Well guys, I survived this years Black Friday. I must say, this year was far worse than most. I'd say it's partly due to the current state of the economy, and people really needing good deals instead of just wanting them.

Well, this year, our one of our local stores had a great deal on the 4.5 quart kitchen-aid stand mixers.....over $200 less than retail. As you all may know, Josh's mother is disabled and is on a ventilator and loved to cook. Using a traditional hand mixer is quite hard for her, so my in-laws and I decided to get together and surprise her with the mecca of all stand mixers. Never once has she even dreamed of asking for one due to the fact that they tipically run around $350.

So I get to this store, well before the sun comes up (and really, it wasn't even friday yet *wink*) only to find out that they only had 6 in the store.....that's right 6!! Needless to say, when you have 75 people wanting the same thing.......it can get ugly. I was fast enough to get my hands on one and bear hug it only to have some (dare I use the word) *LADY* try to take it from me. When I didn't let go she proceeded to punch me in the face thinking I'd drop it. Apparently she didn't know who she was dealing with, cuz I dropped to the ground with it in a death grip and said, " Listen here lady, I'm not letting go and I'll stay here all day if need be so back off!!"

She did, and I got up with my prize. I've got 4 bruises and a red puffy face......but seeing the joy on Sharyl's face when she opens that box and discovers that in it is something she has wanted for literally years, but could never afford and wouldn't dream of asking for.......that will make it all worth it. Oh yea, on a side note.....the lady was escorted out and was not allowed to purchase anything in her cart! lol >:Þ

All in all, it was a very productive day and at 3pm I slept.

Love everyone
Amber

What in the hell did I do to deserve this? Jury notice ... AGAIN! Hates it! I know there are some of you who consider it an honor and a privilege and that's just fine. You're welcome to it. I hate it. Just the thought brings symptoms of anxiety - I shake, I cry, I can't breathe, I hyperventillate. It's traumatic for me. Enough so that I almost never want to drive or vote again just to avoid being called again. I really think that when you fill out your voter registration or driver's license app that you should get to choose "yes" or "no" for jury pool just like you do for being an organ donor, that way they can choose from people who aren't going to sit in the room & shake & cry & mumble to themselves until they are sent home, where they immediately collapse into bed with a stress migraine for 3 days. Yes, it's a physical thing for me. I hate hate hate it (& I don't use the word "hate" unless I really & truly mean "hate"). *sob*

The company I work for just signed a deal where they are the N American exclusive distributor for a line of veterinary equipment. It's a big deal for us and will increase our business dramatically.

I'll be going to the factory for some intensive training on their blood analyzers. Looks like that will take about 2 weeks.

I've done factory training a number of times with other companies and it's usually a major drag. This trip is a little different, mainly due to the location of the factory. I won't be leaving for a while yet as I need a passport for the trip.

Domo arigatoo Mr. Blackstone.

And now for a quick quote from my premier novel, soon to be featured on the Oprah Winfrey show...


*Ahem*

"THE END"

I'm home. She did great. It was kinda scary - her blood pressure kept dropping and so did the baby's heart rate. But other than that, it all went well. He was bigger than expected. They thought he'd be around 4 pounds, but he's a hefty 5 pounds 6 ounces and 18-1/2 inches long. He was born at 5:42pm. Met the adoptive parents. They're very nice. I'm exhausted and going to bed now.

They are inducing my daughter tomorrow morning - a month early. The baby has intrauterine growth restriction. Please, if you think of it, say a prayer for them.

For those of you who like to read: www.goodreads.com Link up with me!

Tracey and I are going to a rally today to protest Prop 8 and the like. There is a similar rally near all of you. You don't have to be gay to attend and I encourage everyone to take an hour from their Saturday and join the impact. go to jointheimpact.wetpaint.com and find the city near you where one of these rallies is being held. It's a nationwide effort and all the rallies are scheduled to happen at about the same time today. It isn't about special rights - it's about civil rights.

well guys, I have written an article on how to survive black friday today and have sent it out to quite a few newspapers. let's see what happens! lol

Amber

NaNoWriMo is amazing!!

*Cross-posted to my blog..*

Just a short break from novelling...

I wrote five thousands words today. I feel like a real writer. I feel like I can *do* this. I can get published and live my dream. It's totally possible.

I feel amazing. I think this is how it feels to give birth to a new child.

Well, not really. That will come when I can write "THE END" but now is like...when you are in the middle of labor and suddenly realize "Holy shit, i'm having a baby."

Love you all. See you on the other side.

Finally,
Someone in the big name news media gets it right.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChanTFSmqao


LOVE you guys more than you know,
Amber

Sometimes I regret not joining the services when I was young. As a civilian I respect and honor those who have served in my stead. Would the vets on this blog please tell us civilians a story from your service to help us commemorate?

More upsetting to me than the turn-out of the presidential race, is the passage of California's prop 8 limiting marriage to only a select few citizens who the government deems "worthy", leaving the others to wallow in a perpetual state of sub-citizenry. The outcome of the presidential race was gonna suck regardless - 2 different "evils" but both just as ungood in their extremes. Sadly, until the voters in this country open their eyes - and their crayon boxes - and realize there are more colors out there than just red and blue, there's not going to be a big change in how things are done. But the issue of who is worthy to marry whom is a big thing. It harkens back to the racial bigotry that was so miserably and embarassingly prevelent in the past. I'd hoped that we, as a country, had moved past that. It breaks my heart that we haven't. It makes me so sad that the apparent - or at least most vocal - majority still feel the need to set themselves apart, to deny another human being something so basic as the desire to publicly and legally commit one's life to someone they love. It's akin to bullying - and a form of emotional abuse on a grand scale. It's the ugly kid in the neighborhood eating ice-cream in front of the other the little kids and taunting them with it, talking about how good the ice-cream is and how special he is because he gets to eat it all by himself and offering them an ice-cube to eat instead, telling them it's the same thing - it came out of the freezer and it's cold, close enough - and refusing to share the ice-cream no matter what. It's just plain stupid. If 2 adults love each other and want to commit to each other and want to be responsible for eath other and take the tax hit to be with each other, who really gives a rat's ass about their genders?

Now, I'm hoping that maybe the passage of this bill (and that of other similar bills in other states) is really a good thing in disguise. It's my hope that this whole issue ends up before the US Supreme Court and is overruled. I'm sure there's something in the constitution about "equal rights for all".


*runs off to look*



How sad. Yes, the phrase "all men are created equal" is there but the Equal Rights Amendment that was first written in 1921 and introduced to Congress in EVERY SINGLE SESSION since 1923 has still not been ratified giving women equal rights in this country. Guess that means only gay men stand a chance. Maybe.

=D

B to the A to the R-A-C-K-O-B-A-M-A!

Election day stuff HERE!

This is cool.. I got a score of 4
http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77

RIP

LOL Pailin radio interview
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27491253#27491253

Hey you all, follow my NaNoWriMo progress at my author page. The widget in my blog is a little screwy and still says I have 0 words. Not true! I am, in fact, a day ahead of schedule.

=]

It's not to late to join the fun you know...

Halloween pics on the Photog We did some fun stuff with latex this year