Amy’s Adventures

It was a tough call, but finally on this last day of 2009, I selected 1997’s “Searchin’ My Soul” by Vonda Shepard as the winner for my 2009 theme song.  Among the contenders, “Show Me What I’m  Looking For” by Carolina Liar and “Suddenly I See” by K.T. Kunstall were seriously considered. However, “Searchin’ My Soul” managed to wrap up my year in just 3 minutes and 54 seconds. A year which started in the quest for a new job, I discovered along the way,  I wasn’t searching just for a job, I was searching my soul.  For years, I had known there was much more to life, but instead of searching for it, I  had sold my soul to the corporate America drone.  I had sold out for money, for benefits, for security.

So in 2009, I set out to “search my soul” and discover those things that I’ve done and don’t want to do again and  those things that I haven’t done, but want to learn and do. It was a year of discovery and reinventing myself.  It was a year where everyday, I learned something new and relished in each moment. And though, I lost in early 2009, I gained so much more than I lost by year end. I gained happiness, flexibility, my soul  ” I got myself together” and  I know that in 2010 “everything’s gonna be alright.”

“Searchin’ My Soul”

I’ve been down this road walkin’ the line
That’s painted by pride
And I have made mistakes in my life
That I just can’t hide

Oh I believe I am ready for what love has to bring
Got myself together, now I’m ready to sing

I’ve been searchin’ my soul tonight
I know there’s so much more to life
Now I know I can shine a light
To find my way back home

One by one, the chains around me unwind
Every day now I feel that I can leave those years behind

Oh I’ve been thinking of you for a long time
There’s a side of my life where I’ve been blind and so…

I’ve been searchin’ my soul tonight
I know there’s so much more to life
Now I know I can shine a light
Everything gonna be alright
I’ve been searchin’ my soul tonight
Don’t wanna be alone in life
Now I know I can shine a light
To find my way back home

Baby I been holding back now my whole life
I’ve decided to move on now
Gonna leave all my worries behind

Oh I belive I am ready for what love has to give
Got myself together now I’m ready to live

I’ve been searchin’ my soul tonight
I know there’s so much more to life
Now I know I can shine a light
Everything gonna be alright
I’ve been searchin’ my soul tonight
Don’t wanna be alone in my life
Now I know I can shine a light
To find my way back home

I'll be here this time next year!

Accountability is required when you want to make a change. That’s why I’m writing this now, so in September when I begin to make plans I’ll have this post to look back on. I figure that if I put it out there, write it, then I’m much more likely to follow through when it’s time. So what the heck am I talking about?

Well, it occurred to me on my drive back home from NC this past weekend that it’s time for new traditions. As a childless, thirty-something without a significant other to speak of, I’ve discovered that for the past 7-8 years I’ve been sitting around waiting to join in without considering what my traditions will be without the kids and the family that have eluded me to date. Therefore, I’ve decided that it’s time the family of Amy begin new Christmas traditions on the Italian coast. That’s right folks, next year, while everyone’s rushing to wrap that last gift and round up the troops for Christmas Eve services, I’ll be on a flight to the Amalfi Coast for a week long escape from all the US Christmas craziness in favor of a quiet week of writing and photography. So save the gifts and cards, just say, “arrivederci!”

Dear Family and Friends:

Living inside the Beltway, I’m fortunate to have the beauty of freedom all around me. I use my annual Christmas “green” greeting to share this message with family and friends throughout the country. This year, I blended the Korean War Memorial, the US Botanical Gardens and the National Cathedral with an old school tune from 1984.

Simply, remember the troops and ” say a prayer, pray for the other ones.”

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Year

Amy & Paxton, 2009

I'm glad I have garage parking

Living in Michigan for 2 1/2 years, I got enough snow to last me a life time. Apparently, God had other plans and once again I’m haunted by large flakes and snow banks. Nonetheless, Michigan did teach me a thing or two about managing through these crazy-ass storms.

1)Buy a house/condo with a grocery store in walking distance. This avoids any mad rush for milk or toilet paper the night before, and if you’re caught in a crunch for some wine, you can simply just walk up the road.

2) Life goes on. Other news outside the storm is going on the world, so after you’ve gotten the latest on traffic and road closures, turn the channel and see what else is going on the world. No need for 24/7 storm watch.

3) Garage parking. I actually learned this one in NJ, but it’s a necessity in high snow areas. After leaving Connecticut, I’ve never gone without this one. I haven’t scrapped a windshield in 8 years.

4) Snow pants and boots. I almost parted with these when a left Michigan, but something told me to hang on to ‘em. Both have gotten good wear this year and since I bought quality will last for years to come. I’m actually wearing them right now!

5) Front-wheel drives kick ass in the snow. No matter the car, if you have front wheel drive you’re good to go. Even my VW Cabrio convertible braved the snow and totally kicked ass! I only got stuck once and that was because the snow was deeper than my car.

6) AAA - A total must have! My AAA membership pulled me out of the snow bank and gave me jump start when the battery died b/c of sub-zero temperatures. I let this membership go briefly when I was in TN, but it’s since been reinstated.

Hopefully, this will be the last of the snow this year.I’m just a nicer person in the summer.  I’m counting the days until Memorial Day.  However, this is my life today, so I made the best of it.

Walking down King Street, I feel like Yuri abandoning the military in Dr.Zhivago.

Unless your Lactose intolerant, there's no milk at the Safeway

Fortunately, there's still wine!

And toilet paper!

For once 395 had no traffic!

Snow up to my knees made for a Rocky IV in Siberia moment.

Traffic jam on King Street

I live on the 3rd floor, but snow continues to accumulate.

And last, we must not forget that sometimes we don’t always get what’s on our list. A lesson learned from Hillary in her aspirations to be President and to bring us universal healthcare, the troops home, and middle class tax breaks. A simple fact of life these days, “you don’t always get what you want, you get what you need.”