January started the year off fine with our very own little New Year's party in our apartment in the ghetto, a move from the ghetto to the southwest side of town and a new sense of feeling safe that we hadn't felt yet in Las Vegas, visits from my old boss Karen, and Spencer's brother-in-law Blaine, and my first step in becoming famous being on a poster at The Mirage (which is still up all over the hotel as of last month!)
February brought me to a grand total of 28 years of existence, pulling me ever closer to the dreadful 30! I saw Styx in concert courtesy of Mr. Tommy Shaw himself. And Spencer and I traveled across the border to buy mega millions tickets, however, we did NOT win the lottery.
March was jam packed with excitement! We had lots of visitors: Spencer's mom Tricia and Aunt Jean, my cousin Lindsey, and friends from Plainfield, Katie, Nikki, and Leslie. I ran a 5K which was my 2nd of 3 attempts at a marathon training kickoff this year, Spence, Tank, and I had a mini vacation in Sunset Beach/LA., and Spencer celebrated his 25th birthday!
April did not bring many showers here, as they say...I followed in many of my co-workers footsteps and gave my 2 week notice at Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. I took an unpleasant ride on New York New York's Manhattan Express Roller Coaster. Spence and I, thanks to some friends and a birthday party, discovered our new favorite restaurant Yard House (where we have been pretty much every other week since and are ringing in the New Year later tonight), and for some reason Spencer colored his hair green for a night. :)
May was monumental as it was the month I credit to my glorious and long-awaited last day at the dolphin habitat and also my first day at Starbucks. We had more visitors including Spencer's sister Chelsea and his Aunt Kathy and Aunt Peggy and my friend from Tampa, Charlene. We proudly took part in the Las Vegas MS Walk and enjoyed the outdoors all we could before the sun started burning extra hot.
June had probably the most excitement for us than the rest of the year! The most exciting and important event was the day (June 12, 2008) the Man Of My Dreams took me to the Oregon Coast and got down on one knee asking me to spend the rest of my life with him! I said yes of course! And second place for most exciting event in 2008 happened the very next day, when my realtor called me and told me that my house in Tampa, which had been on the market for about a year and a half, was SOLD! We were less poor, but not really any richer, but it was a huge burden off our shoulders! That same weekend we were lucky enough to be in Eugene to celebrate Stefan's high school graduation with him (the whole reason for our Oregon trip to begin with!) Also in June, my Mom came to visit, we traveled on extremely curvy roads to California to see Spencer's cousin Devin get married & I got to meet a whole bunch of O'Neill's I hadn't met yet, and I dabbled in and then dabbled my way out of some pigeon training for Criss Angel's new show in Las Vegas.
July was made extra special with the early arrival of our newest family member, Spencer's nephew, Brennan Craig Clapham, on July 22, 2008. July also included Spencer's on-stage Love debut, a visit from Sara and Mary Sue and my first Starbucks staff outing! :)
August was hot but fun. We took a break from the heat and went home to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday party with a huge surprise party. We also got some time to do touristy stuff in the great city of Chicago. We registered for wedding gifts and had a blast with my cousins Katie and Kristi when they came to visit.
September I had a great trip home to Plainfield and got to spend some quality time with 3 of my best friends, enjoy the homecoming parade with my nephew and sister, and attend my 10 year high school reunion. Spencer and I also celebrated 2 years of being together!
October kept us steadily busy with a New Kids On The Block concert for me, fulfilling a childhood dream. Spencer's Dad came to visit and we had a great time with him! And of course we celebrated Halloween by...working...and carving a pumpkin! :)
November was a fairly laid back month of just about nothing but working, working, and more working in preparation for the holidays, etc. We spent Thanksgiving with friends of Spencer's, Pesci and Clarissa and Tank made some new friends, Milton and Piper.
December is my favorite month of the year and I must say, I am sad that its over, but as usual we had a blast. My friend Sandy, who now lives in Texas, returned to Vegas for a visit, I made a quilt for my mommy which was a huge accomplishment for me, and Spencer and I celebrated the season by driving through "The Gift Of Lights." We experienced the first big snowfall in Las Vegas in over 30 years...6-8 inches total! (And Tank's first time ever in snow!) We went to Eugene to celebrate Christmas with the O'Neill family and also got to meet or new nephew Brennan for the first time!
So as I look back on 2008, I see a TON of changes from a year ago to now and it amazes me. Personally, and not necessarily outwardly, I have noticed a huge change in myself, my attitude towards life, etc. And together, Spence and I have come a long way since January 2008 as well...new apartment, new job, new family members, freedom from old financial burdens, and great promises for the future...a wedding and joining our two lives officially and forever, a hopeful move to some place we can truly call home, at least 2 new nephews or nieces to join our extended family and who knows what other adventures await us! Our plan for 2009 above all else is to live in the moment and to let things get to us less...less frustrations! We have so much to be thankful for in the past year and so much to be joyful about and look forward to in the next! So we wave goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009! And we hope everyone else has a joyful and prosperous new year as well!
