And here's something to bore you to tears: About me
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Alright, most of the bio posts I've read are more interesting than anything I can plug in here (tiger mauling! Nudity!) but my intrinsic self centered interest compels me to share...
I haven't ever lived anywhere other than Washington State and except for one school year at Washington State University, only on the western side of the state. While that sounds boring, I actually wouldn't change it; Seattle is perfect for me and always has been. I don't think I could ever live away from the water and be happy (although my horrible sensitivity to motion and the resultant vomiting keeps me off boats for the most part)
I was born in Port Angeles, a tiny, repressed, backwards town about 2-3 hours west of Seattle and 1000's of miles from Seattle's freedom and mindset. My father was a mill wright at a paper mill for over 50 years and my mother did tons of odd jobs after a rather bitter and vicious divorce. I was, thankfully, young enough that only the scrapnel of their warfare hit me, so my scars are few. I have 2 sibs (besides the ones I found here xoxo) who are considerably older than I, so I felt like an only child. My 19 years in Port Angeles were horrible and I rarely go back, even though my mother is still there. Bad things happened but worse could have and there are two things that I will accept from my childhood (the rest I toss back as unwanted) 1. I desired nothing more than to get OUT! and so I used my brain, keeping good grades and the plan of a college education to propel my butt out of there. It was a good plan and worked. 2. I met my husband, Danny, when I was 15, sitting next to me in chemistry class. Thank God for alphabetic order. He saved me from myself many many times over the last 20+ years.
After high school graduation, I attended 1 community college and 1 university before landing at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I eventually graduated from their pharmacy program. Danny was by my side through all these college changes and he graduated from the UofW also-twice actually, and is a pharmacist also. We had an on again, off again romantic relationship (although always together as the best of friends and companions) until 1993, when I discovered I was over 3 months pregnant...whoops. It took until I was bigger than a Seattle ferry boat, but Danny decided he was in for the count and when Brennan was born in February 1994, the father of the century was created. We didn't actually marry until November of 1999; I wanted to quit my lousy job and needed the medical benefits since Bella joined our family in February 2000. Yep, I was 6 months preggers at my own wedding. I wore red. :)
See...boring, right?
I've tried to be a typical mommy. I really have. But I will never be the normal mini-van, cookie baking, scrap booking soccer mom. Even early on a co-worker told me I looked strange holding my baby with a streak of maroon in my hair. She meant it with a snarl but I hold myself to a different concept. My children will not be repressed into a cookie cutter mold of what people expect from them. There are rules and expectations but I want to raise individuals. So, there! And I bet I am one of the only moms who doesn't have their kid turn down the music on the stereo when dropping him off at the junior high. :)
MINI DEETS:
I don't need much sleep. I have 2 speeds: stop and go. My favorite color is green. I don't like country music or hip hop. Mustard as a condement is only slightly better than mustard as a gas. Blech. I struggle with my weight and always have and it makes me self concious. I can be catty and sarcastic but also loving and generous and sometimes I don't know which is the flaw. I am extremely loyal and you can count on me but I expect the same from my friends. I am a horrible house keeper and am terrible with money.
Who I am now? And how it relates to MOG? Music (and collaterally, photography) is a huge part of my life. I am addicted to experiencing live music and go to quite a few shows, concerts, festivals and the like. I always have my camera/s with me. There's no place for me but the front of the pit and I often have bruises on my arms from the stage. My family is usually tolerant of this obsession and Bella seems to be following in my footsteps. This makes me proud more than scares me, although there is a little bit of both.
See...there's no nudity. No tigers. Nothing really to make me stand out. But I'm only 1/2 done with my life. I promise...especially with the help from my e-friends and family...that I can do better with the rest of the time I have left.
Coachella 2009 anyone?
Comments (18)
You wore red at your wedding, how fantastic! I'd love to see pictures one day.
No likey mustard?! My whole world is crumbling...
Stop using the world boring here! Reading/talking about the lives our friends is NEVER boring.
xoxo!
well...the white dresses just accented my big old pregnant belly. :)
(raises a glass) Here's to the women of bastard children club...unite.
Only 1/2 done you say...we better get you some guitar classes and start you rocking out.
I promise...that I can do better with the rest of the time I have left
I don't know, amber. I'd say you've done pretty well with the first half.
Oe, I love all these bio thingy type posts. Yay! And the front of the pit is a very good place to be indeed. ;)
Wow, your story is hardly boring! Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you've found home in Seattle-it is a pretty amazing place... Also, you sound like an awesome mom. =)
Woo-hoo! Now I know where to go if I have a 'scrip! ;-)
(But seriously, it sounds like a life that's been and is being well-lived. Count yer blessings, amber!)
After the new year I will investigate the lessons. I've just been so busy lately ;) The first 1/2 hasn't been all bad and I really didn't mean to whine. I just have such high hopes for the next 1/2. I intend to come out strong.
Front of the pit is the ONLY place to be...at least for now. When my bones become weaker, I might have Bella park the wheelchair in the back before she claims her front spot.
not boring at all, and its fun to see someone who has lived most of their life in one place like myself
I hope one day I'm a mom like you.
Not a single mention of the Captain? I'm shocked, shocked I say! ;)
Wow, Brennan and Morgan are but five months apart. I could see them being nothing but trouble for us should they ever get together.
You're so much more hardcore than I am, but then again, being the cookie-baking dad (and brother) has its perks too. ;)
Hardly boring at all - there's a lot to be said for staying more or less in the same place. And you got to do it in a very beautiful part of the country - it could have been somewhere like Pullman, WA. It's always been highly enjoyable to read your posts, especially when involving your kids and their somewhat scary Halloween choices.
Kevin: when the place is right, it's just right. We are lucky to have landed where we were intended to be, right?
Andi...nothing could make me feel better than what you wrote. Nothing. Thank you.
Dale: We will just have to face our fears and get our families together some day, the sooner the better. And you are hard core! Wearing Doc's to religious services? That, my cookie baking brother, is way hard core. ;)
Jonh! You are so right. I live in a glorious place and it could be much worse...like Pullman. :P My posts have been scarce lately, but I'm hoping to find inspiration in the new year.
anything but boring! please, i personally protest on your using that word on you, my dear. you wore red on your wedding, do not ask your kids to turn down their music, and are terrible with money ... that's more than my share of parentage. (wait, my parents were terrible with money.)
"there are two things that I will accept from my childhood (the rest I toss back as unwanted)" - oh, Amber, you just hit me (again) today with something i needed to hear. thank you for being you, sincerely.
I love you too, Ilay. :)
Amber, there is an old Chinese proverb that says "if you stay in one place, the world will pass you by" and people always think that means that if you don't move around a lot, you'll be missing out on something, but like all Chinese proverbs (and much of life) there are two sides to that coin - the yin and yang - it also means that you if you stay in one place, and focus, that you'll see all of the world, because they will pass in front of you. Kudos to that focus.
I also like to hear that you are unconventional and literally rocking the Mom role. My wife is also unconventional, and always takes about not wanting to be the traditional Mom - and we don't have kids (yet) - but I always tell her that it is totally cool, and to go for it. You don't have to be the traditional "Soccer Mom" to be a Mom.
Cheers!
Van
Van...I have sometimes felt that I missed out, staying put. Your proverb puts is in better perspective. When I feel like I've missed out on possibilities, I'm going to remind myself that many search high and low and never find what they are looking for. I've had it all right here. :)
Your wife will be the mother she is meant to be, if she lets herself. Its when we try to fit other's concepts of what we should be, that we fail, IMO.
Cheers right back at you!
Nice to meet you Amber. My brother, who is 35, also caught his co-workers talking about him. "I mean he dresses like a teenager!" So what if he safety pins his clothes.
Whatever...I hate co-workers.