BACK ON THE WEB!

Hi everybody!

I've decided to start blogging again, so if you want to see what's up at "The Ashland", this is the place. The most exciting thing going on in my life right now isn't even happening to me... Dana is in St. Lucia for the week with Josh and his family, and Linny and Rick are leaving for Mexico in two weeks. Can I say JEALOUS???

I have one more week on winter break and then back to class on Monday. I'm taking three classes and still doing my internship at Chicago Girls' Coalition. I'm ready to be done, but only 20 more weeks of school and I'll be finished!

Hope everyone has a nice New Year's Eve...I'll be working at Gingers with my bro. Should be a good time. Okay well not much happening right now, but just wanted to let everyone know the blog is back.

xox

Amy

Im drowning in social work reading!

Hi everyone.

Grad school is time consuming! So I have finally finished with all the orientations, meetings, workshops, etc and got thru my first week of classes without too much trouble. The reading load is immense but I have a study group so we are splitting things up to make it manageable. My professors are very good and I haven't started my intership yet (I will this week) but my supervisor is nice and I think I'll learn a lot. I have to apologize ahead of time, but for the next few months I will probably be missing in action. I have class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and internship in Northbrook on Tues and Thurs and I work at Gingers on Saturdays and Sundays. As you can see...not much in terms of free time. I do have SOME Friday afternoons/evenings free so maybe we can plan something soon? I still haven't seen the Ondrlas since I got back!

On Monday I'm going to a break fast for Yom Kippur. I'm supposed to cook something for the potluck but I have no idea when I'l have time. Maybe I'll just buy something at Jewel...I know that's cheating...

Our place is good, out building manager is here now doing some repairs on our kitchen sink...Jason is over too, watching the NU game. They're losing... :( ...and Linny is in Indy this weekend with Matt. She's doing well but very very busy too. She is working at the Pilsen/Little Village Mental Health Clinic doing drug and alcohol counseling. She has her own clients now and is learning a lot but not getting paid...gotta love internships. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays she has class at Triton and she's still bartending on Tuesday nights.

Well, I'm procrastinating and should be reading about the history of social work in the U.S. since 1890. How is everyone? Let me know whats going on in the outside world!!

Love,

Amy

Hello from "The Wellington"

That's what my dad calls our new place. The Wellington. Yes I guess we are very posh over here. Sooo...here's what's been going on lately:

I got a job working at Ginger's Ale House on Ashland, so I'll be there most weekends either waiting tables or bartending. Woo hoo! I have about two straight weeks of orientations going on now, first at Jewish Child and Family Services (where I will be interning on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the entire school year), then downtown for my fellowship program (they're even putting us in a hotel Friday night so we can't escape! yikes!) and then next week will be orientation for University of Chicago, where I'll meet my "cohort" which is the group of students with whom I'll have all my classes for the entire year. Hopefully I'll like them because we'll be spending A LOT of time together...classes, projects, etc...then finally, the week after that, I start classes. So I will be running around like a headless chicken for the next few weeks. What's new I guess...

Other than that, our apartment is very very cute and is all done except for being painted. I'd like to have a little come see our new place party but not till after we paint and Linny and I both have the same night off...that's rare. Linny has been very busy too with school and her new internship, but I'll let her tell you about that next time she posts. Lucy is doing great, she really likes her new home and is sleeping on the couch in a little ball at the moment. She wants to play with Gus the bunny, but Gus is scared of her and I'm a little scared she might try to eat him.

Well that's all the excitement I have for now...I have a full day orientation on the JCFS computer system tomorrow AND Thursday, so my life is just too crazy for words...

Love you all.

Amy

hoooorrraaaayyyy!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure that's what you're all thinking now that you've seen I'm posting again!!! Okay so I'm in Pensacola right now with my brother and we will be loading up the Uhaul tomorrow and driving back to Chicago Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday Linny and I will hopefully be moving into our new place. Woo Hoo!!! Sorry there was a month long posting drought, but between leaving the ship, going to France, going to Green Lake and getting down here to Pensacola I've been running like a mad woman. I'll post some pics from France when I get home and throw in a condensed version of the highlights of the trip. It was really fantastic. Had a great time. That's all I'll say for now, so you'll be enticed to come back and read more next week. So for all of you who were worried, never fear. The blog is back and I'll be posting regularly again, even though I'll be back in Chicago. The pictures won't be quite as good as they were in the Caribbean and Alaska...but I'm sure Linny and I can come up with some entertaining posts nonetheless. School starts September 15th and then I'll be transformed back into a bookworm...but I'm excited. I love school. I am a nerd. Okay well time to go for now. Come back and see me again soon!

XOXO

Amy

Fun with Old and New Friends...

Hey friends,
Here are a few shots from last Thursday in Victoria, B.C. Check out the cool dudes we made friends with! Haha. I think the guy in red reminds me of Vlade...very strange. Could definitely have been friends of yours, dad. Haha. Just kidding I love your friends. The other shot is of my much more lovely friends, Tiana, Kristen, Elizabeth and myself. Club HAL, Club HAL, What's up? What's up?...Oh I am so sad to be leaving. I'm gonna miss this so much...

Are YOU talkin to ME?

Hi guys,

Not much to say, but I'll be home a week from today!! Yippee!! I wanted to say a big thanks and "you rock" to Linny, who found us an apartment today! Wooo Hooooo! Maybe we will have a housewarking when we move in so you can come see it. Go Linny! You are the best!!!

My nose looks really big in this picture. I love you guys! See ya soon!

Who Rocks the Side Ponytails?

Club HAL does!!! We all rocked side-front ponies this week as well as our new "animal print slap bracelets AND cool press on jewel-tone earrings. My job is the best job ever. Well folks, I'll be home in 2 more weeks. Are you excited? Seeing as I have a plane ticket to France I can't possible extend any longer so this time is really it. Actually coming home. Plane ticket from Seattle to Chicago is booked and I'll be arriving at O'Hare around 10pm on 7/21. Home for a mere 4 days and then off we go to France. Wow! I'm such a jet setter! I climbed a mountain in Juneau this week and it was gorgeous. I took about 70 pictures. Some were of me frolicking around the mountain top Sound of Music style. We sang "the hills are alive" about 10 times that day. Haha. I think I'm getting weirder and weirder as this contract goes on. I am definitely goofy these days. Who misses me the most? Let's have a contest and see who can dome up with the most reasons. The winner can take me out for dinner. Haha. Just kidding about the dinner but if you want to have a contest I'm ok with that!

I'm BACK!

Back on my blog, that is...sorry folks, I've been super busy with the new job and haven't been online much lately. I really love being YPD (youth program director) and so far everything is going well. I have 5 people on my staff right now and they are all fantastic and do whatever I tell them too. Haha. Last night was fun, I went out again in Victoria, but it was Alan and Steve's last night and I am so sad they are gone. Alan is coming back in 4 weeks but I'll be gone by then...That's the worst part of ship life. Your friends are always leaving. The picture is us in the Viking, that's where I always go in Juneau to play pool. I lost 7 games in a row last week. It wasn't pretty. Oh linny! The shirt I'm wearing is the one that reminds me of you! Well folks, I'm going to lay down for half an hour before heading to work. Love you and miss you all. See you in a few more weeks!!!

Amers

Have you ever kissed a sea cucumber??

I bet you haven't!!! Well take a look at me with my new boyfriend, Mr. Sea Cucumber! Elizabeth (in pic) and Tiana and I hit up the Sitka aquarium this week and got to hold a bunch of weird sea creatures. That is the aquarium behind us. All is well on the ship, I take over as YPD in three more days but I feel ready. Tonight is Top-Secret Assignment night so I get to dress up like a spy...Then it's disco fever night so I'll get glammed up to go to the Beatles show and then to the Crow's Nest for a bevy with Staci. Yay! Yesterday was Phillipine Independance Day so I went to a crew party which featured a live Filipino band and a really good drag queen show! Woo Hoo!! Melissa G-I LOVE SUGAR BREAD! You know what I'm talking about?? Wow it was so good. Well, not much else to say, have to go get my laundry and get ready for spy night. Glad everyone got to meet MB, he is a doll.

XOXOXOXO

Amers

Meet my new friend...

Mr. Bear. He lives in Victoria, BC. In case you aren't reading the "comments" section, I have been promoted to Youth Program Director and have extended my contract yet again. I'll now be coming home July 14th. I know, I know...I said I wouldn't extend again but I've been sucked in. Linny and I have tickets to France for July 26th so this time I can't possible stay longer. Never fear. I'm loving my life and honestly couldn't be happier (except of course if sister was here with me). We were in Juneau today and I had fun, Staci (my boss) and I had sushi and then played some pool at the Viking. I beat her. How's home??? Anything exciting going on? Okay well that's all I've got for now. See you in 5.5 weeeks. I promise.

Amos

I love rock and roll...

Tonight was kareoke night with the kids and I rocked the house. I am so talented I just can't even believe it. Haha. Ship life is great and the same. We have two new staff members on board so I've been training them and getting to be really bossy, which I love. :) Today we were in Juneau and Alan and I had planned to climb Mt. Roberts...well actually take the tram most of the way up and then climb a little at the top, but things got all messed up with the IPM schedule and they wouldn't let me off the ship. After about 3 hours, it got sorted out but by then it was too late to do any type of mountain climbing so we just went to the Viking and played pool for a few hours. Also fun. Maybe next week I'll get to the mountain. Tomorrow is Glacier Bay Day again and I swear I'm going to finally see some whales. I haven't really been looking enough and so I'm about the last person on board that hasn't seen any up here yet.

I just got off work and am debating on going out or going to bed. 8am is going to be here fast...

More pics soon, I was trying to upload but my computer is being too slow.

XOXOXOXOX

Amers

Celebrity Sighting

This may turn into a celebrity column...here you will see Alan White of "Whyte". Popular musical act on board. Very handsome. (He told me to say that.)

Love to all!

Amers

Well Helloooo

I don't have anything interesting to say, just wanted to post more pics for you. That's my new roomate Tiana. She's from Vancouver. Cool chick, we get along really well. The other is Glacier Bay on a sunny day. Beautiful...

love you

amy

Should I stay or should I go now?

Hey fam-

Alaska is gorgeous this week, the weather is much nicer and I got to go ashore in Juneau yesterday. It was really a cute town. I walked around for a while, went to Juneau drug and then hung out at the Viking, which is a pub/pool hall were all the crew hangs out. There were three other ships in port with us so it was packed with crew from all over the world. It was really pretty cool! Last night I had kareoke night with the kids and today we have been sailing around Glacier Bay. I took more pics of the glacier (Margerie) and I'll post them soon. She looks different every week! More work tonight, but tomorrow I have the whole day off and only have to work 8-10pm so I'll get to go ashore in Sitka and enjoy. I feel like I was just there! Time is really starting to fly now. I'm trying to decide whether to request an extension and stay on a few more weeks. I don't feel quite ready to leave yet, and while I miss you guys a lot and especially miss my sister a SUPER LOT, I can't help thinking that when I get home I'll wish I'd stayed on a little longer. I haven't checked with the office yet so I don't even know if they'd approve me, but it's a possibility. I absolutely won't stay past the end of June though, don't worry Linny!!! I'm gonna toss it around a little more but probably have to ask within the next few days if I want a shot at staying. I'm sick again...can't kick this stupid cold, but it's not too bad, mostly just congestion and I keep losing my voice. I couldn't talk at all this morning and had to whisper directions to the kids. They all felt really bad for me and were really quiet all morning...maybe I should lose my voice more often!

Well I guess that's it for now. The pic is a shot of Juneau from the top of the ship. I'm going to download more pics and post soon so check back. Love you all very much and see you soon!

Famous

Alaska the Beautiful

Here are a few shots for your viewing pleasure, me with Margerie (the glacier) and a random Alaskan mountain, and me in Sitka, Alaska with my new scarf. Love you all a lot!

Amers

I bought a new scarf.

Because Alaska is so cold!!! Today we are in Sitka, Alaska and it's really pretty. I'm going to post pics soon, I promise. It's a cute little town that sort of reminds me of Green Lake. Except they have a really good sushi restarant and I'm pretty sure there's no good sushi in GL...This was my first Alaskan port since I had IPM in Juneau and so far so good. There are no sandy white beaches...but the scenery is amazing and its really peaceful. Well folks this is short but I have to get to work. Tonight is spy night, then I'm going to see the White Brothers do their Beatles show, then I'm going to country night for some line dancing. Fun fun fun! Wow I am going to miss ship life.

Love Amy

Now sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

Okay so remember when we were on the very bad boat ride? And Grandpa had to drop us off at the Heidel House because we were scared to die a watery death? Today on the Zaandam is worse. It's so very rocky and guest are throwing up left and right. I'm not seasick at all, I guess my body is pretty much used to motion now, but it's really moving today. I can't walk straight and keep bumping into things, and before you ask, it's not just me. Everyone is just as dizzy. HAHA. I feel bad for the guests...and the cabin stewards...they have to clean up after everyone!! I'm in my cabin right now and can hear the water crashing against the side of the ship every time we pitch. During the night something went wrong with an engine valve and we were just floating for about an hour, no forward movement. Oh boy. It seems to be fixed now and we're going full speed ahead. Should be arriving in Vancouver the day after tomorrow, then Seattle on Friday. Alaska here I come!

I have moose slippers and will start wearing them at all times in crew areas. It's going to be my signature look. Haha.

Robert is doing fine Granny. He's in Virginia and working at a very high-tech job till he starts school in July. He's learning about computer stuff that's way over my head. He is actually on the road right now, headed to Chicago for about two weeks of leave. He will also be visiting his daughter Lucy.

Well, the ship is a-rockin and I was planning to go to the gym but honestly, I think I might fall off the treadmill. Maybe I'll skip it for tonight. Stay tuned for more news. Same bat time, same bat channel.

amos bo bamos

I fly thru the trees with the greatest of ease...

Well hello! I have had a fantastic day. Possibly the best since I’ve been on board. We docked in Puntarenas, Costa Rica this morning and Rachel, Brianne and I met up with Brianne’s friend Mauro. First we went for a great breakfast of “pinto especial” which was rice, black beans, eggs, bacon and ham and a tortilla with a glass of fresh watermelon juice. It was SO GOOD. Then we drove through the country and stopped at a river to look for crocodiles, but we only found a cow and some iguanas. There was a really cool old wooden bridge so of course we had to take a few pictures. So we kept driving in the Costa Rican countryside which was just gorgeous, to a huge national forest were we went zip lining. It was so great! Even better and faster then the one we did in Puerto Vallarta. We took lots of pics (of course) and the scenery was amazing, in the middle of the mountains and the rainforest…so pretty. The best part, though, was the superman cable. They hook you up in this harness and you fly TWO THOUSAND FEET THOUGH THE AIR!!! WOW! It was so scary but so cool and I loved it. Finally we had a delicious lunch at the forest restaurant of rice, beans, ribs, pork, salad, fried plantains, mashed potatoes and rice pudding. Mauro just dropped us off back at the ship and I’m exhausted. Time for a little nap before work tonight. Hope you like the pictures!
Love,
Amy

I'm Feeling Mysterious

Thats me...in case my mask is so good that you can't tell. Laura (the girl in the background) decided to have a "asquarade" themed party for her birthday so that's me being masqueradish. Here's what happened today...WE WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING!!! Wow!! No damage, just a really loud BOOM. It was cool but the kids freaked out a little. Then tonight a 13 yr old convinced our two 8 yr olds to kiss. then the other kids made a big deal out of it and the 8 yr olds started crying. This is the point when Staci and I find out what happened. Their parents are going to LOVE us. I can't even remember being 8 yrs old but I KNOW I wasn't kissing boys till I was at least 9. Haha. Kidding dad.

Tomorrow I'm going zip lining in the jungle. Wish me luck!

Love you and miss you all. If anyone sees my sister give her a big hug and kiss for me.

Famous

Happy April 21st

Hi Guys,

Wow you are all commenting champions! I love when I get new comments, it totally brightens my day. Today we are transiting the Panama Canal, going all the way thru to the Pacific. We are on Chicago time right now and will be going thru more locks this afternoon around 1 or 2 pm. If you are by your computer, go to www.pancanal.com and click on the Miraflores Locks...you may be able to see our ship on the camera! (m.s. Zaandam, big ship, blue and white)

Tonight we have an overnight in Amador, Panama which is near Panama City. I have the night off so I think I'm going out for a nice dinner somewhere. In a few days we will be in Puntarenas, Costa RIca, where I will be going on another Jungle Zip Cord tour though the rainforest. I'm so exicted! I'll try to take pics and not lose my camera. Pretty soon we will be in Alaska, and while the scenery will be gorgeous, the weather may turn cold. I'm enjoying the heat while I can.

Sorry that today's picture isn't anything to special, its me on the beach in Half Moon Cay with the ship in the background. I'm gonna miss that beach, it's so pretty...Time is really flying for me and I can't believe I'll be home in 7 weeks. Well, time to go back to work, and by work I mean go have a bubble gum chewing contest, play catch phrase, make lizard key chains, and other very strenous activities. Haha. Love you all a lot.

Famous