Totally 30

Well, the big day was on the 17th, and I have not had a moment of rest since! Needless to say 30 is going fabulously. I could not feel more celebrated about the whole thing. On the 16th (my last day of being 29), I went to the spa with some very dear friends to ease into 30. We got facials and body scrubs then lounged around having drinks and lunch. It was perfect and girlie :) 

After having a little wine, ran off to get my hair done and last touches before the party "All about A" I showed up as an Apple and could not believe the effort my friends went to. Some of the attendees were: Algebra, ABBA (the whole group with a dance number), Aqua, Anime, Alana (a friend that could not make it) Aviator, Athlete, Aerobics, Angles, Aliens, Army girl, Animal my favorite AMANDA :) and so many more creative things.  The girls that were Amanda (me) had bandages around their ankles, so perfect. I was extremely excited the who party and would scream Happy Birthday when I saw people. Everyone had a great time with the dancing well into the evening. I happy cried for about three days about how many people showed up and put so much effort into making the evening so fantastic.
The next morning two friends flew in from Oslo, Norway to visit so I got to have a relaxed day walking around Shanghai with them and a quiet dinner.

The whole next day (and actually right at midnight of my birthday) I thought, there is nothing I can do to prevent 30. Sounds strange but I really can not believe that I am thirty. I was talking to a friend who just turned 30 and in a way if feels like a wake up call. I find that people are asking my opinion more, or I am just noticing that more and it is a wake up call for me to just evaluate what I want and do it. I am 30 and about to change careers and feel that is what I should be doing, I have already accomplished a lot and feel that if I do not try things, then really what is the point.

So far 30 is great, I feel incredibly loved by my friends and family near and far. I do not think there is any other way to celebrate than being silly and happy with friends, which by far is the best accomplishment that I have made thus far. Thank you all for celebrating.

As mentioned in our blog bio, Manda and I met while in Norway back in 2005.  This picture was taken when I returned a year later over Easter.  The family I nannied for, and miss dearly, flew me back to Norway to take care of their son one last time while they went on a business trip to Turkey.  Of course I jumped at the chance to go back and visit.  Not only was I going to see the kids I took care of, but I was also going to see the friends I made while abroad, including Manda!!  I wish I could remember where we took this picture, Manda, do you remember?  Now that I'm 30, my memory has gone down hill.  Were we down by Akerbryg, you know, Akerbriggey?  Please clarify, young one.  =) 

All about A

Our apologies, readers!  Manda and I took a month-long hiatus.  Imagine two intelligent and stunning women running around working, traveling, playing rugby and volleyball, and spending time with family and friends!  Sound familiar?  I'm sure it does, as you all probably are doing the same thing.  We promise to write more in April than we did in March.


As most of you know, MANDA IS TURNING 30 ON APRIL 17, 2011!  It will be a time to laugh and poke fun at her age....juuuuuust kidding, Manda.  I only say that because I'm already 30.  Speaking from experience, there is no need to fret turning 30.  It has been good to me (minus a few additional laugh lines), and I imagine it's going to be good for Manda, as she will always be smart, beautiful, courageous, and inspirational...no matter what age she is.


To kick off 30 right, there is going to be a 30th birthday bash celebrating her joining the 30 Club.  Unfortunately, I am unable to fly to Shanghai to help celebrate.  Boooooo  But I will be there in spirit!  Check out the invite, I think it's so clever!  If I were attending, I would dress up as Amanda.  It would only make sense, as I'm almost an Amanda anyway.  ;o)     


April will be us catching up with each other, random thoughts by Manda and Mandy, but more importantly, Manda turning 30!  It's time to celebrate an amazing woman who I call a dear friend!  Happy Birthday month Manda!    -Mandy

The 90s dream

So since I have been away I have tapped into NPR so much more than I ever did when in the USA. I listen to the shuffle each day of All things Considered, weekly catch up on This American Life,  so I can feel closer to home. I think my favorite show is All Songs Considered hosted by Bob Boilen who I absolutely adore!
This past week the show's title was So the 90's are back, or whatever... they did a review of the 90s going over the best albums and most influential. I listened to it last night while marking papers and walking to a facial. I had a massive grin on while walking down the street thinking of all these songs I have not heard for ages and reminded me of growing up and being in High School and College.
I know that this month we are going over love and relationships and this might be a little far fetched, but music really does take me back to different times and periods of my life reminding me of people that I love in a different time frame of my life. I will not go through all the songs and memories but those that stick out in my mind.
The first song they start with is Nirvana Smells Like Teen spirit. I remember when this came out in the 5th grade. I bought the tape for my first boyfriend Jeff's birthday. I had no clue what to get him and my brother suggested (the wise 7th grader he was) that I should get that tape and I have been taking his advice on music and boys since. There are so many other memories about that song and that area and what it did for music and the indie scene.
They then go onto Radiohead's No Surprises on the OK Computer album. Though I still really enjoy Radiohead and Tom York; though that was the song I listened to after my first kiss. I went home, straight into my bedroom but on the album and sat in my papazan chair contemplating what just happened.
Other songs included in the mix were Lauren Hills That thing which I listened to while driving around trying to decide on which university I wanted to go to. When LEM's If you steal my sunshine came on I almost fell off the sidewalk, followed by Sound garden, reminding me of Chris Cornell's amazing eyes in the Blackhole Sun video and summer school for theatre.
Another favorite was Smashing Pumpkins 1979, which screams church camps and retreats to me for some reason. I remember going up to Pine Top to .... Pine Summit, year after year with flannel and trying to play the guitar.

Music and lyrics contain so many memories for me it was fun to be taken back to the 90s for an afternoon walking around in Shanghai thinking about the people that were dear to me over a decade ago.  I am luckily enough to have most of those people still in my life and still dear.

If you like music I really can not recommend All Songs Considered enough.
http://www.npr.org/programs/all-songs-considered/

Manda

My Momma

My post will be quick today, as I'm not feeling well and am home from work.  As my head pounds and as my throat throbs, I can't help but wish my mom was here to take care of me, just like she did when I was a kid.  My mom was always prepared to take care of my siblings and I when we weren't feeling well.  As I laid on the couch with 6 or 7 blankets piled on top of me, mom made sure I had everything I needed:

• Puke bucket
• Warm wash cloth for my forehead
• Soda crackers
• 7-Up
• Baby Tylenol (I couldn't swallow pills for the life of me)
• And a warm hug

As my head pounds and as my throat throbs today, I wish I was a kid again and that my mom was coming around the corner with a warm wash cloth for my forehead.  Instead, I am lying here with my computer on my lap, dirty tissue paper crumpled next to me, and tea with honey in what should be, my coffee cup.  Today is not one of those days, but there have been times when I feel so sorry for myself that I actually tear up wishing mom was taking care of me.

Finally to my point, a mother's love for their child is probably the strongest love imaginable.  My mom cleaned up spilt milk at least 200 times, listened to us complain about tomatoes in the hot dish, broke up numerous fights between my siblings and I, and even cleaned up our throw up!  Despite all that, she still loved and cared for us when we were sick!  

Thank you mom for everything you did for me as a kid.  Especially when I was sick!  I realize now how thoughtful and selfless your actions really were.  I love you!

Now, can you come over and make me feel better?   -Mandy

Speed Dating

This Valentine’s Day was the first time in a while that I had a date, and I actually had 14 dates! The Shanghai Sharks (the women’s rugby team in Shanghai that I am involved with, more social right now) had an event: Speed Dating at our Sponsor bar.  I arrived and was immediately sent out to recruit more men for the evening. We hit a few other bars in the area and were able to recruit 5 guys.

I participated in the second round. Each date was 4 minutes. The first guy was one of my recruits, he was French (there were a lot of French men there that night for some reason).  We talked for a while and he was a student at the end of the date he asked my age. I said 29. His response was a dropped jaw and a hand-over-mouth-laugh. I was amazed, then found out he was 21. Haha!!! The next 6 people I knew from rugby or I had brought along. We all had a good laugh, talked about dates, pretended we did not know each other and said silly things that made the people on either side look at us strangely. Towards the end I was getting rather tired (the previous day I got back from Australia and it was my first day back at work). 

The last date was another French guy that worked on a boat. After only exchanging a few sentences he asked me if I was strict.  That is first time that I ever have been asked that.  When I tell people I am a strict teacher they rarely believe me and when I say that students have a healthy fear of me, they laugh. Here is a guy that I met for only 2 minutes after I had been talking for over an hour tell me that I am strict.  He then went on to ask my age. Another dropped jaw.  He did not say he was 21 but asked “But why are you single?”.  Now when people say this to me I am not sure if it is a compliment… or just rude. So my response was “I am not sure but you could ask the guy that dumped me last month.”  I thought it was funny, but he just gave a blank French stare.  Thankfully the whistle blew. 

It definitely was a memorable Valentine’s day and the most dates I have had for ages.  Match or no match, I spent the night giggling with dear friends that I love.  

Manda