I don't have an accent... YOU DO!

I don't know how many times people hear I'm from North Dakota... and all of a sudden they blurt out "Noooorth Dakooooota."

In case you didn't know.

I know for a fact I don't even say it like that.  Most people just assume since they've seen the movie Fargo they know what they're talking about... well... I'm glad that I grew up just one hour away, but have never seen the movie Fargo.  I'm nervous to see where people get all those Nodak stereotypes from... I might then just know what they are really thinking about me when they learn where I was raised!

My roommate Brandy claims that I have an accent, even though her closest friends can't even hear it...  She insists I say "Dakoooota" and "beg" instead of "bag"... but really, she seems to be the only one who ever calls me out on it.  She must be a pretty good listener.  =)

Another thing you've probably heard-- is that it is FLAT.  That, unfortunately... is true.

Moving from ND to Boise, ID.

On an airplane last week, I heard a guy behind me telling the guy sitting next to him that when he lived in ND, he watched his wife leave him for three days.  One of the best bad jokes I've ever heard.

One great thing about growing up in the Peace Garden State... is that it is essentially crime-free. 

I've worked in television news since high school, and aside from one really horrible incident that happened in North Dakota, it's pretty low key.  A burglary will be the top news story for days... and here in Boise, I feel like we have some kind of home burglary or gas station hold-up every day!  So when I double check and triple check our doors to make sure they are locked at night... I get made fun of. 

Excuse me for wanting to feel safe in the big city!  I'm just a girl from small-town Nooooorth Dakooooota!

Always,

Celebrate life

"You can shed tears that he is gone,

or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,

or you can open your eyes and see all he's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him only that he has gone,

or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what he'd want:

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

-David Harkins

Jam packed week of FUN!

I am home from Minneapolis!!!

The trip was even better than expected!  So many people turned out to meet us for New Years... 

My friends and I spent the whole evening at a German bar, dancing the Polka with a group of elders... and it was more fun than any club or keg would have been!

 

All was great until Elderly Polka Dancer #2 (Blue shirt) decided I was going to be his NYE kiss...  but... I'd rather not go into details about that. =/ 

Anyway, just yesterday, a friend of mine happened to come across a video of Polka Dancer #2 dancing with another young lady that night on Youtube:

So basically, Polka Dancer #2 gets around. =)

MOVING ON...

The whole trip went by WAY too fast... but it was so incredibly great to see all my friends from back home!  I can't wait to do it again!!

If you'd like to check out more pictures... don't worry, I am a Historian... I took hundreds.  You can check them out by clicking the following links:

NYE in MSP

NYE in MSP Part Deux

Everything else in MSP =)

My flight on Saturday night was delayed a few hours because of horrible weather in Minneapolis (But what's new right??)... I didn't end up getting into Boise until after 2 AM...  but that didn't stop me!  I was up bright and early at 7 AM to meet a group of friends to go skiing!

Bogus Basin, Jan 4, 2009

Bogus Basin was FREEZING on Sunday...  There is a pair of $60 mittens I've really been wanting... but wasn't able to justify buying them until Sunday, when I nearly lost my fingers to frost bite.

The slopes were super icy, and the temps were ridiculous, but it was a great time, and a good crew nonetheless!

To sum it all up, I'm VERY excited that it's 2009-- and I have great feelings about this year! I hope all of you feel the same way, and I hope you had a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

Always,