Amanda's Rantings

Moved to Myspace

2007-03-13T16:28:00.000-07:00

For more recent updates, visit me at www.myspace.com/amandaangl.

Changes

2005-05-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Since I last wrote, I have 1) Taken my last exams 2) Received two Masters degrees 3) packed up everything I own and moved to Mississippi 4) Unpacked half of my things at my fiancee's house and half at my new apartment...among other things.

Today is another important milestone in my life. It is my last day before I begin my first full time job. I am thrilled about my job and very excited. I will be working as an adult therapist at Community Counseling Services in the small town of Eupora, Mississippi. Who would have thought it? Tomorrow is the first day of two weeks of training. I am excited but also nervous. I'm wondering if the seven years of college education have actually prepared me for my job. I am sure that I will have much to learn, but I feel prepared to counsel at least.

Today is also important because my future sister in law and I are going to try on bridesmaid dresses and I will actually order the dresses today. The time between now and the wedding seems like nothing at this point. There is so much to do! My dress has been purchased and will need many alterations but those will not be done until closer to the wedding. For those who are interested, I tried to find my dress online, but there are no pictures of it...not even on the designer's website.

Pictures of the Ring

2005-03-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

Below are a few shots of my ring for those of you who are interested:)

Engagement Ring

Engagement Ring

Engagement Ring

Side View

Blurry Shot

The Proposal!!!

2005-03-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

Saturday, March 12...A day that will forever be remembered for Phillip and I...It was an unusually warm day for March with a temperature of about 70 degrees. The sky was bright blue with no clouds in sight. The birds were singing and the wind was blowing rather strongly. Phillip and I stood at the end of the pier overlooking the usually calm lake that on this day looked more like an ocean. Phillip and I clung to one another as we soaked up the beautiful sunshine. I could feel his heart racing and thumping as he told me he needed to ask me a question. He got down on one knee on the pier, took a beautiful diamond ring out of his pocket, and asked me if I would be his wife. I knelt down beside him, wrapped my arms around him exploded with a gleeful "YES!"

Since that time, we have been busily making phone calls to share our happy news with loved ones, making plans for our wedding, and enjoying our time together. Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers:)

Excitement in the Air!!!

2005-03-05T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I found out quite by accident that my wonderful boyfriend paid a visit to my mother and father on Friday night to ask their permission to marry me! I can't even begin to communicate how excited I am about this. We have been discussing in more detail wedding dates and honeymoon destinations:) This is definitely getting to be fun! I'm waiting (somewhat impatiently at this point) to announce our official engagement.

Reality Television

2005-02-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to reality television...shhh. It all began with the first season of Survivor. An old camp friend sent out an email to several of us announcing that a new show would be coming out where each person was allowed to take only a few things onto an island where they would live for 39 days. We all began to discuss what we would choose to bring if we were going to be dropped off on an island. By the time the show finally aired, we were so committed to watching the show that we actually would make predictions from week to week on who we thought was going home. That season of Survivor wasn't my favorite, but I couldn't afford to miss it because I had to know who was voted out.

Unfortunately, my interest in Survivor has only increased over the past several years. When I moved to Texas and finally made friends, our social events were centered around our Thursday night viewing of Survivor (and Friday game night). My roommate soon managed to get me hooked on watching American Idol and the trend has continued. I have gone from being a girl who NEVER even turned the television on to one who has a lineup of shows that I watch every night. The good news is that I never got into The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Intern, For Love or for Money, etc. I manage to stick with my favorites - American Idol and Survivor. I think my interest in Survivor stems from my own desire to be able to actually go out into the wilderness and be able to make it on my own. I used to seriously want to be on the show, but then I realized that I would not enjoy the challenges. I could handle the sleeping outdoors, eating funky food, and not getting to take a real shower; but I would get voted off at the first challenge for my lack of coordination and slow speed. My partiality to American Idol comes from my love for singing and my old dream of being a country music singer. It's fun to watch people see their dreams come true:)

Now, you can begin to see my dilemma...how do I find time to do all of the things that I need to do? I'm in graduate school full time, working part time, have a full time boyfriend out of town (which requires A LOT of telephone time), have reading assignments and papers due daily, have a social life, have to find time to watch my shows, and also try to keep my grades up. Well, let me explain to you how it is done. School and work are permanent on my calendar of things to do. I go to classes in the mornings and I go to work in the afternoons. Most days, I get home from work around 5:40. This leaves all work to be accomplished between 5:40 and bedtime. Usually, I quickly fix supper (or pick up) and talk to my boyfriend while I am eating. I then get off the phone with him to watch my shows (I know, he LOVES this...) I open my books and sit in front of the TV, reading on commercials and during parts of the reality shows when nothing important is really happening. After my shows are over, I work really hard on reading, studying, or completing assignments then I call my boyfriend back and we talk until we both fall asleep.

For those of you who have known me for years and years, you are probably quite surprised to hear about how I am now managing my time, for I used to micromanage (and I still do, only my priorities have changed). Sometime over the past several years, I realized that my relationships with friends and family were much more important than any grades I will ever make. That was a major accomplishment for me!!! Rather than focusing on making a 4.0, I now focus on learning the material. I do not mind making lower grades (so long as they are not so low that I get kicked out of the graduate program) if I feel like I have a good grasp on the material. What's great about seminary is that they use a plus/minus grading scale. So, when I do happen to make a B-, all I have to do is make an A+ and I can still have a 4.0. Isn't life wonderful!

Hope that provides some insight into why I rarely post to my blog. I fill my time up with other things, not necessarily more important or more productive things, but other things nevertheless. I feel a bit ashamed because of my newfound love for television, but then I realize that it's my LAST semester of school and SENIORITIS has set in again!!! Oh, and how could I forget my precious puppy dog Lexi. Much of my time is now devoted to taking care of her:) Look how cute! Can you blame me???

Lexi

Coming Full Circle

2005-02-01T22:19:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I had a wonderful visit from my boyfriend. Despite my running fever on Sunday night and Monday morning when he left my apartment, we were able to spend quality time with one another as well as spend some time with my friends. Saturday afternoon, we actually went ring shopping together. It was one of those moments that I've always imagined but never really expected would happen to me. Our shopping excursion was unsuccessful but that isn't really the point.

While we were out and about, I began to think about how we reached this point in our relationship. Last April, I finally agreed to meet this guy that my best friend was dying to introduce me to who she claimed was my "future husband." I laughed at her and for once actually agreed to meet this guy just so that I could say I did it... and to make her happy. I'd had numerous blind dates up to that point in my life and I expected my meeting with him to be just as horrible as the blind dates in my past. Oddly enough, we clicked instantly and began talking as if we'd known one another forever. My best friend Amanda confessed that she'd been wanting to set us up for about three years, but the timing was never right. On the evening we first met, we actually drove to the grocery store to buy ingredients for me to make banana pudding because I had been craving it for quite some time. Phillip actually went to the store with me then helped me in the kitchen with making the banana pudding. What an odd way to begin a relationship. Well, that relationship has grown since last April and we are still together and planning on getting married someday soon. Neither of us are sure when that day will be, but it will come when the time is right.

Thank you Amanda for being there for me through my horrible relationships, tears, and stupid mistakes and for having a vision for my future. Thanks for believing in me when I no longer believed that love was possible for me. Thanks for introducing me to my prince charming! Here's to hoping Phillip and I will end up as blissfully happy as you and your wonderful new husband:)

Being Important

2005-01-20T20:26:00.000-08:00

From time to time, I feel compelled to write down the story of my simple life. I reflect on my past and on all that I have experienced and learned, and sometimes I think that my story may be of some benefit to the world. Then reality sets in and I realize that my life is just that...simple, uninspiring, and pretty boring when you get right down to it. Who would even care to read about my life?

I'm not trying to sound negative or like I am having a pity party because that is not the case at all. I know that I am special and important to the people I have met thus far in my life and that I will continue to be important to the people I will meet in my future. Most importantly, I know that God loves me and has a special plan for my life. That is what is so crazy to me! I could write a book with my life story in it and of all the millions of people in the world, very few would care to read about my life. Nevertheless, God does care. He cares about each and every tiny little aspect of my life. He cares about the insignificant things that happen to me that no one else in the world knows about or cares to know about. And so I realize...I am truly blessed!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2005-01-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Like most girls, I find myself magnetically attracted to all the specialty pamper yourself stores in the mall. I have a difficult time passing by Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Brookstone, Trade Secret, and all sorts of other little shops. I love to buy hair products, lotions, and anything that will make my house smell good. I also love bubble baths and soaks for those nights when I need to just take a long bath and destress. One of my favorite places is Origins, but I never actually purchase anything there because I'm poor. That is usually the case with most of those stores. I look around, smell all the lotions, body washes, perfumes, and play with all the gadgets and gismos, but rarely do I actually purchase anything for myself (except for candles). I was recently in Origins and decided to try a new product. It's supposed to work like microdermabrasion and for those of you who know me, I'll try just about anything to clear up my skin. So, I bought this product and I've been using it for about a week now. I will keep you updated on how it works.

I've also been meaning post a picture of my precious little puppy Lexi so that all could see her:) Hope this works...

7 Weeks Old

4 Months

Back in the land of the living...I hope!

2005-01-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Well, my fever is finally down to 100 degrees and I feel like a new person. I've had a stomach virus (at least that's what hte doctor said) since 3am Tuesday morning and I'm just now beginning to feel better. I actually took a shower today and brushed my teeth...amazing! I've missed 4 days of work and my first 2 days of class for the semester which is a bummer. My poor puppy has suffered the neglect of having to live in the kitchen for full time for the past several days because I haven't had the energy to even take her outside to use the bathroom. Poor puppy! Fortunately, I think I am on the upside of this illness. I really thought on Wednesday night that I was going to die. Most of the past week I have had about 102 degree temperature and MAJOR pain in my stomach, even when I was just lying still. The doctor poked and prodded on me and was quite pleased that my abdomen hurt on both sides because that meant that I didn't have appendicitis (however you spell that). No surgery! Yippee!

I've got to confess that I'm REALLY sick of catching EVERY SINGLE sickness that goes around. I have known ZERO people who have had this stomach intestinal virus thing and yet I managed to come down with it. I haven't even been around people since I've been back to Texas. The only place I want was to McDonalds drive through on Monday for lunch. I had myself convinced that it was food poisoning, but people have told me that you do not run fever with food poisoning and it usually only lasts about 24 hours. Anyway, 96 hours later I'm feeling better but I'm having to cancel my weekend road trip plans to San Antonio with the girls from church:( I'm upset about that because I've never been to San Antonio.

If I'm feeling better tomorrow, I hope to go to the bookstore and buy books and begin playing catch up from the two classes I already missed.

Back to lying down for now...

Stopped by the Blog Patrol

2005-01-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

I am days behind for those who so astutely pointed that out to me. If you had been taking a class from 8-5 every day, had reading and homework to do for that class each night, and had a life to live on top of that, you might find yourself behind also. This past week has been difficult, boring, and very trying of my patience and my attention span. When I left class yesterday at 4:45, I left knowing that I would receive an A+ in the class - not an A, but an A+. How is it possible to make over 100 average in a class? I dont' know, but I am certainly glad for it because I received my fall report card in the mail yesterday and I am quite upset about one of my grades, so upset that I will be needing to contact the professor.

Plans for today include going to Dallas to meet a new friend, possibly go to the mall, and definitely eat dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. YUMMY!!!!

Back to Texas

2005-01-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

After a wonderful two week holiday from school and work, I have returned to Texas to finish up my last semester of seminary! I was able to spend lots of quality time with my boyfriend as well as family members over the past two weeks. I thought that I'd be pretty ready to return after two weeks, but I found myself a bit teary eyed last night as I packed my things to prepare to return to my lonely apartment in Texas. After the 8 1/2 hour drive, I was actually excited about getting back to my little home in Fort Worth. I'm not preparing for a long week of I-term class...blah:(