This explains a lot

I love my family.

What Would You do with $700 Billion?

That's a lot of money. Instead of buying toxic mortgages and golden parachutes; I would buy some things that helps "main street." And by main street, I mean any street that I am on; which is usually never called main street. I would like to hear from all of you ass well. What would you buy with $700 billion?

Amanda's $700 billion purchases:
I would first pay off my student loans; and maybe Andy's too (if he's nice). I would buy a house. Maybe a nice little bungalow with a second story on top. Definitely with with a second story. I might remodel it some. There would surely be a greyhound in that house, maybe a small pack of them. Then I would take Andy and travel around the world. I've always wanted to go to Egypt. I would visit all my family that is far away. When we're tired traveling, I would create a fund to benefit educational initiatives and improve elementary and middle school education in the United States. I would probably also buy a really nice bike and spend a lot more time biking around.

I'm not sure if that puts much of a dent in $700 billion but it's a start. There's probably a lot more other things I would do, but I can begin to fathom right now how much money that is.

The Great Minnesota Get Together!

It's State Fair season!!

It's a giant cow!! Watch out, it looks mean!

This is that special time of year when city kids encounter farm animals and farm kids encounter city animals. It's a wonderful mixture of quintessential Minnesota and the new forces of change. This year Andy and I went the first Saturday with free tickets from the Mall of America. Here's our story.

We started off at the AM1500 stage listening to the live broadcast of Saturday Morning Sports Talk. You might be wondering why I would listen to a sports program, but never fear, it makes sense. Read on. The second hour of the broadcast was the annual Baby Walk competition. This is where parents bring their small children to the two hosts, tell the hosts the child's name and the hosts determine if the name is "approved" or "not approved." For example, an approved name was "Margaret May." A not approved name would be something like "Jaymie Starshine." There is nothing better than starting your day off hearing defenseless little children being ridiculed. Many parents lined up for the Baby Walk and to determine if their child was going to be made fun of for the rest of it's life or not.

Parents and their children lining up to see if they're terrible parents or not at the Baby Walk

After enjoying the Baby Walk, Andy and I moseyed around in search of food. I found Hot Dish on a Stick and Andy got a burrito. We also got cheese curds, mini doughnuts, and milkshakes from the dairy barn to top it off.

Me eating Hot Dish on a Stick, it was de-lish.

After chowing down on delicious food we visited the animals. I never knew they had bunnies at the State Fair, but I got to pet many soft bunnies. We also communed with the chickens and turkeys. Turkeys are smarter than chickens and were a lot more fun to see. One tried to eat my camera and another tried to eat Andy's hat.

If Buffy were a rabbit, she would look like this.

These are funny looking chickens.

Andy talking to the turkey.

After the poultry we checked out my favorite animals, sheep! They were starting to show some lambs as we were petting the animals. It looked pretty difficult to keep the lambs under control. The handlers didn't have leashes for the lambs and just had to hold their heads. Andy and I didn't visit the Miracle of Birth barn, but in the sheep barn we did see the "miracle of conception." There were some pretty frisky sheeps running in circles.Me and a fuzzy new friend.

These were the frisky sheep. I got nervous knowing what I was about to see, but it was over quick.

After seeing all the adorable animals and watching the cows in the Colosseum we wandered our way toward the exit. On our way we stopped by the DFL booth to see what we could see. It turned out that Al Franken was about to be on his way to speak to the fair crowd. So we waited a bit and then got to see Mr. Franken. I think he would do a good job in the US Senate and represent Minnesota well. We can all appreciate a little humor!

Al Franken at the DFL booth at the state fair.

That concluded our 2008 state fair visit. We didn't see everything, but then again, you can't see everything at the fair. I did something new, petted some sheep, and learned a little more about turkies! I also felt like poo for all the greasy, fattening food I ate, and it was time to go.

History in the Making!

No this isn't about Barak Obama's nomination. It's about the visit Andy and I made to Historic Fort Snelling! It's just down the road from us now and we rode our bikes for a morning stroll through history. I hadn't been to Fort Snelling since I was a smile child. All I remember was an abundance of rabbit pelts and rock candy.

Andy and the crops at the entrance to the Fort.

An old soldier and I looking official at the front gates.

Little did I know how fun it was! Andy and I got to be "recruits" and learn how to march in the old army. Us and about 10 small children. It felt good to march better than some silly kids having a birthday party. We saw a demonstration of the old muskets firing (after we got out of the line of fire). We saw a guy make a nail, and a doctor show us how messed up old timey health care was.

The blacksmith who made a nail for us. Also, he almost set a small child on fire while he used the bellows.

The best thing to do at Fort Snelling if you were sick, was to not go to the doctor.

Inspecting the muskets before firing them off.

Taking a break to get cleaned up.

Fort Snelling was really fun and interesting. It's amazing to learn how people lived back then and realize how impossible it seems now. Life is a lot easier now, and I can better appreciate the work it took us to get us here. I think it'll be beneficial to learn how all that worked, just in case computers ever go away, we'll be prepared.

The area around the Fort has been converted back to the natural prairie. I thought these flowers were quite pretty.

The soldiers at Fort Snelling had to sleep two to a bed!

Andy checking out an old fashioned rain barrel. Without a filter on the top, these barrels looked pretty manky.

Duluth!

Quite awhile ago, Pete, Andy, Candace and I went to Duluth for a day trip and see what we could see. We of course started our day at the famous tourist site of the Graffiti Graveyard. Candace, Pete and Andy hadn't seen it yet, and I thought they might enjoy it; and they did! We saw some HUGS and gave some hugs as well.

HUGS lives on!

Andy and I in a typical tourist pose at a typical tourist attraction.

Then we went on a cruise around the harbor and out onto the lake. It was really fun to be on the lake. I don't think I have been on Lake Superior ever, so it was really cool to see Duluth from afar. In the harbor there is also an area for wind turbines to be delivered. I was really excited to see that and took many pictures. The tour guides on the boat kept referring to the turbines and "wind mills" and I wanted to correct them, but I held my tongue.

On the boat.

A view of Duluth from the water.

A big boat!

Wind turbine blades in the harbor.

On the rocks.

Pete looking statuesque in front of the lift bridge.

After our boat tour we dined at the Anchor Bar in Superior, which is a fine establishment. It reminds me of the Saloon in Rockville with a nautical theme. I had a delicious olive burger and a beer and it was a reasonable price too! If you're ever in the area, I suggest trying out the Anchor Bar. It's delicious!

With our tummies full we headed up to Enger Tower to see Duluth from above. It was starting to get windier and was quite exciting to climb to the top of the tower. The clouds started to roll in and began to rain. That was our cue then that it was time to head home. Duluth is a fun city and it was a fun day!

Pete climbing the hill to Enger Tower.

Ringing my bell.

View of Duluth from Enger Park.

Hot Hot Heat

For most of my life, I've lived with air conditioning. I can't remember a place I've lived without air conditioning, until now. This house somehow manages to capture more heat in the summer than it can retain in the winter. I don't understand. So, I've realized that I've been pretty spoiled with my cool, conditioned air and now it's time to buck up and make some changes.

Just to clarify, I've been in other houses without air conditioning that have managed to stay cooler than this one. We do shut the blinds during the day, so sun doesn't pour in, and when we're home the doors and the windows are open. But, the house manages to become a sauna every evening. I can't sit without sweating, it's gross. A lot of my time while I'm home is focused on being as cool as possible, keeping my core body temperature down. While I haven't resorted to ice packs yet, that option still hasn't been ruled out. Here it is:

A day in the life of someone without air conditioning:

7:00am - Wake up: This is the coldest part of my day at home. I might even have a blanket over me. Both my windows have fans that are working double duty. They circulate air and make white noise to drown out the sounds of my neighbors.

7:05am - Go to the bathroom: This is when I realize the temperature difference between my room and the rest of the house. I make this a quick break.

7:10am - Eat breakfast. On the hottest days, I eat in my bedroom to put off the inevitable. I will have to venture out and start sweating. I read the news for awhile at my computer, make my bed, do the dishes, basically mess around until I have to get ready.

8:00am - Get ready for the day. Usually I curl or straighten my hair so that I can look my best. However, not on the hot days. I spray a little water, run my hands through my hair and that's it. If I can avoid making excess heat, I will. By the time I'm done with brushing my teeth and washing my face, I'll be sweating. Even if I'm still wearing my skimpy pajamas.

8:15am - Get dressed. This is put off until as late as possible so I don't have sweat more than necessary in my work clothes.

8:30am - This is where all the possible coolness ends: my bike ride to the light rail. If I leave exactly on time, I don't have to worry about hurrying to the train and I can take my time. I'm using a pannier now so I don't have to have anything on my back to make me sweat. I usually wear a pony tail too to keep my neck cool. Hopefully the train is pretty cold.

6:45pm - Get home. The windows are thrown open, the fans turned on, and I star making dinner. The reset of the night is spent not trying to touch Andy or move much. If we're really desperate, we'll go see a movie. Just to be in air conditioning. We saw "Hancock" tonight, it was pretty funny. I recommend it.

Top 10 Reasons I'm Excited to Move

Andy and I are moving into the new house on July 26, and it'll be a wonderful day. We have a countdown to the move we're so excited. While I like my current room and my roommates, there are many reasons I'm anxious to get out of this house. So here are my top ten reasons I'm excited to move.

10. Tipper! I get my cat back.
9. Being able to a plant a garden.
8. Living so close to many great places to shop and do my business (grocery store, liquor store, Wells Fargo, bowling alley, dentist, post office, library, gas station, and bakery)
7. Free laundry!
6. Air conditioning, I'm tired of sweating when I'm getting ready in the morning.
5. Not having to ride my bike through Cedar Riverside.
4. No noisy neighbors! Which means no more Wednesday/Thursday night parties.
3. Having new walks to take in pretty places (Lake Nokomis, Minnehaha Park, and Minnehaha Creek)
2. My commute will be a 1/2 hour shorter, giving me an hour more out of each day.
1. Not seeing my landlord every time I look out my window

It'll be a great day when I move! We're looking to have a bit of a house warming party once we get settled. Something around the lines of a cookout, since we'll have a gas and a charcoal grill.

Pictures of Things I've Done Recently

I haven't posted pictures for awhile. So here are a bunch!

Andy graduated! We're by the flowers in front of Northrup.

Aunt Jean in front of Rick's tree in Rockville.

Mark, Nancy, Mom and I at the Indy 500.

Top three: Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan on a yellow.

Our view of the pagoda during clean

Chip and I took a walk and this field hasn't been planted yet.

Probably the cutest picture of Chip ever taken.

Little Chip in a big wide world.

I want a baby Emu

This is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time.

Politics

Alright, the primaries are over and we finally have a democratic nominee. It's time to get down to business. I'm going to be honest, I haven't been following this race very closely. Mostly because it bothers me when no one speaks about important issues. My biggest desire I want out of the next president is someone who can do things. Not only talk about change, but enact change. I haven't heard any candidate speak about how they are going to make coalitions, bring our nation together and accomplish great things. Maybe that democratic agenda that was supposed to be enacted 2 years ago. I'm incredibly disappointed in our democrats for not actually doing anything despite having a majority in congress. The next president needs to actually put words into actions, I hope Mr. Obama will not disappoint.

Here are some things I would love to have considered for the future:

• Alternative energy solutions - maybe change all subsidies for alternative energy from something specific (corn ethanol) to something general to promote new solutions
• End oil subsidies - to make oil companies accountable for the prices they charge and create fair competition for new fuels
• Getting out of perpetual wars - creating war does not create peace, I would like to see actions in the Middle East that encourage education and mutual understanding so that we may all understand each other.
• Putting money into education - I believe the most important part of any one's life is to be educated. Allowing college tuition to increase without a comparable increase in the quality of the education or utility of degree is deplorable and putting today's educated population deeply into debt without anything to show for it. Increasing the intellectual challenges of high schools or offering alternatives for students who seek a different place to learn.

Here is what I don't want to hear anymore about because they are issues not pertinent to an intelligent discussion of the future (in another list):

• Barak Obama's former pastor
• Whether Barak Obama stands/puts his hand on his heart during the pledge of allegiance
• Barak Obama being a Muslim - even if he was, what does it matter? Don't be a bigot.
• Hillary Clinton not dumping Bill Clinton after Monica - that's in the past and very personal, wouldn't you rather have a president who could love and forgive than one who was vengeful and spiteful?
• Women can't lead countries because other nations wouldn't respect them - this is just ridiculous because women lead other countries too.
  

Best Work Week Ever!

This past week was a wonderful week at work. In general I like where I work and all that, but this week was especially rewarding. Tuesday I got to go into work late. I had to stay late, but I did like spending my morning relaxing and such. I had to stay late for orientation and it didn't go as bad as I worried it would be.

Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Day! My job as an administrative assistant falls into this category, and so I was celebrated. It was a wonderful surprise, since I had no idea that day existed. My boss took me out to Starbucks for tea and a snack with my coworkers. And then I got a gift bag full of wonderful goodies. It was really fun!

Then Thursday I got a promotion! One of my coworkers has decided to move on to another job, and Kelly and I shift up our positions. So now I will be an HR Representative and do interviews, and hiring people. It'll be a lot of fun. I get a cube and a salary! (Instead of hourly wages).

Later on Thursday we had a quiz sent to us and the first two people who answered correctly got grab bags full of stuff. I guessed an answer and it turned out to be correct! My favorite part of the grab bag was the actual bag. I've already bought groceries and put them in it. There also was a little socky thing for my iPod. Which it is currently sitting in, looking cute.

I start my new position in two weeks, my training starts on Monday. I'm learning a lot at work now, and I really like it.

Camping!

This past weekend Andy and I took a trip down to Frontenac State Park for a camping trip! This was our first time camping together and it was loads of fun. We reserved a sweet cart-in site, where we packed up our stuff in a cart and pushed it about a 1/4 mile to our site. Think of it as one step away from car camping.

Andy being my pack ass. On the way back I carried the backpack.

The pooper wasn't too far from our campsite.

Only one other couple and their dog was camping in the same area as us, so it was really quite and nice. The site was nice too, except it was really muddy due to recent wetness. The first day we set up our site, ate a snack, and then took a hike around the area. We saw some large birds of prey, though we weren't sure what kinds of birds they were. We were able to get pretty close, until Andy stepped on a stick and scared them off. A bird book might be helpful for identifying the birds we see on future hikes. A tree book would be nice as well, so that we know what trees we're looking at when they start to grow leaves.

Andy enjoying a delicious snack.

Andy and I by Lake Pepin.

Birds! They have red faces, so I really don't know what they are.

After hiking Andy built a fire and we started cooking our dinner. I don't think I've ever been camping without some sort of camp stove and guaranteed method of cooking, so I was a bit nervous trying to cook without one. We planned on cooking brats and wieners; however, we forgot a utensil for taking our cooked wieners off the grate. In Wabasha we went to a very friendly hardware store and found this nifty clamping grate thing that we could stick in the fire and cook our dogs. It worked beautifully! Much to my surprise.

Cooking wieners.

The finished product! A delicious dinner.

After that there wasn't much to do and it was getting pretty cold. So we retired to the tent and Andy tried to patch his Thermarest, it didn't hold. My air mattress is in Indiana still, so I slept uncomfortably on the hard ground. It was terribly cold that night and I couldn't sleep because I hurt on all sides from the ground and I had to pee, but I didn't want to get up again in the dark. Finally when it was light I ventured out and relived myself. I was able to get back to sleep and wake up to the wonderful words, "Amanda, I got the water boiling!" Andy had managed to get the fire going enough to boil our water for our morning tea and oatmeal! It was a wonderful start to the day.

Andy enjoying his morning tea and oatmeal.

We then took a morning hike in the fog and started down the side of the bluff. It was a really pretty walk down and exciting to get closer to the water. On the way up the fog burned off and it turned out to be quite a beautiful day. After packing our stuff up and heading out, Andy and I stopped at the Whistle Stop cafe in Frontenac Station for lunch.

The foggy road.

These are the switchbacks that lead down the side of the bluff to Lake Pepin.

Me in front of the steep climb.

One of the few things that were actively growing.

My artsy reflection picture.

Camping was a lot of fun and Andy and I plan on doing a lot more. We've decided a blow up air mattress and a camp stove are two important things that we should get in the future. Hopefully since it's getting warming freezing to death at night won't be as much of a concern now. We've also discovered campsites that you can hike into that are 1 to 5 miles from parking. This is our next step as we get better at this whole camping thing.