kristi and laura got married on the same day, so this photo is them stretching their faces in preparation for a full, long day of smiling too much.

we started the party at the red stag supper club for elegance and stylishness then moved over to the u otter stop inn for karaoke and lettin’ loose.

we had to call her “bride-to-be kristi” during karaoke because there was another gal named kristi singing that night, as well. towards the end of the night it became a fun thing to yell. everyone at bars at 2 a.m. is loud.

i know jen is blurry but she came specially from hawaii for this get-together (okay, not really) so i wanted to post this photo.

i don’t remember why we asked this gal to be in a photo with us, but she did an amazing rendition of celine dion later in the evening. no, really. she belted that sucker! also she reminded me of jenny lewis.

kristi insisted on helping me sing kim carnes so i eventually just gave her a microphone.

kristi really didn’t want to stop believin’ — she wanted to hold on to that fee-e-e-lin’… of being the bride-to-be (and center of attention). she may deny it, but she enjoyed the limelight, i think.

the following morning, we went to brunch and she held up surprisingly well.

fun with friends!

I posted these to my Facebook account, and decided I’d share them here, as well.

1. I was born on Friday the 13th, but maybe you already know this because this is my favorite little thing about myself that I like to tell people.
2. I think the most beautiful woman ever was Grace Kelly, and the most beautiful man ever was Clark Gable (Gene Kelly is a close second).
3. I built my first website in 1994 or 1995 and it was lime green text on a black background. What I wouldn’t give for a screen shot…
4. I used to own 30–40+ Nine Inch Nails CDs (and lots of other swag). I went through a fit of cleaning and growing up a couple years ago and sold most things on eBay. I kept my deteriorating teeth & salt trail t-shirt.
5. At one time I had 12 holes in my ears, but about a year ago I went to a dentist who made me remove all of my earrings for an x-ray. I only kept 8 of the holes even though I had a goal of 13. This dream will probably never be fulfilled.
6. I probably watched the Exorcist I and III (II was really awful) over 50 times throughout high school, but now I can barely watch a stupid horror movie commercial without having nightmares. I blame this all on the Grudge, even though that was a stupid movie, too.
7. Since I have had an aquarium I have wanted tiny freshwater sharks. What fish do I have? Catfish. Go figure.
8. I have a giant rubbermaid tote full of Barbies, Kens, and accessories in my storage unit. I bought most of them in high school. Some of them are still in their original packaging.
9. I spent 3 years in college majoring in German. I spent 1 year (my junior year) majoring in Interior Design. (Which is when I learned most of my crafting skillz.)
10. My first personal domain was blue-oblivion.org because Fiona Apple was my most favorite musical gal. (She’s still in my top 3.)
11. After I met Fiona Apple a few years ago at Northrup Auditorium, I called Kelsey, who could barely understand me because I was so hysterically happy. (Kelsey introduced me to her music.)
12. When I about 8 or 9 years old, my parents were able to score Miss Iowa’s autograph for me at a Hy-Vee convention. She didn’t win Miss America, but I rooted for her all night!
13. I think it’s safe to say that my parents have dragged me and my siblings to 90% of the existing Hy-Vee Food Stores. (We’ve all worked there at some point.)
14. I used to frequent the karaoke scene in Minneapolis, most notably on Wednesday nights at Legends. I no longer need alcohol to sing my heart out in front of others (though I do need back up music).
15. My cats are named Ellipses and Ampersand and I plan to name all future pet cats after grammatical marks. All of my catfish are named Elton (after Elton John) and their original tank mates were Tiny, Bub, and Les. When they passed, I got two algae eaters named Mick (Jagger) and Keith (Richards) and tetras that I named Jack and the Megs (Jack was white with a stripe—get it?). I think these damn catfish will outlive me.
16. My first legal beer was Killian’s Irish Red at Old Chicago in Uptown. It’s still my favorite (especially during winter).
17. It is hard for me to eat spaghetti or pizza without covering it with red pepper flakes. In fact, it’s hard for me to eat most things without red pepper flakes.
18. I took a semester of Italian, but it was difficult to learn a third language after 8 years of a second language. (It was hard enough for me to learn that second language, anyway.) Mi chiamo Amy. Ich spreche deutsch.
19. I’ve had the same alarm clock for about 15 years.
20. I was a barista every Sunday for about a year. I only succeeded at creating latte art a couple times, but also only spilled coffee all over myself only once. I quit when I got hired at Pearson VUE.
21. The toughest trip I ever made was backpacking for 2 (or was it 3?) days through the Black Hills up to Harney Peak. It was also one of the most beautiful.
22. I spent the first two weeks of 2004 in southern Germany (rang in the new year somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean), and this was probably the best trip I’ve ever made.
23. I’ll try most foods at least once, but I definitely do not like olives, raisins or cashews.
24. I loved living at the Black Hills Playhouse for a summer (if only for the bison periodically wandering through camp… and car surfing), but being separated from my family for 3 months was awful.
25. I’m a quiet person, but I’m willing to talk about almost anything with anyone.

Have you created a similar list? I’d love to read it—please share!

Hello. There is a lot to do before things get all sorts of crazy at work/the University in about a week and a half. Some things I have to do are LIVE and see things and take photos that I don’t have time to love properly and drink wine. This means that I don’t have a great update for you.

But here is where I’ve been and what I’ve been knowin’:

Wednesday the 22^nd: I rock’n'bowled for the Sound Unseen festival. I scored 54 points because I am not a good bowler, but it was tons of fun. Somewhere out there is a photo of my team of coworkers (Hell’s Bells) and The Alarmists. (Hey, I found it!)

Thursday the 23^rd: I watched the first outdoor film for the Bell Museum‘s 2007 “Summer Sci-Fi Series”: Attack of the Giant Leeches (the photo is from pre-screening insect touching). It was very fun. You should attend the second film tomorrow night: The Killer Shrews.

Friday the 24^th: I drove home to Vermillion, but forgot all of my clothes because I was just so excited to get out of the city. I had to stop and go shopping. (I didn’t mind too much.) I also sang some karaoke with some friends, Kelsey, Jen and Lindy.

Saturday the 25^th: My mom’s supervisor, Andy, is turning 50 soon. So we had a “surprise” party for him all afternoon. Everyone drank a lot of beer. That night I joined Bridget, Lindy and Royce at Chae’s for dinner, then back to Royce (and Kelsey)’s house for a fun game of Payday.

Sunday the 26^th: I drove back to Minneapolis, stopping to buy yarn and a book of Harry Potter knitting projects (Charmed Knits by Alison Hansel). I’m working on a Ravenclaw scarf (Prisoner of Azkaban style).

Monday the 27^th: I knit while Ellipses curled around my legs. I didn’t think about anything except relaxing.

Last night: Rebecca and I turned what was supposed to be a quick dinner and creative night into a really elaborate dinner (pizza and salad with lots of stuff) and 4-hour Sex and the City marathon.

Tonight: I promise I’m going to do more photo work tonight. Though I really want to knit until my fingers fall off.

Tomorrow night: Killer Shrews at the Bell Museum!

Friday the 24^th: Cousin Jamie is celebrating her 23^rd birthday, so I’ll be getting lost somewhere in the ‘burbs to help her with that.

Saturday the 25^th: I’m attending a farewell party for coworker, Sarah, as she prepares to head to Boston for graduate school. After that, I’ll be heading over to Club Underground to enjoy the musical stylings of Plastic Chord.

And so far I don’t have any more plans until September. I’m sure things will come up, though.

Hi there. Not much going on. It’s been a pretty quiet week for me.

Last Friday (post-happy hour), I had Kristi and Rebecca over to my apartment for a “girls’ night.” When I was younger I used to have slumber parties all of the time. I felt that I was the queen of slumber parties. The best one ever was the night we watched all of the Children of the Corn movies (I definitely stayed awake [whether my brain was on or off is a different story] and others claim to have stayed awake, but there is no proof). Anyway, Rebecca brought over Indiscreet, I whipped up a few cosmopolitans, and threw some Totinos Pizza Rolls in the oven. Everything was going well, we were talking and gossiping and gabbing and giggling. Then Rebecca sat on the couch between Kristi and me. We all had our own blanket and our feet were up on the coffee table. And we all fell asleep. Slumber parties really are just slumber parties now.

Last night Kristi and I went to Grumpy’s for karaoke (Kristi’s idea!) and it was a smashing success. It was a pretty quiet evening there, compared to the crowds I’ve had to deal with in the past. We each got three good songs in before 1am, and had a good time with the other singers.

I miss karaoke. I think when I acquire a car this summer, I shall have to seek out employment as a karaoke DJ. I think that would be the most fun thing I could be doing with my life right now. Plus I’d be guaranteed drinking and singing on a weekly basis.

Jen will be visiting the Twin Cities next week and there will be more karaoke! Hooray!

But otherwise I’ve just been learning and studying about Minnesota’s forests and succession and using Flash to make an educational game for my class. It’s been challenging, but I think I’ve finally climbed the hill of weakness and I am looking over my kingdom of knowledge and creativity, and I am confident.

Also I am kinda sleepy today. I don’t really know what I’m typing.

The past week, summarized:

Wednesday
After working a very full day, it was time to enjoy a four-day weekend. That evening, I was joined at karaoke (at both U Otter Stop Inn and Legend’s) by Barry, Kristi and Karyn. It was fun. We ate nachos.

Thursday
Karyn turned 30 on the 10^th, and we both had the day off. I joined her at True Thai for lunch, then I hung around her apartment all day. She dozed and I played with the kitties while uploading music onto my new computer. That evening we joined Barry (who was celebrating his 32nd birthday) and other friends at Psycho Suzi’s. We ate almost every appetizer that was offered. And drank every tiki drink that was available. I love Suzi’s patio — it’s easily the best patio in Minneapolis.

(My photos from the birthday celebrations are on flickr.)

Friday
Karyn and I drove to my grandparents’ farm in Alvord, Iowa for a two-day family reunion. That evening was spent camping out in their yard, drinking beer, and playing with the pile of kitties.

And now for excessive cat photos (but they are so cute):

Saturday
On Saturday we spent the morning and early afternoon cleaning some of the house — a couple bedrooms and the kitchen cabinets. I took a walk around the grounds after lunch. Eventually I sat down in the campsite and took a brief nap in the sun. Afterwards, my dad joined me and we watched nature and drank beer. Very chill. That evening we were joined by my gramma’s sister, Mary, and her husband for dinner. Mom, Jane, Aunt Kim, Cousin Michael, and I worked on illegally igniting fireworks for the rest of the clan after dark. And we made s’mores.

(I took a bunch of other photos but I’m feeling really lazy about linking to all of them. I like a lot of them and you can check them out here.)

Sunday
After lunch, Karyn and I headed back to Minneapolis. We stopped in Rock Rapids, IA, to visit our Gramma Dee. Then it rained, rained, rained for the rest of our drive. It was a quiet evening at home, though, and that was nice.

Monday
Kristi came over to my apartment to watch the two-hour finale for Hell’s Kitchen. I’m so mad that Heather won! But it was very exciting and we enjoyed watching regardless.

That’s it. I’m sleepy.