Too Many Books

Vacationgate 2010 Hubs has decided to go with my family and me to Destin next month! (He says he told me that he "would go" on the day I told him I was pregnant, which was smack in the middle of Vacationgate, when hubs did not want to go... nor did he want me to go and stay in my parents' condo for free. If you'll recall, I was going to go regardless.) So, I booked our condo today. Instead of me going for free, hubs and I are both going and spending $749.00 for the condo alone. Hubs didn't want to be left out after all. But, you know. It's cool. This will be our last babyless vacation. Who needs new windows anyway? 2010 Reading Challenge May was a productive reading month. I've now read a total of 34 books this year. If I can read 16 books in the month of June, I'll be halfway to my goal of 100 books for this calendar year. Word. (Or, should I say... words?) WIP-Progess Still slim to none since learning I am "with child" eight-...

It felt so strange not to blog yesterday. I don't think I even opened my reader! I didn't intend to unplug. I planned to post at work. (Shh.) Yesterday was the running of the Kentucky Oaks . (It's like the Christmas Eve of the Kentucky Derby.) Point being: we are usually super slowspice at work. What actually happened: the bank was as busy as a moderately attractive hooker on a popular corner. There was a record crowd at Churchill Downs yesterday: blue skies, perfect 80 degree weather with wind... it was the most beautiful day. (I know it was a beautiful day because the bank has windows.) (No. I'm not bitter that I had to work. Not at all.) So, today is Kentucky Derby 136 . Because God hates gambling, the sublime Louisville weather from yesterday has transformed into buckets of rain. If you're betting on the race, bet on a horse that can run on a sloppy track -- we call 'em mudders. I won't be going to the Derby. I may not even go to a derb...

For those of you who read my TMI post yesterday , I have a confession to make: it was truth or scare in disguise. The entire story is true except the last paragraph. Though I was the waitress of the family in question, years after the camp events described, I did not contaminate their food with any of my bodily juices. Confessing that the end of the story is untrue is not very fun. In fact, I feel my ego deflating a bit as I type this now. I wish I was that person -- someone able to perform acts of sweet revenge. But, in my six years (plus) as a waitress, I never once messed with anyone's food. I mean, I may have peed once mid-shift and neglected to wash my hands, but let's be honest -- who hasn't done that a time or two? I'm crestfallen. Yesterday marks the first time I have fabricated a story for TMI Thursday. (It's way more fun to tell the truth.) I feel there is a penance to pay -- that I must redeem myself for the untruth that was told. I th...

How awesom e is my brother-in-law? In response to my post about feeling "overexposed" on Thanksgiving, he left this gem for me: Amber's Bro-in-Law said... Let me first start off by saying that I do enjoy reading Amber's blogs, but not with the intent that most family members have. You see, Amber and I... We just get each other; maybe it's that we both understand living with her sister (my wife), or something else, but we get along well. I think that she is a brilliant writer who speaks from the heart no matter what the topic is. I also really enjoy the strikeouts! So whether she is writing for personal reasons, emotional reasons, or because she sees it as a place to vent, that is not for me to judge... No permanent lurkers here... I prefer the term - follower :) To Amber: Feel free to write away, because whether this is a secret or not, I'll read with a zipped lip and will always look forward to TMI Thursdays :) By the way... if you need h...

I did it! I wrote 1000 words today, give or take 139 words. I also enlisted over at the new Writer's Digest Community , which I learned about from Lydia over at The Sharp Angle.  In her post today, she wrote that "the site is being coined by some as the "facebook for writers.". " Um. Maybe they can teach me how to quote someone who has already quoted a quote. You should check out the community (as well as Lydia's blog) and join the groups that suit your fancy. I joined The Writer's Edge as well as Fiction Writing . And, I must say, I am quite proud that I got some writing completed before wondering about the website. Now, I am going to do just that! I hope it hasn't been a total snooze fest over here at musings of amber murphy this week. Please, keep coming back to my blog; I promise that my next post will include something that will make you pee your pants  (more professional blogging, amber, remember?!) witty. In the meantime, answer me...

I've stumbled across quite a few blog entries in the past couple of days that speak of one's blog needing a focus. It has caused me to stop and wonder: is my blog too broad? I would love some feedback from my followers. Do you find me completely random? Do you think I have a voice? What would you like me to blog about? In the interim, I shall entertain you with a random (of course, random!) moment from my weekend. While hanging out at a local pub called Flanagnan's on Saturday night, I went outside on the patio to smoke a cigarette, leaving my non-smoker friend inside the bar.  A man used the following line on me after striking up a conversation by dubbing me "lonely cigarette girl." He said, "You're homely hot." I said, "Pardon?" He tried to defend his come-on. "You know, you're that type of girl who can just throw on a sweater, some jeans, and a cute pair of shoes, and still look smokin' hot." His friend said, ...