Amy’s Adventures

Monday’s were made to do all those things you needed to do over the weekend, but decided to watch a Julia Roberts movie marathon on TNT instead. This is at least my theory of why I choose not to “work” or go into an office on Monday’s. However the past few weeks I must admit I’ve been a slacker and watched too much Dr. Phil. Today was different though, I kicked butt and accomplished more on my to do list than the past 24 days combined.

1. Negotiated discount on next oil change because dealer couldn’t deliver on hoilday coupon for free state inspection.
2. Found the number for my hairdresser who had been MIA for 2 months. Spread the joy to other desperate clients via Yelp.com. Feeling very warm and fuzzy for sharing my new diacovery.
3. Made a trip over to Melanie’s office to discuss design of new business cards.
4. Went to 3 grocery stores to find canned pumpkin for new soup recipe and ultimately found it at Target. And managed to make it out of Target spending only $7.00 (a personal record)
5. Called plumber for quote on new toilet. I’m tired of playing Plumber Phil on the current toliet so I may splurge on a new one. Trading a new purse for a toilet really sucks though!
6. Called domain provider to cancel 1 domain and add another. Coming soon: amyeandrews.com.
7. Found a great software program that allows me to edit my Tivo files. Finally, I can edit all my David Cook AI episodes into one. Oh how this makes me happy.
8. Wrote a draft blog post.
9. Finished my laundry.
10. And yes, I still watched Dr. Phil. I’m addicted to the Dr. Phil family.Those people are nuts and is a great reminder that kids, family, etc may be overrated and my life is not so bad.

I never owned a Barbie, but had this 1/2 Barbie cake for my 8th birthday.

It’s tough being a January baby. No pool parties or barbecues for me. Instead, my parties were reserved for McDonald’s and the local movie theater. Not bad, but for one who loves the pool and beach, I envied my brother’s June birthday slot.

And of course, if you’re born within 30 days of Christmas, you’re totally screwed! I can’t remember a Christmas where I didn’t hear,  ”your birthday’s coming up,” if I didn’t get all that was on my Christmas list.

So today, as I was getting ready to head out for a birthday cocktail, I wondered who else shares this day with me?  The list includes:  two Academy Award winners, two national journalists, a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Grammy winner, and one hot guy. Therefore, I’ve concluded that January 14th’s not so shabby after all.

These peeps share my birthday:

1. Jason Bateman

2. Steven Soderbergh

3. L L Cool J

4. Maureen Dowd

5. Shepard Smith

6. Andy Rooney

7. Faye Dunaway

And for good measure, I found some key “monumental” January 14th events:

1914: Henry Ford introduces assembly line for T-Ford

1952 : NBC’s “Today” program debuts on NBC hosted by Dave Garroway. The show was the first of it’s kind and copied not only in the US but worldwide .

1954 - Marilyn Monroe married baseball great, Joe DiMaggio.

1963 -  George Wallace sworn in as Governor of Alabama, his address states “segregation now; segregation tomorrow; segregation forever!” (16 years later on same day, President Carter proposes  Martin Luther King’s birthday be a holiday. This is extra special since MLK now gives me a long birthday weekend)

1972 - Comedian Redd Foxx, whose last name was really Sanford, debuted on NBC-TV in “Sanford & Son”.

1981 : Finally, this date was the end of a hostage crisis that started in the year 1979.

1986 - “Rambo: First Blood, Part II” arrived at video stores this day, breaking the record set by “Ghostbusters” for first day orders.

1993- David Letterman announces his move from NBC to CBS

1990 - “Simpsons” premiered on Fox

The eve of my 30+ birthday, I’m not thinking about gifts or what how I mark the day. Instead, I’m thinking about what makes me happy.

1. Sleeping in and waking up with no alarm clock.

2. Lounging in my chair and 1/2 with Paxton, the cat, cuddled beside me.

3. Carolina winning the National Championship.

4. Finding the perfect purse.

5. A chick-fila sandwich.

6. No traffic on a Monday morning or any morning in DC traffic. And if riding metro, a spot to stand or sit.

7. Free parking.

8.Sangria on a hot, summer day.

9. A beach, a good book and my feet buried in the sand.

10. Watching David Cook win American Idol, and any other related David Cook clips.

11. Doing what I want, when I want!

I love David Cook, season 7 winner!

Only 12 days into the new year and I begin another American Idol journey. If you don’t know already, I’m a huge Idol fan,  but it wasn’t always that way.

It wasn’t until season 3, AKA, the Fantasia season, that Idol became my drug of choice. That year, it took everything I had just to function. Everything around me was a blur and I walked and talked in slow motion.  I wasn’t living…I was just being. With a shattered heart, I couldn’t imagine what was next for my life, but then came American Idol. Idol became my escape from the hurt, the Michigan cold and the loneliness only heartbreak can impose.

I didn’t just see Idol as a talent contest, I saw it as a second chance for lost dreams.  A chance to be you and to live your life the way God had intended. I realized then that there was a plan, albeit I didn’t know the plan yet, but I knew that  someday my soul would awaken to new dreams, and a new plan.  So through the  4 months of Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Diana DeGarmo and even the grandma loving, redhead, John Stevens, I came to believe that I too could get up and “perform” again. I started to believe that through the loss, I can win.

That year, I became loyal to the Idol machine.  Even in its low moments, Sanjaya, Chris Daughtry vote off and Taylor Hicks win, I continued on.  And so tonight, as Idol embarks on its 9th season, I’ll continue on, not for the talent or even the fun of watching the horrible auditions, but for what it gave me in 2004: hope.

My mom sent this to me today and instead of forwarding on through email, I decided to post here.  So many things to strive for…I can only imagine the possibilities if I followed them all.  Here’s to 2010!

Health:

1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4.       Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5.       Make time to pray.
6.       Play more games
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9.      Sleep for 7 hours..
10.    Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11.    Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.    Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14.    Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Dream more while you are awake
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18.    Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20.   Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.    Smile and laugh more.
24.    You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25.    Call your family often.
26.    Each day give something good to others.
27.    Forgive everyone for everything..
28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6.
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    GOD heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come..
38.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.