My beautiful Sconnie

I think we can all agree that Amanda's life was instantly more complete the moment she first laid eyes on me.. and since she doesn't deem herself creative enough to write her own bio I get to make up whatever sounds best to me! She may insert comments periodically, either in areement or vehement disapproval...

Amanda is a Sconnie first and foremost (for those of you not familiar with the term "Sconnie", it refers to anything/anyone of or relating to Wisconsin) - she loves a good brat followed by a local micro-brew, oh and don't forget the squeeky cheese or a Friday night fish fry! Food is very important to her - she loves to cook... which is convenient because I love to eat. She actually focused in nutrition as well as physical activity in her Masters of Public Health program which she just recently completed. She is very conscious about eating healthy and staying active, and loves to inform others about healthy options. For example, she convinced me as well as several other of our Portland friends about the importance of eating soluble fiber - most commonly found in beans! To this day, we still credit her for our, ummm... regularity ;)

Amanda is well on her way to an illustrious career in health care. She began as a CNA as a wee teenager, caring for a rather colorful group of Catholic nuns. She went to nursing school and even travelled to India on a medical missions trip for a month. After graduating from nursing school and attending the Focus Institute in Colorado Springs that summer, she moved to Portland, Oregon to work on a contract position as a research assistant for a medical study. It was here that she met the love of her life, and although she ran away to grad school in Iowa, she knew in her heart that we'd get back together some day :) For her last semester in the MPH program she was accepted to do an internship at the Colorado State Health Department. Since her internship was only part time, she gratefully found a position working with her favorite population - you guessed it, geriatrics! Let's face it, she has a lot in common with these folks (other than her obvious young body and exceptionally good health!). She loves playing cards, particularly Cribbage and Canasta. She prefers going to bed before 9pm, although this doesn't happen nearly often enough according to her standards! And the Golden Girls is her favorite television show - she's even somehow converted me into a fan.

Anyway, since graduating from the MPH program she has most recently been hired by the University of Colorado as a Clinical Research Nurse in the oncology department. She can explain in much greater detail and with terms that mean little to the lay-person, but from what I gather thus far, she is coordinating research studies on the effects of new pharmaceutical drugs that are being used as treatment for certain cancer patients that come to the university hospital. She is learning a lot every day and is truly enjoying her new job.

Well, I'm sure I could go on for several more paragraphs, but for those of you who want more info on this woman who has brought me great joy - maybe you should first e-mail her to verify that everything said herein is true, and then get to know her a little more yourself. Her e-mail address is amanda.n.schneider@gmail.com.