I made it. Officially an Oregonian!!

Well here I am blogging in the livingroom of my new home. I am all moved in, unpacked and relaxed for the first time in well, a long time. The move was horrific! Not only was my one bedroom apartment too small to fit any boxes in, it was also hot, dusty and torn apart for the week leading up to the move. I was proactive and started the cleaning a week before moving day, but once I had boxes stacked up in my apartment...it made cleaning and keeping things clean very difficult. About halfway through the packing, I ran out of boxes and everything was at a stand-still. I tried to continue cleaning by moving the boxes around and even moving them to my balcony outside but lucky me, Montana was in the middle of raining and hailing for the third week in a row. I searched for more boxes but came up short. Appearantly June is a very popular time to move homes in a college town and every place was fresh out of boxes in all sizes. So I had to wait for when Kory came to get me to bring more boxes. Meanwhile, I hadn't bought groceries in over a week and aimed to finish what I had accumulated in my refrigerator...but after throwing out everything that had expired, I had a limited selection. By the third day before the BIG move, I was out of food. I tried to get take out, but that became expensive, I tried to eat my big meals at work but then my last day came and went, I bought minimal groceries but not enough to last through the week and I found myself hungry and on my way to binge somewhere. When Kory came into town the night before Moving Day, we entered my apartment to find a home that resembled the result of an explosion. Kory was shocked, saying how surprised he was to find that I wasn't close to being done with packing. This annoyed me. OF COURSE I WASN'T CLOSE TO BEING DONE...I RAN OUT OF BOXES! Packing goes like this-
Step 1: remove sorted item(s) from previous location. Step 2: Put in designated box
Well, what was missing from the equation was the box needed for step 2, thus I had to leave the majority of things in their 'previous location' as mentioned in step 1 because there is no point in making a mess out of the limited living space I had left. Whatever.
The next morning signaled the day from HELL. It started at 7:30, where we had to pick up our U-Haul trailer that was too small, so we had to upgrade. $221 later, we had the perfect size trailer. When we got back, we started to fill up the U-haul. Two people carrying a trampoline, a vanity, a matress, a clothes dresser, a couch and countless heavy boxes down three flights of stairs in the summer weather became exhausting. Then came the cleaning, down on all fours, sweating, scrubbing, sweeping, washing and so on, for hours. By around 8pm we were all packed up and ready to go. Our destination was 7 hours away and we were dog-tired. We decided to get some food and sit a while before the drive.
After our Mackenzie River cobb salads we decided to drive a few hours and spend the night at a hotel, driving all the way to Oregon in the dark while tired just seemed to be too dangerous, especially with a trailer. So we drove for about 2.5 hours and spent the next 45 minutes looking for a place to stay. Lucky us, 'Hoop Fest' was happening in both Missoula , MT and Spokane, WA and all the hotels in and in between appeared to have no vacancy. But in Kellogg, ID we found a dive-type of motel off the interstate.
It was a run-down, older bar/motel, the type of place that people can stay for months if they have to. Kory had to check-in behind the bar the motel was attached to, ahhhhh, we got a room!!!! Room #3 to be exact. But when we headed toward our 'suite' we found there were no numbers on the door, when we found our room we were shocked at how run down and well, for lack of a better term, dirty it was... I hadn't showered in over 24 hours and was ready to enjoy a hot one, but Kory informed me that the towel available in the bathroom has some hair on it. Forget the shower. I remove the comforter on the bed and pull it to the floor, I heard about all that is on hotel bed spreads and usually don't let it bother me, but this time I find it is best to just sleep with the sheets that I pray are clean. We settle in on the low, squeaky bed both sore and tired. We watch some TV but find it takes too much effort to pay attention and focus on the screen. Kory tuns it off. I try to drift off to sleep but hear conversations above us, an Xbox game booming next to us, a couple outside our room smoking and conversing and in the other room beside us, two dogs barking...Mitch cannot relax and keeps getting up from the bed and going to the door. The bed is uncomfortable and loud, the thought of people out and about at this hour makes me worry about the trailer full of my possessions outside. Needless to say, I slept lousy that night. But hey $39 for a night at a motel isn't too bad... right?
In the morning, we sprung into action, we still had about 5 hours to go and after a big, heavy breakfast next door, we knew we had to get going. When we pulled into the driveway of my new home, I felt excited to be in a new place and to be done with driving but then I reminded myself of all that unpacking that still had to be done.
For the next few days, we unpacked everything and settled in fine. I am getting used to the new place but miss everyone at home, especially the family. Kory's family is taking good care of me though and it is nice to be with Kory again. I am still looking for that 'dream job' but finding that it may not exist. But any job that will move me forward will do :) Next week we will embark on a Oregon coast vacation with Kory's family that should be a good time. Till then, I will be at home all day watching "Who's the Boss", "Golden Girls" and "Beverly Hills 90210"...oh and finding a job ;)

Our Story

With the big move fastly approaching (5 days in counting), I find myself reflecting on all the changes in my life that have blindsided me in the past 2 years. I have also encounted a vast amount of questions about my relationship with Kory. People are curious about the guy that is dragging me to Oregon and want to know about our relationship. One of the many questions are: "How did you two meet?" Well, I was blindsided with a romance with Kory. Now I do not go on to tell people the whole story I am about to share with you, I usually just mention that we met through a mutual friend and move on but there is so much more to that...

I met Kory over 3 years ago when I came over to his house to hang with a friend, who just so happened to be Kory's roommate. It went something like this-

"Amber, this is my roommate Kory, Kory this is Amber". Pretty basic introduction.

Now, when I was a little girl and I thought of meeting the love of my life I pictured my heart beating out of my chest like in the cartoons, time turning into slow motion as the song "Take My Breath Away" echoed through the room, this was not the case with Kory. I can safely say it was NOT love at first sight, and I am sure Kory can agree. But wait...what was wrong with him then? Why didn't we jump into eachothers arms and promise to 'never let go' like Jack and Rose on the Titanic?

It is pretty simple why none of the hollywood crap above happened- because Kory was dating someone else, well not only dating but living with her. That alone exempts any attraction or thoughts of being with him. Was I upset at this? Nope, I didn't care...like I said, I just met the guy and really didn't give it much thought. When I would come to the house I would see him, we didn't have much exchange and just went about our own business.

A few months later, I found myself in an odd position, while spending the summer home in Kalispell, I found out I might be homeless when school started that fall. The mutual friend offered me a room at the home they were currently residing in and I happily obliged, especially since the shcool was in walking distance of the house. So in late August 2007, I moved into the house with the mutual friend, Kory, and Kory's girlfriend. Yup, you heard it here first, Kory and I lived together before we even dated. Not only that, I lived with one of Kory's girlfriends, now aren't we just one happy family?

As roommates, Kory and I had the same relationship as mentioned before when we first encounted eachother, we may have shared some small chit chat but never spent anytime together. We just shared the same living space. No big deal.

With another semester under my belt I returned to Kalispell for winter break. During that time, I stayed in touch with mutual friend who informed me over the phone that Kory's girlfriend had moved out after a spat of some sort. Did I jump up, put on hot leather pants, and make my move on Kory? Nope. I didn't really care, as long as my rent didn't go up.

When I returned in Janurary to start the new semester, mutual friend asked me if I would spend time with Kory since we usually excluded him from our hang out time and Kory was now by himself. So I started to hang out with him at home. I would usually sit there and glance at the TV show he was watching or we would play a board game, sometimes we surfed the internet looking at females body parts and rated them. Yes, another odd dynamic, we looked at nude pictures together before we ever dated.

Eventually Kory started to open up and vice versa. I found out he was funny, sometimes silly and smart. Did I think he was dull and ditsy before? No, I just didn't get to know him until then. He also started to appear more attractive to me, not that I thought he didn't look good before but I never let myself feel attraction to him when he had a girlfriend. One day, while watching TV, I complained to him that no one texted me anymore and acted dramatic that my electronic social life was ending. Shortly there after my phone vibrated. A number not recognized by my phone lit up and the message read "hi". It was Kory. After that we developed a friendship via text. We still talked in person but even sitting next to eachother we would text secrets and have deep conversations. Soon my heart started to flutter when I recieved a message from him and I was developing feelings. People started noticing, in particular, mutual friend.

One day, via text message, Kory told me he wanted to kiss me. I was shocked but estatic. And minutes later I found myself at the bottom of the staircase in his arms sharing a long kiss. Then that kiss turned into many secret kisses, stolen before bed, after class, in the kitchen when we were alone and for a while, no one knew of our secret romance. And then, like all love stories-

THE CRAP HIT THE FAN.

Mutual friend found out that Kory and I were kissing, because he walked in on it. Then, being the head tennant told Kory he had to move out. Why? Because it turns out mutual friend liked me as more than a friend, a feeling that was not mutual. Kory disclosed our relationship to exgirlfriend who did not appreciate him moving on so soon and lead to more havoc. In that 24 hour period, no one was a winner. Kory and I hurt people we cared about, but was wanting be with him wrong? I regretted that my actions hurt one of my friends, but I didn't regret my actions. After that, we took time apart and then talked when we had a moment alone, we decided we wanted to try dating exclusively and Kory moved out, just in time for our first date later that weekend. Where things awkward at the house with mutual friend? Yes. Was seeing exgirlfriend out and about causing me to feel a twinge of guilt for hurting a nice person's feelings? Absolutely. But time heals all wounds, and I know in the end she found someone she could love and I found mine.

Kory and I faced a lot together when we started dating, sometimes I am surprised we got through it. Now, over two years later and still in love, we are starting a life together in a new place. The tough stuff isn't over yet but I've got my stinky and my puppy with me to get me through.

I love you Kory.

My decision

It seems that my life has taken quite a turn since we last blogged, quite a bittersweet turn that is. You see, I was becoming one of 'those' girls, you know, the type who worked hard their whole life and then once they reach a certain goal they just 'settle' into something they are completely comfortable and used to doing.
For me that was waiting tables and living in a one bedroom apartment with my pup. I was doing fine, making a living off of serving people food and beverage, going home with a decent amount of tips each night, and doing it all again the next night and all weekend. But then, after two years of being a Hooters Girl (please hold the gasp and the soap box speech), I found that it was time to hang up my pantyhose and orange shorts and move on with a career I actually went to school for. One problem: Montana is NOT the place to be trying to get a job at right now, especially one that 200+ college graduates want and will apply for as well.
So, I swallowed my pride and decided to make a big move for myself and my relationship. My boyfriend moved to Oregon months before I made up my mind to follow, he also was tired of 'settling' for a dead end job and started a career in the feild he got his degree in. We talked about me reloacting eventually for months but I never made that definate decision until about 2 months ago. Thus I put in my notice with work and my landlord, I started making arrangements to move, found a place to live and started job searching. I had a few interviews but no luck so far. Thats okay, everything will work out eventually, right?
The hard part is telling people in MT about the move. Especially people who know me well. My family aside (they are surprisingly supportive about this move), people tend to take the news as a shock. I get surprised looks and concerned questions like:
"what are you going to do there!?"
"So you are moving to like, no where?"
"Is Kory going to marry you? Are you sure you aren't just changing your life for a guy?"
or my personal favorite because lets face it, my friends aren't the smartest people in the world-
"OMG you are going to LOVE Portland!"
Haha, why does it seem when people think about Oregon they assume Portland is the only thing out there? I like Portland too but I am able to grasp that there are other places besides Portland in Oregon. It seems that Montanans have no idea of what lies beyond our state boarder unless it is a large town like Boise, Spokane, Seattle and Portland. If they can't picture you in one of those towns, it is as if you fell down a hole in a tree to a mystical land of the unknown, and they panic...thinking you will be lost in a thick Canadian forest dying of thirst and hunger.
Then, once I tell them I am indeed not moving to Portland they pity me, asking how far from Portland I will be (so that way I can get my city-fix I guess), or they assume the next available association with Oregon and say-
"Ahh I LOVE going to the coast, you are so lucky to be living right by the ocean." Alright, I get that Oregon is closer to the ocean then Montana is, but realistically, I have been to Oregon multiple times in my life and not once have I ever seen or been to the Oregon coast while visiting. Why? Because Oregon isn't Hawaii, I am not surrounded by ocean, and my home is not by the Ocean and if I do go to the coast it will be because I am getting in the car, driving for hours and staying a few days there because it is far from where I live.
On second thought, maybe it is best I am getting out of here ;)

Craigslist: missed connections- proof of my dog park theory.

I know, I know...I am a totally taken woman, but sometimes I find myself browsing the Personals of the phenomenon that is CRAIGSLIST. It gives me an insight as to what my fellow missoulians are doing, or better yet who they're hoping to do. My favorite is 'Missed Connections' because the majority of the time you know it is a guy that totally read the situation completely wrong trying to be romantic or witty to find his 'long lost'.... stranger via an anonymous posting. So today, I was doing my weekly browse, laughing, crying, gawking and come to find out there is a thread under 'Missed Connections' titled:
Dog Park Girl- m4w - 27
I couldn't believe it, I mean I could because of my previous post and past experiences prove that it is a REAL proven theory that people use the dog park to find a date. I of course couldn't pass this post up and clicked on it and read the following-

We stopped and talked the other day for a long time about your two unique dogs and I meant it wwhen I said that you have the biggest heart I'd seen in a long time. I would love to get to know you better and I haven't seen you at the park since so I hope you see this. You were a brunette and had on a light purple shirt and a smile that almost knocked me off my feet. I was the guy with the mutt that really liked you. Coffee? Drinks? Walk with our dogs??

Hahahaha priceless :)

It's a dog park, not a singles bar!

Lets face it. I love my dog, Mitch. He is my hobby, my happiness and well, as sad as it may seem, my child. So when beautiful weather comes around, it means one thing- the Bark Park. The Bark Park is a local dog park that is fenced in and leads out into a penninsula surrounded by a river. Nothing makes any dog more excited than going to the dog park, being unleashed and free to socialize with other dogs, swim, and pee everywhere. Its a funny thing to see what happiness truly looks like on a dog when they are humping another dog at the Bark Park, but everyone lets it slide because, its the dog park- Disneyland for canines.

But there is a catch about the freedom of the Bark Park. Men, and probably a few women, use this social situation to find someone to date. We all know the golden truth that two things can make ANY man irresistable... babies and dogs. So you can imagine the single men that appear there. They usually have one dog, a bigger breed like a lab, retriever or rott. They appear to be laid back, athletic and care-free, but you still notice that gleam in their eyes saying "Yup, thats my dog and yup, I'm available". And if you know Mitch, he is the friendliest, most playful dog in the park so when our dogs meet and play, its time for the approach. Thats right, nobody is a better wing man than man's best friend!!

It usually starts with a line like "Have I seen you here before?" or "Cute dog, what's his name?" and unlike a bar, you can't simply roll your eyes and walk away or pretend the music is too loud to hear, you have to answer to avoid any awkwardness around you. Then after the 'Get to Know My Dog' exchange, it turns into 'Get to Know You so Then I Can get in Your Pants" routine.

Thus it seems you can't get away...you start to move on to follow your dog and they follow you, striking up any thing to talk about (i.e. weather, other dog activities, or 'do you know my friend so and so?'). I am trapped. He even tries to play the "Wow, your dog really likes me!" and I so badly want to yell "Actually he likes anyone who gives him attention!"

I round up Mitch and put his leash on, signaling the closing of the Bark Park exchange. But, he goes ahead to do the same thing to his dog, which means, we are leaving together. The worse part is when he insists on walking me to my car, or acting like we are parked in the same area, which usually is never the case. Then as I put my dog into the car, he resorts to the last attempt, that shaves away all his self-dignity, which usually sounds like the following:

"So since our dogs like eachother, we should take them on a hike sometime" (yeah buddy, we will meet again just for our dogs enjoyment)

OR

"So what are you doing know? We should get a drink or something..." (Really, you mean you were just on your way to a bar? How about you keep the drink and give me the money?)

AND MY FAVORITE, BECAUSE I ADMIRE A MAN WHO GETS TO THE POINT:

"Can I have your number?" (This way I can give it to him straight...'No, I have a boyfriend', or better yet, 'Genital Herpes'...that way there is no getting around it)

Then me, and the one my heart truly belongs to, go home together...

BTW- I don't really have genital herpes or any form of sexually transmitted disease. :)

Swimsuit Contest: FIN!

Yesterday marked the closing of another chapter in the universe that is Hooters, the local swimsuit contest. I have been working very hard on my body since the new year, its not that I thought I had weight to lose but I had some areas to tone and strengthen. I joined a bootcamp, hit the cardio machines a couple more times a week and 6 weeks ago, I modified my diet to kick start my metabolism. The work paid off, I can proudly say that I got up in front of over a hundred people and rocked it, strutted my stuff, and saw so many awesome people there who supported me. It was really fun, even back stage with all my favorite girls.

I didn't win, but thats okay. I have a lot going for me in my life, I don't want to be a model and I don't think of Hooters as my life. I mostly did it to motivate me to get in shape, something to look forward to and have fun. I am in the best shape I have ever been in my life an it feels amazing. I look in the mirror and I am proud to see what reflects, I am confident.

P.S. In the picture above, it should be noted that the tanner that is on my face and body is for competition only and is NOT an actual tan, it washes off. A lot of people who see the pics are like "OMG that tan is insane"....no, it is very fake ;)

Luck

On April 3rd, 2010 at 9:25 AM, my ringing phone woke me up. I, half way still asleep, answered the call from the caller listed as 'unknown' on my cell phone's screen.

"Hello?" I murmured.

"Hi, is this Amber?" a chipper woman on the other end asks.

"Yes..." I reply.

"This is Renee from the Hamilton Police 911 Emergency Center, I am calling to inform you someone reported finding your purse. A man found it in a river in Hamilton while he was fly fishing and wants to return it to you."

I immediately woke up...a week ago, my purse was stolen from my car.

She continued to give me the man's contact information and long story short- I GOT MY PURSE BACK! It was sopping wet and dirty. Obviously rummaged through, the contents that were once organized in my wallet where strewn about at the bottom of my purse. The hard earned cash was taken (of course) but my cards, phone, lip gloss etc. were left for a watery fate. While I have no more use for the canceled bank cards, dirty lip gloss, and destroyed cell phone, I feel like I received some closure. I was hurt and upset someone did this to me, but now I feel like this is a sign from God that it is time to move on...with a new purse of course.