Late Updates.

Before I begin the true blog I want to remind everyone to check out my play blog. They are changing and adding things all the time. Like there are cast bios now!! And horrible pink pictures of me, you simply can't miss those!!

This is a little late, like three months late. But it's better than never. I think. As you may (or may not) know, Grant and I hit the big 5 year mark this January!! We actually made it, I mean there's been a few lumps, bumps, and a lot of bruises, but despite it all ... we've decided, we actually like each other, and want to shoot for another 5.

I gotta tell ya folks, I love the man I married. More and more every day. Sure I bite him now and then, but what wife doesn't? And those love pokes, FILLED with admiration. You can't blame me for just wanting to be near him, even if I do have to resort to unorthodox methods..

The bottom line is I just can't get enough.

So what do two insanely (just me) people do to celebrate their love? To commemorate the 5 married (and 1.5 unmarried) years together??

THEY GO TO VEGAS!!!

I mean why not? Second Honeymoon anyone? Ok I'm kidding.... sorta. We did pay homage to our "first" vacation spot, but only for one night.




It was the best night we've ever spent in Vegas. We dined at New York New York's pizza kitchen, watched the water show at the Bilagio. The best ever, if you ask me. It featured "Time to say Goodbye" by: Andrea Bocelli & Sara Brightman. Then we walked the strip, took Treasure Island for $10 and watched the Pirate show, which was.. Las Vegasy.

We returned to our awesome Marriott, thanks to Tomtom, picked up some Ben&Jerrys on the way, and watched ... CSI! (it was the only thing on)

Our next night was spent in La Cresenta (sp?) with Grants Grandparents. Who are mighty awesome. We went out to eat, and played games, and did crazy insane puzzles. The, soon-to-be famous screen writer, Aaron, joined us for all the fun. Then Sunday morning rolled around and he entertained us with a fun and enlightening drive through L.A. ( Read: we got a flat, we lost a quarter in a paybathroom, and we kept an eye on the car at all times while outside of it for any reason) Then he took us to port.

For. Our. CRUISE!!!

Thats right ladies, and gentlemen, this entirely to long introduction is for forty minutes of Anniversary slide show!!!!! Glad you kept reading? Ya, me too. So without further ado, here is proof Grant and I went on a cruise.

I've been told never to take a picture without a person in it. Even if all you want is whats behind them.
I LOVE this picture. Isn't he cute?

Me too me too!

Disney isn't the only cruise line that folds their towels in adorable shapes.

Isn't it pretty? Thats Main Street.

We passed this.. wall statue? A million times, and I wanted to slap it, every time I passed.

We taught the kids at our table how to make straws pop. And pop they did.

Us in .. our last stop, waiting out the bomb threat.

Not sure where we are, somewhere in mexico I think.. Yummy lunch stop.

By the sea, By the sea, by the beautiful Sea..

Cool little not quite an island, thing.

Same spot, only ME this time :D

(fetching A..where are we now??) Us in Mexico!!!

One of the dress pretty nights. Bad pict, but oh well.

This was in Vegas, sorry its out of order. Nice fountain though right?

Sorry I'm not more of a cruise ship story teller, but theres just TOO much to tell! From a killer (almost literally) Ice show, to amazing menu items, to passing up those amazing items for 3 straight Bones Episodes, to min golf, and arcades, to comedians and crazy game shows. It really is too much. Cruises are amazing, and I recommend everyone go on one in their life. Or 12.

The Veggie Villain

I've mentioned a time or two about me being in a play. Nothing huge, it's for my stake, but it's been a pretty big part of my life since early January. I'm both eager and reluctant for it to end in April, but end it must.

A lot of you have been asking when it is, and all I've said was "End of April." Well now I'm going to say "Hey! Go check out our blog!"

Eventually I will learn when it is, but by that time, expect it to be "Oh that, ya it's tomorrow, sorry for the short notice." I don't mean to do this on purpose, I just suck at the "inviting and reminding people" game.

So... "Hey! Go check out our blog!"

(by the way, those are links to said blog. I learned a new blog trick :D )

Blissfomia

My last blog was to placate family and friends, or to be more embarrassingly pointed: Jillie-bean Jackson. She was my inspiration and consequently my reason for wanting to write again. See Miss Jill is an excellent blogger, and has kept everyone in the blogasphere abreast of her growing and giggling daughter. Who is absolutely B-E-A-UTIFUL! (Cookies to anyone who gets that quote) I'd blog a lot to if I had a daughter like Lanie (soonish Amber, soonish) but since I don't I need to find other reasons to blog.

Short of creating a new world my family doesn't know I live in, there isn't much to say that I haven't already. Clouds reign of terror is almost complete. Dagger has successfully found out how many "licks" it takes to get to the center of a tennis ball, Gus has reached a new level of socialism, and the bonsai died. The mini blueberry tree however is thriving and soon we will be able to make our very own blueberry-topia.

My last blog pretty much told you all about my recent misdoings, and Grant would probably hide my chocolate milk if I laid my creatively licensed hands on his days activities. What else... hmm... what else. OH! Hey did you know the sky is not really blue? Yes? Dang.

Oh I got it, you'll like this one, this ones going to rock your socks. Or at least the one you're wearing.

OUR BASEMENT IS FINISHED!!!!!!

I tell ya, I don't care what you're doing to them stars are evil.

Neat ain't it? Grant designed and made those cabinets! You'll never guess what kind of trickery he used, or the secrets they hold.

The entertainment center head on. It's a piece of art isn't it? It's even functional to the houses structure!!

Eventually when the office upstairs is needed for something far more important, the family computer will relocate here. If you can't tell Grant is a fan of storage space, and promised me he'd make it look good. Boy did he ever. Right now it houses blankets and games, though has the versatility/ability to hold anything from files to a mini fridge. (I told you they had secrets)

I see you still have your sock(s).. oh well can't say I didn't try. I mean we think it's truly awesomeness on earth, and really, we are the only ones that matter. So you can keep your holy socks, I've got an anime to watch with the lights dimmed and a bowl of popcorn.

Blogger Fail.

As I'm sure you've all noticed, I haven't updated my blog in quite a long time. Honestly I've been purposefully ignoring it, I don't know how many watch my blog or even care about it, sooo it steadily moved down the list of important/fun things to do.

For my own reasons I've been keeping so busy that I hardly remember what down time feels like. Grant is usually busy, so his schedule hasn't changed much.

Since December I've been going to play practice Tuesdays and Saturday mornings for our Stake Melodrama. It's called the Veggie Villain and it's hilarious! I play the Villianess Lily Liverd, and apparently I was born to play the role, not so sure how I like that. Anyway that will be in April if anyone wants to come see, I'll get you dates if your interested.

Second on my list is Voice lessons, I have also been taking those since November? Ya November I think.. oh well. Its been fun every Thursday I drive out to Farmington and give my voice a good work out, and it's actually getting better :D Hurray for patient Sister-inlaws!!!

Nextly I've finished the first part of my second edit for my novel. I've been working on 10 pages a day and hopefully I'll be done with the edit before march, that's my goal. This hasn't really taken up much time because I normally do it while watching a movie (anime) or something, so it's like killing two hobbies with one stone!!

Now this is new to my ever-growing list of hobbies, but I've wanted to do this for a while. K ladies, don't you LOVE acrylic nails? so smooth and shiny and pretty and make back scratches feel like heaven? But they cost SO much money and you have to go back and refill them every 2 weeks or so.. pain in the fanny. But I like them so much, and my mom can tell you I've had a fondness for long nails since I was very little. So I did what any normal hobby addict would do. I bought myself a kit and have taught myself to do my own nails. So far only my left hand has had them, but they look freaking AWESOME!! They don't all look the same, each are a little different style, but thats on purpose... yup Totally on purpose.. :D

So between play practice, voice practice, nail practice, editing, keeping up my house and convincing my hubby that none of these are a punishment in anyway. I have had little time to play on the computer, and when I have been on the comp, it's to check email, check DeviantArt, check a few of my webcomics, and thats it. Alright, I've gotten on to facebook a few times, but really those who watch/care know I'm hardly ever on there.

Now on to Lastly. If you don't know I have hobbies, then you don't know me (I'm Amber btw) I have a LOT of hobbies, I can and will do anything I want. All of this sounds self serving, da? And you'd be right, it is, but not anymore! As of next wednesday I will be corrupting a Little to my insane hobby addictions. Every middle of the week I will work my goal of taking over the world, you didn't know I had that goal huh? Its always the quiet ones you least suspect.

Nah, I'm kidding, actually I've agreed to teach my cousin Elle my skills lol. She wants to learn to sew and play with clay and decorate cakes, and make jewelry. Isn't that great? I'll finally get someone to do my nails on my right hand! (that last one was false, unless she really wants to learn, who am I to say no?) I'm very excited to do this, and can't wait to start. I have informed my Aunt that I don't do things by the book, and she's still willing to send her daughter to me for an hour every week... tee hee..

SO that be me, Amber, however I can see Grant writing this.. but only if he was drugged. Well there you have it, you know more about me, hopefully I didn't scare you off. Bye.

Decemeber's one busy month!

Christmas is usually what December is remembered for. But thats for those who don't have birthdays in this "splendid" snow coverd month. It's also for those who don't have anniversaries in the bitter cold weeks. It's also for those who haven't had anyone die in the dark days of midwinter.


For this month, my family is partiularly weighed down.


Starting of course within the first week by Ally and I's birthday. And for those anit-Amber and Allysen people (I'm sure theres a few out there) who still want to party like its 1985 or 1941, you can celebrate Pearl Harbor.. not sure why you'd want to though.. perhaps "observing" would be better, start less global drama that way, hmm?

Both Al and I had awesome birthdays, though I'm a bit jealous, she was winged to Texas to snoodle Jillies baby, though I got fantabulous home made dinner, and got to watch Nick cheat his way to the top spot in a Yatzee type game thing he has. I'm so proud of him!


The next big day, would have been my Parents 26th (I may or may not have made up that number) wedding anniversary BUT on the 12th the 3rd oldest of the Hill-clan poped the all important question to the lovely Brooklyn, and we were all sent the update in family status via text, which then had me dancing in the middle of Target.


WE LOVE YOU BROOKLYN! WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!


So this would normally be where my family tackles Geg happily, had he been in Utah at the time of course. Though his location really didn't have any affect to the lack of celebration because the next day our Papa Hill died, after a long battle with his insides. (I'd get more technical but I don't know the whole story so I don't feel I should) 15 years and 13 days short of his beloved wife and my wonderful Grandma Hill.


Papa we'll miss you.


Now would be the time I spout sentiments about my parents anniversary, but WAIT another big day:


on the 14th I finally finished decorating my christmas tree!! I have been informed that this is the last year I can have my "white trash" tree.. I love it, but sadly it took me fourteen days to complete it!! Freaking stupid popcorn strings.



Still it's cute, don't you agree:



Next big day: The Gingerbread Massacre.


See that cute little Ginger couple at the bottom? Gone. See the Happy go lucky guy on the right. Gone. See the guy behind him? He is remarkably untouched.


The next day to celebrate with gifts of the awesome sort, would be the Parents anniversary. Sadly I'm a little blog happy and that day has yet to happen, so I can't really say anything about it. Christmas has a similar fate, it may only be ten days away, but I still don't have future seeing powers :( Same goes for the rest of the stuff I can't remember or forsee..


Other things of note:
I've finished my first edit and moved on to my second. AND the unlucky folk to have experienced the first draft are beginning to finish.. Alive!


Um... Voice lessons rock, only I haven't been in a while because decemeber is far to busy for it's own good.


leessseee... Nope, that's it. You may now get back to your regularly scheduled lives. (if you want, by all means read my blog again, I don't judge)

When at first you don't succeed.

The Claw.

Everyone has been tempted once or twice by this arcade staple. The big mocking game that offers incredibly cheap, while still intriguing prizes. This game serves only two purposes: To take your money, as well as your sanity. And convince you beyond all reason that you need whatever it holds.

There are only a few reasons you would ever play this game. You are either A.) High (sugar or drug related) or drunk, or cocky as heck. B.) 10 years old and think you’re invincible, and jonesing badly for that monster truck. Or C.) Dared by all your cohorts and now pride won’t let you leave without that bobble head.

I am only mortal and have also been tempted by this monster machine. Three times in my life to be exact. My first encounter was inevitable, everyone needs their dreams crushed once, or dropped inches from the box. My second time was years afterward when a group of my friends and I instigated situation C, then by sheer luck discovered the weak link in the dream dropping chain. It didn’t matter that the coveted toy inside was miniature Care Bears, when life gives you a broken arcade game, you take it for all it’s worth.

My third time brings us up to last night. When I was getting a late dinner with Grant and Jason at the Gateways food court. It wasn’t really flashy, or emitting brain-melting music, what it had was giant super balls. I don’t consider myself a tomboy, but I do like my bouncy balls.

So after eyeing the machine half the meal, even walking up to it to ogle the toys, Grant handed me 50 cents and told me to go nuts!! I’m not sure if he really meant for me to literally go nuts, but after I aligned the claw just right, watched it descend upon my prize, miss it by centimeters, and still come up with a ball, I did just that!!

It was amazing!! I wasn’t even embarrassed to be the center of attention. Which I was, I even got congratulations from passerby’s. I got my toy! And it flashes, and bounces, and has a snowman in it!!

The evening ended on a very good note, and now the ball rests after being thoroughly used and abused. Don’t worry I promise I wont let it go to my head.. and I wont try to get another one.
Such luck only happens once. ((dang it.))

No more Reasons

I'd like to take this time and apologize. I'm sure you've all noticed I suck at the blogging game, I do and I'm sorry.

When I find time to write, I normally don't think "BLOG!" I think "How the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks did she get into that jail!?!" And then I go on a research bing. Don't be fooled people, I may spout crude, rude, sarcastic nonsense about research, but I love it. Dearly. No I'm not smirking. Or twitching.

So, news on the home front. I've begun editing, and I've learned a lot about myself. It's quite harrowing really, you see I don't always type things (ie: words) that I think, I suppose it's the whole philosophy of "If I know what I'm talking about, so should you." The worst part is, I don't know what I'm talking about!

I've also learned that when ever I try to type lane, I inevitably type lance, Ya I don't know why.

I'm on page 71 of 122, almost there. And can I say, I'm dangerous to my own health. I almost had a mini heart attack because I was (at least I thought I was) far enough in the story to be introduced to Turner, and he wasn't THERE! I flipped page after page looking for him, finally coming to the conclusion that I forgot to add his parts in to my final draft.

Which of course wasn't true, I had. I'm not that insane (yet, give me a few more pages and I just might get there) I finally found where he jumps in, I think I might move him up a bit.

So after 6 hours on my couch with my lappy, my cat, a bowl of extra mild super liquidy salsa (I don't like the chunks, but I like what the chunks do to the juice so I soak my chips in the salsa juice!) my binder of story (yes I printed it out) and my red pen (that apparently had a leak if my red hand/face was any indication later) I was done editing 60 pages.. it was a definite learning experience.

Over at Fifthwind my fellow novelish finisher Wishingstar (we finished at the same time) asked about the next step: Editing. and I've been taking advantage of her request and reading all the tips and advise, and have made a game plan for myself.

Fifthwind, our leader extrodinar of course had great advise, but so did Grammer and Miss. Shadow. So I'm combining them all.

I know what I'm doing, but I don't know how to explain it right now, so I wont bore you with "well see I'm doing this cause..." I'll have to write later on it.

See, this way if it doesn't work I wont have to delete this blog!! Win win right?