The Maine Affair

My friend from high school, Betsy Barber got married last weekend on June 18, 2011.  Omaha, Nebraska to Bangor, Maine, slipped into a sweet rental, drove two hours and arrived in Topsfield, Maine.  Topsfield is a small community, there is a church, The Store, two schools, and one intersection.

 Highlights!
*The beautiful ceremony-yeah, I cried. (I know, shocker ;) )
*The reception DJ--all of bridal party and friends, just plugging our favorite in and dancing like crazy!
*Seafood-lobster rolls, home made clam chowder, and soft shell crab. Mmmmmm....
*The groomsman being actually taller than me! (always a plus.)
*Meeting so many cool people and wanting SO badly to go back!
*Being able to do the maid of honor and the bride's make-up, since I was the only 'girly-girl' out of the bridesmaids.

 

Chocolate suckers, Yum! Plus, wild flowers that actually made it!

 

Oh yes, look at those socks! HAWTness!  I had to get them for the girls and my brother, Ben because our bride loves Wicked and Pirates!

 Our bouquets that we made ourselves.  They turned out great!

 

Riding in the wagon from the church to the reception!  But, a group of motorcycles drove by when we were all waiting for something to sit on.  The horse on the left reared up and nearly bolted--a little scary!  Sam-the groom, his uncle, father and the whole bridal party gave the motorcyclists a chewing.  The border patrol showed up and held them back about a mile while we traveling without event to the reception. 

 The adorable church! Part of the bridal party that was near Maine came out to help paint it a few weeks before.  It's gorgeous!

WICKED

So, I had listened to the soundtrack repeatedly the summer of 2009, because the two girls I was working with had seen the show in New York.  We knew the all the words, the order of the music, and the accents that went along with each song.  FINALLY, this past Sunday on May 29th, I was able to see the show in the flesh in Omaha, NE. 

So, so, so, so very good!  I cried, I laughed, and I sang a little to myself too.  It was pretty epic and I really recommend it to anyone.  It is really just a really good, wholesome show about the 'real' story of the Wicked Witch from Oz.  I will definitely being seeing this show whenever possible again!

Let's Argue

There is just something about people that have to argue with you on every point, that REALLY gets under my skin.  I mean, it really aggravates me.  I know, I am a teacher and yes I should be used to this.  But, surprisingly I have had maybe only one or two students EVER do this to me repeatedly. 

I am just curious at what enjoyment people get out of being confrontational with you for a whole conversation.  I am not going to lie, sometimes I like to irritate old friends of mine with this, but to do it repeatedly? No thanks.  

I will agree with that there are some people you just can not get along with. I will also grant that sometimes it is fun to play devil's advocate with people, get them worked up about things.  But, you do not travel in a car with that person willingly, do you?  You do not continue to hang out with this person if they aggravate you to no end, do you? 

How do you interact with people that talk/treat you like this?  

Car Zoo

On May 3rd, I packed my friends and Jessica plus the two kids she nannies for a sweet trip to the Conservation Park/Wildlife Safari.  It's a miniature zoo that you drive through with your own car.  Elk, Deer, Buffaloes, Owls,  Bald Eagles, Geese, Swans, Bobcats, and a sweeeeeeeeeeeeet playground. 

The one year old boy, Jackson sat in his car seat transfixed with the food in his hands or smearing them on the window or side of the car. 

Ally the five year old girl was okay with looking at the animals UNTIL. . .she poked her finger into one of the owl cages and when she pulled it back, gave her light cut.  Good thing I always keep a band-aid in my wallet, because THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END!

Plus Ron was a great sport and entertained the kids!

It was perfect weather and made me really glad to be living in Nebraska.

Stones

 

Since I like to keep things interesting once a year around this time, I thought stones would be a great thing for 2011!

Two weeks I went to the doctor after yet another restless night of tossing and turning in my bed from constant stomach pains.  She told me I was going to have to have an ultrasound done--I'm sure my parents were excited about going to an ultrasound for the alien baby inside of me. 

After about two hours of waiting around for the hospital to call we found out that no, it was not an alien baby but instead a very large gallstone that was causing me all this pain.  How big was it?  1.7cm.  To give you a better idea....about the size of a large steely marble...

 

That's right, the big one in the center.  

So last Tuesday, I talked the surgeon about the procedure that would be done.  He told me that they were going to remove the gallbladder and the stone as well.  Yipee!

Unfortunately, I also had to tell me about past surgeries I have had...that meant telling him all about the toothpick incident. 

What does he say?  

"So Amber...the problem seems to be when you put things into your mouth."  Straight faced.

"Yes...it does seem to be the problem...thanks for the diagnosis."  

So on Friday, the 22nd after waiting for nearly 2 hours in the prep room, I was wheeled into the surgical room. It was freezing!  They gave me some blankets that felt like they had just been taken out of the dryer and then I was OUT!  Anesthesia is amazing.  I woke up and immediately asked if they got it all out...yep they got that pesky gallbladder and stone out.  Along with finding that I actually had 5-6 other stones in there!!! As my friend Val said, "Wow! Good thing they took out that gravel pit!"

After a short of morphine and some other drugs to take off the edge, I was able to go home that very same day.  SORE as heck for Easter weekend but luckily I was not sick! 

Right now I have what looks like four knife wounds on my stomach.  Today they are sealed up and still healing.  

I can't wait for 2012's exciting medical procedure!

Eye Doctor

Try to go to an eye doctor after watching this beauty from Comedian Brian Regan:

 I almost literally bust out laughing when he did the, "Did 1 or 2 look better? One or two?"

Oh man, Brian Regan is hilarious!

Balloons

Recently for one of my classes I'm taking online for my ESL/ELL certification, I had to make a word wall.  Anyhoot, mom and I (but really just mom) made the following.  SUPER CUTE!  It's for the K-2 kids at one of the elementary schools in town.