Twilight

I finally gave in to peer pressure and agreed to read the Twilight books. I borrowed them from a friend at church. I happened to be sick when she gave them to me, so I stayed home from work a couple of days. I read them in a week! I couldn't put them down. Then I kept them for about a month, and I'd go back and read my favorite parts. When I realized I was going to have to give them back, or she was going to come physically take them from me, I decided I needed my own set. I got all hardcover, and the first book is the collectors' edition. It has a ribbon bookmark. They arrived this weekend, so I started from the beginning and I'm reading through them slowly now. The first time I read them, I just wanted to see what would happen next, so I rushed through. Then when I went back, I just wanted to read my favorite parts. Now I'm taking my time, and it's amazing how much I'm picking up on that I missed the first time. Also, knowing what's going to happen, I'm picking up on subtle details that I totally missed the first time. I'm definitely a fan. I would recommend reading them, if you haven't. Try borrowing someone's copy of the first book. After you get about half way through, you'll be addicted, and go out and buy your own set - like I did!

Valentine's Day

We're doing our Valentine's date tonight. Couple's massage and dinner out. I also got flowers yesterday! Didn't he do a good job?

The date was fun. After the massage, we went to Rain. It's a Thai place sort of near the mall. We sat in the "rain room". It just has glass around it with water running down the glass. It was like you were sitting on the floor, but you had room to put your legs under the table. It was cute. I had the cashew chicken. It was really good.

Oh, Yeah. I've Got a Blog!

So, the other day I was sitting in the living room, and my husband asked me if I wanted to keep AmandaToday. It took me a minute to remember what he was talking about. Turns out I have a blog! I'd completely forgotten all about it. Now that I remember, I shall make an effort to keep it updated.

The last time I updated this was in June. I think a good bit has happened since June. Let's see here...

I guess the biggest thing would be that Joe went from being a contractor to an annual employee at TVA. Very exciting for us.

We went on vacation in September. We flew into Las Vegas, drove up to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, then over to Page, AZ, where we took a float ride down the Colorado. Then on to Monument Valley, Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT), then up to Mesa Verde. Down to Canyon de Chelly. Then the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. A stop by a corner in Winslow, AZ. A meteor crater, then up to the Grand Canyon. We took a mule ride down into the canyon. After that we spent a couple of days in Vegas. We stayed at the Bellagio and then Caesar's Palace. We saw O. We drove almost 2,000 miles. Luckily we got an upgrade on the rental car and ended up with a convertible Mustang. Overall, it was a really fantastic trip.

At the end of September, my parents had their 40th wedding anniversary. My sister-in-law and I, along with the help of my aunt, put together a surprise anniversary party for them. That was cute. We totally got them.

In October we had our 4th anniversary. Then my friend had her baby on the night of our 10 year high school reunion. The baby is precious. The reunion was surprisingly fun.

In November we went to a family reunion in Pigeon Forge. Thanks to my failure to communicate, I was actually in PF the same time as a group of my friends (that I hadn't seen in years, who now have babies), but didn't know it, so I missed getting to see them. Still had fun.

December was Christmas. I missed getting to go to Tupelo to see my brother and his family, because I had a stomach virus. Less fun. Turned out well though, because one of my friends (ref in the PF trip above) was in town for the holidays, and stopped by to visit. I got see her baby! Then my friend from MS came to visit for a few days. That was great fun.

In January I had a birthday. My husband took me on Amanda and Joey's Day of Fun! We left work early and ate lunch out, then saw a movie, then went bowling, then went roller skating, then ate at Macaroni Grill (where I always go for my bday).

Also in January we went to Banner Elk, NC to go skiing, etc. We crashed with a friend from college. I hadn't seen her in years, but she offered, so we accepted. Turns out that was the best part of the entire trip! When I wasn't hanging out with her, Joe and I skied, snowtubed, and iceskated. Great fun. I fell about a million times, but I had on so many layers, it didn't really matter. I wasn't as terrible as I anticipated being.

Now it's February. We don't go out on Valentine's Day, because of the crowds. I guess we're old people. We're going out tomorrow. We have a couple's massage after work, then we're going to eat at Rain. I'm excited.

I think that about catches me up. If I remember something else, I'll let you know!