John Green
#113. Three Weeks With My Brother - Nicholas Sparks
#114. The Last Holiday - Andrew Clements
#115. Wigfield The Can Do Town That Just May Not - Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello & Stephen Colber
#116. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer
#117. Angry Conversations With God - Susan E. Isaacs
#118. Can This Be Christmas - Debbie Macomber
#119. An Idiot Girl's Christmas: True Tales From the Top of the Naughty List - Laurie Notaro
#120. The Street Lawyer - John Grisham
#121. A Journal For Jordan - Dana Canedy
#122. Devil In The Details - Jennifer Traig
#123. Marley and Me - John Grogan
#124. Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are - Rob Walker
#125. True Believer - Nicholas Sparks
#126. A Map of the World - Jane Hamilton

'Tis The Season

2009-12-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for giving. There are many different ways to show you care. You can give money to any number of charities, donate food to the local food pantry or give blood.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, but only 5 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood in any given year. Did you know that three people benefit every time someone gives blood.

I know what you are thinking. Who really likes to give blood? I do.

Many of my friends don't understand why I sign up to give blood every chance I get, but that doesn't stop me from asking them to join me.

One of my friends put it this way when I asked her to come with me, "So you sign up to have somebody stab you with a huge needle, steal a pint of blood, then put a band-aid on your stab wound and guide your light-headed body over to the 'cookie table' so you can be well enough to drive home where you will pass out? That doesn't exactly sound like my idea of fun."

"Not exactly" I said. The needle isn't that big and I've never passed out, and you forgot about the sticker you get that says "Be nice to me, I gave blood today." Plus they have really good cookies.

I understand giving blood isn't for everybody. I remember the first time I gave I was a bit scared. I was a junior in high school and my church was having a blood drive. I made up my mind that I was going to give it a try. The main reason I wanted to donate was to see what my blood type was.

When it was my turn the American Red Cross nurses walked me through each step and answered all my questions. I felt I was ready to give blood. I'm not going to lie you; the worst part for me is getting poked with the needle. It does sting but only for a second. Twenty minutes later the nurse told me I was all done. I got my Hello Kitty! band-aid and a volunteer came over and escorted me to the "cookie table."

When I was sitting at the cookie table drinking my orange drink and eating my chocolate chip cookie, an older lady was just getting done and she came to sit by me. We exchanged names and she asked me if this was my first time. I said "Yes it is and how did you know?"

She said "Amber, I've been a nurse since 1943. I'm retired now but I could always pick the new comers out."

"Really? You were a nurse? How interesting," I said.

She told me that donation marked her 40th gallon. I was amazed this tiny lady has been able to donate that much blood. After our time was up she told me she's glad to see some young new faces coming out to donate and she hoped to see me again.

A few weeks later I got a letter in the mail informing me of my blood type. I found out I was O- which means anybody can use my blood, but if I needed blood I could only have O-. They call it the universal donor. There are eight different blood types O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-.

I still donate blood as often as I can, and have bumped into the retired nurse a few times. Now 84 years old, she has donated 49 gallons of blood. If a 84-year-old retired nurse can do it, so can I. I have a long way to go to legend status, but I have donated more than three gallons so far. It feels good to give blood and know you are helping someone. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

For information about giving blood or how you can help, check out
www.redcross.org or contact the American cancer Society at 608-833-4555.

Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street?

2009-11-23T07:11:00.001-08:00

Sunny day...
Sweepin the clouds away,
on my way to where the air is sweet..

That's all I needed to hear to know what time it was. To say that I was a child that grew up with Sesame Street would be a huge under statement. I was obsessed with everything Sesame Street.

I owned all the books, clothing, records I even had a Big Bird record player. (You know those things that played music before MP3 players.)

This November 10th marked the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street’s first television broadcast. At the end of this season 4,212 episodes will have aired. Sesame Street has become the most widely viewed children’s television show in the world . In addition to the U.S. version; other countries add segments to fit their local needs, some with their own characters. Sesame Street is seen in 140 countries. Including China, South Africa and Russia. Sesame Street is built around the idea that if you can hold the attention of children you can educate them. And what better way to do that with songs, dances, and the wonderful and funny Jim Henson muppets. The show is also the most researched television show in history.

As a child, I watched Sesame Street religiosity. This was back in the days before Elmo, Zoey and before anyone on Sesame Street met or even believed Big Bird’s best friend. Mr. Snuffleupagus, existed outside of Big Bird’s imagination. This was also when you only had five channels to choose from. (the fab 5) 3,15,21,27 and if you were lucky 47.

When Sesame Street was on my mom knew that my little sister and I wouldn’t dare miss any of it. We wouldn’t move from the living room. So she could get some things done, but most likely was getting lunch ready.

I loved Big Bird, he was so kind, innocent, helpful and a bit naive. He could sing, dance and even roller skate. What’s not to love. I always wanted to be a member of the “Birdketeer’s” Big Bird’s version of Girl Scouts. I even wrote a letter to Big Bird. Ok my mom wrote the letter, but I told her what to write. And a few weeks later; I got a signed picture of Big Bird. I didn’t let that photo out of my sight for months.

I think the reason why I liked him so much was he was just like me, OK I wasn’t a 6 foot tall yellow bird that slept in a huge nest. But, Big Bird would get scared some times just like me, he wouldn’t want to share his toy’s; just like me.

I will never forget the epsoide that Mr. Hooper (Will Lee) passed away and Big Bird had sketched portrait’s of everybody and he was handing them out and he asked where Mr. Hopper was and they said “Big Bird Don’t you remember he passed away.” I cried right along with Big Bird.

The one Sesame Street character that I didn't like was Bert. He scared the dickens out of me. It might have something to do with his unibrow and his love of Pigeons. Wasn’t a big fan of birds even back then.

By watching Sesame Street I was introduced to numbers, colors, shapes, different languages. Plus I learned interesting things like how crayons got made. The show also introduced me to my first view of an inner city street. Complete with peeling paint, alleys, front stoops, shoes hanging from telephone wires and metal trash cans along the sidewalk. Unprecedented at the time. Along with the set the cast reflected diversity a mix of white, African-American, hispanic, asians actors and actresses and muppets in every color you could think of.

When I was a kid I just loved it when anybody on the show would sing. I really liked it when Susan (Loretta Long) and Bob McGrath) would sign “The People in your Neighborhood.”

Today Elmo, Zoey and Abby Cadabby have become regulars; Susan (Loretta Long) and Bob McGrath) are still there. Everyone can see Snuffie and Cookie Monster is eating more fruits and vegables. And Everyone from Johnny Cash to the First Lady Michelle Obama has stopped on down to Sesame Street to say hello. So Happy Birthday Sesame Street. Here’s to 40 more.

This column was brought to you by the letter B and the number 40.

Some Sesame Street Facts That You May Not Know!

2009-11-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

• Big Bird is covered with approximately 6,000 dyed North American Turkey, Coy, Ostrich and hackle feathers.

• There have been more than 440 Celebrity visitors on Sesame Street.

• Caroll Spinney plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

• The Jim Henson Company has built more than 5,000 muppets for Sesame Street over the past 40 years.

• Big Birds head weighs 4 and half pounds.

• Sesame Street has won 118 Emmys to date. The most for any chidren’s television shoe.

• Big Bird has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine.

• Sesame Street has won 9 grammy awards to date.

• Big Bird teddy bear is named after Walter “Radar” O’Reilly of M*A*S*H. Radar was also a gift from Mr. Hooper.

• All of the sesame Street muppets have four fingers except Cookie Monster, who has five.

Hiccup Troubles

2009-10-26T11:41:00.001-07:00

I wasn't feeling my normal self last week. No I didn't have the swine flu. Oh, I mean the H1N1 virus.

I had a really bad case of the hiccups. I know, not as bad as having the H1N1 virus, but still they were no picnic.

We've all been tortured by hiccups at some point of our lives - those annoying, involuntary outbursts that can make it almost impossible to do anything.

These hiccups I had were much different from my normal hiccups. They were a bit more squeaky. I had fully embarrassed myself at work. My co-workers were most likely ready to beat them out of me.

I had them for about an hour when I finally told my self "I've had it!" It was time to find a cure. So I did what any normal person would do to find answers. I hopped on the Internet and Googled hiccup cures.

The first website I clicked on informed me most people hiccup four to 60 times per minute during a hiccup episode. The average hiccup spell can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but some people suffer from extended episodes that last days, months or even years. Hiccups lasting longer that 48 hours are called persistent hiccups, and if they've lasted more that a month, you have intractable hiccups. Both types can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death.

Day, months and even years. So far the information I was digging up was not the most uplifting at all. Then I saw a sidebar labeled the hiccups Hall of Fame. Oh, that can't be good. So of course I had to find out who was in the hall fame for hiccups.

Charles Osborne had hiccups for 68 years. I had to re-read that section just to make sure I read it correct the first time. Just kill me now. Thanks webmd.com for making me feel so much better.

On the the bright side I found out that as we get older, hiccups episodes decrease. But that was little comfort to me at the time. I've done all of the so-called remedies I've heard about. I've held my breath - no luck. I've tried drinking water upside down - nothing. By the way, that's not an easy feat to do in a women's restroom. I've stared at a object - nope. I've breathed into a small paper bag and spread my arm out like a "T" and taken very deep breaths - all to no avail. I even had someone try to scare them out of me - na-da.

A co-worker recommend to massage my sternum and another told me to put strong pressure on my collar bone. I was desperate so I tried those as well. Hiccups are just plain evil.

It was the end of the work day so I took my hiccups home. Before leaving I wrote down a few more hiccup home remedies I found on health911.com. This meant I had to stop at the grocery store to pick up some supplies.

A few of the home remedies on the website I knew were not going to work, so I wasn't even going to try them, like slowly sipping a glass of warm water mixed with one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. It also said to have it work the best it needed to be drunk from the far side of the glass. I hate to point this out, but a typical glass doesn't really have a side; it's a cylinder.

Or how about the one that said to plug my ears and drink a glass of ice cold water. What does plugging my ears have anything to do with the spasms in my diaphragm? I can tell you nothing. These home remedies would just increase my trips to the bathroom.

As I was walking the grocery aisle looking for the few items I was going to need, my hiccups became less squeaky and more like my normal hiccups. Does this mean I was almost done with them? Boy, I hoped so.

As I was paying for my anti-hiccups products, the cashier told me her own fool-proof hiccup remedy. "Every time I have the hiccups I just eat ice chips, and away they go just like that," as she snapped her fingers in front of my face. I told her thank you, I might just try it.

When I got home I went straight into the kitchen to start the remedies.

The first one I tried told me to eat one teaspoon of peanut butter. So I did and a few minutes later the squeaky hiccups came back. Just great, on to the next one.

That one told me to drink the juice from half an orange. After I drank it I let out the loudest hiccup the whole day. Things we not looking good for me.

Third time is always a charm, right? I had to mix 1/3 teaspoon of cream of tartar to 8 oz. of warm water and drink two tablespoons at a time. That was the nastiest tasting stuff. I wasn't going to do that one again. Next.

My fourth attempt had me take a few rapid swallows of canned pineapple juice. No luck. I was ready to give up and become the next Charles Osborne. There seemed to be no end in sight.

I decided to try and relax a bit. I choose to take a quick shower and put on my PJ's and try to read a book, and maybe eat some ice chips. That didn't help that much but the hiccups became normal again and were spaced out a bit so I could actually breath normal.

When they did stop they stopped as quickly as they came. I don't know what did make them stop. It could have been one of the home remedies I tried but there is no really way to find out.

The upside about having hiccups for more than four hours? Your ab muscles get a really good workout.

Go On and Taste It!

2009-09-15T13:31:00.001-07:00

Did you know the human body has about 10,000 taste buds and majority of them are on the tongue? This past Labor Day weekend I had mine working overtime at the 27th Annual Taste of Madison.

It’s an event held around Madison’s Capital Square. It showcases 70 local restaurants serving more than 200 menu items priced between $1-$4. Along with the food, they have three entertainment stages playing rock, country, contemporary, R&B and Latin.

Taste of Madison is also a fundraiser for two non-profit organizations. The Madison Festivals, Inc. and United Cerebral Palsy of Dane County. Taste of Madison has helped United Cerebral Palsy of Dane County raise more than $300,000 in the past decade, primarily through beverages sales and sponsorship.

A few years ago my dad and I volunteered to work at one of the many beverage booths. It was a lot of fun and I met a lot of nice people who work for United Cerebral Palsy of Dane County. It’s always nice to be able to give back to the community.

My family and I have attended most of the Taste of Madisons through the years. I can only recall missing one year due to a wedding. This event is a tradition in my family, much like others have a BBQ at their houses on Labor Day weekend. We go to Taste of Madison.

When we were kids our parents always told us we had to try new things. This event is the perfect time to do just that.
I had my first taste of fried calamari (fried squid) along with sushi at Taste of Madison. Both items I still enjoy eating.
When doing Taste of Madison with my family we have five rules:
1. Have to try at least one new thing
2. Have to share your food with anybody who wants to try it
3. Can’t eat any food from the major food chains (Pizza Hut, Arby’s etc.)
4. If you get lost, stay at the nearest corner until someone in your party finds you. (We only had to use this one once and it was for an adult)
5. No balloons will be coming home with us. (This rule was more for when we were kids.)

When I was walking to the square I could smell the wonderful food cooking. It just kick-started my appetite. I was ready to get started and try some new things.

With each lap I took I ate something new along with the food I grew to love so much, such as the chocolate chip cookie dough egg roll from the Bluephies booth. It’s not as good as the White Horse Inn dessert called the mud slide (coffee ice cream, crushed oreo cookies, whipped cream and chocolate syrup). They were the best. R.I.P mud slides. I miss you mud slides. You are not forgotten.

Some of the things I tried I mostly likely won’t eat again, like the sweet potato fries from the Daddy Rocks booth. But there are others that have become a new favorite for me such as mummy shrimp (shrimp wrapped in a thin string of potatoes deep fried) from the Bourbon Street Grille booth.

After my third lap, my taste buds were screaming “Enough Amber. We can’t take another bite.” I couldn’t eat another bite anyway. So that was my cue to head on home and take Odie out for a very long walk to burn some calories. Sure I had to loosen my seat belt a bit, but it was worth it. I tried some new things.

Aquapalooza!

2009-08-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Last year my niece Kate had to write about what she did on her summer break.

What she wrote surprised us all. She wrote about how much she loved being on grandpa Marty's boat. Along with boat riding she also went to Disney World last summer. Who knew Grandpa Marty's boat trumps Mickey Mouse.

So this summer my niece Kate and the rest of our family went to an event called Aquapalooza, the same event Kate wrote about.

What is Aquapalooza? It's the largest on-the-water party of the summer. It's held at more than 150 locations around the world. The event is SeaRay inspired, but it's open to everyone. Aquapalooza has become the Super Bowl of boating parties.

This year's signature event was held on Tennessee's Chickamauga Lake. The event featured Country Music superstar Alan Jackson. We went to one a bit closer to home; at Lake Mendota, Three Foot Bay.

Water + live music + family and friends = good times for all. Aquapalooza is a chance to meet new people and just to relax on the lake.

As soon as the boat was anchored and tied off, Kate looked at me with her look that's my kryptonite, the look that prompts me to do about anything she asks.

"Aunt Amber will you go into the water with me?" I already knew I was going to go in, but I really didn't want to get wet right away. To top it off it wasn't the warmest day to be in the water. But, Kate looked at me and batted her baby brown eyes. What could I do but get in?

This water was the second coldest water I have ever swam in. The coldest on my list would be the one time I did the Polar Bear Plunge. How is it kids can swim in ice cool water and act like they are swimming in a hot tub?

After a few games of tag and testing out the gigantic raft grandpa Marty and grandma Cathy got just for Aquapalooza, I was free to check things out a bit.

I just kept moving around to stay warm, a trick I learned from years of teaching swimming lessons. And that's when I found a warm spring just a few feet from my dad's boat. Ah heaven! If anybody needed to find me that day, they most likely find me there or on the boat.

After a few hours we had lunch and enjoyed the live band. Kate got me back into the water one more time before we left and we even got my step-mom Cathy on the gigantic raft for a short time, a huge step for her. She's a bit nervous around water. Maybe next year she will get in the water.

A group of people who had their boat anchored next to us were nice enough to take Kate and my dad tubing with their jet ski. The day was drawing to an end and the band was wrapping it up so we headed out.

As we were leaving the boat launch Kate was fast asleep in the back. Maybe Grandpa's Marty boat will make the cut again this year.

- For information about Aquapalooza check out www.aquapalooza.com

Poynette Indians

2009-07-22T06:15:00.001-07:00

If you have ever seen the movie “Varsity Blues” you will have an idea what Poynette football is all about.

When you go to a game on Friday night you will see the majority of the town's population at the game.

I grew up in Poynette and went to many football games, too many in fact to count. I was even in the Poynette Color Guard. Yep! I was that kind of kid.

For more than 70 years Poynette High School has been know as the Indians. This coming football season they will be chanting something new.

When I herd that the school district was changing the mascot I didn't have a feeling one way or another. I thought it was strange. I should feel something. Then it came to me and I understood why.

I was a high school student around the time the school dropped the traditional indian head mascot. So to me it felt like it already did change. Without a true mascot, the student body didn't have the same energy other schools had. We didn't have someone dress up in a suit dancing with the cheerleaders. We just had a name we really couldn't do anything with. This also made coming up with homecoming float ideas a bit tricky.

When I was in school there was a rumor going around that the school was changing the mascot to a penguin. Why a penguin? I have no clue, but I was happy to find out that it was only a rumor. Yes, I had my fear of birds even back then.

The final five to choose from are Bison, Mustang, Panthers, Pride, Pumas. Any one of them will be fine. It will be nice to be called something other than Poynette (put the name of the sport here) on highlight news clips.

We can have debates over the old mascot, saying it was "honoring Native Americans" or if it wasn't until we are all old and grey, but that's not really the point.

The point is the school board is taking a proactive approach to the issue. The school board is getting the students and the community and even past alumni involved. To be honest that's how it should be. It's not just a school mascot; it's a town's mascot.

The board is looking ahead to the future, and if a bill authored by Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) and Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay) passes, they will be saving taxpayers a lot of money from not paying fines. That can't be a bad thing, with the economy the way it is.

Let’s say hypothetically that the bill does pass, and Poynette didn’t start the ball rolling on the mascot change. They would be in a rush to get a new mascot in time. Poynette might have gotten stuck with the dreaded penguin as the new mascot and not have had the community involved. That wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.

Poynette High isn’t the first school to change there mascot and they most likely will not be the last. Portage and Wisconsin Dells both have potentially offensive mascots along with many others all over the United States. To cast your vote for the new mascot go to Poynette High school website at www.poynette.k.12.wi.us.

It’s hard sometimes to see change and the reason for that change when you are in the moment. But, eventually it happens and you look back a say that wasn't so bad. Saying good bye to the Poynette Indians is the end of an era, but it’s also the beginning of one too.

Moving

2009-06-19T12:22:00.001-07:00

I painstakingly sort my belongings into two piles: one marked new place, and the other marked donate. It hits me hard; my days as a single renter are over. I’m moving in with Jason, my boyfriend of four years. As I look around in my soon-to-be old one-bedroom loft apartment, all I really see are piles of boxes in every corner.

This huge step was not something we jumped into one day on a whim. There were many hours spent talking about moving in together. Which brought up questions like Where would we live? One bedroom or two? How much can we afford? Are we ready for this? etc.

As I was packing I realized my life is changing. No more chick flick marathons on rainy weekends. No more singing my heart out to the radio as I clean my apartment. But most importantly, no longer would I have all the closets to myself. All the women out there know what I’m talking about.

But on the flip side, I don’t have to commute back and forth anymore just to see Jason. I get to save money on gas. Jason and I get to have dinner together. We will be able to share the events of our day face to face and not over the phone. All this and I get to cut my living expenses in half. Living in sin sure saves on the wallet.

I can tell you that it’s no cake walk. I will be the first to admit I’m a neat freak. I will even go a little further and say I’m a tad bit OCD. (obsessive compulsive disorder) Yes, all my DVDs are in alphabetical order. My books are on the bookshelf from biggest to smallest. And the toilet paper has to be on the holder with the flap over-the-top. Just to name a few.

Jason has always been the more laid back type. He’s the kind of guy who will throw his jacket and shoes just inside the front door the second he walks in from work and won’t pick them up until he has to go to work the next day. He doesn’t care what way the toilet paper hangs, just as long as it’s there.

So if Jason can live with my quirks I guess I can live with his. We have already combined our DVDs together, his four to my 201. We will also be shopping for a bigger bed so Jason’s feet won’t hang over like they do now.

Jason is learning to share his living space with throw pillows, scented candles and fresh vegetables in the crisper drawer. I’m also learning Jason needs to have some time alone to do “man things” or just to decompress from work. But he is also there when I need him.

One thing I like that Jason has started to do is he always makes sure to say good-bye before he leaves for work. He also has the ability to make me laugh when I need it the most. And yes, I’m sharing the closet space with him.

The best advice I got from a friend who just moved in with her boyfriend was just three words. “Compromise, compromise, compromise.” I think we are doing an OK job in that department. So we did have a fight over a fork. Now when we think back at that fight it just makes us laugh.

I’m trying to teach/train Jason to put the toilet seat down and put his wet towels in the laundry basket. And in turn Jason’s trying to teach me life is too short to worry about the dishes still in the dishwasher.

It took me a full month to pack up my bachelorette pad. I had to move it twice, once to my dad’s garage for a few days and then to the new place because the lack of availability of a U-Haul. I also needed to be out of my old place two full days before we could get into our new place. Nothing like feeling homeless for 36 hours to make moving more fun.

The total event took 22.5 hours, 25 car trips (thanks dad and Cathy for helping us move and letting me crash at your place with Tigger), 140 boxes and seven garbage bags. The garbage bags was Jason’s answer to packing things that weren’t breakable. I had no part in that. It’s all about compromise.

Saddie

2009-05-18T09:49:00.001-07:00

I was walking to get some lunch and I heard a lady Yell “Saddie, Come back here!”

I turned my head in the direction the voice was coming from and saw a little golden cocker spaniel. She was no more than a few months old running towards me tangled up in her leash. I went to make sure the puppy wouldn’t run in the street; and to give the owner a chance to catch up . As the lady came towards me she thanked me.

“Saddie has a mind of her own and wants to do what she wants to do” the lady said. I told her that I know what she ment and gave Saddie a pat on the head. She thanked me again for helping her and they were off again.

One of the toughest things about having a pet is when that pet passes away. Let’s face it, they are members of the family and when they pass away you feel there loss.

Last month my family lost our very own Saddie. She also was a golden cocker spaniel. We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time; but it still didn’t make it any easier. Saddie was 14 years old in human years, 98 in dog years.

I first met Saddie a.k.a “Tweeter” when my step-mom Cathy came up for the weekend and brought her up to meet us. My first impression of Saddie was that she looked a lot younger than she actually was. She was 6 human years old at that time. Saddie and my sister Amanda bounded very well that weekend. Saddie didn’t really care for me that much at first, but she definitely did find a place in my heart.

Saddie was like an old lady that was set in her ways; she didn’t care what anybody had to say about it. She would tell it like it is and wouldn’t sugar coat it. Much like Estelle Getty character on the show Golden Girls.

I could see Saddie going to Ho-Chunk to play the penny slots three at a time for hours with an oxygen tank and a cigarettes in her mouth, an not a caring that she was bothering you or that she could blow up the whole place. She was having fun and that’s all that matters.

When Saddie moved in with us it had been a few years that we didn’t have a dog of our own. I missed having one around so it was nice to have Saddie living with us. It was the first time that Saddie would share a house with a cat. Things were rough for a few weeks, but everybody seemed to settled in and learned to live with each other in somewhat peace.

One of my fondest memory of Saddie is when everybody would wake up. Saddie would come into my room and hop on my bed and sleep with me until I had to get up. Saddie just loved my bed, I think it had to do with the fact that I had a throw blanket that I would cover her up with and she would be a sleep in no time snoring loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood. Many times she would even sleep with her eyes open it was the creepiest thing, but that was Saddie for you.

Another memory that I have is whenever Saddie came back from the groomer or she got a new collar she would prance. Yes, that’s right she would prance around the house for a few days. Like saying “Look at me, I’m so pretty.” And if you said “ Saddie, I love your new collar or I love your new hair cut.” She would sit there and just eat it up.

Whenever a male (human) would come over she would just sit next to them and be like “He’s with me, not you. Does her rub your ears like he rubs mine. I don’t think so. Back off ” That’s right you read that right our dog would steal our boyfriends right in front of us. She really loved my step-bother in law Dwane. Dwane was nicknamed Saddie’s boyfriend or a while. I think she truly believe he was. She would prance around the house if we said that Dewane was coming.

When I would come home from college the first thing I would have to do is walk into the kitchen and open the dog treats Jar and give her one. It couldn’t be broken. She could be such a primadonna sometimes. If you tried to give her a broken one she would look at you and turn her noise up at it. Like saying “I’m not eating that.”

Many times she wouldn’t even let me get my jacket off. I joked that Saddie and I had a contract and I had to honor it or I wouldn’t be getting any peace.

Saddie was like most dogs she loved going for a car rides and sticking her head out the window to feel the wind on her face. Along with getting tummy rubs. She loved Amanda’s tummy rub’s the best. She really loved laying out on the deck on a sunny day for hours. She also had a uncanning attraction to used tissues in the bathroom trash can. Really anything made out of paper.

A few years ago Saddie lost her hearing and started to have hip problems, but that didn’t really slow her down. She never was a huge fan of walks or playing fetch, but she did start to sleep more.

Sometimes when I came home to visit Cathy and my dad and I wouldn't see Saddie for a few hours or not at all, because she would be upstairs sleeping. She didn’t greet me at the door and demanding I honor our “contract” I still did, I just now brought the treat to her.

Now that she has passed away I still think I might see her napping in front of the fireplace or out on the deck sun bathing herself. She truly was a member of the family.

Maybe Saddie was reincarnated into the young puppy named Saddie I met when I was going to get some lunch. But most likely she is up in heaven living it up and prancing around. Because all dog’s do go to heaven.

The Big 3 - 0

2009-04-24T08:41:00.001-07:00

My 13th birthday was a milestone birthday for me; it was my golden birthday, but it was also the start of my teen years and that meant I was becoming an adult.

My 16th birthday of course I got my drivers’s license; and it seems like it was only yesterday I turned 21 and hit the bars. There’s no question about it. I’m an adult.

This month I reached another milestone. I turned 30. Everybody I’ve talked to has told me that “Turning 30 is the worst.” or “I cried when I turned 30.” The one I got the most was “It’s a hard birthday.” These people made it sound like it was going to be an apocalyptic birthday and I should hide out in a bomb shelter for the day with nothing but MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) to eat.

I have only dreaded one other birthday in my life, my 25th. That whole day all I could think about was I was now a quarter of a century old. For some reason every time I looked at the clock or paid for something there was the number 25 staring me right in the face, saying “Yes, Amber you are this old.” So I already knew turning 30 wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

The whole day it felt like everybody younger than me kept on telling me “That it’s only a number.” or “You are aging like fine wine.” Great, now I’m being compared to a beverage. What do they know?

So, do I feel “old?” I can only answer that by saying “No, I don’t feel 30.” I still feel 29 or younger depending on the day. Could I have made a conscious effort not to feel 30? I know I have no power over the random grey hairs coming in or the almost daily heartburn. It’s nothing a box of hair dye and a bottle of Tums won’t fix. But I can make the decision to not let my life be ruled by a number.

Many times I act like I’m a immature 11-year-old. Heck, I still watch Saturday morning cartoons in my Wonder Woman PJs when I have the chance, and sometimes I even leave the lights on when I leave a room. Why? Because I can. So I have a few thoughts about turning 30:

• In the Middle Ages, I would have been considered old and wise.
• I need to keep telling myself those are not grey hairs; those are highlights.
• Five more years and I can be president. Not that I want the job, but it’s nice to have options.
• It’s scientifically impossible to have that many candles on a average size cake, also a huge fire hazard.
• Just over 40 years to go until retirement.
• I never thought the music would ever be too loud. But, it is, especially when my neighbor is having a rap marathon in the middle of the night.
• Before eating anything with a little kick such as jalapenos, I need to take a Pepcid AC, and down a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
• I might now understand “Thirtysomething” reruns.
• When filling out customer surveys I can’t click on age 25-29 anymore. It’s 30 and up for me now. Oh, what fun.
• Have lived through the whole spectrum of record players to iPods. I now get to say I remember when …
• I understand I can’t stay up all night and get up for work the next day. I can’t believe I ever did that.
• I’m one year closer to becoming the crazy cat lady nobody on the block talks to.
• When people say Ms. Tyler, they are talking to me, and not my stepmom or grandmother. It’s official I’m a madam now.
• My body makes popping and creaking noises it didn’t do when I was younger.
• If I have learned one thing from watching “Desperate Housewives” is 40 is the new 30 and 30 is the new 20.
• I can still remember when not everybody had a cell phone.
• My parents didn’t know what they were talking about, when they told me if I didn’t want to wear glasses I would have to eat my carrots. Guess what I have glasses.
• I'm not 30 I'm 29.95 plus tax.
• People will start taking me seriously and stop treating me like a kid. Well, most people, anyway.
• Those are not wrinkles; those are laugh lines.
• I’m no longer likely to get carded in order to buy alcohol. That’s a good thing, right?

So maybe it isn’t such a bad thing that I have gotten “old.” One thing that will always be true is the younger people will try to convince you you’ve gotten old; and the older people will be there to help you through it. If all else fails you can have a nice big glass of wine. I heard that 1979 was a good year.

I also just might stay 29 for a few years and let my boyfriend Jason catch up to me .

Locks of Love

2009-03-31T14:09:00.001-07:00

“Her hair is so long, Isn’t it, mom?” A little girl no more than six years old, said as I was in line at the library. At first, I wasn’t sure she was talking about me until I turned to leave and saw that we were the only people in line.

I knew my hair was getting long, but I didn’t really know how long it was. I started to grow it long for my little sister’s wedding, but once that was over I just decided to grow it out until I knew what to do with it. That’s been over a year now.

I would catch myself thinking about what that little girl said about my hair, at odd times of the day. That’s when I knew it was time to do what I had to do. I had to get it cut. I wasn’t just going to cut it. I was going to make this hair cut count for something. I donated my hair to Locks of Love.

What is Locks of Love? It’s a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18, suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They meet unique needs for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Their mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children.

This is the sixth time I’ve donated hair to Locks of Love. It won’t be my last. Besides myself, my sisters Amanda and Jennifer along with my six-year-old niece Kate are all growing out their hair to donate. Two of my cousins have donated hair this year to Locks of Love. Way to go Carmen and Michael! Even famous people have donated their hair to Locks of Love, like Lisa Ling, co-host of The View and a special correspondent for the Oprah Winfrey Show; Johanna Maria Condelariad, Miss Florida Teen USA 2001; and Academy Award winner Russell Crowe donated his hair after he had to grow his hair long for a movie role.

Most wigs sold by retailers are made to fit adult heads, and are much too big for children to wear. They often require the use of tape or glue to keep them from falling off, and these adhesives can burn or irritate the scalp, which can delay the child’s medical treatment.

The hair prosthetics Locks of Love provides are custom-made from donated human hair for each child’s head. The hairpiece forms a vacuum seal, like a suction cup, and does not require the use of tape or glue. Only the wearer of the hairpiece may remove it, by breaking the vacuum seal at the temples. Children can swim, shower and do gymnastics – in short, they can be kids again. Each hairpiece arrives long, so the recipient may style it to fit their face.

To date, over 2,00 children have been helped by Locks of Love. Hair is needed from men and women, young and old, all colors and races. The donated hair is evaluated for its usefulness according to the following guidelines.

1. The donated hair must be at least 10 inches (preferably 12 inches) in length. There is no maximum length you can donate.

2. It must be bundled in a pony tail or braid.

3. Hair must be free of bleach. Colored hair and permed hair is acceptable.

4. The hair must be clean and dry, placed in a plastic bag and mailed in a padded envelope to:
Locks of Love
234 Southern Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Many hair salons mail the hair for you.

It takes about six pony tails to make one wig. It is estimated that 80 percent of all donations come from children who wish to help other children.

It felt wonderful to donate 13 inches of my hair to Locks of Love. Four days after I donated, I saw a little girl at a restaurant eating with her family with no hair; most likely from a battle with cancer. Maybe my donation will go to her. It made me think there are many children who don’t have the option of growing hair at all.

For information about the Locks of Love or how you can help, check out www.locksoflove.com or contact Locks of Love at the address above.

Bucket List

2009-02-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

A few of my girlfriends and I had a slumber party “A girls’ night in” if you will. I know it’s kind of childish, but I had a blast. We decided to rent the movie “The Bucket List.”

If you haven’t seen it, it’s about two older men who end up rooming together in a cancer ward and both find out their illness is terminal. So together they come up with a bucket list – a list of things that they want to do before they kick the bucket. They then set out on an adventure to experience as many of them as they can!

This movie got me thinking about a list I wrote when I was 10 years old about things that I wanted to do before I turned 30. I wondered if I still had it. This is why my mom is so awesome; she has kept almost everything I have done in my educational career. She came through for me again.

Looking at the list, I was able to cross some things off, such as learning how to drive a car, graduate from college, ride in a helicopter and airplane, be a lifeguard and a swimming instructor. I really liked the show “Baywatch” at the time. Hey, it was the late 1980s.

I have also crossed off rock climb a rock formation, be able to hold my breath the whole length of the pool, learn to play the trumpet, kazoo and one song on the guitar, dive off the high dive, see Van Gogh’s work in person, cliff dive and finish a ropes course.

I have accomplished a couple things not on the list: Pet and feed a sting ray and get a hole in one.

I’ve decided to update my list, changing it to a bucket list. Having the list is a good reminder to get out there and do the things I want to do and live the life I want to live. So here are just a few things on my bucket list:

1. Go bungee jumping
2. Try hang gliding
3. Learn to scuba
4. White water rafting
5. Visit all 50 states
6. Sky dive
7. Hold a live chimpanzee
8. Learn sign language
9. Swim with dolphins
10. Ride a unicycle

What about you? We all have a bucket list even if we’ve never put it down on paper. We all have things we hope to experience or accomplish before we kick the bucket.

One of the things my dad has always wanted to do is ride in a hot air balloon. That’s probably on his list. My boyfriend’s father has talked about always wanting to try to break the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats. I would bet money that’s on his list.

Some of things on my bucket list I’m already working on, such as visiting all 50 states. I only have 34 to go! I’ll get to them eventually. As long as I’m moving toward at least one of them my list has meaning. I don’t want to have any regrets when I’m old and gray.

I really would like to learn how to scuba. So I can get my very own gold bar from a sunken ship in the ocean. It would be an awesome paper weight.

What Do You Want To Be...

2009-01-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

I can't think of anyone I've ever met who doesn't have a story to tell about what they wanted to be when they grew up. How did you answer the question? Maybe you wanted to be an fireman, or how about a pilot, or maybe a teacher.

The answer I gave the first time I was asked this question was "I want to be Wonder Woman." Definitely not a typical answer to the above question. OK, first I should explain I was three years old and it was the early '80s.

The whole Wonder Woman mania started shortly after I got my first pair of Underroos (under shirt and underwear set) as a gift. Threw the eyes of a three-year-old Wonder Woman was the coolest thing to be. Who wouldn't want to be her? She had a coolest outfit with bright colors and a American eagle across the chest. Along with the stars of the American flag shorts. People take notice when you wear an outfit like that.

It wasn't just the outfit that was appealing to me but her cool accessories. Wonder Woman had a lasso of truth. The lasso of truth was unbreakable and forced people to tell the truth. My lasso of truth was really a yellow jump rope. Along with the lasso she had bracelets of victory that were indestructible and deflected objects back onto her enemies. I had my mom's bracelets. And who can forget Wonder Women's boomerang tiara, I had a tiara too, mine was made out of paper and advertised a burger place. When I had all this on I was Wonder Woman. Looking the part is only part of it. Wonder Woman had special powers; she was able to travel between worlds, multiply her strength by 10 and my favorite, be able to become an invisible version of whatever object or vehicle she needed to be. That whole being invisible would have been great to have. I could have gotten a cookie anytime I wanted and nobody would have noticed a thing.

When you say Wonder Woman the first thing that pops into most people's head is Linda Carter. I know that she was a huge reason why I wanted to be Wonder Woman. But Wonder Woman was created during World War II. Charles William Moulton Marston saw that the comic books of that time were dominated by male characters such as Superman, Batman and the patriotic hero Captain America. He wanted a super heroine, to create a strong and leading female to even the odds. He based Wonder Woman after his wife Elizabeth.

When I got older I realized I couldn't be Wonder Women, but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying the idea of being a superhero.

My family has no problem teasing me about what I wanted to be when I was three. It never fails that I get something Wonder womanish for Christmas or my birthday. That's part of the fun out of the whole thing. I've got a nice collection of Wonder Woman memorabilia from it.

2008 Book List

2009-01-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

Many people have asked for a list of books that I read in 2008 so here you are!

JANURAY - MARCH 2008

#1. A Christmas Story - Jean Shepherd
#2. A Letter for Daria - Ekaterina Gordeeva
#3. American Born Chinese - Gene Luen Yang
#4. Size 12 is Not Fat - Meg Cabot
#5. Size 14 is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot
#6. Big Boned- Meg Cabot
#7. Boy Meet Girl - Meg Cabot
#8. Boy Next Door - Meg Cabot
#9. Good in Bed - Jennifer Weiner
#10. I Hate Valentine's Day - Bennett Madison
#11. If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News for a Small Town - Heather Lende
#12. Life on the Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers
#13. Presidentail Doodles: Two Centuries of Scribbles, Scratches, Squiggles & Scrawls from the Oval Office - Cabinet Magazine
#14. Shopgirl - Steve Martin
#15. Someting Rotten - Alan Gratz
#16. Stuart Little - E.B. White
#17. The Manning Sisters: The Cowboy's Lady\The Sheriff Takes A Wife - Debbie Macomber
#18. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
#19. What Jane Found - Caroline Cooney
#20. Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot
#21. Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
#22. Princess in the Spot Light - Meg Cabot
#23. How to be Popular - Meg Cabot
#24. The Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White
#25. Pants on Fire - Meg Cabot
#26. Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate Di Camillo
#27. Little Earthquakes - Jennifer Weiner

APRIL - JUNE 2008

#28. Kira-Kira - Cyhthia Kadohata
#29. Chicken Boy - Frances Dowell
#30. Susannah's Garden - Debbie Macomber
#31. Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber
#32. The Book Theif - Markus Zusak
#33. Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot
#34. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
#35. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
#36. Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything - E. Lockhart
#37. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney
#38. Found: The best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items From Around the World - Davy Rothbart
#39. Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfeild
#40. She Went All The Way - Meg Cabot
#41. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
#42. Queen of Babble in the Big City - Meg Cabot
#43. Found II : More of the Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items From Around the World - Davy Rothbart
#44. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - Jeff Kinney
#45. Holes - Louis Sachar
#46. Why Girls Are Weird - Pamela Ribon
#47. So Yesterday - Scott Westerfeld
#48. Specials - Scott Westerfeld
#49. Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber
#50. Flipped - Wendelin Van Draanen
#51. Hoot - Carl Hiaasen
#52. Anne of Green Gables #1. - Lucy Maud Montgomery
#53. A Crooked Kind of Perfect - Linda Urban
#54. Anne of Avonlea #2. - Lucy Maud Montgomery
#55. Extras - Scott Westerfeld
#56. Julie of the Wolves - Jean Craighead George
#57. Why Moms are weird - Pamela Ribon
#58. Playing For Pizza - John Grisham
#59. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie
#60. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
#61. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator - Roald Dahl
#62. Don't Bet Against Me - Deanna Favre
#63. Coraline - Neil Gaiman
#64. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2008

#65. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris
#66. Counting On Grace - Elizabeth Winthrop
#67. Princess in Love - Meg Cabot
#68. Priness in Waiting - Meg Cabot
#69. Digging to America - Anne Tyler
#70. Valentine Princess - Meg Cabot
#71. Princess Project - Meg Cabot
#72. Princess in Pink - Meg Cabot
#73. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
#74. Anne of the Island #3 - Lucy Maud Montgomery
#75. Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris
#76. Sex and the City - Cynthia Nixon
#77. Princess in Training - Meg Cabot
#78. Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
#79. The Princess Present - Meg Cabot
#80. Loser - Jerry Spinelli
#81. Without You - Anthony Rapp
#82. Party Princess - Meg Cabot
#83. Sweet Sixteen Princess - Meg Cabot
#84. Princess on the Brink - Meg Cabot
#85. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
#86. Dairy Queen - Catherine Gilbert
#87. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
#88. Flight - Sherman Alexie
#89. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched - Meg Cabot
#90. Princess Mia - Meg Cabot
#91. A River Runs Through It And Other Stories - Norman Maclean
#92. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
#93. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguine
#94. Eggs - Jerry Spinelli
#95. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albon
#96. Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris
#97. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
#98. The Manning Brides - Debbie Macomber
#99. Fat Girl - Judith Moore
#100. Son of a Witch - Greogory Maguine
#101 Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays - David Sedaris
#102. Down With Love - Barbara Novak
#103. The Experts' Guide To 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do - Samantha Ettus.
#104. Bringing Elizabeth Home - Ed & Lois Smart with Laura Morton
#105. Remember Me - Sophie Kinsella
#106. 16 Lighthouse Road - Debbie Macomber
#107. Where The Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
#108. Stardust Neil Gaiman
#109. I am Legend - Richard Matheson
#110. Love Is A Mix Tape: Life & Loss, One Song At A Time - Rob Sheffield
#111. 204 Rose Wood Lane - Debbie Macomber
#112. Hattie Big Sky - Kirby Larson
#113. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
#114. 311 Pelican Court - Debbie Macomber
#115. The Broker - John Grisham

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2008

#116. How to Build A House - Dana Reinhardt
#117. Cal It Courage - Armstong Sperry
#118. How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff
#119. 44 Cranberry Point - Debbie Macomber
#120. Jinx - Meg Cabot
#121. Roadstips: A Graphic Journey Across America - Pete Friedrich
#122. Cut - Patricia McCormick
#123. Airhead - Meg Cabot
#124. 50 Harbor Street - Debbie Macomber
#125. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
#126. Double Helix - Nancy Werlin
#127. For One More Day - Mitch Albom
#128. 6 Rainer Drive - Debbie Macomber
#129. The Last Juror - John Grisham
#130. Flush - Carl Hiaasen
#131. 74 Seaside Avenue Debbie Macomber
#132. Mirror, Mirror - Gregory Maguire
#133. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
#134. The Swiss Family Robinson - Johann David Wyss
#135. Disappearing Act- Sid Fleischman
#136. The Accidental Tourist - Anne Tyler
#137. Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
#138. Live From New York - Tom Hales and James Andrew Miller
#139. Lucky Man - Michael J. Fox
#140. Tuesday With Morrie - Mitch Albom
#141. Letter To My Daughter - Maya Angelou
#142. The last Lecture -Randy Pausch
#143. A Freewheelin' Time Greenwich Village In The Sixties Bob Dylan And Me - Suze Rottolo
#144. Finders Keepers -Mark Bowden
#145. Ask Again Later - Jill Davis
#146. The Innocent Man - John Grisham
#147. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
#148. Hearts Divided - Debbie Macomber
#149. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares
#150. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
#151. Are You There, Vodka? It's Me Chelsea?
#152. The Abortionist's Daugthers - Elisabeth Hyde
#153. 8 Sandpiper Way - Debbie Macomber
#154. Juno: The Shooting Script - Diablo Cody
#155. Girls In Pants - Ann Brashares
#156. Forever In Blue- Ann Brashares
#157. Hidden Child Of The Holocaust - Stacy Cretzmeyer
#158. Tuck Everlasting _ Natalie Babbit
#159. A Cedar Cove Christmas - Debbie Macomber
#160. Lost- Gregory Maguire
#161. Gone - Jonathan Kellerman
#162. Camp Camp: Were Fantasy Island meets Lord of the Flies - Roger Bennett
#163. Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets - Hillary Rodham Clinton
#164. The Testament - John Grisham

New Year's Resolution

2008-12-31T08:19:00.000-08:00

As I was waiting in line at Borders Book Store to finish up some last minute christmas shopping, I overheard two older ladies talking about what their New Year’s Resolutions were going to be. I thought to myself, “Ladies slow down here. Let’s finish one holiday before we jump into the next one.”

I then started to think about what my New Year’s resolution was going to be. I had the time; I was standing in a line that would put Disney World to shame.

New Year’s resolutions are hit or miss with me. My 2008 New Years’s resolution was to read at least 100 books that were over 100 pages long. Mostly, I wanted to get rid of some of the books that are stashed in my apartment, the books I always wanted to read, but never had the time to. As of today, I have read 162 books. Most of them were checked out from the library. Sure my collection of books has gone down a bit, but not as much as I would have liked.

My book resolution is really the only resolution that I have been able to keep. The reason being, around the start of July; I became obsessed with my goal of reading 100 books. At that time I had only read about 40 books. So I would have to read 10 books a month to reach my goal.

I love to read, and I have always read before going to bed. If I don’t read I have trouble falling a sleep. There were a few times Jason would say “Enough with the lamp and go to bed.” If I’m not driving, I’m reading in the car.

So what’s it’s going to be for 2009? Simple, it’s get moving, get fit and get into shape. I don’t want to look like a body builder and be able to bench press a child. I also don’t want to look like the Crypt Keeper and be a walking skeleton. But to lose a few pounds would be nice.

First things first, I should drink more water. Most days I drink about 1 liter of water and most of that is at work. As soon as I get home, it’s a Diet Mountain Dew or a beer, depending on the day.

Second, cut out the sweets! This is going to be the hardest one for me. I love anything that’s covered in chocolate. And we all know about my beloved Lapacek’s carmel apples. Sweets are my kryptonite. Hold on, there’s fruit in the carmel apples. Every girl needs some fiber in her diet.

Third, I will need to get moving. I am going to try to work out at least 30 minutes a day. It could be walking Odie at the dog park, walking to the library to drop off some books, before I get any late fees. Even doing sit ups in my living room, when I‘m watching the news. I just need to be active.

So why am I telling you all this. I’m going to need some help. If you see me at the grocery store checking out the newest flavor of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, tap me on the shoulder and tell me to keep walking; nothing to see here.

I also want to inform Cupid, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus that I love all the work you do; but I’m taking a break on the holiday candy. This is my “if you don’t buy it for me I won’t eat it” theory.

If none of the above doesn’t work, and I have a candy bar in my hand ready to take a bite, just, slap it out of my hand. I seriously think many famous people have someone on staff who just slaps stuff out of their hands all day long. “No Britney you can’t have that. Here’s a carrot for you. You like carrots.” That’s the real Hollywood diet secret.

It’s like the old saying “It’s takes a village to raise a child.” It’s going to take a village to help me get in my skinny jeans.

Time for Turkey

2008-12-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I heard the Thanksgiving song by Adam Sandler on the radio, when driving to work. It got me thinking about my family and the Thanksgiving Traditions and past Thanksgivings we shared when I was growing up. I don’t think they are that much different from a typical family.

Turkey and the Fixings
My stepmom Cheryl loved to cook. She always told us that the kitchen was her “happy place.” Thanksgiving was her time to shine. Each year she would try to top last year’s meal. She would always say “I want to do something different this year.” This wasn’t that big of a surprise to us. Growing up, we had turkey cooked many different ways. The traditional way in the oven of course. We also had it grilled, deep-fried and one time she did a coffee-rubbed turkey. I know it sounds gross, but it was really good. We even had duck one year along with turkey cooked on the grill.

My sisters and I were raised to try new foods, I didn’t have to like them, but I had to try them. “How else are you going to find out what you like,” Cheryl would say to us. The duck was not a huge success with us kids. Jezzie our family dog, didn’t even want to eat it. It’s been turkey ever since.

Ninety-five percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving. I don’t know what is more surprising, that the number isn’t 100 percent or that there is an organization called the National Turkey Federation.

The only family member who really likes cranberry sauce is my grandpa Tyler. There were a few Thanksgivings that we forgot the cranberries. He never said a word about it not being on the table. The next day, we would see the unopened can on the kitchen counter.

Parades
Another traditions like most families have is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Did you know the first American Thanksgiving Day parade was organized by Gimbel’s Department Store in Philadelphia in 1920. The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade began in 1924. I learned that little tid bit from watching Jeopardy.

When I was a kid I watched the parade mostly because I loved looking at all the different floats and designs; and OK maybe I also wanted to see a giant balloon escape from the parade and float away, wishing it would find it’s way to Wisconsin

Football.
When the parades are done it’s time to watch football. It doesn’t really matter who is playing. I just enjoy watching the game. On the few Thanksgivings we didn’t have any snow on the ground, we started a touch football game in the backyard.
Wishbone.

Does your family fight over the wishbone from the turkey? My family did. Blood has been shed over the leftovers of the turkey carcass and it isn’t the turkey’s. The one time I got the wishbone was in 1990. Operation Desert Storm was in full swing, and my uncle Steve was deployed over there; I wished for my family to get word that he was safe. A few days later, we got what I wished for in form of a phone call.

Saying Thanks
When I was in fourth grade, my teacher Miss Green gave us an assignment on Thanksgiving. We had to ask our family members to go around the table and tell us what they are thankful for. I then had to right a essay about their answers. I didn’t like having homework on a holiday; but my family has made it a tradition to go around the table and say what we are thankful for ever since.

Clean-up Crew
After everybody is stuffed and couldn’t eat another bite it’s time to start the clean-up process. During the day we would help Cheryl as much as she needed us. The jobs mostly included chopping, stirring, getting things for her, you know the drill. Still Cheryl did most of the work; and in turn we would be doing the dished.

We didn’t have a dishwasher in our house and every time we asked why they didn’t get one. Cheryl would reply, “Why do we need one when we have three daughters that can do the job for me. Plus they are able to put the dishes away. Show me a dishwasher that can do that.”

Thanksgiving has changed for me. It might have to do with me being older and wiser. Sure, I still eat way to much food and watch the game. It might have to do with some family members who are no longer with us, some have moved away and it’s hard to get together, and some are married now. Growing up means things change. Sometimes change is a good thing, such as at my dad’s house. They have a dishwasher. No more dish pan hands!

This year my family and I will all be spending Thanksgiving in different places, but we will make it a point to call each other and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

My Ode To Odie

2008-12-31T08:16:00.002-08:00

When I was growing up we always had a family dog. Most of them we rescued from the Humane Society. So when my dad and stepmom Cathy invited me to tag along with them to Dogtoberfest a few weeks ago, I of course said yes.

Dogtoberfest is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Dane County Humane Society. The Humane Society has really had a tough year so far, from the animals that were misplaced from the flooding to the recent Hurricane Ike animals.

The event was held at Middleton’s Capital Brewery. What could be more fun? You got dogs, nice weather, live music and last but not least, beer. I was there to have a good time and that’s just what I did.

The first dog I met was a two-year-old beagle named Odie. He had on a cute little vest that said “adopt me.” He just loved the attention but was cautious at the same time. I was talking to one of the volunteers about Odie when Cathy and my dad came over. The volunteer was explaining that Odie is very scared of men. When Odie surprised the volunteer and went over to my dad and sniffed his hand, then let my dad pet him. I wasn’t that surprised myself. The running joke in our family is that we call my dad Doctor Doolittle. Animals just love him. Even at the zoo, animals will come up to him.

I had a feeling even before we came to Dogtoberfest that they were going to come home with a dog. I just didn’t think it was going to be a beagle named Odie.

News spread fast at the event that Odie got adopted and found a new family. It even came to the attention of Joelle Parks for WISC Channel 3. She interviewed both Cathy and Odie, they were shown on the 6 and 10 o’clock news. If you didn’t catch it I’m sure my dad still has it on Tivo. Odie just loved being in the limelight.

The very next day, Cathy and my dad wanted to see how Odie would do on the boat. So we all set out to get Odie a life jacket at PetSmart. Yes, they make them for dogs too. When we were trying on life jackets Odie was recognized and he was loving the attention yet again.

The one time that blew me away was when Odie was recognized in the ShopKo Parking lot. Odie and my dad were sitting in the Jeep - male bonding - when Cathy and I went in to get some stuff that we needed before we went boating. When we came out, Odie was in the front passengers seat with Cathy’s Jacket on.

“Look at Odie, with your Jacket on,” I said to Cathy when a man and a women walked by and said “Is that the dog from the news last night!”

“Yes it is,” Cathy said with a huge smile on her face.

Odie also loves being on the boat, having the wind flapping his ears and checking out the new smells. He’s got his sea legs for sure. He had no problem taking over my normal seat on the boat.

Odie loves car rides, running fast, and Cathy’s house slippers. Odie is also playing more and is becoming less scared of men. He has even made friends with the nextdoor neighbors dog Leo. Every morning, he sits on the sidewalk in front of Leo’s house, and waits for Leo to come outside to say hello.

Odie has made himself right at home, and is a true member of the family. He has also been a good change for Cathy and my dad. It’s a reason for them to get out more and do something even if it is just for a walk. When you are walking Odie he has to smell everything. It can make for a long walk. Heck, I even came up with a poem on a car ride a few days ago about Odie. As he was sitting on my lap so he could stick his head out the window, and I was trying not to get drooled on. It’s titled Ode to Odie and even rhymes. No, I won’t bore you with it, but it made us all laugh.

Odie is very even tempered dog. An example of this was a little girl no more than 3-or-4-years-old asked if she could pet Odie. I told her she could. She grabbed Odie’s ear and rubbed it to her cheek and she said “It’s so soft.” I thought for sure he would at least bark. All he did was lean into her and tilted his head up to the sky like he was saying “This is the life”. I still haven’t even heard him bark yet, but he can sure snore.

To donate to the Dane County Humane Society visit there website at www.giveshelter.org. or stop in at 5132 Voges Road, Madison.

Carmel Apples

2008-12-31T08:16:00.001-08:00

Could any sign of fall’s arrival outshine the sights and sounds of college and professional football on a crisp Wisconsin day? Most definitely. Sure the trees have started to change colors, and birds have begun there journey south. I’ve even unpacked my wool sweaters, but it isn’t officially fall until I’ve had my first caramel apple.

It’s not just any caramel apple, it has to be a Lapacek’s Orchard caramel apple. It’s been a tradition for myself and my family for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid we would go to Lapacek's Orchard and get a carmel apple. I think I had the apple almost done before we even left the orchard they are that good.

I’ve had other carmel apples, even attempted to make some of my own, but they just didn’t taste the same. I don’t know what they do to make them taste so good, maybe they add angle tears into the caramel. They taste so wonderful, the only way I can describe the taste is heaven on a stick. It might have to do with the almost half an inch carmel they put on each apple. Or it could be the fresh juicy tartness of the apple. Combined with the sweetness of the carmel. It’s just melts in your mouth, a perfect combination. I love them simple as that.

When it comes to caramel apples I’m what you call a traditionalist. Just carmel and apple for me no need to dress it up with nuts. To each their own I guess. Everyone in my family likes them with nuts. Don’t even get me started on the gourmet carmel apples. You know the ones with the M&Ms, dipped in Chocolate not caramel and have cookie chums sprinkled on them. Many places sell the gourmet caramel apples, but you pay gourmet prices that I believe taste as good as the traditional carmel apples.

Last year I was golfing at the golf course at Poynette and on one of the holes I could see the Lapacek’s Orchard. After that that’s all I could think about and my game went down the tubes. I was like a drug addict. I couldn’t wait for my next fix. I needed a caramel apple. So of course; I had to stop in after I was done golfing and get my “usual” one carmel apple, with no nuts. What could wash the carmel apple down any better, but some apple cider. I seriously think there could be something with my angle tear theory.

Lapacek’s Orchard is a small family owned and operated business. They are located a half a mile mile east of Poynette, on Highway CS and Q. For more information check out there website. www.lapaceksorchard.com.

Beijing Olympics

2008-12-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

It was wonderful to have an extended weekend last week. I was able to relax and catch up on some much needed sleep. Like most Americans, I caught the Olympic fever and during those two weeks I was glued to the television. I’m sure my boyfriend Jason was getting really tired of hearing Bob Costas voice.

I knew I was in trouble when I was up really late watching the women’s Equestrian Individual Event. There was an American competing in this event. Gina Miles, so of course I had to cheer her on. I was never “that girl” that wanted a pony or even riding lessons, but here I was watching such an event. Miles didn’t do that bad in this event, she received a silver medal.

I have always loved the Olympics It doesn’t mater if it’s summer or winter. When I was a child I enjoyed watching Mary Lou Retton, Scott Hamilton, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Greg Louganis and more recently Wisconsin’s own Casey Fitzrandolph going for the gold.

The two events that I can’t miss in the Summer Olympic are swimming and track and field. This year I was really excised to see swimming, and see how Michael Phelps would do.

Phelps is now a house hold name by winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in the following events; 400 meter individual medley, 4x100 meter free relay, 200 meter freestyle, 200 meter butterfly, 4x200 meter freestyle relay, 200 meter individual medley, 4x100 meter medley relay, 100 meter butterfly with a very close win of one hundredth of a second. I had to cheer very quite or I would have woke Jason up. No other athlete has gone and done what he did. He should so get to be on the wheaties box. Just like Mary Lou Retton did.

Another great athlete in swimming is Dara Torres, she is a five-time-Olympian and the oldest American swimmer ever to compete. At 41 years old, she could be a mother to some of the athletes that she competed with and beat. Torres settled for a silver in the Women’s 50 meter freestyle she lost by one hundredth of a second. It’s amazing that races can be won or lost because of one hundredth of a second. Torres went home with 2 other silver medals one in the 4x100 meter free style relay and the 4x100 meter medley relay.

I would have never thought it would be possible to win the Men’s 100-meter dash at least seven full strides from the finish line, and break form and do a chest-bump. To signify not only that you’ve won, but you just beaten your own world record with a 9.69 seconds time.

Usain Bolt of Jamaican did all that; along with two other gold medals and two more world records.

At the start of the Beijing Olympics the U.S. men’s volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon’s father-in-law was stabbed to death while sight seeing in Beijing. From something so sad the team began an incredible run which ended with a victory over Brazil, which then gave United States team the gold.

BMX Racing made it’s Olympic debut in the Beijing Olympic games. The United States team brought home one silver medal and two bronze medals in BMX.

This Olympic we also had to say good bye to softball for now. The reason given was that the sport is not enjoyed in wide popularity in Europe and other counties. The United States team received a silver. I hope to see you girls play again.

In the overall medal standing, China won 51 gold medals, with United States in second place with 36. But the United States placed first in the total medal count with 110 medals.

Left Hander's Day

2008-12-31T08:13:00.000-08:00

It’s a little know fact that Aug. 13 is Left-hander’s Day throughout the world. This day is not celebrated with a parade down Time Square. It isn’t even marked in calendars.

I stumbled upon this holiday last year after reading a book about left-handed people. I’m the only left-handed person in my immediate family. Just another example of being the black sheep I guess.

For me being left-handed doesn’t really matter. It’s like having blond hair or having blue eyes. Sure, there are things that I’m aware are made more for right-handed people. Such as credit card machines at check out lines. I’m also well aware of what areas to sit when dining. I don’t want to bump anybody when eating at the table or make anybody uncomfortable.

When I was in elementary school I was always given left-handed scissors to use. This is just a personal observation, but I think those scissors were never oiled. They were so hard to open and close you almost had to use both hands to use them. I gave up and just started using right-handed scissors with my left hand. When I was learning how to knit from the stepmom she had me sit in front of her and just copied what she was doing. The mirror image effect if you will. I just had to learn how to do things a little different, but once I got it down, watch out. Because that’s all I would do . I think everybody in my family got scarfs for christmas that year.

As I was reading the book there was a list of famous left-handers, some of the people I knew, but so many of them surprised me. The list included U.S. presidents, actors, actresses, artist, athletes, writers, musicians, astronauts and serial killers. Even a puppet; Kermit the Frog. That might have a lot to do with Jim Henson also being left-handed.

Sure I write, eat, talk on the phone, bush my teeth, golf, curl and bat left-handed, but I throw, catch and use my computer mouse with my right hand. I think it has a lot to do with who taught me how to do the things, or it might just come down to what feels most comfortable to me.

Many companies have started designing items that are just for left-handed users. Such as vegetable peelers, boomerangs, pens, bread knives, can openers, corkscrews, garden pruners, shears and many different types of scissors.
Here is a test to see how left-handed you might be.

1. Imagine the center of your back is itching. Which hand do you scratch it with?

2. Interlock your fingers. Which thumb is uppermost?

3. Imagine you are applauding. Start clapping your hands. Which hand is uppermost?

4. Wink at an imaginary friend straight in front of you. Which eye does the winking?

5. Put your hands behind your back, one holding the other. Which hand is doing the holding?

6. Imagine someone is in front of you is shouting but you cannot hear the words. Cup your ear to hear better. Which ear do you cup?

7. Count to three on your fingers, using the forefinger of the other hand. Which forefinger do you use?

8. Tilt your head over on to one shoulder. Which shoulder does it touch?

9. Fixate a small distant object with your eyes and point directly at it with your forefinger. Now close one eye. Now changes eyes. Which eye was open when the fingertip remained in line with the small object? (When the other eye, the non-dominant one, is open and the dominant eye is closed, the finger will appear to move to one side of the object.)

10. Fold your arms. Which is uppermost?

If you have always considered yourself to be right- or left-handed you will probably now have discovered that your body is less than total in it’s devotion to a favored side. If you are right-handed chances are you were not able to be right 10 times in the quiz.

For more information about left handers day visit www.lefthandersday.com

Gracie

2008-12-31T08:01:00.000-08:00

Graceful is defined in the dictionary as “characterized by elegance or beauty of form, manner, movement, or speech; elegant: a grace dancer; a graceful reply. (greys-fuhl) adjective.”

Growing up I would have to say that I wasn’t the most graceful kid on the block. I had my share of scrapes, scratches, bruises and even some broken bones. When growing up my dad used to say that I tripped over air currents. There might even be some truth to that.

One of my most ungraceful moments in my life was when I was 10. My dad and stepmom decided to take us up to Wisconsin Dells to experience the Dells Boat Tours. My stepmom loved having us dress up when we would go out. “Her beautiful little girls” she would say. I was not a huge fan of wearing dresses, but I was old enough to know that I wasn’t going to win that battle.

The morning of the Wisconsin Dells trip my dad got us up before sunup. I’m not a morning person not even at the age of 10. Once we were up it was a quick breakfast, shower, dress and then on the road.

We all loaded the grey two-door Toyota, we took our usual spots, Jennifer and I got the window seats Amanda who is the youngest, got the hump. That’s what happens when you are the youngest.

At the boat docks it was really windy and you could see the waves smashing against the docks and boats. At this time we were told to start loading the boat named Juliet. Shortly after we were told to board the wind decided to make the boat and dock do a see-saw effect. I knew something was going to happen. My family and I were the first ones to board the boat. My step mother and my little sister made it on fine. Next was Jennifer’s turn she also made it on fine. Then it was my turn, but I was not so lucky.

Timing is everything especially when boarding a boat on a windy day. As I was stepping off the dock a wave hit the side of the boat and made it drop down about 3 feet. I fell in between the boat and dock one hand was on the boat the other was on the dock. and my feet were dangling in the water. My father was standing on the dock with a look of shock on his face. He then grabbed me and helped me on the boat.

At this point in time everybody was watching me. Not only the other families waiting to board the boat, but the crew was standing there and wasn’t sure what to say. I was so embarrassed and a little wet from my dip into Wisconsin River.

When everybody was on the boat we headed out to start the tour. My family and I were sitting out in the sunlight, enjoying the view and listening to the tour guide point out all the different rock formations. I was enjoying the ride and almost forgot about my ungraceful moment. When I heard the tour guide say over the loud speaker “How are you doing back there Gracie?” Everybody on the boat turned around to look at me. My face turned bright red and I just said “fine.”

As I was leaving the boat my dad held my hand and we got off the boat together, without another “Gracie moment.” The tour guide lady must have felt bad for me because she gave me a signed postcard with her and the captain on it in front of the Juliet. I just smiled and said “Thank you.”

I wish I could tell you that was my only ungraceful moment in my life, but that would be a lie. There have been many others and too many to mention. But when ever I have a “Gracie moment” I get out the first aid kit and fix my self up and just laugh about it, because that’s all I can really do aside from putting my self in a plastic bubble.

4 Teachers

2008-12-31T07:59:00.002-08:00

A few months ago I went to a school to talk to some students about being a graphic designer. One student asked me a very good question. “What teachers helped you become the person that you are today?” I was a little caught off guard that this questions came from a 4th grader. I stood there for about five seconds thinking about the question. Who really did help me become who I am today?

Some of the teachers that I had in school are still teaching at Poynette High School. A few are retired and a some are no longer with us. I know I had many teachers in my educational career, they all taught me things about my self and the world around me. I was able to narrowed it down to four teachers.

Mr. Jordak, my high school art teacher, is still teaching at Poynette High School. I always loved to draw and he made the class fun. It’s no surprise that I chose him being that I’m now a graphic designer. I did very well in the class but I also worked my butt off. I’m the first to admit that I’m not the greatest person to draw realistic things such as people, pets and fruit. But with Mr. Jordak pushing me and helping me solve problems such as drawing hands, he made me a better artist. His classes prepared me for many of my classes in college. He taught me the importance of quality in your work. I’m still not a fan of drawing hands but now they don’t look like lobster claws.

Mr. Tenpas is still teaching U.S. History and Economics at Poynette High School. He taught me determination to find the answers. In college, I had to take an American history class. A fellow class mate was amazed that we actually had relocation camps on US soil. I was shocked. that this was the first time she heard about this. This was something Mr. Tenpas taught us in his class. He wasn’t afraid to teach us the “dark side” of American History, such as the relocation camps. Also, I can still figure out inflation rates. It’s a huge hit at parties.

Mrs. Dobbe-Chase is also still teaching at Poynette High School. She was my English teacher my sophomore year along with with creative writing and advanced composition. She taught me to find strength in my self. She taught me that it’s my right to speak my mind. That my voice will be heard, such as writing in a journal, column in the paper or even just to vote. Also not to be afraid to try new things. How else are you going to know what you are good at.

I always loved to read but I think the first book that I truly fell in love with and read at least once a year is “Of Mice and Men,” a book that I read in Mrs. Dobbe-Chase’s class.

Last but not least, Mr. Laib. He no longer teaches at Poynette High School, he retired in 2000. He was my biology and human Anatomy teacher. I always loved science. I like figuring out how things work. He made class interesting and was always there if you needed help. He also treated you like an adult, not many teachers would. I will never forget how many bones are in the human adult body. Two hundred and six if you didn’t know!

My major in college was sports therapy. A lot of the reason that I ended up no not liking my major choice was the professors weren’t as passionate about teaching as Mr. Laib was and still is.

If only there were more of these teachers in the world. It would be a much better place. To all the students out there, Education is about how to achieve your goals. Even if it is hard at times do it... it will pay off in the end. Lesson over, now have a great summer vacation.

The Birds

2008-12-31T07:59:00.001-08:00

Some people hate spiders, others can’t stand rats. I for one do not like mice, rats and centipedes, but I really can’t stand birds.
Just last month at work we had a bird in the office. He came from the basement. Later on we found out he came in from an old vent pipe that isn’t used anymore. It was a robin and it was flying all over.

As soon as I figured out what it was I brought my legs up to my chest and sat very still in my chair. I reached for a pencil that was on my desk and held it out like a sword, eraser end toward the bird. Now looking back, what was I going to do, erase the bird? In my mind I was protecting myself from the robin. Eventually, my co-workers got the bird out of the office. The rest of the day, the hair on the back of my neck was standing up.

This isn’t the first time a bird and I have met. When I was about 8 years old a bird fell in our swimming pool and I rescued it. I pick it up and placed it in a towel and helped dried it off so it could fly away. I wasn’t afraid of birds then.

So what happened from that time to the present? Two little words: Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, the movie “The Birds.” After that movie I never could look at them the same way I did before. I always felt like they were just waiting for the right time to peck my eyes out.

I’m not a big fan of crows. When we moved into the house that my mom and step-dad built, I got my own room. I thought this was wonderful. Until around 4 a.m. and about 10 crows would sit in one of the huge trees on the property. Conviently, just outside my bedroom window. They would crow so loud that they would wake me up.

They did this every morning until I moved out. Once I moved out, they did too. Sure, my mom says every once in a while they will get one or two, but never 10 like when I lived there. That’s another thing my mom loves: watching birds “It’s relaxing” she told me one day. Myself, not so much.

Once I moved out, I got my own place. It was my first apartment and the first time I was living on my own. It was a Thursday night, I came home from work and I needed to get some laundry done, because I was leaving town for the weekend and had to get packed. So I went into the laundry room and went to open one of the washers to put my clothes in, and as soon as I opened the door, something started moving in the washer. At first I thought it was a cat. I don’t know why, but that was my first thought. I took another look and it was a robin. Our eyes met and I could see the bird was scared. So was I. It wanted to peck my eyes out! That’s all I could think about. So I drop my laundry and ran to my apartment. What do I do? I wasn’t going back in there!

So I called maintenance. At first, Steve the maintenance guy didn’t believe me, but he said he would be right over. Ten minutes later, he came over with a pillow case and a net. I told him which washer the bird was in. I wished him luck as he went inside. I stayed in the hallway.

Steve opened the lid and used many choice words that I can’t print. He eventually got the robin in the pillow case. As he walked out he appoligized for not believing me, and told me the robin most likely flew in through the dryer vent and someone left the dryer door open and the robin was flying around in the room and must have hit the washer door and closed it on itself.

I asked him what he was going to do with the bird and he replied, “dinner.” I gave him a look that said ‘not funny.’ He then replied by saying he was going to let it go outside away from the apartment.

“Why do you care what I do to the bird you said you hate birds?” I replied “I might hate birds, but I don’t wish them any harm.”
A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I were at a pet store and he pointed out two birds in a cage and they were love birds and they were somewhat cute. They were cuddling and kissing. I thought it was cute, but I still wouldn’t want them as a pet.

The Big Day

2008-12-31T07:56:00.000-08:00

“Goin’ to the chapel and we're gonna get married. Goin’ to the chapel and we’re gonna get married.”
This is what my younger sister was singing the whole day of her wedding. Yes, the day finally came. For the most part. the wedding went without a hitch. If you call forgetting the bride’s veil and having the groom drop it off at the hair salon without him seeing the bride. A bridesmaid forgetting her necklace and having our step-brother-in-law drive back to the hotel room. Our father cutting himself shaving and bleeding on his tux shirt. The church playing the wrong song when Amanda and our father were walked down the aisle. Our father almost falling on his face in church as he was giving the bride away. I misplaced my camera and didn’t find it until the next day. Also my boyfriend getting sick at the reception and missing most of it.

Our niece Kate who is almost 5 years old went over to Amanda and gave her a big hug and said that she looked like a Princess. I know everybody says the bride looks wonderful, but Amanda really did.

I wasn’t nervous at all at the church. I became very nervous at the reception. The reason being that I had to give a speech. I know it’s hard to believe that I would get nervous over such a thing, being that I’m a person who doesn’t have any problems speaking my mind, but this is very different from telling someone that it’s everybody’s job to recycle and to help make the world a better place. This is my younger sister’s wedding. My hands were starting to get sweaty and my breathing was becoming a little more labored. I was thanking God that I didn’t have to go first.

As I was waiting for my turn I was second guessing what I was going to say. I had my speech written down and I practiced it about 20 times. Was it right for this special moment? Should I just wing it?

My sister Amanda and I didn’t really have the best relationship growing up. Our step-father nicked named us the Bickerson Sisters. When Amanda and I decided to become roommates for a year our family members were placing bets to see who would be alive at the end of the lease. That year I think was the year that I really got to know and understand my sister. We actually became good friends.

When Amanda asked me if I would be her maid of honor, I was a little shocked. I thought for sure she would have wanted one of her friends to be her maid of honor. She just said “No, I would like you to be.” So in my speech I didn’t want to pretend that we had the perfect relationship, but I didn’t want her to feel like I didn’t care. I don’t know why but it was very hard for me to put my feelings on paper. I lost count on how many drafts I wrote. I just hope she liked it.

“And now let’s hear from the maid of honor, Amber” the DJ said... I took one very large deep breath and counted to 10 in my head to help calm down a bit. I stood up and took the microphone. “I can do this” I said to myself.

I started my speech... Amanda when you were first born Mom told me I adored you. She said I always wanted to hold you and help feed you. Then we both got older and you started to annoy me.

This is when Amanda decided to look up at me. With her big blue doe eyes, that the make-up lady made them look even bigger somehow. I held out the microphone away from my mouth and choked out “I can’t look at you right now.” Which everybody in the reception hall heard and started to laugh. The one time the microphone actually works. I thought, great! I already messed up. It took me a couple of seconds to control my breathing, but I had to finish... I couldn’t go anywhere without taking you with. I asked mom and dad if we could trade you in for a different sister.

Then we both got a little older and I was grateful we didn’t trade you in. You started to not annoy me as much. We started to hang out a little... Then I lost it again the water works were in deed working. I just had to keep on going.

When I went to college. I was excited to see you on weekends, holidays and summer breaks. I liked talking to you about classes, boyfriends and events in each other’s lives.

I took a deep breath and counted to five in my head to maybe control the sobs. It helped a little I told myself that you are almost done keep on going...

Yes! I’m glad we didn’t trade you in otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to share in the excitement of your engagement, and bridal shower. I will never forget the look on your face when your shower cake started to slip, and we can’t forget your first time on an airplane to Jacksonville, Fla. I think Brian still has the claw marks on his arms. I would not have been able to watch you marry Brian today and celebrate with the both of you.

Congratulations little sis, and thank you mom and dad for not listening to me all those years ago. Brian welcome to our crazy family.

I then raised my glass and said “To the the bride and groom.” I took a somewhat long sip of my champaign. I was done and I survived.

Later on I had a couple of my family members ask me if I really did ask my parents to trade Amanda in for a different sister and I said “Yes, but what do I know I thought the New England Patriots were going to win the super bowl this year.”

Bridesmaidzilla

2008-12-31T07:55:00.000-08:00

The image of a bridezilla is one that anyone in a wedding party doesn’t want to deal with. You know the type; the bride-to-be who alienates family, friends and anyone who might step in their path in search of the the perfect wedding.

Have you ever heard about a rare creature called the bridesmaidzilla? It could be a sister, cousin or a girlfriend. I needed to find out more about this creature.

This is why I love this day and age of the Internet. All I had to do is hop on my computer and type in bridesmaidzilla, and within seconds 786 Web sites pop up for me to look at.

In my research I read horror story after horror story. I think the worst one was where the bride told the wedding party that she didn't care what kind of dress they got it just had to be in the navy blue she was having throughout the wedding. The wedding party was fine with the rule. The day of the wedding the maid of honor came to the church wearing a silk, slip nightgown to the wedding and flip flops She told the bride she wasn’t going to spend a lot of money on a dress and she found this on a sales rack at Wal-mart for $7 and the shoes were ones she already had. She couldn’t understand why the bride was in tears because it was in the Navy blue color she told them to get the dress in.

I was amazed at how many horror stories were out there. Sometimes weddings bring out the best in people ... but much of the time, they do the opposite. After reading the stories I noticed a pattern in all these stories. The main issue that everybody had with the bridemaidzillas was lack of communication and proper etiquette.

This is also the issue that my sister had with a person in her wedding party. In my sister’s case it was a communication issue too, which can come across as not caring or lack of responsibility. It also caused problems in the wedding party and there was a mad rush to find a replacement. So here is some advice to those who might be asked to be in a wedding. These are six simple guidelines:

1. When you are asked to be in a wedding make sure you can handle all the responsibility that goes with it, such as helping look for a dress, paying for the dress and shoes any anything else that comes up. If you know you can’t this is the time to say “Thank you for thinking about me, but I don’t think I will be able to be in the wedding.” Mention that you still would like to go to the wedding. The sooner you tell them the easier it will be for the bride to find a replacement.

2. Help the maid of honor with the shower or at least to attend all the parties, especially the Bridal shower, the rehearsal dinner, not to mention the wedding and reception. Yes you will have to keep in contact with the bride and wedding party. This one can be a hard one, because everybody has their own lives to live, but if you can’t make the party, try to help with the planning.

3. Arrive on time, this is not the day to come fashionably late. If you are a late person normally then this might be the hardest rule for you. Also come to the church dressed and ready. You don’t want to be the one who is making everyone late.

4. Keep in touch! There are many questions that need to be answered in a timely fashion. This doesn't mean you have to sit at home and wait for the bride to contact you. But when she does have a question, try to get back to her with an answer in 24 to 48 hours. After 48 hours they will make a desison for you, and you might not like the choice they made.

5. Mingle with people you do not know. This will give you a chance to meet others and it is reassuring to the couple to see the families together.

6. The wedding day is about the bride and groom. They are the reason you had to put high heels on. Try to help make it a happy memory for everyone.

Victor's Birthday

2008-12-31T07:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Victor! It’s been one year since I picked you out from all the others. This last year is when I brought you home. Who is Victor you ask? Simple. He’s my car. Yes, I named my car. The reason why I had to get Victor was I was in a car wreck and totaled my other one.

It happened when we had a huge snow storm the night before and I was driving on Highway 51 heading to work. Kinda like the one we had last Wednesday. I reached the DeForest turn off and I was breaking to turn when my car skidded and did a 180 degree spin in the turning lane. My boyfriend Jason was behind me in his truck I was trying to stop in time, but everything was just moving super fast. I saw his face looking at me. He had two options.

Options No. 1: Hit my car that was in the turn lane; or option No. 2: Hit someone still going straight a make it a pile up. He picked option No. 1 and I’m very grateful for it. I guess I should mention that I drove a typical college student car, a very low to ground compact car mostly made out of plastic. Jason drove a full size truck.

If Jason chose option No. 2 there is a very good chance that I would not have walked away from the crash. The impact of his truck pushed my car into a snow drift and out of the way. He hit my driver side front tire. I couldn’t drive my car. So we had to call the sheriff department. I decided to sit in Jason’s truck with him and wait.

As the Sheriff came up to the truck we got our driver’s licenses and registration out to give to him. When the officer went back to his car to check us out. I started joking around with Jason, to get his mind off of what just happened. It’s what I do in awkward situations. I could tell Jason was not liking it so I stopped.

Just then the sheriff gave us or license and registration back and he asked us if we knew each other. As he was asking us the question we were holding hands. I just looked down at our hands for a second and answered the sheriff with a “Yes.”

The sheriff already knows my full name, address, height, eye and hair color and how much I say I weigh. He doesn’t need to know that he is my boyfriend. After everything was settled and my car was being towed Jason dropped me off at the auto body shop.

It was strange to have to say good bye to that car. I had it for seven years. I drove it to college and to my first real job. I Even moved boxes into my first apartment. I love my Victor, but I wouldn’t trade him in yet.

Bridal Shower

2008-12-31T07:51:00.001-08:00

Every woman has been to a bridal shower they suffered through; the mystery spice game, or how about the game you have to try to remember how much stuff is on a tray that was passed around. My list normally just has the word tray written down. I always gave up half way through playing the game.

So when it came down to planning my sister Amanda’s bridal shower I already had an idea of what games we would have. The spice game and the tray memory game didn’t make the cut.

Many showers I have gone to don’t play any games. That’s fine, but Amanda has always enjoyed the ones that did. So her shower was going to be one with games. Now I just needed to figure out what games she would like.

One day I called her out of the blue and asked her what were some of her favorite bridal shower games. She didn’t even miss a beat and said the Bridal Gown Designer Game. Basically you divide the party into groups of three to four people and put them in separate areas. Supply each of the teams with a package of tissue paper and tape. Then each team selects their own “bride/model” and designs a gown out of the tissue paper. They have 20 minutes to complete the gowns. After the 20 minutes are up the brides model the gowns and the bride-to-be is the judge. It’s a good get to know each other game.

The other game that Amanda liked was 20 questions about the groom. I e-mailed the groom 20 questions about himself and his relationship with my sister. He couldn’t ask Amanda any of the questions. So the questions would be a total surprise at the shower. We gave everybody at the party the questions, but they were multiple choice for them. Amanda had to come up with the answers without the multiple choice option. It’s a game designed to see how well the bride really knows the groom.

Amanda did very well she only got two questions wrong. I also learned some things about my future brother in-law with this game. Such as his shoe size and his faviortie color.

This shower would not have been the best that it was without the help of my mom and Amanda’s future mother in-law Molly. My mom helped me with organizing the shower and getting a cake. Molly made all the food for the shower. This is a area that I lack in. I’m not a Martha Stewart type of person. Nobody would want to eat anything I make. I don’t cook that much. I can really only make a few things such as grilled cheese sandwiches, spaghetti and stuffed mushrooms. It might be what a redneck bridal shower would serve, but that’s not the kind of shower we had. So thank you so much mom and Molly for all your help.
After everybody had something to eat and the cake was cut it was time for Amanda to open the gifts. I was put to work as the secretary and wrote down who gave Amanda what. I oohhed and aahhed on all the gifts that Amanda got. Many times I had no idea what the gift was. I found out later it was something for the kitchen. Again an area I don’t know much about.

For the people out there that don’t have a team of bride shower pro’s on their hands I found a few Web sites that helped me out. The Web site www.theknot.com has a whole section on bridal showers. I found a great fruit punch recipe that even I can’t screw up. One other Web site I found was www.bridesmaid101.com. This was a great Web site for information as well.

So to all the maid of honors out there just know that the three hours it took you to write out and address the invites for the shower, your work does pay off and the bride will have wonderful memories of her shower. Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy the shower too.

Together With Family

2007-12-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

Last night I finished reading a book and decided to go look through my stack of to-read books next to my night stand. I was looking for about 10 minutes when I came upon a book titled “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Holidays.” I though this would be a perfect book to read with the holidays just around the corner. I read it cover to cover in just under an hour. I would recommend the book to anyone that wants to know how to fend off a charging reindeer or to survive a runaway sled.

I was surprised to see there wasn’t a chapter on How to Deal with a Large Family During the Holidays. The closest the book had was a chapter on how to deal with a meddling parent. So I came up with 10 easy rules to help you deal with a large family at a holiday party.

1. The loudest will be heard.
He or she that speaks the loudest is the one who will be heard. Many times it has come down to reading each others lips, or writing notes on napkins. Every year at least one member of my family has lost their voice, because they tried to talk above the noise. If you can handle the cold it’s easier to go outside to talk.

2. Aspirin & more aspirin!
Take aspirin before going to the party, it helps to prepare for the crowd. Take aspirin with you to the party, because you might need them. Last year I didn’t take any with me and I was asking everybody there if they had some. This step is not a good idea if you plan to be drinking.

3. Watch intake of liquids.
It’s simple: over 50 people with only one bathroom. Be prepared to wait or drive to the nearest gas station.

4. Find a spot early.
With so many people in one house the prime spots for seating are almost always taken by older people such as aunts and uncles. So then everybody else has to be a little more creative. Such as a spot on the floor or sitting on a step. This is were my cousins and I normally sit. It’s out of the flow of foot traffic, but some what uncomfortable.

5. Have a holiday buddy.
This rule works really well. It’s best to have your holiday buddy before you go to the party. Ideal holiday buddies would be a sister, brother, boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancee, husband or wife. Basically you and your buddy are to make sure nobody takes your sitting spot, when one person needs to use the restroom the other guards the spot. Even though they are your family if they have a worst spot they have no problem taking yours.

6. Bring a dish to pass.
This will be somewhat already decided on what you bring to pass. Example of this is my mom always brings her green bean casserole, if she didn’t bring it I think we might have a riot on our hands. If you can’t cook like myself you still need to bring something. Ask a co-workers if they know any fool proof recipes (thanks Dana). Lastly, if you still can’t think of anything to make go to the deli in your local grocery store buy a salad and put in a bowl and pass it off as something you made.

7. Be comfortable
You want to be comfortable. The last thing you want is to be wearing shoes that are pinching your toes or pants that are too tight.

8. Taboo Topics. Off limits!
Certain topics of discussion are off limits. The topics are different in every family so yours might be different. In my family you don’t want to mention politics or hunting. No good will come from it. Just stay away from them. Also if anybody asks you a question such as “What do you think is the best tractor in the world?” The answer is John Deer, it’s always John Deer.

9. Watch where you step!
The reason for this rule is that there are children of all ages at these parties crawling, running, laughing and playing with toys. It wouldn’t be the first time that little fingers were stepped on. Also be aware of things that you might trip on such as toys on the floor. Nobody wants to take a ride in the back of the ambulance.

10. Remember you are family.
With a large family there are many people with different hobbies, political views and beliefs that you may not agree with, but try to set them aside and enjoy the holiday season! You might be able to pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family.

Dress Shopping

2007-11-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

My nightmare is always the same. A drill sargeant who happens to be my little sister Amanda. She has a wedding veil on her head. yelling at me really close to my face. “Your Mission as the maid of honor is to help me find the perfect bridesmaid dress! If you fail at your mission you will have to wear a super poofy, fluorescent pink dress with a huge bow on the back. You do not want to fail.” That’s when I wake up.

In no way is my sister a bridezilla, but finding that perfect dress is a really big deal. A few months ago we started on our mission to find the perfect dress. Amanda decided to bring some backup. One of our cousins, my stepmother Cathy and our father, he was our driver. The first stop was a shop on the west side of Madison. There were so many dresses that it was very over whelming for me. So we decided to break off in aisles. We just grabbed dresses we thought would work out. Everybody but our father. He found a nice chair and sat down and kept himself occupied with his Nintendo DS.

Two hours pass by, we found about 25 dresses we thought might work. So it was my turn to try on the dresses along with my cousin. Here’s the thing. I’m not a size six. I think the last time I was a size six was when I was in 5th grade. Most of the dresses I had to try on were a size six or a size 22. They either cut off my circulation or made me look like I was wearing a garage bag, and it was about to fall off.

The worst dress made me look like a lounge singer at a hotel near the airport. Second place goes to the dress that looked like the dressmaker took the tablecloth off my grandmother’s dining table and decided to make a dress out of it, oh yes it had a bow that covered my whole backside. And finally third goes to the bright neon green dress that looked like a jumper I had when I was in 1st grade. Were the designers of these dresses on crack? Kids, this is a perfect reason not to do drugs. Thank God all of those dresses were vetoed.

To make matters worse my sister was taking photos of us in all the dresses so she could look them over and decided which one to choose. Oh joy! let’s capture this moment on film. Hey I got an idea, let’s make these photos this year’s Christmas card, or even better, trading cards.

After trying on all the dresses, we went home empty handed, but we had a better idea of what was out there and what we didn’t want.

On our second attempt on the mission, Amanda and I worked under the idea of having a 3rd person with us. This time it was our mother. We all took off a Friday from work and headed out. We started up in Portage and worked our way down to Madison. We worked under the same guidelines, if you think it looks nice, grab it. So about every store we went to I had to try on about 25 dresses, and the camera was back. Again the dresses were either to small or too big. One store has a dress that made me look like a pollyanna wanna be, I was just missing the braided pig tails. Another one made me look like a 5’ 9” Tinkerbell ready to take off in flight.

After about four dress shops we decided to stop looking for bridesmaid dresses for the day. So we headed off the mall just to shop. That’s when we saw a dress that might work for a bridesmaid dress. Again they didn’t have my size in the store so I had to go two sizes up, but it looked nice. Amanda asked one of the sales ladies if they could check and see if they had my size in the back; they didn’t. So she then asked if there was a another store that would and they called around and found one at there store in Johnson Creek. So we made plans to go there on Saturday. It looked like our luck was changing.

The third attempt we worked with a backup again. This time our stepmother, Cathy, came along. We headed out to the Johnson Creek. We got there a little early so we had some breakfast at a coffee shop near by and talk about other things dealing with the wedding. When the stores opened we made a beeline for the store that had the dress. I saw the dress right away and went looking for my size and didn’t see it anywhere. That’s when a lady came over to us and asked if we needed any help. She informed us that they sold the last one in my size yesterday. I couldn’t believe it. That’s when Cathy saw a different dress, and to tell you the truth, I liked it a lot better then the one we came down for. Amanda loved it too. The icing on the cake was that they had it in my size so we grabbed it and two more for the other bridesmaids and we were off.

Three attempts to find the perfect dress. Over 250 miles driven in search of the dress. Over 150 dresses tried on. $50 to mail one of the dresses to Florida. Everybody loving the dress choice...Mission Accomplished!

Halloween Past

2007-10-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up my parents would tell me to stay away from strangers. Then poof, one night out of the year, if I dressed up in a costume, I could get bags full of candy. From who you ask? Strangers, and all I had to say was “Trick or treat.”

Every kid in my neighborhood knew where all the good candy houses were. They handed out the regular size candy bars of Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Butterfingers and Twix.

Just because you print the word fun on the wrapper doesn’t mean it’s true. The good candy houses were the first houses I went to.

One of the hardest things about Halloween was to remember from the year before what houses handed out the bad candy. Examples of these houses are the peanut butter taffys wrapped in the orange or black wrappers, the orange styrofoam tasting peanuts, toothbrush peddlers, and don’t forget the popcorn ball people. The only person I know who would eat a popcorn ball was Jezzie, my childhood dog.

I don’t really like scary movies that much and didn’t like them when I was a child, so when I did dress up for Halloween it couldn’t be too scary. Thinking back at some of the past Halloween costumes that I wore I can really only think of two. One being Wonder Women at the age of 4 and the other being a costume made in a pinch.

I was in second grade and I broke my right arm two weeks before Halloween playing soccer at a friends house. I was planning on being a punk rocker (it was the 80s) glitter make-up, pink hair and a glitter glove - the whole nine yards. Seeing that I had my arm in a cast and sling, just dressing for every day was an ordeal.

So I needed a new costume. The night before Halloween my father came up with the idea of dressing up as a bag of jelly beans. All we needed was a clear garbage bag and about 40 different color balloons. We just cut holes for my head and left arm and filled the bag full of the balloons and taped it up. It worked wonderfully. I didn’t move my arm and it gave me extra cushion when someone bumped into me. I didn’t have to miss out on anything.

The most irritating part of Halloween was waiting for my parents to do candy checks. They would be looking for re-wrapped candy and razor blades in carmel apples or popcorn balls. I don’t think they ever found anything.

So my sisters and I would bring our bags of candy to them for inspection. My dad was known for making random candy checks but only with the Snickers or Tootsie Rolls. Never with the popcorn balls.

Once we got the all clear from the parents it was go time. We would be up most of the night eating some candy, but mostly trading candy. I do still love those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Now that I’m an adult and my candy cruzin’ days are over, I enjoy seeing all the little kids come up to my door and yell “Trick or Treat.” I still have never seen another bag of jelly beans walking up to my front door.

Helping Others

2007-09-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Ghandi once said, “ We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” I saw this in its purest form a few weeks ago... helping others.

I was boating with my father and stepmom Cathy. We were having a wonderful day, feeding the ducks, tubeing, relaxing, and just enjoying the wonderful weather. We were heading back to the dock to end the day with our traditional after cruise drink, when my dad pointed out some smoke in the air. As we were getting closer the smoke was getting heavier and had a smell of burning oil. In a split second my dad turned the boat toward the boat that was smoking and decided to see if they needed help.

I admit I was scared and my brain flashed every action movie screen that had explosions. I had a vision of blowing up and becoming fish food. That’s when I said out loud,“Dad don’t get any closer, It’s going to blow.” Seconds after I said that the smoked cleared and I saw two little girls with life jackets on hugging each other off the port bow (front left side of the boat). They were scared just like me. That image will stay with me for the rest of my life, it also made me feel about 3 inches tall. I knew then that we needed to help any way we could.

It was decided we were going to tow the boat to the repair shop, it was on our way to the dock. The two girls also came on to my parent’s boat. I introduced myself to the two girls and my stepmom introduced herself and my father to the girls.

Once we got everything in order and double checked the ropes and knots, we were on our way. I could tell they were still shaken up from what happened, can you blame them? Their boat was on fire, then they were put on a boat with people they never met and their parents are still on the boat that was on fire. That’s when the youngest of the girls said “I’m never going boating again.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she was boating just then. So I went over to the two girls and did the only thing that I could do. I talked to them, just to get their mind off what was going on. It was going to be a fairly long trip because of the extra weight of the other boat.

I found out Sara was the older of the two girls. She loves basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, swimming, dance and playing the piano. She is 10 years old and her favorite subject is art. Sara is a girl after my own heart, when she grows up she wants to be an art teacher.

Tara is the youngest girl and she is 7 years old. She loves soccer and volleyball and she wants to be an interior decorator or a test pilot for space ships. I just kept them talking, that’s all I could think of to do.

After everything was settled and my parent’s boat was docked, Sara and Tara’s mom and dad came over and told us they were seconds away from telling the girls to jump off the boat and swim to shore. I felt even smaller after I heard that, but very proud of my father and stepmom for making the choice to help someone.

In this day and age we don’t really help each other anymore. When we see someone on the side of the road we just keep driving, and say to ourself “They have a cell phone they can call for help.” We are just so involved in our own lives and somehow forget that there are other people out there.

Hold the door open for someone. Say good morning to the man who walks his dog past your house every morning. Give blood, volunteer, help an elderly person with their groceries or even pick up trash on the side of the road. Be helpful and kind because someday you might just need to be towed in too.

Relay For Life

2007-08-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Can one person make a difference? No where is this more evident than with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Three weeks ago I went to a Relay for Life in Eagle River.

You might be wondering why I would choose this outlet to donate my money and time to. The answer to that is very simple. Cancer has touched my life.

In 1998 my stepmom Cheryl had five grand mal seizures in her office at work. The doctors did every test they could to find out what brought the seizures on. That’s when we found out she had brain cancer, Glioblastoma Multiforme to be exact. She had two tumors in her brain, they were both the size of golfballs and were pushing on her brain like a vice. The doctors did a biopsy, and had her do daily treatments of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Along with some clinical trials.

When cancer hits your family it changes your life. It’s all you can think about and talk about. It becomes your life. My dad had to take off work to help take care of Cheryl. The last thing you want to do when you get home from daily radiation and chemotherapy treatments is to cook. So ordering pizza or grabbing a sub became the norm along with friends and neighbors bringing food over.

Cheryl told us from the start that she wanted to fight it, but if it was her time to go she would. She also told us to stay in school and get our degrees. This I would have to say was the hardest for myself and my older sister Jennifer. We were both in college at the time. Jennifer was almost done, I was starting my first year and Amanda was in her second year of high school. I was not happy with my major choice and just all round worried about my stepmom, so Jennifer and I decided to move in with my dad and help take care of Cheryl. I will never forget the look that Cheryl gave me when I told her I was changing majors. She couldn’t talk anymore, but she still got her point across with her eyes. It was to stay in school and get the degree.

My sisters and I went to all the doctor appointments or treatments that didn’t collide with our classes. We did what we could to make her comfortable and feel normal, like washing and brushing her hair. Painting her toenails and finger nails with her favorite color of nail polish. Watching movies that she loved like “Dances With Wolves” and “Dirty Dancing.”
Then, on Dec. 21, 1998 Cheryl passed away at the age of 51. Her battle lasted two and a half months.

I would love to say that Cheryl was the only person that I knew who had cancer. Well it’s not. About two years after my stepmom passed away my aunt Robin was diagnosed with lung cancer. The ironic part is she never smoked in her life. She was always so happy and smiling when I saw her. To tell you the truth, I thought she was going to pull through it and become a survivor. She fought the battle for almost three years. She passed away in 2003. My grandpa Tyler is a survivor of cancer for eight years now. My grandpa Dorshorst had breast cancer at the age of 78, but passed away from lung problems about a week before Robin died.

My mother took it really hard because Robin and her were pretty close. Whenever my mom had news to share, Robin was one of the first persons she talked to. Cheryl, Robin, and my grandfathers are my reasons for being involved with Relay for Life.
When my mom, Amanda and myself got up to Eagle River to partiapate in the Relay for Life, we took a slow walk around the track to see all the luminaria bags with names on them. Many names we didn’t know, but then there were some that we did know Robin, Grandpa Dorshorst and Cheryl.

At the opening ceremony we were introduced to a lady named Kim Balgaard, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought and thought she beat it. Then six months ago she was told that it came back. As she was dealing with having breast cancer her 18 year old daughter had a brain aneurysm and was in a coma. The doctors kept her alive so they could deliver Kim’s granddaughter. Now Kim is raising a granddaughter and dealing with breast cancer.

As the night went on we met many different people and talked with them. My uncle Bob told me that there isn’t a minute that goes by that he doesn’t think about Robin. I knew what he ment. It’s weird we are all in this club, but it’s a club that nobody wants to be a member of. It touches people of all races, age, religion, or money status and yet there are people who survive it and there are others who don’t.

My sister and I noticed a boy selling lemonade as he was making laps around the track all night long. He only took breaks to eat or use the restroom. His name was Andy. All the money that Andy raised was going to Relay for Life. The next morning we saw him picking up some luminaria bag that said In Memory of Mom. It about broke my heart.

The Relay For Life is around because cancer is around. One in three people will be diagnosed with some type of cancer during their lifetime. Every dollar raised at a Relay for Life goes toward fighting cancer. The contributions to the Relay for Life help the American Cancer Society in four main ways: research, education, advocacy and patient services.

So can one person make a difference?... Yes, but many more can make a bigger difference, and I have hope that someday we will find a cure.

Family Reunion

2007-07-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

Now is the time of year that family reunions come around. Last month was my turn. To know what kind of reunion that I went to I have to explain that my mom’s side is huge. Have you ever seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding?” That’s small potatoes compared to what we have.

My grandfather was from a large family, and they all decided to have large families. My mother grew up with 6 sister and 7 brothers. Most of her bothers and sisters have a least two kids. Now my cousins are passing the torch and having kids.

We have to drive about an hour and half to Rudolph it’s just north of Wisconsin Rapids. This is where my grandfather grew up. The reunion is held at a park up there. Yes, a park!

The first thing that you have to do at the Big Fat Dutch Family Reunion is get a name tag. I like to call it the mini family tree; the reason being that it’s not just your name on the name tag but who your grandfather or grandmother is and then your parents’ names and lastly, your name. An example of this would be Grandfather Alois, Mother Randie and oh, by the way, my name is Amber.

It’s funny sometimes when people come by you, and they have no clue who you are until they read the mini family tree, then their eyes light up saying that you are one of us. I passed the security check point.

Now this is when the dreaded questioning comes up: “Amber, are you married yet?” I just smile and say, “No!” Then the follow up question: “Do you have a boyfriend?” And I say, “Yes!” Then lastly: “Is he here?” I say, “No!” Here is the thing, my boyfriend is an only child. The last thing I want to do is overwhelm him with 100 plus of my relatives.

At the family reunion, it’s potluck style. My mother always brings the same thing her famous fruit salad. So does everybody else in my family. It’s an unwritten law in our family.

When we sit down for lunch, we all sit in our own little families. I think this is odd to a point because here we are with all theses people we do not see any other time and yet we sit with the same five people we see all the time. But my grandmother works the shelter like a pro, one minute she’s talking to one person, then the next she is clear across the shelter with another.

In my family I’m more like the black sheep. I’m 28 years old, living on my own, O.K. not alone; I have a cat. I have a boyfriend but I’m in no rush to get married, marriage scares me to death. I went to college for design. Most of the people in my family went into the Armed Forces or college for agriculture or teaching. But being the black sheep of the family is nothing new. When I was a kid, I was not the kid who played with dolls that much. I wasn’t the one who enjoyed playing house or dress up. I was more into riding my bike and playing volleyball, basketball and swimming or just reading a good book. I was the typical tomboy.

When we were leaving Rudolph, it came to me that we might not be the same, but we are family, and that’s what really counts.

Welcome!

2007-07-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

In school I always loved art class, so becoming a graphic designer wasn’t a shock to anybody in my family. Sometimes my mom and dad wish that I bacame a doctor or a lawyer.

In 2005 I took a job at my hometown’s newspapers the same ones that I grew up reading and many times was in for one sports or another. When my co-workers found out that I grew up in both DeForest and Poynette, they asked me if I would like to write a column every 4 weeks. I smiled and said, “ No thank you!”

Week after week someone would ask me “Amber would you like to write a colum this week?” I just smiled and said, “No thank you!” Most of the time they asked me so they could get out of writing there column that week.

I held out for 428 days. I don’t know why I final said yes, but I have to say that writing this column has taken me out of my comfort zone and let me try something new.

To this day I’m still not used to people saying, “I really like what you wrote in your column this week. To tell you the truth I forget that other people are going to read what I write. I guess that could be a good thing because I’m in the “writing zone” and just putting my thoughs on paper and I’m not thinking about anything eles.

I was once asked why did you call your column “A Black Sheep” I simply said, “Because I am one!