and by true i mean...

hear it in the stairwell:Norah Jones
Philippians 4:8
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Priority-something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives
Pray for my priorities! God is doing something amazing!
Habakkuk 1:5
Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.


(some massage love for you all)

That one thing...

hear it in the stairwell:John Mayer- Love Soon
Yea! Last night we went downtown to enjoy the Christmas festivities!

They lit the HUGE tree in courthouse square. Any idea about the blue stripe??

The Shuster Center had this window display thing with creepy elves doing things that shouldn't be done by mechanical elves. I'm still confused.

Phil and I trying to stay warm:)

Later that evening we were blessed with our first inch of SNOW!!! Ok, so in this picture it looks like Aaron is winning but seconds later both Phil and Aaron were running for their lives...I have one deadly snow ball throwing arm.

Asi Asi

hear it in the stairwell:The Strokes
Harry: I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
-When Harry Met Sally

the most cunning talk show around

A blog declaring my love for Conan O'Brien:

10th Anniversay-Can you believe it?
If they Mated!!-A classic
Conan Quotables:
"Scientists say they have developed an electronic computer chip that can replicate a dog's sniffing skills. Scientists say the chip can be used to locate drugs, guns and another dog's butt."
"Last night in London, President Bush had dinner at Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales. Apparently everything was fine until the President told the Prince of Wales, 'I loved '"Free Willy"'."
"The International Olympic Committee announced that next summer, athletes who have undergone sex changes will be allowed to compete for the first time. Unfortunately, they'll only be allowed to compete in a new event called, 'What the hell is that?'"
"Earlier today, a London hospital reported that pop singer Meat Loaf is being treated for exhaustion after collapsing on stage. Doctors say that Meat Loaf is fine, but that they'll never be able to fix the stage."
Conan's in the year 2000...so funny

Happy Toffurkey Day!!

hear it in the stairwell:Mraz/Mayer/Guster Mix
I got to sleep in this morning. The of the few times since Levi ownership. When I did wake up around 11a.m. I decide Levi deserves a run. Continuing my "I don't care how I look" kick, I decide to head out fresh out of bed-I didn't have the morning dried drool on my cheek and as far as I could tell my morning breath wasn't horrific-I was doing good.
Lovely.
SO I'm running along in my parent's cold, rainy neiborhood and a car begins to drive slowly beside me. (don't look, don't look) And few more strides and I hear the driver calling my name. (don't look, don't look) My mind races and I come to the conclusion that I can't use the I'm-not-looking-because-my-headphones-are-too-loud excuse. I'm not wearing headphones. It's none other than the guy I had a HUGE crush on my freshman year in high school. Yes, he stops the car, gets out, asks how I'm doing, tells how he's doing and comments on how incredibly cute my dog is. I'm still wondering why he didn't say how good I am looking and ask if he could call later.
Only me.
I watched ET this afternoon. I had forgotten what an amazing movie it is-I need to own it. And for all of you who know me well enough to know that it takes a LOT to make me cry in an emotional way, I was seriously bawling. Great movie. I think next time I'll try to synch it with a Pink Floyd album for the added effect. Psychedelic.
And after eating much more than my stomach had expected I enjoyed some Wiggles! action with my favorite baby Kaitlyn. Classic- four intriguingly charismatic men dancing and singing with grade school girls. Wholesome:)
I looked over my NA stuff for a grand total of 1 minute today. I think I'm going to go play some catchphrase with the fam. Check back later.

**NEW AMBER RULE...if you visit you MUST comment!!(leave some love)**

hear it in the stairwell:Guster-Rainyday
Yes, the music is reflecting my current mood. I had such a long, crappy day at work at a job I really am just burnt out on so I make a decision...I WILL go see Guster in Indiana in two weeks. It will be worth the drive on a weeknight to see my beloved Ryan and give them a second chance to hit my birthday rendition of Rocketship. So I get on the site to find some tickets. SOLD OUT. Blast the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis!! winner venue of the night Bryan's lesson to be learned: don't let Amber make decisions about Guster. I suck at life.

hear it in the stairwell: Fat Guy in a Little Coat-Chris Farley

Countdowns
Amanda in Ohio-1 day
NA test- 6 days
Med Term Final-9 days
possible Guster concert-14 days
Over the Rhine-16 days
Christmas-29 days
Moving 30-32 days

Oh, the GLORIOUS life of Amber.
So climbing last night went better than the previous two weeks. Although one particularly nubby route literally brought me to tears (not due to physical pain but from unadulturated frustration) and I ALMOST took Bryan's standing offer to punch him in the arm, I calmly, tearfully walked away and claimed victory over several other challenging routes. Need proof?

Eat your heart out.
I plan on "studying" and sleeping for the next 48 hours. Call if you want to interrupt.

Did you see it?

hear it in the stairwell: Coldplay-Moses

6:10a.m. It's hitting my windshield and making my jeep look like it's going much faster than it is. A white blur. At the stoplight, the 6 inches of light in front of my headlights looks like a snowglobe in the hands of a 2 year old. Yes, it's freezing cold and SNOWING!!

This is me this morning cleaning off my car...yeah, believe it. Parkas are coming back.

Everytime I go through the joy of bathing my lovely puppy, it rains the next day. So when I take him running today I will return home with a wet, smelly dog. No more pantene fresh puppy. Small group girls, come prepared to deal with smelly dog. On the brighter side, I will introduce you to two incredibly smooth and fine men named Ben and Jerry:) Nice.

safety first

hear it in the stairwell: Coldplay-Superstition

I've officially used my lunch time today to complete and submit my LAST Medical Terminology assignment! One last final and I'm done for the quarter. *Sigh that shouldn't be quite so relieving*
In the past 24 hours I've orchestrated the (amazing) production of Bryan's birthday fireworks as well as inspected the backside of an incredibly anatomically correct lion...the weekend hasn't even begun! Maybe I'll share pictures later to explain.
This weekends agenda:
Withers' Christmas pictures
Hiking (I hear the weather will be great...go outside!)
Phil's football party (if weather isn't so great)
B-10 Dinner
Watch Zoolander and Meeting People is Easy
Sleep as much as possible
STUDY

Sounds completely thrilling, I know!! Call me if you want to join:)

hear it in the stairwell: The coffee Shop is playing really great 80's Chicago music:)
Romans 8:28-39
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Maybe I'll be able to explain later when I fully grasp how God is using this verse in me now. Wow, what an amazing evening at APEX. It's so great to meet God when you don't really expect it.

And, as promised, some pictures of climbing...


Yes, we always look this tough when we climb and yes, I am pointing to my ENORMOUS climbing muscles. The sad thing is that in order for you to recognize my "climbing muscles" I must point. I'm sure all of you noticed Bryan's climbing muscles just fine without the use of a pointer. This makes me jealous. I'll keep you all updated on the upcoming expansion of my arm muscles.

hear it in the stairwell: Over the Rhine

To anyone who was at my small group last night, I apologize for my crappy attitude. I was so grumpy and unpersonable. I don't know what my problem is. I talked to my small group girls about how crazy my upcoming life is and how much I DON'T have control over it and don't like that. I even talked to them about how I'm slightly frustrated about a few relationships right now. I'm not good at that. But aren't you supposed to feel better after talking to people about it and having people pray with you? If God's answers are yes, no and wait than I suppose it is my job to be faithful to what I know I'm supposed to be doing and wait.

"Speak, GOD. I'm your servant, ready to listen." 1 Samuel 3:9


pictures of Ryan always make me feel better:)
On with my Tuesday...maybe if I climb tonight I'll feel better. Maybe I'll even take pictures of climbing to share with you:)

hear it in the stairwell:Guster-Medicine

Monday Morning

hear it in the stairwell: Bing Crosby

Yes, the orange barrel found on the US Air Force Base does say "BUTT".

hear it in the stairwell: Radiohead-Idioteque
Jon:"Mom, do I look sexy?"
Jon's Dad:"Jon, you are SO SEXY"

hear it in the stairwell: indecipherable ambient coffee house noise

After church and an afternoon at Kristi and Amanda's with Joel and Krista, I met up with Jon so he could show me how to post pictures on my blog as well as hook you all up with a way to comment! So please, where it says "one more step" click and comment!
This is Jon and I at the coffee shop working on my blog. Check my new Guster shirt Amanda N. got me!! Guster IS OK!!

Current Music: Vroom-Freedom Fighter

6:45p.m. Friday Chad and I say farewell to Dayton and set our sights on the Radisson Inn, KY. 7:50p.m. I pick up my cell phone and when Phil Chu answers I politely scream "WHY AM I IN INDIANA??" Yes, while all other Leadership Summiters are sitting comfortably in their Kentucky hotel chairs as the conference begins, Chad and I are off roading in my jeep and fighting off flashlight waving midgets in the back of THAT semi.
8:35p.m. We arrive and make our way to the front row seats Chad has strategically choosen.

Matt, AJ and Chad praying really really hard.
I'm not sure I want to give a post-Summit synopsis. I think that my head and heart were both just sooo crowded that I could not focus on all that God was trying to use Leadership Summit for. I'm bummed because I didn't realize this until about 7:45p.m. tonight when we were having the Lord's Supper and I just COULDN'T concentrate! So much happening in at once and I'm not trusting God like I should. I hate when Satan uses my life and my tendancy to focus on myself to distract me from the amazing things going on around me. I know that small group is my current ministry passion and I will continue to provide leadership through that.
Joel and Krista's testimony this morning was so refreshing to me. Just to hear about how they are using their talents in a practical was to directly effect the mission field made me want to be out there, too. The more I pray about it and seek God's will for my future, the more excited I become when thinking about entering the mission field! Pray for me and pray for my future husband and the heart I hope he will also have for missions!

To keep you entertained, pictures of Phil and I...we apparently are very happy, especially when wearing glasses.



I'm going to take my dog for a walk, try to clear some of this craziness in my head and go to bed...I'm sooo tired!

So the air force is trying out these "new and improved" uniforms. In size and shape they are seemingly identical to the tried and true ones. There is one blatant difference: the new ones look like the computer threw up green, brown and black on them. No, it's not camoflauge. It's technoflauge. It's made of tiny squares of the three camo colors. Now there are a few OBVIOUS reasons this will help our soldiers in the battle field...first and foremost it will simply confuse our enemies. If these air force guys would run real fast by a few pine trees, it would look strangely similar to the crappy special effects used in Preditor. God Bless America, Into the Great Blue, Air Force is #1.
The air froce graduate student at the computer next to mine just looked over at me. For a brief moment all I could see was his head floating midair. It's the technoflauge.

Current Music: Guster-Rocketship

If I haven't published it in my blog thus far, I need to take a break here and mention that Jon Black is THE #1 friend. There are various reasons I have come to this conclusion. One of the many would include holding the title "friend whore" and loving it. Plus he's helping me set up both the comments and picture-posting portions of onthestairs. These additions will be made soon, be excited.
Update on Amber's life:
I sit for the State Testing for nurses aides in a little over a week-if you see me tell me to STUDY and don't talk to me until I do.
Upon passing the state testing I will begin my job search in my 3 week time slot I have to find a position-3rd shift
I completed my dual registration this week at Kettering and Sinclair. With a grand total of 18 credit hours I will officially begin a nursing program!
My search for new living quarters has begun. I'm putting the word out and Mark is also looking for a house that I could possibly rent with several other girls. Girls, if you are looking to move or need a roommate, contact me.
Levi's gender confusion will be put to an end Dec. 1st. She will officially become and IT and I will no longer live with the guilt my male dog gender bias. Levi just hit 35 lbs!!

I'm climbing more often now and I'm not getting ANY better. Darn those pull ups. I will conquer!! At least Bryan has patience with my handicap.
I've been praying a lot about feeling called to the mission field. Gah, I know, me?? I want to finish my nursing program and be able to enter missions with a very practical way to help the people I am ministering to. Pray that I am open.
This woman...

(who would be mortified if she knew I was posting this picture on the internet) is my mentor, Christine. I have known her for the past nine years...she was my youth leader's wife when I was in 7th grade-random. If you ever see her on the street and she is NOT wearing her catwoman getup (if she is she does not want to be recognized) tell her how amazing she is and ask for her autograph. But seriously, Christine has been the glue that has held my crazy life-social, emotional or otherwise-together. She is so patient and honest with me! Praise God for Christine!
Leadership Summit begins tonight...details to come.

Amber's weekend advice: Listen to some Vroom and take a few fun pictures.

alarmed

2am I arrive home to two perturbing situations:
one-ALL of the hall lights up to my apartment are out. I enter the pitch black hallway and do the customary slowly shuffle foreward until you feel a step and lift leg. I reach the first landing and assume the pepper spray position aiming at the deserted, creepy unlocked apartment under mine. I inch my way across the landing and when the coast is clear I sprint up the rest of the stairs, fumble to find the right key, slam the door behind me and fall back against the door panting. I still have to take the dog out.
two-while recovering from my asthmatic state I notice that I can see my breath. I forgot to turn the heat on. I spend my glorious four hours of sleep cuddling with my space heater, four inches from my face...toasty.
Wake up. work 8am.

these steps