gdata.io.handleScriptLoaded({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","xmlns$blogger":"http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617703709209272834"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-11-15T10:12:27.390-05:00"},"category":[{"term":"love"},{"term":"Columbiana"},{"term":"fear"},{"term":"nightmares"},{"term":"laughs"},{"term":"heartbreak"},{"term":"Lent"},{"term":"adventure"},{"term":"service"},{"term":"NKOTB"},{"term":"fun"},{"term":"amazing person"},{"term":"Chicago"},{"term":"faith"},{"term":"writing"},{"term":"family"},{"term":"Christmas"},{"term":"friendship"},{"term":"Auburn"},{"term":"dogs"},{"term":"dreams"},{"term":"America"},{"term":"courage"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Amy's Just Saying"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":""},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/-/Chicago?alt\u003djson-in-script\u0026max-results\u003d30"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/-/Chicago?alt\u003djson-in-script\u0026max-results\u003d30"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/search/label/Chicago"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Amy"},"uri":{"$t":"https://www.blogger.com/profile/18038313873825254338"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIGZILVcpZXMDQGukjso9jh2HvmiD6gAdZBi6dxG7cA6RYqs9Ig-XXDY91aou8F1IbpyNTs33tf6qNQvaUKLsAwttPfjAJuQBL3N-fZzASDIyRTYr-LqSdztvnbxe10/s113/Watercolor+Amy.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"https://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"4"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"30"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617703709209272834.post-8637429499903973479"},"published":{"$t":"2009-05-28T17:45:00.011-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-03-30T13:04:48.136-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"friendship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"love"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chicago"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"heartbreak"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"amazing person"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Amazing Person #2"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One of my dearest friends gave me a slap on the wrist this week for being a bad blogger. She is so right. I have neglected the \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_0\"\u003eblogosphere\u003c/span\u003e, so I thought it apropos to dedicate this post to her! Now, she needs a nickname. Let's call her.......\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_1\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e! That is a fitting name, and I think it will give her a much needed giggle.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003ca name\u003d'more'\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nSo my girl, \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_2\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e. Where to begin?! We are kindred spirits. We met through her now husband, Dr. Bop (I'm on a roll!) and my ex, Mr. Microphone (somebody stop me!). Bop and Mic have been friends since childhood, and when introduced, I felt like I had known \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_3\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e about that long too. We were instant \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_4\"\u003ebesties\u003c/span\u003e (a word I learned from her). The beginning of our friendship was mostly long distance - me in Atlanta with her in Chicago THEN me in Chicago with her in New Jersey. But really it wasn't until she moved back to Chicago, (at last, putting us in the same city) that our friendship grew some roots...and just in the nick of time.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nChicago was an AMAZING life experience for me, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I learned more about myself in those 3 years than I ever had before. But as we all know, life lessons can bring some seemingly insurmountable challenges and heartache. THANK GOD FOR \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_5\"\u003eSHIKSA\u003c/span\u003e! She was my lifeline in so many ways - particularly in a time when the newness of my new city had worn off; I was severely homesick; Mr. Microphone had left town for an internship; and I was in a job that I hated. The perfect storm.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nENTER \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_6\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e with a big ass umbrella.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #ffffcc;\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\nShe was there for me in every possible way, and to make it all that much sweeter, we had an unbelievable number of things in common from politics to particular \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_7\"\u003eobsessive\u003c/span\u003e tendencies. Many a hardy chuckle have been had over unintentional \"coincidences\" that have made us wonder if we had that twin-like psychic connection between us. More than once, we have both arrived at our designated meeting point at the exact same time without breaking our stride. That even happened when I last visited in December. One of our favorite things to do was to get take-out ribs (zesty) from Twin Anchors and go to my place to watch Grey's Anatomy.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_12\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e was always at her best, though, when I was at my absolute worst. Eventually my relationship with Mr. Microphone came to it's inevitable end, and even with the obvious loyalty conflicts, she never left my side. Mr. Microphone is a compassionate guy, and he knew how close \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_13\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e and I were (are). After our break-up he told her to take care of me. Now, that's kind of a normal thing to do with mutual friends in such a situation, but I've never met anyone who took that assignment more seriously than she did. In fact, I think Mr. Microphone eventually came to regret making that request of her, as she became my consummate protector even if it meant putting him in his place. There were days when I wasn't sure I could even get out of bed. No worries. \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_14\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e was there with a Dr. Pepper and a frosted cookie to save my day. Through anxiety attacks, car accidents, break-ups, and muggings via knife-point, she (and many times Dr. Bop too) came to my rescue.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nNow we are back to where we started - me in Atlanta and her in Chicago. When my last days in Chicago were winding down, that was the good-bye that I was most dreading. It didn't matter that I'd see her again in two months at her wedding, or that I knew we would keep in touch. \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_15\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e had become one of those fixtures in my life such that, saying good-bye to her was like leaving a piece of me behind. Actually I'm \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_16\"\u003eok\u003c/span\u003e with that though, because I know that piece couldn't possibly be in better hands.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\nI love you so much, \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_17\"\u003eShiksa\u003c/span\u003e, and I miss you everyday. I hope I have been, and can be, half as good a friend to you as you have been to me.\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cimg alt\u003d\"\" border\u003d\"0\" height\u003d\"243\" id\u003d\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341016420907798674\" src\u003d\"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/Sh8aIwu80JI/AAAAAAAAAL0/DBmeUACZcK0/s320/Dec+2006+054b.jpg\" style\u003d\"display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;\" width\u003d\"320\" /\u003e \u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/feeds/8637429499903973479/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/05/amazing-person-2.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/8637429499903973479"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/8637429499903973479"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/05/amazing-person-2.html","title":"Amazing Person #2"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Amy"},"uri":{"$t":"https://www.blogger.com/profile/18038313873825254338"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIGZILVcpZXMDQGukjso9jh2HvmiD6gAdZBi6dxG7cA6RYqs9Ig-XXDY91aou8F1IbpyNTs33tf6qNQvaUKLsAwttPfjAJuQBL3N-fZzASDIyRTYr-LqSdztvnbxe10/s113/Watercolor+Amy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/Sh8aIwu80JI/AAAAAAAAAL0/DBmeUACZcK0/s72-c/Dec+2006+054b.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617703709209272834.post-5266768031665094083"},"published":{"$t":"2009-05-01T11:56:00.010-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-03-30T13:05:38.175-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Auburn"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"love"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"family"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"adventure"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chicago"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"laughs"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_0\"\u003eBG\u003c/span\u003e turns the big 6-2 today. Happy Birthday, Dad!\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nAnyone who meets my dad immediately falls in love with him. He is one special person. He grew up in the same town where he still lives today. He and my 2 uncles were raised on a farm by two of the most humble and warm-hearted people on the planet. Nothing is more important to \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_1\"\u003eBG\u003c/span\u003e than family and God with Auburn football - well, Auburn in general - coming in as a close 3rd.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003ca name\u003d'more'\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_2\"\u003eBG\u003c/span\u003e is the quintessential Southern Gentleman. He's a jolly, fun-loving guy who is so conservative he makes Rush Limbaugh look like a \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_3\"\u003ehippy\u003c/span\u003e. He has been known to call me his 'liberal daughter' which, to anyone who knows me, would seem hilariously inaccurate. Compared to him though, it is absolutely true. In the little corner of the world where I grew up, \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_4\"\u003eBG\u003c/span\u003e is one of the most respected and loved members of the community, and with good reason. Stranger or old friend, he loves nothing more than to make someone laugh. As long as you don't say 'Roll Tide', after 5-minutes of knowing you, he will consider you a friend. Not long after that, he will dazzle you with his steak-grilling skills and/or his precision on his high-powered complex lawn maintenance system. To call this piece of machinery a lawn mower, would be a gross understatement. It has a steering system that is so complicated, the average person would find themselves spinning in circles on the first attempt at operation. I am convinced it could reach speeds of at least 50 miles per hour though I've only seen him go up to about 30. Sheer genius at work, I tell you. But I digress...\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nMy dad, has travelled the world and has stood in some of the most historic and amazing places in existence, yet his \u003cem\u003efavorite\u003c/em\u003e place is simply anywhere his family happens to be - especially if that place happens to be Auburn, Alabama. From the womb, \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_5\"\u003eBG\u003c/span\u003e has \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-corrected\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_6\"\u003einstilled\u003c/span\u003e a love of the orange and blue in me and my brothers that runs so deep there was never any question about where we would seek higher learning. My dad spent his life around boys. He has 2 brothers and 2 sons. My mother once told me how I (the only girl for a while) have always been such a mystery to him. True, there is a lot about me that I'm sure has been hard for him to understand, but one thing we could always connect with was Auburn. No matter what - silly little girl, angst-ridden teenager, college co-ed, young professional - we always had Auburn. For my 12\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_7\"\u003eth\u003c/span\u003e birthday my dad and I went to the Auburn/Georgia Tech game in Atlanta - a real treat for me as I had him all to myself while usually my football knowledge was overshadowed by my all-knowing brothers. I remember a lot about that day, but most of all I just remember how great it was to hang out with my dad. We saw a pretty spectacular game too.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nFive years ago today, my dad dropped me off in Chicago and made the long drive back to Alabama. While I was excited and nervous about starting that new chapter in my life, I was heartbroken and terrified to know, for the first time, there would be that many miles between us. I'm sure leaving his baby girl in a big strange city wasn't a great way to spend his birthday either, but he knew it was something I needed to do. Two years ago, as I was unpacking my boxes in Atlanta once again, I sent him a birthday card and promised that I would never move that far from home again.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\"\u003eBG\u003c/span\u003e has always been my hero. He has saved me figuratively and literally more times than I can count. I have never made a major decision without his input. His guidance is a lifeline for me. I don't say it nearly enough, but I love him more than he could possibly ever know. I've recently had some moments that have made me realize just how lucky I am to have such an incredible and loving dad. I know how much he loves me. I know he is proud of me. I know I can always count on him when (not if) I need rescuing. I just hope he knows that I feel the same way about him.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv class\u003d\"separator\" style\u003d\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class\u003d\"separator\" style\u003d\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/SfuSUNxSM-I/AAAAAAAAALk/eprJFVCWUm4/s1600/dad.jpg\" imageanchor\u003d\"1\" style\u003d\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt\u003d\"\" border\u003d\"0\" id\u003d\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331015459914527714\" src\u003d\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/SfuSUNxSM-I/AAAAAAAAALk/eprJFVCWUm4/s320/dad.jpg\" style\u003d\"display: block; height: 214px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;\" /\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\nHappy Birthday, Dad! I love you so much.\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv align\u003d\"center\"\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/feeds/5266768031665094083/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/05/happy-birthday-dad.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/5266768031665094083"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/5266768031665094083"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/05/happy-birthday-dad.html","title":"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Amy"},"uri":{"$t":"https://www.blogger.com/profile/18038313873825254338"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIGZILVcpZXMDQGukjso9jh2HvmiD6gAdZBi6dxG7cA6RYqs9Ig-XXDY91aou8F1IbpyNTs33tf6qNQvaUKLsAwttPfjAJuQBL3N-fZzASDIyRTYr-LqSdztvnbxe10/s113/Watercolor+Amy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/SfuSUNxSM-I/AAAAAAAAALk/eprJFVCWUm4/s72-c/dad.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617703709209272834.post-960990114021440744"},"published":{"$t":"2009-03-25T20:30:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-03-30T13:07:58.889-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"friendship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chicago"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"laughs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"amazing person"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Amazing Person #1"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I have a very dear friend who lives in Chicago. He is \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-corrected\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_0\"\u003etruly\u003c/span\u003e one of the coolest people I've ever met. I'm going to give him a nickname here, but I have to tell you a little bit about him first. He and I met through a mutual friend and hit it off instantly. He is one of those people that can instigate bouts of side-splitting laughter in me easier than most...not that it's difficult for anyone, mind you (I'm a giggler), but he's just one of those people that is funny without really even trying. On top of his sheer talents as an accidental comedian, he has quite a story.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003ca name\u003d'more'\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\nMy friend has a genetic condition called bilateral acoustic \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_1\"\u003eneuromas\u003c/span\u003e or NF2. This condition began effecting him in his 20's and, at first, presented few problems as I understand it. Eventually though, he had to undergo surgeries to remove tumors and cysts around the base of his brain. The first signs of this condition presented themselves as hearing problems, and as a result of the condition as well as the surgeries, he has now lost the majority of his hearing, but that would NEVER slow him down. This guy has a successful career in marketing, is married to an equally amazing woman (also equally funny, of course), and has 3 beautiful children.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nFor the purposes of this blog, said dear friend is hereby nicknamed \u003cstrong\u003eLoud \u0026amp; Clear\u003c/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eLC \u003c/strong\u003efor short. LC would totally appreciate the humor in that name for the sake of its irony, but that's only one reason I think it works for him. Though he can barely hear what I'm saying most of the time and we hardly ever see each other since I moved away from Chicago, he's one of those people that just gets me and my humor. I think we have a mutual appreciation for each other's funny-factor, though I would say mine is FAR inferior to his. We have been known to trade emails that would make little sense to anyone else, but we find each other so funny that we just go back and forth as long as we can until one of us (usually me) just can't think of anything else funny to say. There is a little \"funny pressure\" in this friendship, but I'll take it considering the quality laughs we have shared.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nLC and I don't get to catch up as much as I would like, but I have saved a lot of those emails. That is my go-to stash when I'm having a bad day or just need a giggle. No matter how many times I read them, laughs are \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-corrected\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_2\"\u003eguaranteed\u003c/span\u003e.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nHere's a little email banter we had a while back. For it to make sense (or at least as much sense as possible), you need to know that we have a mutual appreciation for \"The Office\" and more specifically, we both love Dwight. As such, we also love quoting Dwight as frequently as possible. Another note is that LC HATES the term 'HOTlanta'. Proceed...\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e*\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_3\"\u003eAJS\u003c/span\u003e is me \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_4\"\u003ecuz\u003c/span\u003e nicknames are just fun.*\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n****************************************\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 100%;\"\u003eLC:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e How's Atlanta? I mean \"\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_5\"\u003ehotlanta\u003c/span\u003e\"....\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_6\"\u003eHAHAHAHAHAHAHA\u003c/span\u003e! Whew! That's good stuff.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;; font-size: 85%;\"\u003eSo anyway, I've now added \"those are the money beets\" to my \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-corrected\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_7\"\u003eeveryday\u003c/span\u003e lexicon. It kills me every time and is an excellent way to quickly weed out the funny from the not-so-funny if you ever find yourself in a group of new people. Even if someone doesn't know the \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_8\"\u003edwightness\u003c/span\u003e of the source, just the phrase \"money beets\" should be enough. It makes me want to start a band. People would throw beets on stage when we played, it would be just like a Bare Naked Ladies concert, only with more beets, of course...and fewer \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-corrected\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_9\"\u003eCanadians\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #333333;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 100%;\"\u003e\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_10\"\u003eAJS\u003c/span\u003e:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e I'd like to play the tambourine and/or triangle in the band. I'm really good.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 100%;\"\u003eLC:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e We're actually auditioning cow-\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_11\"\u003ebellists\u003c/span\u003e all week. We can't seem to find anyone with that certain indefinable cow-tone that we're looking for. If you think your skills on the triangle are transferable then we'd love to hear you.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #333333;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 100%;\"\u003e\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_12\"\u003eAJS\u003c/span\u003e:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e I see your dilemma. Good hand-held percussionists (that is to say, those that play handheld percussion instruments as \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-corrected\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_13\"\u003eopposed\u003c/span\u003e to very small drummers) are hard to come by. I believe I can fill this void. I'll have my people call your people.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #333333; font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWHAT THIS BAND NEEDS IS MORE COWBELL!!\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv class\u003d\"separator\" style\u003d\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScrBz5ULjSI/AAAAAAAAAEI/kPOq2nMNMyI/s1600/InfantDrummer.jpg\" imageanchor\u003d\"1\" style\u003d\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt\u003d\"\" border\u003d\"0\" id\u003d\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317275407367245090\" src\u003d\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScrBz5ULjSI/AAAAAAAAAEI/kPOq2nMNMyI/s200/InfantDrummer.jpg\" style\u003d\"height: 148px; width: 200px;\" /\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLC:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScrBz5ULjSI/AAAAAAAAAEI/kPOq2nMNMyI/s1600-h/InfantDrummer.jpg\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;; font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\"Hand-held percussionists\"\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;; font-size: 85%;\"\u003eThat's the kind of stuff that makes me sad that you moved far away. I once developed a mad crush on a girl in high school because we were on a mission trip to a Choctaw Indian Reservation and passed a house with an old lawn-mower in the front yard displaying a sign that read \"Small Engine Repair\", to which she saw and responded \"hey - we found the pediatrician!\" You would have wanted her too.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #333333;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 100%;\"\u003e\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_15\"\u003eAJS\u003c/span\u003e:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e Excellent Research on tiny drummers.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #333333;\"\u003eDid said mission trip take you to Alabama, by chance? If so, I think I know this repairman/pediatrician. He also sold fireworks. Pretty awesome. I mean seriously, where else can you get your weed eater (small engine family) serviced and shoot bottle rockets while you wait? Together at last.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: black;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 100%;\"\u003eLC:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e I think it was in Philadelphia, Mississippi, actually. But when you're from up here, Alabama and Mississippi are really the same place...and \u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_16\"\u003eeverything\u003c/span\u003e we learned about those states came from movies or shows like 'A Time to Kill' or 'Designing Women'. So needless to say, I've been aware that everyone in your general part of the country is an interior decorating/\u003cspan class\u003d\"blsp-spelling-error\" id\u003d\"SPELLING_ERROR_17\"\u003eklansman\u003c/span\u003e, sweats a lot, and is often subject to unwelcome visits by either the NAACP or genial African-Americans named Anthony who drive deliver vans.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #ffffcc;\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size: 85%;\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #333333; font-size: 85%;\"\u003e*How could I compete with that?! And scene.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e*******************************************\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\nI miss you, LC!! Let's banter again soon. :)"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/feeds/960990114021440744/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/03/amazing-person-1.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/960990114021440744"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/960990114021440744"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/03/amazing-person-1.html","title":"Amazing Person #1"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Amy"},"uri":{"$t":"https://www.blogger.com/profile/18038313873825254338"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIGZILVcpZXMDQGukjso9jh2HvmiD6gAdZBi6dxG7cA6RYqs9Ig-XXDY91aou8F1IbpyNTs33tf6qNQvaUKLsAwttPfjAJuQBL3N-fZzASDIyRTYr-LqSdztvnbxe10/s113/Watercolor+Amy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScrBz5ULjSI/AAAAAAAAAEI/kPOq2nMNMyI/s72-c/InfantDrummer.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617703709209272834.post-5672216465157020263"},"published":{"$t":"2009-03-21T17:50:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-03-30T13:08:35.228-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"friendship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"dogs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"love"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chicago"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Beasley"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Let me tell you a little something about my best bud. His name is Beasley. He'll be 4 in June. He is black and white. He loves me unconditionally and is always happy to see me...and everyone else. All he wants in life is to be near me and occasionally some food, water, and a squeaky toy.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003ca name\u003d'more'\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVlaUAzi2I/AAAAAAAAABk/aJXh8A_-PeY/s1600-h/100_1494.JPG\" style\u003d\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt\u003d\"\" border\u003d\"0\" id\u003d\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315766437903829858\" src\u003d\"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVlaUAzi2I/AAAAAAAAABk/aJXh8A_-PeY/s200/100_1494.JPG\" style\u003d\"float: left; height: 151px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;\" /\u003e\u003c/a\u003eI adopted Beasley back in the Fall of 2005 from a \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.havanese.org/\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #cc6600;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHavanese\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e rescue organization called \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.rescuedhavanese.org/\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color: #cc6600;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHALO\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e. It was the best decision I ever made in my life - well, one of them. I was living in Chicago at the time and having a pretty rough go of things - for that matter, so was he. When I first brought Beasley home, he thought all humans just wanted to hurt him. He was just a shaky little ball of fur - a lot like his new mom minus the fur. He had no idea what he was suppose to do with those toys or that that soft cushy thing would be nice to sleep on. \u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVo4CxSDEI/AAAAAAAAACE/KMoFtyxVWM8/s1600-h/P1010004c.jpg\" style\u003d\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt\u003d\"\" border\u003d\"0\" id\u003d\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315770247206276162\" src\u003d\"https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVo4CxSDEI/AAAAAAAAACE/KMoFtyxVWM8/s200/P1010004c.jpg\" style\u003d\"float: right; height: 143px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;\" /\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\nSlowly but surely we got to know each other. He learned that his favorite place to take a nap was snuggled into my legs on the sofa resting his little head on my knees. He learned that those little rubber squeaky things could provide hours and hours of the most fun he'd ever had. And most importantly he learned that I loved him and would never ever do anything to hurt him. From that point on we've been a package deal. We moved from Chicago where he loved the snow and walks along Lake Michigan, to Atlanta where he can run and run outside in the warm sun almost year-round. \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVshQWqDFI/AAAAAAAAACM/BUDZj44e8b0/s1600-h/Beasley07+006b.jpg\" style\u003d\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt\u003d\"\" border\u003d\"0\" id\u003d\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315774253762219090\" src\u003d\"https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVshQWqDFI/AAAAAAAAACM/BUDZj44e8b0/s200/Beasley07+006b.jpg\" style\u003d\"float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 160px;\" /\u003e\u003c/a\u003eAs the man in my life, he is my consumate \"protector\" - letting me know when ANYTHING (and I do mean ANYTHING) may possibly be afoot outside. Although it may annoy me sometimes, I love him for that and so many other things. He has licked a lot of tears off of my cheeks and jumped around with me when I've been excited about one thing or another. He's the last face I see before I go to sleep and the first one I see when I wake up. \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\nHe's my little man. My best pal.\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align\u003d\"center\"\u003e\n\u003cobject class\u003d\"BLOG_video_class\" contentid\u003d\"d0d9eb3f5811f6b2\" height\u003d\"266\" id\u003d\"BLOG_video-d0d9eb3f5811f6b2\" width\u003d\"320\"\u003e\u003c/object\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align\u003d\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/feeds/5672216465157020263/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/03/beasley.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/5672216465157020263"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https://www.blogger.com/feeds/5617703709209272834/posts/default/5672216465157020263"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.amysjustsaying.com/2009/03/beasley.html","title":"Beasley"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Amy"},"uri":{"$t":"https://www.blogger.com/profile/18038313873825254338"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaIGZILVcpZXMDQGukjso9jh2HvmiD6gAdZBi6dxG7cA6RYqs9Ig-XXDY91aou8F1IbpyNTs33tf6qNQvaUKLsAwttPfjAJuQBL3N-fZzASDIyRTYr-LqSdztvnbxe10/s113/Watercolor+Amy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cSRdB8sY4ZE/ScVlaUAzi2I/AAAAAAAAABk/aJXh8A_-PeY/s72-c/100_1494.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}}]}});