A Frightening Episode

Hello all. This is an introduction to the extensive blog that will follow with all the details (okay not all, but many) of our trip to Europe.

 

Let us start from the beginning. A day and half before we were supposed to leave I made a terrible discovery. After months of planning, I got my passport out only to realize that I had never changed my name on my passport to my married name. It still read "Amanda Levesque," and I had purchased our plane tickets as Amanda Parrish. I wasn't too worried initially. I was optimistic that it would just take a few phone calls and it would all work out. Well, I spent part of one evening and literally all of the following day on the phone with Orbitz, United Airlines and Lufthansa trying to get it corrected and the answer was no, no, and an emphatic "NO." Orbitz has made me hate "Canon in D" (their hold music) more than I ever thought possible.

 

When Dave's mom picked us up to bring us to the airport I still didn't know if they would let me board the plane. I explained the situation the lady at the United Airlines desk and she then asked if I had my marriage certificate. I did, and produced it. She said it wasn't sufficient because it wasn't stamped or didn't have some kind of raised seal on it. It's the only thing I was given when we were married, so I was distraught. She said that I had to call Lufthansa, and given my success rate the previous day I was no longer hopeful. I called and they said no yet again. The United Airlines agent then asked if I had my driver's license in my married name, which I did. Apparently that was the ticket and she printed my boarding passes out. I was thrilled.

 

So there were were, sitting at our gate waiting to board and about ten minutes before we're supposed to get on the plane, here comes that same United Airlines agent and asks "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" My heart sank. She said she called her boss to double check if what she's done was ok, and that I would make it to Chicago, but they definitely wouldn't let me board the flight to Paris. She said I had a few options. 1) Stay in Fayetteville and get my passport amended and take a flight to Paris the next day. 2) Fly to Chicago and take a cab to the embassy there during our layover and get my passport updated, or 3) Fly to Chicago and check with the Lufthansa desk there to see if they would make the name change.

 

I opted for number 3 with plans to go to the embassy if Lufthansa wouldn't help me. We had to run to make it onto our plane to Chicago. We got to O'hare and made the long trek to the Lufthansa ticket counter. It was there that a wonderful German man charged me $50 and changed the name on my plane tickets back to my maiden name so they matched my passport. And then we rejoiced. We had a celebratory bite to eat (even though I couldn't really eat anything because I was still so stressed) and found our gate and waited. We were going to Paris!

In Case You're Wondering

Ok, so you're probably not wondering (what I've been up to that is) but I hadn't posted a blog in so long that I thought I'd better let my handful of readers know that I'm still alive and all. 

 

Most of the reason that I haven't posted in so long is that nothing has struck me as significant enough to write about in awhile.  Yes, I realize that many blogs are dedicated entirely to making little things seem more important than they are.  Nevertheless, I am just going to write a general update and hope that it's at least somewhat interesting.

 

I never could get into the Christmas spirit this year, but the holidays were still enjoyable.  We spent Christmas with my family in New Haven, Mo. We got to spend a lot of time with my niece, Valerie.  She's just over a year old and getting to be a lot of fun.  We really enjoyed that since we don't get to see her or my brother very often.  We rang in the New Year with Dave's family here in Arkansas.  It was anticlimactic as I suspected it would be, but New Year's always is (my opinion).  There were games and lots of tasty snacks, however.  Those were definite highlights.  All in all I am glad to be back to my old routine.  It's cheaper and less hectic, if not always as exciting.

 

Dave and I have been spending a lot of time anticipating things to come.  We are just over two months away from our trip to Europe and it is finally starting to feel real.  We will be staying six nights in Paris and seven nights in London.  We are trying to nail down a rough itinerary and figure out where we should go on our day trip/trips from London.  There are so many places to choose from and no way to tell for sure which ones we would enjoy the most.  We are open to suggestions.  I have been acquiring lots of travel gear (waterproof jacket, rain boots, etc.) that may or may not be necessary.  Meanwhile, Will and Dave have been scoffing at my preparations.  We'll see who's scoffing when I'm warm and dry and they're cold and wet.  As much as I am looking forward to the trip, I am also somewhat dreading it.  Crazy, right?  I am mainly just dreading the grueling travel (seven hour layover in Chicago followed by an overnight flight), flying (it freaks me right out, especially landing) and being away from Pip for two weeks.  I know, I know...but I love that little guy, and two weeks is a long time.  I know I'll worry about him even though I have no reason too.  We have a good friend who I know will take extra special care of him.

 

We are also both very anxious to find out if and where Dave has been accepted to school to pursue his doctoral work.  He has applied to the University of Kansas, Brown University, University of Texas at Austin, Ohio State University and the University of Alabama - meaning that we could be moving to any one of those places (Kansas, Rhode Island, Texas, Ohio, Alabama) within the next few months depending on where he gets accepted.  He will probably start getting acceptance/rejection letters in early to mid March.  We're equally scared and excited about the prospect of moving to a new place.  Anyone who has moved understands that I'm sure.  So, yeah, March is a big month for us - a trip to Europe and mail that will determine our next step in life.  We are trusting the Lord and we know that he has a plan, but waiting to find out what that plan entails is tough. 

 

Those are the more significant things on our plate right now.  Other than that, we've just been working (Dave is teaching part-time for the University of Phoenix), hanging out with friends, family, and our dog, reading, cooking, going to church, conducting some delicious experiments with our newly acquired bread machine, playing BF2 (Dave) and watching reality TV (me).  You know, business as usual at the Parrish residence.

 

I think I have covered everything worth mentioning.  Adios for now.  Or I suppose "au revoir" is more appropriate.

 

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

I have embarked on a few new endeavors as of late.  Some of which have been successful - others haven't.  You can probably guess which are which by looking at the pictures.

 

New Haircut

 

I am calling it a success, but I guess that's a matter of opinion.  It had been a long time coming.  I needed a change and "Jacque" gave me that change.  Sure he smelled like cigarette smoke, had bad breath, and was an ultimate queen, but I left Salon Professionals not wanting to put a bag over my head (and $40 poorer).  That's all you can ask for.

 

Dwarf Japanese Holly Bonsai

 

This also goes into the success category, because it has made an interesting centerpiece for our coffee table, and that was my main goal.  I've been looking at all these books on bonsai and still have no idea what to do to the litte guy other than water it, so hopefully that's enough.

 

Oatmeal Cookies

 

Not a success.  I have no idea what happened.  I just followed the recipe, which usually produces fairly good results in my experience, and then this happened.  They don't taste that bad believe it or not, but I have a feeling they're not going to get eaten.  1)  Because we bought this cool cookie sampler from Aldi the other day that has tons of cookies.  2)  Because there are a ton of oatmeal cookies.  3)  Because they're too ugly to bring to work and pretend that I'm treating everyone.

 

So, as far as new endeavors go, I'm two for three.  I can live with that.

 

The Good Life

Recently, Dave and I had the good fortune to spend a day with our friend Ryan Siebert.  He invited us out to his homestead in Protem, Mo. and treated us to a day on the lake in his family's ski boat.  And what a pretty boat it was. 

 

We got to eat lunch (turkey sandwiches, Sun Chips, cookies and grapes) on the water and just talk about life.  In my humble opinion, there are few sensations that compete with cruising on the water on a beautiful day with the wind blowing through your hair.  And in this case, Kylie Minogue was playing in the background (thanks Ryan).

 

Another highlight of the day was getting to meet Molly, the Siebert family's Golden Retriever.  She was so sweet and cute and cuddly.  She made me think that someday I'll have a Molly of my own. 

 

As if the day wasn't good enough, we got to go back to Branson that evening and hang out with the Wyatts, two people I wouldn't trade for the world.

 

For me, friends, the outdoors and good food add up to equal the good life.  I got to live the good life this past weekend.

This isn't a political blog but...

I am not usually one to begin a discussion on politics, but I feel more strongly than usual about the importance of this election year and what it will mean for our country.  I hope you will take the time to read the excerpts below taken from Dr. James Dobson's (founder of Focus on the Family) October newsletter as you consider who to vote for on November 4.  Here are a few sections of the letter that I felt were most important/compelling: 

• Let's start with the need to elect a pro-family, pro-life President. The importance of this objective cannot be overstated. Between 2009 and 2012, there will likely be two or more opportunities for the President to nominate new justices to the Supreme Court. Some court watchers say there could be as many as four resignations. That alone should give us serious pause as we consider for whom to cast our votes. It will likely affect the definition of marriage, religious freedom, and the protection (or lack thereof) of life in the womb.

 

• Senator Obama's record is more liberal than that of any other Democrat in the Senate. For example, when he was a state senator in Illinois, he voted four times in three years against legislation that would have saved the lives of babies that managed to survive the abortion process. The U.S. Senate subsequently passed similar legislation called The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act by unanimous consent.6 (Obama was not a U.S. Senator at the time.) State Senator Obama was chairman of the committee that opposed this protection of babies, and in 2001 and 2002 was the only legislator who rose to argue against the Illinois Born Alive Act. To further underscore Senator Obama's radical devotion to abortion rights, he has promised that "the first thing I'd do as president" would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. The FOCA is a devastating piece of legislation that would overturn nearly every local, state, and federal anti-abortion law passed in the last 40 years.  In fact, it's so broadly written that legal analysts suggest the bill may prevent institutions and physicians from refusing to provide abortion services by invoking the conscience clause.

 

• As for Governor Palin's qualifications to be Vice President of the United States and to assume the mantle of President, should that ever become necessary, she is much better suited for the job than the talking heads on the liberal Left would have you believe. She came out of nowhere to win the Alaskan gubernatorial race against a powerful incumbent. While in office, she bravely fought widespread corruption—including that within her own party—in the face of great opposition. Govenor Palin's critics suggest that her experience as mayor of a "small town" is somehow a liability, but it is an asset. In fact, her time as Mayor of Wasilla and then as Governor of Alaska gives her a greater degree of executive experience than Senator Barack Obama can claim. Her qualifications to be Vice President, I would submit, exceed those of Senator Barack Obama, who spent only 143 working days in the U.S. Senate prior to announcing his run for President.

  He authored no significant legislation during that time.

• Senator Obama's selection of fellow liberal Democrat Joseph Biden (Del.) is also extremely revealing. While the National Journal ranked Obama the most liberal Senator last year, Senator Biden was ranked 3rd on their list—just ahead of Vermont's Bernie Sanders, a self-avowed socialist.15 While the Senator of 36 years from Delaware stands in blatant opposition to the pro-family movement, many of you will remember him from his vociferous opposition to several of our finer Supreme Court justices, namely, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Alito and Thomas.

• It is likely, say the pundits, that both the House and the Senate in the 111th Congress will still be controlled by Democrats. If that party also takes the White House, a wave of anti-family, pro-homosexual legislation is almost guaranteed to pass in 2009. The bills put forward and advanced this year by Democrats reveal where they want to take the country. For example, they inserted hate crimes language into the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, but were forced to remove it in conference, again under the threat of veto.

  While in the Illinois Senate, Senator Obama voted for a bill authorizing "comprehensive" sex education beginning in kindergarten. 

  Large portions of the agenda promoted by homosexual activists will also be enacted. The implications for a federal hate crimes law are clear. People speaking against homosexuality have already been prosecuted under hate crimes laws both in the United States and abroad. If a federal hate crimes law passes, there will be little to prevent the government from endeavoring to control and curtail religious speech, especially from the pulpit. It is entirely possible that a pastor could be charged with inducing a federal hate crime simply by preaching from one of the many biblical passages that address homosexuality.

• Congressional Democrats will also seek to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, meaning businesses will be forced to accept and condone homosexuality —and possibly transgenderism—in making employment decisions. Further, business owners, including religious businesses, will not be able to make hiring and firing decisions based on their religious convictions. Earlier this year, Senator Barack Obama said, "I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepherd Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act."

 

Also, I know that Obama's claim that "95% of Americans will recieve tax cuts" if he is elected sounds very appealing since pretty much everyone reading this blog is probably making less than 200K per year, which means we would qualify for those cuts.  In addition, on the surface "universal healthcare" has a nice ring to it, but before you jump on the Obama bandwagon, please read this very informative article by Ken Blackwell (no, it's not from a conservative website).

 

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/obamas_patriotic_tonic.html

 

I am not trying to be annoying or preachy.  I just want to encourage everyone to be well-informed voters and to prayerfully consider your choice.  Whatever decision we make is going to determine the kind of country our children and grandchildren are raised in.  Obviously, no candidate is perfect, but I really believe that there is a lot at stake this election.  Read up and and don't take your decision lightly. 

 

 

Apartment life, or lack thereof

What were you doing this morning at 1:30 a.m.? I hope sleeping or doing something that you enjoy. I, on the other hand, was lying awake listening to what sounded like monkeys playing tackle football above me. Finally, after I had been laying there for an hour and half attempting to sleep while the thudding and booming above me continued, I decided to go up and ask nicely for them to quiet down. When I made it up the stairs, my trashy neighbor who is always cussing at her preschool-aged children (Example: Put down your f*!*&%$G baby doll!) was sitting outside with yet another random man (there's been several in the last few months). Here is the conversation that followed:

Me: Do you think you could tell your kids to quiet down a little? I've been trying to sleep for an hour and half.

Trashy lady: They're three years old (spoken in a hostile and sarcastic tone, which she maintained throughout this conversation)

Me: So because you have kids I have to stay up all night?

TL: That's what happens when you life in an apartment. Deal with it.

Me: Yes, we do live in an apartment. That's why you're supposed to be considerate of other people around you.

TL: They're three years old. It was his birthday. They had cake.

Me: Can't you tell them to just quiet down a little?

TL: It's the weekend. Do you have to get up and go to work in the morning?

Me: No, but my husband has to get up for a painting job and I'm going to be getting up with him.

TL: Well then you can go back to sleep when he leaves.

Me: It's 1:30 in the morning!

TL: Turn on a fan. Drown it out.

Me: We have the fan on.

TL: Then turn on some music.

Me: Music keeps me awake.

TL: There's 24 hours in a day. Find time to sleep. And if I'm not mistaken you're dog was out here a little while ago making noise (I guess his tags jingling qualified as noise) and I didn't complain about that

Me: *confused look on face: So you're comparing my dog being outside for 30 seconds to go pee to your kids jumping around for the last hour and half? My dog isn't keeping you up at night.

TL: I didn't say your dog was keeping me up at night

Me: *more confused: This is only the second time since you've lived her that I've ever complained about the noise (they've lived her for several months and are very noisy a lot)

TL: Yeah, you don't complain about the people next door playing their guitars!

Me: They're not out doing it at 1:30 in the morning!

TL: They're three years old. They knew we had kids when they moved us in up here.

Me: Fine. You can tell the police that.

TL: Fine!

Of course when I got back into my apartment I was seething. I didn't end up calling the police because I figured then I would have had to talk to them and I would have been kept up even later, but I might as well have because it took me an hour to calm down.

I told the management about this morning and they just said "We can't do anything unless you tell us when it's happening." I didn't know I had the option of telling them at 1:30 a.m., but apparently there's a number I could have called.

After my police calling threat of course they quieted down up there. I am just appalled that someone could be that dumb, rude, trashy, inconsiderate, hostile and downright mean. The second she saw me she was ready to fight. There was no apologetic tone, no attempt to even pretend that she cared. It was like talking to an angry brick wall with lower than average intelligence. Amazing.

I know who to call next time, but with people like her I'll probably end up with slashed tires or a keyed car once I put my money where my mouth is.

Recent Developments (in a nutshell)

Ok, so I haven't been blogging for a while because nothing worth writing about was happening, and then some stuff happened and I got distracted by the previously mentioned stuff and wasn't thinking about blogging. So, here are a few of the more significant or at least semi-interesting things that have taken place in the last several weeks.

1) I discovered an online design school that tickled my fancy (www.sessions.edu). I am enrolled in a class there now and plan to enroll in the graphic design program within the next few weeks. My concentrations will be print design and web design.

2) I am going to get a MacBook Pro and Adobe CS3! Woo hoo! The process has been complicated. After nearly getting scammed trying to get a MacBook on Craigslist, and then nearly getting scammed trying to get one on Ebay, I ordered one from a legitimate site, then my mom offered to pay for better one, so I cancelled the first order, became obsessed with placing the order for newer MacBook and am currently driving myself nuts while waiting for the green light to place the new order. I am also quite excited about the free iPod touch I will receive when I order my Mac. Words really don't exist to describe the level of anticipation and excitement I have about the whole Mac/design school happenings. It has been amazing how the Lord has answered my prayers on this subject. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support that I've experienced since I started seriously pursuing a career in design.

3) Some guy asked me out at the library, and when I responded nicely that I didn't think my husband would like that, he responded "Well he wouldn't have to know about it." I wasn't nice anymore. Creep.

4) I stepped in gum on the way into the library today. It was bright red. I'm thinking Bubblelicious-Strawberry Splash.

5) A bunch of peach juice leaked out of the tupperware I had the peaches in and into the passenger seat of my car, and now there's a big, dark sticky spot there and I'm dreading the day when someone actually needs to sit there.

6) We have been formulating a plan for a trip to Europe in March. We are planning to spend about a week in Paris and then a week in London. So I have also been flirting with insanity trying to find cheap lodging and cheap plane tickets for that pending adventure.

7) Dave has continued his training to teach at the University of Phoenix and has gotten an offer to teach his first class, U.S. Constitution, in October. Hooray!

Ok, I think that's everything worth mentioning. Until next time!