Heroes

When people think of a hero or heroes what do they think of? Are they thinking of a person who rules or guides or inspires others, the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem, someone who fights for a cause, a Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century), (classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god, or (Greek mythology) priestess of Aphrodite who killed herself when her lover Leander drowned while trying to swim the Hellespont to see her? When I think of a hero or heroes I think of the ones who fought for a cause. I also think of a person who rules or guides or inspires others. My heroes are James and my ultimate best friend Lola for always being there for me in thick and thin, Jeff and Anne Barnhart for taking care of me when my grandma passed away, Matty Bottel and SherriLynn Colby- Bottel for keeping me going and caring for me after my grandma passed away, my grandma Virginia for teaching me the true meaning of take life one day at a time, Bria Skonberg for showing me I can have fun even without my grandma being around, Jason Wanner (Lil J) for showing me how to turn into the old Amy once again, Yve Evans for showing me how to believe in miracles, and of course Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. These people mean the world to me and I am very thankful to have them in my life and I am very thankful that they all lead me to guidance and they all inspired me in many ways and some of them to this day still inspire me.

My wonderful fiance James and my wonderful ultimate best friend Lola

Jeff with his wonderful wife Anne

Matty with his wonderful wife SherriLynn

My grandma Virginia... R.I.P Grandma

Bria Skonberg

Jason Wanner A.K.A Lil J

Yve Evans singing to Igor Glenn

A painting by my mom of Jesus

New Life in Fresno

I have been thinking about my walk with the Lord and I have enjoyed it so much here in Fresno. Yes I am still homesick, but this is my first time living on my own and I am still learning all of the financial stuff that I need to learn like how to only spend money on the things I need to buy that are a necessity. I enjoy Fresno State so much though. I have met some wonderful people there... most of the people I have met is mostly in the Criminology Fraternity that James is in. I never thought that this would be such an easy walk and it isn't an easy walk, but it is a lot easier then I thought it would be. James and I have found a wonderful new church, with Pastor Steve's help, in Clovis that is an Evangelical Free Church. James and I went to one of the churches here and didn't really enjoy it because there was 3 services and each service had way too many people in it, so we never got to meet anyone, so we tried Clovis Evangelical Free Church also known as CEFC and within the first Sunday we went we fell in love with the church and met so many people who all took us in with open arms and they made us feel so at home. Some of the people that have made a difference in my life at CEFC are Ashley and her husband Jim, Dan, and Chip. Ashley and Jim have been trying to get James and I connected in the church and Ashley has told me she would do the best she could to help me in my walk. Dan has made James and I feel so welcomed at Soul Cafe and for those who are wondering what Soul Cafe is... well it is a bible study that James and I go to after the first service... we study the word and we have snacks as we discuss what we are study on that day. Then finally Chip is always willing to pray for me and James whenever we need it the most. I really do love my new church and my new church family, but nothing will ever replace The Harbor though, so now James and I have two churches. Not only do I go to a wonderful church and go to a wonderful school, but I got great neighbors that I love to death. I am also engaged to the most wonderful man ever. I never thought when I asked James 5 years ago to help me with a title on my English paper that we would start dating and then we would get married. I have continued to look forward to see what the Lord has in store for me with in my few more years here in Fresno!

Pismo Jubilee by the Sea 2008

So it is that time of year where I update you on the jazz festival. James and I went back home for the Pismo Jubilee by the Sea on October 24th to the 26th. We went home on Thursday and were going to go see We 3's special set, but since we got home to late we decided not to go. We went and visited some people at Hancock College. Then we went back to Lompoc and stayed with Randy. Then on Friday Randy took me to Marie Calenders to help sell for Ivory and Gold at 11 am since James had a doctors appointment. I told Danny I was lost without James and I asked Jeff if he really thought James would leave his wonderful fiancee alone. Then after Ivory and Gold I talked to some of the wives of The Night Blooming Jazzmen that I grew up with and I watched The Night Blooming Jazzmen. Then after that I sat and watched Jeff Barnhart play and about half way through Jeff's set James came and we watched the rest of the set. After that set James and I then went and ate at the hospitality room and then at 4 pm we went and watched Titan Hot Seven and then after that back to the hospitality room and then we went to Titan Hot Seven again. We stayed and talked to my parents for a bit and then we went and saw Titan Hot Seven play and then we went home and slept. Saturday we got up early and drove to Lompoc and feed Randy's bird and then went out to coffee with Jerry and Redge and then we told Redge that James and I are now engaged. Then we went to go see Cornet Chop Suey play, but the venue was full and I couldn't get in even though I told the volunteers that it was my grandpa's band so James and I went and talked to Jeff Bishop and then we came back and my mom got us in, it took my mom, my grandma, and Russ to get us into the Vet's Hall just to see the band play and then James and I stayed and watched Titan Hot Seven. Jerry Karhn and I also set up a time to have a little guitar lesson. After that James and I went to the hospitality room to eat and I showed Jeff a picture on my phone of James and I and we talked about how long James and I have been engaged for. Then James and I went to Titan Hot Seven's last set and after that James and I went to Jerry Krahn's room and I had a guitar lesson. He says that I am ready for chords now so I can't wait until Sherri sends me some chords. Then after that James and I went to go eat in the hospitality room to eat where Danny and Jeff were making fools of themselves, but it was fun to be around. :) Then James and I went to Marie Calenders to go sell cds for Ivory and Gold and Jeff announced that James and I just got engaged 2 months ago, but instead he said we just got married 2 months ago. After the Ivory and Gold set James and I went to go see the 3 clarinets and leyland trio which was so awesome. After that set James and I decided to go home. Then on Sunday morning James and I decided to go see Blue Street's gospel set and then off we went to see the Titan Hot Seven and High Sierra set which again was an awesome set. Then after that we went to the hospitality room and ate and then off to the second to last Titan Hot Seven set James and I went to. Jeff Barnhart found James and I in the audience and then decided that we should be on the dance floor so he pointed to James and I and then he pointed to the dance floor so James and I went to go dance, but what Jeff didn't know was that the song only had a few seconds left and that is when everything went down hill and that is when Jim Fryer got on the mic and told James "You know James you don't ask your women to dance when the song is almost over" and I told them it was Jeff's fault. Then Jeff announced that we were Titan Hot Seven's really good friends and we just got engaged and that made Bob Draga get on the mic and tell James "If you need any advice on marriage to come to him." Then Jim said "Yeah if he wants to be married more then once." It was pretty interesting to be a part of the show. James and I finished our dance and then we went to the cds sells table so that we could sell for Ivory and Gold and then we finished our festival off with Titan Hot Seven as we always do. We had a great time this year and I have many memories and some of those would be being a part of Titan Hot Seven's show, watching the front line of Titan Hot Seven go and surprise High Sierra and then High Sierra getting Titan Hot Seven back, Jeff telling us he got caught in a conga line, having a guitar lesson with Jerry Krahn, being told that Jeff, Anne, Danny, Sherri, and Matt would love to play at the wedding and that we need to get the details figured out after we set a date, and of course the best of all was seeing Russ' face when I told him James and I were engaged!

Blue Street Jazz Band's 25th Anniversary Party

I know that this is about 3 weeks late, but I have been so busy with school. Anyways on August 15th thru the 17th Blue Street Jazz Band had their 25th anniversary. It was the best ever. On Thursday August 14th James and I went to the Sequoia Brewing Company in the Tower District from 7 to 10 pm to watch Blue Street play. James and I had such a blast... we ate some dinner and had some drinks. Then we went into the bar and watched the band play the rest of the night. I got to meet Sherri's dad and her dad's girlfriend as well on Thursday night. Then on Friday James went to work and I waited for our friend Megan A.K.A Meg! It was funny cause she got lost and I tried to lead her back to the apartment. Then when James got home we watched some tv and hung out for a bit. Then at 7 pm we went downtown and had the chicken dinner and watched the multi presentation and then at 8:30 we watched Blue Street play. I got to meet Sherri's sister and her sister's children. I also got to meet some more of Sherri's friends. At 10 we watched the Big Band Bash, which also was a blast. James and I danced at that and Sherri's mom got a really cute picture of us dancing while we slipped a kiss in there. I also got to look at Matty's tenor guitar and I liked it so much that I wanted to take it, but I am not that mean to the person who means the world to me. Then on Saturday we all woke up early and went to Uncle Harry's for coffee and breakfast and then we went downtown again. James sold the badges and Meg went and watched the bands she wanted to see. I went and sold cds and books at the Blue Street Jazz Band History set which was at 9:30 am. That is also when Jason Wanner, the piano player for Blue Street, came up to me and sat down by me and I asked him "If he was going to sit by me"... he then replied to me "for a little bit"... then I said in a sassy voice "Oh I see how you are you just don't love me anymore"... he laughed and told me that I got sassy and I told him I was just kidding. He thought it was funny because he has never saw me like that before. After Blue Street's 11:15 am set I went to the hospitality room to get some lunch for James and I and I finally got to meet Matty's parents, brother, sister in law, and his niece. Sherri called James a Pepsi punisher which was funny and true. At 1:45 pm I sold for Blue Renditions. Then after the Blue Renditions set I went and talked to my grandpa Paul and then I went and found Sherri and she gave me a prep talk which I really needed. Then at 5:30 pm I sold for Blue Street again and at that time Sherri got to talk to my grandpa Paul and it was for the best. Then after that I went to the hospitality room to get some dinner with the band and Sherri and I then went and watched Karen Marguth play at her set and Meg came and joined us a bit later. Since James sold out of badges Matty helped him pack up and James came and joined us in Karen's set a bit later. Karen gave me a cd. Then I sold for Blue Street... James helped me a bit at that set. Then James and I went and had a couple of drinks since we just took one car and Meg was driving. We ended up joining Sherri, Matty, and Matty's family. We had such a blast then as well. Then James and I went and watched Jason Jurzak, Nate Ketner, and Eva Scow play where they had Karen and Sherri sing a song each. It was great to see that with Sherri. Then Sherri, James, and I joined Matty and his family again. We were later joined by Robert Bennett (the former banjo player for Blue Street Jazz Band). Then on Sunday James, Meg, and I went back to Uncle Harry's and then we went back downtown for the end of the festival. I went in with Meg and watched Night Blooming Jazzmen play and I also got to talk to some of the Night Blooming Jazzmen and to some of the wives I know from when I was little. Then I went and ate some breakfast and hung out with Blue Street members. I also got a book and DVD and I got everyone in the band to sign my book. At 10:30 am I sold for Blue Street's hour an a half set and then James, Meg, and I went into the hospitality room and had some lunch. James and I hung out in the hospitality room and got to see how Blue Street is after 25 years. At one point I lost James to Matty's mom. Then we all went to the last Blue Street set... where I helped set up the cake with Sherri, Gailene, Anne Canfield, and Lori. James and I had a piece of cake and the band also brought in the kegs and so it was one huge party. Sherri sang and poured the beer for everyone that wanted one. The last set was even the set James surprised me. Those who were there will know what I am talking about. We helped Blue Street clean up a bit and then we got to talk to Sherri and Matty and Matty gave me my little Mardi Gras mask for a memory of August 17th. If you would like to know when Blue Street is playing or just check out their webpage go to www.bluestreetjazzband.com! To see a video of the anniversary party go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV_ID-wGIPg!

My grandma Virginia and Grandpa Paul at Dave Ruffner's 40th birthday

Grandma Virginia and Grandpa Paul having a great time at Dave Ruffner's 40th birthday (this picture and the one above were both in the multi media presentation)

James and I enjoying the last Blue Street set

Me, James, and Meg enjoying the last Blue Street set

The Best

Last night I learned that even though most of my friends are musicians they are still the best and I would not give any one of them up. I have learned so much from them and I just love being at jazz festivals with them.


Georgia and Pete enjoying the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee


The Best Ever... Bria and Claire


One of my favorite bands... Titan Hot Seven with Anita Thomas


Bria with her "B Wrap" that I gave her on my birthday


One of my other favorite bands... Blue Street Jazz Band


Bria and I enjoying ourselves at the Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee


My Grandma Virginia and SherriLynn Colby- Bottel on my grandma's last cruise


James, Brant, Me, and Leonard on Memorial Day at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee


The four who have changed me the most... Anne Barnhart, Jeff Barnhart, SherriLynn Colby- Bottel, Matt Bottel


Me and Sarah in the Hard Rock Cafe on my 24th birthday