365 days later...

I look back and exactly 365 days ago I started this blog. It’s actually been nice to capture the year in my brief thoughts and pictures. Some things haven’t changed and some have. The obvious don’t need to be mentioned but my favorite should…so I have compiled a list of the same and different…in no particular order:
Same: house, town, TonyDanza, job, family and some friends, car,
Different: Lola, Elvis(here then gone), bathroom, friends, painted walls, assistant at work, Pampered Chef Consultant, and maybe a few more!

I’m looking forward to a new year, a new decade, new stories, … This is a time to reflect on the past…and-
"may auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!"

Another Christmas over...where does time go?

It was great to have a few days off for the holidays. I love my family’s tradition of fondue-ing. We have been doing this for a couple years and of all things, it’s probably my favorite. After me going to college, it was hard to get back for the holidays and spend time just the four of us, we were missing so many things. We started spending Christmas Day at home. We open presents in the morning after chores, fondue for lunch, play games or watch movies the rest of the day. It’s so relaxing. It’s nice to spend the day with just us four…no agenda, just Christmas and a fireplace!

Santa and the holidays were too good to me, I got a lot of things on my Christmas List! A blockheater, a larger crockpot, hand warmers, wall hangings, mittens, massages, a few vintage things, and lots of love…

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Moser’s was quiet…I remember fitting a million people in a room and opening presents. We had a few families but because of the weather, not everyone was able to make it. Jaden and Sam’s little guy was there…he’s going to be a big kid! It was amazing how content he was surrounded by all these strangers!

The storm was awful…Makes me think White Christmases are overrated! I have some AWESOME friends though…Sheri and Scott called me the day after Christmas because they wanted to unplug my driveway and sidewalk! That’s probably the best present that I received…good friends who do soooo much for me! I was shocked to get back to Dickinson and see the town submerged in white bhluck. I was able to pull into my garage after removing the 3 foot high by 7 foot wide drift the city put in my driveway! Stupid Dickinson Way! And to think Janice said it never snows in Dickinson…hmmm!

This year Christmas was nothing that I planned or expected but there were some great moments that really tugged at my heart and reminded me of what I have.

Amanda's Christmas List

-Large Bathtowels, pink or any shade of brown
-Book: Crash Course in Love, by Steve Ward
-Scarves
-Slippers
-New Eli Mattson CD
-iTunes Music
-Larger Crockpot
-Victoria's Secret Soft and Sexy Wrap
-Blockheater for Grand Prix
-Oven with flattop surface for a stove

Christmas…already?

Wow, I have had to get myself in the holiday season really quick. I’m not sure I’m ready and am thinking of adopting my mother’s idea of just waiting until February to give out presents because it feels like October!

Last week I had two holiday parties-the Dickinson State University Holiday Social and the Dickinson YP party. I actually won a poinsettia plant at the DSU Social. I felt pretty good, actually the table that I sat at had 6 winners out of 9…Those are good odds…unless you are the other 125 people that didn’t win anything! We had a trivia competition party for YP. I didn’t win but wished I would have been more persuasive to my team about convincing them that Rocket Man did not hit the top 5 on the Billboard charts. Could’ve made the difference between 4th and 3rd place…who knows!

This past weekend I had the Dagman Christmas. It was endearing to see Ambour’s kids…how can you not feel in touched when you watch two kids under 4 open presents and proceed to thank everyone. The best present was $.52. Little Kemma got a purse and matching headband as a present and Mom convinced Dad to give her some money to put in her purse. She gave the sweetest hug and continued to play with “her money” for the rest of the present opening time. That little hug was the most Christmas I’ve felt this whole season.

Breathing in the cold air again.

Okay, I don’t remember last winter being cold. Maybe I’m starting to hallucinate from the below ZERO WEATHER! I actually tried to use my snowblower on Sunday but had to get a lesson from Scott Monroe…thank heavens for him! He’s also planning on showing me how to use my grill later on in life. Thank God for good friends.

Went to Fargo this past weekend for a couple reasons-the best reason was to see Janice and Jerry. I really miss them being so close. The best thing about me moving to Dickinson was getting to know them better. I forgot how much the two of them made me laugh! The funniest part was that Janice waited up for me on Friday night until 2:00 in the morning…My 71 year old Aunt is waiting up for her 26 year old niece and her boyfriend is yelling at her to get back to bed! Memories like that will always bring a smile to my face.

I’m not ready for Christmas I admit, I haven’t bought a present this month and not so ready to yet! This fall has really thrown off my calendar; it doesn’t feel like Christmas is next week. I haven’t baked ANYTHING holiday-ish or even thought about wrapping presents yet. Mom’s side is on Sunday, Dad’s side in on Christmas Eve, and just the four of us on Christmas day. I need to maybe just throw a Christmas CD in and hope for spirit to take me away!

Dan and I won’t be friends, maybe we had too much invested and now our actions are impacting these chances. I know family or friends have made comments about things working out or the possibility of our relationship. I know now that these aren’t options. We are seeing each other in different lights and I know I don’t like it. My goal in dealing with the fragments of our relationship is trying to stay true to the person that I want to be. I guess there are two sides to every story—one from each point of view. Thank you to those that have given me what I’ve asked of you or what I haven’t asked for. I know that I have created a wonderful support system that has become aware to me, that’s been the best outcome of this whole ordeal. Aunt Janice said to me something this weekend that was very profound. I’m not sure if she meant to catch my thoughts the way she did—the only benefit in looking at the past is to learn something. I’m working on learning about me, about what I want and what I need in a relationship. In some ways I still feel that this fall has been a huge sucker punch to my stomach, but I’m standing again.

Countdown to Christmas!

Christmas is so close, I can’t believe it’s December!
I admit it was hard to pull out the Christmas tree and things to decorate this year, but I had help from two little elves! Well, I had help until I wouldn’t let them eat the tinsel or run off with the fluffy ornaments—then they got bored and left me alone!

I did put the tree up and got my living room decorated. If you look closely in the pics, you can see my little elves! They do make me smile. Next week I wrap presents!

I also got to shovel both Saturday and Sunday. I guess winter is officially here. Yuck! Let’s hope it goes quick and painlessly!

Vivas Vegas!

I’m back…booo! I can’t believe the week went by sooo quickly. Vegas was great. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have a mother who will subject my feet to new levels of torture but an aunt that appreciates sleeping in and “resting”!

We got to Vegas and were put into the cab ride from Hell. Not only did he make me check the speedometer and take the shoulder of the road to pass, he overcharged by going to the long way to the Luxor! My mother was M-aaad, she now knows ways to make the cabbies honest, threatening them by calling the T.A. We also took in a time share tour…that is three hours of my life I will never get back. Vasilly, a Russian transplant, who was so kind to give us the “presentation”, was not happy with us because “some people like to take vacations!” He was going to make us read magazines for 2 hours because we weren’t interested but instead threatened that the IRS was going to check into us! What a jerk…the best part was the bus ride back where we were able to talk to everyone else who was just in it for the free tickets!

We did reap two benefits from the “stupid” timeshare presentation—tickets to Tournament of Kings and money for the More Buffet. The Tournament of Kings was something that I had heard about and was cool…something that I had never done before. The idea is based on the Knights of the Round Table. They have dancing maidens, a court jester, jousting, knightly games, and sword fighting. It was dinner and a show; we were served a meal (bun, broccoli, steak fries, soup, and a whole chicken) without silverware!

The next day we walked everywhere, Grace and I actually had to buy new shoes to keep up with Mom! We walked all the way down to the Palazzo! Other places we walked included Fremont Street and in the ghetto/dark streets behind the MGM! The worst part about Vegas is everything looks close, until you start walking! Ugh!

Tiffy was also down in Vegas at the same time we were! She was taking in the scenes for Miss Rodeo America for next year when she will be competing. She managed to drag me out and feed me Jell-O shots at Coyote Ugly and convince me to dance on the bar. Her logic was that I came to Vegas to get drunk and make bad decisions and she was there to help accomplish my goals!

When we visited Fremont Street, we went to one of my favorite Vegas places, Mermaids! We had the nicest servers, one was from Ethiopia! She won the Ethiopian lottery and when you win you get to go to America! She made sure to keep Mom and Grace content with Marquaritas and Vodka Crans. We also played the penny slots for over an hour! Mom did get nervous when we were down two dollars! We ended up breaking even!

After Grace left for back home, we mourned her loss by tanning at Mandalay Bay Beach and touring the Cowboy Christmas Booth Shows. It was fun to meander and see all the expensive clothes, jewelry, tack, furniture that was completely western inspired. We also toured the Shark Reef, where Mom touched a sting ray!

It was great to get out of town and be in the sun for a little bit! The room at THEhotel was amazing and I’m glad that Mom had a conference so we could stay in it. The best part wasn’t where we were at, but it was the company and the laughs. So many of it was the little things…the I-guess-you-had-to-be-there laughs, but those are the best!