Meet me in Atlanta, Atlanta!

Christmas is coming and it's actually quite cold here in Atlanta. Getting down in the teens, burr! But it does add a little to the Christmas spirit. If only it would full on snow now.

I'm excited about Christmas this year because soon after it's over, my brothers and their families are coming to Atlanta. This will be the first time in a while that the entire Schultz clan will be back in the ATL. It should be exciting and make for a very fun New Year's Eve. We are going to the Peach Bowl (and yes, I still refuse to call it the Chick-fil-A Bowl) to watch my friend Anna's team South Carolina face off with Florida St. It should be exciting!

Lane has been working on MY gift this year down in the garage. I'm dying to know what it is? I'm so worried that it's going to make my gift look stupid. But oh well...I tried! I'm just so happy to have family and great friends this time of year that I wouldn't even care if I received any gifts.

I hope everyone else has a blessed Christmas!

Engaged!

Lane and I were engaged on July 3rd up in the North Georgia Montains. Some of my family were in town so I only wanted to stay one night. I hadn't done any traveling since my new job at work so I just wanted a little getaway. I chose the Barnsley Gardens Resort. It was a GREAT place. It offered beautiful cabins, a beer garden, horse shoes, bocce ball, just to name a few. We were strolling around when we got there just to take it all in when the subject of dinner came up. While I was curious about the beer garden, Lane was hinting at room service. Needless to say, he kind of had a plan. I was hot, so I didn't care either way. We headed back and decided to order room service. Now I'm a white wine kind of gal, and he's a red. As I'm trying to negotiate which bottle of wine to order, he suggests champagne. I think this is a great compromise. Again, looking back....well played Lane! So, we are sitting on our rockers waiting for our food and it finally comes. Shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, and yes, the champagne. The server pours our drinks and Lane suggests we get a picture of the both of us. I don't think anything is strange about that. Up until now, we have been taking pictures of each other with those cheesy stick your arm as far out as you can go and maybe you'll get our two heads in it type pics! So, he tells the lady to get off the porch and physically walks her down to where she should stand. Now....this is where I think it's weird. I'm like, "Honey, do you want me to come down there?" He's like, "No sweetie, I'm just showing her how to work the camera!" I even ask again, I'm wondering what kind of camera needs that much direction and why so far away, but he tells me to stay put! So, I do! Finally, Lane comes bounding back up the steps and down he goes. OMG! And literally, that's what I said over and over! I screamed OMG, grabbed the ring, and put it on my own finger. I think he asked me to marry him somewhere in it all, and I may have said yes (the next day) but he got the point. AND, the server with the camera. Well, she got the play by play almost like it was on a film reel. The food...well it had to wait. Phone calls were made and Facebook was updated. Amy and Lane were engaged! I couldn't have imagined it better.

Today is the Engagement party and I'm super excited but now it's a whirlwind of wedding planning and preparing for the big day. But I'm so happy. I'm getting married! Best of all, to my love, Lane!

I met the love of my life

Well, it's been a while again, but usually when I don't write it means that things are going good! My last post was my surprise 30th birthday party. And I don't know what changed in me, maybe it was knowing that people loved me, but I was a happy person after that! I think people could sense it too. Because literally 3 days after that, I met the love of my life. No, really, love at first site. It happened and I haven't wavered since. His name is Lane. We actually just moved in together and I can't imagine life without him. As far as my career, well, I'm moving on from MFG.com. I thought it was going to be my dream job forever, but sometimes things don't work out as expected and when the going get tough, some weak get crazy. I'm not going to stick around for them to figure it out. I need stability, focus, and more colleagues who are willing to support each other through the tough times so we can fight back as a unit. Not blame each other. So, off I go in two weeks to my newest adventure. Hopefully I'll update this soon and you'll hear all about me, Lane, and the new job! Thanks for reading.

Best Birthday EVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxsJgUEn6NY

Day 11 in Shanghai

Ok, so fast forward...but this place has been so great I haven't had a chance to write! I've eaten every kind of food (Chinese, Japanese, American, Thai, German...), sang Karaoke, walked by the river, visited Temples, gone shopping, and met great people that it's been hard to slow down. Shanghai has really been a wonderful place with kind people. The only thing I would watch out for is the traffic! Boy, if you are not looking you will get plowed! Enjoy the pic!

Day 3 in Shanghai

All is good. The only thing crazy so far is the food. Besides the "Chicken" soup, now I've had a petrified egg. It was clear with a green yolk. Wow! Thankfully the food that followed was much tastier.

Also, I've managed to move my wake-up time from 4am to 6am. Still early, but it looks like I'm adjusting.

More later...

Day 1 in Shanghai

I made it! After the longest plane ride ( which was lucky enough to be full) and followed by the scariest car ride ever from the airport, I'm here. Plane ride was not that bad. Darn movies didn't work, but thankfully I'm reading the longest book ever! I also watched the "moving map." You know, were you get to follow you plane's travel to your destination! I think we literally went over the North Pole to get here. It was cool.

Once we arrived here, we showered and went out to our first Chinese eating experience. ("We" being my co-worker Lori and I.). Since no one at the restaurant spoke English, or gave indication that they did, we just pointed at pictures. Everything was fine except the soup. Apparently when you order "Chicken Soup" you better be prepared for A CHICKEN in A SOUP. Too funny!

Finally, we wound down the day with cocktails at the hotel. Our hotel has to be one of the nicest I have ever stayed in...and this comes from a former hotelier! The only thing left for me is sleep. As I write this it is 4am. I'm still trying to adjust! I'm going to give it a go again, wish me sweet dreams!

2008 coming to a close.

This has been a rough year...economy wise. I know I've had my share of stuggles, and my brother has been hit hard as well. But I look back and think of all the great things that came out of 2008. My other brother was married, I had a good friend married, and three different couples have announced that they are getting ready to have babies in 2009. At the end of the day, life goes on. I believe that we "humanity" still have an optimistic disposition and will help each other out. Maybe that's naive, but without hope, I simply don't seem why any of us would bother. So, as I approach 2009, I have my own optimistic outlook. I will have ups and downs I'm sure (probably when I hit the ole 3-0). But I have set goals for the new year. I am planning to go on a European vacation, I am going to keep looking for love :) , I'm going to take better care of my body and try to be healthy, but most of all, I will enjoy life. I was already dreading New Years Eve this year. I hate when the clock hits Midnight and there is noone there for me to kiss. But I reminded myself of what it brings....a New Year. A new beginning, a chance to start over, and a feeling that you can change your life if you want to. So wish me luck in 2009 and Happy New Year!

Busy

I'm trying to stay busy. Busy, busy, busy. I'm going to Political club meetings, bowling, e-dating, sporting events, etc. I figure if I don't slow down then I can avoid thinking about my life and all the things I haven't done (because I'm about to turn 30). Maybe if I keep running fast I'll make something happen, run into someone, fall in to something. Busy, busy, busy....I just hope I don't get too exhausted!

Waiting for Gas

The stock market hit an all time low last week, and 2 weeks ago I had to sit in line to wait for gas. It made me think, "Is this as bad as it's going to get, or is it just the beginning of hard times in America?" More and more these days, people are starting to talk about how we are approaching economic hardships that haven't been seen since the Great Depression. I see my parents retirement fall away, my brother struggle to keep his home for his wife and 3 kids, and I join the paycheck to paycheck status that many Americans now are facing in this country. But I still remain optimistic. Because even though times may be tough, I feel blessed. I have my health. I have my family. And I still live in a democracy where I can speak, vote, and choose my leaders who can lead the change to a better future. This is an election year...maybe one of the biggest ones in my life. I hope our new President can handle the challenges he will be faced with when he takes over the Oval office and is prepared to deal with the economic, social, and military decisions that face this country. It must be many sleepless nights and I respect anyone, ANYONE, who volunteers for this public service. God bless our president, current and future. God bless my family, and God bless America.

Vacay!

Just a few pics from my Minnesota vacation. My Aunt, Uncle, and cousins live there now. My Mom and Dad also came. We went to a Twins game, the horse races, a museum with Star Wars memorabilia....who would have guessed there was so much to do in the Twin Cities!

Ch, ch, ch, changes!

I just got a new neighbor upstairs. Her name is Joy. I'm excited! I'm glad we have a new tenant in our building. The people in my condo are friendly and are a little bit like my extended family. When I come home, they are there to ask about my day and talk over beers with. (Picture of me and my roomie).

I also am going out on a date tonight with a guy I've been on and off with since about April. I'm pretty excited. He is soo interesting. He races cars, goes on safaris, is great at cooking, and loves gambling. We have so many similar passions except he has actually had the means to do most of the fun stuff I still have on my "to do" list. We'll see...

Last thing... the job has been going well. I'm starting to make some dough and paying down the credit card debt. Yeah! I think I'm even poised for a promotion soon. The outlook looks good, again, we'll see.

Carpe diem and all that good stuff.

Friendship

Friendship is learning to forgive when you make mistakes. If people don't know that, they weren't real friends to begin with. Life is too short to hold on to hatred.

Live, love, and learn.

The New Buzz Word (and it's not good)

Recession-a recession is a decline in a country's real gross domestic product (GDP), or negative real economic growth, for two or more successive quarters of a year.

It's here folks, whether you believe it or not, just look at the gas prices!

Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians

I work at this company and now have 4 bosses I think?! I love the company, but it's very frustrating. Especially when I know more than 3 of them. Is it because I'm a woman....hmmm. I need to refer back to my book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work."

Cute Italian

So I met this guy from work who was visiting from our Geneva office this week. His name is Massimiliano. We had a few drinks, he bought me a shirt, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day....why can't all guys be Italian!

Tornado in Atlanta

This pretty much sums up life these days! Tornado hit Atlanta, and of course I was a few blocks from it! All weekend I was under a Tornado Warning. What can I say, life isn't dull!

Here are a few pics of the Tornado and the Damage....and a few of me just for fun. (Yep, I was sipping on cocktails during the storm!)

Thanksgiving in Chicago!

We are going to Chicago for Thanksgiving. It's suppose to snow! I can't wrap my head around this easily because it is still in the 70's here in Atlanta....in November! Crazy, isn't it? Anyway, I've been thinking of what I am thankful for this year. I really would say that my friends and family take the top of the list. They have helped me transition to a new job, a new home, and I really do believe that I am a lot better off today than I was a year ago. I needed some shake-up in my life and it seems my recent decisions were the right ones. I think for the first time, I'm looking forward to the holidays (alone) and I'm not scared. I'm going to be ok, because I'm not really alone at all.

Hmmm

Why can't life have a script sometimes. I read books, watch television shows, loving the fact that I know for some reason the happily ever after is going to come. But in my life, I'm not sure. Where is my knight in shining armour, where is the big break in my career, where is the background music during my big moment.....it's just not there. I guess I'm supposed to put one foot in front of the next, keep humming to create my own soundtrack of life, and look for the small moments that make it all worth while. But doesn't everyone sometimes ask the question, "When is it my turn?" When is it my turn to cut a little sliver of happiness from the pie of life. I'm ready....I'm ready.....destiny, can you hear my phone ringing? Pick the f*@king thing up!

It Happened One Night

Thanks to Blockbuster online, I was able to see this classic movie. It has Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert and was released in 1934. It went on to win 5 academy awards. Funny, funny movie. Too bad that more people of our generation will never see it.